Jungkook took a deep breath, bracing himself against the mirrored wall as he watched the others continue their routine. His reflection stared back at him-a little too pale, too shaken. It wasn't that he hadn't felt tired before; every one of them was exhausted at some point during these intense rehearsal days, but this was different. The air in the practice room felt thick, and his heart thudded hard against his ribcage in a way he couldn't ignore. (Straight to the point lol, I ain't wasting no time xx)

Something's off.

The music boomed in his ears, and he struggled to lock himself into the beat, as if that might steady the strange fluttering in his chest. He'd stopped for barely a minute, but his body already protested for mercy. The others were gliding smoothly through the moves, lost in the grind of rehearsal. There he'd usually be right amidst the pack, leading with boundless energy, always up for one more run-through.

But now, even standing up straight felt like a challenge.

Jimin noticed first, shooting him a look mid-spin. His eyes were filled with concern, and he tilted his head slightly, mouthing, "You okay?" without breaking stride.

Jungkook nodded briskly, forcing his most reassuring smile. "Yeah, just...catching my breath," he whispered back, hoping it would suffice. He shrugged the weight off, but a part of him felt Jimin's eyes linger on him, unconvinced.

"Alright, let's take it from the top!" Hobi called out, his voice ringing across the room. "We need to be sharper, especially on the transitions."

As the music started again, Jungkook took his place, hoping the familiar rhythm would carry him. But his legs felt leaden, and his pulse was erratic, pounding fast before suddenly slowing down. A chill crept up his spine, a strange tightness wrapping around his chest. 

F*ck.

The world blurred around him at the edges, indistinct, like he was peering through some window that had been covered in steam. And then his vision swam, and Jungkook faltered, hand reaching out at the last moment to catch the wall as a wave crashed over him.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung exclaimed then, his voice full of alarm as he darted to his side. "Hey, hey, are you okay?" His hand grasped Jungkook, and he straightened, his lids flickering to rid the world of spots.

"Yeah, yeah...just lost my balance for a sec," Jungkook muttered as the flush began to rise upwards and paint his cheeks. He could feel embarrassment kick in, not to mention his hyungs forming worried circles around him. He refused to glance their way lest they see in his eyes an invading fear.

Jin ceased the music in the air, leaving the room silent. "Our golden maknae all tired out? That's a new one," he joked, but his smile spoke of concern too.

Namjoon frowned, his eyes steady while crossing his arms, staring at Jungkook with an intensity that made him feel even smaller. "Kook, if you're feeling off, you need to say something. This isn't like you."

Jungkook forced a laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "I just. I think I overdid it at the gym yesterday." He shrugged, hopefully convincingly. "Maybe I'm just needing water."

Yoongi handed him a bottle, his usually easygoing expression replaced by a sterner one. "Drink it up. You're not fooling anybody, you know. We see something's going on in that head.

Jungkook took the water with a grateful nod, twisting the cap and taking a long sip. The coolness steadied him a bit, and he forced a weak smile. "I'm fine. Really."

But he saw the other members glance at each other with worried looks, and the guilt hit him. They were tired too-he could see it by how they moved, the slight drooping of shoulders. If they were going to make this tour perfect, they could not afford to waste any time because of him.

"Let's continue," he said quickly, moving away from the wall. "I can complete the practice."

"Jungkook-ah, stop," Hoseok said, his voice very firm for once as he settled a hand on Jungkook's shoulder. "Look, we know you always give a 110%, but it is okay to step back for once."

Jungkook wavered between frustration and gratitude. He knew they were right-that something inside him was definitely off, and trying to push through it might only make it worse. Still, to admit it aloud felt like defeat.

Namjoon's voice softened; his tone reassuring. "Listen, it's all right. We can call it an early night. We have time to get this right, and none of us want to see you pushing yourself past your limit."

Grudgingly, Jungkook nodded, and the others visibly relaxed. They packed up their things in record time, and Jungkook watched them chatting and joking around, the tension lifting. None of them had made a big deal of his pause, and he was grateful for that, but as he leaned back against the wall, an odd sense of dread began to seep into his mind.

The ride home in the van was quiet. Jungkook sat by the window, his face pressed into the cool glass to watch the city lights blur past. His heart had settled somewhat, but every so often, it would skip a beat and send this strange, uncomfortable flutter through his chest. What the flip flop is happening to me? He pressed his hand against his sternum, as if that might steady it.

Besides him, Jimin noticed the movement and frowned. "Jungkook, are you really okay?" he asked in a low voice so nobody else could hear.

Jungkook could only force a faint smile out, nodding. "Yeah...just a little weird, that's all."

Jimin looked at him closely, his eyebrows furrowing. "If you're not feeling better by tomorrow, promise me you'll get checked out."

Jungkook hesitated, feeling this stubborn urge to deny anything was wrong. But something in Jimin's worried gaze softened him. "I will," he murmured, and Jimin relaxed, giving him a small, supportive pat on the shoulder.

When they finally made it back to the dorm, the others started filtering out, but Yoongi paused at Jungkook's seat. "You coming, or are we carrying you up the stairs too?" he joked, though his tone was softer than usual.

Jungkook rolled his eyes, managing a laugh. "I'm coming." He stood, hope his legs wouldn't betray him, and followed the others inside.

He went into his room, threw himself on the bed, and looked at the ceiling as visions of the day's events fluttered in his mind. The beating of his heart had slowly stabilized, but he felt an unrest inside him, a sense that something lurked underneath the waves, waiting for a moment to take him by surprise. The exhaustion was familiar, but the dizziness, the way his chest had tightened. It felt like a warning. And warnings shouldn't be ignored.

Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep, but his sleep was full of dark shadows and flashing lights, with every heartbeat pounding in his ears like some echoing from afar.

___

Morning came too fast, and as the sun pierced his window, Jungkook had rubbed the sleep from his eyes groggily. The strange heaviness in his chest was still there, softer than yesterday. He took a deep breath, wincing at the slight discomfort it caused.

He could already hear the others in the kitchen, talking over breakfast, and he forced himself up to go out and join them. As he came in, Hoseok looked up, flashing him a bright smile. "Feeling better today?"

"Yeah," Jungkook said quickly, forcing himself to sound cheerful. He ignored the unease that chewed on his stomach, plastering his usual grin onto his face. "I'm ready for round two."

The others exchanged glances, unconvinced, but they let it go for now and welcomed him to the table. For now, Jungkook was content with sitting in their company, holding onto the warmth of their presence, hoping it would be enough to keep the darkness at bay.

But as he listened to their laughter and shared smiles, a thought crept into his head: How much longer could he keep this concealed?

What do y'all think so far? =_=
I'm still learning to write, but personally, I feel like I'm getting better lol, nothing's wrong with self praise. Should I continue this story?

Also this is a very important reminder. I'm not a medical professional nor a med student. I've done my research to find information for the condition and relied on Google and medical sites. Please do NOT take any information written here as medical advice. If you experience similar symptoms, don't jump into immediate conclusions based on what's written here, please do see a doctor instead. Don't forget this. Have a fabulous day, goodbye!