Chapter 6: Downward Spiral

Downward Spiral The warm and fuzzy feeling that had settled in Taehyun's chest began to dissipate as the days went by. The group's schedule was getting busier, and the pressure to perform was mounting. He found himself struggling to keep up with the demands of practice, constantly feeling like he was lagging behind. One night, after a particularly grueling practice session, Yeonjun suggested they unwind with a few drinks at a nearby bar. Taehyun wasn't much of a drinker, but he felt like he needed to let loose, to shake off the stress and anxiety that had been building up inside him. As they sat at the bar, sipping on beers and laughing, Taehyun noticed a familiar face across the room. It was a fellow idol, someone he had met at a previous event. They exchanged a brief conversation, and before he knew it, Taehyun was being offered a pill. At first, he hesitated, but Yeonjun and the others were egging him on, telling him to live a little. Soobin, who had been quiet until then, spoke up, his voice low and reassuring. "It's okay, Taehyun, I've got your back." Taehyun looked at Soobin, then back at the pill in his hand. He felt a surge of excitement mixed with a dash of fear. What was he getting himself into? The first pill was just a small white thing, but it felt like a gateway to a whole new world. Taehyun took it, and before he knew it, he was taking another, and another. The music was louder, the lights were brighter, and he felt like he was on top of the world. As the night wore on, Taehyun's inhibitions began to fade away. He was dancing on the table, laughing and screaming with the others. Soobin was right there with him, a mischievous glint in his eye. But as the hours passed, Taehyun started to feel a creeping sense of unease. His heart was racing, and his vision was starting to blur. He stumbled off the table, feeling like he was going to throw up. Soobin caught him, holding him upright as Taehyun swayed back and forth. "Whoa, easy does it, maknae," he said, his voice slurred. Taehyun tried to focus, but everything was spinning. He felt like he was losing control, like he was drowning in a sea of chaos. The last thing he remembered was Soobin's worried face, before everything went black. The next morning, Taehyun woke up with a pounding headache and a sense of dread. He was lying on the couch in the dorm, with Soobin sitting next to him, holding a glass of water. "Hey, you okay?" Soobin asked, his voice soft. Taehyun tried to sit up, but his head spun. He fell back onto the couch, feeling a wave of nausea wash over him. "What happened last night?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Soobin's expression was grim. "You had a bit too much fun, I think." Taehyun's eyes widened as he realized what he had done. He felt a wave of shame and regret wash over him. What had he done? What had he taken? Soobin's grip on his shoulder tightened. "Don't worry, Taehyun. We'll get through this together." But as Taehyun looked into Soobin's eyes, he knew that he was in trouble. He had crossed a line, and there was no going back.