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The nauseated feelings appear again-- creeping from the back of his throat, urging Mashiho to throw up his lunch.
It’s like being carsick from a long ride without stopping to any rest area.
He only got three hours of sleep yesterday and the fatigue is wearing him down, crushing his bones and mental. His vision is a blur but the camera is rolling (the car is still moving), so Mashiho gulps the sickness down and tries his darndest to smile.
Beside him seated the Treasure’s leaders. They’re shooting for the Welcoming 2021 Collection, and so far, it’s been nine hours straight of posing, wardrobe changing, then scripts reading for the video included in the collection. Ten minutes before the producer waves the signal and Mashiho wants to puke his gut out. The bright light of the indoor set he’s currently under is definitely not helping. So he squirms in his seat and tries to distract himself by doodling Kotetsu on a piece of paper.
It doesn’t get better.
The nausea jerks Mashiho forward all too suddenly. He manages to keep the vomit at bay but not the shifting attention from the duo beside him. Hyunsuk is quickly pressed on his side, one hand giving gentle pats to his back. “Are you okay, Shiho?”
His hyung’s voice is dripped with concern and it irks Mashiho. He’s disappointed in himself for not being strong enough, goddamn it. He’s signed up for the idol life and yet, his body fails him miserably even though he’s on a constant workout. Why, it’s not fair.
So Mashiho nods, not wanting to draw unnecessary worry when a bottle of water is shoved in front of his face. He looks up to Jihoon, already moved from his seat beside Hyunsuk and now standing next to him.
“He’s not, hyung. He’s sick.” Jihoon answers the eldest question for Mashiho as he studies the younger face like an open book. He’s always the most perceptive one; no lies will slip through him, much to Mashiho’s dismay.
“No, I’m--”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. We all got little sleep yesterday.” Hyunsuk immediately comforts the younger, his tone grows soft and understanding. He grabs the water bottle out of Jihoon’s hand when Mashiho doesn’t. “Come on, drink, Shiho.” Hyunsuk asks as he opens the cap and offers the bottle. Mashiho can’t decline now two pairs of eyes bore him into place. After sighing, he gulps half of the bottle in one go.
The nausea subsides a bit though now Mashiho feels bad; tongue tastes like ashes because he just had to show a weakness in front of his strong leaders. Unprofessional. He ducks down, ashamed. “I’m sorry, hyung.”
“No, Shiho, don’t say that.” It’s Hyunsuk, as expected, to object first. His hand travels to Mashiho's shoulder to lock the younger in a warm embrace. “We’re only humans, Shiho, we get sick if we don’t get proper rest. It’s natural.” Hyunsuk chuckles low before adding, ”Actually, I’m kinda dizzy too from morning.”
“You are?” Jihoon frowns before going back to his seat.
“A little bit.”
From the inside of Hyunsuk’s embrace, Mashiho watches how the leaders exchange a stare. Jihoon looks both concerned and upset. His eyebrows crease lower, mouth curls in a scowl. Mashiho reckons the younger leader is mad that the eldest keeps the info to himself. Hyunsuk smiles apologetically, simply offering tender gazes at Jihoon.
Seconds go by before Jihoon looks away, heaving a quiet breath. “The schedule has been too tight lately. We need to talk to the manager after this, hyung.”
Hyunsuk agrees before turning to Mashiho once more. “Hang in there, Shiho. Don’t worry, Jihoonie will be extra annoying today to cover you.”
The mentioned man scoffs. “You got that right. Be ready, hyungie~” Jihoon sneaks a pinch on the eldest cheek before Hyunsuk swats the hand away, though grinning from ear to ear. Jihoon replies back with another teasing and Mashiho can’t help but join, cracking a small, relieved smile. The leaders are mood makers, their energy is contagious to the rest of the members. And Mashiho is ever glad they choose to share happiness at his lowest.
So the ride continues; the car is running on the leader’s engine as the shoot begins.
Jihoon keeps his promise by leading every topic and bothering Hyunsuk in every chance he gets; anything to draw the future audience’s attention to him and not to quiet Mashiho in the corner. Hyunsuk plays along like a pro, being giddy and giggling through the video even when Jihoon roughly locks the eldest inside his firm arm. It’s an amusing sight for Mashiho, they both try so hard to be funny but instead, they appear very cuddly. Kind of romantic if you squint hard enough.
So the leaders maintain the cheery atmosphere until the end.
A round of applause is given when the producers wrap the shoot up. Treasure’s members bow in unison and thank every staff available before changing back to their casual clothes. Then a knock in the changing room rings; it’s their manager, informing them of a quick meeting for tomorrow’s schedule before they go home. The exhaustion is apparent by now, emitted out of the members’ faces, not just from Mashiho’s pale one. But nobody dares to sigh, they’re kids, after all, at the mercy of the massive, billion-dollar industry they’re in.
But thankfully, there are two people behind the wheels and they both have a say on where the ride goes.
“Me and Hyunsuk-hyung can stay behind. Others are really tired, manager-nim, let them go home first. We’ll rally the schedule back at the dorm.” Jihoon stands up from his seat, speaking up for the group.
Hyunsuk follows, persuading with a friendly smile.
The manager contemplates for a brief while before nodding and asks the leaders to gather in the room next door. The duo obeys but not before instructing the rest of the members to pack up and leave with the company’s van outside. Mashiho looks worried and it’s caught by Hyunsuk. The eldest approaches the group’s main dancer and squeezes his arm. “Go home, Shiho. We’ll be back soon.”
Mashiho chews his lips, lowering his eyes and murmurs. “Is that okay, hyung? Aren’t you sick too?”
“Nah, it’s fine. It’s gonna be a short talk, anyway.”
“But--”
“Listen to your eldest, Shiho~” Jihoon chimes in from the side, ruffling the younger black hair. Mashiho pouts cutely and it makes Hyunsuk chuckle at the warm sight. A family, forged by years of hard work, movie nights, and love.
And Mashiho is aware of that just as he’s aware of how the leaders will always prioritize the group’s health over themselves when they still could. The younger respects that so he gives in. “Okay.”
“Good boy,” Jihoon smirks before moving to Hyunsuk’s side and circles an arm around his shoulder. “Don’t worry, if Hyunsuk-hyung passed out, I promised to bridal-carry him back to the dorm myself.”
“Hey!” Hyunsuk elbows the other in the stomach, pink flush starts to color his cheeks. The attack does not affect Jihoon for he’s built like a goddamn tank. Oh, Mashiho still shivers everytime he recalls the arm-wrestling match for TMAP.
“‘Kidding, ‘kidding.” Though Jihoon still maintains his smug mug; Mashiho bets the younger leader is actually not.
Hyunsuk rolls his eyes lazily though not breaking out from the other’s embrace. He turns back at Mashiho. “Shower and then straight to sleep, okay? No games.”
Just like a mother--it draws a wide smile on Mashiho’s face. “Okay. See you later, hyung.”
Soon, the goodbyes are said; the leaders wave at the rest of the members in the lobby before going to the room the managers and the staff are in.
Walking side by side, Jihoon rests a hand on Hyunsuk’s back, making sure the eldest still stands and strong for a long night. Hyunsuk reciprocates, half-leaning to Jihoon, sharing his weight, his smiles, his burden. They are much lighter together.
Watching the scene in secret, Mashiho smiles--grateful.
Treasure is a car, you see, cruising on the endless road of fame. It’s a bumpy ride, through steep slopes and stormy weather. But hey, it’s fun with ten kids crowding on the back seat, singing and supporting one another, and two leaders in the front. Both never look away from the road as one charts a path from a map and another steers the car steadily to their destination--their shared dreams.
Mashiho and the rest of the members can rest easy because they all know the leaders are focused; eyes always on the road,
unless
they’re on each other.