The streets of Seoul shimmered under the glow of streetlights as he drove through the quiet night. After a long day at the studio, he just wanted to clear his mind, listening to the soft hum of music playing through the speakers. The group had been preparing for their comeback, and as the leader, the weight of expectations rested heavily on his shoulders.
He barely saw it coming—the blinding headlights, the screech of tires, the violent impact. The world spun in a blur of shattered glass and twisted metal before everything went black.
When he woke up, the sharp scent of antiseptic filled his lungs. His body ached, his head throbbed, and his vision blurred as he tried to sit up. He was in a hospital. The steady beeping of monitors reassured him that he was still alive.
“Hyung!” He barely turned his head before his members rushed to his bedside, eyes filled with worry.
“What… happened?” His voice was hoarse.
“You were in an accident,” one of them said, his voice tight. “You were unconscious when they brought you in. The doctors said… it could have been worse.”
He exhaled deeply. His mind was still foggy, but the reality was sinking in. He had been lucky. He could have lost everything—his career, his dreams, his brothers.
But the accident hadn’t taken the most important thing: his spirit.
Days turned into weeks as he recovered. His body healed, but the hardest part was convincing himself he wasn’t a burden to the group. “You guys should focus on practice,” he muttered one evening. “Don’t let me slow you down.”
One of them frowned. “Hyung, what are you talking about? We’re not the same without you.”
Another nodded. “You’re our leader. Whether you’re on stage or resting, we move forward together.”
Tears burned at the edges of his eyes. He had always taken care of them, but now, they were taking care of him.
The day he finally walked back into the practice room, the members erupted into cheers, embracing him one by one. Looking around at his brothers, he knew one thing for certain—no matter what happened, they would always be together.
Because tru
e leaders never fall alone.
