The stadium was alive with the roar of thousands of voices, their energy pulsing through the air like electricity. William Jakrapatr stood at the center of it all, his heart pounding in sync with the beat of Lykn’s latest song. The stage lights painted the five of them in dazzling golds and silvers—Nut, Hong, Tui, Lego, and him—each moving in perfect harmony. This was their world.
William’s eyes flickered to the front row for the briefest moment, where he had spotted Est Supha earlier in the night. Est had made it to the concert, just like he said he would. Even in the flashing lights, William could make out his partner’s familiar silhouette, a teasing smile on his face. Est always had that playful energy about him, always up to something.
The concert pressed on. Lykn flowed through song after song, sweat glistening under the stage lights. The energy in the arena was intoxicating, and William barely noticed the moment Est disappeared from view. It wasn’t until a commotion stirred near the front row that his attention snapped back to the crowd.
At first, William rolled his eyes. Est’s pranking again. He’d done this before—pretending to faint, acting out elaborate jokes just to get a reaction out of him. It was typical Est behavior.
But then he saw the way Est’s body wasn’t just slumping—it was convulsing. His fingers clenched unnaturally, his chest heaving in a way that was anything but controlled.
William’s stomach turned to ice.
“Est?” His voice barely carried over the music. His mic was still on, but the moment was breaking through the illusion of the concert.
Nut, catching his expression, faltered slightly in his movements. Lego turned toward him in confusion. The song was still playing, but William wasn’t singing anymore. His eyes locked on the security guards rushing toward Est, onlookers stepping back in fear and concern.
The pieces fell together in an instant. This wasn’t a prank.
He ripped his in-ear monitor out and turned to the others. “Something’s wrong with Est.”
Nut reacted first, signaling to the staff at the side of the stage. The music abruptly cut out, and murmurs spread through the audience like wildfire. Lykn never stopped a performance. Ever.
William barely registered the murmurs. He was already moving, practically leaping off the stage toward the barricade.
“Est!” His voice cracked, but Est couldn’t hear him. He was still seizing, his body wracked with violent tremors. Someone—maybe security, maybe a medic—was already kneeling beside him, trying to keep him safe.
William shoved through the remaining space between them, dropping to his knees beside Est, his own hands trembling. “I’m here. I’m here.” He wasn’t sure if Est could hear him, wasn’t sure if it even mattered, but the words left his mouth anyway.
The world around them felt distant, the echoes of concerned voices blurring into the background. All that mattered was Est.
The seizure slowed after what felt like an eternity, leaving Est’s body limp, his breaths uneven. A medic pressed a cold compress to his forehead, checking his vitals.
William’s hands curled into fists against his thighs. He had been so close to brushing it off as another joke.
A soft touch to his shoulder made him look up—Tui, crouching beside him, eyes filled with concern. “He’s in good hands, Will.”
But William wasn’t sure he believed that. Not yet.
The concert was over. Nothing mattered except the pale, exhausted man lying beside him.
William reached for Est’s hand, gripping it tightly. This time, I won’t let go.