Beyond the Spotlight

Chapter 5: The Breaking Point

The Club Incident

Y/N was halfway through organizing Chanyeol's upcoming appearances when her phone buzzed violently on the table. She frowned, seeing an unfamiliar number flash across the screen, but something in her gut told her to answer it.

"Hello?" she asked hesitantly.

"Is this Park Chanyeol's manager?" a frantic voice replied. "This is the manager at Blue Velvet Club. Chanyeol... he's passed out. Someone needs to pick him up."

Y/N's heart sank. "What? Passed out? How did this happen?"

The man sighed heavily. "He's been drinking. A lot. We've been trying to stop him, but... he's not in a good state."

"I'll be there right away," Y/N promised, already grabbing her jacket. She dialed Jinwook, one of the backup staff members, on her way out the door.

The drive to the club felt agonizingly slow, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. When they arrived, the scene was chaotic. The thrum of bass-heavy music pounded through the walls as patrons swayed on the dance floor, oblivious to the commotion in the corner booth. Chanyeol sat slumped over, his head resting on the table, his face pale and drawn. Empty glasses surrounded him, a silent testament to his reckless night.

"Chanyeol!" Y/N called, rushing to his side. He stirred faintly at the sound of her voice but didn't lift his head.

"Why does he always push himself like this?" she muttered under her breath as she and Jinwook hoisted him to his feet. His weight was almost too much for them to bear, but they managed to guide him out of the club and into the cool night air.

In the car, Y/N glanced back at Chanyeol, who was sprawled across the backseat. His usually vibrant energy was replaced by a lifeless, almost fragile demeanor. She bit her lip, trying to push down the worry threatening to overwhelm her.

"He'll be okay, right?" Jinwook asked from the passenger seat, his voice laced with concern.

"He has to be," Y/N replied, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. "He just needs to rest."

---

The Outburst

Back at Chanyeol's apartment, they carefully guided him to the couch. He groaned, clutching his head, his usual lively demeanor replaced by a pained grimace.

"Water. Get him water," Y/N instructed Jinwook, who nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

She knelt in front of Chanyeol, her voice soft but firm. "Chanyeol, can you hear me?"

"Y/N," he mumbled, his voice slurred. "Why... why are you here?"

"Saving your ass," she replied, trying to keep her tone light. "What were you thinking, drinking like that?"

He let out a low chuckle, bitter and hollow. "Maybe I wasn't thinking," he muttered, his head lolling to the side.

Jinwook returned with a glass of water, but when Y/N held it to Chanyeol's lips, he shoved her hand away, causing the glass to spill.

"Chanyeol!" she exclaimed.

"I don't need your damn help," he growled, his voice dripping with venom.

Y/N bit back her frustration, setting the glass down and wiping the spilled water with a towel. "Fine. Be stubborn," she muttered.

As the night wore on, Chanyeol's condition worsened. He groaned in pain, pressing his hands to his temples.

"Y/N," he rasped suddenly, his voice hoarse but sharper than before. "Make it stop."