As the lively melody started to play, Tom found himself standing still for what felt like an eternity before finally singing. His timing
was off, and he stumbled over the lyrics, far from his usual flawless performances.
Ariana’s smile faded into concern, and she stopped the rehearsal and called Tom off the stage.
“What’s the issue? Are you alright?” she asked.
Tom shook his head lightly.
“I don’t know, but ever since I was hit by that stick yesterday, my ears have been ringing nonstop. I thought a good night’s sleep
would help, but it hasn’t.”
Ariana grew even more worried, recalling the force of that hit, and how Tom had skipped a hospital visit and went straight to
rehearsals after dealing with the police.
Seeing his pale face, Ariana insisted, “Your health is the top priority. If the discomfort continues, you must go to the hospital.
I’ll explain your absence to the producers, so don’t worry.”
Tom, however, remained adamant and stubbornly insisted, “No! It wasn’t easy for us to come this far. If I can’t get on stage, our
team would be missing a voting opportunity. Plus, at this point in the competition, we can’t replace anyone. I can’t back out!”
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Ariana could see the determined look on Tom’s face, and all her attempts to persuade him were in vain. Additionally, the reality
show had reached an extremely competitive stage. At this stage of the competition, missing even a single vote could create a
considerable gap between the teams.
The Chamberlain brothers, especially Woodrow, were by Tom’s side, bombarding him with motivational quotes they found online.
They whispered and chattered in Tom’s ear non-stop, and strangely, it made his tinnitus less bothersome.
The next day, as Ariana and the others waited backstage, the livestream continued. Unexpectedly, just an hour before the show
began, Tom’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Not only did the tinnitus persist, but he also felt dizzy and nauseous.
Ariana was deeply concerned. These were symptoms of a concussion!
She approached Tom and said seriously, “You can’t continue like this.
You need to go to the hospital for a check-up. Don’t put your health at risk.”
“No, I’ve made it this far and I don’t plan on giving up now. The show is about to start. The tinnitus and dizziness come and go in
waves. Who knows, I might be okay when I get on stage.”
Tom stubbornly refused to go to the hospital and there was nothing Ariana could say that would make him change his mind. He
gazed calmly at Ariana and after a short pause, he added in a pleading tone, “I can’t leave. I don’t want to miss any chance to
perform on stage.”
“Tom, your health is more important than the competition. Don’t be so stubborn!” The other team members came over and tried
to persuade Tom.
They were all concerned for his well-being.
The live stream showed what was going on backstage too. When the viewers saw the scene, they expressed their concerns in
the chat section.
“From what I heard, he might have been injured during the kidnapping.
I feel so sorry for him,” someone commented.
“Their team seems to share a genuine bond. They are not like the other teams who are only concerned about public attention.”
“But is he really okay? He looks terrible. It’s heartbreaking to see him, like this.”