SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Woozi | Gastritis

Woozi was known as Seventeen's one and only producer, the mastermind behind their music, the one who crafted the melodies, wrote the lyrics, and pieced it all together to create the masterpieces they would perform. But more than just a producer, he was also one of the group's main vocalists. Music was not just his career—it was his lifeblood. It was the one thing that kept him alive, that gave him purpose.

However, as much as Woozi loved what he did, the pressure sometimes became overwhelming. The deadlines piled up, each task taking more time than the last. Between his personal music production work and the hectic schedule of the group, he often found himself forgetting the importance of rest. There were countless nights he stayed up in his studio, eyes bloodshot from the lack of sleep, working relentlessly to meet a deadline. There were even times when he'd lock himself away for an entire week, consumed by his work, not stopping until he had completed everything on his list.

His members were fully aware of his dedication to his craft, and Woozi never hid the reality of his workload from them. He'd mention the deadlines, share his schedule, but despite all that, they couldn't help but worry about him. Among them, it was Hoshi who seemed the most concerned. He knew Woozi's work habits all too well, and he couldn't stand the thought of his friend burning himself out.

Hoshi took it upon himself to check on Woozi often. He would make his way to the studio, sometimes in the dead of night, knocking on Woozi's door until the producer opened it. No one, aside from their manager and Cheol, knew the passcode to Woozi's studio. Hoshi had once asked Cheol why he wasn't worried that Woozi might need help in an emergency. It was then that Cheol, after much pleading, finally managed to convince Woozi to share the passcode with him. It was a rare show of trust, but Woozi had agreed, knowing that sometimes, the workload could be too much for him to handle alone.

Cheol was often the one to worry most about Woozi. He could see how much pressure Woozi put on himself, and the way he sometimes pushed his limits until exhaustion. Cheol had begged Woozi to take better care of himself, to allow the members to help, but Woozi was determined to keep going, thinking that his music was his responsibility to carry alone.

Still, no matter how often Woozi reassured them, Hoshi couldn't help but worry. He would continue to check on him, knocking on the door to make sure Woozi was taking care of himself, reminding him that he wasn't alone in this, and that his members were there to support him.

It was already 2:25 in the morning when Hoshi made his way to Woozi's studio. The two had just wrapped up their dance practice at around midnight, and although the rest of the members had gone home to rest, Hoshi knew that Woozi would likely be staying up late once again. This wasn't unusual for Woozi, who often worked tirelessly on his music until the early hours of the morning.

Hoshi couldn't bear the thought of Woozi overworking himself again, so he decided to stay with him in the studio. He had hoped that, with his presence, he might be able to convince Woozi to take a break, especially since they didn't have any schedules the next day. But as Hoshi glanced at Woozi, it was clear that his friend hadn't heard him. Woozi was engrossed in his work, wearing his headphones and focused on the task in front of him.

Sighing, Hoshi walked closer to Woozi, gently removing the headphones from his ears. He turned the chair to face him, locking eyes with Woozi, who stared at him blankly.

"Hey, let's go home," Hoshi said, his voice soft but firm.

Woozi merely shrugged, his expression emotionless. "I'm not done here."

"We don't have any schedules tomorrow," Hoshi reminded him, hoping that might make Woozi reconsider.

"So?" Woozi replied nonchalantly.