Jun Sickfics (Seventeen)

Pressure

The neon lights of Seoul flickered outside the window as Jun sat on the edge of his bed, the weight of the world pressing down on him. A soft hum of music drifted from the speaker in the corner, but it barely registered in his mind. He glanced at his phone, the screen lighting up with notifications from fans and friends alike. But amidst the words of encouragement and adoration, Jun felt a hollowness that he couldn't shake off.
"Hey, you alright?" Minghao's voice broke through the fog. He stepped into the room, his brow furrowed in concern. "You've been quiet lately."
Jun forced a smile, but it felt brittle, like glass ready to shatter. "Yeah, just tired, I guess."
"Tired of what? Performing? You love this," Minghao said, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. He studied Jun with those piercing eyes, searching for the truth.
"It's not the performances," Jun replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just... it's overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like I'm losing myself in all of this."
Minghao stepped closer, his expression softening. "You're not losing yourself. You're still you. Just remember, we've got your back. We're a team."
Jun nodded, but the weight in his chest didn't lift. He glanced at the mirror across the room, at the reflection of a boy who smiled brightly on stage but felt dimmer in the dark. "Thanks, Hao. I appreciate it."
Before Minghao could respond, the door swung open, and Seungcheol burst in, a wide grin plastered on his face. "Guys! You won't believe what just happened! We got an offer for a world tour!"
"Whoa, really?" Minghao exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
Jun's heart sank further. A world tour meant more pressure, more expectations, more time away from the things that truly mattered. "That's awesome, Cheol," he managed, forcing some enthusiasm into his tone.
"Awesome? It's incredible! Can you imagine the fans? The energy?" Seungcheol's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "We need to celebrate! Where's Hoshi and the others?"
"Probably rehearsing," Minghao replied, glancing at Jun, whose smile had faltered again.
"Come on, let's go find them!" Seungcheol clapped Jun on the back, almost too hard. "You're coming too, right?"
"Yeah, of course," Jun said, trailing behind them as they headed out. The hallway echoed with their footsteps, but Jun felt as if he were lagging behind in a different world.
They found Hoshi leading a dance practice, his movements sharp and full of energy. "Hey, you three! Join in!" he shouted, laughter spilling from his lips.
Jun watched as Dino jumped in, effortlessly matching Hoshi's rhythm. The others followed suit, the room filling with their laughter and the sound of shoes sliding across the floor. Jun lingered at the edge, a spectator in his own life.
"Jun, come on!" Hoshi called, spotting him. "Don't just stand there! We need your moves!"
"Yeah, Jun! Show us what you've got!" Seungkwan chimed in, his voice teasing yet encouraging.
Jun took a deep breath and stepped into the circle, the familiar beat pulsing through him. He moved, but it felt mechanical, like he was trying to fit into a mold that no longer felt right. As the song ended, a round of applause erupted, but all Jun could hear was the echo of his own doubts.
"See? You're still amazing!" Seungkwan beamed, wrapping an arm around Jun's shoulders.
"Yeah," Jun replied, but the enthusiasm felt forced.
"Let's grab some food after this! My treat!" Mingyu suggested, rubbing his stomach dramatically.
"Only if you're buying the best, hyung!" Dino laughed, pointing at Mingyu.
"Hey, I always buy the best!" Mingyu shot back, feigning offense.
As the practice wound down, Jun slipped away to the balcony, needing a moment alone. He leaned against the railing, staring out at the city below, where lights twinkled like stars against the night sky. A soft melody drifted from inside, but he heard nothing.
"Jun?" a voice broke through his thoughts. It was Joshua, stepping outside. "You okay?"
Jun turned, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... taking a break."
Joshua studied him, tilting his head slightly. "You don't look okay. You look... distant."
"I'm fine, really." Jun sighed, the lie tasting bitter on his tongue.
"No, you're not," Joshua said gently. "It's okay to not be okay. We all have our moments. Just don't shut us out."
"I don't want to be a burden," Jun murmured, looking away.
"You're not a burden." Joshua stepped closer, his voice steady. "You're our friend. We care about you. Talk to me."
The dam inside Jun broke. "I feel like I'm drowning. The pressure, the expectations... it's just too much sometimes. I don't know if I can keep doing this."
Joshua's expression softened. "You don't have to do it alone. We're in this together. Remember when we first started? We had each other's backs, no matter what."
Jun nodded, the memories flooding back. The laughter, the late-night talks, the dreams that felt so big and bright. "I just... I don't want to disappoint anyone."
"You won't. Just be yourself," Joshua said. "You're an incredible artist, Jun. But you're also a person, and you deserve to feel good about yourself outside of all this."
Jun felt the warmth of Joshua's words seep into his heart. "Thank you, Joshua."
"Anytime," Joshua replied with a smile. "Now, let's go eat. You need some good food to fuel that amazing talent of yours."
As they returned to the others, the atmosphere shifted. Laughter and chatter filled the room, but Jun felt lighter, a flicker of something brighter igniting within him.
"I'm starving!" Seungkwan exclaimed, rubbing his stomach again. "Let's go before I eat my own hand!"
"Alright, alright! Let's grab something good!" Seungcheol rallied the group, and they all filed out, their voices a chorus of excitement.
Over dinner, Jun found himself laughing more than he had in weeks. The teasing, the playful banter, it all wrapped around him like a warm blanket. "Hey, remember that time Seungkwan almost fell off the stage during that performance?" Mingyu asked, and the table erupted in laughter.
"Don't remind me!" Seungkwan groaned, his face turning a shade of red. "I still can't believe you all let me trip like that!"
"Who could forget that? Classic!" Hoshi chimed in, mimicking Seungkwan's flail.
As the night wore on, Jun felt a sense of belonging wash over him. The fears that had consumed him seemed to fade, replaced by the camaraderie that had always been the backbone of their group.
After they finished eating, the group decided to head to a karaoke room. Jun hesitated for a moment but then decided to join them. The atmosphere inside was electric, filled with laughter and off-key singing.
"Jun, you have to sing something!" Hoshi shouted, handing him the microphone.
"Come on, Jun! Show us what you've got!" Dino echoed, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Jun felt a flicker of nervousness, but he took a deep breath. "Okay, okay. I'll sing!"
He chose a song that resonated with him—one about finding strength in oneself. As he sang, he poured his heart into each note, feeling the weight of his worries lift with every lyric. The others joined in, harmonizing and cheering him on.
When he finished, the room erupted in applause, and Jun's heart soared. "See? You still have it!" Seungkwan shouted, clapping enthusiastically.
"Yeah! You're a rock star!" Minghao added, beaming.
Jun felt a warmth spread through him, a reminder that he was not alone in this journey. "Thanks, guys. I needed that."
As they continued to sing and laugh, Jun realized that it was okay to feel overwhelmed. It was okay to lean on his friends when things got tough. They were there to lift him up, to remind him of who he was both on stage and off.
As the night drew to a close, Jun stepped outside for a moment of fresh air. The stars twinkled above, and for the first time in a long while, he felt like they were within reach.
"Hey," Joshua joined him again, leaning against the railing. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah," Jun replied, a genuine smile breaking across his face. "A lot better, actually."
"Good. Just remember, we're here for you. Always," Joshua said.
"I know," Jun said softly, looking out at the city. "And I'm really grateful for that."
The night wrapped around them like a comforting embrace, and for Jun, the world didn't seem so heavy anymore. With his friends by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The melody of their laughter drifted into the night, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there was always light to be found.

The End 🎡