EVERYBODY LOVES SUNOO! 🦊

Sunoo is overworking himself again!!

The days stretched long, and the nights bled into early mornings as ENHYPEN buried themselves in preparation for their comeback. The practice room had become their second home, and exhaustion was an unwelcome but familiar guest. It was a cycle—practice, rest for a minute, practice again—until the choreography became muscle memory and their voices could carry the lyrics even in their sleep. But for Sunoo, the rhythm of it all was starting to feel suffocating, a weight pressing down on his shoulders as the days dwindled closer to their comeback.

Sunoo had always been a perfectionist, but something about this comeback felt different. More intense. More important. He wanted to prove himself, to show that he was capable of more than what people expected of him. So, while the others paced themselves, taking breaks when they needed to, Sunoo pushed on relentlessly.

His body moved almost mechanically, executing each step with precision, but with each passing hour, his movements began to slow. His normally bright eyes were dim, clouded with fatigue. The others noticed, of course—they always noticed when one of them was off. Jungwon, ever the attentive leader, had been watching Sunoo for a while, his brows furrowed in concern.

"Sunoo," Jungwon called out, his voice trying to cut through the music that pounded from the speakers. "Take a break. You've been going at it for hours."

Sunoo shook his head, barely sparing Jungwon a glance. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice breathy but determined. "I need to get this part right. Just one more time."

From across the room, Sunghoon had been keeping a close eye on Sunoo too, his gaze sharp and unwavering. He'd noticed how Sunoo's steps were becoming a little less steady, how his usually flawless spins were starting to wobble. Sunghoon wasn't usually one to speak up during practices—he tended to focus on his own performance—but this was different. This was Sunoo, and he knew his friend was on the brink of pushing himself too far.

He watched as Sunoo went through the motions again, and he could see the fatigue weighing down on him, the small signs that only someone who knew him well would notice—the subtle sag in his shoulders, the slight hesitation in his movements. Sunghoon exchanged a look with Heeseung, who nodded subtly, sharing the unspoken understanding that Sunoo needed to stop before he hurt himself.

"Sunoo, you're overdoing it," Sunghoon finally said, stepping forward. His tone was gentle but firm, a stark contrast to the usual playful banter they shared. "You need to take a break."

But Sunoo's stubbornness flared. "I'm good, really," he insisted, his voice tight with frustration. "I just have to get this right."

Sunghoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew Sunoo well enough to recognize that determined glint in his eye. It was the same look Sunoo got whenever he set his mind on something, and it was nearly impossible to sway him. Nearly.

"Sunoo," Sunghoon said more quietly, moving closer to him and lowering his voice so only Sunoo could hear. "You're gonna burn out if you keep going like this. You know that, right?"

Sunoo glanced at him, his expression wavering for just a moment. "But I need to—"

Before he could finish, the music restarted, and Sunoo automatically fell back into the routine. But this time, his body betrayed him. His legs felt like lead, and his vision swam, the room spinning around him. Sunghoon noticed immediately—the way Sunoo's steps faltered, how his normally graceful movements became sluggish. And then, it happened.

A misstep. Sunoo's foot slipped, and he tumbled to the floor with a heavy thud. The room seemed to freeze, and for a second, no one moved. Then, chaos erupted.

"Sunoo!" Sunghoon was the first to drop to his knees beside him, his heart pounding in his chest. He grabbed Sunoo's arm, helping him sit up. "Are you okay? Talk to me."

Sunoo tried to catch his breath, his chest heaving. "I'm... I'm fine," he managed, though his voice was weak. He attempted to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. "Just slipped, that's all."

"Yeah, slipped because you're exhausted," Sunghoon muttered, his brows knitted with worry. "Why didn't you listen when we told you to rest?"

Ni-ki joined them, kneeling beside Sunoo and looking between him and Sunghoon, his usual playful demeanor replaced by concern. "Hyung, you always tell us to take care of ourselves. You gotta do the same."

Jungwon crouched down next to them, his face serious. "You need to take a break, Sunoo. Pushing yourself like this won't help anyone, especially not yourself."

Sunoo's eyes darted between his members, guilt slowly creeping in. He hadn't realized just how worried they were. "I'm sorry, guys... I just... I didn't want to let anyone down," he mumbled.

Sunghoon sighed, his expression softening. "You won't let anyone down by taking care of yourself, Sunoo. We're a team, remember? We do this together."

Sunoo's lips trembled slightly, and he finally nodded, feeling a bit foolish. "Yeah... yeah, you're right," he admitted quietly.

Heeseung chuckled softly, the tension easing just a bit. "Of course we're right. Now, come on, let's get you off the floor."

Jake and Jay moved closer, helping Sunghoon pull Sunoo to his feet. Sunghoon kept a steady hand on Sunoo's arm, not letting go until he was sure his friend was stable. "Easy there," he said, his voice light but still tinged with concern. "You're not gonna start dancing again, are you?"

Sunoo let out a small laugh, his body still heavy with exhaustion but his heart feeling a bit lighter. "Not unless you're gonna carry me," he joked weakly, leaning against Sunghoon for support.

Sunghoon snorted. "I'd rather not, thanks."

They guided Sunoo over to the side, where he could sit and rest properly. Sunghoon stayed close, grabbing a water bottle and handing it to him. "Drink," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Sunoo took the bottle, his hands still a bit shaky. "Thanks," he murmured, taking a few sips. He could feel his body starting to relax, the tension easing out of his muscles.

The room had settled into a more comfortable silence, the other members watching Sunoo with relieved smiles. Sunghoon stayed by his side, his expression softening as he watched Sunoo slowly come back to himself. "You scared us, you know," he said quietly, his voice just above a whisper.

Sunoo glanced at him, his eyes wide. "Sorry... I didn't mean to."

Sunghoon shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Just... don't do it again, okay? You've got us all here for a reason. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."

Sunoo nodded, a genuine smile breaking through. "Yeah... I know. Thanks, Sunghoon."

Sunghoon grinned, nudging him lightly. "What are friends for, right?"

As the group took a well-deserved break, the tension that had filled the room began to dissipate, replaced by the familiar warmth of their bond. Sunoo leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment, and for the first time in what felt like days, he allowed himself to relax. The comeback was important, but being with his members, feeling their support and care—that was everything.