Jun has always struggled with expressing himself fully in Korean, and lately, he feels more and more isolated from the group because of it. He often finds himself on the sidelines of conversations and activities, feeling like the group is moving forward without him.
The loneliness eats away at him until one day, during a group meeting, Jun bursts out in frustration, accusing the members of forgetting about him. The group is stunned by the intensity of his emotions.
How do they work together to bridge the language and emotional gap?
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In the small, brightly lit room where the members of Seventeen gathered for their usual group meeting, a sudden tension filled the air.
Jun's voice, usually calm and soft-spoken, broke through the hum of conversation with a sharpness that no one expected.
He was standing, fists clenched, his face flushed with a mixture of frustration and vulnerability.
"You all act like I'm not even here half the time!"
He shouted, his voice trembling.
"Do you have any idea what it feels like? Every time you're talking, joking, making plans, I'm just- I'm just standing there. I can't keep up, and it feels like none of you even care."
The room fell silent.
The members looked at each other, a range of emotions flickering across their faces, surprise, confusion, and for some, dawning guilt.
Jun's words hung heavy in the air, his emotions raw and exposed, the hurt unmistakable.
It wasn't often that he spoke up like this.
Jun was known to be reserved, the quiet presence who offered his support in subtle, gentle ways.
But now, the depth of his isolation was painfully clear to everyone.
Minghao, sitting closest to Jun, reached out a tentative hand.
He knew better than most how difficult it was for Jun, being one of the few members who shared his background and native language.
Minghao's eyes softened with understanding, and he said gently.
"Jun hyung, we had no idea, why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Jun's shoulders slumped as the initial burst of anger faded, leaving him looking almost deflated.
"I didn't want to be a burden. I thought- I thought I could manage it, that I'd just catch up on my own. But it's like every time I try, the distance just feels bigger."
Seungkwan, usually quick with a witty retort, now sat silently, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a solemn expression.
