Seokmin has always been the upbeat member, always ready with a smile and a laugh to lift everyone's spirits. But lately, he feels like no one sees him as anything other than comic relief.
During a particularly tough day, Seokmin lashes out, admitting that he feels overlooked, like his talents and emotions aren't taken seriously. The group is shocked, having never realized Seokmin felt this way.
How do they come to understand Seokmin beyond his bright exterior, and how does the group learn to appreciate all of his layers?
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It was the kind of day where everything felt heavy, even though the sun outside shone brightly.
The members of Seventeen were drained from rehearsals, tired from the long hours they had spent working on new material.
Laughter echoed through the room, a familiar sound of Seokmin's infectious energy, but this time, it felt hollow.
The members, used to his ever-present cheer, didn't notice the way his shoulders slumped or the tiredness in his eyes.
At first, they thought he was just tired, as they were, but when he made an offhand comment, the group's laughter died down, replaced by a puzzled silence.
"I don't know why you guys always expect me to be the one to cheer everyone up."
Seokmin said, not looking at anyone in particular.
His tone was casual, but there was something brittle in the way the words came out, as if they had been building up for a long time.
The group, not understanding what was happening, exchanged confused glances.
"What do you mean?"
Joshua asked, tilting his head, his voice gentle.
Seokmin's hand clenched around the microphone he was holding, his eyes suddenly meeting Joshua's.
The words spilled out before he could stop them, sharp and raw.
"You guys always expect me to be the funny one, the one who makes everyone laugh. But what about me?"
His voice cracked slightly, but he pressed on.
"I'm tired of being the guy who's only good for jokes. I have emotions too, you know. I'm not just comic relief."
The room went silent. They didn't know how to react.
They had never seen Seokmin like this before, his usually bright, carefree demeanor replaced by something dark and vulnerable.
It was a side of him they had never really taken the time to notice.
Seokmin looked at them, a mixture of frustration and sadness in his eyes.
"I feel like no one ever takes me seriously. When I'm not laughing, when I'm not making jokes, no one even notices. I'm always just the guy who's always happy. But I'm not always happy. I'm- I'm just tired."
