SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Dk | Sore Throat

It was an autumn morning in Seoul, the kind where the air felt like a promise of change. The sunlight, filtering through the curtains of the Seventeen Dormitory, spilled across the room in soft, golden stripes. Dk, known for his unflagging energy and infectious smile, lay in bed, clutching his pillow tightly. His face, usually bright and full of life, was now pale and shadowed by discomfort.

He had woken up with a sore throat and a pounding headache, but he brushed it off as just the aftermath of a busy schedule. The rehearsals had been intense, and he figured his body just needed a bit of rest. However, as the days went by, his condition worsened. His throat felt like it was on fire, and his body ached with an unsettling heaviness.

Yet, he refused to show it. Dk didn't want to be a burden to his members. They were all so focused on their upcoming album release and their preparation for a big concert. They had been working tirelessly, and the last thing he didn't want to happen was to disrupt their rhythm or cause unnecessary worry.

So, he plastered on a smile each morning, pretending that everything was fine. He took extra care to hide his discomfort, drinking copious amount of water and swallowing painkillers discreetly. When he had to rehearse, he pushed through the pain, trying to keep up with the group's high energy and upbeat routines.

The members, particularly the attentive ones like Woozi and Joshua, noticed something was off. They saw the way Dk's usual vivacity had dimmed slightly, and they could hear the roughness in his voice. But each time they approached him, he would brush off their concerns with a wave of his hand and a forced chuckle.

"I'm just a bit tired, that's all," he would say, trying to sound casual.

The others accepted this explanation, trusting Dk to know his own body. After all, he had always been the one to rally everyone together, never missing a beat. They had no reason to doubt him now , but they couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss.

One particularly grueling rehearsal, Dk was struggling more than usual. His throat felt like it was closing up, and he had to keep pausing to catch his breath. His movements were sluggish, his smile was more of a grimace, and he was losing focus. During a break, he retreated to the corner of the studio, away from the prying eyes of his teammates.

Seungkwan, always perceptive, followed him. "Dk, are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Dk, caught off guard, forced a reassuring grin. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all. Don't worry about me."

But Seungkwan wasn't convinced. He placed a hand on Dk's forehead and felt the radiating heat from him. "You're burning up," he said. "You should see a doctor."

"Really, Seungkwan, it's nothing," Dk insisted, but the concern in Seungkwan's eyes was unmistakable. "Just let me rest for a bit, okay?"

Seungkwan hesistated but nodded, though he made a mental note to keep a closer eye on his brother.

That night, the members gathered for dinner. Dk strugglede to eat, his throat sore with every bite. He could barely taste the food, and the effort to chew and swallow made him wince. Yet he laughed and chatted, pretending nothing was wrong, while his body fought a losing battle with fever and exhaustion.

As the days passed, Dk's condition deteriorated. He started to lose his appetite, and his cough became more frequent and severe. His usual vibrant self was a mere shadow, and even though he was determined to continue, he found himself increasingly unable to keep up.

Then, one evening, the breaking point came. Dk was lying on his bed, shivering despite being under several layers of blankets. His breathing was labored, and he could barely keep his eyes open. The pain in his throat was now unbearable, and he felt dizzy and weak.