SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Dino | Ignored

Dino, curled up on the couch, watched the scene unfold with a growing sense of unease. His hyungs, usually a boisterous bunch, were strangely quiet, their eyes glued to the screen, their laughter muffled by the headphones.

"Hyungs, what are you playing?" Dino asked, trying to break through the silence.

"Just a new game, Dino," Jeonghan replied, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "You wouldn't understand."

Dino's heart sank. He tried to join in, his usual playful energy bubbling up, but his attempts were met with a distracted wave of a hand or a mumbled "Yeah, yeah, later." It wasn't unusual for them to be engrossed in something, but this felt different. There was a distance in their eyes, a subtle shift in their demeanor that made Dino's stomach churn.

"Are you guys busy?" he asked again, his voice a little shaky.

"We're just trying to relax, Dino," Seungkwan said, his tone a little too cheerful. "You can go do your own thing."

Dino felt a prickling sensation in his throat, a persistent cough that he tried to suppress. His head felt heavy, his limbs sluggish. He tried to convince himself it was just a cold, a minor inconvenience, but the feeling of being overlooked, of being invisible, was gnawing at him.

He tried to ignore it, focusing on his phone, scrolling through social media, but the silence was deafening. He felt a wave of dizziness, his vision blurring for a moment. He tried to shake it off, but the feeling persisted.

"Dino, you okay?" Mingyu asked, finally looking up from the game. "You look pale."

"Yes hyung, I'm fine," Dino mumbled, forcing a smile. "Just a little tired."

He retreated to his room, hoping to escape the suffocating silence. He lay down on his bed, his body aching, his head throbbing. He tried to sleep, but the persistent cough kept him awake. He felt a burning sensation in his chest, a tightness that made it difficult to breathe.

The next morning, he woke up feeling even worse. His throat was raw, his body ached, and he felt a constant chill despite the warm weather. He tried to get out of bed, but his legs felt weak, his head spinning.

"Dino, you still haven't come out?" Seungkwan's voice came from the living room. "We're going to practice soon."

"I'm not feeling well hyung," Dino called back, his voice hoarse. "I think I'll just stay in today."

"Just a little cold, right?" Seungkwan said, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance. "Don't be such a baby."

Dino's heart sank. He knew he was being dramatic, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He tried to ignore it, focusing on his breathing exercises, hoping to ease the tightness in his chest.

Days turned into weeks, and the pattern continued. Dino would wake up to an empty dorm, the hyungs already gone for practice or schedules. He'd spend his days alone, the silence punctuated by the occasional cough that seemed to echo in the empty space. He tried to reach out, to engage, but his efforts were met with a polite but distant response.

One evening, he found himself alone in the practice room, the familiar scent of sweat and wood filling his senses. He tried to dance, to move, but his body felt like lead. He stumbled, his breath catching in his throat, a wave of dizziness washing over him. He collapsed onto the floor, his vision blurring, the world around him fading into a hazy blur.

He woke up to the sound of frantic voices, the smell of disinfectant stinging his nostrils. He was in the hospital, a sterile white room surrounding him. His hyungs were there, their faces etched with worry, their eyes red-rimmed. They were holding his hand, their touch warm and reassuring.

"Dino, you scared us," Mingyu said, his voice thick with emotion. "We didn't know you were so sick."

"We were so focused on our schedules, we didn't notice," Wonwoo added, his gaze filled with guilt.

Dino, weak and confused, looked at them, his heart heavy with a mixture of relief and hurt. He had been so afraid, so alone, but they were here now, their concern palpable.

"I... I just felt a bit under the weather," he mumbled, his voice raspy.

"You were so sick, Dino," Seungkwan said, his voice choked with emotion. "You were running a fever, you were coughing up blood..."

Dino's eyes widened in shock. He had been so focused on the feeling of being ignored, he hadn't realized how serious his condition was. He had been so afraid of being a burden, he had kept his illness a secret, pushing himself to the brink.

"I didn't want to worry you hyungs," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"You should have told us," Jeonghan said, his voice soft. "We're your hyungs, we're here for you."

The days that followed were a blur of tests, medication, and the constant presence of his hyungs. They stayed by his side, taking turns sleeping in the hospital room, bringing him his favorite foods, and showering him with love and care.

One afternoon, as Dino lay in his hospital bed, watching the sunlight stream through the window, he felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He had been so focused on his own pain, he had failed to see their genuine worry. He had been so afraid of being a burden, he had pushed them away, unknowingly putting himself in danger.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice weak. "I didn't mean to make you worry."

"It's okay, Dino," Joshua said, his hand gently resting on Dino's. "We're just glad you're okay now."

"We were so scared," S.Coups added, his voice filled with emotion. "We thought we were going to lose you."

Dino's heart ached with guilt and gratitude. He had been so caught up in his own pain, he had failed to see their genuine love and concern. He had been so afraid of being a burden, he had pushed them away, unknowingly putting himself in danger.

As he slowly recovered, Dino realized the depth of their love and concern. He had been so caught up in his own pain, he had failed to see their genuine worry. He had been so afraid of being a burden, he had pushed them away, unknowingly putting himself in danger.

He learned a valuable lesson that day. It wasn't about being strong or independent, it was about letting people in, about allowing them to care for you. He learned that true strength lay in vulnerability, in trusting those who loved you enough to help.

From that day forward, Dino vowed to never again hide his pain. He would be open and honest, knowing that his hyungs were there for him, always. He would cherish their love, their support, and their unwavering presence in his life. He would never again take their love for granted.