SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Joshua | Hate

Joshua had always been the rock of Seventeen. With his quiet demeanor and calming presence, he was the anchor that steadied the ship amidst the turbulent seas of fame. Yet, despite his outward calm, Joshua was battling an inner storm that threatened to overwhelm him. It all started innocuously enough-a stray comment here, a harsh critique there-but it quickly spiraled into a deluge of negativity. The online hate was relentless, a barrage of vitriol that seemed to grow with each passing day.

The first few comments Joshua had brushed off with his usual grace. They were just words, after all, and words were fleeting. But as the months wore on, the hatred grew more personal, more venomous. They attacked not just his performance but his character, his appearance, his very essence. Each message felt like a dagger to his heart, and while he tried to ignore them, the accumulation of hurt became too much to bear.

It wasn't long before Joshua began to retreat into himself. The bright smiles and cheerful demeanor that once defined him were replaced by a shadow of sadness. He isolated himself from the other members, spending hours alone in his room. The once energetic Joshua who would laugh and joke with his bandmates was now a ghost of his former self.

Seventeen's members began to notice the change. Seungcheol, the group's leader, was the first to sense something was wrong. It was subtle at first-Joshua's refusal to join group activities, his lack of enthusiasm during rehearsals. Seungcheol tried to approach him gently, but Joshua would always brush off his concerns with a forced smile and a quick excuse.

"Just tired," Joshua would say, or "I need some time to myself."

The other members were growing increasingly worried. They had always been a close-knit family, and seeing Joshua, the heart of their group, so distressed was unsettling. They knew something was wrong but couldn't quite put their finger on it.

One evening, after a particularly grueling rehearsal, Joshua excused himself early, citing exhaustion. The members exchanged concerned glances. Seungkwan was the first to speak up.

"Guys, did you notice how pale Joshua hyung looked today?" Seungkwan asked, frowning. "I'm really worried about him."

"Me too," replied Hoshi. "He's been off for weeks. We need to do something."

They agreed to confront Joshua, hoping to understand what was really going on. With a collective sense of determination, they made their way to Joshua's room.

The door was slightly ajar, and as they approached, they heard muffled sounds from within. Mingyu gently knocked and pushed the door open, revealing a sight that broke their hearts.

Joshua was sitting on the edge of his bed, his face buried in his hands. His shoulders shook with the intensity of his sobs, and the room was filled with the sound of his ragged breathing. It was clear that he was having a panic attack, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

"Joshua hyung!" Mingyu's voice was filled with alarm as he stepped forward. The other members followed suit, their faces etched with worry.

Joshua looked up, his eyes red and swollen. The sight of his friends, their faces filled with concern, seemed to snap him out of his panicked state. He tried to compose himself, but the effort was futile. Tears streamed down his face as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Please," he choked out, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this."

"Joshua, you don't have to apologize," Jeonghan said gently, taking a seat beside him. "We just want to help you."

Joshua's sobs subsided slightly, though he was still shaking. "I... I can't handle it anymore. The hate... it's too much. I try to ignore it, but it just keeps coming."