SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Dk | Choking

The sun had long dipped below the horizon, casting the dorm in shadows. Inside their shared room, DK sat alone, the quiet of the night enveloping him. He had been running late, and with his members already out for the night, he decided to have a quick meal in the comfort of his room.

On the small desk in front of him lay a bowl of spicy ramen, its steam rising in delicate curls. DK eagerly slurped at the noodles, savoring the rich broth. He was lost in the comforting flavors, the kind that made him feel at home even when he was alone.

As he dug into the meal, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Joshua, one of the other members, asking if he was still awake. DK quickly replied with a casual, "Yeah, just having some ramen hyung. You guys having fun?"

The conversation was light, and he was about to take another bite when he felt something odd. A noodle had gotten stuck in his throat, and it wasn't moving. He coughed, hoping to dislodge it, but the sensation only worsened. Panic began to creep in as he realized he couldn't breathe properly.

His face turned red, and his hands instinctively went to his throat. His breaths became shallow, and he tried to call out for help, but no sound came out. The room seemed to close in on him as he struggled to clear his airway. He clutched at his throat, his vision blurring.

Meanwhile, in the common area of the dorm, Joshua, Jeonghan, and Woozi were lounging around. They were laughing about a funny video Jeonghan had shown them, but the light-hearted moment was abruptly interrupted by a loud, distressed noise.

"Did you hear that?" Jeonghan asked, looking around. "It sounded like it came from DK's room."

Joshua frowned, glancing at the clock. "It's pretty late. Do you think something's wrong?"

Before Jeonghan could respond, Woozi was already standing up. "I'll check on him," he said, his tone serious. The trio followed him to DK's room, their laughter replaced by concern.

Woozi knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He tried the handle, and to his relief, it was unlocked. As he pushed the door open, the sight that greeted them was alarming. DK was clutching his throat, his face a deep shade of red.

"DK!" Woozi shouted, rushing to his side. "Are you okay?"

DK's eyes met Woozi's, wide with panic. He shook his head, unable to speak. Woozi immediately realized what was happening. "He's choking!"

Jeonghan and Joshua were quick to react. Jeonghan grabbed a chair from the desk and positioned it behind DK, while Joshua took a deep breath. "Alright, let's get him into the right position," Joshua said, his voice steady despite the urgency.

Woozi carefully guided DK to lean forward, supporting him gently. "We need to try the Heimlich maneuver. I'll do it. Jeonghan hyung, you call for help just in case."

Jeonghan nodded, pulling out his phone and dialing the emergency number. As he spoke to the operator, Joshua positioned himself behind DK, placing his arms around DK's waist.

"DK, I need you to stay calm," Joshua said, his voice firm but soothing. "I'm going to help you."

With a deep breath, Joshua applied pressure to DK's abdomen. The maneuver was precise, his hands pushing inward and upward. DK coughed violently, his body jerking with each attempt. After a tense few moments, the offending noodle finally dislodged, flying from DK's mouth.

DK gasped for air, his face gradually returning to its normal color. He slumped forward, resting his hands on his knees, his breaths ragged. Woozi quickly grabbed a glass of water from the desk and handed it to him.

"Drink this," Woozi said, his voice filled with concern. "Slowly."

DK took the glass with trembling hands and sipped the water, the cool liquid soothing his throat. Joshua stood by, his hands still slightly shaking from the adrenaline. Jeonghan hung up the phone, relieved that the emergency services weren't needed.

"You okay?" Jeonghan asked, his voice gentle as he sat beside DK.

DK nodded weakly. "Yeah, I think so. Just... I couldn't breathe. I was so scared."

Joshua placed a reassuring hand on DK's shoulder. "You did great, DK. We're just glad we got to you in time."

Woozi nodded in agreement. "It was really close. We need to make sure this doesn't happen again. Maybe keep an eye on the food you're eating when you're alone."

DK gave a shaky laugh. "Yeah, definitely. Thanks for coming in. I don't know what I would've done if you guys hadn't heard me."

Jeonghan patted DK's back. "We're a team, remember? We look out for each other."

The atmosphere in the room shifted from tense to comforting as the members settled around DK, ensuring he was alright. Joshua offered to make him some more ramen, this time with extra care to avoid any mishaps.

As they chatted, the mood lightened. DK recounted the scare with a mix of humor and gratitude, and his members listened with empathetic smiles. The night had taken an unexpected turn, but the bond between them had only grown stronger.

Jeonghan and Woozi eventually left to get some rest, their roles in the emergency having taken their toll. Joshua remained behind, making sure DK was comfortable and relaxed. They talked about mundane things, anything to take DK's mind off the incident.

By the time the night had fully settled, DK was feeling much better. He had recovered from the scare, and though he was still a bit shaken, he was surrounded by the warmth and care of his friends.

"Thank you, Joshua hyung," DK said sincerely, his voice still a bit hoarse.

Joshua smiled. "Anytime. We're a family. That's what matters."

DK nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I'm really lucky to have you guys."

Joshua stood up, giving DK a reassuring pat on the back. "Get some rest. We'll talk more tomorrow."

As Joshua left the room, DK lay back on his bed, the earlier panic slowly fading from his mind. The night had turned out far differently than he had expected, but in the end, he was safe, and his members had shown once again just how much they cared for each other.

The dorm fell into a quiet lull, with each member nestled in their own space, the bonds of their friendship made all the stronger by the trials they faced together. And as DK closed his eyes, he felt a deep sense of comfort, knowing that no matter what challenges came their way, they would always be there for one another.