Kpop Sickfics & Hurtfics

Invisible Weight (Jeongin)

Jeongin was known for his bright smile, the kind that could light up a room and ease the hearts of everyone around him. Fans adored him for his infectious energy, dubbing him "the sunshine" of Stray Kids. No matter how exhausting their schedules became or how drained he felt after hours of practice, he always made sure to show his cheerful, playful side. He had to. It was what the fans expected of him, what the members and the world seemed to expect from the "maknae" of the group.

But lately, the smile felt more and more forced.

It had been weeks—months, even—since Jeongin had started feeling the weight of it all. The never-ending cycle of performances, fan meetings, interviews, and recordings left little room for breathing, let alone for processing how he was feeling. And then there was the constant pressure. The pressure to always appear happy, to always be cheerful, to always be the one the others could rely on to lighten the mood. The pressure to be perfect. He was the maknae, after all. Wasn't it his job to keep the atmosphere light, to bring joy to the team, no matter how much the burden of his own emotions pressed down on him?

As the group wrapped up another exhausting day of interviews and photoshoots, Jeongin could feel the strain on his shoulders building up once again. The fans had cheered for him that day, screaming his name with so much love. But as he waved to them, plastering on his signature grin, a cold emptiness settled in his chest. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it up.

The car ride back to the dorm was quiet. The other members were tired too, sinking into their seats and closing their eyes. But Jeongin's mind was racing, his thoughts swirling around the idea that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't enough. Was he doing enough for the group? Was he making the fans happy enough? Was he good enough?

By the time they reached the dorm, Jeongin was barely holding it together.

"Dinner, anyone?" Chan asked, always the caring leader, his eyes scanning the members to gauge their energy levels.

"I'll pass," Jeongin mumbled, keeping his head down as he quickly excused himself to his room. The others barely had time to react before he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.

Inside his room, Jeongin sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the floor. The silence pressed down on him, and the tears that had been threatening to fall all day finally broke free, spilling over and running down his cheeks. His body shook as sobs wracked his chest, and he curled in on himself, hugging his knees tightly as if he could hold himself together through sheer force of will.

But the more he tried to stifle the tears, the harder they came.

I'm not good enough. The thought echoed in his mind, relentless and merciless. I can't keep this up.

He had always been the one to comfort others, to be the smiling face that brightened everyone's day. But now, sitting alone in his room, Jeongin felt the crushing realization that he didn't know how to ask for help. He didn't know how to let go, to let someone else shoulder his pain. He had always believed he had to be strong, for the fans, for his members, for everyone but himself.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his spiraling thoughts.

"Innie? You okay?" Felix's voice was quiet but laced with concern. "We haven't seen you come out..."

Jeongin tried to answer, tried to say something, but the sobs wouldn't stop. He clamped his hand over his mouth, desperately trying to muffle the sound. He didn't want them to see him like this. He didn't want to burden them with his emotions.

But the door opened anyway.

Felix stepped inside, his eyes immediately finding Jeongin's trembling form on the bed. His heart clenched at the sight of the usually bubbly maknae so broken. Without a word, Felix walked over and sat down next to Jeongin, not touching him at first, just letting his presence be known.