SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Joshua | Low Blood Pressure

Joshua had always been the type to give his all, but lately, it felt like he was pushing himself harder than ever. With the release of their new album just around the corner, the pressure was palpable. The studio is filled with energy as his members, each immersed in their own creative flow, threw around ideas and melodies. Joshua loved this part of being in Seventeen, but as the clock ticked later into the night, he found himself struggling to keep pace.

In the beginning, he had a routine: warm-ups, vocal exercises, then diving into practice with the others. But as the days dragged on, rehearsals became marathons. Joshua would watch as his members bounced off each other's energy, their laughter echoing through the halls, while he felt the weight of fatigue pulling him down. He had always been the steady anchor, but now it was harder to maintain his balance.

"Hey, hyung, you okay?" Woozi asked one night, glancing up from the soundboard. The dim light cast shadows across his face, but Joshua could see the concern in his eyes. "You've been staying late a lot."

"Yeah, just want to make sure I'm on top of everything," Joshua replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Woozi nodded but didn't look convinced. "Don't push yourself too hard. We need you at your best."

Joshua appreciated the sentiment, but it felt like every late night was a necessary sacrifice. He wanted to contribute more, to match the intensity of his members. As the night wore on, the studio gradually emptied, leaving Joshua alone with his thoughts. He replayed the harmonies they had worked on, tweaking them in his mind, but fatigue began to blur his focus.

He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. The silence of the studio felt heavy, filled with unspoken expectations. He could hear the soft echoes of laughter from earlier in the evening-a stark contrast to the stillness that surrounded him now. Joshua missed that brotherhood, but the drive to improve pulled him deeper into his work.

Hours passed, and he found himself standing in front of the mirror, singing quietly to his reflection, trying to master a particularly tricky line. The notes danced around him, but his eyelids grew heavier. Just as he thought about calling it a night, the door creaked open, and Seungkwan popped his head in.

"Still here hyung?" Seungkwan asked, a mix of amusement and concern etched on his face. "You know we have tomorrow, right?"

"I know," Joshua said, rubbing his eyes. "I just want to make sure I'm ready."

"Ready for what? A solo concert? You're not going to win any awards for overworking yourself, you know," Seungkwan teased, stepping inside and leaning against the wall.

Joshua chuckled lightly but didn't reply. Seungkwan had a point; he was trying to juggle so much. "Maybe just one more run-through," he finally said, glancing at the clock. It was way past midnight, and he could feel the fatigue creeping in.

Seungkwan stepped closer, a knowing look in his eyes. "Come on, let's take a break. We can go grab some late-night snacks. You need to eat, too."

Joshua hesitated, caught between his desire to practice and the warmth of friendship that beckoned him. There was a part of him that knew he needed to recharge, but another part that felt he couldn't afford to. Finally, he sighed, looking back at the untouched sheet music scattered on the table.

"Alright, just for a little while," he conceded, and Seungkwan's face broke into a grin.

As they left the studio, Joshua felt a flicker of relief. Maybe stepping away for a moment wouldn't hurt. As they walked through the quiet halls, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was teetering on a thin line, balancing ambition with the need for rest. The journey ahead was long, but for now, he could let go, if only for a little while.