EVERYBODY LOVES SUNOO! 🦊

Protect sunoo!

It started out subtly—so subtle that Sunoo almost didn’t notice it at first. A few glances exchanged between staff members as he practiced his usual bright, infectious personality, small laughs under their breath when he spoke, and whispers that were just loud enough for him to overhear.

"You know, he’s always so delicate," one of them muttered during a wardrobe fitting.

"He’s such a sissy," another added, not even bothering to lower their voice. Sunoo felt his chest tighten, but he didn’t let it show. He kept smiling, kept pushing through as though the words didn’t sting as much as they did.

But it didn’t stop there. It never does.

Every day, the whispers grew louder, the remarks more biting. Sunoo would catch pieces of conversations that were clearly meant for him to hear. They’d mock his movements, saying he was too feminine, too soft, as if those qualities were something to be ashamed of.

“Look at him—he’s practically like a girl,” one of the staff sneered behind his back. “Doesn’t fit with the others at all.”

Sunoo bit down on his lip, feeling his stomach twist. He wanted to say something, to stand up for himself, but the words always seemed to die in his throat. It was hard enough being in the spotlight, constantly worrying about how he came across to the fans. Now, even the staff—the very people who were supposed to support him—were turning against him.

He kept it to himself, not wanting to make a scene or trouble the others. Sunoo didn’t want to be a burden. He told himself he could handle it, that he could brush it off, just like he always had. But the more it happened, the harder it became to ignore.

The final straw came one evening after an especially long rehearsal. Sunoo was packing up his things when two staff members cornered him in the hallway, their expressions cold and mocking.

“You’ve been awfully quiet lately, Sunoo,” one of them said, voice dripping with false concern. “I wonder why?”

The other staff member smirked, stepping closer. “It’s better that way, honestly. You’re already too much—always acting so sweet, so dainty. Makes us all uncomfortable.”

Sunoo tensed, his heart racing as he clutched his bag tighter. “I… I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Exactly. So don’t start,” the first staff member said sharply. “And don’t even think about telling anyone else about this, especially your members. If you do, things will only get worse for you. Understand?”

Sunoo nodded quickly, swallowing hard, his throat tight. He wanted to run, to get away from them, but his feet felt glued to the floor. He could barely breathe. It was a suffocating, helpless feeling—like being trapped with no way out.

The staff walked away, leaving Sunoo standing there, shaken and alone.

---

As the days passed, Sunoo did everything he could to avoid the staff members who had been tormenting him. He became more withdrawn, less talkative, and the energy that usually lit up his presence seemed dimmed. He’d always been the one to lift everyone else’s spirits, the one with the brightest smile and kindest heart. But now, it felt like a mask he couldn’t keep up anymore.

The other members noticed. They’d been watching him closely, picking up on the small changes—the way he’d quietly slip out of conversations, how he’d excuse himself from group hangouts earlier than usual, the forced smiles that never quite reached his eyes.

It was Jay who first voiced his concern during dinner one night.

“Something’s off with Sunoo,” he said, glancing around at the others. “He’s been acting strange lately.”