SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

VerCheol | Expired Medicine Part II

Vernon jolted awake at 11 PM, his stomach grumbling insistently. He groaned softly, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "I need something to eat," he thought, pushing himself off the couch. He swayed slightly, feeling the dizziness return, but he was determined to make it to the fridge.

Once there, he opened the door, squinting at the light. "Just a cookie and some milk will do," he muttered to himself, grabbing a cookie and pouring a glass. He took a few bites, savoring the sweet taste, but as soon as he finished, a wave of nausea hit him hard.

"Oh no..." he gasped, clutching his stomach. Before he could even think, he rushed to the bathroom, barely making it before he bent over the toilet. The sickness overwhelmed him, and he began to vomit.

Tears streamed down his face as he struggled, his body shaking with each heave. "Why is this happening?" he sobbed, feeling utterly helpless. After what felt like an eternity, he sank to his knees, completely drained, the cold tiles pressing against his skin.

As he sat there, shivering and exhausted, the weight of loneliness crept back in. "I can't let hyung see me like this," he thought, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "He's working so hard... I don't want to be a burden."

After a few minutes of silence, he managed to catch his breath, but the energy was completely gone from his body. He leaned back against the wall, feeling utterly defeated. "I just need to get through tonight," he whispered to himself, trying to muster the strength to stand.

He pulled out his phone with trembling hands, wanting to reach out to Seungcheol. But what could he say? "Hey, I'm sick, but it's fine"? He bit his lip, feeling the tears start again. "I can't do this alone..."

Just then, his phone buzzed, and he jumped at the sound. It was a message from Seungcheol.

"Just checking in. Hope you're eating something. I'll be home as soon as I can."

Vernon took a deep breath, fighting the urge to reply with the truth. Instead, he typed back, "I'm okay, just resting. You take care of work!"

He hit send, though a part of him wished he could just tell his brother how he truly felt. But he swallowed hard, pushing down the rising tide of fear and vulnerability. "I'll be okay," he whispered, even though he wasn't sure he believed it.

After what felt like forever, Vernon finally regained a bit of strength. He pushed himself to his knees, breathing heavily as he made his way to the cabinet. "Just need to find some medicine," he murmured, rummaging through the shelves.

His fingers brushed against a small bottle, and his heart lifted when he saw it was still half-full. "Yes! Two pills left," he said quietly, taking the bottle out and unscrewing the cap. He fumbled as he poured one into his palm, grateful for any relief.

With a shaky hand, he swallowed the pill with a few swigs of water. "I hope this helps," he whispered, not realizing it was already expired. He shook off the thought, too exhausted to worry about it now.

Afterward, he slowly made his way to his bedroom, each step feeling like a small victory. "Just a little rest, and I'll be fine," he reassured himself, collapsing onto his bed. He pulled the covers over himself, seeking warmth and comfort.

As he lay there, his mind wandered to Seungcheol. "I hope he's not too stressed with work," he thought. "He works so hard for us."

His phone buzzed again, startling him. It was another message from Seungcheol. "Still awake? I'll be home soon. Don't wait up if you're tired."

Vernon took a moment to respond, feeling a mixture of guilt and affection. "I'm just resting. Don't worry about me!"

He sighed, knowing he was lying but wanting to reassure his brother. "I don't want him to worry," he muttered, turning onto his side, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. "I just need to make it until he gets back."