SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

DK | Ear Infection

It was a rare day off for Seventeen, a much-needed breather after a grueling concert schedule. Sunlight filtered through the curtains of their hotel room, casting warm patches on the floor. As the other members slept, DK woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes. Something felt off; his ear felt clogged, and a dull ache pulsed through it.

He sat up slowly, listening to the soft sounds of breathing around him. "Great," he muttered to himself, deciding not to disturb anyone. It's just a little discomfort, he thought. I'll be fine.

After a few minutes of trying to shake off the discomfort, he slipped out of bed and padded quietly to the kitchen. The smell of instant coffee wafted through the air, and he poured himself a cup, wincing slightly as the steam hit his face.

Just then, he heard footsteps behind him. It was Woozi, hair tousled and eyes half-closed.

"Hey, are you okay?" Woozi asked, peering closely at DK.

"Yeah, just... a little tired hyung," DK replied, forcing a smile.

Woozi raised an eyebrow but decided not to press. "You should wake up the others. It's a free day, remember? We can do whatever we want."

"Right, right," DK said, trying to sound more enthusiastic than he felt. He took a sip of coffee, feeling the heat spread through him, but the pain in his ear persisted.

Moments later, Joshua wandered in, rubbing his eyes. "What's for breakfast?"

"Just coffee for now," DK said, taking another sip.

"Nice," Joshua replied. "I was thinking of pancakes. Should we make some?"

"Sounds good," Woozi chimed in, now fully awake. "Let's get everyone up."

DK nodded, his mind racing. I don't want to worry them, he thought. He put on a brave face as the others shuffled in, one by one, still in various states of sleep.

"Good morning, sleepyheads!" Jeonghan greeted, a bright smile on his face.

"Morning!" the others chorused, energy slowly bubbling up in the room.

"Who's cooking pancakes?" Seungkwan asked, stretching dramatically. "Because I'm in for that."

"DK and I were just about to," Woozi said, nodding toward the kitchen.

"Hyung, are you feeling okay?" Dino asked, noticing DK's slightly pale face.

"Yeah, just a little tired. Let's get cooking!" DK said, forcing cheerfulness into his voice.

As they moved to the kitchen, the sound of laughter and banter filled the air. DK joined in, but every now and then, he felt a sharp twinge in his ear that made him wince internally. He tried to focus on the playful arguments about pancake toppings, but it was getting harder to ignore.

"Hyung, are you sure you're okay?" Seungkwan asked again, this time more concerned. "You're acting a little off."

"I told you, I'm fine! Just a bit tired from the concert," DK insisted, stirring the batter a bit too vigorously.

"Okay, okay," Seungkwan said, exchanging glances with Woozi. "But if you need anything, just let us know."

"Yeah, don't push yourself too hard," Joshua added, setting a bowl of fruits on the table. "We're all here to relax."

"Seriously, I'm good!" DK laughed, but it felt strained. He hoped they would drop it soon.

The conversation flowed, laughter erupted, and soon the kitchen was filled with the sweet smell of pancakes. Yet, despite the cheerful atmosphere, DK couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort. He forced a smile, trying to enjoy the moment, but deep down, he wished he could just say what was really bothering him.