SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Woozi | Overworked Part I

Hello Deletinggg230! I hope you'll like it!

The soft glow of his studio lights illuminated Woozi's face as he hunched over his keyboard, fingers dancing over the keys. Outside, the world was shrouded in silence, but within the four walls of his sanctuary, music poured from the speakers, a tapestry of melodies and harmonies taking shape. It was past midnight, and he was in the thick of it again.

"Just a little more," he muttered to himself, pushing his glasses up his nose. The deadline for the new album loomed, and the pressure felt like a weight on his chest. He'd been at this for hours, losing track of time, but the thought of letting his members down spurred him on.

The next morning, the sun crept through the curtains, casting rays of light that danced across his sheets. Woozi groaned softly as he rolled over to check the time. He had just enough to grab a protein bar from the pantry before heading back to his studio.

"Good morning, Woozi hyung!" Mingyu chirped, plopping down at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal.

Woozi smiled tightly, trying to mask the exhaustion in his eyes. "Morning. You're up early."

"Early bird catches the worm!" Mingyu replied with a wink. "You should eat more than that. You're always so busy. Don't you ever sleep?"

"Just a lot of work," Woozi said, forcing his voice to sound casual. "You know how it is."

"Yeah, but we need you in top shape," Mingyu said, his brow furrowing in concern. "You can't just survive on protein bars."

"I'll be fine," Woozi insisted, grabbing his backpack. "See you later!"

As the day wore on, Woozi barely had a moment to breathe. Rehearsals started at the dance studio in the afternoon, and he fell into the rhythm of practice alongside his members. The choreography flowed seamlessly, but Woozi found his mind drifting, thinking about the lyrics he was crafting and the melodies yet to be perfected.

"Hey hyung, are you okay?" DK asked during a break, catching Woozi staring off into the distance. "You look a bit... off."

"Just tired," Woozi replied, trying to sound upbeat. "It's nothing."

"Sure," DK said, raising an eyebrow but letting it go. "Just remember to take care of yourself."

"Yeah, I know," Woozi muttered, forcing a smile. The concern in his friend's voice tugged at him, but he couldn't afford to let them in on his secret.

Later that night, after practice wrapped up, Woozi slipped back into his studio. The clock read 11 PM, and the quiet hum of the room welcomed him back like an old friend. He set to work again, the familiar rush of creativity surging through him as he lost himself in sound.

Just as he was getting into the groove, the door creaked open. "Woozi?" It was Jeonghan, his voice soft and curious. "Are you still working?"

Woozi's heart raced. "Uh, yeah hyung. Just finishing up a few things."

Jeonghan stepped further inside, glancing at the scattered sheets of paper and the blinking lights of the equipment. "You need to stop doing this to yourself. It's unhealthy."

"I'm fine," Woozi insisted, his tone sharper than intended. "I just have deadlines. It's part of being a producer, right?"

"Sure, but you can't push yourself like this," Jeonghan said, concern etched across his face. "We're a team. You don't have to do it all alone."

"I know hyung," Woozi replied, forcing a smile again. "I promise I'll take a break soon."

Jeonghan studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay, but I'll be checking in on you. Don't think you can hide from me."