SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Jeonghan | Fatigue Part I

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Jeonghan's POV

The night before our "Ode to You" concert in Bangkok, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the faint hum of the city outside echoing in my mind. Chronic tiredness clung to me like a heavy blanket, and I could feel sleepiness creeping in like an unwelcome guest. The weight of the past few weeks pressed down, and despite my best efforts, I succumbed to the exhaustion.

I told myself that tomorrow would be better. A good night's sleep would fix everything. I shut my eyes, willing my body to relax and recharge, but my dreams were a whirlwind of flashing lights and screaming fans.

Morning broke too soon. I opened my eyes and immediately regretted it. The light filtered through the curtains, too bright, too loud, and I felt worse than I had the night before. I groaned softly, pulling the covers over my head as if that would shield me from the reality of the day ahead.

"Hyung!" I heard a soft knock at my door, followed by Dino's voice. "You awake? We're leaving soon!"

"Yeah, I'm up!" I called back, forcing my voice to sound brighter than I felt. I rolled out of bed, every limb protesting like a grumpy child, and stumbled to the bathroom. Splashing water on my face helped a little, but I could still feel the heaviness in my chest.

The car ride to the venue felt like a dream-a haze of traffic and muffled conversation. I sat quietly, listening to the members talk excitedly about the concert, their voices a distant hum. I wanted to share their enthusiasm, to feel the same energy bubbling inside me, but all I could do was nod along, hoping they wouldn't notice how drained I felt.

When we arrived at the venue, the adrenaline started to kick in, but it was a fleeting sensation. I could see the bustling crew setting up, the stage being assembled with precision. I took a deep breath, reminding myself to just push through. We had worked so hard for this concert, and I couldn't let them down.

As we gathered for soundcheck, I tried to shake off the fatigue. I smiled at the fans already lining up outside, a small wave of warmth hitting me. They were the reason we did this, after all. But as we stepped on stage, my limbs felt leaden. I forced myself to focus, but I could feel the members exchanging glances, concern etched on their faces.

"Jeonghan, are you okay?" Joshua asked during a break in our rehearsal, his voice laced with worry.

"Yeah, just a little tired," I replied, brushing it off. "I'll be fine once the music starts."

But as the soundcheck continued, I could see their concern deepening. Wonwoo stepped closer, a knowing look in his eyes. "You sure hyung? You're not yourself today."

"I'm just saving my energy for the show," I said, trying to sound casual, but I could feel the weight of their gazes on me.

"Hyung," Woozi chimed in, crossing his arms. "You know you can tell us if you're not feeling well. We can adjust if you need."

"I really am okay!" I insisted, forcing a smile. I wanted to believe it, but the truth was, I felt like I was running on fumes.

As the rehearsal went on, I found it harder to keep up with the choreography. I stumbled slightly during one of the more intricate parts, and the room went silent for a moment. I could feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment as the members shot worried looks at one another.

"Let's take a break," DK said, stepping forward. "Jeonghan hyung, why don't you sit down for a bit?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but the sincerity in his eyes made me reconsider. "Okay, just for a moment," I relented, sitting on the edge of the stage, my head spinning slightly.