SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Seungcheol | Hypokalemia

Seungcheol woke up feeling as though he had been hit by a truck. His throat was sore, his head throbbed, and every bone in his body ached. He sat up in bed, blinking at the sunlight streaming through his window. I can't let them down, he thought, forcing himself to get up. He pulled on a hoodie, splashed some cold water on his face, and headed out.

When he arrived at the practice studio, the members were already stretching. They looked up, their expressions shifting from casual chatter to concern as Seungcheol walked in, a little unsteady on his feet.

"Hyung, you look terrible," Joshua said, tilting his head in worry.

Seungcheol forced a smile. "I'm fine! Just a little tired. Let's get started."

"Are you sure?" Jeonghan asked, crossing his arms. "You need to rest."

"I can rest later," Seungcheol replied, his voice a bit hoarse. "Right now, we have to focus on the choreography."

"Hyung, you really shouldn't push yourself," DK chimed in, his brow furrowed. "We can manage without you for a day."

Seungcheol shook his head, his determination unwavering. "No way. You guys need me to lead. Besides, we're a team. I won't let a cold keep me down."

As they started the practice, Seungcheol found it hard to keep up. He struggled to remember the moves, his body refusing to cooperate. Every time he attempted a jump or a spin, dizziness washed over him.

"Take it easy, Hyung!" Mingyu shouted, his tone a mix of concern and authority. "We'll figure it out without you doing all the heavy lifting."

Seungcheol waved him off, breathing heavily. "Just... just give me a second."

They paused, watching their leader as he leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. The room was thick with worry, and the members exchanged glances.

"Hyung, let's take a break," Hoshi suggested gently. "You need to drink some water."

Seungcheol took a sip from his water bottle, but he could feel his resolve wavering. "I'm okay. I can keep going."

"Seriously," Jeonghan said, stepping closer. "You're not okay. We're all worried about you."

"Yeah, we can handle this hyung," Minghao added, nodding. "You can take a day off. We've got your back."

Seungcheol looked at their concerned faces, feeling a swell of gratitude mixed with stubbornness. "I appreciate it, really. But I can't let you guys down."

"Hyung," Seungkwan interjected, his voice softening. "We want you to be healthy, too. We can't have you pushing through if you're not well."

"Okay, okay, I hear you," Seungcheol relented, rubbing his temples. "Let's take five, but then I want to jump back in."

The members nodded, still worried but relieved to see him acknowledging his limits, if only slightly. As they settled into chairs, the chatter resumed, but the tension lingered in the air.

"Hyung, maybe we should just go easy today?" Dino suggested, trying to lighten the mood. "No intense routines, just some vocal practice?"

Seungcheol glanced around at his members, seeing the camaraderie that made them strong. "You guys are right. Maybe we can focus on our vocals today."

"See? Teamwork," Joshua smiled, and the atmosphere shifted just a bit, lightening the weight on Seungcheol's shoulders.

He leaned back in his chair, exhaustion creeping in, but a small smile tugged at his lips. They were a team, and somehow, they'd find a way through this together.