SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Seungcheol | Faking Sick Part I

As the sun rose over the Pledis building, Seungcheol sat at the conference table surrounded by papers and plans for Seventeen's upcoming comeback. The room was bustling with excitement, but he felt the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders.

"Hyung, can you look over this choreography?" Dino asked, handing him a notebook filled with sketches and notes.

"Of course! I'll take a look," Seungcheol replied with a smile, but inside he felt exhausted. Managing schedules, meetings, and his members was more demanding than ever.

As the days passed, Seungcheol continued to take care of everyone, ensuring they were well-rested and focused. He organized meals, checked in on their practice sessions, and even took over paperwork that piled up. The members were appreciative, but they could also see the fatigue creeping into his eyes.

One evening, after a particularly long practice, Seungcheol sat down with his members. "Guys, I think I'm coming down with something," he said, his voice slightly raspy.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Woozi looked concerned, leaning closer.

"Yeah, just a little tired. I might need some rest," Seungcheol said, trying to sound convincingly weak.

"Let's make you some tea!" Joshua exclaimed, jumping up from his seat.

"Good idea! You need to hydrate," Vernon added, already reaching for his phone to order some snacks.

"Really, it's nothing serious. I just think I need a day to recharge," Seungcheol insisted, trying to maintain his facade.

The next day, Seungcheol decided to take his ruse further. He entered the practice room with a slight cough. "Hey, everyone. I'm not feeling too well," he said, faking a shiver.

"Hyung, you should rest!" Mingyu said immediately, rushing to his side. "We can practice without you."

"Yeah, we don't want you getting worse," DK added, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I'll be fine. Just take it easy," Seungcheol assured them, a small smile creeping onto his face at their overprotective nature.

As the members prepared to start practice, Seungcheol pretended to lean back against the wall, his eyes closing slightly. "You guys go ahead. I'll just... watch."

"Okay, but if you need anything, just say it!" Seungkwan said, glancing back at him as they started to stretch.

"I will, I promise," Seungcheol replied, stifling a laugh as he watched his members fuss over him.

"Seriously, we can postpone practice if you're not feeling well," Hoshi chimed in, glancing nervously between Seungcheol and the others.

"No, no. You guys need to practice. I'll be okay. Just... don't overexert yourselves," he replied, feeling guilty for the charade but desperate for a moment of peace.

As they practiced, Seungcheol allowed himself to close his eyes fully, relishing the quiet while his members danced energetically in front of him. It felt good to let them take care of him, even if it was a little bit of a lie.

As practice wrapped up, the members began packing their things, chatting animatedly about the day's progress. Seungcheol leaned against the wall, feeling the energy of the room wash over him, but he knew he needed to keep up the act.

"Hyung, are you sure you're okay?" Joshua asked, looking back at him as he zipped up his bag.

"Yeah, just a little tired," Seungcheol replied, forcing a smile. But as they stepped outside, he decided to take it a step further.