Kpop Sickfics & Hurtfics

Unspoken Faults, Unbreakable Bonds (Soul & Jongseob)

The practice room felt emptier than usual, an unusual stillness settling over it that even the rhythmic thump of music couldn't shake. Soul sat alone in the far corner, stretching quietly as he laced up his shoes, his gaze fixed intently on the floor. Usually, he'd be hovering around Jongseob, teasing him, posing random questions about the universe, or offering playful nudges, but everything had changed since that day. Now, he barely acknowledged Jongseob's presence, choosing instead to remain silent and reserved, his entire demeanor shifted in ways that felt foreign.

On the other side of the room, Jongseob chatted with Keeho and Intak, trying to lose himself in laughter and jokes, but his gaze drifted back to Soul now and then, watching the once-lively figure who was now just a quiet shadow. It had been over two weeks since the two best friends exchanged more than a nod in passing. Soul, the eccentric, boundlessly energetic member who usually lit up the room with his quirks, was now almost unrecognizable—quiet, mature, and solely focused on practice, as though laughter and lightheartedness were luxuries he'd abandoned.

The argument had been so minor at first, nothing either had expected to escalate. They'd been joking around when Jongseob, in a rare moment of frustration, chuckled and said, "Maybe it's time you start acting your age, Soul. You're not an alien." It had been intended as a playful tease, but something about the way Jongseob said it lingered, biting deeper than intended.

Soul had gone silent, his expression clouding. For someone as expressive as him, the shift had been immediate and noticeable. Jongseob's words had cut more deeply than he could have known. To Soul, Jongseob wasn't just another member; he was his best friend, the one person who seemed to get his quirks and humor, his sometimes-childlike ways of seeing the world. To hear even his best friend say he should "grow up" felt like a betrayal, and he'd reacted defensively, his voice low and bitter. "Maybe you're just boring, Jongseob."

It wasn't the best comeback, but it was honest. Jongseob had been visibly hurt by the jab, and things only went downhill from there. What should have been a passing argument turned into a heated exchange, ending with Soul storming out and slamming the practice room door behind him. They hadn't been able to bridge the distance since.

Now, Soul seemed to actively avoid the dorms, throwing himself into practice with an intensity that left little room for anything else. He rarely ate with the others, instead staying behind in the studio, drilling choreography, pushing himself long after everyone else had gone home. He was skipping meals, sleeping on the floor of the studio rather than going back to the dorms. His appetite dwindled as his exhaustion grew, but he kept pushing forward. He had become so focused on proving he didn't need anyone that it had become a twisted form of rebellion—against himself, against the memory of his friendship with Jongseob.

The older members noticed. Theo, Keeho, Jiung, and Intak exchanged worried glances whenever Soul missed meals or reacted with a faint nod instead of his usual bright smile. Keeho tried reaching out with jokes, Theo offered gentle reminders to take a break, but Soul just brushed them off, his once-bubbly personality now nearly absent. Even Jongseob, who'd initially tried to seem more spontaneous to shake off the "boring" label Soul had given him, was now struggling. He spent time with the hyungs, joining them in activities, filling his free time with distractions, but the gnawing emptiness lingered. It was strange, painful even, to laugh with the others when the one person he wanted by his side was absent.

Finally, one afternoon, the tension became unbearable. After a long practice session, Keeho, with his usual leadership calmness, decided that enough was enough. Waving a hand to gather Soul and Jongseob in a quiet corner of the room, he sat down, his gaze serious but soft.

"Soul, Jongseob," Keeho began, his tone laced with concern. "I don't know what's going on between you two, but this... this silence is affecting everyone. We need to talk about it."