BTS Sick-/Hurtfic

Faking illness - Jungkook

Requested by: Tkvale_30
TW: isolation, deception

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the small apartment that the members shared. It was a rare day off, but instead of feeling relaxed, the atmosphere was tense. Jungkook sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall with a furrowed brow. His stomach twisted in knots, not from illness, but from the weight of stress pressing down on him.

The upcoming music video shoot loomed over him like a dark cloud. The choreography was intense, the concept demanding, and he felt the pressure to perform perfectly. With each passing day, his anxiety grew, and the idea of facing the cameras made him want to hide away.

“Jungkook, are you coming to eat?” Jin’s voice floated through the apartment, interrupting his spiraling thoughts.

“Yeah, just a minute,” Jungkook called back, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He had been trying to muster the energy to join the others, but every fiber of his being was screaming for him to retreat into the comfort of solitude.

As he finally made his way to the dining table, he found the other members gathered around, chatting and laughing. The sight should have warmed his heart, but instead, it made him feel even more isolated.

“Hey, you okay?” Jimin asked, looking at Jungkook with concern. “You’ve been really quiet today.”

“I’m fine,” Jungkook replied too quickly, avoiding their gaze. “Just a little tired.”

“Don’t tell me you’re getting sick!” Taehyung teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “We can’t have our golden maknae down before the shoot!”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Jungkook insisted, but his heart raced at the thought of the shoot. The idea of pretending to be sick flickered in his mind. Maybe if he could convince everyone that he was unwell, he could avoid the shoot altogether.

---

That evening, after everyone had gone to bed, Jungkook lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He felt guilty even thinking about lying, but the thought of facing the camera was unbearable. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began to plan.

The next morning, Jungkook woke up with a scratchy throat. He could use this to his advantage. When he shuffled into the living room, he found Yoongi sipping his coffee.

“Hey,” Jungkook croaked, feigning a cough. “I’m not feeling too well.”

Yoongi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “You look fine to me. Just tired?”

Jungkook nodded, forcing a shiver. “Yeah, just tired. I think I might have caught something.”

“Right,” Yoongi said, his tone skeptical. “Maybe you should go back to bed.”

“Yeah, I think I will,” Jungkook replied, hoping his voice sounded weak enough to convince him.

As Jungkook retreated to his room, he felt a pang of guilt. He knew the others would worry, but he was overwhelmed. He just needed a break, even if it meant lying to the people he cared about.

---

Over the next few days, Jungkook continued his charade. He exaggerated his symptoms, claiming he felt worse each day. The members began to fuss over him, bringing him soup and medicine, all while he put on a show of being sick.

“Eat something,” Jin urged, setting a bowl of steaming soup in front of him. “You need to take care of yourself.”

“I will,” Jungkook promised, guilt gnawing at him as he forced down a few spoonfuls. He hated seeing his members worry about him, especially when he was the one causing it.

“Do you think you’ll be okay for the shoot?” Hoseok asked, his face a mask of concern. “We need you there, Jungkook.”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” he replied, cringing internally at the lie.

As they gathered around the living room for a movie night, Jungkook felt the weight of their care and concern. It was supposed to be comforting, but instead, it felt suffocating.

---

But Yoongi was not easily fooled. He watched Jungkook closely, noting the small inconsistencies in his story. One day, after everyone had left the room, he approached Jungkook, who was curled up on the couch, trying to look miserable.

“Jungkook,” Yoongi said, crossing his arms. “I need you to be honest with me. Are you really sick, or are you just avoiding something?”

Jungkook’s heart raced, caught off guard by Yoongi’s directness. “I’m just tired, hyung. I promise.”

“Just tired?” Yoongi pressed, his tone softer but still firm. “You’ve been ‘just tired’ for a week now. What’s really going on?”

“I—” Jungkook hesitated, the guilt threatening to spill over. “I just don’t want to do the shoot. It’s really stressful, and I feel like I can’t handle it.”

Yoongi’s expression softened, understanding flooding his features. “You don’t have to fake being sick to avoid it. We’re family. If you need to talk or need a break, just say so.”

“I know,” Jungkook sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry for lying. I didn’t want to worry you guys.”

“Worrying is what we do,” Yoongi said, a hint of a smile breaking through. “Just be honest with us, okay? We’ll figure it out together.”

---

That night, Jungkook found himself in a circle of the other members, their concerned faces surrounding him. They had gathered to talk about how he was feeling.

“Why didn’t you just tell us you were stressed?” Jimin asked, a mix of frustration and concern in his voice.

“I didn’t want to seem weak,” Jungkook admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought I could handle it on my own.”

“Jungkook,” Jin said gently, “you’re not weak for feeling this way. We all struggle, and it’s okay to lean on each other.”

“I’m really sorry,” Jungkook said, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. “I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just felt so overwhelmed.”

“Take a deep breath Jungkook,” Yoongi suggested, and the Jungkook nodded. “We’re here for you, no matter what.”

---

The next day, Jungkook decided to face the shoot head-on. With the support of his members.

As they arrived at the shooting location, Jungkook’s heart raced. The set was buzzing with activity, lights flashing and crew members bustling about. He took a deep breath, the smell of paint and set design filling the air.

“Just remember, we’re all in this together,” Taehyung said, giving him a reassuring pat on the back.

“Yeah, we’ve got your back,” Hoseok added, flashing a wide smile.

As they began the shoot, Jungkook found himself falling into the rhythm of the music. The worries that had once consumed him began to fade as he danced and sang with his brothers.

---

Once the shoot wrapped, Jungkook felt a rush of accomplishment. The members gathered around him, laughter and cheers echoing in the air.

“See? You did it!” Jin exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug.

“I couldn’t have done it without you guys,” Jungkook said, his heart full. “Thank you for being there for me.”

“We always will be,” Yoongi replied, his voice steady. “Just remember to reach out next time. We can handle anything as long as we’re together.”

As they celebrated their hard work, Jungkook realized that vulnerability was not a weakness, but a strength. He had learned that it was okay to ask for help.