K-pop sickfics/hurtfics

Eric theboyz - depress

1500 words

The Boyz had just wrapped another intense day of practice, preparing for their next big performance. Late-night practices, early morning schedules, and an unrelenting calendar had become part of Eric's daily life. For years, he'd taken pride in pushing himself, in being one of the group's cheerful forces, the one who could laugh off fatigue with a joke and a smile. But lately, that smile didn't come as easily.

As the practice ended, Eric watched the others chatting, laughing as they packed up to head back to the dorm. He joined in, forcing a grin, but the moment felt distant, almost like he was watching it from somewhere outside himself. On the surface, he was the same, but something felt heavy deep inside, a weight he couldn't explain.

The comments from the staff didn't help. "Eric, you seemed a little off today," one of them had said after he'd missed a step during practice. "Make sure you're keeping up." The words weren't meant to be harsh, but they stuck with him like barbs, replaying in his head with each step he took.

Back at the dorm, Eric settled onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling as the others kept busy in the living room. He wanted to join them, to laugh and unwind like he used to, but instead, he stayed in his room, convinced they hadn't noticed his absence. That hollow feeling gnawed at him, leaving him with a restless emptiness that he couldn't shake. He thought maybe it was just the exhaustion, that it would fade with a good night's sleep.

But as he lay awake long into the night, staring at the ceiling, he started to wonder if he was wrong.
~~~

A few days later, Eric finally found a moment to call home. It was a rare break in his schedule, and he wanted nothing more than to hear his parents' voices. They were in Los Angeles, far from Seoul, but talking to them had always been a comfort.

He waited as the phone rang, feeling the distance between them growing with each unanswered ring. Finally, his mother picked up, and the familiar warmth in her voice immediately put him at ease. But as they talked, she noticed something in his voice, a fatigue he couldn't hide.

"Are you sleeping enough, Eric?" she asked gently. "You sound tired, honey."

Eric forced a laugh. "I'm fine, Mom. Just working hard, you know? Gotta make you proud."

There was a pause on the other end, and he could almost feel her concern reaching out through the phone. "We're already proud of you. Don't push yourself too hard, okay? Just take care of yourself."

They continued talking, but something in his mother's words lingered in his mind, stirring feelings he didn't want to acknowledge. When they said goodbye, he promised to call again soon, but as he ended the call, he felt a hollow ache settle in his chest. The distance felt bigger than it ever had, and his heart felt heavy with an emptiness he couldn't explain.

He put his phone away and lay back, wishing he could shake the sadness. But it lingered, refusing to leave, and he felt more alone than ever.
~~~

Eric managed to keep up appearances, for the most part. During practices, he tried to laugh with the others, keeping up his usual cheerful energy. But his smiles felt forced, like a mask he was struggling to hold in place.

Juyeon, his roommate, was the first to notice. One night, after a particularly intense practice, Juyeon asked if he wanted to join the others for a movie night. They had a rare evening off, and everyone was looking forward to relaxing together. Eric started to say yes, but then he hesitated, feeling a surge of exhaustion and sadness he couldn't explain.

"I'm actually just gonna rest tonight," he said, forcing a small smile. "I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow."

Juyeon studied him for a moment, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "You sure? You've been pretty quiet lately."