♡ Enhypen Sickfics ♡ (SLOW UPDATES)

🐥Ni-Ki - Overwhelmed😭

Thank you smmm for requesting Deletinggg230

Hope you enjoy 🫶

_____

The practice room was quieter than usual that evening. The usual hum of excitement, laughter, and the sound of shoes sliding on the floor during choreography was absent, replaced by the soft shuffle of tired feet. Ni-Ki stood in the corner, his back slightly hunched as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. His breath came in shallow gasps, his chest heaving slightly with each intake of air.

"Hey, Ni-Ki," Sunghoon called, noticing how his younger member was moving slower than usual. "You alright?"

Ni-Ki forced a small smile, glancing over his shoulder. "Yeah, just tired. I'll be fine."

But there was something in his voice—something that didn't quite match the smile. It was subtle, but the other members had learned to recognize the signs.

Jungwon, who had been practicing with Heeseung and Jay, exchanged a look with Sunghoon. "Ni-Ki, you're not fine," he said gently, his tone softer than usual. "Maybe you should sit out for a bit. Get some water."

Ni-Ki opened his mouth to argue, but a cough caught in his throat, forcing him to stop. His face twisted for a brief second, but he quickly masked it with another smile. "Really, I'm fine. I just need a break."

He turned away, hoping the others wouldn't notice how shaky his hands were as he wiped them on his pants. He could feel the pressure building inside of him again, a storm he could no longer hold back. But for now, he just needed to breathe, to push through.

It had been like this for days. Every rehearsal felt heavier, every movement more exhausting than the last. The constant pressure to improve, to meet the high standards they'd set for themselves—it was starting to weigh on him. And the stress had begun to manifest in a way he couldn't hide.

The others noticed the change in Ni-Ki. He was quieter, more withdrawn, his usual playful energy replaced with moments of silence that stretched on far too long. When they asked him if he was okay, he’d always say the same thing: “I’m fine.”

But tonight, it was different. As the practice session wore on, Ni-Ki could feel his chest tighten, his breath shortening with every count of the dance. He stumbled once, then again, and a deep pang of frustration lanced through him. His muscles ached, his mind clouded, and everything seemed to move in slow motion.

"Ni-Ki, what’s wrong?" Sunghoon asked again, stepping toward him with concern written across his face.

"I... I can’t focus," Ni-Ki admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry. I’m just… really tired."

Jay, who had been stretching by the mirrors, raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been saying that for days. Are you sure it’s just tiredness?"

Ni-Ki opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn’t come. His chest tightened painfully, and the tears that had been building up for days finally threatened to spill over.

Before anyone could react, Ni-Ki abruptly turned, stepping out of the practice room and into the hallway. He needed to be alone. The suffocating weight of everything—the practice, the expectations, the constant pressure—was too much, and he needed to release it, if only for a moment.

The hallway was empty, and the silence enveloped him like a thick blanket. His legs gave out beneath him, and he sank down to the cold floor, his knees pulled up to his chest. His heart hammered painfully in his chest, and before he knew it, the tears came. Hot and relentless.

He had tried so hard to keep it together, to stay strong, but in the quiet of the hallway, surrounded by nothing but the echoes of his own breathing, he couldn’t do it anymore.

Ni-Ki’s sobs were muffled against his knees as he hugged them tighter, trying to make the ache in his chest stop. His mind was a blur of worries—of letting the team down, of being the weak link, of not being good enough. He felt like he was drowning in the pressure, in the fear of not measuring up.

He wasn’t just tired. He was overwhelmed.

Jungwon was the first to find him. He had come searching when he noticed Ni-Ki had slipped away. When he saw the younger boy curled up on the floor, shoulders shaking, his heart clenched.

Without a word, Jungwon kneeled beside Ni-Ki, gently placing a hand on his back. "Ni-Ki," he said softly. "It’s okay. You don’t have to do this alone."

Ni-Ki choked back another sob, his face hidden in his knees. "I’m sorry," he gasped, his voice cracking. "I’m so sorry… I can’t do this. I’m not good enough…"

"Stop," Jungwon said firmly, his voice calm but with an edge of concern. "You are good enough. You don’t have to be perfect. We’re all here for you."

One by one, the others appeared in the hallway, drawn by the sound of Ni-Ki’s breakdown. Heeseung crouched beside Jungwon, placing a hand on Ni-Ki’s shoulder. "Ni-Ki, you don’t have to carry everything by yourself," he said gently. "We’re a team. We go through this together."

Sunghoon and Sunoo stood quietly nearby, their expressions soft but filled with understanding. Jay and Jake lingered in the background, waiting for their turn to step forward.

Ni-Ki lifted his head, his face flushed and tear-streaked. He looked at them all, feeling the warmth of their presence. For the first time in days, he didn’t feel so alone.

"I’m sorry," he whispered again, his voice still shaky. "I just didn’t want to burden you."

Sunghoon shook his head, stepping closer. "We’re your family. We’re here for you, always. You don’t have to apologize."

Jake smiled, his voice gentle. "We’re all in this together, Ni-Ki. There’s no need to carry it all by yourself."

Ni-Ki let out a shaky breath, a mixture of relief and exhaustion washing over him. Slowly, he wiped his eyes and nodded, his tears finally beginning to subside. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice barely a whisper. "I needed to hear that."

Jungwon placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair affectionately. "We’ve got your back. Always."

As the group stood around him, Ni-Ki felt the burden on his shoulders lighten. The weight of expectations was still there, but now, with his members beside him, he felt a little more capable of handling it. He wasn’t alone anymore.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Ni-Ki finally allowed himself to rest.

_____

Tysm for reading♡

1119 words