Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Unseen Struggles (Jaehyun)

Jaehyun had always prided himself on being a steady, reliable presence for BoyNextDoor. As the leader, his role was more than just guiding the group through their performances and practices. He was the one who kept things running smoothly behind the scenes, handling the logistical aspects and ensuring that everyone felt heard and supported. It was an unspoken understanding between him and the members that, no matter what, he would always be there for them.

Lately, though, Jaehyun had begun to feel that the weight of his responsibilities was getting heavier. At first, it started as a small, nagging dizziness during rehearsals. He brushed it off, thinking it was just fatigue from their demanding schedule. There was always so much to do, so much to organize. He didn't have time to be distracted by something as trivial as a bit of light-headedness. But as the days went by, the dizziness worsened, becoming more frequent, until one day it was hard to ignore.

The first time it really hit him was during a particularly intense practice. The group was rehearsing their latest choreography, and Jaehyun was in the front, leading them through the complex movements. His head swam as he spun during a particular section, his vision blurring for a moment before he regained focus.

"Are you okay, Jaehyun hyung?" Taesan asked, concern in his voice as he caught Jaehyun stumbling slightly.

Jaehyun gave him a quick smile, waving him off. "I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy. I'll be okay."

Taesan didn't look convinced but said nothing more, and Jaehyun was grateful for it. He didn't want to admit that something more was wrong. He had no time for weakness, not when the group needed him to stay strong.

But it didn't stop there. Over the following days, the episodes of vertigo became more frequent and more intense. It wasn't just dizziness now—it was a full-on spinning sensation, like the world was tilting beneath him. His balance became wobbly, and he found himself holding onto things, whether it was a nearby wall or one of the members, to steady himself.

Despite this, Jaehyun continued to push through. His pride as a leader and his commitment to the group made it impossible for him to take a step back. He focused harder on staying upright during practices, barely flinching when his vision would blur or when his legs would threaten to give way beneath him. The dizziness would subside eventually, but it always left him feeling drained, a heaviness in his chest that refused to lift.

One evening after a long day of practice, Jaehyun sat alone in the lounge, holding his head in his hands. He rubbed at his temples, willing the pressure to ease. The vertigo had gotten worse during the last set of rehearsals, and it was becoming harder to hide.

He'd always prided himself on being the one who held everything together, the one who was always there for his members when they needed him. But now, as the room spun gently around him, Jaehyun realized that he couldn't keep this up forever.

"You're pushing yourself too hard, hyung."

Jaehyun looked up, startled, to find Leehan standing in the doorway, his arms crossed. The older member had been watching him for the past few minutes, no doubt noticing his distant gaze and the way he was holding his head.

"I'm fine, Leehan," Jaehyun said quickly, trying to brush it off. "It's just a little dizziness, nothing to worry about."

Leehan stepped into the room, his expression softening. "Don't lie to me, Jaehyun. You've been like this for days now. I know you're trying to hide it, but we're all noticing."

Jaehyun opened his mouth to protest, but Seonghwa raised a hand to stop him. "You've been stumbling during practice. You can't even stand for long periods without swaying. You think we don't see it?" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're the leader. It's okay to lean on us when you need help."

Jaehyun felt a pang of guilt at the concern in Leehan's voice. He didn't want to burden his members, especially not with something like this. He was the leader; it was his job to take care of them, not the other way around.

"I don't want to seem weak," Jaehyun admitted quietly, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "If they find out, the members might start to worry. I don't want to be seen as someone who can't keep up."

Leehan's gaze softened, and he knelt down next to Jaehyun. "You're not weak, Jaehyun. You're human. We're a team, and if something's wrong, you don't have to go through it alone. We're here for you, no matter what."

Jaehyun swallowed thickly, feeling the weight of his emotions rise in his chest. "I just don't want to disappoint anyone," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Leehan placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're not disappointing anyone by taking care of yourself. We all want you to get better."

Jaehyun sat in silence for a moment, the words sinking in. Maybe Leehan was right. Maybe he didn't have to carry everything by himself. Maybe it was okay to admit that something was wrong.

"Alright," Jaehyun said at last, his voice hoarse. "I'll go see a doctor."

Leehan smiled and gave him a brief, reassuring hug. "Good. You don't have to do this alone."

The next day, Jaehyun finally went to the doctor, and after a series of tests, it was revealed that he was suffering from an inner ear issue—possibly caused by stress and exhaustion—that was affecting his balance and causing the episodes of vertigo. The doctor advised him to rest and prescribed medication to help manage the symptoms.

Jaehyun didn't want to burden the group with his diagnosis, but he knew he couldn't hide it any longer. That evening, as the members gathered for practice, Jaehyun sat them all down, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I went to the doctor today," Jaehyun began, his voice unsteady. "It turns out I have an inner ear problem that's been affecting my balance and causing the dizziness. I've been hiding it from all of you because I didn't want to worry anyone, but I can't keep going like this. I'm sorry."

The room fell silent, and Jaehyun felt his stomach churn with anxiety. He had expected the members to be angry or disappointed with him, but what he saw instead was nothing but concern.

"Jaehyun, why didn't you tell us sooner?" Taesan asked, his voice gentle but filled with worry. "You're our leader. We need you to be healthy, not just physically but mentally too."

Jaehyun lowered his head, guilt washing over him again. "I didn't want to let you down. I thought I could handle it."

"Handling it doesn't mean hiding it," Sungho said softly. "We're a team. If something's wrong, we all deal with it together."

The younger members nodded in agreement, their faces full of empathy and understanding.

Jaehyun felt a weight lift off his chest. For the first time in days, he could breathe a little easier. The members were there for him, just as he had always been there for them.

"You don't have to go through this alone, hyung," Riwoo added, a quiet reassurance in his voice.

The group rallied around Jaehyun, encouraging him to take the time he needed to rest and recover. They reassured him that they would manage things while he took care of himself.

For the first time in a long while, Jaehyun felt the pressure of being the leader lift, replaced by the warmth of being part of a team—a team that cared for him just as much as he cared for them.

It wasn't an easy journey, but Jaehyun took the time to rest, allowing himself to recover from the inner ear issue that had caused him so much pain and stress. The members supported him every step of the way, taking on extra responsibilities and reassuring him that he wasn't letting anyone down.

As Jaehyun slowly regained his strength, he realized something important: being a leader didn't mean shouldering the burden alone. It meant leaning on others when needed, trusting them to help carry the load. And, most importantly, it meant showing vulnerability, because even leaders needed support sometimes.

Jaehyun smiled as he watched his members practice together, his heart full of gratitude. He was not alone. And for the first time in a long time, he knew that was enough.