SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Hoshi | Heart Arrhythmia Part I

It was an early morning practice, and the members of Seventeen were gathered in the studio, preparing for their upcoming performance. The usual energy filled the air, but today, there was something off about Hoshi. As he stepped into the center of the room, ready to lead the first practice, he stumbled, catching himself against the mirror.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Woozi asked immediately, his voice tinged with concern as he noticed the way Hoshi swayed a little, trying to steady himself.

Hoshi smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "I'm fine, guys," he said, his voice a little too light, trying to mask the unease. "I just feel a bit dizzy today, that's all."

Jeonghan narrowed his eyes, exchanging a quick look with Joshua, who was standing beside him. "Dizzy?" Jeonghan repeated, his tone skeptical. "Hoshi, you've been stumbling all morning. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, I promise," Hoshi insisted, though his voice wavered slightly as he tried to shake it off. "Just a little tired, maybe. Let's get back to practice, yeah?"

But as Hoshi moved to position himself for the next routine, he took a step forward, but his foot caught the edge of the floor. This time, he didn't catch himself quickly enough and nearly lost his balance, stumbling hard toward the side.

"Whoa, careful hyung!" DK shouted, rushing over to steady him before Hoshi could fall.

"Hyung!" Seungkwan added, his voice rising in concern. "You really don't look okay. Are you sure it's just dizziness?"

"I'm okay, really," Hoshi reassured them with another small laugh, though this time it was a little strained. "Just a little lightheaded. Probably didn't sleep enough last night, that's all. Let's not waste time on me."

But the others weren't convinced. Vernon took a cautious step forward. "Hoshi, this isn't just about being tired. We can see you're having trouble standing straight. Maybe you should sit down for a minute?"

"I'm not sitting out," Hoshi snapped quickly, but then his expression softened, realizing how sharp he sounded. "Sorry, I didn't mean that. I'll be fine. I'll push through."

"I don't know about this, hyung," Mingyu said slowly, his tall frame standing protectively nearby. "We can't keep going like this if you're struggling. We need to take care of you."

Hoshi shook his head again. "Guys, please. I'm fine, really. I just need to rest for a bit, but we have to get this right, okay? We have a performance coming up."

The others exchanged glances. They didn't want to argue, but the worry was unmistakable. Seungcheol stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Hoshi, this isn't just about the performance. We need to make sure you're alright. This can't be something you push through."

"I told you hyung, I'm fine," Hoshi said again, but his voice lacked its usual conviction. As he spoke, his vision blurred for a moment, and his legs wobbled slightly. He gripped onto the nearest bar for balance.

"Hyung..." Dino said quietly, his voice filled with concern. "Please, let us help you. This isn't normal."

For a moment, Hoshi remained silent, looking around at the worried faces of his members. The music continued to play faintly in the background, but in that moment, everything else seemed to fall away.

Hoshi reluctantly nodded, realizing his members weren't going to let him push through this on his own. "Alright, fine... I'll just sit out today," he said, though it was clear to everyone that he wasn't entirely at ease with it. "I'll watch you guys practice. Just don't mess up without me, okay?" He tried to joke, but the usual playful tone wasn't there.

Jeonghan placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll make sure you get plenty of rest. Just take it easy, okay?"

"Yeah," Woozi added, still skeptical but agreeing. "Just watch us for now."