SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Woozi | Bruises Part II

The room was silent, save for Woozi's soft breathing as he slept. Joshua stayed by his side, keeping watch, his thoughts heavy with concern. He wasn't about to let Woozi keep pushing himself until he broke. But it wasn't just about physical exhaustion. Woozi's struggle was more than just the lack of sleep or the too-heavy workload; it was about his mind, his unspoken burdens, and the relentless pressure he placed on himself. Joshua knew Woozi carried all that alone - but he didn't have to.

Seungcheol's message had calmed Joshua, but he knew it wasn't enough to just get Woozi some time off. What Woozi needed was someone to tell him it was okay to stop, to tell him that he didn't have to bear everything by himself.

Joshua's hand lingered on Woozi's shoulder, just for a moment, and he whispered quietly, more to himself than to Woozi: "You're not alone, Ji. We're all here. Just rest."

A few hours later, Seungcheol arrived at the dorm, his expression unreadable as he glanced toward Woozi, who was still resting on the couch. The tension in Joshua's posture was enough to convey the worry he hadn't quite shaken off.

"How is he?" Seungcheol asked quietly, glancing at Woozi.

"Sleeping, finally," Joshua said, his voice softer now that he had a moment to relax. "But he's still pale, and I'm worried. I've told him a million times to take a break, but he wouldn't listen."

Seungcheol nodded, his jaw tightening. "I'll talk to the manager about giving him more time off. He needs it. He can't keep doing this to himself."

Joshua nodded, but there was still a lingering unease in his expression. "I hope he realizes it this time. I don't know how much more his body can take."

Seungcheol gave Joshua a long, understanding look. "We'll make sure he gets the help he needs. He's not alone in this. Not anymore."

The rest of the day passed quietly, Woozi remaining asleep as the others took shifts to keep an eye on him. As night fell, Joshua settled beside him once more, softly brushing a lock of hair away from Woozi's forehead.

"Get some rest, Ji. I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time in what felt like ages, Woozi allowed himself to sleep - really sleep - without the constant gnawing weight of work, without the pressure of perfection. He was surrounded by people who cared, who wouldn't let him push himself until he broke. And even if it took time, he would eventually understand that it was okay to rest.

For now, though, all he needed was the comfort of those around him and the space to heal, both physically and mentally.

After two days of rest, Woozi finally began to feel like himself again - or at least, a version of himself that wasn't completely drained. The dizziness had subsided, the heaviness in his limbs fading as his body started to regain strength. But even as he woke up feeling better, something inside him still felt off. It wasn't just physical exhaustion anymore; there was something deeper, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

When he stood in front of the mirror that morning, getting ready to head back to the studio, he found himself staring at the dark bruises that dotted his arms and legs. They weren't there before his rest, or at least, not this many. It wasn't just one or two either, but several scattered across his body - purple, yellow, and blue marks that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

He'd been careful, he thought, not to bump into anything too hard. But the bruises were there, lingering in places where his skin was normally unmarked, like a collection of forgotten reminders of something he couldn't explain.

Where did these come from? he thought to himself, running his fingers over one on his forearm. It wasn't even from anything significant. He hadn't fallen, hadn't had any major accidents. It was just a series of small, accidental bumps here and there, but his body was responding with these deep purple-blue bruises. They seemed to appear with the smallest of collisions - a slight knock against a door frame, a brush against a table.