SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Hoshi | Heart Arrhythmia Part II

The ambulance screeched to a halt outside the hospital, its flashing lights casting eerie shadows on the walls of the emergency entrance. The paramedics moved quickly, wheeling Hoshi's stretcher from the ambulance and into the ER, where a team of doctors and nurses were already waiting. The doors swung shut behind them, cutting off the sight of their friend as the emergency staff rushed to save him.

Seungcheol, Jeonghan, Woozi, and the others were left standing in the stark, sterile waiting room. The air felt thick with tension. They had tried to follow Hoshi every step of the way, but the hospital staff had told them to wait here while the doctors took over. Now, all they could do was sit in limbo, each of them struggling to process the overwhelming uncertainty.

Seungcheol paced restlessly, his eyes scanning the clock on the wall as though staring at it could make the minutes move faster. He rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the headache that was creeping up behind his eyes. What if it's too late? What if something's seriously wrong? The thoughts wouldn't stop.

Mingyu had been quiet for a long time, his usual tall frame slouched as he leaned against the wall. His hands were shoved into his pockets, and his eyes were distant, almost hollow. "This shouldn't be happening. Not Hoshi," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"None of us thought it would be like this," Joshua said quietly, sitting next to Mingyu, his hand resting lightly on his knee. His calm demeanor was gone now, replaced by a tightness around his mouth and eyes. He hadn't stopped thinking about Hoshi's unresponsive face-how pale and still he had looked in the ambulance. What if...

"I don't understand," Woozi said from across the room, his voice soft but laced with frustration. "Why didn't he say something? Why didn't we notice it sooner?" His eyes were reddened, but he was holding back tears, clearly fighting to maintain his composure. He had always been the one to read the smallest signs, to notice when something was off. But this time, he hadn't seen it. None of them had.

"We did what we could," Jeonghan said, his voice steady but edged with weariness. "We're doing everything we can. Don't blame yourselves."

Seungkwan stood near the door, his arms folded tightly across his chest, his gaze fixed on the hospital hallway as if he could somehow will the doctors to come out faster. His voice cracked when he spoke, betraying his quiet fear. "He's going to be okay, right? He's Hoshi. He can't just- he can't just be..."

"Seungkwan..." DK started, his hand resting gently on his friend's shoulder. "We can't think like that. We've got to stay hopeful. He's strong."

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours as they all waited, each of them caught in a restless sea of worry, unable to escape the terrifying unknown. The clatter of nurses and doctors in the hallway seemed muffled, as if the world around them was closing in.

And then, after what felt like an eternity, a door at the far end of the room opened, and a doctor stepped in. She was in her late thirties, wearing a surgical mask that she removed as she stepped forward, her face serious but kind.

The group immediately jumped to their feet, a collective breath caught in their throats.

"Are you the with Hoshi?" the doctor asked, her voice calm but firm. The look in her eyes made it clear she had been working hard to save their friend.

"Yes," Seungcheol replied quickly, stepping forward. "How is he? Is he-"

The doctor held up a hand, stopping him. "He's stable for now. We've run a series of tests, and he's been responding to treatment. But... there are some things we need to talk about."

The room fell silent, every eye fixed on the doctor. Mingyu's fists clenched at his sides, his lips trembling as he held his breath.

"The tests show that Hoshi has been dealing with some serious issues," the doctor continued. "It seems that he was suffering from acute dehydration and exhaustion, both of which can be very dangerous if left untreated. His body had been under a lot of stress for quite some time, and he pushed himself too hard."