SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Seungkwan | Asthma Part II

The next morning, Seungkwan woke up feeling a little more clear-headed than he had the night before. The heavy fatigue that had plagued him yesterday had lifted, and he didn't feel as weak as he had when he went to bed. However, as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, the persistent stuffiness in his nose and the tightness in his throat immediately reminded him that his cold wasn't gone.

He let out a soft sigh, wincing as he felt the familiar build-up of mucus in the back of his throat. Despite the improvement in his energy levels, the cold was still clinging to him, stubbornly refusing to let go.

I can't afford to be sick today, Seungkwan thought, rubbing his eyes again and sitting up straighter. I need to be at my best for practice.

The thought of being stuck in the studio for hours while battling his cold made him anxious. He hated the feeling of his throat being raw from all the coughing and clearing, and he could already feel the pressure building in his sinuses again. But there was no way he could skip practice-not when the team was counting on him.

He quickly got out of bed, walking to the bathroom. As he stared at himself in the mirror, he gave his nose a quick pinch, trying to clear it a little, but it didn't help much. He tried to blow his nose gently, but it only resulted in a few faint sniffles, which left him feeling even more congested. His throat felt scratchy, and he had to clear it a few times before he could even talk without sounding hoarse.

Seungkwan grabbed his phone and texted Hoshi, letting him know he was up and on his way to practice, but that he wasn't feeling completely well yet. He didn't want to worry anyone, but he also wanted them to be prepared if he started coughing or sounding off during their dance sessions.

After a quick breakfast, which he forced down despite his lack of appetite, Seungkwan went into the living room, where the others were getting ready to head out. Most of them were talking about what they needed to bring for practice, but a few of them looked over at Seungkwan with concerned eyes.

"You look a little better," Jeonghan commented as Seungkwan came into view, although his tone still had an undercurrent of worry. "How's your throat?"

"It's still a little scratchy hyung," Seungkwan admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "And my nose is stuffed up, but I'll be fine. I'm not feeling as tired as I was yesterday, so I should be good to go."

"You sure?" Joshua asked, frowning slightly. "We can always adjust practice if you need to rest."

Seungkwan shook his head, determined to push through. "I'm fine hyung. I don't want to hold anyone back."

They were quiet for a moment, then Woozi spoke up, his voice soft but firm. "We're not going to push you too hard. But if you need a break, you take one, okay?"

"Got it hyung," Seungkwan replied, offering them a reassuring smile. "I'll be careful."

The members nodded, although they still seemed to be watching him with an extra layer of concern. Seungkwan could feel their eyes on him, but he tried not to let it bother him. He wasn't going to let his cold stop him, even if it meant having to deal with the constant discomfort of his stuffy nose and itchy throat.

They piled into the van and headed to the practice studio. As they arrived, the cold air outside hit Seungkwan again, but he didn't let it slow him down. He tried to keep his focus on the task ahead-dancing, rehearsing, and pushing through whatever discomfort he was feeling.

The warm-up began, and although his body felt energized, his nose was still blocked, and he had to keep stopping to clear his throat. He was doing his best to hide it, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. But the others were starting to notice.