Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

When the Curtain Falls (Jisung)

MalakMimi541

The dance studio was alive with energy, the rhythmic thumping of the music reverberating through the mirrored walls. The members of NCT had been practicing for hours, their synchronized movements polished yet driven by the need for perfection. Among them, Jisung moved with his usual fluidity, but there was something different about him. His steps lacked their usual energy, and the brightness in his eyes seemed dimmed.

"Alright, take five!" Taeyong called out, clapping his hands as the music cut off.

Jisung dropped to the floor, his back pressed against the wall. His chest rose and fell heavily as he gulped down water. Sweat dripped down his face, but his pale complexion stood out even in the dim light.

"Jisung, you good?" Jaemin's voice broke through the haze. He crouched beside the younger boy, concern etched into his face.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," Jisung replied quickly, offering a weak smile.

Jaemin studied him for a moment but didn't push. He ruffled Jisung's hair before heading off to grab a snack. Jisung watched him leave, guilt curling in his stomach. He hated lying to his members, but what else could he do? They were all under pressure, and the last thing he wanted was to become a burden.

It had started weeks ago, a small trickle of blood from his nose one morning that he'd dismissed as nothing. The dry winter air, he'd told himself. But it kept happening. At first, it was infrequent—quick nosebleeds that stopped within minutes. But as the weeks passed, they became more frequent and harder to control.

Jisung tried everything to hide it. He carried tissues everywhere, discreetly ducking into restrooms when he felt the telltale warmth in his nose. The group's gruelling schedule didn't help; between rehearsals, recording sessions, and promotional shoots, there was barely time to breathe, let alone rest.

One afternoon, during a particularly intense practice, Jisung felt the now-familiar pressure building in his head. The room seemed to tilt slightly, and his vision blurred at the edges.

"Bathroom break!" he blurted out, darting out of the room before anyone could stop him.

In the restroom, he leaned over the sink, pinching his nose as blood dripped steadily into the porcelain basin. His reflection stared back at him, pale and drawn, with dark circles under his eyes.

"Get it together," he muttered to himself, stuffing tissues into his pocket.

When he returned to the practice room, Chenle looked up from his phone. "You okay? You were gone a while."

"Yeah, just... drank too much water earlier," Jisung lied, forcing a laugh. Chenle didn't look convinced but didn't press further.

As the days passed, the other members started to notice. Jisung had always been full of energy, but now he seemed quieter, slower, almost as if he were shrinking into himself.

"You've barely touched your food," Doyoung said one evening as they sat around the dinner table.

Jisung poked at his rice with his chopsticks. "I'm not that hungry," he mumbled.

"Not hungry? You?" Johnny joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," Jisung said quickly. "Just tired."

The room fell silent for a moment before Jaehyun spoke up. "You've been tired a lot lately."

"Maybe he's just growing," Haechan teased, nudging Jisung playfully.

Jisung managed a small laugh, but the conversation left him feeling exposed. He excused himself as soon as dinner was over, retreating to his room and collapsing onto his bed.