Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

A Bitter Taste (Jongseob)

After weeks of gruelling schedules, P1Harmony was finally rewarded with a rare evening off. Their spirits were high as their manager drove them to a popular restaurant that Keeho had been raving about for days.

"I'm telling you, this place has the best food in the city," Keeho declared, practically bouncing in his seat.

Theo raised an eyebrow. "You said that about the last place, and we waited two hours for lukewarm pasta."

"Okay, but this is different! Trust me," Keeho shot back, feigning offense.

Beside him, Jiung chuckled, while Soul and Jongseob exchanged a glance. Soul grinned, leaning over to whisper, "At least Keeho's consistent."

Jongseob smiled faintly. His energy wasn't as high as the others', but he was looking forward to unwinding after the hectic schedule. He had been feeling a little off all day, but he chalked it up to fatigue. Tonight, he just wanted to enjoy time with his hyungs.

The restaurant was bustling with energy when they arrived. The warm lighting and tantalizing aroma of food immediately enveloped them. They were seated at a cozy table in the corner, away from the prying eyes of other diners.

As the waiter approached, their notepad in hand, the group busied themselves debating what to order.

"I'll take the chef's special," Keeho said confidently.

Jiung tilted his head. "What if it's something you don't like?"

"Impossible," Keeho replied, earning a collective groan from the group.

When it was Jongseob's turn to order, he glanced up at the waiter. "I'll have the bibimbap. But please make sure there's no seaweed in it. I can't eat seaweed."

Soul chimed in, his tone serious. "Yeah, it's really important. No seaweed anywhere near his food."

The waiter nodded, their smile not quite reaching their eyes. "Got it. No seaweed for the bibimbap."

The group didn't notice the glint of malice in the waiter's gaze as they walked away. Unbeknownst to them, this wasn't just any server—they were a sasaeng who had been following P1Harmony's schedules obsessively. The waiter's fixation on the group had taken a dark turn, and they saw this as an opportunity to get close to them in a way that would leave a lasting impact.

When the food arrived, the waiter made sure to serve Jongseob's dish last, carefully concealing the thin strips of seaweed beneath the rice and vegetables.

"Looks good," Keeho said, rubbing his hands together as the plates were placed in front of them.

Jongseob gave the bibimbap a cautious glance. It smelled normal, and the presentation looked fine. Trusting that his instructions had been followed, he picked up his chopsticks and took a small bite.

The meal was lively, filled with laughter and playful teasing. Jiung nearly knocked over his drink while trying to mimic one of Keeho's dramatic stories, and Soul made everyone laugh with his spot-on impressions of their manager.

Jongseob, quieter than usual, ate slowly. A faint unease gnawed at him, but he attributed it to his earlier fatigue.

As the group finished their meals and got up to leave, Jongseob's stomach gave a small, uncomfortable twist. He frowned, pressing a hand against his abdomen.

"You okay?" Theo asked, noticing his expression.

"Yeah," Jongseob replied quickly. "Probably just ate too fast."

Theo didn't push, and the group piled back into the van, their laughter continuing as they recounted the highlights of the evening.

But Jongseob grew quieter with each passing minute. The discomfort in his stomach was escalating, spreading like wildfire. He rested his head against the window, his breath coming in shallow gasps as waves of nausea rolled over him.

Soul, seated beside him, noticed immediately. "Jongseob?" he asked softly, his brow furrowing.

"I'm fine," Jongseob murmured, though his pale face told a different story.

Soul's eyes narrowed. "Driver, pull over!" he suddenly shouted, his voice cutting through the group's chatter.

The van jerked to a halt on the side of the road.

"What's going on?" Keeho asked, alarmed.

Before anyone could answer, Soul unbuckled Jongseob's seatbelt and practically dragged him out of the van. The others followed, confusion and concern written all over their faces.

As soon as they were outside, Jongseob stumbled a few steps before doubling over by the side of the road. Violent retching sounds filled the night air as he vomited into a patch of bushes.

"Jongseob!" Jiung exclaimed, rushing to his side.

"Stay back," Soul said firmly, his hand rubbing soothing circles on Jongseob's back. "He's not done."

Jongseob gagged again, tears streaming down his face. "I can taste it," he choked out between heaves. "The seaweed... it was in my food."

Keeho's face darkened. "What?"

Jiung's eyes widened in shock. "But... you told the waiter."

"I... I know," Jongseob whispered hoarsely before another wave of nausea hit him.

Soul's protective instincts kicked into overdrive. He crouched beside Jongseob, murmuring a mix of comforting words and Minecraft villager sounds—an odd but effective combination that seemed to calm his younger member.

The other members stood nearby, their expressions ranging from worry to anger.

"Someone's going to pay for this," Keeho muttered, pulling out his phone.

Keeho wasted no time dialing the restaurant's number.

"Hello, thank you for calling—"

"Save it," Keeho snapped. "We were just at your restaurant, and one of your waiters ignored a food restriction. My member is sick because of it."

The manager's tone shifted immediately. "I'm terribly sorry to hear that. Can you tell me what happened?"

Keeho explained the situation in clipped, angry tones. By the time he was finished, the manager was stumbling over their apologies, promising to investigate the matter.

"That waiter better not be working there the next time we visit," Keeho warned before hanging up.

By the time they returned to the dorm, Jongseob was barely conscious, his body limp with exhaustion. Soul carried him inside, with Theo and Jiung close behind.

"We need to get him to bed," Jiung said, worry lacing his voice.

Together, they laid Jongseob on his bed. Theo fetched a damp cloth and placed it on his forehead, while Soul sat beside him, refusing to leave his side.

As the night wore on, Jongseob stirred restlessly, his fever rising. Around 3 a.m., he bolted upright, clutching his stomach.

"Bathroom," he mumbled weakly.

Soul and Theo helped him to the bathroom just in time for another round of vomiting. Theo rubbed his back while Soul whispered reassurances, his voice steady despite his own worry.

By morning, Jongseob's fever had broken, and his condition had stabilized. He lay curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over him. His face was still pale, but the worst seemed to be over.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"Don't apologize," Keeho said firmly. "This wasn't your fault."

Jiung nodded. "We're just glad you're okay."

Soul, seated beside Jongseob, nudged him gently. "Next time, I'll taste your food first."

A weak smile tugged at Jongseob's lips. "Thanks, hyung."

The group spent the rest of the day together, playing games and telling stories to keep Jongseob's spirits up. Their bond, already strong, felt even tighter after the ordeal.

Though the bitter taste of betrayal lingered, it was overshadowed by the sweetness of the love and care they shared as a family.