SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Mingyu | Pneumonia Part I

The long days of practice had finally paid off. Seventeen had been working tirelessly on their comeback, and now, after weeks of rehearsals, they were granted a week off. A rare break to unwind, rest, and recharge. The members gathered in their shared lounge at the dorm, excited to hear what each of them would do with their free time.

"Alright, guys," S.Coups started, standing in front of the couch where the others were lounging, "the schedule says we've got a whole week to ourselves. What's the plan?"

Jeonghan stretched his arms and grinned. "I'm going home. I haven't seen my family in ages. I miss them."

"Same," Joshua nodded. "I'll be heading back to LA. I want to spend some time with my parents and catch up with my friends there."

Woozi gave a soft smile. "I'm going home too. My family's been asking me to come back for a while now."

The others shared similar thoughts. The idea of seeing family was appealing to everyone, after months of long hours and constant training. But Mingyu, who had been quiet, didn't immediately speak up.

"Hyung, you're not going home?" asked Seungkwan, noticing Mingyu's silence.

Mingyu scratched the back of his head, looking a little uncomfortable. "Actually, my parents aren't home this week. They're on a trip overseas, so... I guess I'll just stay here."

"Wait, what?" asked DK, furrowing his brow. "What are you going to do? Are you gonna stay in here all week?"

"I'm fine," Mingyu shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I can just take the time to relax and catch up on some stuff I've been putting off."

"But Mingyu, you have to do something!" Jeonghan interjected. "You can't just stay in the dorm like that. You'll go crazy."

"Yeah, you should come with me to LA!" Joshua suggested. "You can stay with my family. We could all have a fun time together."

Mingyu smiled weakly. "Thanks, hyung. But I'll pass. I'm just fine staying here, honestly."

"Are you sure?" Seungcheol asked, giving him a concerned look. "We could plan a little vacation for you. How about it?"

Mingyu chuckled. "I appreciate it, but I think I'll be alright."

The others didn't look entirely convinced, but they understood. The next day, most of the members packed their bags and set off to their respective homes, with Jeonghan waving Mingyu off as he left the dorm.

The first day alone, Mingyu wandered the empty halls of the dorm, trying to fill the space with something. He watched a movie, made a quick snack, and sat in silence. As he opened the refrigerator to find something to eat, he muttered to himself, "It's going to be so quiet this week."

After some thought, he decided to make the most of it. He would start the day with a walk outside. He hadn't had time for it in weeks, and the fresh air might help clear his mind.

While walking around the nearby park, Mingyu bumped into a few fans who were excited to see him out and about.

"Oppa! Are you on a break? We miss you!" one of them said.

"Yeah, I'm just taking a little rest," Mingyu replied with a warm smile. "Hope you're doing well."

The fan looked up at him, eyes full of admiration. "We hope you have a great time, Mingyu-oppa!"

It was a simple interaction, but it made Mingyu feel less alone. He continued walking, not expecting to meet anyone else he knew, but then-he saw someone familiar.

"Hyung! Hey!" called out a voice.

Mingyu turned to find none other than Vernon, who had been walking in the same park. Vernon was carrying a couple of grocery bags, looking a bit more relaxed than usual.