Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Writing Through the Storm (Joshua)

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Joshua Hong was known for his calm demeanor, angelic voice, and soft-spoken charm that balanced Seventeen’s high-energy chaos. To fans and his members, he was a steady presence, someone who always knew how to calm a storm. Yet, beneath his reassuring smile, Joshua carried a private struggle he’d managed to keep hidden: writing Korean.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Joshua had spoken Korean fluently at home, thanks to his parents. But his education had been entirely in English, and Korean writing had taken a backseat. It was a gap he rarely needed to address—until one fateful variety show brought it front and center.

The premise of the show seemed simple: to win a luxury meal set, Seventeen had to complete a series of challenges. Their final task relied on Joshua, who had to correctly write ten difficult Korean words on a whiteboard within a time limit. The members were ecstatic, teasing Joshua about his "angelic handwriting" and joking that he’d ace the challenge.

Joshua laughed nervously, but as the host explained the rules, his heart pounded. He gripped the marker tightly, his palms slick with sweat.

The first word appeared on the screen. Joshua hesitated for a fraction of a second before writing it down. The timer ticked mercilessly. The second word was harder, and by the third, his confidence wavered. His handwriting became shakier with each passing second.

When the buzzer rang, the results were announced: Joshua had gotten only six out of ten words correct. The loss was met with a mix of lighthearted groans and laughter from the members. But Joshua couldn’t miss the flicker of disappointment on the maknaes’ faces—Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino.

“Ah, hyung, it’s okay,” Dino said quickly, trying to hide his disappointment.

“Yeah, it’s just a game,” Vernon added, forcing a smile.

But Joshua could see through them. They had all been looking forward to the prize, and now, because of him, they’d lost it.

The guilt followed Joshua home that night, sinking deeper into his chest with each passing hour. The members reassured him, brushing off the loss as unimportant, but their words did little to ease the ache in his heart.

For days, Joshua replayed the moment in his head, hearing the buzzer and seeing the maknaes’ disappointed expressions. He couldn’t let it go. Desperate to make it up to them, he offered to take the members on a shopping spree, using his own money.

“Hyung, we don’t need this,” Seungkwan said, holding up a shirt he’d been eyeing. “Really, it’s fine.”

Joshua shook his head. “No, I insist. Please, just let me do this for you.”

Eventually, the members gave in, reluctant to argue further. They knew Joshua was trying to ease his guilt, and though they didn’t think he needed to, they accepted his gesture.

When the variety show episode finally aired, Joshua found himself reliving the embarrassment all over again. He hesitated to check the comments, but curiosity got the better of him.

At first, the responses were lighthearted, with fans joking about his cute mistakes. But the deeper he scrolled, the more negative the comments became.

"Why is he even in K-pop if he can’t write Korean properly?"
"He’s a foreigner—of course, he’d mess up."
"Joshua is dead weight. Seventeen deserves better."

Each comment was like a dagger to his chest. Joshua closed his laptop, his hands trembling. The words echoed in his mind, growing louder with each passing moment.