Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Unknown Pain (Sunghoon)

unknowunnie

The rhythmic thud of sneakers against the polished wooden floor echoed through the practice room. ENHYPEN was deep into their comeback preparations, every member laser-focused on perfecting the intricate choreography. The mirrors lining the walls reflected their synchronized movements, sharp and precise, but the tension in the room was palpable. Everyone knew how crucial this comeback was. They had high expectations from fans, from their company, and-most of all-from themselves.

Sunghoon's body moved on instinct, years of training guiding every spin and step. But even through the adrenaline, he felt the exhaustion creeping in. His muscles burned from the relentless hours they'd been pushing through, and his lungs felt like they were working overtime. Yet, he ignored it. This was normal. They'd been through this before. Just one more run, he told himself, then I can rest.

But as he pushed off his right foot for a fast pivot, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through his ankle. It was sudden-like someone had jammed a hot knife right into the joint. He stumbled slightly, his balance faltering, but his reflexes kicked in, and he quickly corrected his stance before anyone noticed.

Or so he thought.

"Sunghoon-htyng, you good?" Jungwon's voice rang out, slightly breathless from the intense routine but tinged with concern.

Sunghoon straightened up immediately, forcing a smile despite the lingering sting in his ankle. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied quickly, waving a hand dismissively. "Just lost my footing for a second."

Jungwon didn't look entirely convinced, but with the music restarting and the pressure of the comeback looming, he let it slide. Sunghoon was reliable, after all. If he said he was fine, he was fine... right?

As the next round of choreography began, Sunghoon gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain. Each movement sent a dull throb up his leg, but he forced himself to ignore it. You've handled worse, he reminded himself. But with each passing minute, the twinge grew sharper, morphing from a slight discomfort to a burning ache.

By the time practice ended, Sunghoon was drenched in sweat-not just from exertion, but from the strain of hiding his discomfort. His ankle felt swollen inside his sneaker, each step sending jolts of pain up his leg. But he didn't limp. He couldn't. The others were exhausted, stressed about the comeback, and he didn't want to add to their burdens.

Back at the dorm, the usual sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air. The members were gathered around the dining table, digging into takeout and playfully teasing one another about mistakes made during practice. But Sunghoon sat quietly at the end of the table, his appetite gone. His foot was tucked under his chair, out of sight, and he shifted it carefully, trying to find a position that didn't make him wince.

Jake, ever the observant one, caught the unusual stillness. "Hey, Hoon, you alright? You've barely touched your food."

Sunghoon forced a smile, reaching for his chopsticks as if to prove he was fine. "Just tired," he said, keeping his tone light. "Practice was rough today."

Jake nodded, accepting the explanation, but not without a lingering glance. Sunghoon knew Jake was suspicious, but he was confident he could keep up the façade. He had to. Taking a break now wasn't an option.

The next few days blurred together in a haze of rehearsals, fittings, and relentless schedules. Sunghoon's ankle grew worse with each passing hour. The swelling had become impossible to ignore, and the pain-now a constant, burning throb-made it difficult to sleep at night. But he kept pushing, masking his discomfort with practiced smiles and quiet determination.