Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Cracks Beneath the Surface (Sunghoon)

unknowunnie

The sharp, rhythmic thud of sneakers hitting the polished studio floor echoed against the walls, blending with the booming bass of the track playing on repeat. Sweat dripped from every member of ENHYPEN as they drilled the choreography for the umpteenth time that day. The mirrored walls reflected their synchronized movements, a testament to weeks of relentless practice. But perfection wasn’t enough—not this time. The pressure of the upcoming comeback loomed over them like a dark cloud, and every misstep felt like a personal failure.

Sunghoon tightened the laces of his sneakers, pulling them snug around his ankle as he shifted his weight experimentally. A dull throb pulsed just beneath the surface, a reminder of yesterday’s awkward landing during one of their more intense jumps. He had landed just a little off, his foot twisting slightly under him before he caught his balance. It had stung, but it wasn’t anything serious—or so he kept telling himself. He’d dealt with worse injuries during his figure skating days. This? This was nothing.

The other members gathered around as Jungwon, their leader, clapped his hands to get their attention. His face was flushed from exertion, but his eyes were sharp, focused. "Alright, from the top," he called out, his voice steady despite the exhaustion that clung to all of them like a second skin.

The familiar strain of the intro blasted through the speakers, and they moved into formation. As the beat dropped, their bodies sprang into motion—sharp, precise, and fluid. But for Sunghoon, each step felt heavier than the last. The sharp pivot in the second verse sent a jolt of pain shooting up his ankle, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through it. His breathing hitched, but he forced his face to remain neutral, unwilling to show even the slightest sign of weakness.

By the time the chorus hit, Sunghoon knew he was lagging. His footwork wasn’t as clean, his landings slightly off-balance. He could feel the eyes of the other members flicking toward him, their unspoken questions hanging in the air. But he refused to meet their gazes, focusing instead on just making it through the routine.

When the song finally ended, the room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of labored breathing. Jake flopped onto the floor with a dramatic groan, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he wiped sweat from his forehead.

"Man," Jake panted, glancing up at Sunghoon with a lopsided grin, "this choreo is killer, huh?"

Sunghoon forced a smile, swallowing down the discomfort bubbling in his chest. "Yeah," he replied, his voice tight. "It’s tough."

But Jake’s smile faded slightly as his eyes narrowed, noticing something off. "Hey, you okay? You were a bit off-beat there."

Sunghoon’s stomach clenched. He waved him off with a casual flick of his hand. "I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all. We’ve been at this all day."

Jay, who had been toweling off in the corner, looked up with a raised eyebrow. His gaze lingered on Sunghoon for a moment longer than necessary, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he tossed his towel aside and grabbed his water bottle, taking a long sip before muttering, "We’re all tired."

Sunghoon’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. The last thing he needed was to start an argument over something so trivial. He could handle this.

The break was short-lived. Jungwon clapped his hands again, signaling them back into formation. "Let’s run it again," he said, his voice brooking no argument. "We need to tighten up the timing before we call it a day."

The others groaned in unison, but no one protested. They knew better. Sunghoon took his place, his heart pounding in his chest—not from the physical exertion, but from the growing fear that he wouldn’t be able to keep hiding his pain.