NCT's Starlight - NCT 22nd Male Member

1.

I walked into the dance practice room and placed down my bag before bowing slightly at the members. They all greeted me and Taeyong began the track for the dance we would be practicing. We all got into position and began to dance. Mark was doing better than usual today and so was Yuta. I couldn't say the same about me though. I had stayed up late last night writing songs for the next album and mixing one that I had already written. My body felt heavier due to the tiredness. I was sleep deprived and I knew I was showing it. A few of the members noticed this and gave me questioning glances which I ignored. Instead I focused on moving my body correctly and tried to distract myself from how tired I was. It would be different if this was just a one time all nighter, but it was the fifth this week. So at this point saying I am tired is an understatement. I forced constant motion on my legs and arms as I danced and as I went on I got somewhat better than when we first started. But of course that wasn't good enough. Everyone has to be perfect. As we all ended practice I felt light headed. My legs were shaking and I couldn't keep walking as I fell to the floor with a thud. I felt the members run over to check on me and I tried to get up but ended up seeing spots instead.

"Oh my God...."

Taeyong grabbed my hand and held it tightly while Johnny went to get help from one of the staff. I tried to get up again but got the same response plus my members telling me to stop. Soon Johnny came back with a staff that helped me stand up.
"There. No need to fuss over him. He's fine and he can stand now."

The girl left swiftly and Taeyong just scowled.  
"Come on, Taikyu. Let's get you to a doctor." 

I frowned.
"No.... I'm fine, Tae. Really."

He glared at me slightly and wrapped his arm under mine before helping me walk towards the door. 
"You ARE going to a doctor and you're going right NOW." 

I sighed and let him and Yuta carry me to the van before driving off with Taeil and Doyoung in the car with me. The doctor told me that it was from exhaustion. Surprise surprise. Doyoung scolded me and Taeil was just looking at me with sad eyes. 

"You know that we don't need you to work so hard, right? We care about you. Not about how many hours you spend on our music. Cut it back a bit. Sleep more. Spend some time with the dreamies or something. We haven't really seen a lot of you recently." 

I looked over at Taeil and held his hand, which is something I usually don't do.
"I promise to take care of myself from now on. Okay?"

He smiled and squeezed my hand before nodding. 
"Let's go home and get you to sleep." 

I nodded and stood up before walking out of the hospital and back into the van to head home. We passed by the usual landmarks. A big twisted tree, a cluttered up house about a block from the dorms, and lastly the group of shrubs surrounding our dorm. I looked at the dorms and sighed knowing that all of the members would be waiting to scold me when I walked in. With a final sigh, I got out of the car and walked into the building. The moment my foot stepped over the threshold a small body hugged mine. I looked down and saw Chenle holding onto me for dear life. He had tears streaming down his face and I stroked his hair while he cried. 
"Don't cry LeLe. I'm okay. Nothing's wrong with me."

He sniffled and looked up at me with teary eyes and a pouty lip.
"B-but hyung-g said-d y-you passed-d out-t.... and-d... and-d.."

I took his face in my hands and wiped his tears before hugging him. 
"I know. I was just tired that's all. I'm okay now though. So smile that beautiful smile for me. Okay?"

He shook his head and pouted more. I smirked a little before tickling his sides and causing a high pitched laugh to come from the boy. He smiled at me as I picked him up and threw him onto the couch before attacking his sides again. His laugh echoed throughout the room and it caused the other members to smile widely. Chenle finally gave in and screamed for me to stop so I let him sit up and he smiled. 
"I'm so glad that you're okay."

I ruffled his hair before looking to the other members. All the other members of NCT were watching with smiles. I looked at the dreamies and saw that Jisung was missing. 

"Hey where's Jisung-"

"BOO!!!" 

I jumped a little and turned around to see him smiling down at me. I shook my head and pulled him onto the couch as well. He smiled wider as he landed in between me and Chenle. Soon I had all of the dreamies cuddled up on the couch. Chenle was on top of Jisung's lap, Haechan was on Mark, Renjun was on Jeno and I had a very cuddly Jaemin in my lap. He was turned my way and had his head buried in the crook of my neck asleep. I played with his hair as the other dreamies slowly fell asleep as well. Soon, Jungwoo walked over and saw my position and smiled. 

"You don't realize how much you mean to everyone sometimes, Kyu." 

I just shook my head and pulled him down next to me and he cuddled up into my side we stayed like that until I started to fall asleep. My eyes drooped and I let my head rest on top of Jungwoo's before hearing him whisper. 

"Sleep well, Kyu"