Chapter Text
Chen was the first to notice something was amiss. The way Sehun's typically mischievous gaze dimmed to exhaustion and disinterest before they even began practice. His flushed cheeks were paler than usual. Given the fact that the maknae had his moody moments, which every member has experienced, this could easily be confused with one of those. But the main vocalist was sure of it..there was something wrong with Sehun.
EXO were recording their parts for their new songs, and while every other member was executing their parts as well as possible, Sehun's tone and posture lacked the needed energy, making him sound robotic.
"Sehun-ah, are you alright?" Their leader, Suho asked, concern dripping from his short question.
"I am, hyung. I'm sorry, I'll try harder," He responded shortly. Was he really just in a mood, then? "Let's all do our best, and work on giving our fans the highest quality of effort we can!" He suddenly encouraged, a bright smile gracing his face.
The rest of the members cheered afterward, all suspicions disappearing. After all they had been through, their fans stuck with them, and EXO intended to do the same. They would give their fans amazing music and still maintain their spot on the leaderboards.
Time went on, and slowly, their crew members and producers left quietly to return to their own lives. Yet EXO still stayed, wanting to polish their rap delivery, pitch accuracy, and everything needed to be deemed decent enough on stage. They were all so fixed on perfecting their performance as a group, they seemed to miss Sehun wince in the corner.
He dropped to the floor, panting rather raggedly, running his hand through his hair, and Xiumin glanced worriedly. He walked towards the younger one, a gummy smile painted on his face as he held a hand out for the maknae to take.
They all knew he would decide to keep from them if he was sick or going through anything. It was a habit they've tried to break. Sehun was just scared of letting them and their fans down. He would always brush off their help or questions regarding his wellbeing.
Sehun took his hand and allowed his hyung to help him up to his feet.
Suho noticed them and sighed loudly. "I think we've been here long enough."
"Thank goodness, I'm so tired I could faint on the spot," Baekhyun groaned, and him and Chanyeol broke off into a conversation of how they would deal with that if it were to happen immediately after.
Kyungsoo put on his hat and packed his bags, eager to leave. "I need a 10-hour shower," Kai remarked in disgust and frowned when Chen agreed with a snicker.
That left Suho and Xiumin with Sehun, but as soon as they looked away from him to walk out the door, he gagged into his sleeve before rushing into the bathroom. By the time EXO was out the building, they realized their maknae wasn't behind them.
"Where is he? Don't tell me he's still in the building!" Chanyeol huffed, crossing his arms. "That idiot."
"Hey, don't worry. I'll go get him," Suho placated, his eyebrows knit together as he faced the building. What was up with Sehun today?
Sehun retched into the toilet, his lunch from earlier emptied out of his stomach. He resisted the urge to groan in case anyone was there. Sehun's skin grew slick with nervous sweat, his body shuddering. His headache felt akin to multiple needles stabbing his head, making him shiver at the thought of anything sharp touching him.
He stayed on the floor for a solid minute before quickly going to the sink to wash his hands and face. Shit, he looked like a ghost. He examined his face, pale and slightly sickly.
He should've just skipped out on this practice session or admitted he was sick. Then he wouldn't have disappointed everyone. His mind went back to their producers slowly showing signs of frustration. Not only was he feeling like crap, but he was wasting the others' time, too.
"Yah! Sehun-ah, why're you still here?" A shout came, and he whipped his head around. Damn, he forgot he had stayed behind, but it wasn't his fault..he couldn't throw up on the floor in front of them.
"Sorry-"
"We were already out the building and you weren't even behind us? Are you really alright?" Sehun watched as his leader-hyung's face changed from annoyed to concerned.
"I said I was fine, why are you worrying about me?" He shot back. When Suho scoffed and turned around in disbelief, Sehun whiped his shiny forehead with his sleeve.
In their dorm's bathroom, Sehun clutched his abdomen. It hurt so damn bad, like his side was going to burst if he made the littlest of movements. He leaned over the sink when another wave of nausea overcame him, but thankfully he didn't throw up.
After making himself look decent, he walked out of the bathroom to see Kyungsoo sitting on the futon in the living room. "Oh, Sehun, Jongdae hyung called for you."
Kyungsoo looked so tired, making Sehun feel guilty. He had to get sick? At a time like this? When their fans needed them and EXO needed him? "Okay." He walked hesitantly to Chen's room, standing awkwardly at the doorway when he was noticed.
"Oh! Sit down.." Chen gestured next to him on the bed, and Sehun obeyed. "You know you can tell me if anything's up, right?"
Sehun feigned ignorance. "Huh? Yeah, of course, hyung."
"What happened at practice today, then?"
"Nothing? I just felt a little unmotivated," He lied smoothly, but he fidgeted with his fingers. Chen studied him for a moment, his lips pursed in thought, before he shook his head in defeat. "Fine."
Sehun smiled, hiding the discomfort he was feeling in his body. "Thanks for worrying, hyung," He got up slowly, taking the cue to leave. "Of course, maknae-yah," Jongdae murmured lowly as Sehun walked out.
Instead of Kyungsoo, Kai was now on the leather futon, eyes focused on the game he was playing on the TV. Sehun tried walking past with no detection but failed. "Hey, Sehun! Wanna play Call of Duty with me?"
"No, I can't-"
"Just this once?" Kai whined to his friend. Sehun didn't even bother considering. His head was aching, his body on fire, and he needed to get well as soon as possible. Staying up late would not help his supposed fever go away.
"Sorry," He shrugged, then quickly went to go search for pills. Living with seven other people would mean there had to be at least one drug that could help him through this. While he was fumbling to find something in the kitchen drawer, Baekhyun passed by.
Sehun quickly closed the drawer and pretended he was looking for another thing. "Sehun-ah, it's pretty late, and we have an interview tomorrow. You should rest," He advised softly, reaching over to ruffle his dongsaeng's hair.
With his heart raging at the close encounter, he stayed silent until finally nodding in agreement. "R-right."
The next morning, his eyelids opened drowsily, and the morning light attacked him almost right away. He cringed as a painful pang hit his head. Shit, he could barely get up without feeling nauseous, and they had an important interview today.
Still, he somehow managed to get ready without throwing up--he almost did--and went to search for the pills again. When he finally found them, he sighed.
The directions read the usual. "Don't exceed the dosage, blah blah blah.." He stopped. "I can't take it on an empty stomach?" He stayed frozen until shaking his head. The rest of EXO was already in the car, so he just skipped breakfast, which was probably the better choice anyways, considering his upset stomach. He couldn't eat now, so he just popped the pills into his mouth in hopes that his fever would somehow fade away.
When they arrived at the interview setting, he was the first to be seated, and was forced to wait for everyone else to finish prepping up. A makeup artist suddenly ran up to him, frowning. "Sehun, you're extra pale today!" She remarked, dabbing at his face with tools.
He put on a sheepish grin, yet his side was killing him, spreading heat throughout the maknae's entire body. Colors danced in his vision, and he swallowed down a whine of pain.
Sehun hadn't even noticed the rest of his group get seated beside him and in their respective seats. "The interview is starting in.."
The man's booming voice suddenly blocked off and all Sehun could focus on was blinding pain, searing his midriff and making him gasp quietly. He willed it to go away, basically pleading with himself. But it was all he could focus on now, and he couldn't pay attention to the interview as a result.
In his painful haze, from time to time he realized he wasn't contributing much-no, at all. Ugh, the last thing he needed was a stupid scandal about his lack of interest in the idol career. Suddenly, the interviewer addressed him directly.
"And finally, the maknae, Sehun!"
The said person snapped out of his thoughts and smiled forcefully. "Yes?"
"Fans are wondering.."
He abruptly grew dazed, and blinked in an attempt to clear his glassy vision and cloudy thoughts.
"Sehun? Hello?"
The tall idol jumped when hands nudged him, and he looked around. Everyone was staring at him expectantly, the interviewer even laughing a bit at his lack of attention. "S-sorry?" He was in deep trouble now. He should've skipped out on this or notified his managers...he really didn't feel fine anymore.
"Fans have been wondering how you seem to age so slowly--or not age at all!"
Sehun chuckled, but winced in slight pain. "Well, just take care of yourself if you're looking for my secret. Eat well, sleep well, hydrate yourself, and take care of your body when you don't feel well!"
Very ironic Sehun, very ironic.
"Wise words from the youngest!" With that, the short ten-minute interview which felt like both ten seconds and ten hours to Sehun came to a close. He could feel eyes on him as he followed Kai out the building, but he decided to ignore them.
The car ride back to the dorm after the interview was tense. Suho already voiced his dissatisfaction with it, and now, it was quiet.
Not that Sehun cared. The silence was bliss, other than the fact that he could literally throw up any second now.
"Sehun, seriously, what's wrong with you?" He perked up at his name when Suho finally asked the question they all wanted to. "You can't pay attention for a 10-minute interview?"
He flinched at the jab before scowling and closing his eyes. Even when he was trying to hide his shortcomings and stay healthy, he still always let them down.
"Yah..stop being so harsh," Xiumin, their oldest, muttered. Chanyeol hummed in agreement.
Kai opened his box of food, which made no sense, they were minutes from the dorm where he could eat more comfortably. Sehun made a face at the food, and everything was fine until it reached his nose. His eyes widened, and his stomach lurched, making him cover his nose with his hand. "Hah.."
Kai gazed at him. "What?" He asked, looking offended. Sehun shook his head, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. Whatever he was eating, it was killing Sehun right.
"Oh, my--are we close to the dorms?" He asked no one in particular.
"Why-?"
Then, a sharp gasp. They all swiveled to look at Sehun, who's face was contorted in pain.
"Holy-" Was the last thing he said before he panted raggedly and in one movement, retched on the car floor right when they arrived home.
"Sehun!"
He barely registered himself being carried frantically into the house, and them setting him down on the couch.
"Lord, Sehun-ah, are you okay?" Chanyeol asked when he set him down. Someone clicked their tongue from behind him, and Suho shouldered his way through to sit on the couch and put the youngest's head on his lap.
"Of course he's not okay, you dunce!"
Thoroughly embarrassed, but mostly tired, he rested his head on his hyung's lap. "We need to call the hospital. Chen, someone, get me a phone!"
"No, no, I'm f-fine..no need to call the hospital."
"You're not fine, Sehun-ah," His leader retorted calmly, putting his hand to Sehun's forehead and widening his eyes. "You're boiling!"
Sehun winced. "It's just the flu." But then he started squirming in discomfort.
"D.O, go get a cold towel and a bucket, hurry!" Chen ordered, noticing Sehun's movement.
Baekhyun, who was watching sympathetically, opened his mouth to speak. "Don't worry, maknae, we'll help you get better either way." Sehun would normally appreciate the kindness if he wasn't practically dying on his leader's lap.
Instead of responding, he twisted over to puke on the carpet.
At night, Sehun couldn't sleep at all, the pain in his side which should've subsided by now was still attacking him mercilessly. He kept turning in bed, and Xiumin walked with a thermometer in hand.
"Hey, baby. Can I check your temperature?"
"I already know I have a fever," Sehun grumbled.
Xiumin let out a breath. "How long have you been sick?" Sehun turned the other way. He just sold himself out.
"I'm fine."
Xiumin just turned him over gently and stuck the thermometer in his mouth. He let out a weird noise.
"Where's the cold towel?" His hyung asked, noticing the towel they'd placed on his forehead had disappeared.
"Took it off," He mumbled. Xiumin crossed his arms. "You have a fever of 103, Sehun-ah. Don't you want to get better?"
103? Damn. No wonder he felt like shit.
Baekhyun came in, his phone in hand. "Hey hyung, hey Sehun. How's he feeling?"
Xiumin just showed him the thermometer. Baekhyun's eyes darkened in worry, and his eyes darted to Sehun's who were half lidded.
"Yah, how long have you been sick for?" He questioned sharply. Xiumin shoved him. "He's sick. Leave him alone. Here, help me take his shirt off."
Sehun turned away from them at those words, curling in on himself and clutching his abdomen. "No," He protested weakly when Baekhyun's hands went to the bottom of his shirt.
"You're really burning up, maknae, let us take care of you."
It was less of he let them take care of him though, and more of he was too exhausted to do anything.
The next morning, Suho and D.O were there to help him up.
"Hyung, I've never seen him look so exhausted.." The owl-eyed member voiced his concern. Sehun whined when he realized they were trying to wake him up. "Shh, Sehun-ah.."
"I don't think he wants to wake up," D.O pointed out, eyeing the younger one and placing a hand on his forehead.
"Well, he has to. Is he still hot?" Suho asked softly with his mouth tilted down in a frown. The rest of their conversation faded to nothing for Sehun as he struggled to go back to sleep.
His eyes flew open as hands propped up his body and he felt himself being led out of bed and into the kitchen. He wondered in a daze how he was able to stand up. He saw Chen and Xiumin, the two of them preparing something and setting it on the counter.
Their eyes brightened when they saw Sehun then dimmed slightly. "Is he feeling better?" Suho shook his head silently.
When he was seated, Xiumin put the bowl in front of him. "C'mon, baby, you have to eat something before we are allowed to give you any type of medicine." Sehun leaned away from the soup, his stomach going to his throat and his side stabbing him. He bit his lip to hide a gasp but couldn't stop himself from bending over slightly. The pain didn't stop, so he leaned his head on the chest next to him, arms circling his head and fingers threading his hair.
"Oh, Sehun..what's hurting?" Jongdae asked with Sehun's head in his arms.
When he opened his mouth to reply, a short gasp came out instead. Chen rubbed his back soothingly. "E-everything, my side.." He trailed off.
Sehun's vision swam, and suddenly he got off the chair and fell to his knees. "Hyung, he's so damn hot!" Chen, who was on the floor with Sehun and still holding him in his hands, shouted fearfully, out of fear for his dongsaeng, and that's when Suho finally had enough.
"I'm calling the hospital."
The rest of them tried to comfort their maknae as Suho called and explained the symptoms to the nurse. Suho dropped the phone just as Kai, Baekhyun, and Chanyeol came out. Their eyes flicked to Sehun, who was still doubled over in pain and in his hyung's arm.
"Oh, no, Hunnie's still..sick?" Baekhyun gasped, unable to describe it, because to everyone, it was obvious he was more than just sick, and Kai looked away, unable to see his closest friend in pain.
"She said.." Suho spoke up, his voice wavering. "She said, it's most likely appendicitis, and unfortunately, we called late."
All of the members straightened at that, their eyebrows furrowed anxiously. "What?" Baekhyun snapped, running a hand through his hair.
"It's likely his appendix has already burst."
Chaos erupted.
In the ambulance, they somehow fit all seven members, with the eighth, Sehun on a stretcher. The nurse with them examined him, a concentrated tilt to her lips. "W-what's wrong with him?" Chanyeol stuttered out.
"I'm sure you already know what the nurse told you..but, it seems like she's right. Except no more likely, it looks like his appendix had burst a while ago. He's going to need emergency surgery."
Suho froze, his hands curling into fists. How? How had he missed this? How had he missed one of his members getting so sick in front of his eyes? How had he just brushed it off? How, as a leader, could he let any of his members go through the amount of pain Sehun had? One thing is for sure, he failed his maknae. No, he failed EXO.
Xiumin, who was next to him, narrowed his eyes at Suho. "Don't beat yourself up about it, Junmyeon, we all didn't notice."
"I-I should've known." Suho looked up at Chen, who looked down at his feet. "From practice yesterday, I should've known he wasn't just having an attitude. A-as his older member--no, his older brother, I should've.." He broke off.
They all felt it. The guilt. Just how could they let their beloved maknae go through this pain and not realize it? Kai cleared his throat. "Me too. He wouldn't play with me, and he normally always says yes. I should've guessed he wasn't feeling well."
But Suho felt the worst. He was sure of it. After all, he had done the worst. He had scolded Sehun for not paying attention without even bothering to ask why. He had ignored Sehun's unusual behavior when he snapped at Suho in the bathroom. It was all his fault-
"We're here."
They all waited impatiently in the waiting room, Chanyeol biting his nail harshly. "He'll get through this." It sounded like he was trying to convince himself. Then, he sat up straighter, glaring at all of them. "No, he will. Who are you guys to think so lowly of Sehun, huh? This is Oh Sehun we're talking about. I've raised him since he was in middle school, and I know for a fact that he would never give up if it came to something he loves." If it was a normal day, Baekhyun would make fun of him for ranting. But..now, this gave all of them a sense of security.
"Yeah, you're right. I just know he'll come out whining for bubble tea," Kai chuckled. Suho smiled brightly, shaking his head at the thought of Sehun's obsession with bubble tea.
Sehun groaned loudly, and a nurse shushed him gently. "Sehun, is it okay if I check something first? It might hurt.."
Sehun barely nodded before the nurse pressed down on his side, making him shout out at the blinding pain that followed. H-holy...
The nurse hummed as if confirming something before more doctors piled in. "Hello, Sehun-ssi. How are you feeling?"
"What kind of question was that? "Hah..l-like shit." He wouldn't dare laugh, scared that pain might follow. The doctor nodded though.
"I'm afraid to inform you that you're suffering from appendicitis. Your appendix burst..quite a while ago, and you should thank your friend for calling when he did. Otherwise you wouldn't be so lucky." Sehun scrunched his nose. He should thank Suho. He should thank everyone for taking care of him. It was his fault, anyways. He chose to hide from them something like this, not knowing it would become so serious. Just the flu, his ass.
"..you need to go through a short surgery." Sehun gasped, his eyes opening to saucers. "What?" He asked breathlessly. "S-surgery?" He hated needles. He shut his eyes, taking a shuddering breath.
"if it helps, you can speak to one of your friends before we begin." The doctor added, sensing his fright. Only one?
"C-can you call for S-suho hyung?" He murmured, his voice low in his throat. Soon after, true to the doctor's words, Sehun saw Suho rush in, and he swore he could cry from joy if he wasn't feeling so afraid.
"Sehun!" Suho cried, his eyes glossy with unshed tears and his hand shaking as he took Sehun's in his own. "You bastard.." Suho said shakily, a smile gracing his ugly words.
Sehun laughed, flinching at the weird sensation after. "H-hyung, I'm so sorry for hiding from you-"
"Sehun-ah, it's okay, it's okay, all that matters is if you're fine-"
"I have to do surgery, hyung, I hate needles, I can't!" He interrupted quickly, his words rushed as he clutched his comfort hyung's hands desperately. Suho's face shifted as he stared at his precious dongsaeng's fearful expression until he shook his head firmly.
"Sehun-ah, my maknae, you'll be asleep and won't feel a thing. I'm not going to lose you, little one. Please get through this for me. For your hyungs. For ExoLs, can you do that?" Suho whispered.
Sehun nodded vigorously, all earlier fear replaced by determination. He would do anything for EXO. Anything. "Fine, I will, hyung."
A few hours passed, and finally, a nurse came to check on them. "The surgery was completed successfully. He is doing fine, but he is still recovering from the work on him, so he will be sore and in pain for a few weeks. We will prescribe some painkillers, and in the meantime, make sure he relaxes. No idol work whatsoever for at least a week, then he can slowly get into the rhythm. Dancing or any other strenuous activites should be put off for a while. "
They all stood up, and Suho kept a mental note of everything the nurse said.
"Can we see him?" Kai spoke up nervously, but we could all tell he was hiding a smile. Chanyeol was right. Sehun didn't give up. "I'm afraid we're not letting in.." The female nurse trailed off, examining each and every one of their faces. She made a face, as if contemplating, until finally, she chuckled.
"I'll allow it." EXO cheered, their eyes brightening and faces stretched in grins of relief and giddiness. When the members rushed to his room, Suho bowed to the nurse gratefully. "Thank you."
"Of course. It looks like he means a lot to you."
"He does..he really does."
"Take care of him, and goodbye." She smiled whole-heartedly, and Suho returned it.
Sehun was surprised to see them all pile in, but soon he breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad they came to see him. "Hey, guys. I didn't die," He greeted with a weak laugh.
They all gaped at him, especially Suho, before Baekhyun let out a dry chuckle.
"You brat..just the flu, huh?" Sehun sputtered at Baekhyun's comment.
"Please tell us if you don't feel good, Sehun-ah," Chen pleaded. "You're not a burden." Sehun looked down at his lap and fidgeted with his fingers, but he nodded quietly. Then, Kai ran over and hugged him, his breath against Sehun's neck.
"I'm so relieved, Sehun- I almost lost my CoD partner!" He joked, pulling away with a small smirk. He caused a chorus of laughter to erupt, from Sehun included. And honestly, Sehun was relieved too.
"My head was a bitch, you know," He commented with a small grin.
"Oh Sehun..as much as I'm happy you're feeling better, do you know how scared I felt? How scared we all felt? Knowing we couldn't even help you in any way while- while you were in so much obvious pain?" His voice cracked, and he stared at Sehun, who's eyes were opened in shock, unwaveringly. "Just fucking say something next time, for gods sake. We care about your well-being even if you don't, and we could never live without you. We love you, maknae, don't ever think we don't."
Sehun's lip wobbled. He hated seeing his hyung upset. "I'm sorry, Suho hyung, hyungs, I just didn't want to disturb you guys.."
Then, Suho walked up to Sehun, shaking his head with tears in his eyes before hugging him tightly. Slowly, the rest of EXO piled around Sehun and they were all hugging each other, crying, laughing, enjoying the moment.
"Ow.." Sehun complained.