Mingyu was glowing with confidence during the photoshoot. The lights shined on him perfectly, the camera flashes caught his best angles, and the staff around him couldn't stop complimenting him. "You're killing it, Mingyu!" one stylist said as they adjusted his shirt. Mingyu felt happy, the shoot going smoothly, leaving him excited for the results.
But a few days later, everything changed. A set of unapproved, personal photos from the shoot leaked online. Shirtless and vulnerable, the pictures spread across the internet without his consent, and soon Mingyu found himself reading comments that gnawed at his self-esteem. The comments were everywhere, and people started discussing his body like it was public property. He felt exposed. Vulnerable. His body, which had been a source of pride just a few days earlier, now felt like it was being scrutinized in ways he never anticipated. The internet can be cruel, and the comments ranged from objectifying him to people making invasive, inappropriate remarks. Each word cut deeper than the last.
After that, everything changed. Whenever someone complimented him—even innocently—he felt a weight pressing on his chest. Their words didn't feel like admiration anymore. Suddenly, even wearing short sleeves felt like too much exposure. The vibrant, confident Mingyu began to retreat, replacing his usual outfits with long sleeves and high collars, even when it was sweltering hot.
At first, the members didn't notice much. They teased him lightly, calling him out for dressing "like it's winter" in the middle of summer. "Mingyu hyung, are you cold, or are you just trying out a new fashion trend?" Seungkwan teased one evening, grinning. Mingyu forced a laugh, trying to brush it off. "No reason... just feel like it."
But inside, he felt like shrinking into himself. He started distancing himself from everyone. His confidence was shattered, replaced with insecurity and anxiety. He no longer joined in on the jokes and laughter as much, and he started spending more time in his room, isolating himself whenever he could. The anxiety gnawed at him constantly, and sometimes, when he was alone, the panic attacks came—sudden, overwhelming waves of fear and helplessness.
But S.Coups and Jeonghan, always a little more attuned to the group's emotional undercurrents, began to sense that something wasn't right.
"Are you okay, Mingyu?" Jeonghan asked one evening when they were all watching TV together. "You've been... different lately."
Mingyu tensed up, his heart racing. He couldn't let them know how broken he felt. "I'm fine, hyung. Just tired."
Jeonghan frowned, unconvinced, but he didn't push further.
Seungcheol, too, could see that something was off. Mingyu wasn't his usual cheerful self, and the leader's concern grew with each passing day. He would often catch Mingyu zoning out or sitting in his room for hours on end.
That's when Seungcheol came up with the idea of a vacation—a getaway for all the members. He told Jeonghan about his plan and shared his real reason for organizing the trip: to help Mingyu. The other members thought it was just a casual vacation, but for Seungcheol, it was more than that. He wanted to get to the bottom of what was hurting Mingyu.
When they arrived at their destination, a secluded, peaceful retreat, Seungcheol made sure Mingyu would stay in the room with him and Jeonghan.
"Mingyu, you're sharing a room with us," Jeonghan declared, pulling the younger member into the room with a grin. Mingyu didn't resist, though he felt a twinge of nervousness. He wasn't sure why, but something in the air felt different.
S.Coups and Jeonghan kept a close eye on him, but for the first couple of days, Mingyu remained withdrawn, hiding behind his mask of "everything's fine."
One night, Jeonghan decided it was time to break the silence. He gathered everyone for a game of truth or dare, thinking it would help Mingyu loosen up. The game was fun at first, filled with laughter and teasing. But then it was Mingyu's turn, and Jeonghan asked the question that had been on his mind for weeks been on his mind for weeks.
