The practice room was filled with the sounds of footsteps, heavy breathing, and the relentless rhythm of their new comeback track. SEVENTEEN was in the thick of rehearsals, preparing for yet another round of promotions. Mingyu, along with his twelve bandmates, was exhausted, but they all pushed through the fatigue, focused on perfecting their choreography. They were known for their synchronized dance moves, and they knew they couldn't afford to let any small detail slip.
But Mingyu was struggling.
Mingyu had been feeling the strain for days. His body ached from the rigorous practice schedules, but he pushed through it, determined not to let the team down. The choreography for the new song was intense, and while his performance was solid, he couldn't help but feel like it wasn't enough. He needed to nail every move, make sure it was perfect. Even though the others were tired, and their dance coach had suggested they wrap it up for the night, Mingyu stayed behind, repeating the move over and over. His body screamed for rest, but his mind was too focused on nailing the choreography.
As he pushed himself through one more repetition, something in his lower back gave way. A sharp pain shot through him, forcing him to stop mid-movement. Before he could catch himself, his legs buckled, and he crumbled to the ground with a gasp of pain.
The music abruptly stopped. The members, who had been taking a break nearby, rushed to his side.
"Mingyu!" Seungcheol was the first to kneel down beside him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Mingyu winced, trying to push himself up, but the pain in his back was intense. He felt a tightness that made it difficult to move.
"You don't look fine," Joshua said, his voice laced with concern. "Did you strain your back?"
Hoshi, their passionate performance leader, shook his head. "You should rest. It's late anyway, and you've been pushing yourself too hard."
"I can't," Mingyu protested, trying to push himself up. The moment he tried to stand, another wave of pain hit, and he winced.
"Let's go home," Seungcheol insisted.
Realizing he had no choice, Mingyu nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I'll rest." However, he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that hung over him. They were so close to perfecting the routine, and he had slowed them down.
The members helped him up, and after a few moments, they decided to call it a day. Everyone was exhausted, and they needed the rest. They returned to their shared house, hoping that with a good night's sleep, the next day would go smoother.
The next morning, Mingyu's back felt stiff, the pain lingering from the previous night. It wasn't as bad as before, but it was still there, a constant reminder of his body's limits. He stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, debating whether to tell the others. But no, he didn't want to worry them. Everyone was tired, and they had so much to do. He could handle it.
So, he pushed through it.
When the group gathered for practice again, Mingyu plastered on a smile and moved as if nothing was wrong. He shuffled around, taking longer than usual to get ready, and when the other members asked how he was doing, he forced a smile.
"I'm good. Feeling a lot better," he lied, his voice as cheerful as he could make it.
"Are you sure?" Seungcheol asked, his eyes narrowing slightly in concern. "You were in a lot of pain yesterday."
"I'm fine, really," Mingyu insisted. "Just a little sore, that's all."
The members seemed to believe him, though a few exchanged glances. They were all tired, after all, and didn't push the matter. As the day went on, Mingyu continued to push through his back pain. Every twist and turn during practice sent a jolt of discomfort through him, but he bit his lip and kept going, unwilling to admit that his back wasn't getting better. He convinced himself that it was just soreness from overexertion and that it would pass soon.
