The cold, sterile scent of hospital air filled Seungcheol's nostrils as his eyes fluttered open. The fluorescent lights above flickered softly, casting a harsh glow against the white walls of the room. His head ached, a dull throb that seemed to echo in time with the steady beep of a heart monitor. His mind was clouded, disoriented, as if he had just woken from a long, vivid dream.

For a moment, everything was a blur—his body stiff, his hands heavy, his chest constricted with a sense of confusion. He blinked a few times, trying to steady himself, but the memories from the dream seemed to cling to him like a haze. He could still feel the warmth of Jeonghan's hand in his, the excitement of the fans, the whispers of the scandal that had taken over their lives. The faked dating scandal, the public appearances, the hashtag #SueDispatch—it all felt so real, so tangible.

But as his vision focused, the image in front of him slowly solidified.

Seungcheol turned his head, his gaze falling on a familiar face—Joshua, his younger brother, sitting beside him with a comforting smile. Joshua's gentle eyes were filled with concern, though there was a warmth to them, a relief that seemed to flood his expression when he noticed Seungcheol's eyes had finally opened.

"Cheol... you're awake," Joshua said softly, his voice a balm to Seungcheol's racing thoughts.

Seungcheol's throat was dry, and his voice cracked as he tried to speak. "W-what happened...?"

Before Joshua could respond, the door to the room opened, and Dokyeom—Joshua's husband and Seungcheol's brother-in-law—entered, holding a cup of water. His usual bright smile was tempered by the worry that creased his brow. "I knew you'd wake up soon," Dokyeom said, handing Seungcheol the water with a gentleness that only someone who had been by his side through every second of the ordeal could manage.

Seungcheol accepted the water gratefully, his fingers trembling as he took a sip. The cool liquid soothed his throat, but his mind remained a whirlwind. He felt like he was still trapped in that strange dream—the one where he had been part of a fake dating scandal, a situation so far from reality it seemed impossible. But now, here he was, awake in a hospital bed, surrounded by the people he trusted most.

"Where... am I?" Seungcheol murmured, his gaze shifting between Joshua and Dokyeom, as if trying to piece together the fragments of his fragmented memory.

Joshua placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You're in the hospital, Cheol. You.....You had panic attack last night, Cheol"

The recollection hit him like a flood. How he had spiraled, how everything had felt like it was falling apart. His body had betrayed him, overwhelmed by the fears and anxieties that had been building up.

His breath caught in his throat as a wave of realization crashed over him. "The scandal... the dating rumors..." His voice trembled with uncertainty. "Was it... all real?" His gaze darted between Joshua and Dokyeom, his eyes searching desperately for a hint of truth in their expressions. The panic in his chest threatened to suffocate him. 

Was this real? Had everything I saw happened?

Dokyeom, who had been standing at Joshua's side, sank onto the edge of the bed, his eyes filled with concern and understanding. He placed a hand on Seungcheol's arm, his touch warm and grounding. "Yes," Dokyeom said quietly, but there was no judgment, no reproach—only empathy. "It was real. But..."

Seungcheol's heart skipped a beat. His mind was struggling to catch up, trying to sort through the whirlwind of emotions and the fragmented pieces of the nightmare. "But—" he whispered, his voice breaking. "I saw it with my own eyes, Josh! I saw it all—how the rumors got solved, how the fans supported us, how we fought back together! It felt so real... so real."

Joshua's face softened, his brows furrowing with concern as he moved closer. He gently took Seungcheol's hand in his, cradling it in his own. "After that night, Cheol," Joshua said, his voice full of kindness and sadness, "you're in the hospital. It was all just a dream. I'm so sorry.

Seungcheol's mind was still in a haze, the remnants of the vivid nightmare clinging to him. The intensity of the emotions he had felt—betrayal, confusion, and the fear of losing everything—had been so real. The scandal, the faked dating rumors, the pressures of being an idol in an industry that twisted truth for profit... It had all felt like his life unraveling in front of him.

"But I saw it... with my own eyes," Seungcheol mumbled, still trying to piece together the fragments of his thoughts. "The press conference, the interviews... the fans supporting us... #SueDispatch... It was so real, Josh. I felt it."

Dokyeom placed a reassuring hand on his arm, his voice soft but full of warmth. "We know it felt real, Cheol. But it wasn't. You had a panic attack, and your mind was overwhelmed by everything. You've been under so much stress lately, and your body finally couldn't take it anymore."

Seungcheol squeezed his eyes shut, the confusion still gripping him. His heart raced as he struggled to understand what had happened. "So... it was all in my head? The rumors, the scandal—everything? It wasn't real?"

Joshua nodded slowly, his voice gentle as he tried to ease Seungcheol's panic. "Yes, Cheol. It wasn't real. You were so overwhelmed by everything, the pressure from the public, from the fans, from your own emotions. Your mind created all of that. We were just worried about you. You had a breakdown. You've been pushing yourself too hard for too long."

Seungcheol could feel his chest tightening again, the weight of everything pressing down on him. The sense of betrayal he'd felt, the heartbreak of believing in something that wasn't even true—it had all been a reflection of his own fears, his anxiety manifesting as something real. He had convinced himself, in the middle of the panic, that the world was crumbling around him.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I didn't want to cause trouble," Seungcheol whispered, guilt flooding his chest. His mind still felt like it was spinning, unsure of where reality ended and where his anxiety began. "I've been so scared of losing everything... my members, the fans, you..."

Joshua gave his hand a gentle squeeze, a soft but firm reassurance. "It's okay, Cheol. You don't have to apologize. We know what you've been going through, and we're here for you. You're not alone in this."

Dokyeom leaned in slightly, his expression tender. "You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Cheol. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. But right now, you need to take care of yourself. Rest. Recover."

The words settled in Seungcheol's chest like a balm, the tension in his body slowly easing. He had been so focused on the fear of losing everything, that he had forgotten about the people who would always have his back—his family, his members, the people who loved him unconditionally.

"I thought... I thought it was real," Seungcheol murmured, his voice shaky. "I thought I had ruined everything. I just didn't want to disappoint anyone."

Joshua smiled softly, the warmth in his eyes never wavering. "You haven't disappointed anyone, Cheol. You're human. You're allowed to have moments of weakness. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. But you don't have to carry it all on your own. We'll help you carry it. Just rest, okay?"

Seungcheol nodded slowly, the weight on his chest starting to lift as the reality of the situation began to sink in. His panic had been so convincing, his fears so overwhelming, but the truth was far simpler than he had imagined: he was loved, supported, and everything that had felt like a nightmare was just that—a nightmare.

And with his brother and Dokyeom by his side, he would heal.

As Seungcheol closed his eyes once more, allowing the calm to wash over him, he felt a sense of gratitude and relief he hadn't realized he needed. His body ached, but the emotional weight had been lifted.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice quiet and sincere.

Joshua smiled warmly, leaning closer. "Rest, Cheol. We've got you."

Author's Note: 

So, yeah, I know the update's been late—writer's block and all that—but hey, I finally found a plot twist! T-T Anyway, what do you think of this little surprise? All that drama? Yeah, it was just Seungcheol's dream. I swear, the suffering will wrap up fast. Don't worry! 😅

Also, make sure to check out my new book, Die With A Smile | JC [completed] and Unspoken Love | Minwon. I promise it'll be worth your time. ^^ Thank you for sticking with me, love you all!