Chapter Text
It was just another 2 days 1 night shoot. The members had just completed the breakfast mission with Seyoon, Ravi and Junghoon gulping down their breakfast on the beautiful Naksan beach with the chilly autumn wind blaring in the background. The members lucky enough to eat were having a hard time even holding their chopsticks in this weather. They looked like an utter mess with their disheveled hair, and unkempt clothes.
The unlucky ones were not faring any better as well. Jongmin, Seonho and Dindin stood by the side of the winner's table, faces twisted and eyes teary from the agony of having to remain still against this strong wind. Every now and then, Seonho would try to hold back a sniffle while his limbs shook uncontrollably from the cold. Noticing the agonized expression on his hyung's face, Dindin cuddled closer to the two older members standing beside him, hoping to stop Kim Seonho from shivering so much.
The crew, too, were having a hard time filming in this weather. PD Geulyi looked visibly upset, having to push away her hair from her eyes every two seconds due to this wind onslaught.
When the winner's team finally finished eating, everyone was taking a sigh of relief that they now can move into a closed area.
"Alright, good work, everyone! we are moving inside. Our base camp is the first house by the beach. We have rented it for the day, so the dinner and sleeping places games will take place there," Geulyi emphasized, looking at the members lined up in front of her.
"It is not like you had a choice in this weather but to move inside. The crew, too, is having a hard time.” Dindin pointed out, annoyed that Geulyi sounded like she was doing the members a favor when they were all suffering together from this typhoon.
Once they moved in, the members keeled over the floor futons and pillows scattered across the room. Everyone seemed relieved having taken off their jackets, and enjoying the warmth of the room. Dindin and Junghoon instantly spread the futons and lied on them while Seyoon, Seonho, Ravi and Jongmin sat by the corner. The production team waited outside after installing the cameras in the room to give members some space before they continued shooting.
“Kim Seonho, why did you not take off your jacket?” Seyoon asked, looking suspiciously at the younger man still trembling despite the coziness of the room.
“G-give me a minute, hyung, and I will t-take it off, too” Seonho replied, stuttering from the tremors racking his entire body. Looking around and seeing that all the members have already taken off their jackets, Seonho wanted to join in right away, afraid of standing out. As a variety rookie, he made sure to copy the actions, however small, of his fellow members. It was a habit of self preservation in the wilderness of variety shows that he is still not familiar with. But there was something wrong with him since this morning, his body not acting in the way he wanted it to. He should stop shaking. He should take off his jacket now that it’s warmer, but his body simply would not listen. Seyoon hyung was kind enough to give him a hint. The least he could do is make use of it.
“The ever fragile Seonho hyung!” Ravi quipped, jumping over his hyung. He observed that Seonho looked deeply troubled as if he was fighting himself over something, and like the good maknae he is, he wanted him to feel better. Seonho instantly laughed, and collapsed against the floor with Ravi on top of him. While he desperately wanted to laugh, he was interrupted by a series of dry raspy coughs that he could not stop. Seeing this, Ravi rose up quickly from over Seonho.
"Seonho hyung…" Ravi called, shocked by this sudden string of violent coughs. Seonho himself looked shocked, barely able to take a breath between coughs. Watching this, Jongmin and Seyoon both stood up, and surrounded Seonho.
"Is he alright?" Jongmin inquired with an unusually anxious look on his face. Seyoon looked at Jongmin, then hunched over, feeling Seonho's forehead.
"I am fine!" Seonho replied, removing Seyoon's hand from his forehead. He did not want to draw anymore attention to himself. The coughing fit took him by surprise; he felt his throat grow hoarse by the end of it. He did not even realize that he had his fists clenched through this ordeal to the point that his fingernails left visible marks on the back of his palm. But as soon as it stopped, he was back to himself. He immediately took off his jacket, and shook his head, looking at Seyoon to assure him that everything was fine when the truth was that it was far from fine. His body was still shaking, and his legs were barely able to hold him while standing. Every now and then, his vision would start swaying but he would play it off as best as he could so no one would notice.
One member, however, was not convinced by Kim Seonho's strong act. Moon Seyoon could tell from the start of the day that there was something amiss with the guy since he first laid eyes on him. His face looked evidently pale ever since they started shooting in the early morning. He decided not to make a big deal out of it since the wind was blowing harshly in their faces outside, and everyone looked exhausted because of the weather today. However, his alarms went off again when he saw him still shaking wearing a thick, multilayered padded jacket inside at least a 30 degrees heated room. When he tried to probe into the matter to check on the younger man by asking him why he did not take off his jacket, Seonho misunderstood his worry for criticism.
Out of all the members, Seyoon always worried about Seonho the most. He was still new to shooting variety shows. The things everyone was already familiar with, and took for granted was still new for Kim Seonho. To add to his concern, Seonho was never the type to ask or express himself properly, making Seyoon wonder what goes on in that head of his. This was obvious ever since his first day. If he was given a task, he would complete it no matter the odds. If there is no car, he would walk no matter how long the distance, and will not complain. Seyoon thought at first that he was stubborn because he always chose to do things the hard way. It later became clear to him that Seonho did not complain nor object to any task because he did not have any standard or pre-existing knowledge of how difficult tasks should be or what's considered reasonable and what's not. So, instead of blaming the crew, he would blame himself, thinking that the fault lies in him, and that he is the one who can't keep up. Realizing this particular aspect of Seonho's character, Seyoon made sure to keep an eye on this shy dongseung for fear that he would hurt himself one of those days from his own ignorance.
And once again, Seonho keeps giving him reasons to worry. He could tell that he did not look right today, especially after observing the agonized expression on his face while he strained to stop himself from coughing for so long. And just When he was about to make a move and talk to Seonho about it, the PD came in and announced that that break time was over. Seyoon mumbled a curse, interrupted yet again from having a proper conversation with Seonho.
Like the PD asked, they all headed quietly outside, and stood in the backyard of the house. The members enjoyed their usual banter with Dindin, like usual, teasing each member to his heart's content. They all laughed, even Seonho whom Seyoon noticed that he would smile and laugh along with the members but refrain from talking and big reactions. Soon after, the dinner game started. And as expected from the notorious Bang PD, it was a physically taxing game. By the time it ended, they were all panting from jumping and running. The winners were, as usual, Junghoon, Ravi and Dindin. It was a surprise that Seonho did not win, given that physically demanding games were right up his alley. Once again, Seyoon suspected the younger man's health condition but had no clue how to express his concern in the middle of the shoot. He simply cannot stop the shoot without any valid reason, especially since the person in question is refusing to acknowledge his own miserable state.
Things got worse, though. When Seonho had expected this cold spell to pass, it only grew worse. His face was now glistening with cold sweat to the extent that it began to drip off his chin. Feeling all his energy sapped from his body, Seonho felt himself grow more lightheaded with every passing second, and for a second there, Seyoon could swear that he saw Seonho falter like he was about to pass out.
"Can we take a small break?" Seonho interrupted the conversation when the members and staff were talking about completing the rest of the shoot inside along with the dinner segment, and the sleeping places games. Not being able to hold it in any longer, Seonho asked for a short break to try to collect himself since there was still a long shoot ahead. Seyoon sighed out of relief, seeing that the younger man finally admitted his suffering. Maybe now, he could get a chance to talk to Seonho, and have a heart to heart discussion about his physical condition today.
Sneaking apologetically, Seonho quickly headed to the bathroom, and shut the door behind him hastily. Standing in front of the bathroom sink, he started to hyperventilate uncontrollably. He tried to get his heart rate under control but to no avail. With his shaking hand, he reached for the faucet, turned it on, and poured some water on his face. Reaching again for more water, his vision suddenly went blank, and everything fell into peaceful darkness...