Echoes of the Alley

1 - Under the Flickering Light

The streets were quiet, the air crisp with the first hints of autumn. Jisung pulled his hoodie tighter around him as he wandered aimlessly, earbuds in but no music playing. The world around him felt muted, like someone had turned the volume down on everything but his restless thoughts.

It was only by chance that he turned onto a side street, the flicker of a streetlamp catching his eye. Beneath the erratic light, a figure moved with impossible precision. Jisung stopped in his tracks, his breath catching.

The dancer—lean and graceful—glided through the space as if the pavement were a stage. Every movement was sharp, deliberate, yet fluid, a story told without words. Jisung's eyes stayed fixed on him, his chest tightening with a mix of awe and longing. He couldn't hear the music—if there even was any—but the rhythm was there, etched into the dancer's every step.

He watched in silence, the world falling away until it was just the flickering light, the sound of his own breathing, and the stranger's dance.
And then the dancer stopped abruptly, spinning around as if sensing he was being watched. Jisung froze, his heart pounding. For a moment, their eyes met, and Jisung felt pinned in place, like he'd been caught trespassing on something sacred.

The dancer raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. Before Jisung could muster the courage to say anything—or even move—the man turned and disappeared down the street, his silhouette swallowed by the shadows.

Jisung let out a shaky breath, the spell broken. "What the hell was that?" he muttered to himself, shoving his hands into his pockets.
He spent the walk home replaying the scene in his mind, the image of the dancer burned into his thoughts. There was something about him—something Jisung couldn't quite figure out.

Later That Night

"...And then he just walked off," Jisung finished, gesturing wildly as Felix, Jeongin, and Seungmin burst out laughing.

"Wait," Felix said between giggles, his freckles practically glowing under the apartment's dim lights. "So you just stood there? Like a creep? And didn't say anything?"

"First of all, I wasn't creeping," Jisung protested, crossing his arms. "I just... didn't want to interrupt him. He looked busy."

"Busy dancing under a streetlight?" Seungmin deadpanned, earning a snort from Jeongin.

"Guys, come on!" Jisung groaned, burying his face in his hands. "He was good! Like, really good. I didn't know what to say, okay?"

Jeongin nudged him with a grin. "You could've started with 'Hi.' That usually works."

"Not helpful," Jisung muttered, his cheeks burning.

Felix leaned forward, his expression softening. "Well, are you going to try again? I mean, if he was that amazing, you should at least say something next time. What's the worst that could happen?"

Jisung hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip. "I don't know... What if he thinks I'm weird?"

"Newsflash: you are weird," Seungmin said, popping a chip into his mouth. "But somehow, people still like you. Go figure."

Jisung threw a pillow at him, but the corners of his lips twitched into a reluctant smile.

Felix laughed slightly and clapped him on the back. "Come on, Ji. You'll regret it if you don't. Just go for it."

He thought for a moment, before agreeing. "Fine, I'll go tomorrow and see."

His friends cheered slightly, then went off topic and talked about other things until the night ended quietly, Jisung left alone once again.

The Next Day

Jisung didn't sleep much that night, but as the next day arrived, with his friends' voices echoing in his head, he found himself wandering the same street again, this time in broad daylight.

He spotted the dancer almost immediately. Minho—he learned later—was sitting on a low wall, scrolling through his phone, a gym bag at his feet. He wasn't dancing now, but even sitting still, he had a presence about him, like he belonged on a stage.

Jisung felt his nerves rise as he approached, each step heavier than the last. Before he could chicken out, he blurted, "Hey! Uh, hi."
Minho looked up, his expression cool and disinterested. "Do I know you?"

"No," Jisung said quickly, shaking his head. "I mean, not really. I saw you last night—uh, dancing, I mean. Under the streetlight. You were amazing."

Minho's brow furrowed slightly. "Oh. Right. You were watching me?"

"Not in a creepy way!" Jisung said, holding up his hands defensively. "I just... happened to see you. And I thought... Well, you're really talented."

Minho stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Thanks," he said curtly, already turning to leave.

"Wait!" Jisung called after him, panic setting in. He didn't know what he was doing, but he couldn't let the moment slip away. "What if I... write you a song?"

Minho stopped, glancing over his shoulder. "What?"

"A song," Jisung said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "For your dance. A dance deserves music, right? I could write you something. It's kind of what I do. I mean, I try to. Sometimes."

Minho turned fully, crossing his arms as he studied Jisung. For a long, agonizing moment, he said nothing, his expression unreadable.
Finally, he let out a small huff of air, almost like a laugh. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But I don't just dance to any random music."

"It wouldn't be random!" Jisung said quickly. "It would be... tailored. For you. I'd make sure it fits your style. Just... give me a chance?"
Minho's eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a flicker of interest there now. "Fine," he said at last. "One song. If it's terrible, don't expect me to pretend otherwise."

Jisung nodded, his heart pounding. "Deal."

As Minho walked away, Jisung let out a shaky breath, the realization of what he'd just promised crashing down on him.
"What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

But even as doubt crept in, there was something else bubbling beneath the surface—excitement, hope, and maybe, just maybe, the start of something bigger than he could ever imagine.

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— A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapterr!! Let me know if there's any spelling errors :3 ALSO DONT FORGET TO VOTEEE (☆▽☆)♡

— Reccomended song for this chapter: "Why Am I Like This?" by Orla Gartland