Echoes of the Alley

2 - The First Step

The café bustled with quiet conversations and the hum of espresso machines, but Jisung could barely focus. His notebook lay open on the table, pages blank except for the occasional scribbled phrase or half-written melody. His pen tapped against the paper in an erratic rhythm, a mirror of his scattered thoughts.

Felix leaned over, his chin resting on his hand as he peered at the empty page. "You've been staring at that for twenty minutes, Ji. Are you actually writing a song, or just thinking really hard about it?"

"I'm trying!" Jisung groaned, sighing exaggeratedly and laying his head onto the notebook for a little. "But this isn't like writing for me. It's for him, you know? It has to match his vibe, and I don't even know what that is yet."

"Maybe ask him?" Jeongin suggested, sitting cross-legged on the chair across from him. He plucked a sugar packet from the table and started folding it into a tiny origami crane.

"Ask Minho?" Sitting up, Jisung blinked at him like he'd just suggested something absurd. "He'd laugh at me. Or worse, he'd just walk away. Again."

Felix tilted his head. "He already agreed to let you write for him, didn't he? That's got to mean he's at least a little curious. You should talk to him."

Jisung hesitated, biting the inside of his cheek. The memory of Minho's sharp, assessing gaze from the day before lingered, and his stomach twisted at the thought of facing him again.

"I don't even know where to find him," Jisung muttered, though the excuse felt weak even to himself.

Seungmin, who had been quietly scrolling on his phone, raised an eyebrow. "He dances, right? Dancers practice. Find out where he practices. Or just hang around where you saw him last time. He doesn't seem like the subtle type—he'll show up if he wants to."

"Are you suggesting I stalk him?" Jisung asked incredulously.

Seungmin shrugged. "I'm suggesting you try harder. Sitting here whining isn't going to write your song."

Jeongin snickered, and Felix nudged Jisung's arm. "Come on, Ji. You've got this. Just think of it as research."

Jisung sighed, stuffing his notebook into his bag. "Fine. But if this ends in humiliation, I'm blaming all of you."

Later That Day

Jisung found himself back on the same street as the night before, his heart pounding as he approached the flickering street lamp. He felt ridiculous, standing there like he was waiting for a ghost to appear, but just as he was about to give up, he spotted Minho across the road.

Minho was leaning against a wall, scrolling through his phone again. His gym bag was slung over his shoulder, and he wore a loose tank top and joggers, his sharp features somehow both casual and intimidating.

Jisung took a deep breath, his fingers clenching the strap of his bag. Okay. Just... be normal. Say hi. Maybe don't ramble this time.
"Hey," he called, his voice wavering slightly as he crossed the street.

Minho looked up, his expression blank. "Oh. You again."

"Yeah, uh, hi." Jisung stopped a few feet away, suddenly regretting his decision. "I, um, wanted to talk. About the song. For your dance."
Minho raised an eyebrow. "You're still on that?"

"Of course I am!" Jisung blurted, his nerves bubbling into defensiveness. "You said I could try, didn't you? I just... need to know more. About you. Your style. What kind of music you like to dance to."

Minho studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he shrugged. "Fast. Dynamic. Clean. I don't do slow, sappy stuff."
"Got it," Jisung said quickly, pulling out his notebook and jotting down the words. He paused, glancing up at Minho. "Anything else? Like... What inspires you?"