Echoes of the Alley

7 - Fragments of Connection

Minho sat at the small café table, staring at the foam swirling in his untouched latte. Around him, the city buzzed with its usual rhythm—cars honking, footsteps echoing, and snippets of conversations floating through the crisp autumn air.

Across from him, Hyunjin was gesturing wildly, his excitement contagious even when Minho's mind was elsewhere.

"Are you even listening?" Hyunjin asked, snapping his fingers in front of Minho's face.

Minho blinked, his focus snapping back to the present. "What? Yeah, totally."

Hyunjin squinted at him suspiciously. "Then what did I just say?"

"Something about... your art exhibition?" Minho guessed.

Hyunjin sighed dramatically, leaning back in his chair. "Close enough. Honestly, Minho, you've been so distracted lately. Is this about your choreography?"

"Not everything is about my dancing," Minho replied tersely, though his foot tapped an unconscious rhythm against the table leg.

Hyunjin exchanged a glance with Changbin, who had been quietly demolishing a croissant. Changbin raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.

"Fine," Hyunjin said, resting his chin on his hand. "Then what's got you so lost in thought?"

Minho hesitated, fingers tightening around his cup. He could feel their eyes on him, waiting for an answer.

"Just... stuff," he muttered finally, knowing it was a weak excuse.

Hyunjin groaned. "You're impossible."

Changbin leaned forward, his expression calm but curious. "Is this about the guy from the studio?"

Minho froze, his eyes flicking to Changbin. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," Changbin said, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "The one who's always carrying a guitar. Jisung, right?"

Hyunjin's eyes widened. "Wait, who's Jisung? And why haven't I heard about this?"

Minho scowled. "There's nothing to tell. He's just... persistent."

Hyunjin's grin widened. "Oh, this is good. Someone's finally challenging the great Lee Minho."

"It's not like that," Minho snapped, but his ears burned at the teasing.

"Sure," Hyunjin said, drawing out the word. "So, what does 'just persistent' mean?"

"It means he keeps showing up," Minho said, his voice sharp. "And I don't know why."

"Maybe he admires you," Changbin said thoughtfully. "Or maybe he's trying to prove something to himself."

Minho frowned, the words hitting closer to the truth than he wanted to admit.

An Afternoon of Reflection

After their café visit, the three friends wandered through a nearby park, the autumn leaves crunching underfoot. Hyunjin had his sketchbook out, scribbling furiously while Changbin balanced a paper cup of hot chocolate in one hand.

Minho trailed a few steps behind, his mind drifting back to the previous day's conversation with Jisung.

"You're not wasting your time."

He hadn't meant to say it, but the words had slipped out before he could stop them. And the look on Jisung's face—equal parts surprise and disbelief—had stuck with him ever since.

"Hey, Minho," Changbin called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You've been quiet all day. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Minho said automatically, but even he didn't believe it.

Hyunjin looked up from his sketchbook, his eyes narrowing. "You're such a bad liar. If something's bothering you, just say it. That's what we're here for."

Minho sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's nothing. Just... trying to figure some stuff out."

"About Jisung?" Changbin asked, his tone casual but probing.

Minho glared at him, but the heat behind it was half-hearted. "Why do you care so much?"

"Because you clearly care," Changbin said simply.

Hyunjin grinned. "I like this Jisung already. He's managed to get under your skin in record time."

Minho rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

An Unexpected Visit

That evening, after parting ways with his friends, Minho found himself back at the studio. The familiar space was quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the overhead lights.

He started his warm-up routine, the movements automatic but soothing. As his body moved, his mind wandered back to Jisung.
Why does he keep trying?

The question lingered, unanswered, as he transitioned into a series of intricate steps. But even as he danced, he couldn't shake the memory of Jisung's determined expression, the way his voice had trembled with both fear and resolve.

The door creaked open, pulling Minho out of his thoughts. He turned, half expecting to see Jisung standing there, guitar in hand.

Instead, it was Chan, leaning against the doorframe with a knowing smile.

"Figured I'd find you here," Chan said, stepping inside.

Minho straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow. "What do you want?"

Chan chuckled. "Relax. I'm not here to bother you. I just thought you could use some company."

Minho didn't respond, but he didn't tell Chan to leave either.

For a while, they sat in companionable silence, the studio's stillness wrapping around them like a blanket.

"Hyunjin mentioned Jisung, the guy you accidentally told me and Changbin," Chan said eventually, breaking the silence.

Minho shot him a look. "Why does everyone keep bringing him up?"

"Because he seems to be on your mind," Chan said easily.

Minho huffed, crossing his arms. "He's... annoying. That's all."

"Annoying enough to get you thinking about him constantly?" Chan asked, his tone teasing but not unkind.

Minho didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the floor.

Chan smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Whatever's going on, just don't overthink it. Sometimes things happen for a reason, even if we don't understand it right away."

Minho rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. "You sound like a fortune cookie."

"And you sound like someone who needs to listen to one," Chan shot back with a grin.

Jisung's Quiet Night

Meanwhile, across town, Jisung sat in his room, the soft strumming of his guitar filling the space. He had been practicing for hours, the repetitive chords grounding him in a way little else could.

Despite his best efforts, his thoughts kept drifting back to Minho.

"Why did he say that?" Jisung muttered, his fingers pausing on the strings. "You're not wasting your time. What does that even mean?"

He sighed, leaning back against the headboard. Felix had tried to cheer him up earlier, but the conversation still nagged at him.

Pulling out his notebook, Jisung scribbled down a few lines of lyrics, his handwriting messy but urgent:
"You don't say much, but it's enough
To make me feel like I'm chasing stars
I don't know where this is going
But I'm too far gone to stop."

He stared at the words for a long moment, then closed the notebook with a sigh.

"Tomorrow," he whispered to himself. "Maybe tomorrow I'll figure it out."

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— A/N: Heyy! Thank you guys for all the supporttt, make sure to vote and share this story with others! :3

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Bloom" by The Paper Kites