Echoes of the Alley

8 - Unwritten Lyrics

Jisung woke to the golden sunlight spilling through his curtains, casting soft, wavy patterns on his walls. The day held the crisp promise of autumn, yet his chest felt heavy. He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair before reaching for his phone.

No new messages.

Not that he expected any. The awkward encounter with Minho the day before had left him spiraling in a mix of frustration and self-doubt. No matter how much he replayed their conversations, he couldn't figure out why he kept pushing or why Minho's blunt demeanor didn't scare him off.

Maybe it's because he's so different, Jisung thought, rolling onto his side. Or maybe because I want to be someone he doesn't just dismiss.

His fingers hovered over his friends' group chat, considering texting Felix or Jeongin for a distraction. Instead, he locked his phone and sat up.

"I can figure this out," he muttered to himself. "I'll just... try again."

Across the City

Minho was at the studio earlier than usual. The space was quiet, save for the rhythmic tapping of his shoes against the polished floor. His movements were sharp, precise, but lacked their usual fluidity.

He paused mid-spin, frowning at his reflection in the wall-length mirror. Something was off—his body felt stiff, his rhythm disconnected from the music.

With an irritated sigh, Minho plopped onto the floor, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't used to feeling like this, like his own body was rebelling against him.

"You're thinking too hard again," Chan's voice echoed in his mind from the night before.

Minho grabbed his water bottle, the coolness of it grounding him momentarily. Despite himself, his thoughts drifted to Jisung.

He really doesn't give up, Minho thought. Why does he care so much?

The memory of Jisung's nervous but sincere offer to write a song replayed in his mind. It was the kind of determination Minho couldn't easily ignore, no matter how much he tried to brush it off.

Jisung's Determination

"Why do I feel like this is such a bad idea?" Jisung groaned, pacing Felix's living room.

"Because it kind of is," Jeongin said from the couch, where he was curled up with a bag of chips.

"Not helping," Jisung shot back.

Felix, sitting cross-legged on the floor, gave him a sympathetic look. "I think it's brave. You're putting yourself out there, even when it's hard."

"Yeah, but is it worth it?" Jisung asked, throwing his arms up. "Minho doesn't seem like he cares. I mean, I literally blurted out that I'd write him a song, and he barely reacted!"

Seungmin, who had been scrolling through his phone, finally looked up. "That doesn't mean he doesn't care. Some people just... don't show it in obvious ways."

Jisung flopped onto the couch next to Jeongin, burying his face in his hands. "I don't know. Maybe I should just let it go."

"No way," Felix said firmly. "You've already come this far. Besides, didn't you say you felt inspired? Even if Minho doesn't care, at least you're creating something."

Jisung peeked through his fingers at Felix. "You think?"

Felix nodded. "Absolutely. Write that song, Han. And if it gets through to Minho, great. If not, you'll still have made something beautiful."

Jeongin grinned. "And if he stays mean, we'll egg his house."

"Jeongin!" Felix exclaimed, though he couldn't help but laugh.