Echoes of the Alley

17 - Bridging Gaps

The studio was quieter than usual. The heavy hum of equipment and faint clicks of keyboards filled the space, creating an atmosphere that teetered between focus and unease. Jisung sat on the edge of a couch, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his sweatshirt. Across the room, Minho was sprawled on the floor, scribbling in a notebook with an intensity that made him almost unapproachable.

"Minho..." Jisung started, his voice soft. He wasn't even sure what he wanted to say. The growing familiarity between them was still fragile, and he didn't want to shatter it with something clumsy or overthought.

Minho looked up, his pen paused mid-air. "Yeah?"

Jisung hesitated, then shook his head. "Never mind. It's not important."

"You sure?" Minho's tone was casual, but his eyes lingered on Jisung's face, searching for something unspoken.

Jisung nodded, offering a faint smile. He couldn't explain it yet—the knot in his chest that tightened whenever Minho's gaze lingered too long or the urge to fill every silence with words that wouldn't make sense. Instead, he turned his attention back to his notebook, where half-written lyrics sprawled messily across the page.

—
The next day, Jisung found himself back at the studio earlier than usual. To his surprise, Minho's group was already there, filling the space with their lively chatter. Hyunjin was lounging on the couch, flipping through his phone, while Changbin and Chan debated over a beat on the laptop. Minho sat cross-legged on the floor, quietly observing the commotion.

The moment Jisung stepped in, all eyes turned toward him. Hyunjin was the first to break the silence, his face lighting up with a dramatic flourish. "Han Jisung! The prodigy arrives!"

Jisung blinked, caught off guard. He gave a small wave, unsure of how to respond.

"Don't just stand there," Hyunjin said, patting the empty spot on the couch beside him. "Come sit. You're one of us now, remember?"

"Uh, sure," Jisung mumbled, shuffling over to the couch.

As he settled in, Changbin leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So, Jisung, we've heard a lot about your lyrical skills. Minho's been hyping you up."

Jisung's eyes widened slightly, his cheeks turning pink. "He has?"

Minho, who had been silent until now, shrugged nonchalantly. "Just telling the truth."

"Well, we've got to see it for ourselves," Hyunjin chimed in, leaning forward with an expectant grin. "You've got anything to share?"

Jisung hesitated, clutching his notebook tightly to his chest. "I... I don't think I'm ready yet."

Hyunjin pouted but didn't push further. "Fine, but I'm holding you to that. You can't keep us waiting forever."

Minho shot Hyunjin a look, his tone dry. "Let him breathe, Hyunjin. Not everything has to be a performance."

The room fell into an easy rhythm as they shifted focus back to their work. Jisung found himself relaxing, the lively banter between the group making it easier to blend in. Yet, he still felt like a spectator, watching from the sidelines rather than fully participating.

—
Later in the evening, as the group continued working, Hyunjin turned to Jisung with a curious glint in his eye. "So, you've mentioned your group before. Felix and Seungmin, right? They sound cool."

Jisung nodded slowly. "Yeah. They're... they're like family to me. We've been through a lot together."

Hyunjin's grin widened. "We should all hang out again soon. It'd be fun to have everyone in one place."

Jisung's chest tightened at the thought of his two worlds colliding. Before he could respond, Minho spoke up.

"Let's not rush anything," Minho said, his tone calm but firm. "Jisung's got enough on his plate without us overwhelming him."

Hyunjin raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough. But I'm serious about it. Your friends sound awesome, Jisung."

Jisung managed a small smile. "Thanks. I think they'd like you guys too."

—
As the night wore on, the group began to disperse. Changbin left first, muttering something about an early schedule, followed by Chan, who reminded everyone to get some rest. Hyunjin lingered, chatting with Minho about choreography ideas before finally heading out as well.

The studio grew quiet again, leaving just Jisung and Minho. For a while, they worked in silence, the faint hum of the equipment filling the space. Jisung scribbled in his notebook, occasionally glancing up at Minho, who was focused on his keyboard.

"Hey," Minho said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You did good today."

Jisung looked up, startled. "What?"

Minho's gaze met his, steady and sincere. "You fit in. The others like you. You're doing fine."

Jisung's chest tightened at the unexpected compliment. He lowered his gaze, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks. It... it was nice. Your friends are really cool."

Minho's lips curved into a faint smile. "They think the same about you. Hyunjin's probably planning a fan club for you as we speak."

Jisung laughed softly, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I'll believe it when I see it."

The silence that followed wasn't heavy this time. It was the kind of quiet that felt comfortable, like an unspoken understanding. For the first time in a long while, Jisung felt a sense of belonging—a small, fragile connection that was slowly growing stronger. And though the shadows of doubt still lingered, for now, he let himself hold onto the warmth of the moment.

After a moment, Minho stretched, letting out a soft groan. "You know, you're not as hard to talk to as you think you are."

Jisung tilted his head, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Minho leaned back against the couch, his gaze turning thoughtful. "You've got this way of putting up walls, but when you let someone in, even just a little, it's easy to see how much you care. That's rare."

Jisung blinked, his cheeks flushing. "I... I guess I just don't want to bother anyone."

"You're not a bother," Minho said firmly. "And for what it's worth, I like having you around."

Jisung's heart fluttered at the words, a warmth spreading through his chest. "Thanks, Minho. That... means a lot."

They lapsed into silence again, but this time it felt even more comfortable. Jisung dared to glance at Minho, catching the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. It was a simple moment, but one that lingered in Jisung's mind as the night wore on, leaving him with a sense of hope he hadn't felt in a long time.

———————

— A/N: Uhh idk

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood