Echoes of the Alley

23 - Between the Lines

The morning sunlight poured through the blinds in fragmented streaks, splashing across the floor of Jisung's room. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the rays as they crept along the floorboards. Sleep had been fitful, broken by waves of unease that he couldn't quite name. His thoughts had been plagued by the memory of Minho's visit—the quiet way Minho had sat with him, the steady reassurance in his voice.

Why couldn't he stop thinking about it?

A sharp knock on his door startled him. "Jisung, breakfast," Felix called, his voice light but undercut with a familiar edge of concern.
Jisung swallowed hard. He didn't feel like eating, but skipping another meal would only make Felix worry more. "Coming," he replied, his voice raspy from disuse.

He shuffled to the kitchen, where Felix, Jeongin, and Seungmin were already seated around the table. A stack of toast and a bowl of scrambled eggs sat in the center, along with mugs of steaming coffee.

"Good morning," Felix greeted brightly, though his eyes lingered on Jisung for a second too long.

Jisung nodded, sliding into a chair and grabbing a piece of toast. He kept his eyes on his plate, not wanting to meet anyone's gaze. The chatter around him felt like a distant hum, punctuated by laughter that he couldn't bring himself to join.

"You're quiet," Seungmin said, his tone observational rather than accusing. "Everything okay?"

Jisung forced a small smile. "Yeah, just tired."

Jeongin leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "Maybe you should take a break today. We can handle practice without you."

"No, it's fine," Jisung said quickly. The thought of being alone in the apartment, left to stew in his own thoughts, was unbearable.
Felix exchanged a glance with Seungmin but didn't press further.

The group gathered in the living room after breakfast, instruments and notebooks scattered around. It was supposed to be a brainstorming session for a new track, but Jisung's mind kept wandering. He strummed his guitar absently, the chords sounding hollow and off-key.

Felix and Seungmin were engrossed in a debate about lyrics, while Jeongin excitedly suggested melody changes. Jisung's focus, however, was elsewhere. He kept replaying the way Minho had smiled at him last night, the warmth in his voice. It made his chest ache in a way that he didn't understand.

"Jisung?" Seungmin's voice cut through his thoughts. "You okay over there?"

"Huh?" Jisung blinked, realizing everyone was looking at him. "Yeah, sorry. Zoned out."

Felix tilted his head. "You sure you're up for this?"

Jisung forced a nod. "I'm fine. Let's keep going."

But as the session continued, Jisung's contributions dwindled. His group noticed but didn't push him, choosing instead to fill the gaps he left. By the time they wrapped up, Jisung felt like a shell of himself, the weight in his chest heavier than before.

–
By evening, Jisung found himself restless and craving air. He grabbed his jacket and headed to a nearby café, hoping the change of scenery would help clear his mind. The streets were quiet, the faint glow of streetlights reflecting off wet pavement. The café was a small, cozy spot he often visited when he needed solitude.

He pushed open the door, the bell above it jingling softly. The warm scent of coffee greeted him, along with the quiet hum of conversation. He glanced around, his eyes landing on a familiar figure in the corner.

Minho.

Jisung froze, debating whether to leave before Minho saw him. But it was too late. Minho looked up from his laptop, his face lighting up when he spotted Jisung. He waved Jisung over, his smile easy and inviting.

"Hey," Minho greeted as Jisung approached. "Fancy seeing you here."

Jisung hesitated, then sat across from him. "Yeah, just needed to get out of the apartment."

Minho nodded, closing his laptop. "Same here. Thought I'd get some work done, but it's hard to focus."

Jisung managed a small smile. "Yeah. I know the feeling."

For a while, they talked about light things—music, funny stories from their respective groups, and random observations about the café patrons. Jisung found himself laughing softly at Minho's dry humor, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

"You seem tired," Minho said after a pause, his voice gentle. "Have you been sleeping okay?"

Jisung's smile faltered. He looked down at his hands, fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve. "Not really."

Minho waited, his expression patient.

"It's just... a lot," Jisung admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Sometimes it feels like I'm... drowning. And no matter how hard I try, I can't get my head above water."

Minho's gaze softened. "You don't have to do it alone, you know."

Jisung's throat tightened. "I know. But it's hard. I don't want to burden anyone."

"You're not a burden," Minho said firmly. "You're allowed to lean on people. That's what friends are for."

The sincerity in Minho's voice made Jisung's chest ache. He wanted to believe him, but the doubts in his mind were loud and persistent.
They sat in silence for a while, the sounds of the café filling the gap. Jisung found himself studying Minho—the way his fingers tapped idly on the table, the faint smile that lingered on his lips. Something about Minho's presence was grounding, even if it left Jisung feeling more vulnerable than he'd like.

"Thanks," Jisung said finally.

Minho's grin widened. "Anytime."

—
The walk home was quiet, the cool night air brushing against Jisung's skin. His mind was a storm of emotions, swirling and chaotic. Minho's words replayed in his head, their weight impossible to ignore.

As he stepped into the apartment, he felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—hope, perhaps. It was fragile and fleeting, but it was enough to carry him through the night. For the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to face everything alone.

———————

— A/N: I'm writing as I publish help, I just finished chapter 27. Also sorry this is kinda short

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Garden" by Halsey