Echoes of the Alley

24 - Shifting Sands

The weekend arrived with a sense of calm that felt almost foreign to Jisung. After days of emotional turmoil, the quiet Saturday morning was a welcome change. The sunlight streamed through the windows, warming the small living room where he sat curled up with a notebook on his lap. The soft hum of Seungmin and Felix chatting in the kitchen provided a comforting backdrop, though Jisung was only half-aware of their conversation.

He tapped his pen against the paper, trying to string words together. Writing had always been his escape, but recently, even that had felt like an uphill battle. Still, he forced himself to scribble down a few lines, even if they felt clumsy and incomplete.

The sound of a knock on the door startled him. He looked up, his pen pausing mid-air. Felix appeared from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel.

"I'll get it," Felix said, shooting Jisung a quick glance as he passed.

Jisung wasn't expecting anyone, but the moment the door opened and he heard Minho's voice, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly closed his notebook, his fingers fumbling as he shoved it to the side.

"Hey," Minho greeted as he stepped inside. He was carrying a paper bag, the logo of a local bakery printed on the front. "Thought I'd drop by. I brought snacks."

Felix grinned. "You're always welcome if you come bearing food."

Minho chuckled, his gaze flickering toward Jisung. "Mind if I join you?"

Jisung shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Sure."

Minho walked over, placing the bag on the coffee table before sitting down beside Jisung. He was close—closer than Jisung had anticipated—and the faint scent of Minho's cologne made his chest tighten. Jisung focused on the bag instead, reaching inside to pull out a small box of pastries.

"These look good," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"They are," Minho said, leaning back against the couch. "You looked like you could use a pick-me-up."

Jisung glanced at him, startled by the observation. "Do I really look that bad?"

Minho smiled, but it was soft, almost hesitant. "Not bad. Just... tired."

Felix returned to the living room with two mugs of tea, setting them down on the table. "I'll leave you two to it," he said, his tone light but knowing. He disappeared into the kitchen, and the faint sound of Seungmin groaning about something followed shortly after.

For a while, Jisung and Minho sat in silence, the only sound the rustling of paper as they unwrapped the pastries. Jisung nibbled on a piece of a chocolate filled croissant, unsure of what to say. Minho didn't seem to mind the quiet, his presence steady and unassuming.

"You've been writing again," Minho said suddenly, nodding toward the notebook on the floor. "How's that going?"

Jisung hesitated. "It's... okay, I guess. Not great."

Minho tilted his head, studying Jisung with a thoughtful expression. "You're too hard on yourself, you know that?"

Jisung looked away, the words hitting a little too close to home. "It's not that simple."

"I didn't say it was," Minho replied, his voice calm. "But you don't have to figure it all out at once. Just take it one step at a time."

Jisung bit his lip, unsure how to respond. There was something disarming about Minho's sincerity, the way he spoke as if he genuinely believed what he was saying. It made Jisung feel seen in a way he wasn't used to.

"Thanks," Jisung said finally, his voice barely audible. He picked at the edge of his sleeve, his gaze fixed on the table. "For coming over again. And for... this."

Minho smiled, and this time, it was wider, brighter, and it made Jisung's chest ache in a way he couldn't quite explain. "Anytime," Minho said. "You don't have to go through this alone, you know."

Jisung nodded, though he wasn't sure he entirely believed it. Still, Minho's words lingered, a small spark of warmth in the otherwise heavy fog of his thoughts.

—
As the afternoon stretched on, the conversation between them grew more comfortable. They talked about music, shared stories about their respective groups, and even debated over the best pastries in the city. Minho's wit and dry humor had a way of pulling Jisung out of his head, coaxing small smiles and even a few laughs out of him.

At one point, Minho leaned back against the couch, his arm draped over the backrest. "So, Felix tells me you're the funniest one in your group. Is that true?"

Jisung snorted, a small blush creeping up his neck. "I think Felix is just being nice. I'm not that funny."

"Liar," Minho said, smirking. "I've seen your videos. You're hilarious."

Jisung looked at him, surprised. "You've watched my dumb videos?"

Minho shrugged, as if it was no big deal. "They're nit dumb. You're talented, Jisung. Don't sell yourself short."

The sincerity in Minho's voice caught Jisung off guard, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. His gaze dropped to his hands, his mind racing. Minho had a way of cutting through the noise in Jisung's head, of making him feel like maybe he wasn't as lost as he thought.

"Thanks," Jisung said softly, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his sweater. "That... means a lot."

Minho smiled again, and this time, Jisung let himself look, really look. There was something about Minho's smile that was different—genuine, unguarded. It made Jisung's heart flutter in a way he didn't quite understand.

—
When it was time for Minho to leave, Jisung walked him to the door. The apartment felt quieter now, the absence of Felix and Seungmin's chatter amplifying the sound of their footsteps.

"Take care of yourself, okay?" Minho said as he slipped on his shoes. His tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of concern that Jisung didn't miss.

"I'll try," Jisung replied, offering a small smile. It wasn't much, but it was more than he could have managed a few days ago.

Minho hesitated for a moment, then reached out to ruffle Jisung's hair. "Good. And if you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

Jisung's cheeks flushed, and he ducked his head, his heart pounding. "Yeah. Thanks, Minho."

As Minho stepped out into the hallway, Jisung watched him go, his chest feeling strangely light and heavy all at once. And as Minho turned back to wave, his smile bright and unwavering, Jisung couldn't help but notice how it lingered in his mind long after the door closed.

———————

— A/N: I'll stop uploading 3 chapters at a time cause less people are reading it, so I'll go back to 2/1! Also, thanks for around 470 reads!!

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Turning Page" by Sleeping at Last