Echoes of the Alley

28 - New Threads

The buzz of activity in the studio was palpable. Jisung arrived to find Felix and Changbin already engrossed in a new beat, their heads close together as they adjusted levels and tinkered with samples. Seungmin and Hyunjin were off to the side, Hyunjin animatedly gesturing while Seungmin quietly jotted notes into a well-worn notebook. Jeongin and Chan sat near the whiteboard, scribbling out ideas for lyrics with intermittent bursts of laughter.

Jisung hesitated in the doorway, feeling the familiar wave of trepidation wash over him. It wasn't the work he feared, but the vulnerability that came with it. Yet, he forced himself forward, dropping his bag near his usual spot at the table.

"Morning, Sungie!" Felix's bright voice cut through the hum of sound. He turned, flashing a grin. "You're just in time. Changbin thinks this beat is revolutionary, but I need a second opinion."

"Revolutionary might be overselling it," Changbin interjected, shooting Felix a playful glare. "But it's definitely good."

Jisung managed a small smile as he slid into his chair. "Let's hear it."

Felix hit play, and the room filled with a dynamic rhythm—layered with intricate percussion and a synth line that felt almost alive. Jisung found himself nodding along, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

"It's solid," he said after a moment. "The transitions are smooth, and the energy's there. Maybe we could add some texture in the second verse, though? Something to make it pop."

Felix beamed. "See? I told you he'd get it."

"Fine, fine," Changbin grumbled, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "You win this one, Jisung."

—
As the morning progressed, the group fell into a comfortable rhythm. Ideas flowed freely, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional debate over arrangements. Jisung found himself drawn into the creative process, the weight of his lingering doubts momentarily forgotten.

During a short break, Minho appeared in the doorway, his presence quiet but commanding. Jisung's heart gave an unexpected flutter at the sight of him, though he quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on his notebook.

"Am I interrupting?" Minho asked, his tone light as he stepped inside.

"Not at all," Chan replied, waving him in. "We're just taking a breather. Perfect timing."

Minho's gaze flicked to Jisung, lingering for a fraction longer than necessary. "Good to see you here," he said softly, his voice meant only for Jisung.

Jisung nodded, his throat suddenly dry. "Yeah. It's... good to be here."

Minho didn't press further, instead moving to join Changbin and Felix, who were already pulling him into their discussion about the beat. Yet, Jisung couldn't shake the feeling of Minho's presence—steady, grounding, and oddly reassuring.

—
On the other side of the room, Hyunjin and Seungmin were deep in conversation. Hyunjin's expressive gestures contrasted with Seungmin's measured responses, but their dynamic was effortless. At one point, Hyunjin reached out to lightly tap Seungmin's notebook, his fingers brushing against Seungmin's hand. The gesture was casual, almost imperceptible, but it made Seungmin pause for a split second before continuing as if nothing had happened.

"You're too meticulous sometimes," Hyunjin teased, a playful lilt in his voice. "Not everything needs to be perfect."

"And you're too impulsive," Seungmin countered, though there was no bite to his words. "Balance is important."

"Maybe," Hyunjin conceded, a rare softness in his tone. "But sometimes you have to let go and just feel it, you know?"

Seungmin glanced at him, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."

—
By mid-afternoon, the group reconvened to review their progress. The atmosphere was relaxed but focused, everyone eager to see how the pieces were coming together. Jeongin and Chan presented a rough draft of the lyrics they'd been working on, earning nods of approval from the rest of the team.

"This part here," Minho said, pointing to a line on the whiteboard. "It's good, but it could be stronger. Maybe something more vivid?"

Jeongin tilted his head, considering. "Like what?"

Minho paused, then offered a suggestion—a phrase that was simple yet evocative. Jeongin's eyes lit up. "That's perfect. Thanks, hyung."

"Don't mention it," Minho replied, his expression softening.

Felix, who had been watching the exchange, leaned over to Changbin. "Minho's really been stepping up lately," he said quietly.

"Yeah," Changbin agreed, his voice equally low. "He's good at reading people, knowing what they need."

Felix smiled faintly. "He's not the only one."

Changbin glanced at him, surprised. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Felix replied, his tone light but his eyes warm. "Just... you're good at that too."

Before Changbin could respond, Chan clapped his hands, calling everyone's attention back to the board. Yet, Felix's words lingered, leaving Changbin slightly off balance in a way he didn't entirely mind.

—
As the day wound down, the group began packing up their things. Jisung lingered at the table, pretending to organize his notes as Minho approached.

"You did good today," Minho said, his voice low enough that only Jisung could hear.

"Thanks," Jisung replied, not looking up. "You too."

Minho hesitated, then placed a hand on Jisung's shoulder—a brief, grounding touch. "Get some rest, okay? You've earned it."

Jisung nodded, his heart inexplicably lighter as Minho walked away. He couldn't quite put it into words, but something about the older boy's presence felt... safe. Reassuring.

—
Later that evening, Felix and Changbin found themselves alone in the studio, reviewing some of the day's recordings. The space was quiet, save for the soft hum of the equipment and the occasional murmur of their voices.

"You've been really on top of things lately," Felix said, his tone casual but sincere. "It's impressive."

Changbin glanced at him, surprised. "Coming from you, that means a lot. You're the most consistent one here."

Felix laughed softly. "Hardly. I'm just good at hiding when I'm stressed."

"Well, you hide it well," Changbin admitted. "But you don't have to, you know. We're a team."

Felix's expression softened, and for a moment, the air between them felt charged. "Thanks, Binnie," he said quietly. "That means a lot."

Changbin nodded, his usual confidence faltering slightly under Felix's gaze. There was something in Felix's eyes—a warmth, a depth—that made his heart skip a beat. But before he could dwell on it, Felix smiled and turned back to the computer, the moment passing as quickly as it had come.

Changbin exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't sure what had just happened, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time.

—
In the quiet of his apartment later that night, Jisung found himself replaying the day's events. The subtle moments with Minho, the shared laughs with Felix and Changbin, the quiet support from Seungmin and Hyunjin—all of it felt like pieces of a puzzle slowly falling into place.
For the first time in a long while, Jisung felt like he wasn't just surviving. He was starting to live again. A least at the moment.

———————

— A/N: School tomorrow..And there's testing. Someone save me.

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Stay" by BLACKPINK