Echoes of the Alley

33 - A Day Away

The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the grass. The air was warm but crisp, and the park was alive with the sounds of birds and distant laughter. Jisung stood near the entrance, squinting as he checked his phone for the fifth time, a mix of excitement and unease swirling in his chest.

"Hey! You coming or what?" Felix's voice cut through the haze of Jisung's thoughts.

Jisung looked up to see Felix, Seungmin, and Jeongin already walking toward the large picnic area. Hyunjin was a few steps ahead of them, sketching something in his notepad. The group had decided to make this weekend a break from their usual practice and recording schedule.

It was supposed to be fun, just a day to relax and unwind. But for Jisung, the idea of spending a whole day outside his comfort zone—away from the studio and the constant pressure—made his stomach twist.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" Jisung called, hurrying to catch up.

Felix shot him an exaggeratedly concerned look as Jisung caught up. "You okay, Ji? You seem... off. You're not getting nervous, are you?"

Jisung forced a smile. "No, I'm fine. Just... a little tired, I guess."

Felix raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. He clapped Jisung on the back, steering him toward the others. They had picked the perfect spot: under the shade of a tall oak tree, surrounded by blankets and a picnic basket that Felix had insisted on packing himself.

Seungmin was setting up snacks while Jeongin helped Hyunjin organize the sketchpad and markers. The scene was deceptively simple, yet there was an undeniable warmth in the air. Everyone had their own way of unwinding, and today, that meant letting go of the tension that had been building up over the past few weeks.

As Jisung dropped down onto the blanket, he noticed Hyunjin's gaze flicking over to him for a brief moment before quickly returning to his drawing. His usual confidence seemed slightly subdued, his eyes more contemplative than usual. Jisung could almost feel the weight of unsaid things between them. He wanted to ask, but the words felt too heavy, too awkward.

Felix plopped down next to him, a bag of chips in his hands. "You really need to stop overthinking everything, Ji," he teased, flicking a chip at Jisung's face.

"Stop it," Jisung grumbled, swatting the chip away. He glanced at Felix, then at Hyunjin, wondering if the group was noticing how quiet things had gotten around Hyunjin and Seungmin.

"What's up with Seungmin and Hyunjin?" Jisung asked, trying to shift the topic.

Felix chuckled. "I don't know, but I'm starting to think they've been getting too close lately. Don't you think?"

Jisung glanced at Seungmin, who was now sitting on the other side of Hyunjin, chatting about something in a low voice. "They do seem... different now. I think Seungmin's been opening up more."

"Yeah," Felix said, his tone suddenly more serious. "You know, it's good for Seungmin. He's been so reserved for so long. But Hyunjin—he's like a cat, unpredictable. One moment he's all cheerful, and the next, it's like he's hiding something."

Jisung nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. I feel like there's something more going on with them, but they don't say much."

Jeongin, overhearing the conversation, piped in from the other side of the blanket, his grin teasing. "What, you're all going to get all sentimental and play matchmaker now?"

Jisung rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "Stop messing around, Jeongin."

"Hey, I'm just saying. Everyone's got their thing, right?" Jeongin leaned forward, poking at the ground with a stick. "Maybe they just need time."