Echoes of the Alley

35 - Unraveling Layers

The studio was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the faint echo of music from the speakers. It had been hours since the last rehearsal ended, and the group had scattered around the room, each person dealing with their own thoughts. Some were silently stretching, others chatting among themselves, while Jisung sat at the far corner of the room, his guitar resting on his lap.

The weight of everything seemed to press down on him today—he could feel it in his chest. He had spent the past few days trying to find the right melody, trying to match Minho's intensity, trying to make the song perfect. But every time he picked up his guitar, the strings felt too distant, like his thoughts were a thousand miles away from the music he needed to create.

His mind kept drifting back to the moments between him and Minho—especially the tension he could never quite shake off. Minho was the kind of person who demanded perfection in everything, a perfection that Jisung wasn't sure he could meet. Every glance Minho threw his way seemed like an assessment, a measurement of how well Jisung could keep up with the others. And that was fine, Jisung tried to tell himself. That was what it meant to be part of this group, right?

But deep down, he couldn't help but wonder—did Minho even see him? Did he see Jisung beyond the music, beyond the role he played? The question kept circling in his mind, unanswered.

"Ji," Felix's voice broke through the fog of his thoughts. "You okay?"

Jisung looked up and forced a smile. "Yeah, just... thinking."

Felix, who had been leaning against the doorframe, walked over and perched on the edge of the bench next to Jisung. His usual mischievous grin was replaced by a softer expression, one that showed he was more concerned than he let on.

"You know, I've been watching you. You're not yourself today," Felix said gently. "Is it Minho? You're still trying to keep up with him, huh?"

Jisung sighed and let his head fall back against the wall. "It's not just him. I just... feel like I'm not good enough. Like no matter what I do, it's never enough for the group. Not just Minho. Everyone. Especially with the song. It's like the harder I try, the further away it gets."

Felix's eyes softened. "Jisung... listen to me. You're doing great. You're doing your part. It's not about being perfect—it's about contributing what you can, and you've done that a hundred times already. Don't let the pressure get to you."

Jisung looked at him, but Felix's words didn't quite reach him the way they should have. He wasn't sure if it was the way Minho's sharp critiques still echoed in his mind or the lingering doubts about whether he was really part of the group, but the weight was still there, heavy in his chest.

Felix noticed the change in Jisung's expression and changed the subject. "You're overthinking. Let's take a breather. Get some fresh air or something. Come on."

Jisung nodded, allowing Felix to pull him up from the floor. They headed out of the studio, passing the others who were still wrapped up in their own quiet conversations.

Outside, the evening air was cool and crisp. It was the kind of breeze that made everything feel a little more manageable. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, and the sky was painted in shades of purple and orange. Jisung inhaled deeply, letting the coolness fill his lungs, feeling the tension slowly begin to ease.

As he and Felix walked down the street, Jisung's thoughts lingered on the growing distance he felt between himself and the group. Even with Felix beside him, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—something important that he hadn't figured out yet.

—
Back in the studio, Minho was deep in thought as he adjusted the tempo of the song on the soundboard. He had been meticulous with every beat, every note, trying to align the sound with his vision. But no matter how many times he listened, something about it still didn't feel right.

He glanced over at Hyunjin, who was rehearsing the choreography with Changbin and Chan. Hyunjin's movements were fluid, confident, but even he seemed a little distracted today. Minho could see it in his eyes—there was something weighing on him, just like there was something weighing on the rest of the group.

"Focus," Minho called out, his tone sharp. "We're not done yet. This performance has to be perfect."

Hyunjin didn't respond immediately, his brow furrowed as he glanced over at Minho, then back at the floor. He had always respected Minho's commitment to excellence, but sometimes it felt like the pressure Minho put on them was suffocating.

"You're pushing too hard," Changbin muttered, trying to adjust a movement to fit Minho's exacting standards. "We've been doing this for hours. It's starting to get to everyone."

Minho's jaw tightened. "We don't have time to mess around. We're getting this right."

Chan, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward. "Minho, I get it, we all do. But sometimes we need a break. You can't expect everyone to keep up with your pace without burning out."

Minho's eyes flashed with irritation, but there was something else behind them—an edge of vulnerability that he rarely let anyone see. "I'm not doing this to make anyone burn out. I'm doing this because I want us to be better. To be ready."

"You don't have to do it alone," Chan said gently. "We're a team. You're not just the leader. You need to trust us more."

The words hung in the air between them, and for a long moment, Minho didn't say anything. He turned away from them, his gaze lost in thought. It wasn't that he didn't trust the group—it was that he didn't trust himself to let go of control. But in his heart, he knew they were right. He couldn't keep pushing them like this forever.

—
After a few minutes of walking in silence, Felix turned to Jisung. "You've got to stop doing this to yourself. You can't keep comparing yourself to Minho. You're not him. You're you."

Jisung chuckled dryly. "It's not that simple, Felix. Minho's the one always pushing for perfection. I just... I don't know how to be part of it when it feels like I'm always falling short."

Felix stopped walking and turned to face him. "You're part of it because you're you, Ji. You don't need to change for anyone. The music, the dance, the energy—it all comes together because we're a team. Not because any one person is perfect."

Jisung looked at Felix, his heart swelling at the sincerity in his words. Felix was always there, always with a word of encouragement when it mattered.

"I'll try, Felix. I'll try to trust myself more."

Felix smiled, his expression softening. "That's all I want to hear."

—
The group reconvened in the studio later that evening, the air still heavy with the tension from the day's rehearsals. Minho stood at the front, adjusting the tempo of the track once again, but this time, his approach felt different. He wasn't just trying to perfect the song—he was trying to find something that would speak to all of them.

"Alright," Minho said, his voice calmer this time. "Let's run through it again. But this time, I want you all to focus on what makes this song yours. Not just mine. Ours."

The shift in Minho's tone didn't go unnoticed. Jisung felt a subtle change in the atmosphere—Minho was starting to let go, starting to trust them. He could feel it in the way the music resonated through the room, a shared energy that grew stronger with every note.

As they played through the song again, this time there was less pressure, less tension. The music felt freer, more alive. The group's energy was syncing in a way it hadn't before, and Jisung finally felt like he belonged, not just as a member of the group, but as an equal. Only for a while though.

———————

— A/N: Some nice foreshadowing for upcoming chapters (For like 36/37). Guess you'll just have to wait!

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Little Do You Know" by Alex & Sierra