Echoes of the Alley

38 - Shifting Foundations

The morning light filtered into the apartment, but it brought little comfort. The atmosphere was heavy, the usual energy of Jisung's group replaced by an awkward, subdued quiet. No one quite knew how to start the day after what had happened the night before.

Jisung sat curled up on the couch, staring blankly at the untouched mug of tea Felix had placed in front of him. His mind was a swirling mess of self-doubt and regret. Every sharp critique from Minho, every mistake he thought he had made, replayed over and over like a cruel loop. His fingers twitched, itching to pick up his guitar, but the thought of strumming another wrong chord made his stomach twist.

Felix lingered nearby in the kitchen, moving with deliberate care as he prepared breakfast. Normally, he'd hum a tune or crack a joke, but today his energy was quieter. Every so often, he glanced over at Jisung, his eyes filled with concern. He wasn't sure how to help, and the silence was getting to him.

Seungmin sat cross-legged on the floor, his phone in hand, though it was clear he wasn't paying attention to it. His focus kept drifting back to Jisung, his brows furrowing slightly. Jeongin was sprawled across the armchair, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Normally the first to fill the room with laughter, even he didn't know what to say.

"Ji," Felix said softly, leaning against the counter. "You've got to eat something. Or at least drink your tea. It's getting cold."

Jisung shook his head, his voice barely audible. "I'm not hungry."

Felix exchanged a look with Seungmin, who let out a quiet sigh. "You can't keep this up, Jisung," Seungmin said bluntly, his tone not unkind but firm. "You can't keep pretending you're fine when you're not."

Jisung flinched slightly, his arms tightening around his knees. "I just need... time. I'll be fine."

"You're not fine," Jeongin said, sitting up straighter. His voice was softer than usual, but his frustration was evident. "And that's okay. You don't have to be."

The words hung in the air, heavy and uncomfortable. Jisung didn't respond. He couldn't. He felt like a burden, like his struggles were weighing the group down. He hated it.

Felix walked over and sat beside him, the couch sinking slightly under his weight. "Jisung, you're part of this group because of who you are. Not because you're perfect or because you have to prove something. You don't have to carry this alone."

Jisung's throat tightened, and he shook his head again. "I don't know how to be part of this group anymore," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I'm not like you guys. I can't just... bounce back."

"You don't have to bounce back," Jeongin said. "We're here for you. That's the point of being a team."

—
Meanwhile, in the studio, Minho sat alone, the echoes of last night's rehearsal still fresh in his mind. He had arrived early, his usual routine of reviewing choreography and fine-tuning details offering little distraction. His mind kept drifting back to Jisung's panic attack, the way his hands had trembled, the panic in his eyes. It had been haunting.

Minho leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as he stared at the blank notepad in front of him. His hands twitched as if itching to move, but for the first time in a long time, he didn't know what to do.

Chan walked in, carrying two cups of coffee. He set one down in front of Minho and took the seat across from him. "Thought you could use this," Chan said, his voice calm but weighted with understanding.

Minho gave a small nod of thanks but didn't look up. He took a sip, the warmth of the coffee doing little to ease the tension in his chest.

"Long night?" Chan asked, though he already knew the answer.

Minho sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Jisung."

Chan leaned back in his chair, watching Minho carefully. "You're worried about him."

"I pushed him too hard," Minho admitted, his voice quiet. "I thought I was helping him, but I wasn't. I didn't see how much he was struggling."

Chan nodded. "You're not the only one who missed it. But you're the one he looks up to the most. He's been trying to impress you, Minho. Trying to meet your standards."

Minho's grip tightened around his coffee cup. "I didn't ask him to do that."

"You didn't have to," Chan said gently. "The way you push yourself, the way you push all of us—it's inspiring, but it can also be overwhelming. Not everyone works the way you do. Jisung needs support, not pressure."

Minho's jaw tightened, the weight of Chan's words settling heavily on his shoulders. He had always believed in pushing himself and others to their limits, but now he wondered if he had been blind to the cost.

—
When the rest of the group arrived at the studio later that day, the tension was palpable. Jisung walked in with Felix, Seungmin, and Jeongin, his shoulders hunched and his gaze fixed on the floor. He still felt raw, exposed, but he didn't want to fall apart again. Not here.

The others were already there—Hyunjin chatting with Changbin, and Chan standing by the soundboard. Minho was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. The room fell silent as they all settled in, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them.

"We need to talk," Chan said, breaking the silence. His tone was calm but firm, his gaze sweeping over the group.

Minho straightened, his posture stiff. He knew this was coming.

Felix glanced at Jisung before stepping forward. "We've all been feeling the pressure," he began. "But Jisung's been struggling the most. And the way we've been working... it's not sustainable."

Seungmin nodded. "Minho, you've been pushing us hard, and we get it. You want us to be the best. But perfection isn't worth breaking people over."

Changbin stepped in, his voice steady. "We're a team. We're supposed to lift each other up, not tear each other down."

Minho's gaze flicked to Jisung, who was still staring at the floor. For a moment, he hesitated. Then he took a deep breath and stepped forward. "You're right," he said, his voice quieter than usual. He looked directly at Jisung, his expression softening. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much I was pushing you. I thought I was helping, but I see now that I wasn't."

Jisung looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. He had never expected Minho to apologize.

"I want to do better," Minho continued. "Not just for you, but for all of us. I don't want to be the reason this group falls apart."

The room was silent for a long moment as everyone processed Minho's words. Then Felix stepped forward, a small smile tugging at his lips. "We've got your back, Minho. But we have to move forward together."

—
The rehearsal that followed wasn't perfect, but it felt different. There was a sense of unity, a shared understanding that hadn't been there before. Minho made a conscious effort to be more supportive, offering encouragement instead of critiques. Jisung, though still hesitant, began to find his rhythm again.

As they packed up for the night, Minho approached Jisung. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "If I ever push too hard again... tell me. Don't keep it to yourself."

Jisung nodded, a small smile breaking through his uncertainty. "I will. Thanks, Minho."

Minho returned the smile, and for the first time in a long time, the tension between them eased. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.

———————

— A/N: I was writing chapters 51-55 right, oh my days I started crashing out. Cause like it's so cute but like also something happens (Jisung's okay this time😭)

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Fine Line" by Harry Styles