Echoes of the Alley

46 - Building Trust

The quiet hum of the studio filled the air as the group settled into their usual creative flow. The mood was lighter today, but there was an undercurrent of determination. They had made significant progress, but the unspoken pressure to meet their goals still lingered.

Jisung sat at the corner of the studio, headphones draped around his neck as he scribbled in his notebook. Across the room, Minho was hunched over the laptop, replaying the same beat for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Maybe try a softer transition here," Chan suggested, pointing at the screen.

Minho sighed, rubbing his temples. "I thought the sharp cut worked better, though."

"It does, but if the next part's slower, it might feel disjointed," Chan explained patiently.

"Fine," Minho muttered, though his frustration was evident. He began making adjustments, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard.

From his spot, Jisung glanced at Minho, his chest tightening. He recognized that tension—the perfectionism creeping back in. It wasn't his place to say anything now, but he made a mental note to check in later.

At the other end of the room, Hyunjin and Seungmin sat side by side on the couch, reviewing lyrics for one of their tracks. Hyunjin leaned back, stretching his arms above his head.

"I still think this line is too safe," he said, gesturing at the paper. "It's good, but it doesn't hit the way it should."

Seungmin tilted his head, studying the words. "What would you change?"

Hyunjin hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip. "Maybe something more raw? Like, less polished but more emotional."

"That's your specialty," Seungmin said with a small smile. "Why don't you try reworking it?"

Hyunjin blinked, surprised by the encouragement. "You think I can?"

Seungmin nodded. "You have a way of capturing feelings that most people miss. Trust your instincts."

Hyunjin's lips quirked into a shy smile, his fingers drumming against his thigh. "Thanks, Minnie. That means a lot."

Seungmin looked away, his ears turning pink. "Don't get used to it."

Meanwhile, Felix and Changbin were tucked into one corner, their heads close together as they worked on a track. Felix tapped at the keyboard, frowning slightly.

"What do you think of this progression?" he asked, playing back a melody.

Changbin nodded thoughtfully. "It's good, but maybe add a subtle bass line under it. Something to anchor it."

Felix hummed, adjusting the levels. "Like this?"

Changbin leaned closer, his arm brushing against Felix's. "Yeah, exactly. See? You're a natural."

Felix blushed, ducking his head. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

"Not so bad?" Changbin teased, nudging Felix playfully. "I'm the best, and you know it."

Felix laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Okay, okay. You're the best."

Their laughter caught Seungmin's attention, and he raised an eyebrow. "Are you two actually working, or just flirting?"

Felix nearly dropped his laptop, his face turning crimson. "W-We're working!"

Changbin smirked, unbothered by the comment. "Jealous, Minnie?"

Seungmin rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath as Hyunjin stifled a laugh beside him.

—
Later that evening, Minho approached Jisung as the group was winding down. "Hey," he said, his tone unusually hesitant.
Jisung looked up, surprised. "What's up?"

"Can you stay for a bit after everyone leaves?" Minho asked, avoiding Jisung's gaze. "I want to work on something with you."

Jisung nodded, his curiosity piqued. "Sure."

Once the others had packed up and left, the studio felt quieter, almost intimate. Minho stood in the center of the room, his laptop set up to play back the track they'd been working on earlier.

"I wanted to test out some choreography for this," Minho explained, glancing at Jisung. "But I need your input on the timing."

"Me?" Jisung asked, startled.

Minho shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're good at catching details. And your rhythm's solid."

Jisung's cheeks flushed at the compliment, but he nodded. "Okay. What do you need me to do?"

"Just play the track and watch," Minho said, moving to the center of the room.

Jisung hit play, and the music filled the space. Minho began to move, his body flowing with a precision and grace that took Jisung's breath away. Every motion was deliberate, yet there was a rawness to it that made the performance feel alive.

When the track ended, Minho turned to Jisung, slightly out of breath. "What do you think?"

Jisung stared at him, momentarily speechless. "That was... incredible," he said finally.

Minho's lips quirked into a shy smile. "Thanks. But does it match the music?"

Jisung nodded emphatically. "Absolutely. The way you hit the beats—it's perfect."

Minho's gaze softened, and for a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. "Thanks for staying," Minho said quietly.

"Anytime," Jisung replied, his heart racing as he held Minho's gaze.

—
Back at the apartment, the rest of the group had settled into their usual spots in the living room. Hyunjin was flipping through his sketchbook, while Felix and Changbin shared a bowl of popcorn.

"You know," Chan said, leaning back on the couch, "we've come a long way since we first started working together."

Jeongin nodded, a rare seriousness in his expression. "It feels different now. Like we're finally in sync."

"Agreed," Seungmin said, glancing up from his phone. "But there's still room to grow."

Felix smiled, nudging Changbin. "Well, as long as we've got each other, we'll figure it out."

"Cheesy," Hyunjin muttered, though his lips twitched into a smile.

The room filled with laughter, the kind that felt easy and genuine. Despite the challenges ahead, the group was closer than ever—and they knew they could face whatever came next together.

———————

— A/N: Sorry this is kind of short, and chapter planning is going pretty good😇😇 And don't mind that these 2 chapters both have Stray Kids songs, I just thought they fit😭

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Voices" by Stray Kids