Echoes of the Alley

52 - Hints of Frustration

The apartment was already bustling with activity by mid-morning. Chan had sent out an early message, insisting that everyone arrive at the studio on time, but the group decided to meet at Jisung's place first for breakfast.

Jisung, in his usual chaotic fashion, was in the kitchen juggling a spatula and a phone as he attempted to flip pancakes while also coordinating their schedule with Chan.

"I said I'd be ready in five minutes—wait, no, not you, Chan!" Jisung blurted into the phone, earning a muffled laugh from the other end of the line.

Minho leaned against the counter, arms crossed and an amused smirk on his face. "You've got flour in your hair."

Jisung turned, startled, nearly dropping the spatula. "I do not!"

Minho reached over, his fingers brushing Jisung's hair as he flicked the flour away. "Now you don't."

Jisung froze under Minho's touch, his chest tightening. He quickly turned back to the stove, mumbling, "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Minho said softly, his smirk softening into something unreadable.

Felix and Changbin wandered into the kitchen then, their laughter echoing through the small space. "Pancakes smell good," Felix said, peering over Jisung's shoulder. "Need any help?"

"Unless you're better at flipping than I am, nope," Jisung replied, finally managing to plate a decent pancake.

Changbin grabbed a plate, elbowing Felix playfully. "Looks like Jisung's got it covered. Let's dig in."

—
After breakfast, the group filed into the studio for their morning rehearsal. The energy in the room was a mix of excitement and tension as they reviewed their choreography for the festival.

"Hyunjin, your timing's off," Seungmin said, his tone sharper than usual.

Hyunjin blinked, startled. "What? I thought I was on beat."

"You're not," Seungmin said, crossing his arms. "You keep rushing the steps here."

Hyunjin frowned, his playful demeanor faltering. "Okay, I'll fix it. No need to get snappy."

"I'm not being snappy," Seungmin shot back, though the edge in his voice suggested otherwise.

The others exchanged glances, the tension between the two palpable. Felix nudged Jisung and whispered, "What's going on with them?"

Jisung shrugged, keeping his voice low. "No idea, but Seungmin's been on edge lately."

Chan clapped his hands, cutting through the awkward silence. "Alright, let's run it from the top. Hyunjin, focus on your timing. Everyone else, stay sharp."

They returned to their positions, the music filling the studio once more. But the strained dynamic between Seungmin and Hyunjin lingered, casting a subtle shadow over the otherwise productive session.

—
During a short break, Jisung collapsed onto the couch, chugging water like his life depended on it. Minho sat down beside him, his expression calm but observant.

"You're doing better with the bridge," Minho said, nodding toward the stage.

Jisung looked up, startled by the unexpected praise. "Oh, uh... thanks. I've been practicing a lot."

"It shows," Minho replied, his tone genuine.

Jisung hesitated, then asked, "What about you? Are you feeling good about the choreography?"

Minho shrugged. "It's fine. I've got some tweaks to make, but nothing major."

Jisung tilted his head, studying Minho. "You always seem so... in control. Like you never doubt yourself."

Minho's lips quirked into a faint smile. "That's because I don't let anyone see it when I do."

Jisung blinked, surprised by the honesty. "Well, for what it's worth, you're kind of the standard I aim for. You're... really good at what you do."

Minho glanced at him, his gaze softening. "Thanks. But don't sell yourself short, Jisung. You've got something special, too."

Jisung's cheeks flushed, and he looked away, suddenly very interested in the label on his water bottle.

Across the room, Felix and Changbin were sitting on the floor, sharing a bag of chips. Felix leaned against Changbin's shoulder, his legs stretched out in front of him.

"Did you see Hyunjin's face earlier?" Felix asked, grinning. "He looked like a kicked puppy."

Changbin chuckled, brushing a crumb off Felix's cheek. "Yeah, but Seungmin's been acting weird lately. Something's up."

Felix hummed in agreement, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the hem of Changbin's sleeve. "Think we should talk to him?"

"Nah," Changbin said. "He'll come around when he's ready. Besides, I'm too comfortable to move right now."

Felix laughed, turning his head to press a quick kiss to Changbin's cheek. "Lazy."

"And you love it," Changbin shot back, grinning.

Felix didn't argue, simply resting his head on Changbin's shoulder as they watched the others rehearse.

Later, as the group gathered around Chan for feedback, Hyunjin found himself glancing at Seungmin, who stood a few feet away with his arms crossed.

"You okay?" Felix whispered, nudging him.

Hyunjin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not really. Seungmin's been acting... off. I don't know what I did."

Felix frowned. "Maybe it's not about you."

"Maybe," Hyunjin said, though the doubt in his voice was clear.

Felix patted his shoulder. "Give him time. Seungmin's complicated, but he'll come around."

Hyunjin nodded, though the worry in his eyes didn't fade.

—
As rehearsal wound down, the group gathered their things, their exhaustion evident.

"Good work today," Chan said, his voice carrying a note of pride. "We're making real progress."

Hyunjin lingered by the door, watching as Seungmin packed up his bag. He opened his mouth to say something but hesitated, unsure of how to bridge the growing gap between them.

"Hyunjin," Jisung called, breaking his train of thought. "You coming?"

"Yeah," Hyunjin said, forcing a smile as he joined the others.

Seungmin watched him leave, his expression conflicted. He hated the distance he was creating, but the feelings swirling inside him felt too overwhelming to confront just yet.

—
That evening, Jisung found himself in the living room, scribbling in his notebook as Minho sat nearby, scrolling through his phone.

"Hey," Minho said suddenly, breaking the silence. "What are you working on?"

Jisung hesitated before handing over the notebook. "Just some ideas for the festival. It's not much yet."

Minho scanned the page, nodding thoughtfully. "This part's good," he said, pointing to a line. "But you could make it stronger by focusing on the rhythm here."

Jisung leaned closer, their shoulders almost touching as he followed Minho's finger. "Like this?" he asked, tweaking the line.

"Exactly," Minho said, his lips curving into a small smile.

Their eyes met briefly, and Jisung felt his chest tighten again. He quickly looked away, focusing on the notebook. "Thanks," he mumbled.

"Anytime," Minho replied, his voice soft.

———————

— A/N: Seungmin is being my #1 opp, but it's okay he'll come around

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Ophelia" by The Lumineers