Echoes of the Alley

57 - Fractures and Flutters

The rain had started again overnight, a soft drizzle painting the windows with streaks of gray. The morning was quiet as Jisung sat at the dining table in their shared apartment, his notebook open in front of him. He chewed on the end of his pen absentmindedly, the beginnings of a melody playing in his head but refusing to fully take shape.

The others were scattered across the apartment. Felix was perched on the couch with a blanket over his shoulders, scrolling through his phone. Jeongin and Seungmin were having a quiet debate in the kitchen about whether waffles or pancakes were superior. The hum of domestic life was calming, but Jisung's mind was elsewhere.

He couldn't stop thinking about Minho.

They had grown closer over the last few weeks, but there was something different about their dynamic now. Something unspoken but undeniably present. Jisung shook his head, willing himself to focus on his notebook.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Felix hopped up to answer it, revealing Minho standing in the hallway, his hair slightly damp from the rain. He carried a bag slung over his shoulder and wore his usual calm expression, though his eyes darted toward Jisung almost immediately.

"Morning," Minho greeted as he stepped inside.

Felix offered him a small smile. "Morning. Coffee's in the kitchen if you want."

"Thanks," Minho replied, slipping off his shoes. He made his way to the kitchen, greeting Seungmin and Jeongin briefly before approaching Jisung.

"Writing something new?" Minho asked, his voice casual as he leaned slightly over the table to glance at Jisung's notebook.

Jisung shrugged, his cheeks warming under Minho's gaze. "Trying to. It's not going great."

Minho's lips quirked into a faint smile. "You always get there eventually. You're stubborn like that."

Jisung blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected remark. "Is that a compliment?"

"Maybe," Minho said, his tone teasing. "Don't let it go to your head."

Jisung laughed softly, feeling the tension in his chest ease. "I'll try not to."

Minho tilted his head slightly, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "You're too hard on yourself sometimes, you know that?"

Jisung hesitated, the sincerity in Minho's voice catching him off guard. "I... guess I am," he admitted.

"Just don't let it hold you back," Minho said, his voice quiet but firm. "You've got more in you than you think."

The warmth in Jisung's chest spread, and he found himself smiling despite himself. "Thanks, Minho."

Minho straightened, his expression unreadable again as he turned toward the kitchen. "Anytime."

—
The rain had picked up again by the time Minho returned to his apartment, the patter of water against the windows blending with the low hum of conversation in the living room. Chan was sprawled on the couch, his laptop balanced on his knees as he reviewed some notes for their next practice. Hyunjin was sketching in a notebook, and Changbin was leaning against the counter, scrolling through his phone.

"Back already?" Chan asked as Minho walked in, setting his bag down by the door.

Minho shrugged, his usual nonchalant expression in place. "Yeah. Got everything done."

Changbin glanced up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Were you at Jisung's apartment?"

Hyunjin's head snapped up at that, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Oh, you were, weren't you? You've been spending a lot of time there lately."

Minho rolled his eyes as he sank into the armchair. "So?"

"So," Hyunjin said, drawing the word out as a teasing grin spread across his face, "you and Jisung are getting pretty close, huh?"

Chan glanced up from his laptop, his brow furrowing slightly. "You do seem more relaxed when you're around him," he observed. "Which is... rare."

Minho shrugged again, though the tips of his ears turned pink. "We work well together. That's all."

"Right," Changbin said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Just working well together."

Hyunjin laughed, leaning forward to rest his chin on his hands. "Come on, Minho. Spill. You're not exactly subtle."

Minho glared at him, though it lacked his usual bite. "There's nothing to spill."

Chan set his laptop aside, studying Minho with a thoughtful expression. "You do care about him, though. More than just... as part of the group."

Minho froze, his jaw tightening. He glanced away, his hands gripping the arms of the chair. "I—"

The words caught in his throat, and for a moment, the room was silent except for the rain tapping against the windows.

"I do," Minho admitted quietly, his voice barely audible.

Hyunjin's eyes widened, and even Changbin looked surprised.

Minho sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know when it started. But... I care about him. A lot more than I should."

Chan leaned back, his expression softening. "Why 'should'? There's nothing wrong with that, Minho."

Minho let out a humorless laugh. "Because I don't know how to handle it. Jisung's... complicated. And so am I."

"Maybe," Changbin said, his voice unusually serious. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. If he's important to you, isn't it worth figuring out? Figuring it out together?"

Minho hesitated, his gaze distant. "Yeah. It is."

Hyunjin grinned, nudging Minho playfully. "Look at you, all grown up and admitting your feelings. I'm so proud."

"Don't push it," Minho muttered, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.

—
Back at Jisung's apartment, the rain provided a soothing backdrop as he sat on the couch, his guitar resting on his lap. Felix sat nearby, flipping through a magazine, while Seungmin and Jeongin were huddled over a board game at the dining table.

Jisung's thoughts kept drifting back to Minho—his quiet encouragement earlier, the way his words had felt like a lifeline when Jisung had needed it most.

"Felix?" Jisung said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Felix glanced up, his brow furrowing. "What's up?"

Jisung hesitated, his fingers brushing lightly over the guitar strings. "Do you think... people can change? Like, if they've been a certain way for a long time, can they really change?"

Felix tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I think they can. But it usually takes someone else to help them see it. Why?"

Jisung shrugged, his gaze dropping to the guitar. "Just thinking."

Felix smiled faintly, his tone gentle. "You're talking about Minho, aren't you?"

Jisung's cheeks flushed, and he quickly looked away. "No."

"Sure you're not," Felix said, his grin widening. "But for what it's worth, I think you're good for each other. You balance each other out."

Jisung's chest tightened, a mix of anxiety and something softer swelling inside him. "Thanks, Lix."

Felix nodded, his smile warm. "Anytime, Ji."

———————

— A/N: I hope you guys had an awesome Christmas. Mine was like, a bit hectic. Good and bad day at the same time. What did you guys get for gifts?

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Bloom" by The Paper Kites