Echoes of the Alley

70 - Stronger Together

The warmth of a mid-morning sun filtered into the apartment, casting soft golden light across the living room. The aftermath of their impromptu movie marathon lay scattered—bowls of half-eaten popcorn, blankets draped over furniture, and empty soda cans balanced precariously on the coffee table. Felix was the first to stir, yawning as he stretched on the couch.

"Morning already?" he mumbled, rubbing at his eyes.

Changbin, who had taken the floor beside him, cracked one eye open and grinned. "Morning, sunshine. Slept well?"

"Could've used fewer elbows in my ribs," Felix retorted, nudging him with his foot.

As the rest of the group began to wake, the usual morning chaos unfolded. Jeongin padded into the kitchen in search of cereal, only to find Hyunjin already hoarding the milk.

"Leave some for the rest of us!" Jeongin whined, earning a dramatic hair flip from Hyunjin.

Seungmin strolled in, taking one look at the bickering duo before turning around. "Too early for this," he muttered.

Chan appeared shortly after, coffee in hand and already scrolling through his phone. "We've got the day off, remember," he reminded everyone as he settled into an armchair. "Let's keep it chill."

"Chill? With these two?" Seungmin gestured toward Hyunjin and Jeongin, who were now mock wrestling over a box of cereal.

"I'm always chill," Hyunjin said, dodging Jeongin's attempt to swipe the milk.

"Debatable," Changbin quipped, earning a laugh from Felix.

Amidst the playful banter, Jisung emerged from his room, his hair sticking up in every direction. He was greeted by Minho, who handed him a cup of tea without a word. Their fingers brushed briefly, and Jisung's cheeks flushed pink.

"Thanks," Jisung murmured, glancing at Minho with a small, grateful smile.

Minho returned the smile, his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned to join the others in the living room.

—
By mid-morning, the group had gathered in the living room, sprawled across the couches and floor. Felix, ever the organizer, clapped his hands to get their attention.

"Alright, since we're officially invited to the festival and things are getting serious, we need to talk about one very important thing," Felix announced, looking around the room.

"What's that?" Chan asked, setting his coffee down.

"Our group name," Felix said simply.

The room fell silent for a moment before Hyunjin spoke. "We don't already have one?"

"We've just been calling ourselves 'the group,'" Jeongin pointed out.

"That's so boring," Hyunjin said, sitting up straighter. "We need something cool, something that stands out."

"Agreed," Changbin said. "But nothing too edgy. We're not trying to scare people off."

"Something meaningful," Seungmin suggested.

"How about something related to where we started?" Jisung said, his voice tentative.

Minho, seated beside him, nodded. "The alley."

"The alley," Felix repeated thoughtfully. "It's where everything began for us. It makes sense."

"But we can't just be called 'The Alley,'" Hyunjin argued. "It needs more... oomph."

"What about 'Echoes of the Alley'?" Jisung suggested, glancing around nervously.

Felix's face lit up. "I like that."

"It has a nice ring to it," Chan said, nodding in approval.

"Echoes of the Alley," Changbin repeated, testing the words. "It's got meaning, but it's not overcomplicated."

Jeongin shrugged. "Works for me."

"Alright," Chan said, clapping his hands together. "It's decided. We're Echoes of the Alley."

The group exchanged grins, a sense of unity settling over them.

As the afternoon stretched on, the group naturally split into smaller clusters. Hyunjin and Seungmin sat by the window, sharing a rare quiet moment.

"You seem lighter today," Hyunjin remarked, nudging Seungmin's shoulder gently.

Seungmin glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Maybe I am. Things feel... easier lately."

Hyunjin tilted his head, studying him. "You've been working on letting go of perfection, haven't you?"

"Trying to," Seungmin admitted. "It's hard, but... you make it easier."

Hyunjin's gaze softened, and he reached for Seungmin's hand, lacing their fingers together. "I'm glad I can help."

Across the room, Felix and Changbin were tucked into a corner, their heads close as they shared whispered jokes. At one point, Changbin leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Felix's temple. Felix laughed, swatting at him playfully before leaning into his side.

Chan, seated with Jeongin, smiled at the sight. "They're good for each other," he said quietly.

"They are," Jeongin agreed, his tone fond. "It's nice to see."

—
As the sun began to set, Minho and Jisung found themselves alone on the balcony, the soft hues of twilight painting the sky.

"You've been quiet today," Minho said, leaning against the railing.

"Just thinking," Jisung replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"About?" Minho prompted.

Jisung hesitated before turning to face him. "About how far we've come. And about you."

Minho's lips quirked into a small smile. "Me?"

Jisung nodded, his cheeks flushing. "I never thought I'd feel this way about someone. But with you... it feels right."

Minho reached out, his hand brushing against Jisung's before lacing their fingers together. "It feels right for me too," he said softly.

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their connection grounding them.

"I'm glad we're doing this together," Jisung said quietly.

"Me too," Minho replied, his voice steady.

—
Later that evening, the group gathered for dinner, the atmosphere warm and lively as they shared stories and laughter.

"We've got a lot to prepare for," Chan said, raising his glass. "But I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else."

"Here's to Echoes of the Alley," Felix said, lifting his glass.

"To Echoes of the Alley," the others echoed, their voices filled with pride and excitement for the future.

As the night wore on, the bonds between them felt stronger than ever, their shared journey shaping them into something more than just a group—they were family.

And as they looked ahead to the challenges and triumphs to come, they knew they would face them together, stronger than ever.

———————

— A/N: Guys I hate to say this but, this fanfic is ending soon🙁. We still have about 5 chapter left but oh my days. Thank you guys for all of your support throughout my publishing, I'm grateful for you all❤️

— Question of the day: Who's your favorite in this story?

— Recommended song for this chapter: "A Million Dreams" by The Greatest Showman Cast