Echoes of the Alley

75 - The Curtain Falls, A New Chaprer Rises

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of the shared apartment, casting long rays of golden light across the mess of discarded blankets and empty coffee cups. The group, still riding high from their festival performance the night before, had stayed up into the early hours, recounting moments and celebrating their success.

Jisung woke to the soft hum of the city outside, his body still heavy with exhaustion but his heart light. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was no performance to stress about, no choreography to perfect. Just peace.

He rolled onto his side, the previous night playing over in his mind. The way the crowd had roared for them, the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he delivered his rap, and, of course, Minho.

Minho's hand in his, the weight of his gaze, and the words he'd whispered as they lay under the stars.

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

Jisung smiled, a warmth spreading through his chest. It felt surreal, like a dream he was afraid to wake up from.

A knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts. Before he could respond, Felix peeked his head in, his face bright despite the early hour.

"Morning, Ji!" Felix chirped. "Thought you'd still be asleep after last night."

"I was," Jisung mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Almost 10," Felix said, stepping inside and plopping onto the bed beside him. "We're meeting in the living room in half an hour. Chan wants to do a group debrief before we all split for the weekend."

Jisung nodded, stretching. "Got it. I'll be there."

Felix studied him for a moment, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "You're glowing."

Jisung froze, his cheeks heating. "What? No, I'm not."

"Oh, you definitely are," Felix teased, nudging him with his elbow. "Does this have anything to do with a certain someone?"

"Lix—"

"Come on, Ji," Felix interrupted, his grin widening. "You can't keep secrets from me. What happened with Minho?"

Jisung sighed, though he couldn't stop the small smile tugging at his lips. "We talked."

"And?"

"And... he asked me to be his boyfriend."

Felix gasped, his hands flying to his mouth in exaggerated excitement. "Finally! I was starting to think one of you would never make a move."

"Yeah, yeah," Jisung said, rolling his eyes. "You were right, as always. Happy?"

"Ecstatic," Felix said, pulling Jisung into a hug. "I'm so happy for you, Ji."

Jisung laughed, his chest swelling with gratitude. "Thanks, Lix. Really."

The living room was alive with energy as the group gathered for their final meeting. The festival had been a resounding success, and the mood was one of celebration and reflection.

"Alright," Chan said, standing at the front of the room with his usual clipboard in hand. "Let's start with the obvious—last night was incredible. You guys brought your A-game, and it showed. The crowd loved us, and the feedback from the organizers was amazing."

Hyunjin grinned, leaning back on the couch. "They should've loved us. We killed it."

"You're not wrong," Seungmin said, though his tone was as calm as ever.

"We did it together," Felix added, his voice soft but earnest.

Changbin nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. But we wouldn't have gotten here without all the hours we put in. It's proof that hard work pays off."

Chan smiled, his pride evident. "Exactly. You've all grown so much, not just as performers but as a team. And I couldn't be prouder."

The group clapped, their camaraderie filling the room with warmth.

As the conversation shifted to future plans, Jisung found himself sitting next to Minho. Their hands brushed briefly, and Jisung felt his heart skip a beat.

Minho leaned closer, his voice low so only Jisung could hear. "You okay?"

Jisung nodded, smiling. "Yeah. Just... taking it all in."

Minho's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Me too."

—
With no immediate commitments, the group decided to spend the weekend unwinding. Jeongin and Hyunjin planned a day out in the city, exploring shops and indulging in their favorite foods. Chan and Seungmin opted for a quieter approach, staying home to catch up on rest and prepare for their next project.

Felix and Changbin, inseparable as always, planned a movie marathon, complete with enough snacks to feed a small army.

And Jisung? He had plans with Minho.

They didn't need to say much to coordinate. A simple text from Minho—Meet me at the café at 3?—was enough.

The café was tucked away on a quiet street, its warm interior a stark contrast to the chill outside. Jisung arrived first, finding a corner table and ordering their usual drinks.

When Minho walked in, Jisung couldn't help but smile. Minho's hair was slightly messy from the wind, and he wore his favorite oversized hoodie, looking effortlessly cool.

"Hey," Minho said as he slid into the seat across from Jisung.

"Hey," Jisung replied, his chest fluttering.

They spent the afternoon talking about everything and nothing—the festival, their favorite moments, and the future. It was easy, natural, and for Jisung, it felt like home.

As they left the café, Minho hesitated. "Do you have plans tonight?"

Jisung shook his head. "No. Why?"

Minho smiled softly. "I want to show you something."They walked in comfortable silence, the city fading behind them as Minho led Jisung to the same field where they'd shared their first kiss. The stars were brighter tonight, their light casting a gentle glow over the grass.

"It's beautiful," Jisung said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Minho nodded, his gaze fixed on Jisung. "It is."

They lay down side by side, their hands finding each other's without hesitation.

"I've been thinking about us," Minho said after a long pause.

Jisung turned his head to look at him. "Yeah?"

Minho nodded, his expression soft but serious. "I've spent so much time keeping my guard up, afraid to let anyone in. But with you... it's different. You make it easy to trust, to feel, to just... be."

Jisung's throat tightened, his chest filling with emotion. "Minho..."

Minho smiled, his thumb brushing against Jisung's knuckles. "I don't want to hold back anymore. I want us to keep growing, to keep figuring this out—together."

Jisung felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes. "Me too," he whispered.

Minho leaned in, his forehead resting against Jisung's. "You mean the world to me, Jisung. And I'm not afraid to say it anymore."

Their lips met in a kiss that was soft but full of promise, the stars above them a silent witness to the beginning of something beautiful.

As they lay there, their fingers intertwined, Jisung couldn't help but think that this—this moment, this person—was everything he'd ever hoped for.

And for the first time in a long time, the future felt limitless.

———————

— A/N: I like, HATE to say this but..This is the last chapter🙁 (I'm releasing the epilogue tomorrow shhhh). But oh my days guys

— Question of the day: How did you discover this fanfic?

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Starry Night" by Mamamoo