A Note Between Us

Chapter 5: Count On Me

That night, Gemini lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, thinking it over. Something's definitely going on... and I'm going to find out what it is.

One afternoon, Fourth and Prang walked out of the cafeteria together, chatting quietly. Gemini trailed behind them at a distance, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. He leaned a little closer as their voices carried through the hallway.

"...and then they said they were sorry for not replying quickly," Prang murmured, her voice low.

Fourth nodded, hugging his notebook to his chest. "Yeah. I didn't know what to reply at first... I didn't want to sound weird."

Gemini frowned. They? Reply? Who are they talking about? He tried to catch more, but the words blurred as they moved further away. All he knew was that it sounded nothing like the reason Fourth kept going to the library. This was something else entirely.

He quickened his steps to follow them more closely, but just then-

"Boo!"

Gemini nearly jumped out of his skin as Namtan suddenly appeared at his side, grinning mischievously.

"W-What the-Namtan!" Gemini hissed, clutching his chest.

She giggled, completely unbothered. "Why are you sneaking around like some detective? You scared me with your face more than I scared you."

In that split second of distraction, Fourth and Prang slipped out of sight. Gemini scanned the hallway desperately, but they were gone.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.

Later that day, Namtan dragged Gemini out for snacks at a small café near campus. The two sat by the window, sipping iced drinks while students bustled outside. But Gemini's attention wasn't on her, or even the food. His gaze drifted elsewhere, his brows furrowed in thought.

"You're spacing out again," Namtan pointed out, tapping her straw against her cup. "And don't tell me it's nothing. You've been acting like this for days."

Gemini hesitated, but finally sighed. "It's about Fourth. Something's... off. He's been hiding something, and Prang's in on it. I just don't know what."

Namtan tilted her head, studying him carefully. "So? Why does it matter so much?"

"Because he's my best friend," Gemini said quickly, almost too quickly. "What if it's something bad? What if he's struggling with something and won't tell us?"

Namtan leaned back, her expression softening but her tone firm. "Gem, listen. I get it. You care about him. But he's not a kid anymore. If he wants to keep something to himself, you need to respect that."

Gemini opened his mouth, but she held up her hand to stop him.

"And another thing," she added, her voice calm but pointed. "You're his best friend, not his keeper. You don't get to control his choices just because you're worried. You can't keep him on a leash."

Her words hit harder than Gemini expected. He looked down at his drink, stirring the ice with his straw, reluctant to admit she was right.

"...Yeah," he murmured at last, though his chest still felt heavy. "You're right. I just... don't like it. Not knowing."

Namtan gave him a small smile. "Then trust him. If it's important, he'll tell you when he's ready."

Gemini nodded reluctantly, though the unease in his gut refused to fade.

------

The library was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional flip of pages. Fourth sat at his usual spot by the window, Prang across from him. He opened the book he borrowed the other day and, just as he expected, a folded piece of paper slipped out.

He carefully opened it.

Even though I think unicorns are romantic that's why I love them, for me swans are the most romantic animals because they can even fall in love with the same sex.

Fourth's lips curled into a smile. He grabbed his pen and scribbled back a reply.

I didn't know a cat person would love swans. Does that mean you're a swan person too, which makes you romantic?

Once he tucked the note neatly inside, he closed the book, a faint warmth still lingering in his expression. Prang, who had been silently watching him, noticed the way his eyes softened whenever he dealt with the mysterious letters.

"Fourth," she began gently, breaking the silence, "what do you really think about this person? You've been exchanging notes for almost three weeks now."

Fourth paused, as if caught off guard. At first, he gave a vague shrug. "They're... interesting. Different, I guess."

But the more he spoke, the harder it was for him to stay indifferent. Soon, his words carried a kind of excitement he rarely showed, his smile unconsciously growing wider as he described the person's quirks, their playful tone, and how their thoughts felt refreshing compared to everyone else's.

Prang leaned back in her chair, her suspicion quietly confirmed. Fourth might not admit it yet, but she could already see it-he was slowly falling for this faceless stranger.

"Have you ever wondered who they are?" Prang asked curiously.

Fourth shook his head with a soft laugh. "Not really. I like it this way. I can't talk comfortably with strangers, so... not knowing who they are makes it easier. Like, I don't have to worry about anything. I can just... be myself."

Prang studied him for a moment, then tilted her head. "But... don't you ever want to meet them someday?"

That question silenced Fourth. He stared at the closed book on the table, his fingers brushing its cover. The thought had never really crossed his mind-until now.

Would he?

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he let the question linger, quiet but gentle, as the soft afternoon light fell across the pages between them.