RED STRING REWRITTEN

18

Fourth nodded, his voice trembling. "I-I met him online. At first, he was just... someone to talk to when I couldn't face you all. When I couldn't even look in the mirror. He didn't know me. He couldn't judge me. He just... listened."

Dunk leaned in slightly, concern etched across his face. "You've never met him? You don't know who he is?"

Fourth (shook his head quickly):-"No. He said he's from Thailand. I'm in Korea. So... we can't meet."

Phuwin's brows furrowed. "That sounds dangerous, Fourth. You don't know anything about him."

Fourth's lips trembled. "I know enough."

Dunk (gently): "Like what?"

Fourth clutched the phone to his chest, eyes watering. "That he stayed when I thought everyone else would leave. That he listened when I told him about... that night. That he didn't pity me. He didn't say I was dirty. He said I was brave."

His voice cracked, tears spilling down his cheeks. "He made me open the door,Dunk and phuwin. He made me face you. He made me step back into college when I wanted to run away. Without him... I don't think I'd still be here."

Silence filled the room. Dunk and Phuwin exchanged a look-half worried, half relieved.

Phuwin (softly): "Fourth... we're glad he's helping you. More than glad. You look alive again. But..."

Dunk (gently finishing): "...we're scared too. Because you don't know him. What if he hurts you? What if he's lying?"

Fourth shook his head fiercely, gripping the phone tighter. "No! He wouldn't. He's not like that. He's kind. He's... safe. He saved me, hyung. Please don't take him away from me."

His voice broke into a desperate sob. "I can't lose him. Not him too."

Dunk's chest ached at the sound. He immediately wrapped an arm around Fourth, pulling him close.

Dunk (soothing): "Hey, hey... we're not trying to take him away. We're just worried about you. That's all."

Phuwin rubbed Fourth's back, his own eyes misty. "If he makes you happy, then that's what matters most to us. But promise us something."

Fourth sniffled, looking up hesitantly. "What?"

Phuwin cupped his cheek gently. "Promise you'll be careful. Promise you won't let him pull you away from us."

Fourth's lips quivered before he nodded. "I promise. But... he won't. He told me I should open the door to you. He told me to go back to college with you. He... he wants me to lean on you too."

That softened them instantly. Dunk let out a shaky sigh, pressing his forehead against Fourth's.

Dunk (softly): "Then... maybe he really is a good guy."

Phuwin smiled faintly through his tears. "Yeah. Whoever he is... thank you, Lion."

Fourth couldn't hold it anymore. He threw his arms around both of them, clutching tight. His voice trembled against their shoulders.

Fourth (sobbing softly): "Thank you... for not being mad... for not taking him away. I can't lose him. I just can't."

Dunk hugged tighter. "You won't lose us either. Ever."

Phuwin nodded, kissing the side of Fourth's head. "You've got us-and Lion too. That's a lot of people fighting for you. So no more locking the door, okay?"

Fourth laughed weakly through his tears, nodding. "Okay... no more locking the door.

When Dunk and Phuwin finally left him to their home, Fourth immediately opened his phone.