RED STRING REWRITTEN

21

Gemini stood there, staring at him. Their eyes met for a split second—Fourth’s gaze full of confusion and hurt, Gemini’s full of desperation.

But then Fourth looked away.

Gemini’s chest caved in. He stepped back, silently returning to his seat.

[Three Days Later – Campus Cafeteria]

For three days, the pattern repeated. Every time Gemini tried to approach Fourth, Dunk and Phuwin stood like walls, shielding him. Their glares burned, their words cut.

Gemini grew paler each day, his smile fading completely. He barely ate, barely spoke. The weight of Fourth’s absence crushed him.

Pond and Joong watched silently, sharing worried glances. Finally, Joong slammed his drink on the table.

Joong: (firm) “Enough. This can’t go on.”

Pond raised a brow.

Pond: “You’ve got a plan, don’t you?”

Joong leaned forward, lowering his voice. Gemini looked up from where he sat, lost.

Joong: (serious) “Yes. Listen. Dunk and Phuwin won’t let Gem near Fourth, no matter what. So we’ll distract them. Give him space.”

Gemini blinked, confused but hopeful.

Gemini: (hesitant) “Distract them… how?”

Pond smirked faintly, his usual teasing tone returning.

Pond: “Leave that to me and Joong. We’ll keep them busy. You… just focus on Fourth.”

Gemini: (worried) “But… what if Fourth refuses to see me?”

Joong’s gaze hardened.

Joong: “Then you wait. And when he does show up, you don’t waste time. No lies, no excuses. Just truth. Raw truth.”

Pond leaned closer, his voice dropping.

Pond: “We can hold Dunk and Phuwin for maybe half an hour. Max, one hour. That’s all the time you’ll get. So don’t mess it up.”

Gemini’s fists trembled. His eyes burned with determination.

Gemini: (soft, steady) “I won’t.”

Joong nodded.

Joong: “Good. Then here’s what will happen. Tomorrow, during the break, Pond and I will drag Dunk and Phuwin somewhere else. We’ll use other students if needed. Meanwhile, we’ll get someone to ask Fourth to go to the gym for something—so he ends up there, alone. You wait for him there. No interruptions.”

Pond grinned.

Pond: “And if Dunk and Phuwin try to kill us later… we’ll deal with it.”

Gemini exhaled shakily. For the first time in days, hope sparked in his chest.

Gemini: (whispering) “Thank you… both of you.”

Joong gave him a small smile, though his eyes remained serious.

Joong: “Don’t thank us yet. Thank us when you win him back.”

[Later That Night – Gemini’s Room]

Gemini sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. His reflection in the dark screen looked hollow.

Next day

[Saint Gabriel University – Afternoon, Gym Hall]

The gym was quiet. Sunlight filtered through the high windows, spilling golden streaks across the polished floor. A faint echo lingered in the vast hall.