RED STRING REWRITTEN

21

Gemini stood near the bleachers, his hands trembling slightly as he clenched and unclenched them. His heart pounded in his chest like a drum, every second dragging heavier than the last.

He whispered under his breath.

Gemini: (to himself) “Don’t mess this up… no more lies… no more masks.”

The sound of footsteps echoed. Gemini’s head snapped up.

Fourth walked in, looking confused, his water bottle in hand. His brows furrowed as his eyes landed on Gemini.

Fourth: (stiffly) “What… what are you doing here?”

Gemini’s throat tightened, but he forced himself to step forward.

Gemini: (softly) “I was waiting for you.”

Fourth’s eyes narrowed. He immediately turned to leave.

Fourth: (coldly) “I don’t want to talk to you.”

Gemini panicked, rushing forward, his voice breaking.

Gemini: “Fourth—please! Just… just give me five minutes. After that, if you still want me gone, I’ll never bother you again. I swear.”

Fourth froze. His back was turned, but his shoulders trembled. Slowly, he faced Gemini, his expression sharp, pained, his eyes red-rimmed.

Fourth: (shaking voice) “Five minutes? Do you think five minutes is enough to erase all the lies you’ve told me? To erase how you played with me—both as Gemini and as Lion?”

Gemini flinched. His chest ached, but he didn’t move back.

Gemini: (firm, pleading) “No… it’s not enough to erase anything. But it’s enough for me to finally tell you the truth. The truth I should’ve told you from the start.”

Fourth’s lips trembled, his fists clenched at his sides.

Fourth: (low, broken) “Then talk. Because right now… I don’t know whether to hate you or hate myself for trusting you.”

[The Gym – Still Afternoon]

Gemini took a deep breath, his voice trembling.

Gemini: “Fourth… Lion was never a lie. Every word I told you, every message, every late-night talk… that was me. Not a mask, not an act. That was who I really am.”

Fourth’s eyes glistened, but his anger burned beneath the tears.

Fourth: (snapping) “Then who was Gemini, huh? The one who made me cry, who pushed me around, who treated me like I was nothing? Was that you too? Or was that another mask?”

Gemini’s chest tightened. He looked down, ashamed.

Gemini: (hoarse) “That was me too. I was stupid.i had my reasons... I thought if I hid behind arrogance, no one could hurt me no one could leave me. I thought… if I acted strong, no one would see how weak I really was inside. But then you came.”

Fourth’s breath hitched.

Gemini stepped closer, his voice breaking.

Gemini: “you change everything in me... suddenly I wanted to be close to you and i hate myself for that so i bullied you i did everything cause at that damn time i didnt understand that why i feel connection with you and i believed that this is all just timepass and not for me so i did everything to keep you far away from myself and to bury my all feelings … but when jungkook hyung told me how you told him to not abandoned me then i realise how pure and perfect you are you didnt deserve any thing which i did to you so i were so guilty and want to make it up to you but jungkook hyung refused to come near you so i didnt dare then joong gave me idea of lion account so i did and i am glad i became Lion and will able to help you even from afar and i was afraid. Afraid you’d hate me if you knew it was me, Gemini, who had been talking to you as Lion. Afraid that if you ever looked at me with the same disgust you did back then, I wouldn’t survive it.”