RED STRING REWRITTEN

21

Fourth’s tears fell, his voice cracking.

Fourth: (screaming) “And what do you think you did now?! You made me trust you! You made me believe in someone—for the first time! Lion was the only person I… I felt safe with. And then you ripped that away from me!”

Gemini’s eyes filled with tears, his voice trembling.

Gemini: “I never wanted to rip it away. I wanted to protect it. I wanted to protect you. That’s why I didn’t tell you. Because I was scared I’d lose you if you knew.”

Fourth’s body shook, his small hands curling into fists.

Fourth: (sobbing) “But you lost me anyway… You broke me, Gemini. Do you even know how it feels? To realize the only person who gave me comfort was also the one who hurt me the most?”

Gemini’s tears finally fell. He dropped to his knees in front of Fourth, his voice raw.

Gemini: (desperate) “I know I hurt you. I know I don’t deserve forgiveness. But please… don’t say I never cared. Because Fourth, every word Lion ever told you… it was real. You were real to me.”

Fourth stared down at him, his vision blurry through tears. His chest felt like it was splitting apart.

Fourth: (choking) “Then why… why didn’t you just tell me from the start? Why hide? Why make me believe in someone who wasn’t even real?”

Gemini lifted his head, his eyes filled with guilt and pain.

Gemini: “Because I thought Gemini wasn’t good enough. I thought if you knew, you’d push me away forever. So I became Lion—the person I wished I could be for you. The person you could smile at without fear.”

Fourth shook his head violently, tears streaming.

Fourth: (screaming, voice cracking) “I didn’t need Lion! I needed honesty! I needed one person who wouldn’t lie to me! And you… you couldn’t even give me that!”

Gemini’s tears spilled freely. He reached out, but stopped just short of touching Fourth’s trembling hand.

Gemini: (broken, whispering) “You’re right. I failed you. I lied when I should’ve been honest. I broke your trust when all you wanted was something real. And I can’t fix the past, Fourth. I can’t undo what I did.”

Silence stretched, broken only by Fourth’s sobs echoing against the gym walls.

Gemini swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

Gemini: (pleading) “But please… give me one chance. One chance to prove that I can be real. Not Lion, not masks, not games. Just me—Gemini. Just your… friend. Let me prove that this friendship can still mean something.”

Fourth looked at him, his eyes swollen, his heart torn.

Fourth: (whispering, trembling) “How do I know you won’t hurt me again?”

Gemini’s voice cracked as he placed a hand over his own chest.

Gemini: “Because losing you once nearly destroyed me. If I lose you again, Fourth… I won’t survive it.”

The words hung heavy in the air.

Fourth collapsed onto his knees too, his fists hitting Gemini’s chest weakly.

Fourth: (sobbing into him) “I hate you… I hate you so much… but I can’t stop caring either… why, Gemini? Why did you do this to me?”

Gemini caught his fists gently, holding them against his chest, tears rolling down his cheeks.