RED STRING REWRITTEN

28

Mark grinned and nudged him lightly.

Mark: “And don’t forget, you’re not alone here either. You’ve got us now. We may not replace your old friends, but we’ll stand by you the same way. No matter what.”

Fourth finally looked up at them, his lips trembling into a small smile.

Fourth (softly): “You guys… I don’t know what I would’ve done without you this year. From the first day, when I didn’t even know where my class was, to now… you’ve been my family.”

Ohm (grinning): “Well, get used to it. You’re stuck with us now.”

Winny (teasing): “Yeah, no escape. We adopted you the moment you shared your snacks with us.”

Everyone laughed, and for the first time that day, Fourth laughed too.

Fourth: “Thank you… really. Even if my heart still aches for them, I’m glad I have you all here. I’ll try to live in the present, with you guys.”

Satang raised his water bottle like a toast.

Satang: “To new beginnings and old memories. Both can live together.”

The others lifted their bottles, clinking them together.

For Fourth, the ache of missing Gemini, Pond, Joong, Dunk, and Phuwin didn’t fade. But surrounded by his new friends, he felt a little less alone, a little stronger. Maybe healing wasn’t about forgetting—it was about carrying the past while still embracing the present.

( Seoul, College Campus)

(The air in Seoul is colder, winter nearing. The college grounds look the same, but the group that once had six boys laughing together is now just five. Gemini, Phuwin, Dunk, Joong, and Pond walk together toward their classroom. They’ve grown closer, their bond stronger, but their eyes still sometimes search unconsciously for the sixth face that never comes.)

(Pond is carrying notes, Phuwin has his headphones around his neck, Dunk walks quietly beside Joong, and Gemini… Gemini walks with hands in his pockets, his face unreadable as always. But the difference is clear—he’s colder now, quieter, less easy to approach. A shadow of who he once was.)

Phuwin: (softly, to lighten the mood) You know… it’s been exactly a year today since… since that morning.

Dunk: (stiffens, eyes turning wet immediately) Don’t… don’t remind me, Win. Please.

Pond: (quickly puts a hand on Dunk’s shoulder, reassuring) Hey… Dunk, breathe. We’re all still here, okay? We’re all together.

Joong: (firmly, like a leader) That’s right. We survived, didn’t we? We said we would. And look—we’re still standing.

(Dunk nods, but his hands tremble. Gemini glances at him out of the corner of his eye. His jaw clenches, but he says nothing. He just keeps walking, his silence heavy. Phuwin notices and stops walking.)

Phuwin: (staring at Gemini) Gem… can’t you at least say something? Dunk’s breaking down right here.

Gemini: (coldly, without looking at them)i told you that dont tske his name infront of me and What do you want me to say? That he’ll come back? That Fourth will walk through those gates smiling like nothing happened? He’s not coming back. He left. End of story.

(Dunk flinches like he’s been slapped. Joong’s fists clench. Pond glares at Gemini.)

Pond: (angrily) Stop it, Gem. Stop being so heartless. You think we don’t know he’s gone? You think we don’t feel it every damn day? But Dunk… Dunk still needs hope. You can’t just rip it away from him like that.