golden repair - geminifourth

thank you

"Okay, that was weird, right?" Gemini asked around the table he shared with his friends.
He looked at the gifted guava juice in front of him. Weird but nice.

He was about to take a sip when the girl next to him spoke up.
"You're not considering drinking it, are you? You don't know what that retard put in it."
"R-r..." Ford, his best friend sitting opposite him, gaped at his coursemate.
"I don't think we're supposed to say that word." another of his friends, Prom, spoke up.
"Well it is what he is. What else am I supposed to call him? Don't tell me you don't know him?"
"Are we supposed to?" asked Ford.
"He's famous. The retard from the mathematics department. When it comes to anything but numbers he's slow and dumb as bread. He's that weirdo that walks around with his lunch tray all the time."

"Okay the lunch tray is a bit weird " Gemini said as he took a sip of the juice. After Mint's story, he decided that the cute boy was harmless enough to risk it. He looked over to Ford who still looked thoroughly appalled by Mint's word choices. Said boy looked him dead in the eye and mouthed the words "my condolences." Gemini knew exactly what he meant as he was unlucky enough to draw Mint as his partner for an upcoming assignment paper. He made a mental note to get his part done as soon as possible before returning his attention back to his lunch.

~*~

Curiously, Fourth observed the trail of ants on the pathway. He always found nature to be fascinating, especially creatures like these ants. Despite their physical dissimilarities to humans, their behavior exhibited striking similarities. Even though they possessed free will, they willingly adhered to a predetermined path set by someone else. He followed their determined steps towards their destination when suddenly, his attention was diverted as a large shadow unexpectedly cast itself over him.

"Hey, guava juice boy?" the familiar voice echoed from behind.
Fourth jolted up and turned around to find the guy he had a crush on standing in front of him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you like this."

The taller boy was dressed simply, wearing white pants and a black hoodie, yet he had an otherworldly appearance. Fourth could feel his body getting warmer as blood rushed to his face.

"I-It's okay. I was just observing the ants."

"Ants?" Gemini's perplexed eyes followed the shorter boy's finger pointing towards a small trail of ants.

"Um, I see. Ants. Yeah, well.... I just wanted to say thanks. For the guava juice today."
Gemini nervously reached for his neck and rubbed it while avoiding Fourth's intense gaze.

Oh...

"I'm sorry, for making you uncomfortable." Fourth kneaded his hands nervously, looking down. Afraid of looking at the handsome man in front of him.

"Oh, no. Not at all. It was a nice gesture." Gemini obliviously extended his own hand towards Fourth, but paused as he noticed the bruises on his hands. The gash on his pretty cheeks... the bruises on his hands. An accident maybe?

"Anyway, see you around?" Gemini smiled widely, displaying his prominent rabbit-like teeth.

Oh, even his teeth are pretty.

Fourth eagerly nodded, anticipating the opportunity to catch sight of the attractive man in the future. Gemini tapped Fourth's shoulder in a friendly gesture, bidding goodbye before heading towards the parking area.

At last, Fourth was able to relax. The tension that had built up from the nerve-wracking interaction with his crush dissipated, allowing him to sink down onto the ground.

"He wants to see me again..." Fourth exclaimed softly, placing his hands on his flushed cheeks as he felt a surge of intense warmth spreading through them.

Having a crush is exhilarating.

~*~

"Dude, took you long enough!" Prom shouted, as he saw Gemini approaching the car.
"If I'd known my driver would be this late, I'd have taken a taxi", Ford added as he pushed himself away from the car he leaned on just a second ago.
"Sorry. I ran into the guava juice boy and thanked him for earlier."

"Huh, why?" asked Prom confused.
"It's called having manners, Prom. You should try it sometimes." Ford countered, rolling his eyes at the dumb question.

"Well, I stillI feel bad. I kinda want to pay him back somehow. Do any of you know what he likes?"

"I don't even know his name." Ford deadpanned.

"His name is Fourth Nattawat and he likes sundaes." Prom said proudly.
"How do you know that?"

"I have to walk past his faculty every day and his name plastered everywhere when there's a math tournament or whatever those things are called." he said bored.
"And the sundae?"
"Oh, that?" Prom's face lit up and excitedly continued: "The other day San took his melted sundae away and poured it all over him. The boy cried like a baby in front of the whole campus. Something about how it was his favorite sundae in the city."

When he noticed the judging faces of his friends, his smile dropped.
"And you just stood there and did nothing?" Ford asked in horror.
"What was I supposed to do? You know San. He don't care how much money I have, I would've been his next victim if I said something."
"You could've sounded at least a little less excited", Gemini added, as he finally unlocked the car and made his way to the driver's side.

Gemini got into the car and fastened his seatbelt, observing Prom through the rearview mirror as he settled into the backseat. Lost in contemplation, he pondered: Did San gave him those bruises?

~*~

The next day, Fourth found himself in an unfamiliar position - running. Running was something he had never done before. Every week during school P.E classes, he conveniently fell ill and avoided it. His parents were always quick to vouch for him, when he mentioned that his teachers and classmates questioned the bruises that covered his body.

But today was different. He had to get to the art department as soon as possible. There was no time to waste. He sprinted through the bustling halls, making a beeline towards the large cafeteria doors where his friends sat patiently, pondering over their meals.
Food. Right, he forgot to bring his.

With anticipation, he stopped abruptly in front of the table and eagerly took a seat, clutching his prized possession.

"Look what I got!" Fourth exclaimed with enthusiasm, feeling a surge of excitement that made his stomach flutter like a swarm of butterflies.
Winny responded with indifference, "You got another sundae?"
Fourth nodded so vigorously that both Winny and Satang became concerned that he might injure himself. He pushed the little container closer to his friends and turned it around, revealing a sticky note on the cup:

"Thanks again for the juice, I hope you like it :) - Gemini"

Winny leapt to his feet and raised his arms triumphantly, as though he had just achieved the greatest victory of all time.
"Yes, my man is getting himself a man!" he exclaimed with excitement.
"Congratulations, sweetie!" Satang chimed in.

After Winny calmed down, he settled back into his seat and reached for the note. He motioned for Fourth to hand him his phone. He took the clear case off and stuck the sticker on the phone before putting the case back on.

"This brings good luck. Believe me, that's how I won over Satang!"
Satang rolled his eyes playfully. "I question how you got me everyday, but this certainly wasn't it."
"Quiet now and have some faith."
"Whatever. By the way, are you going to eat that ice cream? It's chocolate after all—a flavor you hate."
"It's now my favorite flavor" Fourth declared resolutely as he grabbed a spoon and started digging in.

Winny snickered in response.