Mr. Anti-romantic | Geminifourth/Fourthgemini Story

Chapter 30: The Mafia

What is pain? Something that comes after you get hurt? Or something that comes after you get injured? I didn't know what's the pain... I wish... I didn't know what pain was.

If I get through this, I will be different forever, but not hurt by what you did and this whole situation, Mark. I don’t know if I can trust anyone again, but I won't let your betrayal destroy me. I will fight to heal, rebuild, and live because my future is still mine and belongs to someone who was willing to die... Just for me...

Fourth...

...

My body was numb, I couldn't feel any part of it. My legs, hands, head, stomach... everything was without sensation. In front of me was a beautiful garden, filled with flowers more beautiful than any I had ever seen. The green mountains in the distance were perfectly beautiful, like they were from another world. Trees, carefully shaped, stood like guards in this strange paradise. I felt like I had entered a place beyond life itself.

Was this my end? Am I.... Actually dead?

"Son." A familiar voice caught my attention. Someone in a beautiful blue suit, with perfectly styled hair and black shoes, was standing behind me with their back turned towards me.

I turned, and my eyes widened. I couldn't help but gasp for breath. My lungs felt like they were shrinking.

"D-dad...." That's it, I broke.

I saw my dad, New. He looked so beautiful, just like when I was a kid. His bright smile, his perfect face, and his beautiful eyes... Oh, how I missed my dad. It felt like I was finally becoming my childhood self again.

I took a step closer to him, but something made me freeze on the spot. A kid came running by my side and hugged my dad.

"Oh my Gemgem, where did you go? Dad was worried." He ruffled the kid's hair and picked him up, gently caressing his back.

"Baby." Another familiar voice, which instantly brought a flood of emotions and tears to my eyes.

"Papa..."

He walked to my side and stood beside me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and gave them a squeeze.

"How are you, my son?" My eyes were watery, and my knees were shaking from the sudden emotions. I couldn't speak, I couldn't react.

He threw his arms around me and hugged me warmly. This was unbelievable, something I was afraid to see but too beautiful to run away from.

My dead parents were in front of me, playing with my younger self.

Why am I seeing all of this?

Why is my Papa Tay, who died years ago, actually hugging me right now?

Why is this happening to me?

"No more questions, my son." He pulled back and caressed my cheek.

I had so many things to say, but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth. It felt like I couldn't feel anything again, like my body was becoming motionless once more.

"You know why you are here?" he asked. Just then, Dad walked towards us, holding my younger self in his arms, who was looking at me with a smile on his face.

"If you're thinking that you're dead, no. You are not, Gem." Dad held my shoulder with his free hand.

"If not, then why am I able to see you?" My voice came out weaker than usual.

"Because you deserve closure. You deserve to know everything you are curious about," Papa whispered.

"And you have to return to your loved ones too," Dad smiled.