Second Chances (GEMINIFOURTH)

Chapter 12: The Realization

After the chance encounter with Fourth and the boy who resembles him, Gemini's mind becomes a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. As he waits for the investigator's report, he can't help but make assumptions. His first instinct is to believe that Fourth has moved on, started a new life, and perhaps even found someone else to share that life with. After all, it's been years since their breakup—plenty of time for Fourth to meet someone new, fall in love, and start a family.

Gemini tries to tell himself that this is a good thing. Fourth deserves happiness, even if it's without him. But no matter how much he tries to convince himself of this, he can't shake the unsettling feeling that the boy might be his. The resemblance is too strong to ignore, and the way Fourth reacted upon seeing him in the market only deepens his suspicion.

Yet, Gemini is hesitant to jump to conclusions. The boy could easily be someone else's child—a nephew, perhaps, or even the son of a friend. Gemini tries to rationalize, to find any explanation that doesn't involve the possibility that the boy is his. But no matter how hard he tries, the doubt lingers.

The image of the boy calling Fourth "Mama" plays over and over in Gemini's mind. It confuses him, adding another layer of complexity to an already tangled situation. If Fourth is raising the boy alone, why would the child call him "Mama"? Was this Fourth's way of protecting the boy from questions about his parentage? Or was it something else entirely?

These unanswered questions only fuel Gemini's determination to find out the truth. He knows that speculating won't get him anywhere, and that he needs facts. But the uncertainty is eating away at him, and the waiting only makes it worse.

As the days go by, Gemini becomes more convinced that the boy is, in fact, his son. The resemblance is too strong, and the timing seems to fit. If Fourth was pregnant when they broke up, it would explain why he disappeared so suddenly, why he never tried to reach out. But this realization brings with it a flood of emotions that Gemini struggles to process.

He feels a mixture of anger and hurt—anger that Fourth kept this from him, and hurt that he missed out on so many years of his son's life. If the boy is truly his, Gemini can't help but feel betrayed. Why didn't Fourth tell him? Why did he hide something so important? The thought that Fourth might have kept their child a secret out of fear or mistrust cuts Gemini deeply.

But beneath the anger and hurt, there's also a growing sense of responsibility. If the boy is his son, then Gemini has a right—no, an obligation—to be part of his life. He can't let this opportunity slip away, no matter how complicated or painful it might be.

The nagging suspicion turns into a resolve that hardens in Gemini's chest. He needs to know the truth, and he needs to know it soon.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the private investigator calls with an update. Gemini listens intently as the investigator provides the details he's uncovered. The boy, whose name is Luka, lives with Fourth in the small town Gemini visited. There's no record of another parent—no mention of a father, no evidence of a partner in Fourth's life. It seems that Fourth is raising Luka on his own.

The more Gemini hears, the more his suspicions are confirmed. Luka's age matches up with the timeline of their breakup, and the lack of any other father figure in Luka's life only reinforces the idea that Luka might be his son.

The investigator also mentions that Fourth has kept a low profile in the town. He works at a local café, lives in a modest apartment, and doesn't seem to have much contact with anyone outside of his small circle. It's clear that Fourth has been living a quiet life, far removed from the one they once shared.

As the call ends, Gemini feels a surge of conflicting emotions. The confirmation of his suspicions leaves him reeling. On the one hand, he's relieved to finally have some answers. On the other hand, the reality of the situation is overwhelming. If Luka is his son, then everything changes.

Gemini sits alone in his office, staring out the window as he tries to process the information he's just received. The knowledge that he might be a father is both exhilarating and terrifying. He can't help but think about all the moments he's missed—Luka's first steps, his first words, the milestones that every parent cherishes. The thought that Fourth experienced all of this alone fills him with a deep sense of guilt.

He also can't help but wonder what kind of father he would have been if he had known. Would he have been able to balance his career with parenthood? Would he have been there for Luka in the way a father should be? These questions weigh heavily on him, and he finds himself grappling with doubts about his own abilities.

But more than anything, Gemini feels a deep sense of loss. He's lost time with his son, time that he can never get back. And while he knows that he can't change the past, he's determined to make up for it in the future—if Fourth will let him.

With the investigator's report in hand, Gemini knows that he can't wait any longer. He needs to confront Fourth, to demand answers and to understand why he was kept in the dark for so long. But as much as he wants to approach this with anger, he knows that he needs to be careful. If he comes on too strong, he risks pushing Fourth and Luka even further away.

Gemini spends the next few days planning his approach, thinking through every possible scenario. He knows that this confrontation won't be easy, that there's a lot of pain and hurt to unpack. But he's determined to do whatever it takes to be a part of Luka's life, and to rebuild whatever is left of his relationship with Fourth.

Finally, with his mind made up, Gemini makes his way back to the small town where Fourth and Luka live. He doesn't know how the conversation will go, or what kind of reception he'll get. But he knows that he can't let fear hold him back any longer.

He's ready to face the truth, no matter what it may be.