Tangled Hearts And Classroom Smiles

Chapter Nine: A Gentleman's Charm

Saturday arrived, and Fourth found himself standing in front of the mirror, carefully applying the last touches of makeup. Nan was spending the weekend at her grandparents, leaving Fourth with the rare luxury of time to himself. He hadn't dressed up like this in years, not since Nan was born. A tailored suit, light foundation to smooth out his skin, and a subtle gloss on his lips—it felt like he was stepping into another version of himself, one that had been hidden away for too long.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts.

**Pond:** *Hey, just wanted to let you know I'm on my way. I'll pick you up at 5. Can you send me your location?*

Fourth's heart skipped a beat. He quickly typed out his address, feeling the excitement build with every passing minute. The thought of seeing Pond again—alone, without the rush of everyday life—made his stomach flutter.

At exactly 5 p.m., there was a knock on his door. Fourth took a deep breath, smoothing down his suit before opening it.

Pond stood there, looking effortlessly handsome in a tailored navy-blue suit, holding a bouquet of roses. He smiled warmly, his eyes lighting up as he took in Fourth's appearance.

"These are for you," Pond said, extending the bouquet toward him.

Fourth blinked, pleasantly surprised. He wasn't used to this—being treated like this. "Thank you, Pond. You didn't have to."

Pond chuckled, his gaze softening. "I wanted to. You look beautiful, by the way."

Fourth felt his cheeks flush, the compliment sending warmth through him. "You're too kind."

Pond offered his arm, and Fourth hesitated for just a second before looping his own through it. "Shall we?"

The evening unfolded like something out of a dream. Pond had arranged for a private dinner at a cozy, intimate restaurant tucked away in a quiet part of the city. The table was set with candles, soft music playing in the background, and the food was as exquisite as the company. As the night went on, Fourth found himself easing into the conversation, laughing more than he had in a long time.

Pond was charming in a way that felt effortless. He wasn't the overbearing, forceful type; instead, he listened, asked questions, and flirted with an ease that made Fourth feel seen—truly seen.

"Do you remember that time you almost missed your finals because you overslept?" Pond teased with a grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Fourth groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I thought we agreed never to talk about that again!"

Pond laughed, a rich, deep sound that made Fourth's heart flutter. "I was your mentor! I had to remind you to set an alarm."

"You saved me that day," Fourth admitted, smiling at the memory. "I honestly thought I was going to fail."

Pond's gaze softened, his voice lowering just slightly. "I always knew you had it in you to succeed. Even back then."

The words made Fourth's stomach flip, a blush creeping up his neck. The night felt surreal, like they were slipping back into something they had lost years ago.

By the time the clock hit 7 p.m., Pond had paid the bill and was walking Fourth back to his apartment. They stopped at the entrance, the evening air cool around them. Fourth turned to face him, still holding onto the roses Pond had given him.

"Thank you, Pond," Fourth said softly. "Tonight was... amazing."

Pond smiled, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair behind Fourth's ear. "It was my pleasure, Fourth. I'm glad you had a good time."

There was a brief pause, the kind that made Fourth's heart race with anticipation. But then, Pond stepped back, giving him a little space. "Are you free tomorrow?"

Fourth blinked, slightly taken aback by the question. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Pond continued, his tone casual but his eyes shining with excitement. "I just opened a new club not far from here. It's pretty exclusive, but I thought maybe we could grab drinks there? Sunday night?"

Fourth hesitated for only a second before nodding. "I don't have to worry about Nan until Monday afternoon, so... yeah, that sounds nice."

"Great," Pond said, his smile widening. "I'll text you the details."

They exchanged one last look before Pond turned to leave, giving Fourth a parting wave. "See you tomorrow."

Fourth watched him go, his heart still racing from the evening's events. As soon as Pond was out of sight, he leaned against his door, a blush spreading across his cheeks. He felt giddy, like a teenager after his first date.

He couldn't help it. Pond had been perfect—kind, thoughtful, charming. Everything Fourth had remembered him to be, and more. The fact that they had already planned a second date made it all the more exciting.

As Fourth entered his apartment, his mind was still reeling from the night. He clutched the bouquet of roses to his chest, a small, breathless smile playing on his lips.

Meanwhile, across the city, Pond arrived home to a table full of curious faces. Dunk was the first to speak, leaning forward with a knowing grin. "So? How'd it go?"

Pond slid into his seat, taking a deep breath. "It was a success. We had a great time, and I managed to secure a second date for tomorrow night."

Dunk's eyes lit up with excitement. "Seriously? That's amazing! Hurry up and bring him into the relationship already—I want to kiss him so bad!"

Pond chuckled, but Phuwin, who had been watching the conversation quietly, rolled his eyes. "You don't even know him yet."

Dunk pouted dramatically. "I don't need to know him to know he's cute."

Phuwin sighed, clearly not as easily convinced. "I'm not saying he isn't, but don't rush it."

Joong smirked from across the table, clearly entertained by the dynamic between them. "Relax, Phuwin. It's not like Pond's dragging him to the altar tomorrow."

Gemini, who had been oddly quiet throughout the conversation, finally spoke up. "He's cute, yeah, but it's more than that. Fourth's... different. Reserved."

Pond nodded in agreement. "He's not someone you rush into things with. I think we'll need to take our time with him."

Dunk sighed dramatically but relented, resting his chin on his hands. "Fine, fine. But still. I want to meet him soon."

Pond smiled, thinking back to the way Fourth had blushed under his attention. "We'll see how things go tomorrow. But I think... this could really be something."

And with that, the conversation shifted to other topics, though Pond's mind remained on Fourth, eagerly anticipating their next encounter.