Fated To Love • GeminiFourth

6. Fractured Memories

Months passed in a blur for Gemini after Fourth's tragic passing. The vibrant colors of life dulled into shades of gray, and the laughter of friends became a distant echo. Every day was a struggle to get out of bed, but he pushed himself to maintain some semblance of normalcy, attending school and keeping up with his studies.

One evening, while studying in his room, Gemini’s phone buzzed with a message from his best friend, Aom. “Let’s go to the fair this weekend! You need to get out!”

Gemini stared at the screen, feeling the weight of his grief pressing down on him. He should have felt excited at the prospect of being around friends, but the thought of laughter and joy felt foreign to him now. He replied with a half-hearted “Maybe.”

As the days went by, the fair loomed closer. Aom persisted, sending reminders and encouraging messages. “Come on! It’ll be fun! You can’t keep hiding forever.”

Reluctantly, Gemini agreed to go, hoping that being around friends would help lift his spirits, even if just a little. When the day arrived, he met Aom and a few other friends at the entrance of the fair, the vibrant lights and sounds washing over him like a wave.

They spent the day wandering through the stalls, playing games, and enjoying street food. For a brief moment, Gemini found himself smiling and laughing alongside his friends. But beneath the surface, he felt an emptiness that couldn’t be filled.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the fair, they decided to ride the Ferris wheel. Aom urged Gemini to join them in a cabin. As they ascended, the view of the fair below was breathtaking, and for a moment, he could almost forget the ache in his heart.

But as they reached the top, the cabin came to a stop, giving them a stunning view of the entire fair. Gemini's heart raced, not from excitement but from an overwhelming sense of loss. He thought of Fourth and how he would have loved this moment.

Aom, sensing his mood shift, turned to him. “Hey, you okay? You’ve been really quiet.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Gemini replied, forcing a smile.

“No, you’re not,” Aom pressed. “You don’t have to pretend with me. It’s okay to miss him.”

Gemini's facade crumbled, and tears filled his eyes. “I just wish he was here, you know? Everything feels so empty without him.”

Aom nodded, understanding. “You need to let yourself grieve, Gemini. It’s okay to feel hurt. Don’t bottle it up.”

As they continued to talk, the Ferris wheel began to move again, but Gemini's heart was heavy. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming wave of emotion crashing over him. “I should have told him how much he meant to me. I should have done so much more…”

When the ride ended, they stepped off, and Aom suggested they head to a quieter spot. As they walked through the fair, they found a small corner with benches where they could sit.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Aom asked gently.

“I just feel so lost,” Gemini admitted. “I can’t shake the feeling that I didn’t do enough for him. I keep replaying all our moments together, and it hurts so much.”

Aom took Gemini's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “You loved him, and that’s what matters. It’s okay to feel sad. You don’t have to forget him.”

But as much as Gemini wanted to hold on to Fourth’s memory, the weight of his grief began to feel unbearable. Days turned into weeks, and the grief turned into a dull ache that lingered in the background of his life.

One night, after another exhausting day at school, Gemini found himself in his room staring at the pictures of Fourth that adorned his wall. He felt drained, as if the very act of remembering was pulling him under. In a moment of desperation, he pulled out a small box and began to put away Fourth’s belongings—mementos, letters, photos.

With each item he tucked away, a part of him felt lighter, as if he was freeing himself from the shackles of his grief. But he also felt an unsettling void growing inside him, a sense of loss that he couldn’t quite place.

Weeks turned into months, and as Gemini moved through his days, the memories of Fourth began to fade. The laughter they had shared, the moments of vulnerability, and the promises they had made felt like distant echoes.

Then one fateful day, Gemini woke up and found himself in a completely different place. The air felt charged with an unfamiliar energy, and the sound of traditional music floated through the air. He was lying on the grass, surrounded by cherry blossoms, the sweet fragrance intoxicating him.

Confusion enveloped him as he looked around, realizing he was no longer in Thailand. The people around him were dressed in intricate traditional garments from the imperial era, their long silk robes adorned with vibrant colors and ornate patterns. The grandeur of a palace loomed in the distance, and the intricate architecture took his breath away.

Something deep within him stirred, but he couldn’t grasp why. The atmosphere felt festive, with people celebrating in the streets, but an odd feeling settled in Gemini’s chest—something was missing. He felt as if he had lost a piece of himself, but he couldn’t quite remember what it was.

As he wandered through the village, he felt an odd sense of déjà vu, but any memories of Fourth slipped through his fingers like sand. He approached a small gathering where musicians played traditional instruments, and children danced around, laughter echoing in the air.

“Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?” he asked a passing villager, who looked at him curiously.

“This is the Kingdom of Shu,” the villager replied with a smile. “We’re celebrating the Spring Festival! You’re welcome to join us!”

“Thank you,” Gemini said, forcing a smile. But as he joined the festivities, a nagging feeling tugged at his mind, whispering that he should know this place, that he should be searching for someone.

Yet, every time he tried to recall a face, a name, the memories eluded him, leaving only shadows of a forgotten past. With each passing moment, the connection to his previous life faded further, leaving him lost in a world where he felt oddly at home but utterly alone.

As the sun began to set behind the mountains, casting a golden hue over the village, Gemini could only watch, wondering what had brought him here and why he felt so incomplete.