Unscripted Ties

A Carefully Crafted Illusion

Gemini sat in the sterile, minimalist conference room, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. His statement had backfired spectacularly. Instead of clearing up the rumors, it had only fueled more speculation. Headlines had twisted his words, suggesting hidden meanings and secret relationships, and some even spun stories about a love child. The media had dug their claws deeper, and the situation was spiraling out of control.

Across the table, Fourth sat stiffly, his arms crossed, his jaw clenched tight. He hadn't spoken much since they'd entered the room, but the coldness between them was palpable. The tension in the air was thick, and it wasn't just because of the media storm. It was everything—the breach of trust, the betrayal, and now this.

Their managers exchanged glances, clearly trying to find the best way to approach the sensitive topic at hand. The company had called them in for an emergency meeting, and the reason was glaringly obvious: the involvement of Leo. The media frenzy wasn't just affecting Gemini and Fourth—it was now dragging an innocent child into the limelight, and that was something neither of them could tolerate.

Finally, Gemini's manager cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "As you both know, the situation has gotten worse. Despite the statement, the media has run wild with their own interpretations, and it's clear that simply denying the rumors isn't working. We've been brainstorming with the PR team, and... well, we have a suggestion."

Gemini glanced at Fourth, but Fourth didn't look back. His eyes were focused on the table in front of him, his face expressionless.

The manager continued, her tone careful. "We believe that the only way to divert the public's attention from this scandal is if something bigger—something more shocking—captures their interest. And we think the most effective way to do that... is for the two of you to publicly announce that you're dating."

Gemini's heart skipped a beat. Dating? He opened his mouth to protest, but the manager held up a hand to stop him.

"Before you react, hear us out. We've already discussed this with the higher-ups, and they believe it could work. The public loves the two of you together, and there's already been speculation about your relationship. If you confirm it, you'll control the narrative. The media will focus on your relationship, not the rumors about the child, and Leo's privacy will be protected. It's the perfect distraction."

Gemini blinked, his mind racing. It was a calculated move, one that made sense from a business perspective. But from a personal one? He stole another glance at Fourth, wondering what he thought about all of this.

Fourth was still silent, his face unreadable. But after a few moments, he finally spoke, his voice low. "And what about after? When the media gets tired of the story? What happens then?"

The manager smiled thinly. "By the time they move on, we'll have had time to manage the situation more effectively. The focus will be off Leo, and the scandal will die down. You can eventually announce a breakup, and it will be seen as just another celebrity relationship that didn't work out. In the meantime, it's the best way to protect your son."

Fourth's eyes flicked toward Gemini then, just for a second, before he looked away again. "It's not real," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Gemini felt a pang in his chest at the words, but he kept his face neutral. This wasn't about their relationship—or lack thereof. This was about Leo. It had to be.

Gemini's manager leaned forward, her tone more urgent now. "I know this isn't ideal, but it's the best option we have. The media will move on once they get what they want. If you two go public with your relationship, you'll control the narrative. You'll be seen as the loving couple, and the public will forget about the child rumors. Leo will be safe."

There was a long pause, and for the first time, Fourth met Gemini's eyes. There was something vulnerable there, something conflicted. They both knew what was at stake.

Finally, Fourth let out a sigh. "Fine," he said, his voice tight. "We'll do it."

A week later, the plan was in motion.

It was Christmas Eve, and Gemini found himself sitting across from Fourth at a high-end restaurant, the dim lighting casting a soft glow over their table. The paparazzi had been tipped off, of course—this entire dinner had been staged for their benefit. Everything about the night had been meticulously planned, down to the very last detail. From the moment they stepped out of Gemini's car, cameras were waiting, flashing as they made their way inside.

Gemini could feel Fourth's discomfort from across the table, but he kept up the facade, offering a warm smile whenever they caught a glimpse of a camera. This was their reality now—a carefully crafted illusion that they both had to sell to protect Leo.

After dinner, they were photographed walking by the river, hand in hand, as if they were just two men in love, enjoying a romantic night out. Gemini could feel the stiffness in Fourth's grip, the hesitation in every step. But when the cameras were on, they played their parts perfectly.

The pictures were released the next day, sparking a media frenzy. Headlines speculated about their relationship, with most outlets praising the pair as the new "it couple" of the industry. Fans flooded social media with excitement, shipping them harder than ever before. The rumors about Leo vanished, replaced by endless talk about Gemini and Fourth's supposed love story.

A week after the Christmas Eve "date," Gemini and Fourth appeared together at a brand promotion event. As expected, reporters asked them about the recent pictures, and with practiced ease, they both confirmed their relationship.

"So, rumors have been swirling for a while now," the interviewer started with a mischievous grin.
"Care to tell us if there's any truth to them? Are you two dating?"

Gemini glanced at Fourth, who gave him a small nod. They both turned back to the interviewer, plastering bright smiles on their faces.

"Yes, we're dating," Gemini said, his voice steady. "We've been seeing each other for a little while now, and we're really happy."

Fourth added with a soft laugh, "It's been nice to finally share it with everyone."

The crowd erupted with excitement, and Gemini felt a strange pang in his chest. The smiles, the laughs-it was all a lie. But they sold it well. Too well.

The reporters ate it up, and soon the media was abuzz with stories of their romance. They became the talk of the town, the hottest couple on every magazine cover and gossip site.

A few days later, they appeared on a popular couple's podcast. The hosts were eager to ask about how they had gotten together, how long they had been dating, and what their relationship was like behind the scenes.

Gemini and Fourth stuck to the script. They told fabricated stories about how they had confessed their feelings during a quiet evening after work, how they balanced their careers with their relationship, and how much they enjoyed each other's company.

It was all rehearsed, every answer designed to make their relationship seem as real and as perfect as possible. And to the world, it was.

But behind closed doors, things were different.

When the cameras stopped rolling, the distance between them only grew. Fourth wasn't as angry as he had been before, but he kept Gemini at arm's length. He wasn't cold, but he wasn't warm, either. He was polite, civil, but there was an invisible wall between them that Gemini could feel growing taller with each passing day.

Gemini appreciated that Fourth allowed him to see Leo again, but it was always under controlled circumstances. Only when Fourth was around. Only when they were both present.
There were no more moments of just him and Leo.

And every time they played happy family for the cameras, Gemini could feel the gap between him and Fourth widening. The easy friendship they had shared before, the quiet moments of laughter and understanding, were now replaced with rehearsed smiles and scripted answers.

It was like they were living in two separate worlds-the world where they were the perfect couple, and the world where they were barely more than strangers.