our little secret [gemfot]

05

The pounding beat of music from downstairs still reverberated up to their VIP room, muffled but persistent. Thankfully, the harsh neon lights were absent here—Lego had booked them this private space, away from the flashing chaos.

They weren't in the mood for a wild night out; tonight was about unwinding with a drink, maybe a little conversation, and just enjoying each other's company.

Marc and Lego were already slumped over, well on their way to being entirely wasted. Fourth shook his head, mildly exasperated. He, fortunately, could hold his liquor much better than these two, who seemed to think the goal was to down as much as possible in the shortest time.

"I'm going to the toilet," he said, pushing his chair back, though he wasn't sure if they even registered his words through their incoherent mumbling.

As Fourth approached the restroom hallway, a scene stopped him in his tracks—a man, pressed against a wall, locked in a heated embrace with a woman. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, fingers tangled in his hair, his hands roaming possessively over her back, slipping lower as the two seemed completely oblivious to anyone passing by.

Fourth looked away, a flush creeping up his cheeks. "Seriously? Couldn't they get a room?" he muttered, embarrassed by the display. The intimacy, the intensity—it was the kind of thing that made him uncomfortable to witness.

Just as he was about to walk past them, though, he heard a voice, unmistakable.

"Ge... Gemini... room, we need a room..."

Fourth's steps faltered, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. No... his mind must be playing tricks on him. Maybe it was the alcohol making him imagine things. But he turned back anyway, unable to stop himself.

There, in the dim light, he saw him clearly. The man broke the kiss for a split second, and Fourth could see his face—the face he knew so well.

Gemini.

It felt like the world tilted, his stomach lurching as he stared, frozen, unable to look away. He wanted to deny it, to tell himself it wasn't him, that maybe his mind was playing tricks—but there was no mistaking that face. Gemini was right there, his hands possessively holding the woman, pulling her in as if the rest of the world didn't exist.

A strange, hollow ache spread through Fourth's chest, a sensation he hadn't expected. Why did it hurt this much? It wasn't like he and Gemini were committed. They weren't bound to each other in any formal way, no promises made, no labels attached.

They were friends... friends who blurred lines, who'd stumbled into intimacy without defining what it meant. He knew Gemini had always been a womanizer; it was part of his life

But had Gemini lied to him? The thought sparked something dark and painful in Fourth's mind. Gemini had just texted him earlier, saying he'd be out with Perth and Prom, telling him not to come tonight.

And that's why Fourth was here, choosing to spend the night with his friends instead, convinced Gemini wanted a night to himself with the boys. But was that the truth?

Or was it an excuse, a way to keep him away so he could find someone else? Was Fourth just a distraction, a placeholder, while Gemini slipped back to his usual habits?

Am I just one of his flings? The question scraped painfully at his pride. He didn't know why it mattered so much—why he felt like he'd just been punched in the chest.

Maybe it was the deception, the way Gemini hadn't been honest. Fourth had told himself he could handle the unpredictability, the distance, but a lie? That was different. Fourth hated liars. He'd seen too many of them, despised them down to his bones.