our little secret [gemfot]

09

Gemini and Fourth's first encounter was simple—nothing extraordinary, nothing romantic, but it marked the beginning of something Gemini didn't yet understand.

It was during their first year of high school. The bell had rung a while ago, and most students had already left. Gemini, walking leisurely toward the gate where his driver waited. His driver was late, having just dropped off his father somewhere. The sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the path as he strolled along.

Suddenly, a blur of motion caught his eye. A small boy came dashing from the opposite direction, nearly colliding with him. Instinctively, Gemini sidestepped just in time to avoid the impact.

"Fourth! Where are you going?" a voice called out from the gate.

The boy turned, his oversized bag bouncing on his small frame. "I left my book! You guys go ahead. I'll meet you there!" he shouted back, his voice high-pitched but determined. Without waiting for a response, he spun around and sprinted toward the building.

Gemini stood there, rooted to the spot, his gaze following the boy until he disappeared inside. Fourth. The name echoed in his mind. It was strange; he'd never noticed this boy before, but now it was as if the name had unlocked something.

From that day forward, Gemini began seeing Fourth everywhere—during recess, heading home, laughing with friends in the hall. It was as though Fourth had been invisible until that moment, and now Gemini couldn't not notice him.

One day, during recess, Gemini found himself heading to the restroom when he spotted Fourth at the sink. Fourth stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying something to his lips.

It was subtle, but Gemini recognized the motion—it was the same way his mother would reapply her lipstick after a meal. Fourth's lips glistened faintly, and Gemini, pretending to wash his hands, stole a glance at the small tube in Fourth's hand.

From that day on, Gemini developed a new routine: heading to the restroom during recess. He told himself it was mere coincidence when he'd find Fourth there. Sometimes Fourth was alone, touching up his lips, and other times he was with a friend who bore a striking resemblance to him.

One day, Gemini overheard a conversation between Fourth and his friend.

"My chapstick's almost out," Fourth whined, holding up the tube as if mourning its loss. "If my papa finds out, he'll be mad. They told me no wearing this at school, but how can I not? My lips get so dry."

His friend laughed, teasing him, but Gemini's focus was elsewhere. He noted the brand of chapstick and the faint tint it left on Fourth's lips.

Later that weekend, Gemini found himself in a beauty shop for the first time in his life. He wandered through the aisles, feeling out of place amidst rows of glossy products.

When he reached the lip care section, he scanned the shelves until his eyes landed on the familiar chapstick tube. Relief flooded him, but his confidence quickly waned as he realized how many shades and tints there were.

Overwhelmed, Gemini nearly grabbed one of each when a beauty advisor approached. Hesitant but determined, he described Fourth's skin tone, mumbling something about "a friend needing this." The advisor smiled knowingly and helped him pick out three shades that matched.

As Gemini made his way to the counter, another display caught his attention. A couple stood nearby, the girl holding out her hand as her boyfriend swiped a blusher across it to test the shade.

Gemini froze, a memory surfacing unbidden: the soft pink flush of Fourth's cheeks when he laughed or got embarrassed. Without thinking, his feet carried him to the display. There were only two shades of blush, and Gemini grabbed both.