our little secret [gemfot]

13

"Isn't that kind of rude? Barging into someone's room uninvited?"

The voice, low and composed, startled Fourth. Slowly, he turned his head toward the doorway, and his heart sank when he saw the man standing there. It was someone he recognized instantly—Gemini's father.

Words failed him as he stood frozen in place, his mind racing. The sight of the room's eerie contents combined with the sudden appearance of Gemini's father made his stomach churn. Was he the one who kidnapped him?

"Let's talk downstairs, shall we?" the man said calmly, gesturing toward the hallway.

Fourth nodded instinctively, his body moving on autopilot as he quickly stepped out of the room. Behind him, the sound of the door slamming shut reverberated through the hallway, making him flinch.

"Bring him downstairs," Gemini's father said to a maid who had been standing quietly by. Then, without sparing Fourth another glance, he turned and disappeared into another room.

The maid motioned for Fourth to follow her, and he did, his legs moving despite the numbness in his mind. Everything felt surreal—his surroundings, the situation, even his own breathing.

"What the hell is going on?" he muttered under his breath as they descended the staircase.

The maid's voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. "Would you like some coffee or tea?"

"Water," Fourth replied tersely, trying to keep his voice steady. She nodded and pointed toward the couch in the spacious living room.

"You may sit first," she said politely before leaving.

Fourth walked toward the couch and sank into it, his eyes scanning the room. The decor was stark and minimalist, with little to no personal touch except for a single family photo on a shelf. The picture showed Gemini as a young boy, standing stiffly between his parents. There was no warmth in the image—just forced smiles and cold formality.

It was so different from his own home. His living room was filled with warmth and life: candid family photos, silly pictures his daddy and papa had taken, and an assortment of little knickknacks that told the story of their life together.

Fourth's chest tightened as his thoughts spiraled again. Was he brought here for one of those ridiculous "stay away from my son" talks like in the dramas he'd watched? Would Gemini's father offer him money to disappear?

Or... was it worse?

His thoughts flickered back to that room—the dark, ominous space filled with tools that no one should have in their home. The sight of the T-shaped wooden structure, the hanging belts and whips, and the eerie silence of the room came rushing back. His pulse quickened as dread crawled up his spine.

A memory surfaced suddenly, unbidden and sharp.

One night, after an intimate moment with Gemini, Fourth's fingers had brushed against a scar on Gemini's waist.

"What scar is this?" Fourth had asked softly, his fingers tracing the uneven skin.

Gemini had hesitated before answering, his voice tight. "I made a mistake and... was punished by my dad."

Fourth had been unsettled at the time, but now the words took on a new, horrifying weight.

Another memory followed, this one less intimate but equally jarring. One night, Fourth had accidentally let a door slam while they were at Gemini's apartment. Gemini had immediately flinched and covered his ears.

"Gem? Are you okay?" Fourth had asked, rushing to his side.

"I just don't like loud bangs," Gemini had muttered, his voice shaky. "They... startle me."