Shadows

Chapter 5: Crossing Paths

The next day, the school bell rang loudly, signaling the start of another day of classes. Joong and his brothers shuffled into the building, their uniforms neatly pressed, but their minds preoccupied. The day before had been tense at the mansion, and they could feel the weight of the unspoken rules they were expected to follow. Stay in the background. Protect Dunk and his brothers. Keep things professional.

But everything felt complicated, and school was no exception. Joong, Pond, and Fourth walked together through the halls, their footsteps muffled by the polished floors. They had made a quiet pact the night before to avoid crossing paths with Dunk’s family at all costs. But, as fate would have it, the universe seemed to have other plans.

As they rounded the corner near the school courtyard, Joong froze. Dunk and his brothers were standing by the lockers, talking in low voices. Dunk was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his cold gaze scanning the students passing by. Phuwin, as usual, seemed to be in a casual conversation with some of the upperclassmen, while Gemini lingered quietly in the background, almost like an afterthought.

Joong’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t prepared for this kind of confrontation. They had only been in the mansion for a short time, but the lines between what was personal and what was business were already blurring.

“What’s going on?” Pond whispered, noticing the tension in Joong’s posture.

Before Joong could respond, Dunk’s eyes flicked over to them. There was no mistaking the cold recognition in his gaze. He didn’t acknowledge them outright, but Joong could feel the sharpness of Dunk’s stare as it lingered.

“Let’s just keep moving,” Joong muttered, already steering Pond and Fourth away from the scene.

As they passed by the group, Phuwin’s voice cut through the air, loud and unmistakable. “The new kids, huh? I’m surprised they’re not hiding in the shadows, like the usual bodyguards.”

Joong’s fists clenched, but he said nothing. He knew that Phuwin was trying to get under his skin, and responding would only make things worse. But inside, a boiling mix of frustration and anger began to build. Why couldn’t they just leave them alone? They were just here to do their job, nothing more.

“Forget them,” Fourth said, his voice light, though there was a glint of annoyance in his eyes. “Let’s just get to class. This place feels like a ticking time bomb.”

Joong couldn’t help but agree.

---

The day dragged on, with each class feeling like a blur. Dunk and his brothers were in the same year as Joong and his brothers, but they rarely interacted beyond the occasional glance or terse word. They all sat in separate sections of the classroom, their presence at school felt more like an inconvenient necessity than anything else. The unspoken tension between the families followed them like a shadow, both in the halls and in the classrooms. Every time Joong caught sight of Dunk or Phuwin, it felt like something was about to explode.

During lunch, Joong and his brothers sat at the far corner of the cafeteria, away from the crowd. They were trying their best to keep a low profile, but it was impossible not to notice the occasional glance from their classmates, whispers circling around them. The other students had clearly noticed the new students who were somehow tied to the Gemini family, and their curiosity was a constant reminder that they were not just another set of rich kids.

But as Joong ate his lunch in silence, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

His gaze drifted across the cafeteria, catching sight of Dunk and his brothers sitting together at a table near the windows. Dunk was leaning back in his chair, his eyes scanning the room with disinterest. Phuwin was talking animatedly to a group of students, his easy charm making everyone around him laugh. And Gemini, as always, was quietly sitting at the edge, almost like he was invisible.

Then, to Joong’s surprise, Dunk’s eyes met his. It was brief—just a flicker of recognition—but it was enough to send a shiver down Joong’s spine. Dunk didn’t look away. He didn’t turn his gaze with indifference, as Joong expected. Instead, there was something else there—something that Joong couldn’t quite place.

Before Joong could analyze it further, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. The moment passed quickly, and Joong was left wondering if he had imagined it.

---

The rest of the day was a blur of lessons, brief exchanges, and the occasional moment of tension when their paths crossed in the hallways. By the time the final bell rang, Joong was exhausted—both physically and mentally.

As they made their way back to the mansion, the familiar feeling of being watched settled over them once again. Joong kept his head down, trying to block out the noise, but his mind was buzzing. Dunk’s presence in the school had thrown him off balance. He hadn’t expected the coldness to have such an effect on him. Every glance, every interaction, felt like a step into unfamiliar territory.

“Do you think they know something about us?” Pond asked, breaking the silence as they walked. His voice was quiet, but the concern in it was clear.

Joong didn’t answer immediately, weighing his thoughts. “I don’t know. But it feels like they’re hiding something. Dunk, Phuwin… they all seem like they know more than they’re letting on.”

Fourth, who had been unusually quiet, now spoke up. “I still don’t get why we have to protect them. I mean, they’re rich, right? What could we possibly do for them that they can’t do for themselves?”

Joong sighed. “It’s not about that. We’re here because of Dad’s debt to their family. We don’t have a choice.”

“But we’re stuck in the middle of something we don’t understand,” Pond said quietly. “And every time we try to pull away, they pull us back in.”

Joong nodded. He had been thinking the same thing. The further they stayed in the mansion, the more tangled their lives became with Dunk’s family. Every time they thought they were safe, another layer of complexity was added to their already complicated lives.

By the time they reached the mansion, Joong felt drained. The house loomed ahead, imposing and cold as ever. He knew there was something off about the whole situation, but for now, all he could do was keep his head down and continue with their mission.

But as he stepped inside, the feeling of being watched never left him. Joong had a sinking feeling that they were standing on the edge of something much darker than he had imagined.

And he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep his distance before the darkness swallowed them all.