The next morning, Joong woke up earlier than usual. The house was still quiet, the only sound being the occasional rustle of sheets or the faint hum of an early morning breeze through the open window. His brothers were still asleep, their forms tangled in the blankets as Joong sat by the window, gazing out at the sprawling garden outside.
The thought of being stuck in the mansion for an indefinite period of time was starting to weigh on him. It was hard not to notice the tension that lingered in the air between his family and Dunk’s. They were living in the same space, sharing the same roof, but they were worlds apart. The two families didn’t exactly mix, and it was clear from the unspoken glances, the guarded words, and the tension at every meal.
But it wasn’t just that. Joong was starting to feel more and more that their mission wasn’t as simple as just keeping an eye on Dunk and his brothers. There was something beneath the surface, something they hadn’t been told, and he was beginning to wonder just how much danger they were really in.
“Joong, you’re up early,” Pond’s voice broke through his thoughts, soft and quiet as always.
Joong turned around to see Pond sitting up, rubbing his eyes and yawning. “Couldn’t sleep,” Joong admitted, standing up to stretch. “The whole thing is starting to feel… weird.”
Pond frowned, though his expression softened immediately as he noticed Joong’s unease. “I know what you mean. It’s not just the mansion, is it? It’s everything. Dunk, Phuwin, Gemini… there’s something about them that doesn’t add up.”
Joong nodded slowly, sitting back down on the bed beside Pond. “Yeah. I don’t know what it is, but something’s off. We’re supposed to be here as their protectors, but it feels like we’re the ones being watched.”
Pond didn’t reply immediately, but his brow furrowed slightly as he considered Joong’s words. “I think they’re hiding something from us. Dunk and Phuwin—they don’t seem like the type to let people in. And Gemini…” He trailed off, as if unsure of what he was trying to say. “He’s different. It’s like he’s got this loyalty to his brothers, but there’s a distance too.”
Joong didn’t need to say anything. Pond’s words mirrored his own thoughts exactly. But what did it mean? Were Dunk and Phuwin truly the people they seemed to be, or was there something darker going on?
Before Joong could continue his train of thought, Fourth’s voice interrupted, his tone casual but with an edge of mischief. “You two talking about the brothers again?”
Joong glanced over at Fourth, who was standing in the doorway, his usual cocky grin plastered on his face. “You don’t say much, but when you do, it’s always about them,” Fourth teased, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Joong gave him a deadpan stare. “You’re one to talk, you’ve been staring at Gemini all night.”
Fourth’s grin widened. “He’s interesting,” he replied simply, stepping into the room and flopping down on the other bed. “But I’m not the only one thinking that. You two are always watching them too.”
Joong sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know. It’s just... I can’t shake this feeling that we’re missing something. Something big.”
Pond nodded in agreement. “I don’t know. There’s something about Dunk… and Phuwin. The way they act around each other, like they’re so close, but there’s also this barrier between them and us. It’s like they don’t want us to get too close.”
“It’s not just that,” Fourth added, his voice suddenly serious. “Didn’t you notice how the house feels? It’s like we’re not really supposed to be here. As if we’re intruding.”
Joong looked at his brothers, both of them deep in thought now. He had to admit, they were right. There was a heaviness in the air that made everything feel off-kilter, as if there were things happening around them that they weren’t privy to. He had assumed their mission was simple—keep an eye on Dunk and his brothers. But now, he wasn’t so sure.
Before the conversation could go any further, the door to their shared room swung open, and in walked none other than Phuwin, his usual confident demeanor in place.
“What are you guys doing up so early?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as he leaned against the doorframe.
Fourth grinned at him. “Couldn’t sleep. Been thinking about you, actually.”
Phuwin raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by Fourth’s teasing. “Well, that’s nice,” he said with a smirk. “But if you’re up early to sneak around and try to find out our secrets, you’re wasting your time. Dunk would have your head.”
Joong caught the sharpness in Phuwin’s tone and glanced at his brothers. It was subtle, but there was something about Phuwin’s words that made him feel like there was more to this whole situation than they were being told.
“We’re just getting up,” Joong said casually, trying to mask his unease. “We were talking, that’s all.”
Phuwin studied them for a moment, his eyes flicking between the three brothers. He seemed to be deciding whether or not to say something, before he eventually pushed himself off the doorframe and walked further into the room.
“I’ll be straightforward with you,” Phuwin said, his voice lowering slightly. “I know what you’re here for. To protect us. To make sure nothing goes wrong. But you’re not the only ones who have something to protect.”
Joong felt a chill run down his spine. Phuwin’s words weren’t just casual. They carried a weight that Joong hadn’t expected. For a moment, the room seemed to grow colder, and Joong couldn’t shake the feeling that Phuwin knew far more than he was letting on.
“We’ve all got our secrets,” Phuwin continued, his voice almost a whisper now. “But the thing is, you don’t get to know everything. Not yet. Not unless it’s time.”
Before Joong could respond, Phuwin turned and left the room as quietly as he’d come, leaving the three brothers to exchange glances. The atmosphere felt thicker now, heavier, as if Phuwin’s words had cast a shadow over the room. It was clear now: there was far more to Dunk and his brothers than they’d been told. And the secrets that lay beneath the surface were something Joong, Pond, and Fourth were only beginning to scratch the surface of.
As the day began, Joong couldn’t help but feel that their mission was spiraling out of control. The lines between protector and protected were blurring, and he wasn’t sure where they would end up—or if they were even ready for what Dunk and his brothers were hiding.
But one thing was for certain: they were in deeper than they realized.
YOU ARE READING
Shadows
Fanfiction(P.s this is Dunkjoong, fourthgemini and Phuwinpond) In this story, Joong and his brothers-Pond and Fourth-work as servants and protectors for Dunk and his brothers, Phuwin and Gemini, as part of their father's debt to the wealthy family. Despite th...
