Shadows

Chapter 24: Unseen Shadows

The day at school was uneventful—or so it seemed on the surface. Pond, Joong, and Fourth kept to themselves, staying mostly under the radar as their father had drilled into them. Still, it was hard to ignore Dunk, Phuwin, and Gemini's presence in the same school, especially since they always seemed to draw attention wherever they went.

At lunchtime, the cafeteria buzzed with energy as students filled tables with laughter and gossip. The Joong brothers sat at their usual spot near the corner, deliberately distant from Dunk and his brothers, who had their own circle of admirers.

"Do you think they even notice we're here?" Fourth asked, poking at his food with disinterest.

Joong smirked. "Why would they? To them, we're just the help. Besides, Dunk looks like he'd rather be anywhere else than stuck in this school."

Pond, who had been unusually quiet all morning, finally spoke up. "They notice us. They just don't show it. Dunk especially. He watches everything, like he's sizing people up. It's like he knows something about everyone."

Fourth rolled his eyes. "Great. So we're being watched by the human ice cube. Wonderful."

Joong chuckled at the nickname, but Pond's frown deepened. He couldn't shake the tension from the previous day. Every time he glanced at Dunk and his brothers across the room, he felt like they were wrapped in some invisible aura, untouchable yet strangely dangerous.

As they finished their meal, a commotion near Dunk's table caught their attention. A group of rowdy students was laughing a little too loudly, their voices carrying across the cafeteria.

"You think being rich makes you special?" one of them sneered, clearly targeting Gemini, who looked down, his shoulders tense. Dunk, sitting next to him, glared at the group with a cold intensity that made the air feel heavier.

"Walk away," Dunk said flatly, his tone calm but sharp enough to cut through the noise.

The leader of the group, emboldened by his friends, smirked. "What are you gonna do? Get your servants to handle it for you?"

Before anyone could respond, Dunk stood up, his towering presence enough to make most people falter. His gaze didn't waver, his voice icy. "You don't want to test me."

Phuwin, sitting on the other side of Gemini, leaned back in his chair, a confident smirk on his face. "Unless you're volunteering to find out what happens when you mess with us, I'd listen to him."

The tension in the room was palpable. The bullies hesitated, their bravado slipping under Dunk's piercing glare. Finally, they muttered something under their breath and backed away, disappearing into the crowd.

Gemini looked up at his brothers, gratitude mixed with unease in his expression. Dunk didn't say anything, simply sitting back down and resuming his meal as if nothing had happened. Phuwin, on the other hand, gave Gemini a reassuring pat on the shoulder before returning to his food.

The Joong brothers watched the scene unfold, their own table falling silent.

"Well," Fourth said, breaking the tension, "remind me never to cross them."

Joong nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. Despite their reserved demeanor, Dunk and his brothers carried themselves like people who were used to control, to power. And for the first time, Joong wondered just how far that power extended.

---

After school, the brothers began their usual walk back to the mansion. Their father had made it clear that the family car wasn't for them, so they trudged along the sidewalk, backpacks slung over their shoulders.

"Do you think Dunk gets into fights often?" Fourth asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "He didn't even flinch back there."

Joong shrugged. "He doesn't seem like the type to fight unless he has to. But when he does..." He trailed off, the memory of Dunk's icy glare still vivid in his mind.

Pond, who had been lost in thought, suddenly spoke up. "It's not about fighting. It's about control. Dunk knows how to use his presence to intimidate people. That's what makes him dangerous."

Fourth raised an eyebrow. "You sound like you admire him."

Pond shook his head. "Not admire. Respect. There's a difference."

As they continued walking, their conversation shifted to lighter topics—hobbies, upcoming assignments, and school events. Joong mentioned the swimming club, which piqued Fourth's interest, while Pond talked about his preference for quiet activities like reading.

But the moment of normalcy didn't last.

As they approached the mansion, Pond felt the familiar prickle of being watched. He slowed his pace, his eyes scanning their surroundings. The street was quiet, the only sounds the distant hum of cars and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"What is it?" Joong asked, noticing Pond's hesitation.

Pond didn't answer immediately. His gaze landed on a car parked down the street, its windows tinted. It had been there that morning when they left for school. Now, it was still there, unmoving.

"Someone's watching us," Pond said finally, his voice low.

Joong and Fourth followed his gaze, their expressions shifting to concern.

"Do you think it's them?" Fourth whispered, glancing toward the mansion.

Pond shook his head. "I don't know. But we need to be careful."

They continued walking, forcing themselves to act normal despite the unease gnawing at them. Whatever was happening, they couldn't let their guard down—not now, not ever.

As they entered the mansion and the gates closed behind them, Pond couldn't help but glance over his shoulder one last time.

The car was still there, and though he couldn't see who was inside, he knew one thing for certain: their world was about to get much more complicated.