Shadows

Chapter 25: The Game Begins

The Joong brothers stepped into the mansion, the heavy door closing behind them with a resounding thud. Despite the grandeur of the Gemini estate, it never felt welcoming. The towering ceilings and cold marble floors were beautiful but impersonal, a reflection of the family they served.

Joong dropped his bag on the floor of their shared room with a sigh. Fourth followed, flopping onto his bed dramatically. Pond, however, went straight to the window, peering out cautiously.

"Are you seriously still worried about that car?" Fourth asked, propping himself up on his elbows. "It could've been someone waiting for a friend or something."

"Maybe," Pond murmured, but the edge in his voice made it clear he didn't believe that.

Joong sat on the bed opposite Fourth and leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "It's not paranoia if he's right. That car didn't move all day, and tinted windows aren't exactly friendly."

Fourth sighed. "Okay, fine. But what are we supposed to do? March up to Dunk or Phuwin and tell them we think someone's watching us?" He scoffed. "Yeah, that'll go over well."

Pond finally turned to face them, his expression serious. "No. We don't tell them anything—not yet. This might not even be about them. For all we know, it could be Dad keeping tabs on us to make sure we're not messing up."

Joong frowned at that. Their father wasn't the type to waste resources on something so subtle; his punishments were direct and swift. "I doubt it. He doesn't care what happens to us as long as we don't embarrass him."

The bitterness in his voice hung in the air, unspoken but understood.

---

Later that evening, during dinner, the tension was palpable. The Gemini brothers sat at the head of the long dining table, as usual, with Dunk quietly observing everyone while Phuwin chatted about school. Gemini, seated at the end of the trio, seemed distracted, picking at his food rather than eating.

Joong, Pond, and Fourth, seated farther down the table as the servants they technically were, ate in silence. Their father's strict rules forbade them from joining in the conversation unless spoken to directly.

But Joong couldn't help stealing glances at Dunk. The eldest Gemini brother had an air of command that was impossible to ignore. Even when he wasn't speaking, his mere presence dominated the room.

As the meal progressed, Dunk finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the quiet. "Joong."

Joong's head snapped up, startled to be addressed. "Yes, sir?"

Dunk's piercing gaze met his. "You're in the same class as Gemini, aren't you?"

Joong hesitated, unsure where this was going. "Yes."

Dunk's expression didn't waver. "Then I trust you'll keep an eye on him."

The request—or rather, command—left Joong slightly stunned. "Of course," he said quickly, though he wasn't sure what Dunk meant by it.

Phuwin, seated next to Dunk, smirked. "Looks like you've got a new assignment, Joong. Make sure Gemini doesn't get into trouble."

The comment earned a glare from Dunk, but Phuwin only laughed, clearly enjoying his role as the family's wildcard.

Joong nodded stiffly, not daring to question further. But as the conversation shifted away from him, his mind raced. What did Dunk mean by "keep an eye on Gemini"? Was he in danger? Or was this just another way for Dunk to exert control over their lives?

---

That night, long after the mansion had gone quiet, Joong found himself unable to sleep. Fourth was already snoring softly, sprawled across his bed like a cat, while Pond lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

"You're still thinking about it," Pond said softly, not looking over.

Joong sighed. "Yeah. Dunk doesn't say anything without a reason. If he wants me watching Gemini, there's a reason for it."

Pond finally turned his head to look at him. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know yet," Joong admitted. "But I think... we need to start paying attention. To everything."

Pond nodded, his expression grim. "Agreed. Something's happening, Joong. And I don't think it's just us who are being watched."

---

Meanwhile, across the mansion, Dunk sat in his study, reviewing documents spread out on his desk. Phuwin leaned casually against the wall, watching his brother work.

"You're really going to trust that servant boy to look after Gemini?" Phuwin asked, his tone light but laced with curiosity.

Dunk didn't look up from his papers. "Joong and his brothers are competent enough. Besides, keeping them busy will make them less likely to ask questions."

Phuwin smirked. "Clever. But what if they figure out too much?"

Dunk finally looked up, his expression unreadable. "Then we deal with it. Like we always do."

Phuwin chuckled, clearly unbothered by the implication. "Fair enough. But you'd better hope they're as clueless as they seem. Otherwise, this little arrangement of ours might get messy."

Dunk didn't respond, his attention already back on his work. But as Phuwin left the room, his confident smirk intact, Dunk's gaze lingered on the door for a moment.

He wasn't worried about the Joong brothers—or so he told himself. They were pawns in a much larger game, one Dunk had been playing for years.

The real question wasn't whether they'd figure out the truth.

It was what Dunk would do if they did.