The next morning, Joong couldn’t shake the events of the night before. Dunk’s late-night trip to the study weighed heavily on his mind. Though Joong knew he shouldn’t pry, his curiosity had grown to the point of distraction.
At breakfast, the tension in the dining room was palpable. Dunk, Phuwin, and Gemini sat at the head of the table, speaking quietly among themselves, their expressions unusually serious. Joong and his brothers ate in silence, as their father had instructed.
Fourth, unable to stand the quiet any longer, leaned closer to Joong and muttered, “Do you think they’re always this intense, or is it just us?”
Joong nudged him lightly with his elbow. “Behave.”
“Hard to behave when it feels like we’re sitting on a ticking time bomb,” Fourth whispered back, glancing nervously at Dunk and his brothers.
Pond, ever the peacekeeper, tried to steer the conversation. “We should focus on school. Midterms are coming up.”
Joong and Fourth groaned in unison, but the distraction was welcome.
---
After school, their father’s orders were waiting for them as usual—a list of chores scribbled in his sharp handwriting. The Joong brothers sighed collectively but got to work without complaint.
While cleaning the grand library, Joong found himself distracted. His mind wandered back to the study and Dunk’s unusual behavior. As he dusted the bookshelves, he couldn’t help but wonder if the answers lay somewhere in this house.
“What’s with you today?” Pond asked, stacking books nearby. “You’ve been out of it all morning.”
Joong hesitated before answering. “It’s nothing. Just tired.”
Fourth, overhearing the conversation, smirked. “Yeah, tired of wondering what Dunk’s hiding.”
Joong shot him a look. “I’m not wondering anything.”
Fourth laughed. “Sure you’re not.”
Pond frowned, glancing between his brothers. “We shouldn’t be digging into their business. They’re our bosses. That’s it.”
Joong nodded, though he didn’t feel convinced. “You’re right. Let’s just finish this and move on.”
---
Later that evening, Joong found himself wandering the mansion’s halls. The house was quiet, most of the staff having retired for the night. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but his feet carried him toward the study almost unconsciously.
The door was slightly ajar, and soft voices drifted from inside. Joong froze, debating whether to turn back, but his curiosity got the better of him.
He crept closer, careful not to make a sound.
“You need to be more careful,” Dunk’s voice was firm but quiet.
“I know,” Phuwin replied, his tone unusually subdued. “But we can’t avoid this forever.”
“We don’t have to avoid it,” Gemini added, his voice softer. “We just have to be smart.”
Joong strained to hear more, but a sudden creak in the floorboard beneath him made his heart stop.
The voices inside the study fell silent.
Joong panicked, quickly retreating down the hall and ducking into a nearby alcove. Moments later, the study door opened, and Dunk stepped out, his sharp gaze scanning the hallway.
Joong held his breath, pressing himself against the wall. After a tense moment, Dunk turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet hall.
Joong exhaled shakily, his heart pounding. Whatever Dunk and his brothers were discussing, it was clearly something they didn’t want anyone else to hear.
---
The next day at school, Joong tried to focus on his classes, but the memory of the previous night lingered in his mind. He kept glancing at Dunk and his brothers, trying to piece together the puzzle.
During lunch, Fourth noticed Joong’s distraction and leaned closer. “Still thinking about last night?”
Joong didn’t respond, but Fourth grinned. “You’re a terrible liar, you know.”
Pond frowned, looking between them. “What happened last night?”
Joong hesitated before answering. “I overheard Dunk and his brothers talking in the study. It sounded... serious.”
Pond’s expression darkened. “Joong, we’re not supposed to spy on them. That’s not why we’re here.”
“I wasn’t spying,” Joong defended himself. “I just... happened to hear.”
Fourth smirked. “Sure, just like you ‘happened’ to wander the mansion in the middle of the night.”
Joong shot him a look. “I’m serious. Something’s going on. I don’t know what, but it’s big.”
Pond sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Even if that’s true, it’s not our place to get involved. We’re here to do a job, not solve their mysteries.”
Joong nodded reluctantly, though the nagging feeling in his gut remained.
---
Back at the mansion that evening, the Joong brothers resumed their chores as usual. But as Joong dusted the staircase, he noticed something unusual. Dunk was sitting in the lounge, his face uncharacteristically tense as he spoke quietly into his phone.
Joong tried to ignore it, but his curiosity got the better of him. He edged closer, pretending to clean the nearby banister.
“I understand,” Dunk said, his voice low. “But we can’t make a move until we’re sure.”
Joong’s heart raced as he strained to hear more, but Dunk ended the call abruptly, glancing around the room.
Joong quickly turned away, pretending to focus on his work.
“Joong,” Dunk’s voice was sharp.
Joong froze, slowly turning to face him. “Yes, sir?”
Dunk’s piercing gaze pinned him in place. “Is there something you need?”
“No,” Joong said quickly. “Just doing my job.”
Dunk studied him for a moment before nodding. “Good. Keep it that way.”
Joong nodded, retreating to the other side of the room. But as he worked, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Dunk knew exactly what he was doing—and that the Gemini brothers were hiding something much bigger than he’d ever imagined.
YOU ARE READING
Shadows
Fanfic(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...
