By the time Joong, Pond, and Fourth returned to the Gemini mansion, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow across the sprawling estate. As they entered through the servants' entrance, their father was already waiting for them in the kitchen, his arms crossed and his face set in a scowl.
“You’re late,” he said sharply.
Joong resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “School ended at the usual time.”
“Then you should’ve been back by now. I’ve told you before, don’t make our employers wait.”
“They weren’t waiting for us,” Pond said calmly, stepping in before the conversation escalated. “We walked as quickly as we could.”
Their father’s gaze lingered on Pond for a moment before he sighed in exasperation. “Just don’t let it happen again. Go upstairs and make yourselves presentable before dinner.”
“Yes, sir,” Joong said stiffly, leading his brothers toward the staircase.
---
Upstairs in their shared room, Fourth flopped onto his bed with a loud groan. “He’s such a pain. Why does he even care if we’re late? It’s not like the Gemini brothers notice.”
“Because it’s all about appearances,” Pond replied, carefully setting his bag down. “If we mess up, it reflects badly on him.”
Joong sat on his bed, his arms crossed as he stared at the ceiling. “Why does he care so much about what their family thinks? It’s not like they treat him any better than they treat us.”
“It’s his way of staying in their good graces,” Pond said. “He thinks if he works hard enough, they’ll eventually repay him.”
Fourth scoffed. “That’s delusional.”
Joong didn’t respond, but a bitter taste lingered in his mouth. Their father’s blind loyalty to the Gemini family had always baffled him, but now it was beginning to feel like a cage—one that trapped all of them.
---
Dinner that evening was uneventful, though the tension between the two sets of brothers was palpable. The Gemini siblings sat at the head of the table, their plates filled with delicately prepared dishes. Joong and his brothers sat further down, eating quietly as their father served the meal.
Dunk, as usual, remained mostly silent, though his eyes occasionally flicked toward Joong and his brothers. Phuwin made an effort to chat with everyone, his charm disarming even the most reluctant of diners, while Gemini focused on his food, occasionally glancing at Fourth with an amused smile.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Phuwin said suddenly, addressing Pond.
Pond blinked, surprised to be addressed directly. “I’m just tired,” he said simply.
“Must be exhausting keeping up with school and everything else,” Phuwin said, his tone light but probing. “Maybe you should take a break every now and then.”
“I don’t have that luxury,” Pond replied, his voice calm but firm.
Phuwin’s lips quirked into a faint smile. “Everyone deserves a break, you know. Even you.”
Joong watched the exchange closely, his unease growing. He didn’t like the way Phuwin looked at Pond—not because it was threatening, but because it felt too personal.
---
Later that night, as they prepared for bed, Fourth brought up the conversation.
“Phuwin’s really interested in you, huh?” he said, grinning at Pond.
“Don’t start,” Pond said, his tone weary.
“I’m just saying,” Fourth teased. “He keeps trying to talk to you. Maybe he likes you.”
“That’s enough,” Joong said sharply, cutting Fourth off.
Fourth raised an eyebrow. “What? It’s just a joke.”
“It’s not funny,” Joong said, his voice tense. “We’re here to do a job, not get involved with them.”
Pond sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Joong’s right. We need to stay focused.”
Fourth rolled his eyes but didn’t push the matter further.
---
Meanwhile, in Dunk’s study, the Gemini brothers were having their own conversation.
“Joong and his brothers are getting more comfortable,” Phuwin said, leaning back in his chair.
“Too comfortable,” Dunk replied, his tone cold. “They’re servants, not guests. They need to remember that.”
“Relax,” Phuwin said with a smirk. “They’re not a threat.”
“They could be,” Dunk countered. “If they find out—”
“They won’t,” Phuwin interrupted. “They’re too preoccupied with their own problems to notice anything about us.”
Gemini, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “Joong is sharp. He notices more than you think.”
Phuwin shrugged. “Let him notice. As long as he doesn’t act on it, it doesn’t matter.”
Dunk’s expression hardened. “We can’t take that risk.”
“What do you want to do, then?” Phuwin asked, his tone challenging.
Dunk didn’t answer immediately, his gaze distant. Finally, he said, “We watch them. Closely. If they step out of line, we deal with it.”
Gemini frowned. “You mean you’ll deal with it.”
Dunk nodded. “Exactly.”
---
In the shared room, Joong lay awake, staring at the ceiling. His mind buzzed with questions about Dunk and his brothers, about their father, about everything.
“You’re overthinking again,” Pond said softly from the bed next to his.
Joong sighed. “How can I not? Nothing about this situation feels right.”
“Just focus on what we need to do,” Pond said. “The rest doesn’t matter.”
Joong didn’t respond, but he knew Pond was wrong. The rest did matter—it mattered more than anything.
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...
