Shadows

54

The clinking of silverware against fine china filled the dining hall as the brothers ate in silence. The tension in the air was palpable, stretching thin across the long table that separated Joong and his brothers from Dunk, Phuwin, and Gemini. Joong focused on his plate, refusing to look up, even though he could feel Dunk's gaze boring into him from across the table.

Fourth, ever the troublemaker, broke the silence first. "This spread is fancy. Do you guys eat like this every night?" His tone was casual, but Joong could hear the teasing edge in his voice. Fourth never could resist stirring the pot.

Phuwin smirked, leaning back in his chair with his usual air of confidence. "We do, but you're welcome to enjoy it. Think of it as part of the perks of staying here."

Fourth raised an eyebrow, glancing at Joong with a knowing grin. "Perks? I thought we were here to work off Dad's debt, not get treated like royalty."

Gemini, sitting quietly beside his brothers, shot Fourth a shy smile. "Well, it's not like you don't deserve to eat well. You're working hard, after all."

Fourth blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Gemini's kindness. "Uh, thanks, I guess."

Joong sighed, his appetite fading as the conversation drifted around him. Pond, sitting beside him, nudged his arm gently. "You okay?" he whispered.

Joong nodded without looking up. "Fine. Just tired."

Dunk's voice cut through the room, cold and sharp. "If you're tired, maybe you should go to bed early instead of wandering the streets after school."

Joong stiffened, his fork freezing mid-air. He hadn't realized Dunk had noticed his absence earlier, let alone cared enough to comment on it.

"I wasn't wandering," Joong replied, his tone clipped. "I just needed some air."

"Air?" Dunk's gaze was piercing. "Your job is to be here, not out doing whatever you please. If something happened to you, it'd reflect poorly on us."

Joong bristled at Dunk's words. Of course, it wasn't concern for him—it was about appearances. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay calm. "Noted. It won't happen again."

Phuwin glanced between them, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like someone's in a mood tonight," he said, directing the comment at Dunk but clearly enjoying the tension.

"Stay out of it," Dunk muttered, his focus still on Joong.

Pond, sensing the brewing storm, cleared his throat and redirected the conversation. "Joong and I were talking about hobbies earlier. Fourth's been trying to convince us to join him for swimming practice after school."

Phuwin's attention snapped to Pond, his expression shifting into something softer. "Swimming, huh? I didn't know you were into that."

Pond shrugged, keeping his tone polite but distant. "I'm not very good at it, but Fourth keeps pushing."

"Maybe I could teach you," Phuwin offered smoothly. "I'm pretty good in the water. It'd be fun."

Pond's cheeks flushed slightly, and he quickly looked down at his plate. "I'll think about it."

Joong couldn't help but notice the exchange, but his attention was quickly pulled back to Dunk, who still hadn't looked away from him. The intensity of Dunk's gaze was almost unbearable, but Joong refused to break first. Instead, he squared his shoulders, meeting Dunk's eyes head-on.

"Is there something you need, sir?" Joong asked, his voice deliberately formal.

Dunk's jaw tightened at the title, but he said nothing. Instead, he finally looked away, focusing on his food with a curt shake of his head. Joong exhaled quietly, the moment passing but leaving behind a lingering tension that he couldn't shake.

As dinner ended and the brothers prepared to head back to their quarters, Joong found himself standing outside the dining hall, staring up at the darkened sky. The cool night air did little to calm his racing thoughts.

Footsteps approached, and he turned to see Dunk standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

"You're stubborn," Dunk said simply, his voice lacking its usual harshness.

Joong raised an eyebrow. "So I've been told. Why does it matter to you?"

Dunk took a step closer, his gaze searching Joong's face. For a moment, it looked like he wanted to say something, but then he shook his head and stepped back. "It doesn't. Just... stay out of trouble."

With that, Dunk turned and walked away, leaving Joong alone with more questions than answers.