Shadows

55

Joong stared after Dunk, his hands clenched at his sides. The way Dunk seemed to flit between being cold and almost... concerned was maddening. What did he want from him? Joong shook his head, letting out a frustrated sigh before turning to head back to the small room he shared with Pond and Fourth.

When Joong entered, Fourth was sprawled out on his bed, playing with his phone, while Pond was meticulously folding laundry. Both looked up when Joong stepped inside.

"You're back late," Pond said softly, glancing at him with a questioning look.

Joong shrugged, kicking off his shoes and dropping onto his bed. "Got cornered by Dunk."

Fourth sat up, his ears perking with interest. "Oh? What did His Majesty want this time? Another lecture on how we're beneath him?"

Joong let out a dry laugh. "Something like that. He told me to stay out of trouble."

"Stay out of trouble?" Fourth repeated, clearly amused. "You? The guy who spends all his free time trying not to get noticed? That's rich."

Pond frowned, setting down the neatly folded shirt he was holding. "What exactly happened? He's been paying a lot of attention to you lately."

Joong sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Pond. One second, he's giving me orders like we're in the military, and the next, he's staring at me like I'm some kind of puzzle he can't figure out. It's exhausting."

Fourth smirked, leaning back on his elbows. "Maybe he likes you."

Joong shot him a glare. "Don't start."

"I'm serious!" Fourth said, his grin widening. "Think about it. Dunk's always watching you, always finding reasons to talk to you. Sounds like a classic case of 'cold rich guy can't admit his feelings.'"

"That's ridiculous," Joong said firmly. "We're servants. He doesn't like me, Fourth. He probably just thinks I'm incompetent or something."

Pond, ever the level-headed one, chimed in. "Whether he likes you or not doesn't matter. What matters is that we're here to do a job. Don't lose sight of that."

Joong nodded, grateful for Pond's grounding presence. "I know. Believe me, I haven't forgotten."

Fourth rolled his eyes but didn't press the issue further. "Fine, fine. But if Dunk keeps staring at you like you're the last piece of dessert at dinner, don't say I didn't call it."

Joong groaned, lying back on his bed and covering his face with a pillow. "I hate you sometimes."

Fourth laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Love you too, big bro."

The next morning, Joong and his brothers walked to school as usual. The brisk morning air carried the faint scent of flowers from the mansion's sprawling gardens, and Joong found himself lost in thought. Pond and Fourth chatted quietly beside him, but Joong's mind was elsewhere—back to Dunk's piercing gaze and cryptic words.

When they arrived at the school gates, the familiar buzz of students greeted them. As the three brothers made their way inside, Joong's focus snapped back to reality when he saw Dunk and his brothers entering from another entrance. Dunk's eyes briefly flicked to Joong, and for a split second, their gazes met. Then, Dunk looked away, his expression as cold as ever.

Fourth nudged Joong with a sly grin. "There's your boyfriend."

Joong glared at him. "Shut up, Fourth."

Pond, walking on Joong's other side, sighed. "Focus, both of you. We're here to study, not to get distracted."

But as the day went on, it became increasingly difficult for Joong to heed Pond's advice. Everywhere he turned, it felt like Dunk was there—watching him, brushing past him in the halls, or sitting just close enough in class to make Joong hyper-aware of his presence.

During lunch, Joong, Pond, and Fourth sat in a corner of the cafeteria, eating their meals quietly. Across the room, Dunk, Phuwin, and Gemini sat at their usual table, surrounded by their group of wealthy friends. Joong couldn't help but glance in their direction, and to his dismay, Dunk was already looking at him.

Joong quickly averted his gaze, focusing on his food. Fourth noticed and nudged him. "Seriously, bro. Just talk to him. This tension is unbearable."

"I'm not talking to him," Joong said firmly. "We don't belong in their world, Fourth. I'm not going to make things worse."

Pond nodded in agreement. "Joong's right. We need to keep our distance. It's the safest option."

Fourth sighed dramatically. "You two are so boring. Where's the fun in playing it safe?"

Joong ignored him, but deep down, Fourth's words lingered. As much as Joong wanted to deny it, the truth was becoming harder to ignore: Dunk wasn't just his employer. He was quickly becoming the one thing Joong couldn't get out of his head.