Shadows

57

After dinner, Joong helped Pond and Fourth clear the table and clean up the dining hall. The Gemini brothers had already excused themselves, leaving the servants to their tasks. Joong worked quietly, his thoughts still tangled from the day's events. Dunk's piercing gaze during dinner was impossible to ignore, and the memory of it lingered like a weight on his chest.

Fourth, as usual, was the first to break the silence. "I swear, if I have to wash one more plate, I might just run away and join the circus."

Pond rolled his eyes as he rinsed another dish. "You wouldn't last five minutes in a circus. Too much hard work."

"Excuse me," Fourth shot back, "I'd be the star. People would pay good money to see my charm and acrobatics."

Joong smirked faintly at their banter, though his mind remained elsewhere. Dunk's cold yet intense attitude gnawed at him. Was it hostility? Curiosity? Something else entirely? Joong hated not knowing.

"Joong," Pond said, pulling him from his thoughts, "you've been distracted all evening. What's going on?"

Joong hesitated, glancing at the door to make sure no one was listening. "It's... Dunk. I don't get him."

"What's to get?" Fourth chimed in, stacking the last plate on the drying rack. "He's your typical spoiled rich kid with a superiority complex."

"No, it's more than that," Joong said, frowning. "The way he looks at me—it's like he's trying to figure me out or something. But he never says anything. Just stares."

"Maybe he's just weird," Fourth suggested, shrugging. "Rich people have all kinds of quirks."

Pond gave Joong a thoughtful look. "Be careful, Joong. You're already skeptical of them, and if Dunk's watching you so closely, it might mean trouble."

Joong nodded but didn't respond. He knew Pond was right, but the situation wasn't that simple. He didn't trust Dunk—or any of the Gemini brothers, for that matter—but something about Dunk's behavior felt... personal. And Joong couldn't afford to let it distract him. Not when their father had made it clear they were here to serve and protect, nothing more.

When they finally finished cleaning up, the brothers returned to their small shared room. Fourth flopped onto his bed with a dramatic sigh, while Pond quietly pulled out a book. Joong sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the window at the sprawling garden below. The mansion's luxury was overwhelming, a stark contrast to the modest life they'd lived before being sent here.

"Do you ever think about how different this place is from home?" Joong asked quietly.

Pond glanced up from his book. "All the time. But we're not here to enjoy it, Joong. We're here to repay a debt."

Joong nodded, his jaw tightening. Their father's words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of their place. "I know. But sometimes I wonder if he even thinks about us, or if we're just tools for him to use."

Fourth, who had been lying on his stomach scrolling through his phone, looked up. "He doesn't think about us. Let's not pretend otherwise."

"Fourth," Pond said softly, "don't talk like that."

"It's true, and you know it," Fourth retorted, sitting up. "He only sent us here because he needed to impress his boss. If he cared about us, he wouldn't have left us to deal with this mess."

Pond didn't respond, his expression troubled. Joong clenched his fists, his emotions a mix of frustration and resignation. Fourth wasn't wrong, but voicing it didn't make their situation any easier.

A sudden knock on the door startled them. Joong stood up and opened it to find one of the house staff.

"Master Dunk wishes to see you," the staff member said, her tone polite but firm.

Joong blinked, surprised. "Me?"

"Yes. He's in the study."

Joong glanced back at his brothers, who were both staring at him with equal parts confusion and concern. "I'll be back," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Be careful," Pond warned, his tone serious.

Joong nodded and followed the staff member down the dimly lit hallway. The air felt heavier with every step, his mind racing with questions. Why would Dunk want to see him? Had he done something wrong? Or was this just another one of Dunk's strange games?

When they reached the study, the staff member opened the door and gestured for Joong to enter. Dunk was sitting in one of the large leather chairs, his expression unreadable as he looked up from a book.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Joong asked, keeping his tone neutral.

Dunk gestured for him to close the door. "Yes. Sit."

Joong hesitated but complied, taking the seat across from Dunk. The room was quiet except for the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.

"You've been working here for two months now," Dunk began, his voice cold but steady. "And yet, I feel like I don't know anything about you."

Joong frowned, unsure where this was going. "I'm just a servant, sir. There's not much to know."

Dunk leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto Joong's. "That's not true. You're different."

"Different how?" Joong asked, his heart pounding.

Dunk didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, studying Joong as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. "I'll figure it out eventually," he said cryptically.

Joong's unease grew, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Is that all, sir?"

"For now," Dunk replied, his tone dismissive.

Joong stood, his hands clenched at his sides. He bowed slightly out of habit before leaving the room, his mind swirling with unanswered questions. Dunk's words echoed in his ears as he made his way back to his room.

What did Dunk mean? And why did Joong feel like he was walking into a trap he couldn't see?