Sequel:Bloodlines and Betrayals

Chapter 2: The Calm Before the Tempest

The morning air was thick with anticipation as Joong and his brothers walked to school. The message from the mysterious source still hung heavy in his mind. The ominous threat—"The Gemini family will pay for their sins."—kept replaying in his head. Who would go after the Gemini family, and why now? And why involve them?

Joong was still struggling to understand why their family—his family—had been pulled into this web of danger. They weren't mafia. They weren't connected to the dark, bloodstained world that Dunk and his brothers were born into. Yet, somehow, their fates were now tied together, with no way out.

"Joong, are you even listening?" Pond's voice broke through his thoughts.

Joong glanced at his younger brother, who looked a bit more anxious than usual. His nerves were understandable—Pond had always been the more sensitive one, especially when it came to the deeper issues of their family.

"Yeah, I'm listening," Joong replied distractedly, watching a black car speed by them, its tinted windows hiding its occupants.

"Don't be like that," Pond said, his voice taking on a teasing edge. "We'll figure this out together. We've been through worse, haven't we?"

Joong hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, but this feels different. Someone's after Dunk's family. And we don't even know who."

"Or why," Fourth added, his voice cutting through their conversation like a sharp knife. He hadn't said much lately, lost in his own thoughts as he adjusted to his growing relationship with Gemini. The last few weeks had been a blur of secrecy and quiet tension between the two, but nothing official yet. Joong couldn't help but feel an inkling of unease whenever he saw the two of them together—Gemini was so different from Dunk, so much softer. He didn't seem like someone who belonged in this world of darkness.

"I'm more worried about the fact that we've been thrown into this mess," Fourth continued, looking at Joong. "We've been trying to keep our heads low, but it's not going to stay that way. The more we're around them, the more danger we're in. And it's not like we can just walk away."

Joong knew Fourth was right. They had no choice. Dunk's family had their claws in deep, and despite their resentment toward their father and the position they'd been forced into, they were still obligated to protect Dunk and his brothers.

"I don't want to be a pawn in this," Joong said, voice low. "But I don't know what else we can do."

Pond put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out. One day, we'll be free of this, okay?"

Joong met his brother's gaze, and for a moment, he almost believed him. But the constant threat hanging over their heads made it impossible to feel hopeful for long.

At School: The Uneasy Tension

School had never been a place Joong looked forward to, but it felt like a safe space compared to the chaos that was brewing at home. Dunk, Phuwin, and Gemini were still as aloof as ever. The quiet, unspoken tension between them and Joong's brothers was palpable, especially now that they knew someone was after them.

As they entered the school grounds, Joong saw Dunk standing by the entrance, his back to the wall, his usual cold expression in place. Dunk's eyes met Joong's for a moment, and something unreadable flickered across his face—something Joong couldn't quite grasp.

Phuwin, ever the distraction, was flirting with some of the students as usual, his charm working on anyone within range. He gave Pond an exaggerated wink as he passed, but Pond only rolled his eyes and looked away, trying to avoid eye contact.

"You should be careful with him," Joong said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else.

Pond glanced up at him, his brows furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," Joong replied, glancing toward Phuwin, who had now turned his attention to someone else. "He flirts with everyone. I don't want you to get caught up in his games."

"I'm not interested in his games," Pond responded, though his voice lacked the usual conviction. "But I guess I can't say the same for him. He's always like this. He probably doesn't even think about it."

Joong wasn't sure whether to believe Pond. He couldn't help but feel that Phuwin's attention toward his brother was different, more intense, and it worried him. Pond was too innocent in that way—he didn't see the deeper meanings behind flirtations.

The school day dragged on, the unease thickening as they sat in their classes. Joong couldn't stop thinking about the message, about the people who wanted Dunk's family, and why they'd come for them. Were they simply targets because of their wealth, or was there something darker going on beneath the surface?

The Gemini Family's Secrets

After school, Joong and his brothers returned to the mansion. The house felt different now—darker, almost. The tension from the morning was still palpable, and Dunk's family was on edge.

"I don't trust this," Dunk muttered as Joong entered the study, his gaze fixed on Joong as if expecting something from him. Dunk's voice was colder than usual, but Joong didn't flinch.

"Neither do I," Joong replied. "But we need to figure out who's behind this threat. Whoever it is, they're going after all of us. And we don't know what they're capable of."

Gemini, who had been sitting silently on the couch, spoke up. "Whoever they are, they won't get away with it. We'll protect each other."

Joong met Gemini's eyes, seeing the unwavering determination in them. It reminded him of how much Dunk and his brothers had changed over the past two years. Despite their coldness, there was something unspoken between them—an unbreakable bond.

Dunk, standing near the window, didn't respond, but Joong noticed the slight tension in his posture. Dunk had always carried the weight of his family's legacy, but now, it was clear that something much darker was creeping into their lives.

"Tomorrow," Dunk finally spoke, his voice firm. "We get to the bottom of this. Whoever thinks they can threaten us is making a huge mistake."

Joong nodded, feeling a chill run down his spine. The storm was only just beginning, and no one was prepared for what was coming next.