Agony (GEMINIFOURTH)

Chapter 14: Misunderstandings and Tension

The drama club room buzzed with the usual excitement as rehearsals went on, the play growing closer with each passing day. Ploy, as always, sat beside Gemini, chatting casually between scenes. But today, something felt different.

Gemini's mind wasn't on the play. He kept glancing at Ploy, his thoughts tangled in confusion. After his conversation with Fourth in class earlier, he couldn't shake the feeling that Fourth might like her. The idea sat heavy in his chest, and now, every time Ploy spoke to him, every time she smiled or laughed, it felt off. He didn't know why, but the thought of Fourth having feelings for Ploy made everything feel strange.

He tried to focus on the rehearsal, but his mind kept drifting back to that moment in class. Does Fourth really like Ploy? Is that why he's been acting so weird? Gemini wasn't sure what to make of it, but the thought gnawed at him, making him feel uneasy in a way he couldn't quite explain.

When rehearsals finally wrapped up, Ploy turned to Gemini with her usual smile. "Ready to head home?"

Gemini hesitated, his thoughts still swirling. He glanced at her, then quickly came up with an excuse. "Actually, Ploy... Fourth and I have plans today, so we can't walk back together."

Ploy's smile faltered for just a second, a flash of disappointment crossing her face, but she quickly masked it with a polite nod. "Oh, okay. No problem. Have fun!" she said, her voice bright but a little forced.

Gemini felt a small twinge of guilt but pushed it aside. He needed space to figure out what was going on with Fourth. Ploy gave him a small wave and walked off, leaving Gemini standing alone, his mind still heavy with questions.

---

Outside the school, Fourth stood by the gate, waiting for Gemini. He had half-expected to see Ploy with him, as usual, but when he saw Gemini walking alone toward him, a small flicker of surprise crossed his face. Before he could think it through, the words tumbled out.

"Where's Ploy?"

Gemini froze at the question, and something inside him twisted. The way Fourth asked, so casually, as if he was expecting Ploy to be there—it bothered him more than he wanted to admit. The tension he'd been holding onto all day suddenly bubbled to the surface.

"Why?" Gemini snapped, his tone sharper than he intended. "You don't want to walk with just me?"

Fourth blinked, stunned by the sudden edge in Gemini's voice. He wasn't expecting that kind of reaction, and it caught him completely off guard. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

"I was just asking," Fourth muttered, his own voice growing defensive. "Why are you so mad?"

Gemini could feel his frustration rising, though he wasn't sure where it was coming from. Maybe it was the confusion about Fourth's feelings for Ploy, or maybe it was the idea that things were shifting between them, and he didn't know how to handle it. Either way, he couldn't stop the words from spilling out.

"You've been acting weird lately, Fourth," Gemini said, his voice tight. "First, you ask me if I think Ploy's pretty, and now you seem surprised that I'm not with her. What's going on? Do you like her or something?"

The accusation hit Fourth like a punch to the gut. He stared at Gemini, speechless for a moment, his mind reeling. Did Gemini really think that? That he liked Ploy? That all of this was because of her?

The truth—his real feelings—were too close to the surface, too raw, and he wasn't ready to face them, let alone explain them to Gemini. So instead, he did the only thing he could think of.

"I told you already," Fourth said, his voice steady but hurt laced his words. "It's not about that. I don't like Ploy. Why are you acting like this?"

Gemini hesitated, his anger suddenly fading as confusion took over. He stared at Fourth, trying to understand what was really going on, but nothing made sense. If it wasn't about Ploy, then what was it?

"Then why do you keep asking about her?" Gemini asked, his voice softer now, but still filled with frustration.

Fourth clenched his fists, unsure how to explain what was really bothering him without giving away too much. He didn't know how to tell Gemini that it wasn't Ploy he was thinking about—it was him. It was the way everything had felt different lately, the way Ploy seemed to be taking up more and more space in Gemini's life, space that used to belong to him.

But Fourth couldn't say that. Not without revealing feelings he wasn't ready to admit, not even to himself.

"I just... I don't know, okay?" Fourth muttered, turning away slightly. "I don't know what's going on. But it's not about her."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with things left unsaid. Gemini watched Fourth for a moment, his mind racing as he tried to piece it all together. But nothing made sense. Nothing felt right.

After a long pause, Gemini sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. Let's just... drop it."

Fourth didn't respond, but the tension between them remained thick and uncomfortable as they started walking home together, side by side yet feeling miles apart. Neither of them knew how to break the silence, how to untangle the web of misunderstandings that had formed between them.

And as they walked, each lost in their own thoughts, one thing became clear: things between them were changing, and neither of them knew how to stop it.