Bab 17: {Continued}
... Gemini's confession hung in the air, raw and unfiltered. He had never been the kind of person to open up easily, to let someone see the jagged edges of his past. But tonight, with Fourth's steady gaze and patient presence, he found himself saying things he never thought he'd share.
Fourth listened carefully, his expression softening as Gemini spoke. There was no judgment in his eyes, no trace of impatience. He didn't rush to offer solutions or advice. Instead, he simply let Gemini speak, letting the words flow freely without interruption. It was as if Fourth knew that sometimes, all someone needed was someone to listen—to hold space for their pain without trying to fix it.
When Gemini finally fell silent, a quiet breath escaping him, Fourth leaned forward slightly. His voice was gentle, reassuring. "I get it, Gemini," he said, his words measured but sincere. "I know what it's like to build walls around yourself because you're afraid of getting hurt. I've done it, too. For a long time, I thought if I just kept everyone at a distance, I could protect myself from the pain."
Gemini glanced up, surprised by the vulnerability in Fourth's voice. He had always seen Fourth as confident, unshakable in his own way. But hearing him speak so openly about his own struggles with trust made Gemini feel less alone. It wasn't just about his own fears—it was something they both shared.
"I used to think the same thing," Fourth continued, his voice softer now. "That if I didn't let anyone in, I wouldn't have to feel the sting of betrayal or disappointment. But I've learned, slowly, that sometimes... it's worth the risk. It's the only way to really grow, to find something real. And I believe you're worth that risk, Gemini. You're worth letting in."
Gemini's throat tightened at the sincerity in Fourth's words. The vulnerability in Fourth's admission, coupled with his quiet belief in Gemini's worth, began to chip away at the walls Gemini had spent so long building. The sting of past wounds, the fear of getting hurt again, was still there, but hearing Fourth's words, hearing him offer not just sympathy but understanding, made it feel a little more bearable.
"I don't know if I can ever stop being afraid," Gemini admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I want to try. I want to believe that... maybe I can trust someone again."
Fourth's gaze softened further, a tender smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You don't have to stop being afraid all at once, Gemini. Trust takes time. But if you're willing to take the first step, I'll be here. No pressure, no rush. Just... one step at a time."
Gemini nodded slowly, a sense of comfort settling over him for the first time in weeks. It wasn't a promise that everything would be easy, but it was the beginning of something. A beginning that felt tentative, but real.
As the conversation unfolded, the weight of their shared understanding deepened. For the first time, Gemini allowed himself to fully see Fourth—not just as someone he was drawn to, but as someone who had his own struggles, his own battles with vulnerability and trust.
"You know," Gemini said, his voice quieter now, as if the words were coming from a place deeper inside him, "I used to think I was the only one who felt like this. Like, I'm the only one who's afraid to open up because of everything that's happened in the past. But hearing you say that... it makes me realize I'm not alone in this. Maybe I've been too focused on my own fears to see it."
Fourth's gaze was steady, his expression soft but knowing. "It's easy to feel isolated when you're caught in your own head. But we're all carrying something, Gemini. Everyone has their own scars. It's just that some of us hide them better than others."
Gemini's chest tightened at the realization. He had spent so much of his life hiding behind walls, thinking that if he just kept everyone at a distance, he could protect himself from getting hurt. But now, with Fourth here, with his gentle presence and quiet understanding, it felt like those walls were slowly starting to crumble. It wasn't all at once, but there was a crack in the armor, and that crack made all the difference.
"I guess," Gemini said, a soft chuckle escaping his lips despite himself, "I never really thought about it that way. I always figured it was just easier to keep people at arm's length. But maybe... maybe it's not as easy as I thought."
"It's not," Fourth replied, his tone firm yet kind. "But that doesn't mean it's not worth it. People aren't perfect, Gemini. We all make mistakes, we all have our flaws. But the thing is, we're not defined by those mistakes. We're defined by how we choose to move forward, by how we choose to show up for each other."
The words lingered in the air, settling in Gemini's chest like a weight, but a weight that felt somehow comforting. For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel so alone in his struggles. Fourth's words weren't just reassuring—they were a lifeline, offering him a way to navigate his fear without pushing it away entirely.
"You know," Gemini said, his voice softening, "I've never really been able to trust anyone like this. Not in a long time. But... I think I'm starting to see why I should try."
Fourth's smile deepened, his eyes shining with quiet warmth. "You don't have to do it alone, Gemini. I'm here. And I think we're both starting to see something real here. Something that's worth the effort, even if it's scary."
And for the first time, Gemini allowed himself to truly believe it. There was something real between them. Something that wasn't just about attraction or chemistry, but about the possibility of connection, of trust, of mutual understanding.
Despite the growing sense of connection between them, there was still a palpable tension in the air. The fear of commitment still lingered, just beneath the surface. Gemini could feel it, a tightness in his chest that made it hard to breathe when he thought about what came next. Could he truly let go of his fears? Could he allow himself to trust Fourth, to open up to the possibility of something deeper?
"I don't know if I can just... dive in," Gemini admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's hard for me to even imagine fully letting go of all this fear. I want to, but I don't know if I'm ready for... everything that comes with it."
Fourth gave a quiet nod, acknowledging the weight of Gemini's words. "I'm not asking you to rush, Gemini. I'm not asking for you to give me everything all at once. But I don't want to lose what we have. I think... I think there's something here worth exploring. But I'm not going anywhere, not if you're willing to take it slow."
Gemini swallowed hard, the words sinking into him with a mixture of relief and anxiety. He wasn't ready to let go of everything, not yet. But maybe, just maybe, he could take small steps. Maybe he could let himself be vulnerable, just a little at a time.
"I don't want to lose this either," Gemini whispered, his voice barely audible. "I just... I don't know how to be all in without the fear holding me back."
Fourth placed a hand on his shoulder, the touch light but grounding. "We'll figure it out together, Gemini. One step at a time."
As the night wore on, the conversation ebbed and flowed, becoming quieter, more introspective. At some point, Gemini found himself standing, his legs stiff from sitting for so long. Without thinking, he reached out, placing a hand on Fourth's shoulder, the touch soft but grounding. It wasn't a grand gesture, but in that moment, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Fourth looked up at him, his eyes meeting Gemini's with an intensity that spoke volumes. There was no need for words in that moment, just the quiet comfort of being close to someone who truly understood. Slowly, Fourth placed his hand over Gemini's, squeezing it gently. The connection was simple, unspoken, but it was enough. It was a reassurance that they were both taking small steps, moving toward something that felt fragile, yet real.
"Thank you," Gemini murmured, his voice soft. "For being here. For... everything."
Fourth's smile was small but warm. "Anytime, Gemini. Anytime."
As they sat there, the rain outside had stopped, leaving a quiet stillness in the room. And though the future was uncertain, there was a sense of calm between them now—a sense of comfort that neither had expected, but both were beginning to need.
The chapter ended not with finality, but with the promise of something deeper forming between them. Something uncertain, but something worth fighting for.
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❥ the end of chapter 8 ఌ
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone