Capítulo 12: 6. A Conversation About Trust
~~~~~~~~~~
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, its golden rays slanting across the quiet streets. Gemini had planned to spend the day in solitude, his mind still circling the emotional whirlwind of the last few days. However, life had other plans. He'd barely stepped out of his apartment when his phone buzzed. It was a message from a mutual friend of his and Fourth's—an invitation to join an impromptu group gathering. Against his better judgment, he found himself reluctantly heading to the park where everyone had agreed to meet.
Fourth was already there when Gemini arrived, leaning casually against a tree with his usual easy confidence. The sight sent a twinge of apprehension through Gemini, though he masked it with a neutral expression. Fourth noticed him almost immediately, his gaze lingering a second longer than necessary before he offered a small nod of acknowledgment.
The group buzzed with lighthearted chatter as they organized a casual soccer match. Gemini, never one to fully immerse himself in such activities, found himself gravitating toward the sidelines. To his dismay—or perhaps relief—Fourth joined him.
The forced proximity was palpable. For a while, they exchanged only curt words about the game, their shared focus a flimsy shield against the tension crackling between them.
The game ended when one of their mutual friends twisted an ankle during an overly enthusiastic kick. As the group disbanded to help, Gemini and Fourth were tasked with running an errand to retrieve first-aid supplies from a nearby pharmacy.
Neither could argue without raising suspicion, so they set off together.
The silence between them was stifling at first. Their footsteps echoed awkwardly against the concrete as they walked side by side, neither daring to address the events of the past.
Gemini kept his gaze fixed ahead, while Fourth occasionally glanced sideways, his expression unreadable.
"So," Fourth finally broke the silence, his tone deliberately casual, "this is, what, the third time the universe has thrown us together? Starting to feel less like coincidence and more like a conspiracy."
Gemini snorted despite himself, the tension easing just slightly. "Or maybe the universe has a twisted sense of humor."
Fourth smirked but didn't press. They continued in companionable silence, the distance between them shrinking with each step.
The pharmacy was unexpectedly crowded, forcing them to linger in a cramped aisle while waiting for the cashier. Fourth took the opportunity to lean against a nearby shelf, his eyes scanning the colorful packaging before settling back on Gemini.
"You've been quiet," he remarked, his voice low enough to avoid drawing attention from other shoppers.
Gemini glanced at him briefly, then shrugged. "Just... thinking."
"About?"
Gemini hesitated. "Life, I guess."
Fourth didn't push, but the subtle tilt of his head invited more.
"It's nothing," Gemini added quickly, turning his attention to a row of bandages as though they were the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.
Fourth studied him for a moment longer before letting it drop. The conversation shifted to lighter topics—movies, books, and the ridiculous commercials playing on the pharmacy's overhead screens. By the time they reached the front of the line, the atmosphere between them had relaxed.
The walk back to the park was quieter, though not as strained as before. It was Fourth who broke the silence again, his tone softer this time.
"You've been pulling back lately," he said, keeping his gaze straight ahead. "Is it something I said?"
Gemini faltered mid-step, caught off guard by the directness of the question.
"No," he said too quickly, then sighed. "It's not you."
"Then what is it?" Fourth pressed gently.
Gemini's first instinct was to deflect, to make a joke or change the subject. But something in Fourth's tone—the quiet sincerity of it—made him pause.
"I'm not good at this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"At what?"
Gemini hesitated again, the words caught in his throat. "At... letting people in. At trusting them."
Fourth nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "That's fair. It's not exactly easy for me, either."
Gemini glanced at him, surprised. "You seem pretty open."
"I try to be," Fourth said. "But that doesn't mean it's not scary."
By the time they returned to the park, the rest of the group had dispersed. Only the injured friend remained, waving them off with a grateful smile as another companion offered to drive them home.
The park, now quiet and bathed in the soft hues of dusk, felt like a different world entirely.
Fourth gestured toward a nearby bench. "Mind sitting for a bit?"
Gemini hesitated, then nodded.
They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of their unspoken thoughts pressing down like the fading sunlight.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Fourth said finally, his voice steady but kind. "But I think there's more to you than you're letting on. And I'm not going to judge you for it."
The sincerity in his words was disarming. For the first time in a long time, Gemini felt the tiniest crack in the armor he'd spent years building around himself.
"It's not that simple," he said, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Trusting people—it's like giving them a piece of yourself and hoping they don't break it. I've seen what happens when they do."
Fourth nodded, his expression unreadable. "I get that. But sometimes, holding everything in does just as much damage."
Gemini didn't reply, but his silence wasn't dismissive. If anything, it was contemplative.
Fourth leaned back on the bench, resting his arms along the top rail as the quiet of the park enveloped them. His gaze shifted upward, catching the first stars pricking through the evening sky.
"You know," he began, his voice softer now, "I used to think that too. That trust was just... handing over a part of yourself and hoping the other person didn't wreck it. And yeah, sometimes they do."
Gemini turned his head slightly, curious despite himself.
"What changed your mind?"
Fourth's lips curved into a faint smile, though there was a weight to it, as though he were pulling the words from somewhere deep. "I realized it's not just about them. It's about you, too. Trust isn't just what you give—it's what you allow yourself to feel. It's messy, yeah. But it's also what makes everything else worth it."
The honesty in Fourth's tone unsettled Gemini. He wasn't used to people speaking so plainly about something so personal. It was as if Fourth had reached into the space between them and laid his heart out in the open.
"And you're okay with that?" Gemini asked, his voice low, skeptical. "With the mess?"
Fourth tilted his head, his eyes catching the faint glow of the streetlights. "Not always. But I've learned that some people are worth it. You just have to figure out who those people are."
Gemini dropped his gaze, studying the uneven cracks in the pavement beneath their feet. The simplicity of Fourth's answer tugged at something in him, a place he'd carefully hidden away.
"You make it sound easy," he muttered.
"It's not." Fourth's tone sharpened slightly, the gentleness giving way to something more grounded. "But nothing good ever is, right?"
Gemini didn't reply, but the silence between them didn't feel heavy this time. It felt like a pause, a moment for the words to settle.
As the quiet stretched, Fourth leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He traced his fingers over the rough surface of the bench, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.
"Look, I don't know what's happened to you," he said, not meeting Gemini's gaze. "But I think you're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. And maybe letting someone in isn't about being weak. Maybe it's about being brave enough to try."
Gemini's breath caught for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a forced laugh. "You sound like a self-help book."
Fourth chuckled, the sound lightening the mood just enough to ease the tension. "I'll take that as a compliment."
But Gemini wasn't ready to let the conversation linger on him any longer. "And what about you?" he asked, deflecting. "You're sitting here giving me advice, but you don't seem like the type who's had it all figured out either."
Fourth's smile faded slightly, replaced by something softer, more reflective. "I don't," he admitted. "I've been hurt, too. And there are days when I wonder if it's even worth it to keep trying. But then I think about the people I've met along the way, the ones who've shown me it's possible to heal. That's what keeps me going."
Gemini nodded, though the knot in his chest didn't ease. Fourth's openness was both comforting and terrifying. It was the kind of honesty that felt like an invitation—a chance to step into something real, something meaningful. But it also meant risking everything he'd worked so hard to protect.
The sound of crickets filled the space between them as the park grew darker, the last traces of sunlight fading into a deep blue sky.
Gemini let out a slow breath, leaning back against the bench. "You make it sound like a choice," he said finally.
"It is," Fourth replied simply.
Gemini turned to him then, their eyes meeting in the dim light. There was no judgment in Fourth's expression, no pressure. Just a quiet understanding that felt like an anchor in the chaos swirling inside him.
For a moment, Gemini considered saying something—anything—that might explain the storm of emotions he couldn't quite name. But the words wouldn't come, caught somewhere between his heart and his throat.
Instead, he looked away, his gaze settling on the trees silhouetted against the night sky. "I don't know if I'm ready."
Fourth didn't respond right away. When he did, his voice was calm, steady. "That's okay. But when you are, I hope you'll let me in."
The weight of the words hung in the air, heavy but not suffocating. It was an offering, not a demand.
Gemini felt something shift inside him—a small crack in the walls he'd spent years building. It wasn't much, but it was enough to let a sliver of light through.
As the night deepened, Fourth stood, brushing off his jeans. "We should probably head out before someone locks us in here," he joked lightly.
Gemini stood as well, though his movements were slower, as if reluctant to leave the moment behind.
They walked side by side in silence, the tension between them softened by the conversation they'd shared. When they reached the park's entrance, Fourth paused, turning to face Gemini.
"Thanks for listening," he said, his tone sincere.
Gemini hesitated, then nodded. "Thanks for... talking."
Fourth smiled, and for the first time that night, it reached his eyes. "See you around, Gemini."
"Yeah," Gemini said softly, watching as Fourth disappeared down the street.
He stood there for a moment longer, the quiet of the night wrapping around him. The words they'd exchanged echoed in his mind, planting seeds of doubt and hope in equal measure.
As he turned and made his way home, Gemini couldn't help but wonder if maybe—just maybe—Fourth was right. Trust wasn't easy. But perhaps it was worth it.
___________________________________________________
ఌto be continued...
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder