The Late-Night Walk

That evening, after finishing dinner at his grandmother's house, Gemini found himself staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

The town had settled into its quiet nighttime rhythm—the distant hum of cicadas, the occasional rustling of leaves, the steady crash of ocean waves against the shore. It was a peaceful sound, but for some reason, it didn't soothe him the way it should have.

Something about the night felt… restless.

After a while, he gave up on sleep and decided to take a walk.

The streets were empty, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Most of the shops had long since closed, their shutters pulled down, but as Gemini wandered past the familiar path leading to the café, he noticed something—

The lights were still on.

A warm glow seeped through the windows, flickering slightly, like a quiet invitation.

Without thinking, he stepped inside.

The bell above the door chimed softly.

Behind the counter, Fourth looked up, momentarily startled.

"You're here late," he said, his voice calm but tinged with surprise.

Gemini leaned against the doorway. "So are you."

Fourth didn't argue. He simply nodded before reaching into the fridge behind him, pulling out two cold bottled teas. Without a word, he handed one to Gemini.

Gemini took it, his fingers brushing lightly against Fourth's as he did.

They didn't need to say anything.

With an unspoken agreement, they walked outside together.

The beach was quiet, the sand cool beneath their feet. The waves rolled in and out, shimmering under the pale glow of the moon.

They sat down, side by side, the gentle night breeze carrying the scent of salt and summer.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Gemini tilted his head back, gazing at the sky. The stars here felt closer than they did in the city—clear, endless, like tiny promises scattered across the darkness.

Beside him, Fourth fiddled with the cap of his bottle, turning it over in his fingers.

After a while, Gemini broke the silence.

"Why do you stay so late at the café?"

Fourth paused, as if considering his answer. "It's peaceful. I like the quiet."

Gemini hummed. He could understand that. There was something different about the night—a kind of stillness that made everything feel lighter, as if the weight of the day had disappeared.

Still…

"But don't you get lonely?" he asked.

Fourth hesitated. His fingers stilled against the bottle.

For a moment, Gemini thought he wouldn't answer.

Then, in a voice barely louder than the waves, Fourth said, "Sometimes."

Gemini turned to him, watching closely.

There was something about the way Fourth spoke, like he was always holding back. Like there were things he wanted to say but couldn't.

For the first time, Gemini found himself wanting to be the person Fourth could talk to.

Without hesitation. Without walls.

As if sensing his gaze, Fourth suddenly looked at him.

"What about you?"

Gemini blinked. "What about me?"

"Do you get lonely?"

The question caught him off guard.

Lonely?

Gemini had never really thought about it. He had plenty of friends back in the city—a busy life, a full schedule. But now, sitting here under the summer sky, he realized something.

He had never felt this kind of peace before.

"I don't know," he admitted. "Maybe."

Fourth didn't press him for more. He simply nodded, looking back at the ocean.

And they sat there in silence.

But this time, it wasn't empty.

It was filled with something unspoken.

Something waiting to be discovered.

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