A Midnight Conversation

The town was asleep, but Gemini wasn't.

He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling of his dimly lit room, feeling an odd kind of restlessness settle in his chest. It wasn't the kind that made him want to run—no, this was different. It was quieter, like something missing but not quite lost.

With a sigh, he reached for his phone, fingers hovering over the screen before he typed out a message.

Gemini: Are you awake?

He didn't expect an immediate reply, but his phone buzzed almost instantly.

Fourth: ครับ (Khráp) - Yes.

Gemini smiled to himself, his thumb tapping against the screen.

Gemini: Come outside.

There was a pause, then—

Fourth: Why?

Gemini: มาเลย (Maa loey) - Just come.

Another pause. Then, finally—

Fourth: …Fine.

Gemini chuckled, throwing on a hoodie before slipping out into the cool night air.

The streets were empty, the town wrapped in silence, save for the distant crashing of waves. The streetlights flickered dimly, casting long shadows along the pavement. He leaned against the railing outside the café, waiting.

A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and Fourth stepped out, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His hair was slightly messy, and he was still dressed in a loose T-shirt and sweatpants, like he had just rolled out of bed.

"It's midnight," Fourth mumbled, his voice low and scratchy with sleep. "Why are we doing this?"

Gemini grinned. "Because the night feels too quiet, and I figured you wouldn't mind some company."

Fourth sighed but didn't argue. He shoved his hands into his pockets, tilting his head slightly in a silent question.

Gemini nodded toward the street. "Walk with me?"

Fourth hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.

They started walking, their footsteps soft against the pavement. The ocean breeze rolled in, cool against their skin, carrying the scent of salt and rain from the earlier storm.

There was no destination in mind, no rush to get anywhere. They simply wandered, side by side, letting the silence settle between them comfortably.

At some point, Gemini broke the quiet. "Do you ever think about leaving?"

Fourth glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Leaving?"

"The town. Going somewhere else."

Fourth was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead. Then, he shook his head. "No. I like it here."

Gemini hummed, kicking a small rock along the road as they walked. "I used to think I could never stay in one place for long. That I always needed to be moving."

Fourth tilted his head slightly, watching him. "And now?"

Gemini let out a soft laugh, tilting his head back to look at the sky. The stars were clearer tonight, scattered like tiny specks of silver dust. "Now… I'm not so sure."

Fourth didn't respond right away, but when Gemini turned to look at him, there was something knowing in his gaze. Something quiet yet steady, as if he understood without needing to say anything.

They kept walking until they reached the beach, where the waves met the shore in a rhythmic lull. The sand was cool beneath their feet as they stood at the water's edge.

"You know," Gemini murmured, staring out at the endless stretch of ocean, "I always thought staying in one place meant missing out on something bigger. Like there was always something more waiting for me somewhere else."

Fourth didn't look away from the waves. "And now?" he asked again.

Gemini exhaled slowly. "Now… I think maybe I was looking at it wrong."

Fourth turned to face him fully. "How so?"

Gemini glanced at him, his lips curling into the smallest smile. "Maybe it's not about where you are. Maybe it's about who you're with."

Fourth held his gaze for a moment, the ocean breeze ruffling his hair. Then, so softly Gemini almost didn't hear it, he said, "Maybe."

They stood there, side by side, watching the waves roll in and out.

For the first time, the idea of staying didn't seem so impossible.

And somehow, that thought didn't scare Gemini as much as it used to.

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