GEMINI.
"I can't believe we got kicked out because of a nerd," someone said, their voice dripping with disdain as I trudged up the stairs, the snickers and other snide comments that followed pierced through my heart like daggers.
I tried to tune them out, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, but it was hard to shake off the sting of their words. Another student tried to trip me, but I side-stepped, my heart racing as panic started creeping in.
"Look at him acting high and mighty," someone jeered, and the group erupted into laughter and I bit my lip, fighting to keep my emotions in check.
"Why wouldn't he? He's Percy's new pet after all." another voice chimed in, the mocking tone cutting deep. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.
I struggled to hold back tears, my eyes burning with unshed droplets. I quickened my pace, desperate to escape the toxic atmosphere.
"I wonder how long it'll take for him to realize he's just another one of Percy's plaything?" one of them sneered, their laughter echoing off the walls. I gritted my teeth, my hands tightening around the edges of my project. I have to hold it together, for the sake of the hours of work that went into this.
Each shove was a reminder of my powerlessness. "Come on! Just let me through!" I breathed, frustration mounting as they continued their harassment.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? I'd done nothing to them.
If you're wondering what's going on right now, it's Monday. Which means two days have passed since I was thrown into the swimming pool, two days since Percy asked me to spend the weekend at his place so we could work on my project together. Thanks to Percy, we managed to complete it. I woke up this morning feeling really good, very excited to start my day.
Percy, being his usual generous self, dropped me off at my dorm so I could get ready for class. Everything was good—until now. Today was supposed to be simple. Submit my project, attend lectures and forget about everything bad that happened to me over the weekend. But instead, I once again found myself face to face with those guys—the same bullies who had already made my life miserable once.
I was on my way to submit my project when out of nowhere they suddenly appeared, blocking my path, their voices loud. Taunting and shoving me around. I was fighting to hold onto my composure, my project was clutched between my trembling hands. I was outnumbered—four against one—and the worst part? They think everything that happened, them getting kicked out of the party was my fault. The memories of that humiliating moment still linger even as I speak.
There was a loud thud on the floor and my worst fears materialized in slow motion: one of the guys had shoved me harder than before, and my project slipped from my grasp and landed with a heartbreaking sound on the floor, the carefully constructed pieces scattering like my hope.
"No! No! No!" My heart broke into pieces, watching them laugh as they walked away, the echoes of their cruel words ringing in my ears. Waves of panic surged through me.
What am I going to do? I have less than an hour to submit this!
I dove to the ground, scrambling to gather the broken shards of my project. The tears I'd fought so hard to hold back finally broke free, rushing down my cheeks in a flood.
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I ran back to my dorm, the broken pieces clutched tightly in my arms.
Why did they have to be so cruel?
What have I ever done to them to deserve this?
The questions swirled in my mind, but I pushed them aside, searching through my toolbox as I tried to focus on the task at hand. I have to fix my project, no matter what.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" I muttered, frustration and despair boiling over as I slumped to the floor, my back against the wall as tears streamed down my face when I realized I don't have any glue or tape to work with.
The tears came in waves, each one a reminder of the helplessness I was feeling. I hugged my knees tightly, trying to anchor myself to something, anything. But it was no use.
I don't know when I started having a panic attack, but it hits hard—my chest tight, my breathing ragged. My head was spinning, overwhelmed with fear and sadness. And then—out of nowhere—the door to my dorm bursts open.
"Gemini!" A very worried looking Percy was next to me in an instant, wrapping his arms around me on the floor, steady and warm. "What happened?"
"I'm so sorry it got broken. You worked so hard on it," I managed to gasp through my hiccups, the words blurred by tears as the weight of my emotions tumbled free.
"Sheesh! Breathe, slowly," he instructed, his voice calm and soothing. "You're okay. Don't worry about that right now," he soothed, drawing gentle circles on my back, "We can always work on it again, okay?"
As he drew circles on my back, I felt my panic slowly recede. Percy's presence was a comfort, a reminder that I wasn't alone. When he pulled me away from his chest to look at my face, I nodded, feeling a bit better. A gentle smile spread across his face, and he ruffled my hair.
"Good boy," he said, his voice low and soothing.
Percy stayed like that with me for a while, letting my tears run their course. He didn't bombard me with questions or feel the need to fill the quiet space with words; he just sat beside me, that unreadable expression was now replaced with care and worry. It was more than I could have hoped for.
Ohio rushed in soon after, her brows furrowed in worry and concern.
"What happened, Gem? Are you okay?" She quickly assessed the room, taking in the remnants of my shattered project.
Percy's expression didn't change, but he stood up, his movements fluid and deliberate. He asked Ohio to look after me, his voice low and even, before turning to me with a brief, "Sit tight, I'll be back." And then he was gone, leaving me and Ohio alone.
After some time, I got an email from my professor. She heard about what happened to my project, and she was granting me an extension and allowing me to submit the next day after working on it again. Relief washed over me. I was really grateful, to her and mostly Percy because I knew he'd gone to her.
Two days have passed since then. Two whole days and I've heard nothing from Percy. No calls, no texts, no sign of life. I've tried reaching out, going to his house, and even stopping by their private room on campus, but it's like he's vanished into thin air. Penelope was the only one I managed to run into, and she claimed she hadn't seen him either. But I couldn't shake the feeling she was holding something back, her words were laced with subtle evasiveness.
Penelope had told me to just wait, that Percy would show himself when he was ready. But the waiting is killing me. I hate not knowing what he's up to, where he's been. Why did he leave without a word? How long will he be gone? Did his sudden departure have anything to do with what happened with my project? The questions were swirling in my mind, tormenting me. Those bullies haven't bothered me at all since he left—thankfully—but now, I just need to know he's okay. I need to thank him for helping me through one of the darkest moment I've had faced in a long time.