Third Person's POV.
And just like that, days bled into weeks, and the calendar flipped into a new month. The established rhythm of Percy and Gemini's life—the quiet mornings, the shared work ethic, the private moments—provided a necessary bulwark against the outside world.
Percy was deeply entrenched in his work at Aethel Designs, solidifying the new supply chain and preparing for a major funding round. He maintained a strict, professional barrier against his mother's attempts to re-engage, treating her constant phone calls and veiled criticisms like background noise. He'd simply send a brief text to his father: Mother is at again. Please talk to her. I'm busy. Let's have lunch next week.
Meanwhile, Gemini was rounding up final exams for his third year, his focus absolute. He spent long, dedicated hours in the library with Ohio, fuelled by coffee and the promise of summer freedom. His social and academic structure was his anchor, the only aspect of his life that remained entirely his own merit.
The end of the semester brought with it a wave of impending graduations among their circle. Penelope was set to graduate with honors in Fashion Design, and Mark, expectedly, was also graduating with honors in Computer Engineering. The entire group was buzzing with anticipation for the formal ceremonies.
But the excitement was tinged with an unresolved tension due to two names that hadn't been spoken aloud in their shared space for months: Daphne and Cole.
A year ago, after Percy's initial public steps toward Gemini and his subsequent break with the family's expectations, Daphne had packed a suitcase and abruptly decided to leave the city. Her decision was rooted in the painful realization that her lifelong, unspoken love for Percy was not only unreciprocated but actively rejected in favor of Gemini. Cole, ever loyal, had gone with her, retreating from the escalating more drama.
Their departure had created a significant gap, splitting the once-unbreakable quartet of friends. Now, with Penelope's graduation scheduled, they were both coming back to the city.
The question hung unspoken between Percy and Penelope: What did this return mean for their friendship? Could they clear the air and mend the emotional rift before Percy and Gemini left for their long-anticipated, first solo summer vacation?
The afternoon before Penelope's commencement ceremony, Gemini was on the couch, reviewing sketches, while Percy worked on his laptop nearby.
"You're twitching," Gemini observed, not looking up from his sketchbook.
Percy stopped typing abruptly. "I am not twitching. I am… anticipating a complex challenge."
"No, you're twitching," Gemini corrected, finally dropping his book. "Your jaw is clenched, and you're typing the same sentence over and over. It's because of them, isn't it?"
Percy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Penelope confirmed it. Daphne and Cole flew in this morning. They'll be at the graduation events."
"And that's the complex challenge?" Gemini asked softly. "Seeing them after all this time?"
Percy closed his laptop with a snap. He leaned back, his green eyes troubled. "It's not just seeing them, Bunny. It's the silence. A lot happened. A lot of bad things were said. They just…left. Daphne didn't respond to any of my calls after the first two weeks. And Cole just sent a vague email saying they needed space. It feels like a piece of information was torn out of our story."
"It was a difficult situation," Gemini acknowledged, moving closer to sit beside him. "Daphne was hurting, and she needed distance from the source of the pain, which, unfortunately, was you and me. And Cole chose his loyalty to her over staying here."
"But Cole was like a brother to me!" Percy argued, the betrayal evident in his voice. "He was the crazy to my calm. He knew everything about me. For him to abandon everything entirely just because...because of a change in my relationship status, it feels like a massive judgment."
"Maybe it wasn't a judgment on you, but a protective measure for her," Gemini countered gently. "It's easier to heal when you don't have constant reminders, you know? Last year was a lot, but thankfully we were able to find our way back to each other. It's different for Daphne. You should use this opportunity to smooth things out with them, Percy. Not just for the sake of the friendship, but for Penelope. It's her graduation; the whole group should be celebrating her."
"It was supposed to be their graduation too, you know?" Percy asked softly and Gemini nodded.
"Yeah, but they made the decision to take a year off. That takes courage and a lot of thinking. It was their decision, Percy."
Percy nodded slowly, absorbing the pragmatic assessment. "You're right. I don't want to bring any drama to Penelope's day. But I just don't know where to start. Do I apologize for being happy? Do I pretend nothing happened?"
Gemini placed a hand over his. "You don't have to apologize for being happy, and you don't pretend. You acknowledge everything that happened, you apologize for your part, you ask them how they have been, and you tell Cole you missed him. You treat them like the friends they were, regardless of why they left."
"I missed him," Percy confessed, the admission heavy. "I really did. When all the fights with my mother were happening, I missed having him joke about everything."
"Then tell him that," Gemini encouraged. "And tell him I'm sorry for the complicated position our relationship put him in. We can face them together, at the party tomorrow if you want. We'll clear the air, or at least start to. We can't go on vacation with this hanging over our heads."
Percy turned, pulling Gemini into a tight embrace. "God, you're the only sane person I know. How did I end up with such an incredible boyfriend?"
"It's a heavy burden, but I bear it for you," Gemini joked lightly. "Now, let's go find something ridiculously expensive to wear to this graduation party. Penelope sent me some outfits to try."