Morning came far too quickly. Beams of light pierced through the cracks in the wooden walls, playing across my closed eyelids. I groaned softly, turning my face away, reluctant to let go of sleep’s warmth.

  For some reason, it had been the best sleep I’d had in years. Deep. Uninterrupted. Peaceful. More importantly, it was safe. And that scared me more than anything

  I hadn’t woken up at every noise. I hadn’t been half-conscious, waiting for danger. I had let go.

  That wasn’t like me.

  As I drifted back into awareness, I felt it.

  A hand.

  Wrapped around me.

  For a split second, my body tensed—but then, recognition flooded in.

  Gemini.

  Memories of the last few days replayed in my mind. The way he had appeared out of nowhere, effortlessly earning my trust. His teasing. His arrogance. Our kiss.

  A strange mix of emotions stirred inside me—sadness, warmth, happiness, confusion.

  It had only been few days, yet it felt like so much longer. His arm around me gave me a feeling I hadn’t known in years—comfort, security, maybe even happiness. It was like an armor shielding me from the cruel world outside.

  Armor made of warmth. Made of something dangerously close to peace.

  I remembered last night—his body, his scar, the intimacy we shared… and my collapse.

  For some reason, I felt guilty. Guilty for not being able to handle something as simple as touch. Guilty for not having the ability to return his warmth.

  It wasn’t the first time. I’d broken before. Maybe I was too damaged for this—too hollow to ever feel a real closeness.

  Maybe I’ll never feel intimacy without collapsing.

  Maybe I was just destined to disappoint people. To drive them away. And in the end, they’d give up on me… Leave me.

  Or worse—betray me.

  But then something inside me whispered “It could be different with him.”

  That was true. Everything about him was different.

  I turned toward him. He was still asleep, peaceful in a way that felt unreal.

  Slowly, I reached out—fingertips brushing the shape of his arm, just to feel his warmth. To prove he was real.

  In a world where people only took, where trust was a weakness, where I had learned to survive alone—

  Someone had chosen to care.

  And that was terrifying.

  And… maybe, just maybe—beautiful.

  I shifted slightly, pressing my back into his chest, syncing with the steady rhythm of his breathing. I stayed like that for a while, savouring the warmth before my mind could ruin it.

  Maybe I even drifted back to sleep. I don’t know how long I lay there, only that, for once, I didn’t want to move.

  Before I even noticed, three more days had passed.

  Gemini had been his usual self—flirty, irritating, trying too hard to be funny. Just the walking embodiment of warmth and light.

  And no matter how much I pretended to be annoyed… I’d never been happier..

  But in between the banter and teasing, there were moments—brief and unguarded—when his charm slipped. Where the laughter faded.

  And that’s when I saw glimpses of something deeper. The real him maybe…

  The one who carried guilt. Maybe grief. Maybe he lost someone… or killed someone.

  I didn’t know. But I wanted to.

  I wanted to understand that version of Gemini.

  The quiet one beneath the mask. The one who never joked when he thought I wasn’t looking.

  I wanted to feel that weight with him. Hear his story.

  But every time I asked, he brushed it off—“later,” “too long to explain,” “not important.”

  I still didn’t know where he came from, or why he stuck around with me.

  But one thing was crystal clear:

  He wasn’t a bad person.

  He cared. At least… about me.

  Even after I collapsed, he kept flirting. Kept teasing. Like nothing had changed.

  But he never pushed past the line. Never tried to take things further than I was ready for.

  It was like he was giving me space—to move at my own pace.

  And the way he kept going out of his way to provide me with comfort. like finding food. Stuff that was nearly impossible to find? Was heart melting.

  Yesterday, he brought me honey. Real honey.

  I hadn’t seen a bee in years, let alone tasted the real thing.

  One thing he loved was swimming in the river. Then getting himself clean.

  And he always tried, with so much damn enthusiasm, to convince me to go with him.

  But I was too stubborn to give in that easily.

  So I usually bathed just before dark, just enough light to see where I was going…and not enough for him to see much at all.

  Just to annoy him.

  Morning came, and I woke fully.

  I turned in his arms, blinking the sleep from my eyes as I faced him. His expression was peaceful, completely at ease. My fingers moved before I could stop them, tracing the sharp line of his jaw, feeling the slight roughness of his stubble.

  How does someone sleep this deeply and still survive in a world like this?

  His eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine. A lazy grin spread across his lips.

  “Morning, handsome,” I murmured, my voice still thick with sleep.

  His grin widened. “Good morning, beautiful.” He stretched slightly, then smirked. “Handsome, huh? You’ll have to call me that a lot.”

  I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. My fingers continued tracing his jaw, the movement absentminded, familiar in a way that shouldn’t have been possible.

  “Don’t push your luck,” I said, my voice still laced with sleep. “I’ll call you whatever I damn well want to call you.”

  He chuckled. “Just make sure you put ‘handsome’ in front of it. Like, you can call me a handsome jerk.”

  I laughed again, shaking my head. Even half-asleep, he was just as cocky as ever.

  “Alright, fine,” I sighed. “You’re my handsome jerk… is that better?”

  His smirk turned smug. “Yes, that’s good. How was your sleep?”

  I stretched, letting out a small sigh. “Better than I knew was possible. The last few days… it’s like my body finally remembered what real sleep feels like.”

  Narrowing my eyes playfully, I added, “Finally, you seem to be good for something—not completely useless after all.”

  He let out an exaggerated gasp. “I’m happy you finally noticed.” His expression shifted, mock-serious. “Believe me, I’m good at many things.”

  He gave a fake cough, then added, “for example, you slept that well because you knew an incredibly charming, awesome knight was watching over you.”

  I huffed, pretended to disagree. “Excuse me? Have you seen yourself when you sleep? You’re practically a corpse. Completely unconscious. If danger showed up, you’d be the last person I could count on.”

  I exhaled dramatically. “If someone attacks, you’re the first to go. I’ll probably be the one saving your ass—not the other way around.”

  He pursed his lips like a sulking kid.

  “That’s not true. No one has the guts to attack me. Not even when I’m asleep.”

  I felt victorious in our little verbal duel. “I’m not buying it, Mr. Badass.”

  I quirked a brow, tilting my head. “Honestly, sometimes I wonder how you’ve survived this long with that attitude.”

  I leaned in slightly. “So? Anything else you’re good at?”

  He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Just wait until you see what else I can do… when I take off your clothes.”

  His laugh burst out, sharp and bright, before I could even react.

  I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks heated. Damn him.

  He grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. “Do you know what I’m thinking about?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Hmm... let me guess. You’d like to kiss me right now, wouldn’t you?”

  “No, not that.” His smirk widened. “Seems like you just can’t get enough of me, Huh?”

  I scoffed, rolling onto my back, looking up at him. “Please. You're the one always clinging to me." I flicked his arm lightly. "So? What are you thinking about, then?"?”

  His gaze sharpened slightly, lips quirking. “Several days ago, when we first met you told me maybe I was handsome enough to attract zombies. Remember?”

  He tilted his head slightly, watching my reaction. “So... do you consider yourself a zombie now?”

  I chuckled, remembering that ridiculous conversation. "Yeah... I remember."

  I shrugged lazily. "Because I don't like cocky, smartass guys."

  I hesitated, then sighed dramatically. “But for some weird, tragic reason… you grew on me.” I gave him a sideways glance, grinning. Guess my standards are falling apart—just like the rest of the world.”

  His eyes widened in mock betrayal. “What a shame. I’m in bed with a liar.” He shook his head. “I guess you’ll have to kiss me again so I can forgive you for lying.”

  I rolled my eyes, but I wasn’t annoyed. Not really. I liked his confidence. His teasing. The way he made the world feel a little lighter.

  Reaching out, I grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking him closer. “I consider this a pity kiss.” I smirked wide, tilting my head. "Just because you're desperate for my attention."

  His smirk didn’t even flicker. "No, no, don’t get me wrong." He leaned in a little closer.

  "I just hate seeing you owe me for being wrong. So, naturally... I’ll make you kiss me to make up for your crimes."

  I huffed dramatically, pretending to be put out by his demand. But my fingers still gripped his shirt. My lips hovered close to his.

  A challenge flickered in my gaze.

  “Fine, you cocky bastard. I guess I am kind enough this morning to give you a kiss.’”

  The hesitation lasted only a moment. Old instincts whispered warnings, but then… nothing happened.

  The fear, the hesitation, the uncertainty—all of it melted into the kiss. My body responded before my mind could catch up, my fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. The playful banter, the cocky attitude that had defined our relationship so far—gone. In its place was something raw, something primal, something that made my heart hammer inside my chest.

  When the kiss finally broke, I was breathless. My heart pounded like a drum, erratic and wild.

  But then… a thought crept in, tightening my chest.

  I hesitated, chewing my lip before softly mumbling, “Can I ask a question?”

  Gemini’s lazy grin spread across his lips, completely unfazed. “You can,” he teased. “But the answer won’t be free of charge.”

  I rolled my eyes, but something about his ease, the way he played with words so effortlessly, sent an unsettling feeling through me. It was too smooth. Too natural. Like he had said these things before—to someone else.

  I took a slow breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “Tell me the truth.”

  “Are you like this with all the women you become friends with?” I asked. “Do you sleep with them as soon as you get to know them?” I shook my head before he could answer. “No, no, that’s not my business. Just tell me—am I some kind of hobby for you? Just another passing interest?”

  I hated how vulnerable I sounded.

  I caught one of those rare moments again—his smirk faded. The amusement in his eyes lingered, but when he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight I wasn’t expecting—mature, steady, and warm. The real Gemini behind the mask. The one I wanted to know.

  "I don’t want to lie to you," he said, meeting my gaze without flinching. "I’ve always had... a way with women."

  I felt my stomach tighten.

  “But…” He exhaled, his voice softening “That was a long time ago. And the reason I was drawn to you…” He hesitated, just for a moment, then admitted, “You look exactly like someone very precious to me. At first, I thought you were her. The resemblance is unreal.”

  My heart stilled.

  “Who is she?” I asked quickly. “Your girlfriend? Your wife? Where is she? Are you looking for her?”

  The questions tumbled out before I could stop them. I didn’t even let him answer before throwing the next one at him.

  Gemini chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “I’ll answer all your questions one by one.” He stretched, flashing that damn smirk again. “But right now, I’m starving. What would you like for breakfast, my queen?”

  realization hitting me all at once. I had just been interrogating him like a jealous wife. Heat rushed to my face. Eager to shake off the embarrassment, I jumped at the change of subject, happily playing along as if I hadn’t just been prying into his past.

  I blinked. “Oh, now I’m your queen, am I?”

  He grinned. “Always.”

  Despite myself, a small laugh escaped me. But doubt lingered. Maybe I had sounded jealous. Maybe I didn’t want to hear more about this mystery woman. Maybe what I feared most… was his answer.

  That he might leave me.

  I crossed my arms, deciding to play along. “Fine. The queen demands pancakes. With maple syrup. Lots of maple syrup.”

  Tilting my head up, I added a dramatic flair, channelling my inner royalty with as much arrogance as I could muster.

  Gemini scoffed. “Your Majesty, I know your wish is my command, but I hate to break it to you… I’m not a genie in a bottle.”

  He tilted his head sarcastically, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of nowhere, my queen.”

  I scowled. “Hey, I thought we were talking about wishes.”

  He burst into laughter. “Yeah, but I meant something realistic.”

  I huffed, pouting slightly. He was teasing me now, mocking my absurd request, and yet… I didn’t mind. I found myself giggling softly like a kid, shaking my head at my own ridiculousness.

  Pancakes and maple syrup? In a world like this? I really was losing it.

  “Alright, alright,” I sighed, shaking my head. “I got carried away. But don’t laugh at me, you jerk.”

  Gemini laughed even louder. “You’re fun to be with, especially in this messed-up world.”

  Heat crawled up my neck. I rolled my eyes to cover up the blush creeping onto my face, but I knew I was failing miserably.

  Because truthfully? I was enjoying every moment with him.

  Even in this godforsaken world, he made me forget the loneliness, the fear, the never-ending struggle to survive.

  “Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, trying to sound unimpressed. “You know you love spending time with me, despite my sharp tongue and stubborn nature.”

  Gemini’s smirk turned wicked. “Your sharp tongue felt nice when it was in my mouth few minutes ago.”

  I choked on air. My entire face burned.

  “You—” I started, but he just grinned wider, clearly enjoying my flustered reaction.

  “You know damn well what you’re doing,” punching him in the chest. “You’re just trying to embarrass me with your bluntness.”

  He shrugged. “Is it working?”

  I glared at him. “Yes, you asshole.”

  Gemini let out a triumphant laugh, then suddenly widened his eyes in mock surprise. “You know what? Just this once, because I am starting to like you, I’m gonna make you an omelette.”

  He clapped his hands together as if announcing something profound. “Can you believe that?”

  I stared at him, unimpressed. “Wow, how generous.”

  He grinned. “I know, right?”

  I snorted, shaking my head. “Seriously, an omelette? I gave him a pointed look. "I bet you’d look pretty ridiculous trying to make one with that arrogant smirk of yours."

  "Ridiculous, huh?" He leaned back lazily. I make you eat your words after you taste my magical cooking.”

  He stretched before pushing himself up. “I’m heading to the bush to find some eggs and mushrooms. Want to come, or would you rather stay here?”

  I considered his offer, weighing the pros and cons. On one hand, I was still tired and didn’t feel like trudging through the woods. On the other hand, scavenging for food with him sounded… exciting.

  “Hmmm...” I tapped my chin dramatically. “I’d come with you, I guess. As much as I’d love to stay here and rest, we do need food and supplies.”

  He leaned closer, grinning. “You should rest more if you’re still tired. I need you at full power for tonight.”

  Then, the bastard blinked at me.

  My heart jumped.

  My heart skipped a beat. shaking my head to cover up the heat rising in my face. Damn him.

  Still, the words lingered in my mind. The blush creeping onto my cheeks gave me away. I forced myself to stay calm, pretending to be indifferent. With a teasing tone, I shot back, “Fine, fine. I guess I’ll stay here and get some rest, then. Only because you need me at ‘full power’ for tonight.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  I gave a half-smile, trying to sound cheeky. “But what exactly do you have planned that requires me to be at ‘full power?”

  He smirked. “Tonight is your turn to keep watch while I sleep.” He laughed Then, without waiting for my response, he turned toward the door. “I better go get the food ready”

  I blinked. Then scowled.

  That bastard.

  I let out a frustrated sigh, feeling ridiculous for getting flustered over his stupid words. It was like I had failed to tease him—like he had turned the entire thing back on me without breaking a sweat.

  But a chuckle slipped from my lips as he disappeared into the woods. Annoying. Infuriating. Amusing.

  I shook my head and stretched out on the bed, deciding to use the time alone to rest and think about him.

  The soft rustling of leaves and distant chirping of birds filled the silence as I let myself drift in and out of light sleep. The sounds of the river, the occasional creaking of the old cabin—it was… peaceful.

  Time slipped by unnoticed. It was impossible to tell how long he had been gone.

  Then—footsteps. Steady. Controlled.

  I sat up, listening intently. Gemini.

  I could almost see the smug look on his face before he even stepped through the doorway. Undoubtedly proud of himself for whatever he had managed to find.

  When he finally reappeared, grinning like he had just conquered the entire forest, I rolled my eyes. “You took your sweet time. Let me guess—you somehow managed to find the world’s best eggs and mushrooms?”

  His grin widened. “Actually, I did. If the mushrooms don’t happen to be poisonous and kill us, they should be damn tasty because they look very good.”

  I paused. “…Wait, what?”

  Gemini wiggled his eyebrows, looking far too pleased with himself.

  A chuckle escaped me, but it was mixed with slight concern. “Oh, really? And how exactly do you plan to test that?” I sat up straighter in my bed, eyeing the mushrooms he brought in. “Are you so confident these mushrooms won’t kill us?”

  He shrugged without a care. "I have no idea. I’m betting I'll survive. You... might need some luck." Then laughed. "Do you know anything about mushrooms?"

  I blinked. Then scoffed. “Of course I don’t know which mushrooms are safe to eat. I’m not a goddamn mycologist.” I gestured at the bundle in his hands. “I only know one type of edible mushroom, and that—” I pointed at his collection, “—is not it. You do realize if we eat the wrong kind, we could end up with food poisoning, hallucinations, or, you know, die?”

  Gemini flashed a carefree grin. “Or… we could have a never-ending laughter. Hahaha.”

  I huffed, this time genuinely annoyed. "Throw the mushrooms out. We can only have the eggs."

  “No way” He groaned dramatically. “I went through a lot to find these.” Then, with ridiculous flair, he held the mushrooms high. “Let’s see if they’re safe or poisonous.”

  My eyes widened as Gemini casually popped a mushroom into his mouth, not really believing he’d go through with it.

  "Jesus Christ, you actually did it!" I blurted, staring at him in horror. "Are you insane? What if that thing is toxic and you just poisoned yourself?"

  He just shrugged. "Then at least you know not to eat it."

  I gawked at him, completely dumbfounded. "Yeah, thanks for taking one for the team, I guess.” I crossed my arms, really worried. "But seriously—you need to stay awake and tell me if you feel anything weird."

  I jabbed a finger at him. “If your nose starts bleeding or your skin turns purple, I’m not dealing with it, okay?”

  I had barely finished speaking when his eyes suddenly went wide. He gasped, clutching his throat, and started coughing violently. His entire body convulsed, and a look of sheer terror crossed his face.

  Panic shot through me like lightning.

  "Oh, god, no. That's not good. That’s definitely not good!" My hands trembled as I rushed to his side. "What the hell did you do? Is your throat closing up? Are you having trouble breathing?"

  His coughing worsened, and then—

  He collapsed.

  My heart stopped.

  "No, no, no, no!" I fell to my knees beside him, shaking his shoulders. "Don’t you dare pass out on me, you idiot. Stay awake. Breathe. Come on, stay awake!"

  But he didn’t respond.

  He just lay there, completely still.

  Terror gripped me. "Wake up! Goddamn it, I told you not to eat that damn mushroom! Wake up, please, wake up!"

  Tears blurred my vision. My breathing turned shallow, frantic. I couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not after everything.

  The memory of him was flashing in my mind—the warmth of his touch, the way he made me feel safe, the rare happiness I had found in his presence. I wasn’t ready for this to be over.

  My voice cracked as I choked out, "You promised you’d protect me. I don’t want to lose you this soon. Damn it, wake up! You can’t… you can’t just leave me. Not like this!"

  A soft sound broke through my sobs.

  A… giggle?

  My hands froze where they gripped his shirt.

  Slowly, I lifted my head, blinking away the tears.

  Gemini was… laughing.

  His chest shook with muffled chuckles, his shoulders trembling, his mouth curving into an infuriating smirk.

  I stared at him, my brain refusing to catch up. "You… you bastard."

  Fury ignited inside me. I punched him—hard—right on the head.

  "You absolute piece of shit!" I shouted, shoving him again for good measure. "You scared the hell out of me!"

  Gemini just grinned through the pain, rubbing the spot where I had hit him. "I like you too, Ellie."

  I wanted to kill him. I also wanted to cry. Maybe both.

  Instead, I settled for pushing him away while also wiping at my tears. "Of course I like you, you idiot! I was scared shitless that you were poisoned and dying on me!"

  His smirk widened. "Do you want to kiss me now that you know I’m okay, or were you just afraid you wouldn’t get to eat my magical omelette?"

  I opened my mouth, ready to cuss him out, but then hesitated. A mischievous thought crossed my mind.

  I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, absolutely. I was only worried about your omelette. It would be a shame to waste all that effort."

  His expression flickered, just for a second. But before I could relish my victory, the truth slipped out before I could stop it. "don’t you ever die on me!"

  His smug grin turned wicked. “Well then, I guess the only cure is another kiss. Strictly for medicinal purposes, of course.”

  I let out an exasperated sigh, but I couldn’t stop the small chuckle that escaped me.

  Shaking my head, I sighed, moving closer to him. I placed a hand on his cheek, staring into those infuriatingly confident eyes. "You’re such a drama queen, you know that?"

  Before he could answer, I closed the distance.

  The first time we kissed, every cell in my body had resisted by instinct. But now? My mind was getting used to it.

  It was letting me feel.

  Letting me experience something I thought was long dead inside me.

  The kiss deepened, slow and warm, and for a moment, I let myself drown in it.

  When we finally pulled apart, I slowly opened my eyes, expecting him to brush his fingers across my face, maybe whisper something romantic.

  Instead, his voice shattered my little fantasy.

  " Alright, enough kissing for now. Get up and make a fire. Don’t be lazy. "

  I pulled back, glaring. "Seriously?"

  He just grinned. "Come on, my queen. Chop chop."

  I let out a huff of mock frustration, shaking my head at his ability to switch from romance to bossing me around in an instant.

  "Fine, fine. I’ll make the damn fire. You’re lucky I don’t mind playing the helpless damsel sometimes."

  I stood up and began gathering dry branches and twigs, preparing to start a fire. Once I had everything set up, I pulled out my most precious tool—a small magnifying glass.

  Carefully, I angled the glass toward the tinder, coaxing a tiny spark until it caught, flickering to life. I watched as small flames danced in the fire pit, their glow growing stronger.

  “Alright, fire’s up and burning. Happy now?”

  Behind me, I heard Gemini chuckle. "Now that’s impressive. Fire-making skills and a killer right hook. My queen, you never cease to amaze me."

  I stepped aside, arms crossed, watching as he started preparing the so-called ‘magical omelette.’ A mix of amusement and curiosity played in my expression.

  “Okay, Mr. Chef, show me how it’s done.” I smirked. “I can’t wait to see how this ‘magical’ omelette turns out.”

  “just know that my cooking skill sucks” he said proudly

  It didn’t surprise me. I watched him start cooking with a lot of concentration as if he is cooking for the first time and not long after he shout. “Food’s ready.”

  I eyed the omelette sceptically. It actually looked good. And smelled even better.

  With exaggerated dramatics, I took a deep breath, pretending to weigh my options before finally caving in. I lifted a piece omelette with two pieces of wood like chopstick to my mouth and took a tentative bite. It was… good. Actually, really good.

  “You know, you weren’t lying for once. This omelet is damn delicious.” I took another bite, savouring the taste. “I might have to rethink my stance on your cooking skills.”

  Gemini gave a lazy grin. “I’m happy to hear that. Wait until you see my skills in bed.”

  I choked.

  I felt the blush creep up my neck, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.

  I lifted an eyebrow, leaning back with a smirk. “Well, we’ll see. I doubt that can impress me.”

  For the first time, his smirk faltered.

  His face twisted into a dramatic frown, his expression suddenly resembling that of a grumpy child. “Then who can impress you?”

  I blinked. That reaction was… kind of adorable.

  I bit my lip to keep from laughing at his fake jealousy, my voice teasing as I shrugged. “Oh, just a few admirers here and there. Back when the world was normal, I had quite the fan club. But hey, I can’t be expected to remember every admirer, right?”

  Gemini leaned back, nodding slowly. “Oh, gotcha. Just wondering if they were human or infected. Hahaha.”

  I rolled my eyes, but damn it, I laughed. His ability to flip every argument in his Favor with a joke was truly unbelievable.

  The fire had burned low, crackling softly as the embers glowed in the fading light. Our makeshift food was finished, leaving us both full and, content.

  Gemini lay back on the grass, stretching lazily, a relaxed air about him. “By the way,” he mused, “when I first got back earlier, you said something… something like ‘jize rist’ or something?”

  I paused, thinking for a moment before shooting him a skeptical look. “…You mean ‘Jesus Christ’?”

  His face lit up. “Yep, that’s it! What does it mean?”

  I blinked. “You’re joking, right?”

  His expression remained completely neutral—if anything, a little too neutral.

  I studied his face for a long second before deadpanning, “Are you seriously telling me you don’t know who Jesus is?” I raised an eyebrow. “What rock have you been living under. What religion do you follow yourself?”

  His eyes widened. “Oh, wait—is ‘Jesus Christ’ your religion?” He seemed genuinely caught off guard. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  A laugh burst out of me, louder than I expected. The way he said it—so careful, so genuinely apologetic—made it sound like he thought I personally worshiped Jesus or something. But the sincerity in his voice was what really got me.

  I shook my head, still chuckling. “There’s no need to apologize. I’m not religious—haven’t been since the world ended.” I exhaled softly. “Kinda hard to believe in a higher power when you realize no one is there to help you.”

  I sighed, my voice softening. “The religion is called Christianity. And Jesus… well, he’s kind of a big deal. He’s the one who started it all.”

  With a serious look and a thoughtful pose, he nodded. "Is that so? Thanks for telling me. I had no idea."

  I tilted my head, studying him. “You’re seriously telling me you’ve never heard of him? Not even once?” narrowed my eyes. “Are you pulling my leg?”

  He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, as if trying to dig through distant memories. Then, gazing at the sky, he said, “I must confess, I don’t know much about this religion.” His brow furrowed slightly. “But now that you mention it, I feel like I’ve heard the name before… somewhere, a long time ago.”

  His fingers ran through his hair, frustration flashing across his face. “Knowing this makes me question a lot of other things. There are… puzzles I need to figure out.”

  He turned his gaze back to me, and for a moment, his usual carefree demeanor faded.

  “Personally, I’m not religious. But in my homeland, people pray to the god of fire.”

  I blinked. “The god of… fire?”

  Now I wasn’t sure if he was serious or messing with me.

  I leaned forward slightly. “That sounds made up. You’re joking, right?”

  "No, Ellie, I’m serious." His voice held no trace of humour. "I was raised to respect all beliefs.” His expression darkened. “But during my journey, I’ve seen things that make me question… well, everything.”

  I stared at him, watching as something unreadable passed through his expression.

  “What have you seen?” I asked quietly. “Tell me your story—I want to know more about you.”

  I reached forward instinctively, resting my hand on his chest, searching his eyes for answers. “So… you don’t believe in God either, right?”

  His gaze flickered. He hesitated.

  Then, voice low, steady, and filled with something almost bitter, he said:

  “I don’t believe in God. And I sure as hell don't respect Him.”

  A shiver ran through me. Something about the way he said it—absolute, unwavering, full of an emotion I couldn’t quite place—made my heart pound. It wasn’t just disbelief. It was defiance.

  And then, just when I thought the conversation couldn’t get any weirder, he added, “But don’t get me wrong.” He paused, casually playing with the grass beside him. “God does exist.”

  I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. God exists in the minds of those who need to believe He does. Those weak-hearted people." I tried to sound like a total non-believer,

  then I shrugged and continued, "All those so-called religious men swear God exists. And then turn around and do the worst, most inhuman things imaginable."

  He lowered his head, staring at his hands as if searching for something invisible between his fingers. “I saw him. The God”

  I froze.

  My breath caught in my throat.

  I had no idea how to respond to that.

  I just sat there, my mouth slightly open, waiting for my brain to catch up.

  Gemini’s voice was quieter now, more distant. “I saw him in the memory of an ancient tree—The Tree—from a time before humans existed.”

  He exhaled slowly, still staring at his hands. “And somehow… I feel like I’ve seen him in another way, too.”

  A chill crept up my spine.

  I swallowed hard, trying to process what he was saying. This conversation was beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

  I had thought nothing in this world could surprise me anymore. And yet, here I was—shocked, unable to even form words.

  Finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, I asked: “You… saw God? How? When?”

  He exhaled through his nose. “It was… when I died. Or at least, I think I did.”

  His lips pressed into a thin line. "I still don't know what really happened. It was a long time ago... and yet, somehow, it wasn’t that long ago at all."

  I frowned, my thoughts spiralling. “You told me yesterday that you’ve died before.” My voice was steadier now, but my heart was still racing. “How did that happen? And how are you alive now?”

  I hesitated before adding, “And what do you mean by ‘a long time ago… but not that long ago’? That doesn’t even make sense.”

  I searched his face, looking for any sign that he was joking. But he wasn’t.

  He smirked slightly. “It’s too soon. You are not ready for it”

  I stared at him, giving my most convincing look. “Oh, believe me, I am ready. I'm dying to know”

  He met my gaze—serious now. "What’s the point in hearing my story if you won’t believe it?"

  I hesitated.

  Maybe I wouldn’t believe it. But I was still dying to hear it.

  I knew he had no reason to lie. But the whole thing already sounded... impossible.

  I shook my head slowly, signalling I didn’t know. "Why don’t you tell me, and then I’ll let you know if I believed it."

  He exhaled softly, rolling his shoulders like he was trying to shake off the weight pressing on him. "It’s a long story anyway."

  He forced a small smile. "Come on. Let’s get moving. Let’s do something else instead."

  His sudden shift in tone threw me off.

  I was still sitting there, stuck in my own head, trying to piece together the fact that someone had casually claimed...he'd seen God.

  The thought made me dizzy. But I knew one thing for certain.

  Gemini was no ordinary man.

  And I had no idea just how deep his story truly went.

  Gemini stretched, rolling his shoulders as he let out a satisfied sigh. “Speaking of activities, I’m all dirty and sweaty. I’m going to wash up in the river. Can you clean up the mess?”

  I barely heard him. My mind was still tangled in the web of everything he had just told me. Pieces of his cryptic words kept replaying in my head, things I couldn’t quite make sense of.

  But then his words fully registered.

  Clean up duty? Oh, that sneaky—

  Before I could argue, my mouth had already spoken for me. "Promise me you’ll tell me everything. Promise."

  Gemini’s gaze met mine, steady and unwavering. "I promise, hun. But first, I need something from you before I make you even more confused."

  My heartbeat quickened. What could he possibly want?

  "Anything."

  A slow smirk curled on his lips. "I need a map. If you have one."

  Of all the things I expected him to ask for—and to be honest, most of them kinky—a map wasn’t on the list.

  "I have a map. I’ll get it right away."

  Gemini chuckled. "Don’t worry, no rush. Let me wash up first, and then we’ll check the map together."

  Before I could react, he pinched my cheek—hard.

  I yelped, jerking back. “Oww! What was that for, you jerk? That hurt!”

  His grin widened. “Just reminding you that you voluntarily signed up for clean-up duty.”

  Oh, the smugness.

  I gasped, clutching my chest like he’d betrayed me. " Wow. Cook me one half-decent omelette and suddenly I'm your servant? Typical. Make the mess, then leave me to deal with it."

  I rolled my eyes but stood up, stretching. "Fine, fine, I’ll clean up your mess. But you owe me for this, you know that?"

  Gemini raised an eyebrow. "And what do you want in return?"

  I gave a lazy grin, pretending to think it over even though I already knew exactly what I wanted.

  "Oh, I can think of a few things… but I’ll start with hearing your story from the beginning. For now, go wash up and leave the cleaning to me."

  Gemini stepped backward toward the river, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Deal. but make sure you don’t peek while I’m naked."

  I snorted and smacked his arm lightly. "Trust me, I have self-control. I won’t be looking, you cheeky bastard. Just get in that river and clean up."

  But then…

  He pulled his shirt over his head.

  Right in front of me.

  I quickly averted my gaze, folding my arms as if I was completely unbothered. "Yeah, yeah, get on with it. I’m not looking, remember?"

  Except I kind of wanted to.

  He kept moving toward the river, stripping off more clothes as he went. I scoffed, forcing myself to stay cool—but the sight of his bare skin made my face just a little too warm.

  I spun around, throwing up my hands. "Nope! Not looking. Not interested. Completely indifferent!"

  Gemini smirked, as if sensing my internal struggle.

  "You really are a cocky bastard, aren’t you?" I muttered, arms crossed tight. "Can’t you wait until you’re actually by the river before you start playing the world’s saddest striptease?"

  He paused mid-step, shooting me a wicked grin over his shoulder. "Oh? Is there a problem? Am I making you uncomfortable?" Without waiting for an answer, he started walking back toward me, slow and deliberate — like he was daring me to run.

  I was about to retort when something caught my eye.

  Scars.

  A long, intricate pattern of scars ran from his left wrist to mid-arm, partially burned into his skin— winding, twisting, almost like ancient markings.

  My teasing expression faded.

  I took a slow step forward, drawn toward the scars without even realizing it.

  "No, you’re not making me uncomfortable…" My voice came out distracted, almost automatic, my eyes fixed on the scars. "I just… hadn’t noticed them before. What happened?"

  I reached for his hand, my fingers brushing over the rough skin as he casually slipped off his pants with one hand.

  I almost didn’t notice.

  Almost.

  But I quickly pulled my focus back to his arm.

  Gemini barely glanced at the scars. "Oh, this? It’s nothing. A nice gift from a dead friend." He rubbed his chin, muttering under his breath, "Dead? Maybe not dead yet… not sure."

  I frowned. "A gift from a dead friend—or maybe alive, huh? That doesn’t sound like something you should just brush off as 'nothing'..."

  His answer was cryptic. Too cryptic.

  I stared at him, waiting for more, but he didn’t elaborate.

  Instead, my traitorous eyes flicked—just for a second—down toward his lower waist area before I snapped them back to his hand like nothing happened.

  He rubbed his neck. "Trust me, princess— my life’s been so twisted and screwed up, even if someone laid it all out for me, I still wouldn't believe it."

  I scoffed. "Try me."

  A knowing smirk tugged at his lips, but there was something else hidden beneath it. Something… heavier.

  "I promise I’ll explain someday—when you’re ready for it."

  I let out a slow breath, unsure whether to feel frustrated or intrigued.

  Maybe both.

  He stepped forward, peeling off the last piece of fabric, standing completely bare in front of me. I barely reacted—at least, that’s what I told myself. My gaze flickered, instinctively tracing the scars that mapped his body. They were a stark reminder of a life that had been anything but kind.

  Still, despite the moment’s weight, I somehow managed to keep my sarcasm intact.

  "Alright, cowboy, I get it," I drawled. "You’re mysterious, you’ve been through hell, and your life’s more messed up than I can probably imagine. But right now? You’re just standing there, in your glorious nakedness, distracting me from an actual conversation."

  Gemini chuckled. His lips curled into a mischievous smirk. " You might want to stop staring at my package, you little pervert."

  Oh, for fuck’s sake….

  I rolled my eyes, barely holding back a grin. "Yeah, makes perfect sense. I'm the pervert now."

  I gave him a mock-nasty look. "My gaze slips for half a second and suddenly I'm indecent. While you're out here in your birthday suit, moving like it's a public service announcement—and somehow I'm the one with no shame?"

  Gemini laughed. "Okay, okay, don’t get offended. I take it back." He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with mischief. "You can look… but you can’t touch."

  I narrowed my eyes at him, a smirk creeping onto my face. "Wow. What a Privilege. looking, but no touching? Huh?"

  "The privilege is all mine, princess." He flashed an even cockier grin. "Well, maybe if you give me a kiss, I might even let you touch."

  Damn him. Why did he always have to look so smug? And why, against all logic, did I actually like it?

  I should’ve been rolling my eyes, shoving him away—but instead, I was... bantering.

  Worse than that, I was considering his offer and enjoying the challenge.

  "A kiss, huh?" I mused, tapping my chin. ""A kiss for the chance to squeeze your ego so hard you’ll be begging for mercy." I nodded seriously, like I had made up my mind. "Sounds like a pretty good deal to me."

  I stepped closer, my fingers brushing lightly against his chest.

  His skin was warm. Firm. Almost too inviting.

  Without thinking, I traced one of the scars running across him—then, before I could second-guess myself, my lips crashed into his.

  The kiss was hungry.

  Heated.

  Electric.

  His lips were just as cocky as the rest of him—but I met his intensity with equal fire.

  As we kissed, my hand drifted lower, brushing against his growing hardness.

  I half-smiled against his mouth, feeling the way his breath hitched against mine.

  The way his body responded sent a thrill surging through me.

  I pulled away slightly, my breath uneven, my lips tingling—but I didn’t remove my hand just yet, watching him carefully, enjoying the way even he couldn’t hide how much he wanted me.

  "Aw, look at you." I murmured, my voice low. "One kiss and you're already falling apart." I laughed softly, cheeks burning. “You’re so easy to rile up. Adorable."

  Gemini’s voice dropped, a little rough. "Maybe I’m just strong... Or maybe you’re more dangerous than you realize."

  I smirked, tilting my head. "Or maybe you’re just a big softie deep down."

  His grin turned wicked. "Pretty sure a 'big hardie' would be more accurate, princess."

  I barked out a laugh, shaking my head at his shamelessness. I continued teasing him, my movements slow, deliberate. His breath grew heavier, his smirk faltering ever so slightly.

  "Hey, hey—stop that," he said, his voice laced with mock protest. "It was supposed to be just a touch, not a full-on seduction."

  I raised an eyebrow, my hand still moving in slow, steady strokes. "Oh? You want me to stop now? But it looks like you're enjoying this way too much."

  Gemini exhaled sharply, trying so hard to act cool—like he wasn’t affected at all. But I could see right through him.

  He cleared his throat, forcing nonchalance. "Well… I do like it. But I’d like it even more with other parts."

  He shot me a devilish grin. "Wouldn’t that be a waste of abilities? You do know I have hands too, right? " And he laughed.

  I let out a laugh too, shaking my head. ""You’re impossible, you know that?" I shot him a look. "Do you always come up with these ridiculous jokes when you're thinking with the wrong head?"

  Gemini leaned back lazily, his grin cocky. "That’s the perk of being a man, princess." Two heads—twice the brainpower. He winked.

  "Shame you can't relate."

  Then, just like that, his expression shifted. His smirk faded, replaced by something thoughtful, almost distant.

  "In my case..." he muttered under his breath, almost to himself, "maybe even one brain more."

  I stopped what I was doing, "Wait… what’s up with the sudden mood shift? Did I say something wrong?" My brow furrowing as I studied his face. "And an extra brain? You lost me there, cowboy."

  Gemini exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "Yeah, I still don’t quite get it myself either. Please don’t mind me." His usual teasing smirk returned as he stood up. "You’re absolutely amazing princess." He stretched lazily. "I’m heading to the river. I’ll be waiting If you’re brave enough to join me."

  I watched him walk away, feeling a nagging curiosity at his sudden change in demeanor. But I let it go, deciding to give him space.

  Gesturing toward his head with a smirk of my own, I called out, "Alright, cowboy. Go take your cold dip in the river—maybe wash away whatever’s got you all serious up there."

  He lifted a hand in a lazy wave, then stepped into the water, wading deeper and deeper.

  I sighed, shaking my head. The man was a mystery, that was for sure. But as much as his sudden mood swings confused me, I couldn’t deny that he intrigued me.

  I finished cleaning up, my mind still replaying his words. Even the extra brain. What the hell did that mean? He always did that—dropping half cryptic, half nonsense lines, that somehow made me question everything, only to dodge my questions right after.

  But before I could dwell on it any longer—A sound.

  My body tensed instantly.

  Voices.

  They were faint, coming from somewhere in the bushes. My heart lurched. My fingers curled into fists as my pulse spiked. I snapped my head toward the noise, straining my ears.

  Moving carefully, I took a slow step forward, straining to listen—trying to determine what kind of danger I was dealing with.

  Infected? Or something worse—humans?