Broken Rest, Borrowed Comfort

by tksbnt

Summary:

In the quiet rush of college life—crowded hallways, late submissions, and unfamiliar faces—Fourth arrives as a transfer student, carrying the weight of starting over. By chance, he’s assigned to share a small dorm room with Gemini, someone who already seems too distant, too used to being alone. What begins as simple coexistence feels fragile, like two lives brushing past each other without truly meeting.

But their nights refuse to stay quiet. Gemini drifts through sleepless hours, choosing solitude as both comfort and shield, while Fourth cannot rest without someone beside him, unsettled by the emptiness of a bed meant for one. One leans into the silence; the other tries to escape it.

And somewhere between dim lights and whispered routines, their differences begin to blur until distance no longer feels safe, and closeness becomes something they can’t quite let go of. Because Gemini cannot sleep… and Fourth cannot sleep alone.

Notes:

Hi everyone! This is my very first fic, so I’m both nervous and really excited to finally share it with you.

I hope you’ll give this story a little bit of your time and heart, and maybe find comfort in Gemini and Fourth’s nights the same way I loved writing them. This is just a small piece of my imagination, but it means a lot to me.
Thank you so much for reading, and I really hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it! 🤍

Chapter 1

Chapter 1:

The Space Between Silence and Sunbeams

 

The morning air in the city felt different—sharper, laced with the scent of coffee and the low hum of a campus waking up. For Fourth, it felt like the first page of a book he wasn’t quite sure how to read yet.

A second-year Legal Management student, Fourth was the kind of person who carried sunshine in his pockets. He was the "baby" of his friend group, the one protected by everyone, possessing a laugh that could make even a cynical professor crack a smile. But today, the sunshine felt a little dim as he stood amidst a mountain of cardboard boxes.

His phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket.

[GC: The Phis + The Baby ⚖️🎨]

Phuwin: Fourth! Did you reach the admin? Don't get lost, I’m not there to hold your hand.

Satang: Leave him alone, Phu. Fourth, I’m so sorry we’re still at our parents' place! Art students have no rest. We'll be back tonight to help you unpack, okay?

Mark: I’m stuck in traffic. BaSci is going to be the death of me and classes haven't even started. You okay there, Fourth?

Fourth: I’m a strong independent man!! (Please help me, there are so many stairs). It’s fine, guys! Go enjoy your last few hours of freedom. I’ll see you later. Love you!

Fourth sighed, tucking his phone away. He could do this. The admin had handed him a silver key and a contract. "Room 0409," the lady had said. "Usually, students stay in the same room until graduation here. It’s a lifetime commitment."

A lifetime commitment, Fourth thought, his heart fluttering. I hope my roommate is nice. I hope we become best friends.

He spent the walk to the dorm building practicing his "approachable face" in the reflection of hallway windows. He tried a wide grin (too much), a subtle smize (too weird), and finally settled on a warm, crinkly-eyed smile. "Hi! I’m Fourth! I’m a Law student, but I promise I’m not boring!"

Room 0409.

Fourth stood before the dark wood of the door. The hallway was starting to fill with students dragging suitcases, their chatter echoing off the linoleum. Some people glanced at him—the cute new guy standing paralyzed in front of his own door.

He took a deep breath.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Silence.

"Hello...?" he whispered. Knock, knock. Maybe his roommate was out for lunch? Fourth reached for his key, but just as the metal touched the lock, the door swung inward.

The air from the room smelled of sandalwood and something cold. And then, there he was.

The man standing there looked like he had been sculpted from moonlight and bad decisions. He was devastatingly handsome—sharp jawline, a straight bridge of a nose, and messy dark hair that fell over eyes heavy with exhaustion. The dark circles under his eyes didn't make him look tired; they made him look like a tragic poet.

Fourth felt the heat rush to his cheeks. Oh no. He’s hot.

"Hi!!" Fourth chirped, his voice an octave higher than usual. "I'm Fourth Nattawa—"

"What are you doing here?"

The voice was like gravel over velvet. Cold. Deep. The man leaned against the doorframe, squinting as if Fourth’s presence was a physical migraine.

"Who are you?" the man added.

Fourth blinked, his smile faltering. "Uh, didn't they tell you? Didn't you get a notice?"

"Tell me what?"

"Well... I'm your roommate!" Fourth beamed again, trying to salvage the vibe.

The man’s expression didn't soften. It shattered into disbelief. "You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re in the wrong room."

"No, I'm sure!" Fourth fumbled for his contract, shoving the paper toward the man’s face. "Look! Room 0409. My name is right there. And look at the door... 0... 4... 0... 9! See?"

The man stared at the paper. Then at the door. Then back at Fourth.

"Fuck," he muttered.

Without another word, he shoved past Fourth, nearly knocking him over, and sprinted down the hallway toward the elevator, leaving Fourth standing alone with his boxes and a very bruised ego.

The Admin Office

"This is Room 0409, Gemini Norawit," Gemini said, his voice tight as he leaned over the admin desk. "I’ve been paying for a double-occupancy room by myself for a year specifically so I wouldn't have a roommate. Why is there a boy with a very loud voice standing in my doorway?"

The admin staff sighed, clicking through a database. "Mr. Norawit, did you check your student portal? Or your email?"

"Who checks emails during summer break?" Gemini countered.

"Well, we sent a notice last week. Due to the high influx of transferees this year, we are no longer allowing single-occupancy in double rooms. Your last payment only covered one person. The system automatically assigned the vacancy."

Gemini felt a headache pulse behind his eyes. "I’ll pay double right now. Triple. Just give me the room back. Or move me?"

"I’m sorry, Mr. Norawit. We are at 100% capacity. There isn't a single bed left on campus."

Gemini closed his eyes. The silence he had cultivated for a year, the sanctuary where he could deal with his restless, sleepless nights without judgment, was gone.

30 Minutes Later

Fourth was sitting on the floor in the hallway, his back against the wall next to his boxes. He had the key, but his pride wouldn't let him enter. He didn't want to be the "intruder," even if he legally belonged there.

He looked down at his shoes, pouting. "Not even a 'Welcome to the building.' Not even a 'Nice to meet you.' My smile was wasted. My outfit was wasted. I look cute for nothing."

A mosquito buzzed near his ear, and he swatted it away gloomily. "Now I'm getting eaten alive. Great. Welcome to uni, Fourth. Population: You and a grumpy model."

Shadows fell over him. He looked up to see the "grumpy model" standing there, looking even more annoyed than before.

"What are you still doing here?" Gemini asked, his tone still icy but less frantic. "Why didn't you go in?"

Fourth stood up, dusting off his jeans and trying to regain some dignity. "I didn't want to be rude. You ran off like the building was on fire. I thought I should wait for you to... you know... accept my existence?"

Gemini sighed, a long, weary sound that seemed to vibrate in the narrow hall. He didn't apologize. He didn't offer a hand with the boxes. He just turned the handle and held the door open with a stiff arm.

"Whatever. Just come in so you can move your stuff. I have things to do."

Fourth dragged his first box across the threshold, feeling the heavy weight of the atmosphere. He looked at the two beds—one neatly made but looking untouched, the other bare and waiting for him.

He glanced at Gemini, who was already retreating into his own corner like a ghost.

This is going to be a long, long journey, Fourth thought. Good luck to me.