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“Oooh my god this feels so nice..”
“Rumi,” Zoey dragged, “that’s what we’ve been telling you!”
The three girls: Zoey, Rumi, and Mira, sit submerged under hot water in the bath house. Their pool sat furtherest from the door ensuring as much privacy you can get in a public bath house. Thankfully, the bath house was scarce of people that late afternoon, so it wasn’t likely they would run into any fans. Thus, they soaked up the hot, bubbly water, something they’ve all longed to do together.
Rumi sat with majority of her body except her nose and above submerged under water and her eyes dazzling with pleasure.
“Thank you guys I really needed this—especially with everything that happened..” She sighed.
“That’s what we’re here for.” Mira replied.
“We’re your best friends Rumi! We will be here for you no matter what.” Zoey chirped.
“I love you guys.” Rumi grinned, her eyes shining.
Despite her satisfaction of how everything played out—with the honmoon sealed, she couldn’t help but think of Jinu.
Jinu.
I know it had only been a few days together, but..
Rumi’s eyes lowered to her hands, flexing them steadily, aching for the person who once held them.
I really couldn’t help, but fall for you.
She turned her hands, so her palms faced up. Her fingers curl, and her clenched fists began to shake with grief.
You were the first person to accept me fully… every part of me. And take me for who I was.. both half demon and hunter, not just either side.
Despite herself, water began to trickle down her face, she touched her tears tentatively, surprised by the water building up in her eyes. She watches with blurred vision, as water drips into the hot bath, creating rings in the water.
“Rumi?”
“Rumi?”
“Rumi?”
“RUMI?”
Rumi’s head snapped up.
“Yes? Sorry, I spaced out.” She said still wiping her tears away.
“What’s been up with you lately? You’ve been spacing out ever since we sealed the honmoon.” Mira questioned.
“Just.. thinking .” Mira’s eyebrows still remained furrowed, and her usually relaxed posture a bit tense.
“Yeah Rumi, you promised you would tell us everything from then on. No secrets.” Zoey said, the disappointment evident in her voice.
“I know, and i’m sorry ..” Rumi said shakily, her eyes looking everywhere, but them. “I’ll tell you guys tonight I swear.” Finally looking at Zoey and Mira and holding out her pinky finger.
“You promise?” Zoey questioned.
“I promise.”
Zoey and Mira shared before looking back towards Rumi. They reached out and hooked pinky fingers with Rumi.
“You better keep that promise.” Mira reminded.
“I will.. I will..” Delatching pinky’s, she nodded to them to reassure them, and herself.
“Anyway, did you hear about that new doctor online? I heard that he can improve your voice by 10 fold!” Zoey squealed, extending her arms in the air for emphasis.
“We need to try them out.” She added.
“Zoeeeyyyy.” The other two sighed.
“What?”
“Couch! Couch! Couch! Couch!” Mira and Zoey chanted.
“You guys , we literally just went to the bath house, we’re already relaxed.”
The three hunters entered their apartment full of excitement to eat junk food on their couch, aside from Rumi, who’s being forced to take a break.
“ And? We can relax now! We rarely see demons now with how strong the honmoon is!” Zoey exclaimed.
“True, and we need this much deserved break after everything we’ve been through. You need to stop being such a workaholic Rumi.”
“I know, I know..” Rumi sighed, her posture slouching slightly after being scolded by her friends.
“And don’t think we forgot about your promise Rumi,” Mira pointed a finger accusingly, “you don’t always need to be strong, you’re able to open up to us.”
Rumi’s eyes widened. “I’m so lucky to have you guys..” She grinned.
“We’re luck to have you, too Rumi..” Zoey’s faced softened before tightening with excitement, “now, I’ll grab the snacks, and you too can wait on the couch.”
“Sounds good.”
“Wait,” Rumi held her hand out in exclamation and Mira and Zoey turned to look at her.
“I need to grab something in my room first, it will help explain better.”
Zoey and Mira shared glances, but didn’t say anything.
“I’ll be right back I swear.” Rumi held her hands out defensively before jogging to her room.
Now at her room, Rumi slowed her pace and headed towards her bedside table. She gently opened the drawer and her eyes softened. She carefully pulled out four invitations with bold letters saying, ‘Save the date!’, on them.
She glanced at them melancholy, steadily backing up from the table until she was sitting on her bed; the only sound that could be heard in her room was her bed creaking beneath her. Setting the invites gently aside, she summoned her weapon, creating a stark contrast in between the light it shone, and her dark room.
Her palms caressed the blade before shifting to glide her fingers over it. Lovingly, she lifted the blade up and pressed a kiss onto the blade.
“ Oh Jinu.. ”
Her expression melted into something sickening sweet. Her eyes shone with unshed tears, and her mouth quivered.
“ I love you. ” She croaked.
Finally a singular tear fell from her eyes and onto the blade. The tear splashes and emits a shimmery gold light before absorbing into the blade. Then, the blade begins to levitate and glow brighter than it ever had.
Rumi’s eyes widen in confusion. Huh? This has never happened before.
The sword expands to form a shape of a man, the glow from the sword glowing even brighter. When the glow dissolves, it leaves only a man in its wake.
The man opens his eyes before looking down at his forearms and studying them.
“ Woahhh ”
Rumi gasped, her hand reaching for her mouth.
Then, the man’s arms expand in a sorta half hug before asking, “Did you miss me?”
“ JINU? ” Rumi screamed. Her stance unsure and defensive.
“Rumi!” Mira and Zoey yelled in union, bursting through the door with their weapons raised and worry evident on their faces.
“What’s taking her so long?” Mira complained. Her figure sunk into the couch.
“I’m sure she’ll be out any minute now.” Zoey, the ever optimist replied. Her hand reached for a piece of popcorn in the metal bowl, she threw it lightly in the air and caught it in her mouth.
“I hope she doesn’t bail on us..”
“Rumi promised , I’m sure she will keep to her word.”
“ JINU ? ”
Zoey and Mira shot up from their comfortable seats on the couch.
“Rumi!” They exclaimed exchanging a glance at each other, and summoning their weapons.
They raced over to her bedroom in record speed and bursting the door open.
“Rumi!” They raised their weapons defensively, preparing to fight their opponent.
“Jinu,” Mira growled, “what the hell are you doing here?”
Mira and Zoey inched forward to defensively stand in front of Rumi, who is unarmed.
Jinu’s gaze shifted to Rumi, who was still too stunned to do anything. He then looked towards Zoey and Mira, who pointed their blades at him defensively. He slowly shifted backwards his arms raising to indicate he means no harm.
“Heyy this isn’t the welcome party I thought I’d get.” He smiled nervously.
“What kind of welcome party did you expect to get, demon .” Mira spat.
Finally, realization dawned over Rumi, as she shot up and raced past the two girls and towards Jinu.
“Jinu!” Rumi cried, shooting into him and enveloping him in a hug.
“Oof.” He grunted. Tentatively, Jinu lowered his arms to embrace Rumi, as she broke into sobs, soaking his shirt.
“I thought—I thought..” She hiccuped in between sobs.
“Shh I’m here now, aren’t I?” He softly spoke, a little unsure of how to comfort her.
Although, it seemed to work, as she nodded profusely and cried even harder. Jinu looked up at Mira and Zoey.
“ See ? This is the welcome party I was expecting.” He teased.
“What—how- Rumi?—huh?? ” Zoey stuttered, completely confused and unsure on how to be enlightened on what’s happening.
Right next to her stood Mira who was just as gobsmacked as she was. Zoey and Mira had slowly lowered their weapons and now stood there in confusion, with their jaws slacked.
“Rumi? Why are you hugging him— and how is he even here?” Mira exclaimed angrily.
“Oh yeah.. right.” Rumi sniffed.
“This is about what I was going to tell you guys tonight.”
“ That he’s alive ?” Zoey said, feeling a bit betrayed.
“No—no, not that, I didn’t know he was alive until now.” Rumi said, wiping her tears and letting her arms unwrap Jinu to turn to the two.
“Mainly about the part where he sacrificed his soul to me, so I would survive Gwi-ma’s flames.” She added, sniffling once more.
“He did what ?” Mira gasped.
“How did we not know about this sooner?” Zoey complained.
“Well.. I was going to tell you guys tonight, speaking of, how are you even here?”
“I gave my soul to you remember? It resonated in your soul to give you more power to defeat Gwi-ma—because my soul is still alive, I guess I can manifest my body with it.”
“Thanks for keeping my soul safe Rumi ,” he smiled genuinely.
“O-Oh yeah, no problem.” Rumi looked away bashfully, her cheeks pink.
“So again , let me get this straight—a demon sacrificed his soul to you, because you guys are in love. Got it.” Mira deadpanned.
Jinu’s and Rumi’s hands rose defensively simultaneously, “No-“ “What-“ “We’re not in love-“ “What makes you think that-“ “We’re not even each other’s type-“ They stuttered and talked over each other awkwardly—clearly flustered.
They pause their attempts to defend themselves and look at each other in the eye before looking back to Mira. “Yeah that’s pretty much it.” They sighed, admitting defeat, before awkwardly giving each other another glance.
“Well—I mean since you’re I guess—good now?” Zoey continued, “would you like to watch a movie with us, we got snacks?” Zoey awkwardly asked, clearly still confused, but still trying to be polite.
“Sure, why not.” Jinu shrugged.
They collectively dissolve into small talk to clear the tension, as they make their way to the TV room, Zoey, deciding to chatter on about which movie they should watch.
“I personally like romcoms—what about you Jinu?”
“What’s a movie?”
“…”
“You don’t know the greatest thing ever created?” Zoey asked, pointing an accusatory finger at Jinu.
“No?”
“O. M. G. they’re like the best thing to ever be created!! there’s sooo many genres…….”
Zoey continues to chatter on about movies and give Jinu many examples, as they scrolled through potential candidates to watch that night once they sat down.
Rumi couldn’t help but be grateful. She was now surrounded by her three favorite people, not only getting along, but with Jinu not doomed to die.
She glanced around on the couch, to where all her best friends were. Mira to the left of Zoey, who was on Rumi’s left and they both were leaning against each other, with Rumi’s leg stretched on their laps, and Jinu to her right, fully invested in what movie their watching.
Sweet Jinu.
She turned her head towards Jinu. Instead of watching the movie like him, who was oblivious to her staring, she was openly giving him the most lovesick smile, finally taking in that Jinu is alive and here .
Rumi was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice Jinu was staring right back at her.
“Did you get lost in my pretty face?” He teased.
Rumi continued to stare with her eyes glazed over, more focused on her thoughts instead. Regardless, her face heated up as she nodded slowly.
“You okay there Rumi?” Jinu asked a bit awkwardly, confused and flustered on why she kept staring at him. This got the attention of Mira and Zoey, who were now staring, too.
“Rumi?” Zoey asked.
Rumi’s hands rose to Jinu’s cheek, gently caressing it with her thumbs—making Jinu’s face heat up.
“Rum—“ Rumi leaned forward and pressed her lips onto his.
Jinu’s hands shifted onto Rumi, traveling down to where they sit comfortably on her waist.
They broke apart a bit breathless. “Jinu.” She said, her hands traveling to his neck.
“I love you.” She said breathlessly, blush still evident in her face.
“I love you too.” He smiled softly.
“Get a room you two!” Mira scoffed, already looking away, while Zoey still has her hands over her eyes.
Jinu’s hand finds Rumi’s under the blanket, and Rumi rested her head on Jinu’s shoulder.
“I’m here now.”