Chapter Text
It had been six months since they defeated Gwi-Ma, restored the Honmoon, and three since they returned from their three-month vacation. Things hadn't been easy at first, but between interviews, press conferences, presentations, and signings, they clarified what had happened, and little by little, things calmed down. They also realized that people couldn't see Rumi's marks; the only ones who could were the hunters and the demons. Which was a relief for Rumi and the girls, as they didn't have to explain them to their fans.
They had also gained two pets, Derpy and Sassy. They appeared one day when the three of them were relaxing at home. Rumi had to explain who they belonged to and that she had no idea why they were there, but that they were harmless. Zoey was the first to show her confidence by jumping up to pet Derpy. Mira was more cautious but little by little she began to accept them, although she still refused to let the stupid tiger, as she called him, enter her room.
It was still painful to remember that day, especially because of everything that had happened with Jinu and the Saja Boys. Every time their names were mentioned, the girls would freeze, especially Rumi and Zoey, if they heard Jinu and Mystery's names. But something positive came out of it: the friendship Rumi, Mira, and Zoey had strengthened even more. Now with no secrets to hide, they returned to what they had been from the beginning: a family.
However, when one story is told, others begin to surface, even if you don't want to tell them...
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Bobby looked at the girls in front of him waiting for an answer, but all he received was silence and looks filled with surprise and disbelief. Actually, he didn't blame them; when he received the call bearing the same news, he made the same face as them.
It wasn't every day you received a call asking HUNTR/X to perform at a private event.
Not because it was impossible, because the truth wasn't, it was simply too expensive for them to perform at private events given the girls' popularity.
"Are you serious, Bobby?" Rumi asked, looking at him, still a little incredulous at the news.
"Very seriously, Rumi." Bobby looked at the girls, who were beginning to recover from their surprise as each one took the information from the presentation.
The girls went to sit on their beloved couch while examining the information Bobby had gathered for them. It wasn't much information, just five very detailed pages.
"Let's start at the beginning. The event is a birthday party for the triplets Young-Mi, Young-Ji, and Young-Su Sung. They're turning 13, and their father wanted to give them a very special surprise. He says they're fans of ours and that they were at the last concert of the tour” Rumi carefully read the papers that included photos of the birthday girls and their father, Mr. Sung, who had hired HUNTR/X to perform at the event.
"Apparently, it will be a large, albeit private, event. The triplets' friends will attend, as well as their father's business partners and their families. In short, there will be at least 200 people, possibly more." Mira continued reading after Rumi. She didn't know where from, but Mr. Sung seemed familiar to her, as if she had met him before. Ignoring the alarm bells that were starting to ring in her head, she listened to what Zoey was saying.
"They want us to take pictures and give autographs to the birthday girls and guests after the presentation. We'll be there for about two hours. The event will be held in five days in Gunam-ro, Haeundae-gu, Bu... so that means we'll have to go to Busan for this event!" Zoey let out an excited laugh, turning to look at Rumi and Mira, who had different expressions on their faces, but compared to hers, none of them were excited.
Rumi had a worried expression; the event was in five days, and they only had four days to get everything ready, if they took out today and the event.
Mira was almost the same, with a small grimace of disgust on her face. She had no problem with the event and would do anything for her fans. The only drawback was that they had to go to Busan, and not only that, but it was also very close to her parents' house. She hadn't heard from them since Celine took her in and began her training to become a Hunter with Rumi and Zoey.
"Ra...Mira," Mira raised her head, expecting to see Zoey, but she found herself staring at the worried gaze of Rumi, Bobby, and Zoey, who had called out to her. "Are you okay, Mira?" Zoey asked, worry written all over her face.
"Yes, I'm fine," Mira said, hiding the grimace on her face. Bobby seemed to believe her, but Rumi and Zoey were still staring at her with concern. They definitely realized she wasn't telling the truth.
"Okay, girls, I'll leave you. I have to start preparing and buy the plane tickets. The new plane won't be ready for another three months." The girls looked a little guilty about this last part. "They asked me to start the presentation with "How It's Done" and close with "What It Sounds Like." You can choose the order of the other songs. We're leaving for Busan the day before the event. Pack your bags, we'll be staying for three days." With that, Bobby said goodbye to the girls, leaving them alone in their attic.
"Okay, what's wrong?" Rumi asked, looking at Mira.
"It's okay."
"Look, you can tell us. We're here for you." Zoey's normally boisterous voice was calm and warm.
Mira sighed, looking at Zoey, who was looking at her with reassuring eyes and a small smile. Rumi was on her other side, nodding at what Zoey had said. They both remained silent, letting Mira speak.
"My parents' house is in Busan." Zoey and Rumi were a little surprised but didn't say anything, letting her continue.
"They said I was a very problematic child, since I was little I always liked to dance and sing, but for them it was just a waste of time. They were never happy with me and they compared me a lot with my brother who was 5 years older than me, they would tell me "why can't you be like your brother" at least twice a day. The worst thing is that I did everything possible to please them back then. On the contrary, when I was a child I was very close to my brother, but everything changed when we began to grow up, over time we grew apart until we practically ignored each other, we became two strangers living under the same roof" Mira site that held both hands, she relaxed and continued telling her story "When I was 16 I had a very ugly fight with my parents, they said many horrible things and I ran, away from that house and from those people who said they were my family, but minutes before they yelled at me that my birth was a mistake" A bitter smile spread across Mira's lips. Zoey and Rumi moved closer, surrounding her, letting Mira know that they were there with her and that they were never going to leave her.
"I kept running until I reached the mountain on the outskirts of Busan. That's when I collapsed. I didn't know how much time passed until Celine appeared. She didn't say anything, she just looked at me and started singing. At that moment, I could see the Honmoon and the demons that were surrounding us" Rumi tensed when she heard her caretaker's name. She told them what had happened before reestablishing the barrier, and since her disastrous last visit, where she was literally banned from her penthouse, none of them had had contact with Celine. "When she finished off all the demons, she turned to me, extended her hand, and gave me a choice: return to my family or go with her. I didn't hesitate for a minute, and I accepted her hand. That night, I returned to my parents' house with Celine just to get clothes and important documents. I left a note and left. I never looked back and not for a second did I regret it, nor do I regret my decision, because I met you all and I finally felt like I had a family"
"That's because we're a family," Zoey whispered as she hugged Mira.
"And we always will be," Rumi said as she also hugged Mira along with Zoey.
"Huntr/x forever," they all whispered together.
Mira's fears vanished. This was her family, a family that accepted her and loved her as she was and would protect her from everything and everyone.
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4 days later…
"That's all for today, let's rest," Rumi's voice echoed throughout the studio.
"I can't take it anymore." Zoey collapsed on the floor, her arms and legs spread out.
"That was exhausting," Mira said, sitting on the floor next to Zoey while drinking a bottle of water.
"The good thing is that everything is ready for tomorrow." Approaching her best friends, Rumi offered Mira a hand to help her up.
Mira accepted Rumi's help and stood up. Together, they helped Zoey stand and began their walk back to their shared home. They were tired, and it was only 10 in the morning.
"What time did Bobby say he would pick us up?" " Zoey asked as they waited for the elevator.
"It's 12pm, our flight leaves at 1:30pm," Rumi replied as they got on the elevator.
"Yessss! That means I can take a shower before we leave," Zoey exclaimed, got out of the elevator and headed to her room to take a shower.
"The good thing is we already have our bags packed," Mira said to Rumi, giggling at Zoey's behavior.
"We should also take a shower to relax while we wait for Bobby."
"That's an excellent idea."
With that said, Mira and Rumi headed back the way Zoey had disappeared moments before.
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The girls, already dressed, with their suitcases near the door, waited for Bobby to pick them up in the company car to head to the airport.
Upon arrival, several people recognized them and began to gather around them, but Bobby, always cautious, had hired bodyguards and extra security to avoid delays on their flight.
After an hour of waiting and a flight, they finally arrived in Busan.
The hotel was in the center of Busan, and the room was spacious, with three beds, one for each of them, and a beautiful view of the city.
"Okay, girls, my room is across the street. If you want to go out, you can, and if you want to rehearse, just call me." Bobby pointed to the door and his cell phone, giving the girls their room keys.
"Thanks, Bobby." The three said goodbyes.
"How about this? Let's go out for a bit, get something delicious to eat, and then come back and relax, ready for tomorrow!" " Zoey exclaimed to her friends, waiting for a response from them.
"Sounds like we'll be out most of the day. Let's do it," Mira replied, causing Zoey to clap, and they both turned around, waiting for the latter's answer.
"Sounds like a plan, although we'll have to change first to go unnoticed," Rumi said to her friends. Zoey jumped up and down to hug her.
After Zoey let go of Rumi, the three of them went to their respective suitcases and changed into more comfortable, casual clothes that would help them go unnoticed.
Once they were ready, they left their room, but not before letting Bobby know their plans and sharing their location with their manager. With that done, they set off to explore the surroundings and find a place to eat.
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The three of them were walking around, exploring the surroundings. Although they weren't far from their hotel, there were many interesting things to see. There were many interesting things, but nothing caught their attention until they arrived at a shopping mall, which they entered after arranging their clothes/camouflage.
Zoey was the first to enter a store; the clothes had caught her attention. After choosing several outfits, they each left with several bags in hand.
They were all having fun. In that moment, they forgot about everything. They weren't hunters, they weren't Huntr/x. They were just Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, three best friends hanging out and having fun.
"That's so cute! I'm going to buy it; I won't be long! Can you take care of this for me? Thanks!" Zoey ran off in the direction of a clothing store before Mira and Rumi could say anything to her.
"That's weird, that store doesn't have the style of clothes she wears," Rumi muttered, looking back at where her friend had gone.
"You're right," Mira agreed. They were silent for a few seconds until the sound of their stomachs growling for food interrupted them, making both girls laugh.
"How about when Zoey gets home, we look for a place to eat and then go back to the hotel?" Rumi suggested.
"I like that plan."
When Zoey returned, the three of them left the mall for a restaurant that the girl with the bows had previously looked up and that had very good reviews saying the food was delicious.
After eating, they walked with their shopping bags in hand and full stomachs, talking about tomorrow's outfits and what they would do on their last day in Busan.
They were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn't notice someone watching them from across the street, specifically Mira. He didn't stop staring at her until they were out of sight.
When he couldn't see them anymore, he turned his gaze toward the store he had just come from. Seeing that no one was coming out and that there was no one around, he took a photo out of his wallet showing a boy and a girl. The boy was several years older than the girl. Both children were hugging each other and smiling at the camera. That photo brought a small smile to his face.
"I found you... So-yi."
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Event Day
Zoey, Rumi, and Mira, along with Bobby, were heading to the birthday party where they would perform. The show would take place in the garden, where a makeshift stage for the presentation was already set up.
There was still an hour left until they were scheduled to start their performance, but Bobby, always cautious, had insisted on arriving a little early and checking every last detail to make the event a success, just like any presentation they did.
The girls were already dressed and in makeup (the ones they wear at the beginning of the movie and at the autograph signing). In short, they were ready.
When they finally arrived at the Sung property, some guards guided them to the venue they had prepared for the presentation, which also had a small space for the girls to get ready.
They waited there while Bobby, like a good manager, checked everything. Giving him one last check, the song order was:
How it’s done
Family (my invention)
Golden
Make it work (my invention)
Happy Birthday (congratulations to the birthday girls)
Rule the world (my invention)
Takedown
What it sounds like
They were still a little nervous about the last two songs. "Takedown," which they claimed was for the haters, was very well received by the fans, but only they knew the backstory of that song. And the last one, "What It Sounds Like," they had only sung twice since reestablishing Honmoon, and the memories that song revived were still very fresh in the three hunters' minds.
"Ready girls, it's almost time," Bobby said, approaching them, snapping them out of their thoughts.
"We're always ready," Zoey replied with a big smile.
"Perfect! No one knows you're the ones performing, so take advantage of the element of surprise."
"Of course we will. Just watch, Bobby. We won't let you down," Rumi assured, as the three of them stood up and looked at each other.
"Happy fans, happy Honmoon!" the three of them exclaimed, putting their heads together as they hugged.
"Those are my girls," Bobby whispered as he watched them walk toward the stage, although he had a feeling their entrance wouldn't be from there.
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"Why are we going out to the garden?" A handsome man asked another person, much older than him, as he headed to the indicated place.
"Apparently, Mr. Sung has a surprise for his daughters. So, find your fiancée and head to the garden. We'll wait for you there, Ji-ho," replied the man, who was apparently the father and the first to answer by Ji-ho's name.
Ji-ho quickly found his fiancée, Hye-in Sung, and quickly returned to where his parents were waiting for him.
"You know what's going on," Ji-ho said, looking at his fiancée, who was curiously looking at the stage they had set up in the garden.
"Apparently, my uncle hired a band to sing as a gift for my cousins, but since it was a surprise, he didn't say who would be singing," Hye-in said, still looking at the stage for signs of the band that would be playing.
Hye-in expected it to be someone remotely famous, even though she was 12 years older than her cousins and she had the same musical tastes. She was the one responsible for introducing them and taking them to the last concert of HUNTR/X's world tour in Seoul, which was the best concert she'd ever been to.
Taking Ji-ho's hand, she walked a little closer to her cousins and their friends. Her cousins were just as curious and bewildered as everyone else, the only one who seemed satisfied with everything was her uncle.
"Good afternoon, everyone! Happy birthday to the birthday girls Young-Mi, Young-Ji, and Young-Su Sung on their thirteenth birthday!" exclaimed the presenter from the stage. "Now your father has a little surprise for you. I hope everyone, but especially the birthday girls, enjoy it immensely. Go girls!" The presenter concluded, leaving the stage.
Playing stars, How It’s Done
Ugh, you came at a bad time
But you just crossed the line
You wanna get wild?
Okay, I'll show you wild
Everyone heard Rumi's voice, but no one could see her on stage. The triplets and Hye-in squealed with excitement and surprise upon learning that HUNTR/X, their favorite band, was performing at a private performance for them.
Better come right, better luck tryin', gettin' to our level
'Cause you might die, never the time, tryna start a battle
A spotlight illuminated Rumi as she walked down the center. The guests made way for her as she walked and sang toward the stage.
Bleeding isn't in my blood, ppyeosogbuteo dallaseo
Beating you is what I do, do, do, yeah
Now another spotlight illuminated Mira, who was walking onto the stage from the left.
Body on body, I'm naughty, not even sorry
And when you pull up, I'll pull up A little late to the party
A final spotlight illuminated Zoey, who was heading toward the stage on the right side.
(Na-na-na-na) Locked and loaded, I was born for this
There ain't no point in avoiding it Annoyed?
A bit bul-eul bichwo da bikyeo, ne apgil-eul ppaesgyeo
The girls arrived on stage and turned around to see all the guests watching and listening to them, watching as the Honmoon shone through their voices
Knocking you out like a lullaby
Hear that sound ringing in your mind
Better sit down for the show
'Cause I'm gonna show you how it's done, done, done
(Hey) Huntrix don't miss How it's done, done, done
(Hey) Huntrix don't quit How it's done, done, done
Run, run, we run the town
Whole world playin' our sound
Turnin' up, it's goin' down
Huntrix show this, how it's done, done, done
Yeah, something about when you come for the crown
That's so humbling, huh? gabjagi wae geulae? meonjeo geondeulyeo, wae? ijeya pogihae,
Nothing to us, run up, you're done up, we come up
From sunup to sundown, so come out to play
Won either way, we're one in a million
We killin', we bring it, you want it? Okay
Heels, nails, blade, mascara
Fit check for my napalm era
Need to beat my face, make it cute and savage
Mirror, mirror on my phone, who's the baddest? (Us, hello?)
Knocking you out like a lullaby
Hear that sound ringing in your mind
Better sit down for the show
'Cause I'm gonna show you (I'm gonna show you)
(I'm gonna show you) How it's done, done, done
I don't talk, but I bite, full of venom (Uh)
Spittin' facts, you know that's
How it's done, done, done
Mira approached the edge of the stage, singing her part of the song, before finishing she brought her microphone closer to the birthday girls so they could sing the last part.
Okay, like, I know I ramble
But when shootin' my words, I go Rambo
Took blood, sweat, and tears, to look natural (Uh)
That's how it's done, done, done
Zoey crouched on her side of the stage as she rapped, watching as one of the triplets rapped along with her which brought a huge smile to her face.
Hear our voice unwavering
'Til our song defeats the night
Makin' fear afraid to breathe
'Til the dark meets the light (How it's done, done, done)
Run, run, we run the town (Done, done, done)
Whole world playin' our sound (Done, done, done)
Turnin' up, it's going down (Done, done, done)
Huntrix, show this how it's done, done, done
We hunt you down, down, down (Down) (Done, done, done)
We got you now, now, now (Got you now) (Done, done, done)
We show you how, how, how (Show you how)
Huntrix, don't miss, how it's done, done, done
The song ended with the girls striking their final pose and the spotlights going out. "Let's give a round of applause for HUNTR/X, our special guests today. Anything you want to say before we start your next song?" the host encouraged, approaching the girls who received a lot of applause.
"Thank you so much for inviting us to this special event." Rumi, like a good leader, was the first to speak.
"Especially to our dear fans and birthday girls Young-Mi, Young-Ji, and Young-Su for your birthday," Zoey said, looking at the triplets who were literally jumping for joy with their phones in hand.
"We hope you and everyone else like the songs we chose," Mira concluded, looking at the audience and finally at the birthday girls who were nodding yes.
With that, the girls continued their performance as planned, without a hitch. When they finished the last verse of "What It Sounds Like," all the guests applauded as the spotlights went out. The girls walked off the stage to join Bobby, who was already waiting for them with water and sweat towels. He led them to a table with posters of the three of them for autograph signings and photos.
The girls sat down while Bobby and others arranged the guests in a line, placing the birthday girls and their parents at the front of the table.
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Hye-in was ecstatic, but she tried to hide it. The only thing that gave her away was the permanent smile on her face while she stood in line with the rest of the guests. At her last concert, she couldn't buy the VIP tickets with backstage access, autographs, and photos. Money wasn't the issue, time was. It took her three minutes to access the website, and when it was finally her turn, there were no more tickets left.
At Ji-ho's insistence, they were the last in line. Hye-in didn't know whether to be angry or happy about that. The good thing was that the line was moving quickly, and the silver lining was that if they were the last, she'd have a little more time to talk to Huntr/x, especially Mira, who was her favorite.
Ji-ho, on the other hand, was in a state of disbelief and shock. So-yi, his younger sister, So-yi, the sister he'd been searching for eight years, the sister he'd neglected, neglected, and disappeared, leaving only a note, was less than two meters away from him.
Now everyone knew her as Mira, and he had no doubt she'd changed her real name just so her parents wouldn't find her. He discreetly turned his gaze toward them; they looked just as serious. Someone who didn't know them would think they were the same as always, but Ji-ho knew them extremely well; he was his son, after all, and the slight trembling in his mother's hands as she grabbed his father's arm, who kept glancing in the direction of the girls, was what gave them away. They recognized Mira too, but tried to hide it. A squeal of excitement brought Ji-ho out of his thoughts, he looked at Hye-in who was responsible for such a sound, he looked at the line and realized that there was only one person in front of them, the girls' manager, he gave each of them a poster where the three of them were posing, he explained the procedure for the autographs which consisted of approaching each girl in order, they would sign and then they could take pictures.
When the person in front of Ji-ho and Hye-in walked away, it was their turn. They approached Rumi first. She was the first to get the autographs.
"Hi, whose name would it be?" Rumi asked, smiling as she looked at them with the posters ready to be signed.
"One would be for Sung Hye-in and the other for Lee Ji-ho," Hye-in replied, as she watched Rumi sign the poster she had previously held in her hands. "It's an honor to meet you. I didn't get tickets for backstage at your last concert, but I did get tickets for the show, and it was the best concert I've ever been to. I love your voice."
"Thank you so much. We're so happy you liked the concert," Rumi thanked her as she handed them the autographs, and they moved on to the next member, Zoey.
"Sung Hye-in and Lee Ji-ho, right?" Zoey asked with a smile, confirming the names. They nodded.
"Young-Su always talks to me about you, Zoey. You're her favorite," Hye-in said to Zoey, who giggled softly as she signed.
"Young-Su, if I remember correctly, was the birthday girl who had two low pigtails and rapped really well." At Hye-in's nod, Zoey smiled even bigger. "She's such a cute little thing. Are you related to them?"
"Yes, they're my cousins," Zoey hummed happily. "You guys coming today was the best birthday present ever for them," Hye-in said, watching as Zoey was almost done signing. "A few months ago, she almost drove me crazy. I remember every time she saw me; she would ask me if I thought you and Mystery were dating." Hye-in giggled softly at the memory, not realizing that Zoey had frozen as she handed out the signed posters.
Ji-ho, who had been silent and watching the whole exchange, realized how the girl, Zoey, freezing when they mentioned that Mystery guy. She also noticed how the girl with the braid and her sister turned to look at her with worried faces.
"Here you go, thanks for enjoying the show," Zoey forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes as she handed out the posters and signaled for Mira to come over.
Ji-ho saw out of the corner of his eye that the girl with the braid Rumi, if he remembered correctly was approaching Zoey to check on her. When he looked back, he realized Mira, or So-yi, wasn't looking at them; she was focused on her classmates. He saw her squeezing her hands. It wasn't until Rumi looked at her that Mira turned to them, breathing heavily.
"Thanks for enjoying the show," Mira whispered, as she signed the posters. At that moment, all she wanted to do was go to Zoey and see if she was okay.
"You're my favorite, Mira. I love all the Huntr/x choreographies. I always practice them with my cousins whenever I get the chance." Hye-in, who hadn't noticed anything, continued talking to Mira, who briefly looked at her through her eyelashes while still signing.
"Thank you," Ji-ho was a little surprised at how dry that thank you sounded. He turned to look at Hye-in, who had also noticed and lowered her voice.
"I really liked your performance. Is there any way I can contact you for another private event?" Ji-ho asked, continuing to stare at Mira, who had already finished signing and was handing them the posters.
"You'd have to discuss that with our agency and manager." Mira pointed to Bobby, who was talking to Rumi, who was hugging Zoey, who was trembling slightly, as if she were sobbing or trying not to cry. Mira couldn't tell which option was correct because of the distance.
Seeing that scene, Mira stood up and gave them a forced smile, which she thought was more out of habit than a genuine smile. Hye-in, seeing that the girl was about to leave, asked if she could take a picture with her. Mira agreed.
Once Hye-in and Ji-ho took a picture with Mira, she walked away from them and headed to where her friends were. When she reached them, she joined them in the hug and said something to Bobby, who, somewhat reluctantly, moved away from them and began to approach Hye-in and Ji-ho.
"Mira tells me you're asking about an introduction to a private event," Bobby asked. He addressed them professionally. "You can contact us at any of these numbers. They'll take your information and send it to me. In order to identify you, I recommend you say you attended this event." Bobby handed them two business cards with their information and contact numbers.
"Are you okay, Zoey? Was it something we said? She looks like she wants to cry," Hye-in asked Bobby. The three of them watched as Rumi and Mira said something to Zoey while she shook her head.
"She's fine, just a little tired. Back to the topic, you can contact us through this channel, although I can't guarantee that the Huntr/x will be available for your event due to their schedules." Bobby quickly changed the subject, turning his attention away from Zoey while he talked to them. If they noticed, they didn't mention it.
Hye-in, who already had her autographs and photos, returned to the rest of the guests while Ji-ho stayed talking to Bobby. Ji-ho asked Bobby if he could ask Huntr/x a quick question before they left since his fiancée hadn't let him speak. Bobby resignedly agreed, and together they headed to where the girls were.
As they approached, Bobby noticed that Zoey was calmer now. He didn't know what had happened, but something had upset her greatly. When he approached them, Rumi hugged her while whispering things that Bobby couldn't understand. Zoey didn't say a word, just stared at her hands and trembled slightly, causing Rumi to hug her tighter.
When Mira told him they wanted to talk to him about some other private event, he hesitated to leave. He checked on Zoey one last time before heading to the people the redheaded hunter had said wanted to talk to him. Now that he was back, he noticed that Rumi and Mira had managed to calm Zoey down, and she now had a small smile. There was no trace of her trembling or her blank stare.
"I'm back, girls. This gentleman wants to ask you a few quick questions, since his girlfriend wouldn't let him ask anything," Bobby announced when he arrived with his girls. His comment drew a slight laugh from Zoey, which made the others smile.
Zoey was the spark of energy and joy of the group, they didn't like to see her sad and they would do anything so that her smile would never fade.
"You only have 5 minutes since we have to leave." With that said, Bobby walked away to make calls, poorly to the driver to pick them up.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Lee Ji-ho." Ji-ho introduced himself, bowing slightly to the girls, he saw that they bowed slightly as well.
"The question I have is mainly for Mira," she raised an eyebrow at hearing his name. "Don't you remember me?" Ji-ho looked at Mira, whose eyebrows furrowed as she recalled. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rumi and Zoey looking at them.
"I'm sorry, but I don't remember you," Mira replied after a few seconds. He sounded familiar, but no matter how hard she tried to remember where she knew him from, she couldn't.
"I don't blame you for not remembering me. We were practically strangers." Ji-ho laughed bitterly after saying that. "I'm glad to see you're okay, So-yi." That name froze Mira, and the memories she had blocked deep in her mind resurfaced, and that's when she remembered him.
"Ji-hyung," Mira murmured as she looked at him in shock. He smiled, but his smile quickly faded when he saw Mira's angry look. "What do you want?" Mira asked with such venom that Rumi and Zoey were by her side in an instant. The former held her shoulder while the latter grabbed her hand to calm her down.
"I just want to talk... please," Ji-ho begged, bowing exaggeratedly.
"…"
"…"
Seeing that Ji-ho didn't answer, Ji-ho looked up. and saw her talking quietly with her friends, he saw her sigh in resignation.
"Fine," Ji-ho straightened up upon hearing that. "But it will be on my terms." Mira watched as her brother nodded.
"That seems fair." Ji-ho agreed with Mira.
"We'll meet at Momos Coffe tomorrow at 11am. Rumi and Zoey are coming too; that's not up for discussion." Mira didn't let her brother answer when she spoke again. "Don't be late. Bye."
Mira quickly dragged Zoey and Rumi away from the person who was her biological brother. They met up with Bobby, who already had the car ready, which they got into, and they left the party back at their hotel.
Neither of them said anything the entire ride; they just held hands. Before arriving at their hotel, they asked Bobby if they could go to a store to buy snacks. When they arrived at their hotel, they put on their pajamas, piled into bed, and watched movies. Neither of them said anything about tomorrow's meeting or what had happened.
When they finished watching the third movie, they started packing their things since their flight left tomorrow at 2 p.m. They took a relaxing bath, ordered dinner, and snuggled back up in bed.
They didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but if the three of them were together, they could face anything. If someone messed up with one of them, they would all respond because they protected each other. They were family, and they wouldn't let anyone tear them apart.
🎶💫✨️🌙✨️💫🎶
Ji-ho watched Mira walk away with her friends. When they got into his car, he returned to the party where his parents and fiancée were waiting. Seeing him approach, they began to ask him questions.
"What did they tell you in the end?" Hye-in asked Ji-ho, still holding her autographed poster as if it were her life.
"They can't guarantee that they can show up at a private event. It depends on whether they have a schedule available on the date or starting the paperwork well in advance," Ji-ho replied. Although Hye-in was his fiancée and knew about his younger sister who had run away from home 6 years ago, telling her about Mira or So-yi was something he couldn't do, at least not until he spoke to her. "I honestly don't know how your uncle managed to get them to show up here today."
"My uncle has his connections." It was the only answer Hye-in gave before leaving with her family.
"Ji-ho, that... the one who was singing... was So-yi," his mother whispered too softly, afraid that he would give her a negative answer, although her expression remained neutral.
"That's right, I spoke to her before she left." As she said that, her parents' eyes widened. If Ji-ho had to A guess would say they were surprised by that. Although he had told them he spoke to her, the truth was he barely exchanged words with her.
"We'll meet tomorrow and..." Ji-ho couldn't finish what he was going to say when his father interrupted him.
"We'll go with you," His father said in a non-negotiable tone.
"That's not up for discussion." His mother supported his father's decision.
"As you wish," was the only thing Ji-ho could say. He just hoped his parents wouldn't ruin it.
After six years, he had finally found his sister and wasn't going to let her leave his life again. He would do everything possible to stay in touch. However, he couldn't say the same about his parents, and if they ruined Mira's chance to come back into their lives, he would never forgive them.
🎶💫✨️🌙✨️💫🎶
The girls arrived at the café at 10:40 a.m. and sat in the far corner, mainly for fear of being recognized.
They were enjoying themselves and joking around, almost forgetting what they had come for, when the sound of the shop bell announcing the arrival of customers alerted them.
Mira, who was sitting with a perfect view of the door, saw her brother walk in. She was about to call his attention and ask him to come over to her table when he saw them. Behind him, her parents walked in. Mira didn't move; she froze in place. It was only when Zoey nudged her to get her attention that she realized her brother and parents had seen her and were heading their way.
Mira stared at them and didn't miss the look her mother gave when she realized Rumi and Zoey were there too. She turned to look at her friends, who were already standing up and pointing at a table close enough in case she needed them, but far enough away to give them privacy.
Before leaving, each of them grabbed her hand and squeezed it lightly, giving her the reassurance and strength she needed for what was to come. Unfortunately for her, that supportive embrace didn't go unnoticed, and she noticed the look of displeasure her parents gave her.
"You told me you wanted to talk to me, you never said they were coming," Mira said, looking at her brother while nodding toward her parents.
"As direct as ever, right, So-yi." Mira and Ji-ho's father shook his head. "I see you haven't changed at all these years."
Ji-ho watched as Mira gripped her glass of bubble tea tightly and closed her eyes as if she were trying to control herself. When she opened them, she looked him straight in the eyes.
"Talk," was the only thing Mira said, crossing her arm and addressing her brother, completely ignoring the existence of her parents.
"First of all, I'd like to apologize for focusing on my own things. I ignored you, and it wasn't until you left that I realized you were gone. I looked everywhere for you for years, but I couldn't find you until... until two days ago, when I saw you." Ji-ho, who hadn't taken his gaze off Mira, saw how she only raised an eyebrow slightly. "I accompanied Hye-in to buy gifts for the triplets. I had just left the store when I saw you walking across the street. You were wearing the same glasses and a hat that I imagine belongs to your friend with bows. I promised myself that after the birthday party, I would start looking for you; imagine my surprise when I saw you again at the party as one of the special guests."
Mira didn't say anything, just continued looking at her brother. Ji-ho felt like he was under a magnifying glass. He was sure she was studying him, trying to figure out if what he'd said was true or false, which it absolutely was.
Ji-ho saw Mira accept what he'd said, saw her eyebrow return to its place, and wanted to say something to her when her father spoke, causing her to put up all her defenses again.
"Ji-ho's right. It was a big surprise to see you again, and nothing less than a K-pop star." A sigh of disappointment escaped her lips. "After the party ended, we started to see more about the group you're in, and we think the best decision is for you to come home with us."
Everything around them stopped, and Ji-ho could swear the temperature in the room had dropped a few degrees. Mira hadn't changed her expression; she still had the same indifferent face she'd had since they arrived. Her only reaction was to put her drink back on the table.
"Your father is right, So-yi." Her mother agreed with her father's words. "It's not a good idea for you to stay with that group. You can say in an interview that you're going to college, leave Trixis, and come back home with us. Besides, I think it's best for you to separate yourself from your friends and return to your family."
Mira closed her eyes again, only now it was harder to calm down; numbers were no longer useful, but she had to control herself. She couldn't summon her weapon in front of her parents and brother. She could accept them speaking ill of her; they'd done it all her life, but when they messed with the people she loved most on the entire damn planet, the people she considered her ONLY family, she wasn't going to accept that, and that's why it was hard for her to contain herself and not explode, but her mother was making it very difficult for her.
"The way they held your hands when we arrived and the way they looked at you; That's just not right. What would happen if they saw you doing that in public? What would people say? Mira's mother lamented. "Even now, they're still watching what we do."
When she heard that from her mother, Mira quickly looked toward the table where her friends were sitting. They both looked at her for a moment, asking if she was okay. She nodded slowly, causing them both to give her a thumbs-up, encouragingly. This brought a small smile to Mira's lips.
"When you get back home, I'm going to talk to the Choi family. Their son is two years older than you. You two would make a good couple." We'll keep you as far away from those... weirdos you now call friends as possible." Her mother gestured dismissively toward the table where Rumi and Zoey were sitting. "A girl without parents can't have manners. Besides, you've seen her hair is too long. She should cut it. If she had parents, they would have done it already." Her father nodded at her mother's words while Mira just pressed her lips into a thin line, she was about to explode. "I don't understand how a 21-year-old person can be so childish, especially if she's in the public eye. She should tone down her behavior and her way of being."
That was it. Mira couldn't control herself anymore. She let out a sarcastic laugh, but at the same time, it was full of venom. When she finished laughing, she turned to her parents and her brother.
"Is that why you wanted to talk to me? To take me home?" Letting out bitter giggles, she didn't let her brother answer. "You should have asked me why I ran away."
-First of all, we call ourselves Huntr/x, HUNTR/X, not trixis. I'm going to say it as many times as necessary for you to understand, I'm not going back to that house! Leaving has been the best decision I've ever made in my life and I don't regret it- Mira saw how her parents turned red and opened their mouths in shock and anger at her words -You claim to be my family, but in the 30 minutes we've been sitting I haven't heard a single apology from you two who claim to be my family, instead you say you'll take me back to a place I don't want to return to and you insult the most important people to me on this entire damn planet, guess what! I already have a family! In it we don't hide anything from each other! We don't act like we don't exist! And most importantly, you accept me and love me just the way I am! I don't have to change like her family tells me to.
-They say Rumi can't have manners because she doesn't have parents, but she had Céline. She taught her everything since Rumi's mom passed away. Rumi is always there for both Zoey and me. She's a great leader. If we have a problem, she helps solve it. People complain about Zoey because of her personality. Maybe we've spoiled her too much because she's the youngest of us, but she's the one who cheers us up and improves our mood. Her hugs make our problems go away, and without her lyrics, Huntr/x wouldn't be what it is today. She's the spark of joy between the three of us and our eternal battery.
-Wait a minute, So-yi…- Her father tried to interrupt her, but Mira didn't let him speak.
-My name is MIRA, not So-yi. She doesn't exist anymore. The only reason they want me back is to have their bargaining chip and marry her off to the best candidate for them, they already have their heir, they don't need me or have they already forgotten the reason why I ran away that night- Ji-ho looked at her surprised by her words and Mira realized that they hadn't told her the truth- "Haven't they told you the reason why I ran away?" Seeing that he shook his head, she didn't hesitate to answer him- They told me that my birth had been a mistake and that they should never have had me, that they already had you; that they didn't need me- Ji-ho froze upon hearing the words coming out of his younger sister's mouth and turned to look at his parents who looked embarrassed- You are no longer my family and I never want to have you in my life again, goodbye- With that said Mira got up from the table grabbing her drink and headed over to where Rumi and Zoey were already standing at the entrance of the cafe
"Are you sure about your decision, Mira?" Rumi asked as the three of them walked slowly towards the hotel to collect their things
"Yes, they stopped being my family a long time ago- Mira put her arms around Rumi and Zoey's shoulders- Besides, I already have a family and it's much better than that- The three of them giggled at that
With that the three of them walked back to the hotel while laughing and joking, Mira finally felt peace, she had finally closed a story that took years to have an ending.
🎶💫✨️🌙✨️💫🎶
Ji-ho couldn't believe it. He only wanted to fix things with his sister. Instead, he discovered a truth that had been denied to him for many years, along with the possibility of having a relationship with his sister again.
He left the restaurant, furious with his parents and himself for not defending her, for just staying silent and watching them attack her. In the end, she was the one who defended herself and decided to cut off all ties with them.
As he walked, he felt his cell phone vibrate in his pocket. When he took it out, he realized it was from a number he didn't recognize. He debated for a moment whether to open it or not. In the end, his curiosity won out, and when he read the message, a small smile appeared on his lips. It didn't have a name, but he didn't need to because he knew perfectly well who the message was from. Maybe he could fix things with his sister soon.
"If you come to Seoul, write me and we can talk. If you bring them back, I'll kill you."