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Rumi stared at herself in the mirror, quietly hyping herself up before she went outside to follow the tiger.
"You can do this," she said, pointing at herself in the mirror. "You are a Hunter, you are an idol, a queen. You are Rumi Nim." She straightened up, fixing the collar of her jacket. "You can ask a boy to go to the aquarium."
She'd got the brilliant idea to ask Jinu to go to the aquarium with her. It was perfect, strategic. It would get right into his head and unnerve the demon to be doing something so human. She would throw him completely off his game. All part of her grand plan of course, he would be so distracted from seeing so many fish that he wouldn't be able to focus on making any new songs for the Idol Awards.
Plus they just got a new shark that she wanted to see.
A win-win!
A crash came from her bedroom. She rushed out of the bathroom, sword materialising in her hand.
It was just the tiger.
It turned its big head to her, eyes wide with stupidity. An overturned bin at its paw.
Rumi sighed, letting her sword disappear.
"Hey, did you knock that over?"
The tiger tilted its head, then went back to trying to right the bin.
Rumi laughed, crossing the room in quick steps. Crouching down, she set the bin right side up again. Looking at the tiger which looked back at her with its usual smile.
"Ready to go?"
* * *
Jinu was waiting on her when she finally landed.
He looked up at her as she got off the Tigers back, then looked down at his bare wrist as if looking at a watch. "You're late."
"We had to take a detour, the bird lost his hat," Rumi said very calmly, expertly hiding her nerves with her years of idol experience. She could do this. She was constantly hiding a part of herself, she could hide this too.
She didn't hide it well enough.
Jinu gave her a suspicious look. "What did you do?"
"Huh me? I didn't do anything! Why would I do anything? If anything I should be asking you!" Rumi stammered, quick on the frantic defence. Hands flailing about. "What did you do Jinu?"
Jinu was silent for a moment.
The time gave Rumi a chance to realise that she had gotten right up in his face as she finished. She jumped backwards, putting distance back between them.
Jinu narrowed his eyes slightly at her, lips quirking up at the edges. Eyes alight with amusement, "So you did do something then."
"Pfft, no of course not." Rumi flicked her wrist, hoping to come off nonchalant. She failed.
Jinu walked closer, looking down at her, with a small smile still on his face. "Rumiii, what did you dooo?"
Rumi laughed nervously and looked to the tiger and bird for support. The bird chirped at her and the tiger gave her a wide smile.
She looked back at Jinu and - damn he was close.
He'd moved close enough to her that they could touch with the slightest movement, bodies centimetres apart. His face right above hers. The damned smile still on his lips.
If Rumi was panicking before she was completely gone now.
The teasing smile split his face wider. "Rumiii, tell me."
"Aquarium," she blurted out.
"What?"
"Aquarium."
"I heard you the first time. What about it?"
Rumi was dying. This was it, this would be what killed her. "Me, you. Go. Aquarium. Yes?"
Jinu blinked slowly at her. "You want to go to the aquarium with me?"
"Yes," Rumi said, voice only slightly catching with nerves.
Jinu blinked at her again, tilting his head to the side as though she was a puzzle he couldn't understand.
In all honesty, Rumi was reminded of the tiger. Maybe that's why it was so dumb looking, it was copying Jinu. She glanced over at the tiger and saw it marvelling at its own reflection in a puddle. Or maybe the tiger was just stupid in general.
She looked back at Jinu and he was still watching her, confusion written across his face.
Flickers of doubt wormed its way into her mind. "You don't have to come. They have a new shark, well it's not really new, they got it a few months ago but I haven't got to see it yet and-"
"I'll go," Jinu interrupted. "I'll go to the aquarium with you."
Rumi smiled up at him, "Really?"
Jinu smiled back, "Yeah, it's a date!"
The two of them realised at the same time what he'd said, and how close they were standing.
They both scrambled backwards, both red in the face.
"I didn't mean a date!"
"Yeah of course, I would never date you!"
"Exactly, you never show up on time!"
"Excuse me?"
The two stared at each other.
Jinu was red and defensive while Rumi was offended, she could be on time!
Rumi crossed her arms, "I'm not always late."
Jinu crossed his arms back at her, "Uh yes you are."
"I wasn't late last time."
"That happened once."
"I won't be late to the aquarium, I'll actually be early."
"Sure," Jinu said, clearly not believing her. "What, not gonna style your hair?"
Rumi's mouth dropped open in shock, "What's wrong with my hair?"
Jinu started flailing his hands about, rambling quickly. "Nothing wrong with your hair. It's actually quite nice. But you've so much of it and it's so long. I meant that it must take so long to style it and that's why you're always late. It was a joke I swear, I like your hair-"
He stopped rambling on when he saw Rumi trying not to laugh at him.
Jinu looked at her with dead eyes, "Wow thanks. I thought I'd offended you and you're laughing."
"So you like my hair then?"
A flash of panic went across Jinu's face, "I didn't say that."
"Yes you did."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"I'm leaving." Jinu turned on his heel and started walking away from her.
Rumi jumped forward and grabbed his wrist. "Wait no, we haven't got a time for the aquarium yet."
Jinu froze and looked back at her.
The night fell silent as they met each others eyes.
Rumi made eye contact with him and reminded herself that she was doing this for a reason. She just couldn't exactly remember what it was other than she wanted to see the shark. And maybe, just maybe, spend some time with Jinu.
* * *
It was the day.
It had arrived.
The day for her to go to the aquarium with Jinu.
She'd had a week to plan for it.
And she still didn't know what to wear.
"Ughhhhhhh," she groaned, flopping backwards into her bed. Clothes strewn about her room. All her outfits were either too idol-y or too casual for an aquarium date.
Sure she didn't have to dress up, but she wanted to!
So far she's narrowed it down to about 5 different tops to choose from, all ones that covered her arms.
She groaned again and rolled off her bed, landing in a heap on the floor. Her head flopped to the side, the bin coming into her sight. Lyric sheets still crumbled up with her handwriting crossing out Mira's.
She sat up.
Mira!
Rumi scrambled out of her room, racing to the living room, finding her target on the couch in front of the TV. She zeroed in on the pink haired girl, not even noticing their other member beside her.
"Mira!" Rumi shouted, jumping at the girl. "Can I have your jeans?"
Mira, understandably, stared at her like she'd grown an extra head. "What?"
Rumi took a deep breath, slowing her breathing. "Can I borrow your jeans? Please?"
Mira was still looking at her with a concerned face, answering slowly, "Sure, what ones?"
"The ripped ones please. It's for an outfit."
"Right, what's the outfit for Rumi?" Zoey spoke up, making her presence at the other side of the couch known.
Rumi froze, "Um, it's for uh, yeah it's um-" She tried to find an excuse and just kept coming up blank. She had no idea what to say to them.
She hated lying to them but she didn't have a choice. No way would they agree to her going on a date with Jinu.
Zoey gasped, "Oh my god. Rumi are you going on a date?"
Rumi startled and fell over from where she was half in Mira's lap, "What?!"
"So you are going on a date?" Mira said, sitting up straighter. The pink haired girl leaned in closer to her.
Rumi laughed nervously, shrinking back against the couch even more.
Then Mira grinned and sat back, "Sure, you can have the jeans. Where are you going?"
Rumi let out a sigh of relief, they weren't asking who she was going with. What a relief!
"Aquarium."
"Ooooh, wear one of your flowy crop tops it'll look really nice," Zoey chirped up. Hands up to her face with stars in her eyes.
Rumi laughed and stood up, starting to walk back towards the rooms, "I will, I will. Thank you so much Mira."
Mira gave her a small smile then turned back to the TV, "Anytime, have fun on your date."
"Have fun!" Zoey shouted after her.
* * *
Rumi was walking the last bit to the aquarium, all she had left to do was cross the street. She could already see Jinu standing outside waiting on her, looking down at his phone.
A strand of hair fell over her shoulder. She would've fixed it but then the traffic lights turned red and she was being bustled across the road by a hoard of shoppers.
Once across, she walked up to Jinu, who hadn't noticed she was there yet.
Rumi grinned to herself, sensing the opportunity.
She let her steps get quieter and stood up on the small wall behind him. She went right up to his ear and whispered, "Boo!"
Jinu screamed and jumped away, nearly falling over as he lost his footing.
His betrayed expression was met with her laughter.
She jumped off the wall as he stood up straight.
"Did you really ask me out just to jump scare me?" Was the first thing Jinu said to her.
Rumi grinned at him, "No, but it's a bonus."
Jinu opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again, just looking at her instead.
Something in his expression, something she hadn't seen from him before, was unguarded.
Rumi suddenly felt self-conscious about herself, "What's wrong?"
Jinu swallowed, still just watching her. "You changed your hair."
Rumi got a quick flashback to fighting against her hair with a comb to try to force it into a half bun.
"Yeah. The braid was too obvious," she said quietly. "Do you not like it?"
"No, I uh-" he reached a hand up, tucking the stray strand behind her ear. "It's nice, suits you. I like it."
He gave her a smile and Rumi felt the world stop.
The bustling city sounds faded away, nothing more than a low hum. The sun escaped from the clouds to shine down brighter on them, showering them in a golden glow.
Rumi smiled back up at him. A real smile, not the one she gives to the fans or to Zoey and Mira, a genuine smile to someone that knew about all of her.
Someone bumped into the back of Jinu, breaking the moment.
The two jumped back, both red in the face.
"So uh- aquarium?" Jinu offered, not meeting her eyes.
"Yeah sure, aquarium," Rumi agreed.
They stood there for another second, not meeting the others eyes.
"I uh- don't know this place," Jinu said, breaking their awkward silence.
"Oh my god," Rumi muttered to herself and led the way into the building. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She looked forward with a new found determination, she had a shark to see.
She glanced back at Jinu to see if he was following, "Coming?"
Jinu looked at her, eyes going up and down, taking in her outfit. He lingered on her hair for a moment before finding her face with an easy grin, "Lead the way."
Rumi led the way through the aquarium as the two marvelled at the fishes.
At some point, their hands met, fingers tangled together as they walked through the aquarium. Most of the time, it was Rumi pulling Jinu ahead by the hand, not even noticing while surrounded by all the different kinds of fish. Others, when the crowd was more dense, Jinu led the way through, parting the crowd with a polite smile.
Finally, they got to the most important bit.
When Rumi saw the huge tank she excitedly rushed forward, all but dragging Jinu behind her as she zeroed in on the shark.
She didn't even notice that Jinu had gone limp in her grasp, letting her pull him in every direction.
Jinu, however, did notice. In fact he barely even looked at the fish attractions, too busy looking at the woman in front of him.
Rumi stopped in front of the shark tank, watching the magnificent creature swim lazily around. Grand tail flicking backwards and forwards.
Rumi was mesmerized by the shark.
It was a little known fact about her with her fans, with most brushing it off as a fan theory. Rumi loved the ocean and all its animals. She especially loved sharks, a gentle creature so misunderstood and deemed a villain just because of how it looks. They were definitely a soft spot of hers.
She was too busy watching it turn and circle along the viewing window again to notice Jinu staring down at her from her side, a soft expression on his face.
A girl behind them did notice and thought it was adorable that this couple was on an aquarium date and he still couldn't take his eyes off her. She turned to her sister, "Hey, look at that couple. They're so relationship goals."
Jinu nudged Rumi with his elbow, "You like sharks then?"
Rumi nodded, eyes glued to the shark. "Yes, I love them."
The girls sister turned around, looking for the couple that her sister mentioned. Her eyes found the two idols and her jaw dropped.
Jinu gave her a smile that went unnoticed, "They freaked me out when I found out about them. It was the teeth."
Rumi gave him a judging side eye, "You're a demon."
Jinu went to reply when a scream came from behind them.
They both whirled around. Rumi ready to get her sword and Jinu stepping forward with a protective arm slightly outstretched in front of her.
"IS THAT RUMI AND JINU," the girls sister screamed, pointing at the duo.
Rumi and Jinu shared a panicked look. Immediately running away.
The news travelled fast and all around them as they ran, fans whipped out their phones to record.
Rumi watched one pull out her phone and the flash went off. The fans screaming for the two of them, calling out their names, arms outstretched.
No, no, no, no, no.
Jinu's hand squeezed hers. "This way!"
Rumi let herself be pulled along, trying to keep the head low and out of the cameras.
Jinu led them through a series of corners, twisting and turning about enough that Rumi lost track of where they were going.
Eventually he stopped, pulling her behind him as he double checked around the corner. The screaming of the fans was further away now, muffled by the distance.
Jinu breathed heavily and gave her a weak smile.
Rumi matched his smile, leaning slightly against the wall. Watching the demon as he tried to catch his breath.
"That was insane," Jinu eventually said.
Rumi couldn't help but laugh. Folding over as the peals of laughter overtook her.
Jinu started laughing with her. The two of them slumped together against the wall.
Rumi grinned at him, "Welcome to being an idol."
"Can I get a refund?"
"No."
"That's disappointing."
Rumi laughed again, leaning her head against his shoulder. He rested his own head on top of hers as they calmed down.
They fell into silence again, Jinu's hand started playing with a strand of her hair from where it sat at her waist. It was a comfortable silence, the two of them content to stand there half holding the other.
For the first time today, Rumi broke the silence between them. "So what now?"
Jinu hummed, thinking for a moment, "Coffee?"
"Sounds good to me."
So they snuck out of the aquarium and snuck into a café. The two of them stood in line. Jinu stood with his chest to Rumi's back, blocking her completely from the view of the hoards of fans rushing past the windows.
One of Jinu's hands found its way to her waist, resting lightly against her skin. The other playing with her hair again.
Rumi would never admit to him how much she liked the feeling.
The woman in front of them moved out of the way to stand off to the side once she'd finished ordering, the barista calling for them to go next.
Rumi walked forward, sad to leave the warmth of Jinu's touch but knowing he was still at her back.
She smiled at the barista and looked up at the menu above her, ignoring the way the barista's eyes went wide when she saw her face.
"Can I get a caramel latte please?" Rumi asked politely, turning around to look up at Jinu. "What do you want?"
Jinu leaned forward slightly, his chest brushing against her back. "I'll have a mocha, please. Do you want any snacks?" He directed the last bit at Rumi.
"Ooh, yes." Rumi leaned to the side to peer into the display. "A caramel square for me please."
Jinu's hand found her waist again, following the curve to completely wrap around her, "The same for me, thanks."
The barista nodded and typed onto her screen. She looked up at them, slightly starstruck as she told them the cost.
Rumi went to smile and put her phone to the card reader, fully intending to pay.
Jinu's arm tightened and her feet left the ground, turning in mid-air away from the card reader.
She grasped Jinu's arm, "Put me down!"
Jinu laughed, his chest rumbling against her back. Every vibration rocketing through her. "One second."
The card reader beeped as he put his phone against it, changing to a checkmark then to a happy smile.
The barista's eyes shot between the two of them, "Please wait to the side, that'll be one moment."
Jinu nodded, his chin rubbing against the top of Rumi's head, "No problem, thank you." He walked over to the side, still holding Rumi up with one arm.
He stood them next to the woman that had been in line in front of them. She gave them a small smile.
Rumi gave her a polite smile back, then lightly kicked back against Jinu's shins.
He got the hint because her feet met the floor again.
She whirled around in his arms to face him, "What was that?"
Jinu smiled stupidly, a pleased expression on his face. "I wanted to pay."
"And I wanted to pay!"
"Too slow."
Rumi went to shoot back, but was interrupted by a tap to the shoulder.
She looked over at the older woman standing beside them.
The older woman gave her a sly smile, "Deary, let your boyfriend buy you these things." Her voice dropped to a whisper as though to stop Jinu from hearing, "Then you can keep your money to yourself and buy more treats."
Rumi went to object that he's not her boyfriend but Jinu beat her to it.
He wrapped his free arm around her, pulling her head to his chest. "I try my best Ma'am."
The woman laughed, giving Rumi a wink. "That's a proper man there, you keep a good hold on him."
Again, Jinu answered for her because Rumi was still processing the arms wrapped around her. "I'm not planning on going anywhere." He rested his cheek on the top of her head, "She's stuck with me now."
The woman smiled at him, nodding like this was exactly what she wanted, then went to go pick up her order.
A second later, the barista was looking at them. Holding two cups to-go and a small brown bag. They thanked her again and left the café, off to go find a roof to hang out on away from the eyes of their fans.
They found a roof and sat there for hours, just talking to each other about anything and everything.
When Jinu was telling her an animated story about what the other Saja Boys were like in the practice rooms for 'Soda Pop', she was in stitches laughing. Especially at his forlorn expressions when he talked about how Baby kept ignoring him sometimes just to play some bird game on an iPad.
When she was back at the apartment, she lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. Replaying the day over in her head, remembering the smiles Jinu sent her way and the feeling of having his arms around her.
She grabbed a pillow and screamed into it to not wake the other girls.
Turning to her stomach she kicked her feet in the air, thinking to herself.
Thinking that was probably the happiest she's ever been and the most she genuinely smiled in one singular day.
She flipped back onto her back, happily replaying the memories of the day as she fell asleep.
* * *
Weeks later, the Idol awards had came and went. Jinu betrayed her, then sacrificed himself for her to protect her from Gwi-ma.
Rumi hadn't had a moment to herself to process the fact. The whole ordeal still too raw to even think that he could be gone.
Now, she was in the dressing room after they'd finished recording the music video of 'What it sounds like'. The fans had loved the song and immediately demanded more and more.
So they had done countless live shows for the song, countless fan signs and meet and greets, started filming the music video and getting the song on streaming services. They'd had to watch over fan videos to remember the full lyrics they had sang.
In that dressing room was the first time she'd even been able to think about Jinu.
She slumped back against the wall, meeting her own eyes in the mirror.
The face of the idol Rumi faced her, but the eyes showed the barely restrained heartbreak hiding under the surface. Her hair starting to frizz up slightly.
Her head fell back against the wall, only giving a slight relief to her
She watched a tear begin to make its way down her face.
And the damn broke.
For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to finally think about Jinu and the fact he'd gave up his soul. For her.
He'd gave up his soul for her.
She put a hand down and grabbed her braid, frantically taking it out. Running shaking hands through her hair. She needed it out.
And the tears kept falling.
Everything bubbling over. All consuming and unforgiving.
She sobbed, head falling forward, hair encasing her in a wavy guard. She dropped down to curl into a ball, crying into her arms.
Time escaped her until her tears ran dry and her shoulders stopped shaking.
She rested a temple against her knees, letting her arms fall to her side. She couldn't see past her hair cocoon, she didn't particularly care.
Closing her eyes she tried to steady her breathing.
She felt her hair move from in front of her face. A warm hand brushing against her ear.
She kept her eyes closed, thinking it was just one of the girls.
A head rested against her own, the hand moving to cup her cheek, a sharp nail scrapped lightly against her cheek.
Her eyes flew open, she shot to her feet.
There was no one else in the room with her.
She raised a hand to her cheek, looking around the room again. She twisted around, nothing was out of place.
Her clothes still sat in the corner, the posters on the wall where they should be, her chair to the side where she'd left it, her and Jinu's reflection was normal, nothing was moved.
Wait.
Jinu?
She snapped her head to the side to look into the mirror. Her hair fell out from behind her ear.
In the reflection, Jinu stood beside her, meeting her eyes through the reflection. He smiled, "Hey Rumi."
She whirled to where he should have been standing next to her, the space was empty.
She faced the mirror again.
Jinu looked her over, "You let your hair down, its nice."
Rumi gave him a teary smile, "Yeah?"
"Yeah, I like it."
They shared a smile.
Rumi reached out a hand, watching the reflection to try find his hand.
Jinu noticed. He moved his own hand, and she felt a warm hand encase her own.
Rumi looked down at her hand, only looking like she was holding air. "How are you here?"
"I'm not actually, just my soul is."
Rumi looked over at him, "So you'll never be back?"
Jinu gave her a sad smile, "I don't know, I'll try. My body is back in the demon realm, I'm trying to find a way out."
Rumi squeezed his hand, "Hurry up then."
Jinu's smile widened, "Of course, we didn't get to finish our aquarium date."
Rumi laughed, the sound wet to even her own ears.
Warm arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her in. They fit together like puzzle pieces, like they were made for each other.
"Please wait for me, I'm coming Rumi."
"I'll be waiting for you." She buried her head into his chest, closing her eyes so she could pretend he was actually there.
They stayed like that for what felt like hours and seconds at the same time.
Rumi only moved back when she felt his warmth fade, she looked over at the mirror to only find her own reflection staring back at her.
She gave herself a weak smile, raising a hand to wide away the tears.
He was alive.
All she had to do was wait.