Chapter Text
Every Timeline... Every Era...
Being cursed to the eternal demon world, Jinu has to live through many years. From the era where poverty was evident - including him all the way to high rise building and advanced technology. he lived through it all.
And in every typical life span, Jinu encounters a specific soul. Rumi. he still remembers the very first time he met her...
Jinu strummed his old bipa, trying his best to earn money just to buy food for his family. He sat there on the dirt while people walked past, completely ignoring him. He sighed and blinked slowly.
His brown eyes stared off into the distance until someone blocked his view. Jinu looked up to see a young girl. Her hanbok was dirtied too but it was much more presentable compared to his. "Can i help you?" he asked softly.
the girl smiled and squat down to make eye contact with him before pulling something out behind her. "Here. My mom made some food and we had some leftovers."
Almost instantly, his eyes lit up at the word 'food'. he was hesitant to accept it but before he could even do anything, she smiled and set the tin down on his lap. She was about to say something when someone called out, "Rumi! Come here!"
She groaned. "Coming Eomma!"
Jinu chuckled softly. "Thank you for the meal... Rumi..."
Her face brightened and grinned. "You're welcome. Love your voice by the way!" She said before running off to meet her mother, leaving Jinu chuckling to himself and looked down at small tin of food on his lap.
With every step she took, he followed behind. He accompanied her everywhere. To her schedules. To her trainings. Even as simple as going out in the middle of the night to get some ramen. He always stayed a couple steps behind her. He swore to himself to never let her out of his sight. He swore to himself to never let her get hurt ever again. It was a promise he made to himself since he turned into a demon...
The same old routine for Jinu. Get up from the cold hard floor. Take his Bipa and go to the market in hopes to get something. Food. Money. anything.
And as if someone heard his plea, the same young girl walked up to him with a huge grin. It was almost felt like a sun ray shining down on him amongst all the grey clouds. "Hello again Rumi." Jinu said.
She giggled and gave him a bag of veggies. The generosity was appreciated by him as he gratefully accepted it. "Thank you..."
"You're welcome!" she exclaimed before going to sit next to him. "You know, i never got to know your name."
Jinu looked at her and smiled. "I'm Jinu."
The young girl smiled upon hearing his name. A reaction he never expects. No one has ever reacted that way, let alone even glance his way when busking with his bipa, and yet this girl. This young beautiful girl paid attention.
"you have a really nice voice Jinu. I know i said that before but i felt like saying it again," Rumi said.
he watched as her eyes looked at his rusty old Bipa. "Play something for me," She asked politely, earning a chuckle from the older. He then started strumming the bipa. The melody of the song seemed to muffle out the sounds of people walking around them. Almost like it had isolated the both of them from the world. Just them and the song. Rumi had the biggest grin as she rocked her body side to side, following the melody of the song.
With one final strum of the strings, Rumi clapped happily.
From then on, Jinu released something. He started to hope. He started to hope that maybe life can be better. All thanks to this girl...
it had been weeks since the first time they met and no doubt their friendship had grown. They frequently met at the same spot. They had used those opportunity to learn more from each other. but the main topic that grew both of them together was music and their love for it despite their differences.
yes, differences. Despite rumi being in dirty Hanbok as well, there was still a difference financially. Rumi's family was much more well off then Jinu's. Rumi might not be living in the palace but her family was certainly able to buy ingredients for a simple stew.
Today was no different. Rumi came up with a huge grin and gave him vegetables and some chicken but somehow, it was clear to Jinu that she came with a mission.
"Jinu! Teach me how to play the bipa! please," she begged. Jinu smiled and ruffled her hair before giving her the bipa.
"put your hand here." he guided Rumi's hand and positioned the bipa correctly on her lap. He then taught her the cords for it. Being the beginner that she is, her fingers wasn't good at pressing against the strings. He chuckled softly before moving closer, sitting slightly behind her. he then enveloped his hand around hers and pressed the strings before guiding her other hand to strum it.
The distance between them was basically non-existence. Jinu was nearly breathing down her neck. Both of their hearts skipped a beat at the closeness but none of them dared to move away. Well that wasn't until Rumi heard her mother's voice. "Rumi!"
Rumi jolted and pulled away before turning to face Jinu while her cheeks changed into a light rosy colour. She smiled shyly and bowed at Jinu before running off.
Jinu smiled and chuckled. Cute...
Just as things were going well, things had to go south...
Jinu was at the usual place, playing the Bipa. Rumi had came by like usual... But she wasn't alone.
He looked up at her. his eyes landed on the way the older male stood close to Rumi. He was ultimately confused. Confused as to why this guy was with her. Some might say he was jealous to a certain degree. "Rumi... Who's this?"
Rumi instantly looked down momentarily before looking back at jinu. Before she could even answer, the guy answered. "I'm Rowoon. her future husband."
Blood in Jinu's face instantly drained. Like someone had splashed cold water on him. "H-Husband?"
"it's an arranged marriage Jinu...i can't do anything about it..." she whispered.
The glare jinu shot at the guy would have made some wary but of course, every male has some of ego, right? Well, for this guy, his ego was way above the clouds. Based on the way he was dressed, he was in the upper class unlike him. his hanbok was well kept unlike his. Maybe she's better off with him...
"I'm so sorry Jinu..." Rumi whispered before she set a plastic bag onto his lap. The gesture was so innocent to the naked eye but between them, it held a big significance. The possibility that this might be the last time he'd see her made him want to just take her away and run. But he couldn't.
Jinu looked at Rumi who only return with desperate eyes before she and Rowoon walked off. he observed from a far as Rowoon showed off Rumi to the townspeople, like she was some sort of trophy. It made his blood boil but what else can he do...
it has only been a day since he saw her with Rowoon. he didn't have the motivation to busk anymore. it was as if habit took over ashe strummed the Bipa.
he looked down at the puddle below him and sighed before he froze when he heard a voice.
you can't do nothing for your family. You're not good enough for them...
His eye widened at the reflection. The purplish pink fire behind him. his breathing quickened at the words.
you're not good enough for her too... look at her... she's happily holding onto another man's arm while you'r here sitting... begging...
He couldn't help the tears that was starting to form in his eye. A tear was about to fall when the voice said something that gave him hope.
But i can help you be good enough for them... for her...
he listened attentively. the voice gave him a promise. A promise that by the next day, there will be changes. He will get recognised. People will finally look at him after months and years of ignoring him. With our hesitation, he agreed...That's when dominos were placed... ready to be pushed and fall...
True to his words by the voice in his head, he was instantly noticed by people the next day. people even stopped and listened to him sing. Townspeople. Even people from the palace noticed him.
Later that afternoon, the palace guards approached him with an opportunity to perform for the King. of course jinu had to accept it. It was an opportunity of a life time. how could he not take this up?
Within the next couple of days, he went to the palace to perform for the king. the compliments from the king made him ecstatic. he even got an opportunity to stay in the palace as one of the entertainers. his life was finally taking a turn.
His life. not his family.
The next time he was to visit the king, he brought his family. His mother and younger sister with a promise to stay in the palace. Just as he was let into the palace by the palace guards, the same people pointed their weapons towards his mother and sister. he froze at the sight.
"O-oppa? Oppa!" his younger sister yelled as his mother hold her off while the palace guard dragged him into the palace.
He walked up the steps to the king and performed like he always does. God bless for unconscious habits, right?
But as he strummed the Bipa, all he could hear was his sister yelling for him and the sight of his mother stopping her. he knew he had to ignore it. he shook his head and kept a smile as he sang and strummed the beautiful instrument.
Weeks had passed since he started living in the palace and he was enjoying it. enjoying it so much that he completely forgot about his mother and sister who were still in poverty. All while he slept in silk sheets, clean clothes and belly so full he could explode.
he was walking around the palace when he noticed a familiar silhouette. Rumi...
his heart skipped a beat. it can't be her right?
"Rumi?" he called out softly.
She turned around and looked at him, eyes widened. "Jinu?"
she stood up and stared at him. Jinu's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her in a clean hanbok saved for royalty and extended family of royalty. "you're here...."
Then a guy came out of the house. Jinu's heart dropped as fast as his heart quicken. He forgot she was someone's wife now. Not his.
Rumi tensed up for a sec before walking back into the house, leaving Jinu alone outside...
Now knowing that Rumi was living within the palace compound, he couldn't help but look forward to seeing her, even if it was under the presence of a man he never wished to be there. The more he looked for her, the more he realised how often she comes around.
One day, he was eating with his friends when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. There were... patterns on his skin?
he looked at the other men to see if they had patterns or at least noticed them too but nothing. not a sign of them noticing. Just as he was about to brush it off, he heard Gwi-ma's voice again.
Look at yourself... selfish... have you forgotten about your family?
It felt like he was sucked into his mind. Sucked back to the moment where the palace guards pointed their weapons at his family and he had just left them there...
he got pulled back into reality and panted softly.
You now bare my marks... you're a demon now jinu... there's no going back...
his eyes widened in shock before Gwi-ma's voice disappeared from his head. How... how could i be a demon...
"Jinu? you okay?" one of his friends said. he nodded and brushed it off for the moment.
Later that night, he sat in front of his mirror and stared at the marks as it slowly spread across his body. it was a hideous sight. but there was nothing that can be done. he wore his clean hanbok and decided to go on a walk.
he mindlessly walked around before he hear commotion. his head shot up and looked towards where the sound was coming from only to realised it was from Rumi's house. he immediately rushed over.
"STOP!" his heart dropped when he heard her voice. He pushed through the doo, his heart dropped at the sight. Rowoon holding Rumi by the hair and his other hand had a baton like staff. Jinu's blood boiled.
he never think before acting. he rushed forward and threw a punch across Rowoon's face. things was being knocked down. The sounds of being punched echoed the room.
jinu panted as he shielded Rumi. And Rowoon didn't like that. Rowoon withdraw a small dagger before charging towards Jinu. He was ready to take the hit when suddenly Rumi did the unthinkable.
"NO!" jinu yelled. But it was too late. Rumi stilled as she stared up at Jinu. it felt as if the world stilled around them. he watched as his first love crumbled to the floor as she bleed onto her white hanbok.
"No no no. Rumi. Stay with me." he said desperately.
Nothing from her. She smiled tiredly. "i'm sorry jinu..." she whispered before shutting her eyes.
Jinu shook her body desperately but nothing. tears started to fall. This can't be happening...
he stood there as he watched people paid respect to Rumi. It was too hard for him to stay but he had to. he had to... for her.
it felt like he was a shell to his own soul. the guilt consumed him. The fact that he lost everything that mattered to him was heartbreaking.
Then the one voice in his head was the last straw for him...
You're never enough....