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Mira and Zoey were at there usual bathhouse, relaxing after a rough performance. Sadly, but expected, Rumi wasn't with them. The girls knew Rumi would say no but would hope everytime they asked that she would one day come with them.
They'd been at the bath house for a good 15 minutes before Zoey spoke up.
“hey Mira?” Zoey said with a hint of nervousness in her voice
“Yeah?” Mira asked, noticing Zoey's tone
“Do you notice anything… different with Rumi?”
Mira didn't want to admit it, because the thought of Rumi keeping something from them was already a bitter pill to swallow.
Mira swallowed, hesitating before talking.
“... Yeah, I have.”
Zoey again, spoke as if she was scared to.
“Do you notice she's wearing more clothing than she used to?..”
Mira didn't like where this was going, but she had no one else to talk about what might be wrong with Rumi, other than Zoey.
“Yep. No denying that.” Mira said, trying to sound casual about it while her thoughts went wild about what was wrong with their leader.
“.. What do you think it's about?” Zoey asked skeptically
“Idk Zoey, I do know that I'm worried about her.”
Zoey was concerningly quiet for a while.
“Zoey?” Mira asked
“What? Oh sorry, just thinking.” Zoey stated, released from her daze
“What about?” Mira asked. Mira already had a feeling it was about Rumi, but she wanted to push.
“Do you think, Rumi's, yk?…” Zoey asked Mira
Mira was worried about what Zoey was implying, because she had the same concerns.
“... Hurting herself?” Mira said
“Yeah.” Zoey said sadly
“Why wouldn't she tell us if she was struggling?” Mira said, clearly frustrated.
“Maybe she's scared, Mira, it's not an easy thing to discuss. Maybe she's worried we'd react poorly.”Zoey said, sensing Mira's anger rising
“We're her friends Zoey, she should know to come to us.” Mira said
“Ik it's frustrating Mira, but we can't do much about it. You know how closed off Rumi can be about her feelings.” Zoey said, even though she was hurt, Rumi hadn't come to them either.
“Ik your right Zoey. I just… idk. I just wish she'd come to us for help.”
“I'm 100% with you Mira” Zoey said
They continued to sit in silence for another 5 minutes till Zoey spoke up once again.
“What if it's something else?”
“What else could it be?* Mira asked.
“ idk.. Maybe she's insecure about her body?” Zoey suggested
“Maybe. But I don't think so. I'd rather it be that, but I'm more worried she's hurting herself” Mira said. Mira didn't have any reason to believe it couldn't be body issues, but she had worry building in her stomach that it was what she thought it was.
“Well, I think all we can do is hope she'll eventually come to us for help when she needs it.”Zoey said, even though a big part of her wanted to confront Rumi. Her worry would consume her.
“I guess…” Mira didn't want to admit it, but what else could they do? Tell Rumi she needed to tell them what's wrong? That could push her away. That's the last thing they wanted.
But when they got silent again, Mira finally spoke up first.
“Just to be clear Zoey, I think if it gets to a point, we'll have to confront her.”
“What do you mean?” Zoey asked, confused
“I mean if we think she's genuinely going to hurt herself, and I mean life threatening, or-, or if she starts acting more distant than usual, I'm going to say something.”
“.. Yeah okay Mira, sounds like a good idea.”
They continued to get out of the bath after a while, and get ready to leave.
On their way back to the apartment, they couldn't shake what could be wrong with Rumi. So they decided to take Rumi out to eat. To her favorite place in fact, to maybe ease some openings for her to open up. They ate and had a good time, but no information was taken from Rumi sadly.
Maybe another day.