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The dance studio buzzed with the early arrival of the Saja Boys, dressed down in sweatpants and rehearsal gear, stretching and yawning as they settled in for the day under the morning glow.
Baby had already curled up on the floor, clearly wishing he was anywhere else but here. Romance perched near the mirror, chewing a packet of Korean snacks that he’d snagged from the lobby. Abby was striking poses in front of the mirror, flexing dramatically with every angled turn. Off to the side, Mystery sat cross-legged on the floor, silent as always, watching the door with intensity.
Today’s one of the days where they continue their rehearsals with the Huntrix for a collab performance. Unfortunately after weeks of rehearsals, the management inconsiderately changed the song choices. Both the Huntrix and Saja Boys had to restart their whole routine all over again, even when the performance was getting closer.
These normal idol-work started ever since the defeat of Gwi-ma. Since the resurrection of the Saja Boys.
Whatever strange cosmic decision had them brought back to life, none of them had answers. They still had the same demon characteristics they had before. The demon marks, pale purple skin, sharp fangs, and the powers to teleport and transform back to a human or demon. The difference now is that they have beating hearts. Breaths that could fog up mirrors.
They weren’t collecting souls anymore nor having a master to serve. No hellish underworld to go back to.
So they just decided to continue as a serious idol group. What else could they do here anyway?
Mystery watched Jinu pacing near the doorway, fingers fidgeting. He looked tense, but it was different now, less like guilt, more like nervous excitement.
More than any of them, Jinu looked relieved to be alive. And Mystery could guess why.
He glanced at the door, then at Jinu.
Probably waiting for her.
The half-demon who had defended them. The one who convinced Mira not to throw them back to the underworld the second they reappeared on the street when they resurrected.
Mystery wasn’t so sure that the fierce pink-haired hunter would ever trust them, not that he blamed her though. They had hurt the Huntrix.
Her conditions for allowing them to continue on the living world: “One weird move, one bad vibe, and I swear I will erase you from every plane of existence, a suffering worse than what hell could deliver.”
There was one among the Huntrix girls who hadn’t looked at them like monsters. Not since they returned. Not even now.
Mystery’s gaze flicked to the door.
Zoey hadn’t come in yet.
When the demons served Gwi-ma, she'd been nearly destroyed by what they’d all been part of. Her bright energy, her trust shattered, but not extinguished.
She of course hasn’t forgotten what the Saja Boys did. She would never excuse it.
And yet, when they would cross paths in the hallway, briefly she smiled.
Not out of pity. Not out of fear.
Just… smiled.
She chooses to move forward. She’s gentle, but not naive. She’s doesn’t actively trust them, but she’s the first one to smile, to offer water, to check on how their practice was going, and giving advices since the male idol group decided to become serious idols.
She smiled like he was a person again. Like he was real. Mystery didn’t know what to do with that. So he would always stay still and say nothing.
And even now, he will sit still and wait for her to come through the door.
Finally, the handle turned. The Saja Boys stopped what they were doing and stood up. Jinu cleared his throat and straightened his back.
An expected scowl walked in first: Mira, pink-haired and unimpressed, her gaze sweeping the room like the blade of her weapon. Behind her was Rumi, long braid swinging, iridescent demon markings on her skin catching the light. The leader of the Saja Boys stood a bit taller once she entered.
Mystery’s head lifted slightly, awaiting for the last member of the Huntrix appear. If he had a tail, it might’ve wagged. His stillness cracked with quiet expectation.
But then, reality followed. The last one through the door was not Zoey but the figure of Bobby, Huntrix’s manager, nose deep in his phone. The door clicked behind him. No bubbly voice. No light steps. No Zoey.
The small flicker in Mystery’s chest dimmed.
Jinu approached, trying to keep the mood light. “Bobby? Didn’t think you’d be performing with us instead. Where’s Zoey?”
Bobby pocketed his phone with a tired sigh. “Unfortunately, Zoey couldn’t make it.”
Rumi looked down, her fingers fidgeting. “She came down with a bad fever this morning. She started to feel sick a few days ago.”
Jinu scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry about that. We could’ve rearranged today’s practice if she wasn’t feeling well.”
Mira jumped in, arms tightened. “We suggested that but—“
“But this is one of the only few slots we’ve got free,” Bobby cut in, massaging his temple. “Between other promotions and fan meets, there’s barely any time. The higher-ups really dumped this inconvenience on us last-minute for us to remake the whole routine.”
Jinu nodded, shifting his gaze to the girls. “You think Zoey will be okay?”
Rumi offered a gentle smile. “It’s Zoey. She always bounces back.”
Mira crossed her arms. “She promised to text and call us updates.”
The lead singer of the Saja Boys clapped once, light but firm. “Alright. Let’s make the most of it today.”
Bobby waved the idols goodbye as he exited the studio to do other work.
The new song they had to perform began to play in the room.
The silent idol hadn’t moved, but his attention had never wavered. Her name lingered in the air. Her absence pounded louder than the music.
By noon, the studio pulsed with movement. Heavy footfalls echoed off the polished floor, heavy breaths filled the air in the room, and sweat glistened under their skin. For the demons, of course, heat never struck; their bodies stayed cold, untouched by exertion.
But there was a gap in the choreography. A space no one could fill. Zoey’s space. The new routine felt… off.
She usually hums in her stretches. Gives some supporting encouragement throughout the practices. Shares her snacks with her group and the boys. Her scent, normally bright, sweet, and lively, was gone from the studio. It was like a flower that has closed its petals, and for some reason, Mystery noticed it.
Then a phone rang.
“Sorry, that’s mine. I forgot to silence it.” Mira jogged over to her bag as the music paused. When she picked it up, her eyes landed on Rumi. “It’s Zoey—from the group chat.”
Rumi then looked across to Jinu. He got the message and nodded subtly.
The leader of the Saja Boys clapped twice. “Alright! Break time, everyone.”
The rest of the Saja Boys returned like clockwork. Abby returned closer to the mirror. Romance opened another snack. Baby making gestures as if he had a phone as well, thinking he should get one too to pass the boredom. Mystery stayed where he was—but a little closer now to the conversation between the girls. Just within earshot.
Mira answered the call, putting it on speaker for Rumi to listen.
Mystery could faintly hear her voice from afar. A crackled voice, slightly raspy. Unmistakenly hers. He isn’t supposed to care. It wasn’t in his blood either to care. And yet the lack of her laughs pulled at something beneath his cold skin.
He couldn’t clearly hear what she was saying, but the conversation with Rumi and Mira helped him understand what they were talking about.
“Tissues, hand sanitizers, and vitamins?…Yeah we can bring some right now.”
But the faces of the two girls turned into confusion. Rumi suggested. “Then we can ask Bobby to—“
Both girls looked at each other in a concerned look as the faint voice from the call replied hastily.
“Alright, we’ll see you soon. Take care and call us if there's anything else you need.” Mira lowered her phone, ending the call. “Can’t believe she called for stuff she needs but refused us to give it straight to her. She wouldn’t even allow Bobby to help.”
Rumi murmured. “She must’ve felt lonely.”
The eavesdropper stared at the polished floor, unmoving. Staring at the blank presence where she should have been.
The main vocalist of Huntrix shook her head and pulled out her phone. “We could make it back in time, whether she likes it or not.”
She stopped as she opened her screen.
Mira peered in over her shoulder. “She sent all specific reasons we shouldn’t go,” She continued, voice dry. “Traffic, risk of getting sick, disrupting practice. And…”
Rumi blinked. “A magic 8 ball answer that says ‘absolutely not.’”
They both cracked a small laugh.
Mira turned to Rumi ecstatically beneath her cool expression. “Oh! Rumi, since you’re half-demon, can’t you teleport?”
The half-demon winced. “Yeah, about that… The chances of going where I want to go are slim. Sometimes I end up elsewhere.” She hugged herself as she recalled the other times she tried to teleport. “And sometimes I can't go back where I was before.”
The main dancer of the group stared at her in a concerned expression. “Okay, no.”
Rumi’s face lit up as she found an idea.“What about Jinu?”
Mira faced her with a scandalized horror. “Absolutely not. Those guys tried to kill us, remember?” Her voice dropped. “What will they do to sick Zoey?”
Mystery almost flinched as she side-eyed the silent idol hovering too close to their conversation. Thankfully she couldn’t tell if he was looking straight at them or blankly staring into the void through his long bangs. Her eyes narrowed for a split second—but she said nothing.
The purple-haired idol snapped Mira’s focus back to her with a surrendered hand in motion. “Alright, fine. It’s just…” she lowered her hands. “She’s always worried about being a burden.”
Mira sympathizes and patted her friend’s shoulder. “Classic Zoey.” Her jaw tightened. “I hate how we can’t do anything else.”
Both defeated girls groaned and leaned their backs on the wall, weighed down by powerlessness.
Mystery still watched from afar. He hated the feeling too. Hated that she was hurting. And he couldn’t fix it.
After a while, Jinu walked up to them, carefully asking how the missing lyricist of the group was. Understanding the situation, he suggested if they could use their dance sequences from their scrapped songs. Making it easier for Zoey to learn the moves when she returns. Rumi faced her pink-haired friend, hoping for approval.
Mira hated to admit it, but she hesitantly agreed to his suggestion. As the main dancer of the group, she couldn’t deny the practicality. She reluctantly nodded and discussed the choreography with Rumi and the Saja Boys.
Mystery stood a distance away, half-listening to what they were talking about.
His mind lingered elsewhere, it still landed on Zoey.
She hadn’t spoken to him directly—not really, not ever. But her voice, even distorted by a speaker, still had that unfiltered brightness, like light refracting through a cracked prism. There was always something unapologetically real about her. Human, and annoyingly sincere.
And now she was alone. Sick. Asking for tissues and vitamins.
Mystery didn’t understand the ache tightening inside his chest. He wasn’t supposed to ache. Demons didn’t. Not unless something had gone wrong.
He looked down at his hand. It was pale, long-fingered, smooth like marble. Cold as ever.
With a slow, uncertain breath, he vanished from the group without them noticing.
At the high-rise building of Huntrix, Mystery squatted on the railings of the balcony outside of what he guessed could be Zoey’s room, with the only room having lights dimmed.
He held tightly on the plastic bag. Inside were tissues, hand sanitizer, and vitamins. Things he’d bought after trailing behind a human mother in the pharmacy, mimicking her every aisle.
He didn’t know if he picked the right brand.
He didn’t know why he cared.
He looked down from the building, he could almost see tiny people below from the lobby walking in and out.
He could’ve dropped the bag down there. But their security is high. Even if he dropped it off with the fan mails and packages the Huntrix receives daily, it would be denied as it was highly suspicious of medications being gifted to them. Plus, it would take a long while of inspecting the hundreds of gifts before it gets to her on time. Lastly, him having to walk straightforwardly straight to the lobby with his honest reason why he was here would cause scandals from the hidden paparazzi, destroying Huntrix’s image.
All these seem reasonable to him. Security, timing, logistics. But none of them really were his initial thoughts. The truth was much simpler. He just wanted to see her.
But with his disappearance from the dance studio might crack Mira, especially when she’s in a sour mood already. He recalled the conditions the demons had to follow. Mystery had been following the rules, not wanting to risk upsetting Jinu or Rumi, the people he knew that really wanted to prove they are no harm anymore. He’s not just afraid of Mira’s wrath, but of losing the fragile peace they’ve all earned.
He gloomily hopped down from the railing and lightly knocked on the sliding door. He expected no answer nor sign of her anymore.
It must be better if he leaves the bag inside, not wanting it to be blown away by the breeze if he leaves it outside.
He quietly slid the door open, opened only slightly enough that his body could fit through.
Alas, a glowing blade pierced the plastic bag open from the bottom, dropping the items he had bought onto the floor right before he was about to place it down.
His demon form instinctively took over his human form, ready to defend himself. But he wasn’t quick enough to fight back.
His back crashed heavily to the cold surface of the floor. A hand strangled his wrists tightly together above his head. Light shimmered near his throat.
“What are you doing here?” Hoarse words were slow, but intense.
That’s when the demon finally gathered his thoughts that it was Zoey from her familiar voice. Slightly different from her sickness, but still Zoey.
Her face moved closer to Mystery’s, glared sharply through his long messy bangs, catching the golden glint of his demon eyes. He couldn’t turn away but stared at her as she was still pinning him down.
He slowly shifted back to his human form, giving it as a sign that he meant no harm.
The hunter hovered her glowing blade closer to his neck. “Both of your tempting demon and human forms won’t fool me.” She gritted her teeth. “What are your sickening plans?”
He faced his head to the scattered items on the ground. “Needs…”
“What?“ Her eyes scrunched.
“Your needs.” He said a bit clearer.
She followed his gaze, seeing the stuff spilled on the ground.
She glanced back at him, then back at the scattered items, then back at him. She immediately removed her hand from his wrists and leaned back away from his face.
Her hands landed over her mouth. “Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
Mystery felt the weight on top of him disappear once she hurriedly crawled out of him. She frantically started collecting the fallen items, fussing over them.
“These are a lot of stuff, I didn't expect to receive a lot.” An awkward laughter frantically escapes her mouth, trying to forget what she did earlier as she continues getting the stuff from the floor.
He stood up and watched her with his demon glowing eyes.
The Huntrix member in front of him was not wearing any of her fancy idol costumes nor her rehearsal outfits he usually sees her wear, but a long-sleeved oversized sweater that came matching with her baggy pants. Her hair wasn’t in her usual tight low space-bun hairstyle. This time it was messier, having a few strands of hair out of place. Lastly, her face had no makeup on. No idol mask. She looked brighter, somehow.
As she picked up the last piece of item, she turned around and caught him staring. Then she glanced past Mystery, catching her own reflection from the glass sliding door behind him.
Her cheeks started to grow redder than before. “Ah! I’m not presentable enough, I'm so sorry.”
She somehow started bowing eradicately to him between her sniffles as if it was the greatest dishonor to look haggard in front of a handsome idol.
“It’s not bad...” Mystery cleared his throat as she tilted her head. “You should show up like this more, not when you’re sick of course.”
She grew more embarrassed.
“Pinning me down helped,” He added without thinking. “I got to see your face up close.”
She threw the empty tissue box to his face. He caught it and placed it back on the desk like it was nothing.
She covered her face with her hands. “You didn’t have to add that!” She looked up at him again, forgetting what to ask in the first place. “Wait—why are you here again?”
He then shifted his gaze elsewhere. “I heard that you were feeling sick and needed some stuff so…”
Zoey sneezed. “But I only asked Rumi and Mira to do it.”
“You only allowed them to do it at the end of the day.” He retorted.
“Please, I’m not that desperate.”
“You say that as you are desperately wiping your nose with the tissues I brought.” He commented in a monotone voice.
The sick girl paused mid-wipe, then turned away in annoyance. “That’s besides the point!”
She marched over to the small trash bin at the corner of her room. “You can’t just eavesdrop into any conversations you’re not part of.” She threw the used tissues inside the bin. “Nor you can’t just do something on what the person has asked for the other person to do.”
The rapper of the group walked over to the hand sanitizer he bought without looking at him. “And you can’t just barge into anyone’s home like that!” She sanitized her hands, rubbing both hands together aggressively, “I mean, even if I’m sick, there are boundaries that need to be held! Who does—“
She turned to scold him further but only found him standing there, standing still but head shifted to the floor. Half of his face showed a guilty pout.
He looked like a guilty dog.
No time was wasted when she rushed towards him, instinctively putting her hands through his hair and gently ruffled his hair. “Aw, I’m sorry Mystery.” She cooed. “Please forgive me.”
The male idol felt sudden about feeling her hands through his hair, but he didn’t mind it. He liked it. In fact, he leaned his head more downward so that she could reach better. Leaning into her warm touch.
They stayed that way for a moment, quiet. Feeling each other's peaceful contact. She smiled.
Then her expression shifted.
She gripped his hair tighter and wobbled his head roughly in sideways, making Mystery’s head follow in sideways roughly as well. “Hold on! You’re not supposed to be here! Don't you have practice to attend to!?”
She let go of her hands from his head to reveal his new messier hair look and forcefully straightened his posture. She spun him around, her hands on his back and began pushing him towards the exit of the balcony.
Blabbers exclaimed frantically as she took little steps pushing him out. “You’re gonna miss the whole choreography if you don’t get back soon, which will really give you a hard time to practice for our performance! Also Mira’s gonna get all suspicious and might not accept you demons to be part of this human world! And Rumi’s gonna be so sad that she trusted you guys that you won’t do anything bad!”
Mystery stopped in the middle of the sliding door, hands both held to the sides of the glass doors. “And what about Zoey?”
Her attempts in pushing him barely made any progress once he started talking. “Zoey?” She repeated the question.
She placed her hands away from him as he turned around to her. “We could’ve rescheduled the practice,” He said earnestly. “You could’ve let Rumi and Mira take care of you.”
She talked back in a tight voice. “I’m already managing on my own.”
He argued as he looked down on her. “You’re not managing, you’re sneezing and sniffling.”
She puffed her cheeks. This isn’t going anywhere. She inhaled and exhaled as she cooled down.
“Thank you for the concern, Mystery,” She sincerely looked up at him. “But I’m really fine.”
She then raises her pinky figure. “Look, tell you what—I’ll promise to see you first once I finally feel all better if you go back to the studio.”
The taller idol stared blankly at her pinky finger, tilting his head in confusion. It made Zoey have a hint of embarrassment for a silly childish promise thing to happen between them.
“It’s a thing where we swear each other something that we promised by interlocking our pinkies.” She continued, “It means you won’t break it. Ever.”
Binding promises. The kinds of promises that demons make. But this one felt different.
He stared at her finger hanging like it was a foreign object. Mystery furrowed his eyebrows slightly.
“But you’ll naturally see your Huntrix group and your manager once you feel better.”
The statement caught Zoey off-guard and released a genuine light chuckle. Something that Mystery has been missing for a while since her absence.
She raised her pinky higher. “Then I pinky-promise that you will be the first one who I’ll talk to besides ‘them’”
Soon enough, slowly, Zoey felt his cold skin from his pinky curling with hers.
“…Pinky promise.” He followed suit with a soft voice.
He walked backwards outside to the balcony, her internal glow lingering in his chest.
Zoey followed him by taking a few small steps through the sliding door.
Mystery was about to turn away from her and teleport, but her cheerful voice caught his attention once more.
”Bye-bye Mystery!” She waved her arms, big waves that were stretched as far as she could. It was like her usual energy was still there, still beaming. “See you soon!”
Her huge grin shined that leaves his insides feeling warmer beneath his cold skin.
He tried to give back that glow to her. He awkwardly imitated her but gave little hand waves that were barely similar to Zoey’s. “Bye-bye…”
The Huntrix idol paused her waves and giggled, finding his attempt adorable.
Her quiet laughter was then disrupted once she caught a glimpse of the demon smiling, a real smile. Probably the first time she’s seen with none of the idol act. She stared in awestruck, almost wondering what could be the reason for it.
Then poof. A flash of smoke took over Mystery until he vanished.
Zoey stared at the empty balcony, checking if the coast was finally clear.
Then, a loud sneeze escaped her, the kind that echoed down a few floors like a raspy air horn. She slumped her shoulders and trudged back into her room, grabbing a handful of tissues to blow her nose. It was followed by a series of coughs that left her eyes watery and her body aching.
She placed her focus on the items Mystery bought.
There was a lot of stuff he got, more than what could be of use for about weeks. She even caught a sight of vitamins and medicines that weren’t even related to her sickness.
There was so much. Far more than necessary. Medications, vitamins, tissues, even some items she didn't need. She chuckled through her sore throat. He overdid it.
He cared too much.
A twinge of guilt bloomed in her chest.
She gave out another cough, wept off the sweat on her internally-pounding forehead.
She took one last look back at the balcony. Expecting him to reappear again. But it wasn’t expecting what she felt, or rather—she was hoping.
She felt unwell. But more than that, she felt… lonely.
“If you’re looking for me, I’m right here.”
The familiar voice jolted her to turn around sharply, finding Mystery standing right behind her. Him standing calmly as ever, as if it shouldn’t be a surprise at all for him to return here.
Zoey shrieked. “What are you still doing here?!”
He replied nonchalantly. “You didn’t look any better than when I left,” He said simply. “You look sad and lonely.”
The concerned idol walked a step closer. “I didn’t like that.”
She sighed, shaking the thought off how worried Mystery feels. “You know what they would say if you’re gone from the studio for far too long.”
She gave out another sneeze. “Taking care of me would be a hassle.”
He got a tissue and handed it over to her. She accepted it.
Mystery watches her intently, no lie surfacing beyond his words. “It’s a hassle for me if I don’t know how you are.”
She gave a tired laugh. “I’m starting to get annoyed how you’re always quick to say something...”
Her laughter faded. Her eyes drooped. Her balance goes uneasy.
Before she could stumble, Mystery caught her by holding her back.
He uses his other free hand to reach her forehead.
“You’re burning up, Zoey.”
She didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Her awareness slipped.
Mystery gently lifted her and laid her on the bed. She mumbled something slurred, words too faint to make out.
He could feel her sweat through her clothes after he slowly placed her down. “I’m going to find lighter clothes for you. Is that alright?”
Zoey, her eyes still closed, still feeling the burning sensation throughout her body, nodded.
He walked up to what could be her closet. His hand hovered to the handle, thinking that he was already past boundaries. But it was Zoey, he’s thinking about. He opened the closet.
There were barely any outfits that he recognized from the Huntrix’s shows. None of those flashy costumes. Rather, he sees more casual ones. He recognized the outfit he saw her wearing when the Saja Boys debuted with their ‘Soda Pop’ song, catching the sight of her dancing along with the song with her shoulders.
As he looked for some more, he found some outfits she wore during the rehearsals ever since they started practicing together.
He thought these would be light enough to wear until his eyes landed on a familiar shirt amongst the racks. He pushed the other clothes hanging to the side to get a better look at it.
It was a Saja Boys merch shirt.
Specifically, it was Mystery’s themed shirt. A lion in the middle representing him with long bangs covering half of the lion’s face, the mane and the skin of the lion having pastel colors similar to his hair.
Why would she have it in her personal closet? Maybe a fan gave it to her. Maybe she found it dumped somewhere and decided to save a piece of clothing randomly… or maybe she genuinely got it for herself.
Reasons didn’t matter to him now. At the back of his head, he thought what she would look like wearing it. Her small body frame with an oversized theme shirt of him drowning her.
He furrowed his eyebrows in determination. He wants to see her wear it.
“No need to overthink about it,” A nasal voice appeared beside him.
He immediately pushed the shirt away from the side, hiding it with the other hanging shirts as Zoey reached a set of comfortable clothes from her side.
“These are good enough.” She began to drag her feet to another door. “I’ll take a quick rinse in the shower first. I feel so sticky under these clothes.”
She disappeared to the bathroom.
Mystery was left there standing in front of her closet, mentally slapping himself for thinking of an opportunity for her to wear it.
With him left standing alone in her room, he slowly walked around with hands on his back, careful not to break any of her possessions as if he was in a museum with precious artifacts.
Turtle-themed trinkets sat beside stacks of fan mail. Photos hung along the wall and her desk. Some with strangers, most with her Huntrix sisters—Rumi, Mira, their manager Bobby. Group selfies, award wins, fan meetings.
Her own special memories with her special people.
He sat down on the very edge of her bed carefully, making sure he takes the littlest of space he can get.
Having special relationships throughout your life, he wonders if he could have that too with the Saja Boys.
After a while, he sat up straight once he heard the bathroom door open.
“That was refreshing,” She quietly exclaimed as she finished tying her newly-blowed dried hair back to her messy low buns. “I thought that having my hair tied would make things cooled down.”
He looked up and saw her wearing a short sleeveless loose crop-top that barely touches her waist, paired with cycling shorts. A small towel draped around her neck.
He quickly looked away. He’d seen her stage outfits before, but somehow this was… more intimate.
The cold shower she had might’ve let her feel better, but it wasn't enough. She leaned to the bathroom’s doorframe as she continued to rub her nose.
Mystery gently stood up. “You can go sit down,” He guided her to her bed. “I’ll go get the vitamins.”
She landed on the bed as he walked over to her desk. He stared intently at the pile of vitamins he got, realizing now just how excessive his pharmacy haul had been.
“The yellow box on the far right.” She pointed.
Mystery obeyed, opening the box and retrieving one tablet. From the same desk, he picked up her water bottle. He handed both of them to her.
Zoey accepted it, humming in thanks. Her eyes continue to dull as she takes in the tablet then drinks her water.
Mystery noticed sweat on one of her bare shoulders. Unconsciously, he reaches for the face towel hanging by her neck and wiped it on her shoulder gently.
She hummed again, weakly giving thanks.
He folded the towel neatly and held her water bottle once she was finished, he placed both on her bedside desk. He shifted on her again and laid her down comfortably as her eyes began to dull.
He looks then at the clock hanging on the wall. It’s best to go back now. He glanced back at Zoey, most likely sleeping soundly already.
He rose quietly, not wanting to wake her. But something tugged at the hem of his shirt.
Her fingers.
“…You’re leaving already?” Zoey’s voice was faint, barely cutting through the hush in the room.
Mystery answered, unsure. “I thought you wanted me gone.”
“I thought about it.”
She retracted her hand from his shirt. “I didn’t want to admit it but, I actually felt really unwell, lonely, and sad.”
Her eyes fluttered open, red-rimmed and vulnerable.
“…And maybe, one of these rare times—I want to be selfish.” The words trembled from her lips, like it was rare for her to choose something for herself. “I want you to stay, Mystery.”
He stared.
To think that she thinks this is something she shouldn’t do. His past life was far much more greedy than hers. She was an angel, and he—still was a demon.
“If that’s your idea of selfishness, then I’ll gladly obey.” He gently took her hand that was once retracted. “As a demon, I’d take that as a blessing more than a sin.”
She squeezed his cold hand tighter, smiling through the weight of her eyes. Then pulled him closer to her.
He landed lying down right beside her, facing in front of her satisfied tired smile. Her hand moved on his long bangs, asking for permission.
He nodded slowly. She moved his long bangs aside and revealed his golden eyes.
Her forehead touched against his own, he felt the warmth from her forehead.
She whispered. “You’re cold.”
He worries. “I’m sorry.”
She moves slightly away from him. “Not like that,” She continued to brush his bangs. “It’s comforting.”
His breath caught. Someone like her finds comfort in someone like him.
“Y..you too.” He stuttered his words. “Your warmth brings me peace.”
She only softly laughed again. He wanted to give her more.
“Demons are naturally cold,” He awkwardly added. “In demon form… even colder.”
“Can you do that?”
He sat up hesitantly.
Zoey sat up as well, wondering what would happen next. Until she saw him undressing his shirt. She was about to squeak by surprise but covered her mouth in time.
Back to his transformation at hand, his human skin tone shifts to his pale purple skin, his nails grew longer like claws, his fangs grew sharper, and his demon marks surrounded his body.
He hesitantly glances at Zoey, trying his best to hide his embarrassment.
But Zoey couldn't, she stared at his form in awe. All of his features that were hidden under his ‘perfect’ idol self. It was too much for her eyes. This form was perfect as well.
Her face grew redder as if steam was coming out of her ears.
Mystery, bluntly as always, assumed she was gonna get another high fever. He rushed over to her. “You’re overheating again.”
“Ah, w…wait—“ She crawled backwards but she already reached the headboard of her bed, being cornered by Mystery’s body’s form.
He towered over her, his arm naturally flexing as he used his hand on the headboard to balance himself. She looks up at him, seeing his eyes clearly as his bangs hang below. Most of her vision was all Mystery—his face and his shirtless body, in his demon form.
Her heart started beating rapidly as his handsome face hovers inches closer to hers. The ends of his bangs touching her face. She shut her eyes, preparing for whatever happens next.
Then, she felt the coolness of his forehead against hers, but even colder this time. Her eyes peeked open, catching a sight of him closing his eyes. He was just mimicking the forehead touch. Not a kiss, but it was the same comforting feeling.
She snorted. “Thanks.” She leaned closer to his touch.
To Zoey’s disappointment, he pulled back away from her. “I don’t think just putting our foreheads together would heal you better.”
“Of course.” She pouted.
Mystery was about to say something but cleared his throat.
Zoey tilted her head. “What is it?”
“Um, what if we,” He coughed, gaze shifting anywhere else but her. “If I wrap my arms around, like a cool blanket…?”
Her ears slowly started steaming again. Maybe that was the reason why he removed his shirt. “…I think that would work.”
Both didn’t know how to start the position though. They tried to initiate it, but they were unsure what they were doing.
In the end, they both just awkwardly laid down next to each other again. Just shoulder touching as they face the ceiling.
“Maybe staying beside each other is enough.” She fiddled with her thumbs.
“I agree, I didn’t know what I was talking about.” He laid stiff.
Awkward, close, hearts thundering.
But at the same time, they felt a quiet peace and the strange safety of each other’s presence.
Time has passed in her bedroom. It was already way past noon. The first thing Zoey registered was warmth. Well it was hard to tell if it was really warm, she also felt the same comforting coolness around it.
Not the dizzying kind of warmth that came with a fever but something calmer, grounded…Alive.
Soft breathing tickled her hair. An arm lay draped around her waist. Her forehead rested against something solid—someone solid.
Her eyes fluttered open.
Mystery.
He was right there. Asleep. His face was peaceful as his bangs were swept away from his closed eyes, his brows relaxed in a way they never were when awake. His usually stiff posture had melted, demon marks spreading on his torso; his hand rested gently on her skin on her back under her crop top as though it belonged there.
His bare chest was rising and falling beneath her cheek, her own arms were tucked up as if she’d unconsciously folded into him.
Zoey froze.
She didn’t remember falling asleep like this. She’d been laying down stiff right beside him…or at least not this close. Right?
Her heart thudded against her ribs. She was hugging a demon. No, she was being hugged by Mystery.
She felt his heartbeat. And strangely, she felt hers mirroring it.
Mystery’s glowing eyes fluttered open around the same time, his lashes brushing the top of her head. His body tensed slightly, surprised by the closeness… but he didn’t move.
Instead, he took a breath. It was warm.
There it was again, one of the very rare times where he felt like this. Not warmth from the sunbeam, not from the stage lights, not from the fire of Gwi-ma. It was from her, it has always been from her.
Now it’s from them.
He didn’t remember pulling her into his arms after they lied down. But at some point, instinct must have taken over. And now, holding her like this, he didn’t want to let go just yet.
Zoey was the first to speak, her voice still sleepy but gentler than it had been in days.
“…My fever’s gone down.”
Mystery glanced down at her. “Hm?”
“I can tell. No more spinning,” she said, adjusting her cheek slightly against him. “I didn’t think just… sleeping would help so much.”
He blinked. “You think… hugging helped lower your fever?”
She smiled against his chest. “Honestly? Kind of. It felt safe.”
Mystery’s throat tightened.
Safe.
He’d never been called that before. Not “cool,” or “sharp,” or “dangerous” like the other idol fans would say about him—but safe.
He then remembered something. “The promise was fulfilled.”
“Hm?”
“The pinky-promise,” He continued, “We got to see each other first right after you felt better.”
Zoey chuckled at him recalling that moment. “I even got to see you first without my friends nor Bobby.”
She felt a small hum in satisfaction from Mystery.
“I guess I should say thanks…” she added, her voice quieter now. “For staying. For everything.”
She tilted her head up slightly to meet his eyes. That was when he looked down too, his bangs adjusted to see her better.
Their gazes met, and something subtle shifted in the space between them.
Mystery’s heartbeat was loud. And for once, it didn’t feel unnatural. It felt… right.
Like this demon form was finally something he shouldn’t be ashamed of. The person right in front of him that always sees past his appearances.
Even in demon form, Zoey always sees him as a human.
He didn’t know if demons were supposed to fall asleep, much less beside someone. But he remembered the sensation of drifting off—not from exhaustion, but from peace. That was new.
He remembered her skin warming against his, her breath soft and even. The world had faded until there were just the two of them in that quiet corner of time.
And now, with her watching him with her eyes soft, trust unguarded—he wondered how much of himself was still a demon.
Because in this moment, everything in him felt painfully human.
“…Mystery?” Zoey asked again, her fingers brushing lightly against chest, tracing his demon marks.
He blinked back into focus. “Sorry. I was… listening.”
“To what?”
He paused. Then simply said, “Your heartbeat.”
She laughed softly, cheeks flushing. “You’re such a weirdo.”
“Maybe,” he murmured. “But… if this is what weird feels like, I don’t mind.”
Zoey’s smile lingered, and she let her head rest against him again. She didn’t try to pull away. Neither did he. He held her closer.
For now, they stayed like that—two people who hadn’t meant to get this close, caught in the quiet aftermath of something they didn’t quite have the words for yet.
But maybe they didn’t need them.
Not yet.