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Chapter Text

Zoey tapped her foot anxiously. 

It was three minutes after seven, and the blind date hadn’t shown up. Well, Mira’s blind date hadn’t shown up. 

Why she let her friend talk her into posing as her for a blind date, she didn’t know. It was probably the money. Despite expelling herself from her elite and well-established family, Mira Seok knew how to hold her own and create herself from the ground up. 

All Zoey had was a mom in South Korea and a dad in the states, trying to make ends meet. At least she had Mira, even if she made her do things like this. Despite separation from her family, Mira was still set up on blind dates by them, she had her own reputation now, so someone had to go in her stead and foil these dates. 

Zoey wasn’t sure if she was chosen because of trust, or because she was so repugnant to drive anyone else on these dates off. It worked on the last two guys she showed up on. She didn’t remember their names, it was some long-haired romantic artist and some fashion designer with abs. 

“This guy is definitely not timely,” Zoey. She didn’t know much, not much more than Mira did. Some wealthy guy called Ryu. Apparently a big deal, old money mixed with competence. 

Zoey pulled at the red wig, it was a signature color of Mira’s, but it really didn’t suit her too well. Nor the rich dress she wore.

“Whatever you do, just play it cold, say you’re into girls, and only meeting out of obligation,” Mira’s ordered. “I’ll pay you back, and I swear this is the last time I’ll ask.”

Zoey didn’t believe her, but she paid her for her troubles. Enough to cover rent and some of her bills for the next few months. A few hours of making a guy squirm? If he bothered to show up? Perfect. 

It was five after, and Zoey began to collect her things. Taking a photo of her empty table and seat as well as a timestamp to show she was there.

“Mira Seok?” A soft voice asked. Zoey frowned and turned. And gasped. 

Standing behind her chair was a taller young woman with distinct purple hair, large brown eyes and a cute, sheepish smile. She wore a black vest over a white button-up and white slacks, if dressing sharp was a contest, she’d won three with this look alone. 

“Huh?” Zoey asked. 

“Are you Mira Seok?” The beautiful stranger asked. 

“No… I mean yeah! Ahem! I’m Seok Mira, and you are?” Zoey remembered to get in character. 

The woman smiled and bowed, stepping out and taking a seat across from Zoey, “I’m Ryu Rumi, your date.”

Zoey’s eyes widened, Ryu Rumi? A woman? 

“Did you order? It’s on me for being late,” Rumi said, flagging a barista and ordering. Zoey noticed how she ordered Mira’s usual, a black coffee with a splash of milk. It wasn’t Zoey’s usual, but she had Mira’s down pat. 

Zoey tried to close her expression and put on an air of cold superiority. “Thanks,” Zoey said, lowering her voice and straightening her posture. “I wondered if you were going to show up at all.”

Rumi smiled apologetically, “My fault. Got caught up in work.”

Zoey made a show of raising an eyebrow, “Oh? Where do you work again?”

Rumi reached into her purse and handed her a business card.

Ryu Rumi, Producer, Honmoon Records.

“Holy shit! Honmoon Records!?” Zoey gasped, looking up excitedly. “You guys are known for signing some of the best artists around! And you produce for them?”

Rumi blinked in surprise at the response, “Uh, yeah. You into music?”

“Yeah! I actually-,” Zoey cut herself off. She was Mira right now, not Zoey, she lowered her voice and feigned disinterest, though her foot tapped excitedly. “I have a passing interest, is all.”

Rumi looked down at that, “Right.”

They sat in silence for a moment. Their coffees arrived, and they each took a sip. Zoey couldn’t hide her distaste of the beverage, almost coughing.

“You okay?” Rumi asked. 

“Uh, yeah,” Zoey lied, wanting something to wipe the bitterness out of her mouth. “Just hot. My tongue is sensitive to heat.”

“Oh, sorry,” Rumi said. 

Silence again.

On the one hand this was the best way to derail the date, but on the other. 

Rumi looked nervous, tapping her freehand on her knee, looking around the cafe trying to be nonchalant, but she kept stealing glances at Zoey, trying to gauge her reaction. 

Zoey pouted at her coffee. 

On the other hand, besides being so beautiful, gracious and patient, Rumi seemed really sweet, which made Zoey feel worse about this. 

Rumi put her coffee down and folded her hands on her lap, “I’m sorry, do you not like women?”

“Goddess, I’m the kind of bisexual that finds ten men and every she/they attractive.” Zoey thought, but outwardly had to channel her inner Mira. “No.”

Rumi tilted her head, “‘No‘ you don’t like women or ‘no’ you do?”

Zoey gulped. Mira was a tough cookie, she didn’t exactly spell out who she was into, she had a weakness for abs, on anyone, but Zoey wasn’t quite sure that narrowed it down much. So, she decided to play it up to a ten, make Mira seem too much to handle. 

“Oh, I like women,” Zoey said, slouching on the chair awkwardly. Mira’s long legs and body gave her an edge where Zoey’s shorter stature didn’t help her as she almost slid off the couch. “Too much. It was one reason the family kicked me out. I got into a lot of trouble, with a lot of women. Sometimes three at a time.”

Zoey grinned confidently, but inside was screaming. What am I doing? I’m making Mira some kind of errant lesbian sex goddess! If this woman came here for a blind date with a woman, there was a chance that’s exactly what she’s looking for.

Far from perturbed, Rumi actually looked concerned, leaning forward, “I’m sorry, that must have been really hard,” at Zoey’s confused look she clarified. “Your family kicking you out.”

Easier for Mira, she’s good at everything and took what she had in her accounts and rebuilt her life. I wasn’t even kicked out and it’s a struggle every month, Zoey thought bitterly. 

She smiled defiantly, “It’s fine for me. But I’m not exactly into personal connections. I just like the sex, so if you’re hoping for a genuine marriage, you won’t find it with me.”

Rumi looked deflated, “Yeah, I was kind of expecting that,” She sat back in her chair. “Rumor is you don’t let people in.”

Zoey’s expression faltered. This was bad. Even if it was an act, Rumi was very soft-spoken and gentle, and as much as it went against her goal here, she really didn’t want to be a complete bitch.

“Problems with blind dates?” Zoey asked. 

Rumi exhaled, “Like you wouldn’t believe. One actually seemed like it would go somewhere. Turned out he already had a wife and was going on the blind dates to throw off his family.”

“Pfft! No way!” Zoey exclaimed. 

“Yeah! I only found out because my assistant called him while he was home and his daughter picked it up,” Rumi said, laughing. Bright, sweet and filling Zoey up with warmth. 

“That sucks, I’m sorry,” Zoey said. 

“Eh, it’s alright, makes a good story,” Rumi took a drink of her coffee. “What about you?”

“Oh me? Nothing really like that at all,” Zoey said. “Just disinterest. ‘Oh you have your own fashion line? Gonna be hard to raise a family like that!’ Or ‘God, you’re so closed off, don’t you let anyone in?’ crap like that,” Zoey said. 

The few times Mira actually pursued someone, that was the response she got. And it was bullshit! Mira was beautiful, talented and fiercely independent, she had it good and the fact no one was willing to see that? To jump at the chance to be with her and accept her! Zoey would change places with any of those arrogant jerks in an instant to be with Mira. 

She bit her lip, and shook the thought from her mind. Mira was her friend, her closest and most darling friend, and she wouldn’t change or risk that for the world. Even if she wanted to bridge that dissonance between friend and girlfriend that felt so obvious to cross. 

“Are you okay?” Rumi asked. 

“Hmm?” Zoey hummed, startled, then sniffled. Had she been crying? “Oh, shit. Sorry.”

Zoey went into her purse, trying to find a handkerchief or wet wipe. Sure enough there wasn’t anything. 

“Here,” A folded violet cloth was placed in her vision, with Rumi kneeling in front of her, holding it out to her. Zoey blinked, looking between Rumi and the handkerchief for a moment. This felt straight out of a romance drama. Zoey felt the tears now, warm on her face reaching for the cloth tenderly. 

“Thank you,” Zoey said, taking the cloth gingerly. “That’s…really sweet.” She felt more tears well up in her eyes. “Shit, I’m sorry. I’m too much.”

“Shh, you’re not too much,” Rumi said gently, taking her free hand in hers. It was cool, but pleasantly so as Zoey felt her face heat up from the tears and embarrassment. This made her cry more. 

“You’re too much and not enough!” Was her inner voice taunting her. What it always felt like trying to please everyone around her, but not being American enough, Korean enough, or too much of either. 

As Zoey calmed down and Rumi comforted her, the former smiled wanely. “Some date huh?” Zoey asked.

Rumi snickered gently, “Believe me I’ve had worse.”

Zoey doubted that, but she was undoubtedly successful in making sure Rumi never called again. She presented herself and Mira as too much of a basket case to consider seriously. 

It’s a shame, Zoey thought, gazing at Rumi softly. She’s gorgeous, kind, talented and loaded.

“Can I see your phone?” Rumi asked. Before she could stop herself, Zoey handed her phone over. Tucking a strand of lilac hair back, Rumi typed something into Zoey’s phone, then her phone notified a text had been recieved. She then handed it over to Zoey. “My number. I tried calling you earlier and didn’t get an answer.”

Zoey’s brain short-circuited, Wait, what? 

“Huh?” She asked. 

Rumi smiled, “I enjoyed talking with you. But I hit a nerve, so I don’t want to keep you after that. Let’s do a second date and talk some more.”

“Wait-!” Zoey started, this was not how it was supposed to go!

Rumi’s phone rang and she sighed at seeing the name, “Sorry, Mira. I gotta take this. I payed for everything so leave when you’re ready. I’ll call you about a second date!” She said apologetically, then smiled, “But I had fun talking to you.”

She left before Zoey could stop her, leaving her gaping like a fish out of water. Staring helplessly after her leaving the cafe, she looked back at her phone where one outgoing text was sent. 

Till next time! Under the contact Ryu Rumi 💜

Zoey almost screamed, she felt her heart pound, the wig felt too tight now, and everything had gone sideways. 

She started dialing Mira as she left the cafe. 

“Hey Zoey,” Mira’s low tone came through. “Mission accomplished?”

Zoey’s fist clenched, “Mission not accomplished.” 

Rumi sat in the back seat as Bobby drove her back to the penthouse. She had her phone to her ear and was trying to keep herself calm. 

“How’d the date go?” Celine asked. Not cold, but guarded, probing. 

“I’m seeing her again,” Rumi replied calmly. 

There was silence on the other end of the line, “Really? I’ve heard rumors that Ms. Seok is…unruly, at least according to her family.”

Rumi bit back a snarl, but let it slide, “She’s independent. That’s worrying enough for most families, isn’t it?” Rumi asked coolly. 

Celine was quiet and Rumi let herself smile smugly for half a second.

“Then, should I contact her family?” Celine conceded. 

“No, we have another date planned. I’ll let you know how it goes.” Rumi ended the call and slumped back into her seat. 

“You okay?” Bobby asked from the front.

“Yeah, thanks Bobby,” Rumi said, unbuttoning her vest. Not her usual dress while working, but there had been a meeting that heavily suggested formal wear. It was why she was late in the first place. 

“So, how was your date with Ms. Seok?” Her assistant asked. Reliable, dutiful and kind above all else, Bobby kept her from tumbling off the deep end most days. 

“Interesting,” Rumi said. “Not quite how I expected it to go.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Well for one, I know what Seok Mira looks like. And whoever came in her place wasn’t her,” Rumi said. 

The way this ‘Mira’ switched from cool and stoic to bright and enthusiastic depending on the topic, the fact Mira Seok was very tall and intimidating and the fact this woman’s wig kept slipping. Rumi might be accused of being dense from time to time, but she wasn’t dumb. 

“What!?” Bobby demanded, his eyes bulging in the rearview mirror. “She duped you? Then who were you seeing?”

Rumi considered, “I don’t know. But, I liked her. She was…very enthusiastic, and a bit sad. I’m gonna see her again.”

Bobby looked ready to slam the breaks, “Why?” 

“Well,” Rumi stretched out her shoulders. “With how I went on this date as a favor to Celine, I wasn’t expecting anything. The fact I met someone I could connect with was something I didn’t see coming. And now, I want to see how this plays out.”

Bobby mumbled something under his breath, “Do you want me to contact the real Ms. Seok?”

“No,” Rumi said, looking out of the window. “I’ll handle that personally.”

Mira had never seen Zoey in such a state of panic. 

She’d barely opened her door to her place then Zoey was storming in, ripping off her wig, wiping at her face and rambling faster than a typewriter. 

“Whoa whoa Zoey,” Mira said, trying to calm her friend. As much as she loved hearing the shorter woman talk a thousand kilometers per hour, she needed her to slow it down. She gently grasped her hand and squeezed it. “Deep breaths, take it from the beginning.”

Zoey looked at their interlocked hands, then back at Mira. 

“We gotta come clean to her,” Zoey said. 

Mira frowned, “To who?”

“The date, the blind date you set me on? It wasn’t a guy, it was a woman!” Zoey said, meeting Mira’s eyes firmly and leaning forward. “A hot woman.”

Mira blinked. “Wait, this Ryu person was-?”

“Rumi, her name is Rumi,” Zoey clarified. “And she was really nice Mira. Like, kind. So kind I feel really bad for duping her and feel we need to meet with her and come clean with her about the whole thing okay?”

Feeling her head spin, Mira stabilized herself on the wall. Her blind date was a woman? And apparently was nice and hot? And was nice enough that Zoey wanted to come clean about it?

”Wait, what happened to blowing the date?” Mira asked. 

Zoey ducked her gaze, tapping Mira’s hand nervously. “I…was really thrown when I saw she was a woman, y’know, and she really filled out that vest. It threw me, y’know? And she was so nice, it was hard to be rude, y’know? Before I knew it I was blubbering and she…she…”

“‘She…’ what Zoey?” Mira asked. 

Zoey took a deep, shuddering breath. “She comforted me, Mira! We started sharing, she asked about stuff with your family, I talked about how much it sucked, I-I got angry about how your family treated you, then I started crying and she came over, handkerchief and was all gentle. Then she asked for my phone, put her number into it and…and…” She met Mira’s eyes, wide and apologetic. “She wants a second date.”

Mira felt like she got dunked in ice water, “What?”

“She. Wants. A second. DATE!” Zoey emphasized. “And I can’t go through with it because she was real nice and I’ll lose it if I try to lie to her again. I showed too much of myself and now-!” 

Mira could tell Zoey was going to spiral if she didn’t do something. 

“Hey, hey, Zoey,” Mira said calmly, gently pulling her into a hug. “It’s alright. Just take deep breaths for me okay.”

Going from near hyperventilation to deep breaths, Zoey leaned into Mira. She smelled like a clean sea breeze, and it always calmed Mira down knowing she was close. Gazing down at her friend, it took all of  willpower not to press a chaste kiss to her temple. That wasn’t behavior of a friend. 

“I’m sorry,” Zoey murmured, “I messed up again.”

“No you didn’t,” Mira said. “I shouldn’t have sent you on a date to begin with.”

It started as an attempt by her parents to induce her back into the family and respectability. Errant child? Marry her off so she could be someone else’s problem. But she didn’t bow to that tactic. Still, her parents would email her once every few months, they’d set up a blind date and if she didn’t want her reputation tarnished, she had to go. 

And Mira had gone, on dozens. And they all ended the same way; Mira scaring off any prospective suitor with a glare and unimpressed air. 

However, she ran her own fashion line, as such she was busy much of the time. Which meant she sometimes asked Zoey to go in her stead. A wig and some angry thoughts usually threw off the suitors in a big way.

“Mira,” Zoey sniffled and looked up at her. “You should…we should tell Rumi the truth and clear the air. And you should give her a chance if she doesn’t hate us afterwards.”

“Why?” Mira asked. 

Zoey gave her a you know why look. Because I like women, duh. And abs on anyone. She thought. 

“Because I think…” Zoey averted her gaze and bit her lip. “I think just maybe, she’d be good for you.”

Mira felt touched and insulted at once, “Hey, she got into you, not me. I was nowhere near the scene.”

“But she thought I was you,” Zoey remarked. 

“Yeah, but it was you,” Mira said. 

Zoey groaned and disentangled herself from Mira, and Mira tried not to miss her warmth. 

“Look, I…please either come with me to this follow up date or call her. I don’t want to take advantage of this woman again. I just want to tell the truth,” Zoey said, and she meant it. But Mira doubted anyone would take getting duped lightly, this could easily lead into a lawsuit or jail. And Mira wouldn’t let Zoey take the fall. 

Before Mira could decide, Zoey ran her hand over her face. “Mind if I wash up before I go?” Mira nodded and heard the water run in her bathroom. 

She sat down on her couch, and then her phone started ringing. She checked the caller id. Mr. Ryu.

Without thinking about it, Mira answered the phone. 

“Hello, Ms. Seok?” Came a pleasant, soft voice, instantly making her skin crawl, in an uncomfortably good way. 

“Yeah?” Mira drawled. 

“It’s Rumi, just wanted to make sure you got home safe,” The voice said, and Mira struggled to find the guarded insincerity in it. “I didn’t mean to upset you by bringing up your family. But I meant what I said.”

Mira blinked, how much had Zoey told?

“I made it back, thanks,” Mira said. 

“Good to hear! I just wanted to know where you felt like for a second date? I was thinking…” And Rumi listed out several spots. Mira half-listened, pondering whether this was a good idea or not. She should just block her and call it a day. 

But Zoey wanted to unveil all, wonderful heart she had, and Mira too would rather spill the truth out than linger in lies. But the repercussions to her, let alone Zoey, were too great…but how long could they keep it up before it blew up far more spectacularly?

“…Ms. Seok? Mira, are you there?” Rumi asked on the other end. 

Mira sighed, Taking off the fucking bandage, “Look, I’m gonna be honest with you, I didn’t go on a date with you tonight. I sent someone else in my stead. That’s who you went out with tonight,” Mira said dryly and bluntly. “But before you get angry at her, it was my doing. I had a work meeting tonight and my parents sprang this date on me last minute. I sent…someone in my stead. So if you’re thinking of retaliation, it comes down to me, not her. We understand each other?”

The line was quiet for a few minutes, and Mira felt herself getting antsy. “I see,” Came a more guarded tone over the phone a few seconds later. “I appreciate you being honest with me.”

The line was quiet for a few moments and Mira felt herself squirm, Either sue me or cut the call. 

“Monday night. You and your friend. Seven p.m. I’ll text the address.”

“No, you just get me, she’s out,” Mira snarled defensively. 

“No,” Rumi said, her voice was harder now and had no room for argument. Even Mira felt intimidated by the tone shift. “I want an amicable resolution to this, and don’t want to have a legal battle with either of you. You two will meet me, face to face. If you block me or don’t show up, well…”

Threat left hanging, Mira leaned back on her couch. She was stuck, and now had to meet this jilted suitor in person. It was probably a jail sentence after that.

“What guarantee do you have you’re not just going to get me and my friend arrested?” Mira asked.

Another long pause, “My word and promise. I’m the wounded party here, met who I thought was you in good faith and was deceived. But I promise to meet you both and hear you out. It’s as good an offer as you’re gonna get.”

Mira stared ahead, trying to imagine what Rumi looked like so she could stare her down. It didn’t have the same effect in verbal silence over the phone, but it did give just enough confidence to get the last word in.

“Fine, but if I get any sense of a set-up or something fishy, your number is blocked and we’re in the wind,” Mira said firmly. “Monday, seven, you’re sending the address asap. Anything else?”

Rumi laughed gently, “Looking forward to meeting you, Mira.”

The line went dead, and Mira slumped into the couch, running her palms over her face. What did I get us into?

Zoey wiped at her face until all the make-up was gone, leaving her face flushed and almost rubbed raw. Looking at her face, the rawness to her skin, the bags under her eyes, and her red eyes. She was a far-cry from Mira.

She felt awful. False, fake, a facsimile of a person. 

It was made worse with Rumi being so kind and accommodating with her. Especially when she broke down.

Did she feel bad about duping the other guys on blind dates for Mira? Not really. They were more interested in her connections and family than Mira. The favor they’d get with Mira’s family for ‘taming’ their wild child? Beyond comparison.

She got paid, saved Mira time on unworthy prospects. It seemed worth it. But now there was someone kind and genuine badly affected, and Zoey did not feel good about it anymore.

Her phone started buzzing. It was Rumi.

Biting her lip, Zoey picked up the phone and answered. 

“Hello?” She asked timidly. 

“Hey, you feeling okay?” Rumi asked gently.

Zoey felt even worse, but swallowed the honesty down, “Yeah, much. Sorry about that. You’re really sweet for checking on me.”

Rumi chuckled on the other end, “No need to be sorry.” 

Zoey was silent, and Rumi waited patiently for her to speak. It was nerve-wracking. All long could Zoey keep this going? Mira wasn’t convinced they should tell the truth, but Zoey felt she had to. If only for her own sense of decency. 

She started crying again. Why was she such a crybaby today?

“Hey, what’s going on?” Rumi asked in concern. 

Zoey took some shallow breaths, “I just…you weren’t supposed to be nice or sweet or caring. You were supposed to be a man I had to kick to the curve in one evening. But it was you instead…and I hate the idea of lying to you,” Zoey shuddered. “I-I-I…I’m not…”

“I know you’re not Seok Mira,” Rumi said softly. Zoey’s heart lurched. She knew. 

“H-how?” Zoey asked helplessly. 

“Well, I just got off the phone with her, and she came clean about the whole thing. And I’m glad to see you’re being honest with me now.” Rumi said, she was calm, and matter-of-fact. It unnerved Zoey, she suddenly felt small in front of a giant, if not social standing than just moneywise. If Rumi slapped her with a lawsuit, it was over. 

Zoey gulped, “So, what now?”

“I already told Mira. Monday night you two are coming, in person, to meet me. I won’t threaten any legal action or repercussions for the time being. On the condition you show up.”

“Are you…mad?” Zoey asked lamely. It seemed to catch Rumi by surprise, as she gave a surprised huff on the other end of the line. 

“I probably should be. But I’m more…intrigued than anything. You’re a good actress, but you’re definitely not Ms. Seok,” Rumi said. “I wasn’t expecting much from a blind date, but you were a pleasant surprise.”

Her ears started to flush, Zoey really hated what praise did to her. 

“And I want to see you again, the real you,” Rumi said. She shivered at the way her voice sounded, quiet and breathy. It was unfair. 

“Promise you won’t arrest me?” Zoey asked sheepishly. 

Rumi laughed, “Only if I get to see you.”

Zoey swallowed, “What did Mira say?”

“Mira agreed on condition you two could leave if anything felt off,” Rumi summarized. “But she agreed. Will you?”

Chewing her lip, Zoey looked to the door of the bathroom, wondering if Mira had agreed or not. She took a deep breath.

“Just please don’t be hard on Mira. Her family knows her reputation is all she has, it’s the only thing they let her have, they set her up on these dates to try and disrupt her and cage her in. She had a meeting tonight, otherwise she would have gone. If you want to get angry at anyone, get angry at me,” Zoey rambled. 

“I’ll take that into consideration, thank you,” Rumi said. “So, do you agree?”

“Yeah,” Zoey sighed. “I’ll be there.”

“Perfect, and can I ask your name?” Rumi asked. 

She felt bashful, having not given her name this entire time, and she was scared to give it in case this went sideways. 

“It’s Zoey.”

She could feel Rumi smile on the other end, “See you monday, Zoey. I’ll send the address. Sleep well.”

“You too!” Zoey said as the line went dead. Then slapped herself. “No! Bad Zoey! You don’t wish the beautiful rich lady who might sue you for fraud a good night!”

Groaning, Zoey left the bathroom. Mira was on the couch staring at her phone like it grew a tail and wings. No wait, that’d be cute.

“She call you?” Zoey asked.

“Yeah,” Mira responded, leaning back to look at her. “You?”

Zoey nodded, “She knew already.”

“I told her,” Mira said. “I hate secrets and lies, so I have no right doing either. She wants to meet us Monday.”

“Yeah, she said.” 

Zoey circled the couch and collapsed onto it beside her friend, leaning her head on her shoulder. Mira always made her feel safe and warm like no other, not ever her family. 

“You okay?” Zoey asked.

“Pfft, hell no,” Mira exhaled out of her nose and Zoey swore she saw steam. She looked down at Zoey. “Worried, I guess. More about you, cause I dragged you into this.”

Zoey laced her fingers through Mira’s. “So long as we face this together, we’ll be okay!” She declared, trying to convince herself too. 

Mira was clearly skeptical, but squeezed her hand. “Together.”

Zoey rested her head on Mira’s shoulder, “Can I stay tonight?”

Mira chuckled, “Sure.”

It was a quiet comfort, edging on something more, with neither willing to cross the bridge and risk losing the other. They were all they had. 

Chapter Text

The weekend passed in a blur. Commuting from Mira’s place to Zoey’s tiny apartment was a pain, and Mira’s bed was a lot more comfy. Zoey could fantasize about being the roommate/partner/lover/wife of a successful fashion CEO. Make her forget about her current crummy set of circumstances. 

By day Zoey was a barista, making coffee, tea, some bastard hybrid that made her gag to mix. And by night she was a disc-jockey for a small club. Music was her passion, but it was hard to make an impact here. Her taste and style was too haphazard, too American. Same old story.

She was able to get out of work on Monday, a bit too nervous to serve out caffeinated catastrophes that day. Besides, she got a text from Mira that morning to meet her at her place.

Zoey didn’t need an excuse to see Mira. The redhead was insistent on a strategy for that night. 

“So, the second I see any armed guards: we run. The second I see her making eyes with someone behind us: we run. And the second-“ Mira listed, Zoey sighed. 

“‘The second something feels off, we run,” Zoey finished. “And what do we do if she doesn’t have anything like that planned?”

Mira shot her a dead-pan look, “Zoey she’s a producer of high-standing, an elite, she has a plan.”

She knew she should follow Mira’s lead on this, she had a lot more experience with high society than Zoey did. But…everyone was different right? Maybe Rumi meant what she said. At least she had been honest, Mira and her hadn’t been.

“Okay, but if she doesn’t?” Zoey asked again. Mira stopped and really considered it for a moment, “What if she just wants to talk, what do we talk about?”

Mira thought for a while, looking at Zoey pensively, “What was it like, talking to her?”

“I mean, awkward. Really awkward the first half, worried I, meaning you, didn’t like women, but then we started talking. And I don’t know, she seemed interested in hearing whatever I said, and really took what I said to heart,” Zoey explained. “She seemed sincere, is all I’m saying.”

“She knew you were posing as me,” Mira pointed out. Zoey rolled her eyes. 

“We really don’t have a leg to stand on in the deception department,” Zoey said.

Mira raised a finger and opened her mouth, paused then closed her mouth. “Okay, you’re right about that. I just want to make sure we have a plan out in case things get messy,” she closed the distance and caressed Zoey’s cheek. “I don’t want you getting hurt is all.”

Touch was natural to Zoey, not so with Mira. The fact she was instigating touch told how serious she was, Zoey cradled the hand on her cheek, hoping she didn’t flush too badly. 

Having her scary, blunt and intimidating friend get all mushy and protective of her? Kind of hot. 

Bad Zoey! She thought. She needed to think calm thoughts, Mira was her friend, her best friend, she was just glad to have her support. 

Even if she made Zoey feel safe, warm and like she'd be very happy dating and maybe one day- Bad Zoey!

“Thanks Mira,” Zoey said. “I don’t regret helping you those other times, really. Some real creeps you did not need to waste your time on. But I feel bad with Rumi, I want to make it right.”

“I get it,” Mira said. “I just feel like this is a trap.”

Zoey smiled, “Then we spring it together! And kick her butt if we have to.”

Mira cracked a smile, “Alright.”

Both of their phones pinged, from the same person, and the same content in the message. A location. 

They arrived at the location Rumi sent them. A modest, but classy restaurant that had a good amount of people there. It eased Mira’s mind knowing it was public, sure she might be hiding an army of security, but was less off-putting than arriving at a deserted restaurant. 

Zoey spotted someone and led Mira there. 

Rumi was seated in the middle of the restaurant, full view, no guards in sight. She was wearing a yellow jacket and casual slacks, Mira had to admit, she had a style. 

They rounded the table and Mira took her in. 

Zoey was right about one thing, Ryu Rumi was hot. She glanced up at their approach, soft brown eyes warmed as she smiled, gentle but with depth like the ocean behind a wave. Her hair was violet and somehow gave both class and punk in how she styled it. 

“Mira?” She asked, her voice was smooth and welcoming. 

“Yeah,” Mira said. Rumi gestured with her hand for them both to sit. 

She had class and personality, and that was making Mira nervous. I swear if she has abs too…

Upon sitting, Rumi smiled at Zoey, “Good to see you again Zoey,” She said. 

Zoey giggled nervously, “Sorry to dissapoint.”

“Not at all, I like seeing you, the real you,” Rumi complimented, Mira buried a growl in her throat. Zoey smiled bashfully, and that made Mira both annoyed and giddy, the younger woman was really cute when she blushed.

“And you’re more gorgeous than any photo can do you credit, Mira,” Rumi said, firm, calm and without any sleaze or pretense. Mira could have handled the latter, the sincerity behind them got her on edge.

“Cut the flattery,” Mira retorted. “What do you want?”

“I was going to get the kimbap for the table,” Rumi said with an ironic grin. “Any fillings?”

“Vegetable please!” Zoey requested, heedless of Mira getting derailed. 

“You know what I meant,” Mira said. 

Rumi shrugged, “Food before business. And I’m paying so order what you want.”

“I won’t be indebted to you.” Rumi raised her eyebrow at Mira.

“I don’t want this to get uncomfortable, Mira,” Rumi said slowly, the way she said her name made Mira’s skin crawl, pleasantly. “So, food first, then we can chat.”

Mira snatched a menu, ordered the spiciest thing she could find and all-but slammed it down on the table. Zoey gingerly picked up hers and gently requested her own food. Rumi called the waitress over and gave the orders. 

Mira was deadly silent, staring daggers at Rumi, who smiled in the face of it. 

“So Zoey, when did you start posing as Mira?” Rumi asked. 

Zoey tilted her head, “Maybe…a year ago? Only done it a few times.”

“Well, you’re a good actress. Truly.”

“You said you knew I wasn’t Mira,” Zoey replied with a pout.

“I know. But it was still a good performance,” Rumi assured. “And I liked seeing you go from broody to yourself.”

“I’m not broody,” Mira said.

“Well, it’s what you are now,” Rumi teased. Far from making Mira angry at her, she was angry at how non-angry she was getting. Rumi was witty, charming even if Mira didn’t want to admit it and her manner was far from intimidating and far more welcoming than it should be. 

Mira still was on guard for the other shoe to drop, but was having a hard time keeping that on. 

Zoey spoke up, “Listen, Ms. Ryu…”

“You can call me Rumi, Zoey,” Rumi said. 

“Okay, Rumi, I appreciate the pleasantries, but I’m with Mira. If you want something from me, please say it now. I don’t want to drag this out,” Zoey pleaded.

Mira watched as Rumi’s smile faltered, her eyes softened, her shoulders tightened then sloped. 

“No, you’re right. I guess we should get this all out in the open,” Rumi said, folding her hands. She met Mira’s gaze. “I’m not going to press charges on either of you for the deception.”

Just hearing that almost made Mira deflate in relief. But of course, that couldn’t be it. 

“That said, I need a favor from you both,” Rumi said with a heaviness in her breath. “I wasn’t on that blind date for the thrill of it either. My…let’s just say mother wants me to have some sort of marriage prospect with an affluent family. In the event my producing career goes south, she wants me to have something in case she passes. That’s why I went on the date.”

Mira winced, it sounded very familiar.

“Now, I’m not going to hold you to the expectation of actually trying to date or fake date me, but I want to do a public date so my…mother has something to go with,” Rumi said. “So, I do need a follow up date with you Mira, just one, then we’re done.”

It…sounded not too bad in Mira’s ears. She skipped the date, just do a make-up one for some camera and tabloids and call it good, hell it might even keep her family off her back for a bit. 

“That it?” Mira asked. Rumi got sheepish. 

“Well…”

Oh here we go.

“I did want to go on a proper date with you, Zoey,” Rumi said. Zoey shot up in her seat. 

“W-with me?” Zoey asked. 

Rumi chuckled shyly, “Yeah, I mean, if you wanted. I know this whole thing got real awkward fast. But if you don’t mind trying from the beginning, I’d like to have dinner with you, one-on-one. No strings, no expectations, just a do-over, you and me.”

Zoey gaped, and Mira shut it down. “Absolutely not!”

The harsh tone made everyone turn to her, even Mira regretted how harsh it came out. She stood her ground though, no one was going after her Zoey.

“Mira?” Zoey asked.

Rumi looked between them and gasped, “Shit, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you two were a couple.”

“We’re not!” Zoey said stiffly, shooting Mira a serious look. “That sounds fine with me!”

“Oh,” Rumi said, glancing at Mira suspiciously. “Then, why-?”

“Here’s your kimbap!” 

The waitress haplessly placed the appetizer in the center of the table, either ignorant or intentionally disrupting the conversation. All three thanked her in unison then sat tense as she left. 

Mira picked up her chopsticks and started taking slices mercilessly, Zoey did so gently and Rumi reluctantly followed suit. 

They were quiet for several minutes, all three of them picking at kimbap. The plate depleted quickly, Mira and Rumi both closing their chopsticks around the last one, then glared at each other. 

“Oh, last one?” Zoey asked, disappointed. Mira and Rumi both dropped the kimbap, and looked at each other.

“Not spicy enough,” Mira said.

“Need to save space for dinner,” Rumi excused at the same time.

Zoey looked between the two for a moment, then hesitantly picked the last of the appetizer.

“Thank you,” She said softly.

“No problem.”

“You’re welcome,” Rumi said at the same time as Mira.

Rumi smiled up at Mira, knowing and intrigued, it got under her skin. “How long have you two known each other?”

“Two years,” Zoey said, wiggling happily from the kimbap. “We both needed roommates and found each other. Mira got her break and got a nicer place.”

“And what do you do?” Rumi asked. Zoey froze, then blushed, embarrassed. 

“Well…a bit of everything! I wanted to be a marine biologist, but college is spendy. I DJ sometimes at night, work at a cafe, been thinking of trying streaming I-“ Zoey stopped talking, “Sorry that’s too much.”

“It is,” Rumi said. Mira sat up, ready to brawl, but Rumi was looking at Zoey with soft eyes. “Too much for you to handle on your own.”

Rumi glanced at Mira with a reproachful look. It was piercing, judgemental, and Mira wanted to be angry. But she couldn’t be. Because Rumi was judging her correctly.

Mira had just launched her own fashion line and was finally making ends meet on her terms. Had her own place, was doing something she loved, and despite Zoey’s support when she initially moved out, she felt guilty for not taking her with her. 

Logically Zoey didn’t make enough rent to cover her apartment evenly, and Mira wanted her own space to rebuild and have. But since she moved out a year ago, Mira felt lonely without Zoey’s energy. And even if she wanted to, Mira wasn’t so wealthy she could afford to cover Zoey’s rent and her own, not yet anyways. 

“It’s fine!” Zoey assured, snapping Mira out of her thoughts. “I’ll figure it out.”

She said it bravely, but Zoey’s voice shook with uncertainty. Mira reached over and grasped her opposite shoulder, then glanced over to see Rumi holding one of Zoey’s hands. 

What hurt wasn’t seeing Rumi holding Zoey’s hand tenderly, it was how she looked so genuinely sad and caring. Like Zoey was the most important person in the world and she was on the edge of doing anything for her, despite being strangers. 

It hurt because Mira had no who ever looked at her like that, except Zoey. 

The main courses arrived, and they all ate in relative silence. 

Mira noticed too late Rumi flashing her black card for the bill, and felt trapped now. She owed this woman now, and it was a question as to how much she’d try to collect from her. 

“When are you free?” Rumi asked Mira suddenly.

“Friday,” Mira said. 

Rumi nodded, “Lunch?”

“Mhm,” Mira grunted. 

“Great! I’ll pick!”

Rumi then turned to Zoey, “What about you?”

Zoey was eating like a starving wolf and came up for air, “Uhm…Wednesday, after five.”

Rumi frowned briefly, but shook it off, “Sounds good, I’ll make some plans. Let me know if there’s anywhere you’d like to go for dinner.”

Mira blinked, she was really making date plans with both of them. This felt so surreal, but Mira couldn’t help but feel a little intrigued. Was this Rumi as she presented herself? Or were there cracks she’d find when they met one-on-one?

Zoey was buzzing with nervous energy as dinner ended. Rumi was exactly as she had been at the blind date, considerate, kind and seemed to see right through her. The only bad part was that Rumi and Mira seemed deadset on butting heads. 

Sure, Mira felt bad about getting Zoey into this situation, but she was getting way too protective. If Rumi had wanted to hurt or punish her, she’d have done it.

Still, she was seeing sparks and felt an evil idea creep into her head as they finished dinner. 

They all stood to leave, Rumi walked them to Mira’s car. 

“Thank you two for agreeing to meet,” Rumi said, her tone was a lot softer than her producer voice had been. Not that Zoey minded how authoritative her voice could be…

“Thanks for dinner! It was so good!” Zoey declared. Rumi smiled down at her. 

“Anytime,” Rumi said to her, then looked at Mira. “And thank you, for hearing me out.”

“Yeah, sure,” Mira said, but she had the faintest of smiles on. 

They departed after that, and Zoey kept herself from kicking her feet happily. She actually saw me this time, and she still wants to meet! Zoey didn’t expect anything out of it, but was glad she didn’t irritate Rumi. Something out of the play of lies that was sincere. 

Be a hell of a story to look back on, Zoey stopped at that. When was she thinking about this in the long term? She looked back at Mira, was she over her? Not really, seeing the redhead glance at her still made her feel warm and seen. 

Zoey blinked, she liked Rumi, and she liked Mira…this was weird. Maybe not too weird, but unusual for her. She felt gross, and greedy. 

“Hey, stop that,” Mira said. 

“Hm? Stop what?” 

“You’re spiralling,” Mira said, eyes fixed on the road. “Something’s bothering you. And you’re letting yourself wallow in it. Just breathe. You’re so much more and better than whatever thought is dragging you down.”

Zoey bit her lip, “You mean that?”

Mira glanced over, “You know I do,” She said, looking back. 

Smiling, Zoey leaned against the window. She was in a food coma and the lights of the streets and apartments were lulling her into sleep. She was grateful for Mira, even just as a friend, and excited to see where things with Rumi went. 

“How’d it go?” Bobby asked, driving her home. It was almost the exact same circumstance as her last date. She smiled at the thought.

“Good, they both showed up. We came to an arrangement,” Rumi said stoically. 

Bobby sighed, “I’m not Celine, you can tell me how you feel.”

A pang of guilt hit Rumi in the gut. Bobby had initially been hired as an assistant for her and an informant for Celine. But he had come clean about that from the onset and told her he wouldn’t share anything she didn’t want him to. 

He didn’t deserve her censored and redacted reports she’d feed to Celine. “Well, I scared them a little bit. But I think we’re okay. I’m seeing Zoey tuesday, and Mira and I are doing a ‘for-show’ date so Celine and Mira’s family are satisfied.”

Bobby nodded, “Okay. Good. Are you…considering actually seeing either of them?”

Rumi shrugged, “We’ll see. Zoey and I are having a make-up date, no disguises or masquerading. And go from there.”

“Okay, what was Ms. Seok like?” Bobby asked. Rumi sighed. 

“Combative, stubborn, obstinate and protective,” Rumi said with a frown. Mira had been every one of those, the whole dinner, just as difficult as rumored and very aggressive. And yet… “She cared a lot about Zoey, and I think felt responsible for all that happened.”

“Huh, how close were they?”

“Enough that I apologized for assuming they were a couple,” Rumi fell in on herself. “Not that they admitted it, but there was something there.”

“Something from before, or something not there yet?” 

“The second one. I don’t know, I want to see how things play out, but I worry I’m either going to be tampering in their love lives, either getting in their way or…”

“Or…?”

Rumi blushed, coughing, “Or, I find myself in the middle of them, with them.”

Bobby was silent for a moment, then laughed, kindly and innocently.

“You’re definitely your mother’s daughter, if what Celine says is true,” Bobby said. He looked at her in his rearview mirror. “Just take it one day at a time. And have fun, even if nothing comes of it, maybe you’ll have a funny story of making friends.”

Rumi snickered at that, “A win-win when you put it like that.”

Sitting back in the chair, Rumi marinated over the idea. Thinking about Zoey, enthusiastic, cute and a drop of sunshine in any weather. And Mira, strong, independent and blunt. Was there a way?

No, that’d never work, Rumi shut the idea down. Mira hates my guts, and Zoey…they’ll end up together soon enough.

She thought of the date set up with Zoey. Thinking of her bright and energetic nature, it might be just what she needed. Might as well shoot my shot. 

Despite that thought, Rumi knew the feelings between Mira and Zoey would flare up. And she hoped she wasn’t on the wrong side when they did, but she also didn’t want to lose the chance with Zoey. 

She was eager for both dates with both women, not certain why. One had come clean as soon as she could, the other had fought her on everything tonight. Maybe it was the loyalty Mira exhibited, maybe Rumi had lingering expectations from their initial blind date. 

Regardless, she was looking forward to seeing how this week went. 

Chapter Text

Zoey woke up in her cramped apartment, hair messy, eyes heavy and heart beating fast. Tonight was her make-up date with Rumi, and she hadn’t formed her first thought before she was stressing about it.

Work! No, food first! Zoey sprang up in bed. Her alarms woke her up with enough time to wash her hair and rinse properly. She had a full work day ahead of her, but needed to put some effort in. It wasn’t everyday a successful, gorgeous lady gave you a second chance after lying to her face. 

“Redemption arc let’s go!” Zoey declared, hyping herself up. 

After stepping out of the shower, Zoey looked herself in the mirror, trying to figure out how she wanted to look for tonight. Those thoughts vanished as she took herself in. Her round face, her choppy bangs and plain black hair. Nothing pretty there, nothing worth trying to make pretty. 

Zoey looked down into the sink bowl, trying to drown them out. 

“She wants to see me! She said so, I didn’t even ask or expect it,” She murmured to herself. 

Her phone started ringing, and Zoey was relieved to see Mira’s screaming face take up the screen. She accepted the call. 

“Morning Mira,” Zoey said, forcing the cheer. 

“You okay?” Mira asked and Zoey sighed. She seriously had a friend with a second sense for when she was in a bad mood. 

“No I-“ Zoey began, but stopped herself. Mira really hated lying, and as hard as it was for Zoey to talk about it, she knew she had to share her thoughts now. Mira would find out eventually, and when she did, all she’d want is to help her.

Zoey took a breath, “I’m looking at myself in the mirror, I just feel ugly and nothing I wear can cover that.”

“And nothing in your closet can make you any more beautiful than you are, Zoey,” Mira said. Zoey flushed at how her friend could so casually and bluntly compliment her and make her feel better. Maybe it was because she knew Mira was telling the truth. 

“Thanks, for saying that,” Zoey looked into the mirror and made her decision. “Guess we’re going original Zoey, straight casual, no class in sight.”

Mira chuckled, “That’s my girl,” Zoey preened like a dog waiting for a headpat, she shook her head, she was not a dog! “Look if anything happens on this…outing with Rumi, and you need an out, no questions I’ll come get you.”

Zoey smiled, “I appreciate you, but don’t worry. I won’t run this time, I’m gonna give her the real me and if that’s not something she wants, then that’s what it’ll be.”

Mira was silent. One second. Two seconds. Several more. “Mira?”

“Just remember, I’m here for you. Always.” Zoey’s heart skipped a beat. Always? As in if I leave the make-up date I get one with her? Or just in the good friend, I’ll support you no matter what, way?

“Thanks Mira,” Zoey said, too much of a coward to ask any of her thoughts. Mira might answer them too, which made it more scary. “Are you…nervous about your date with Rumi?”

Another long pause, “Not nervous, just…ready,” Mira said. 

“Ready eager or ready anxious?” Zoey probed. 

“Ready to be done with her and put all this behind us,” Mira said sharply, Zoey waited. There was a frustrated sigh. “I’m sorry. I’ve been stressed knowing what I put you through, not just with Rumi, but all the other dates. It was irresponsible of me, what if one of them tried something or-?”

“Hey, hey, Mira, I’m okay,” Zoey said calmly. Despite being the natural rock between them, Mira had her own doubts too, especially when it came to her. “You know I can handle myself, and none of those guys would suspect their ass-kicking came from a short bubbly girl!”

Mira laughed, “Alright, good luck tonight. I want to hear all about it later.” 

“Thanks Mira! Love you! Have a good day!” Zoey said, all bright and eager again.

Mira coughed, “L-love you too, Zoey.”

Mira ended the call and Zoey prepared for work and then the date afterwards. Excited and feeling invincible.

One shift of work later and Zoey had lost all that bright enthusiastic energy. 

The manager yelled at her, co-workers didn’t do their jobs so she had to do them on top of her own. And every customer without fail was snappy and impatient. 

It was like the universe was conspiring to ruin her day. 

She was leaving the building, grumbling, smelling like burnt coffee when she got a text.

Hey Zoey, I hope you’re doing well. Did you have a spot you wanted to go to? It was from Rumi.

Zoey stopped dead, she’d forgotten all about Rumi and their date. She was angry, frustrated, overstimulated and smelled like crappy coffee. 

She started typing a response, but stopped halfway, pausing. What could she say? ‘I gotta bail? Work sucked?’ No, because seeing Rumi tonight was the one thing she was looking forward to! What could she do?

Her phone started ringing, it was Rumi.

“Hello?” Zoey answered. 

“Hey, sorry. I’m driving so I can’t read your response if you sent one. How are you?”

‘Fine!’ Zoey’s inner people pleaser thought, but she puffed her cheeks, she had to be honest with Rumi, even if it sucked. 

“I had a rough day,” Zoey said, laughing at her frazzled stare. “I’m sorry, but I’m gonna be late. I need to head home and change, if you’re still up for it.” 

Rumi was silent on the other end, then finally took a deep inhale, “Can I get you anything?” 

“Huh?” Zoey asked. 

“Change of clothes? Comfort food? At least drive you home?” Rumi listed. 

It made Zoey’s heart warm. Rumi’s voice was genuine concern, it was a lot she was offering and way too soon, but Zoey had a feeling that was how Rumi operated. She considered any dangers with Rumi offering, but Zoey decided she trusted the other woman enough to take one of the options. 

“If you can grab me some clothes then I’ll be fine, you just have to deal with me smelling like burnt coffee,” Zoey said.

Rumi laughed on the other end, “I bet you make it smell good.”

Zoey smiled, “I have an idea where to go.”

Rumi drove up to the aquarium with a bemused look, “Hell of a first date.” 

Rumi had left a recording session and picked up a new shirt and pants for Zoey; she didn’t specify where she got coffee stained, so she went for a full ensemble. 

Parking, Rumi looked around the sparse parking lot, only a few hours until closing, she looked for her date. 

She spotted Zoey waiting outside of the building, Rumi opened her car door and waved, Zoey spotted her and came over. Rumi stepped out of her car fully, and smiled, holding a bag out to Zoey.

“I didn’t keep you waiting too long, did I?” Rumi asked. 

“Nah! I’m good, really good!” She said, smiling brightly. She looked at the bag, “Is that for me?” 

“Yeah,” Rumi said, handing it over. “You can change in the car if you want, its warm at least.”

Zoey gave her an amused sidelong look, “Trying to get a peek?”

Rumi frowned, “Huh?” Then she realized and blushed. “Oh! No! The windows are tinted!”

Zoey took a glance inside the car, then back at Rumi, “Okay. But no peeking!”

Rumi smiled, “None shall see your ethereal beauty, Lady Zoey.” She gave a deep bow. Zoey snorted. 

“Dork,” Zoey teased. 

“Good kind or bad kind?” Rumi asked. 

Zoey put her finger to her chin, thinking, “Definitely good. For now!” 

Zoey rounded the car and got in, Rumi turned around and leaned casually against it. Looking out at the city as night fell, it was serene and peaceful. When had she just taken time to reflect and relax. 

She loved her job and helping all the artists and idols find their sound and voices. Coaching them gently and firmly to their full potential. 

But it took up her time and life, even Celine who had imbued her with her own workaholic tendencies told her she was working too much. That was a large glaring warning sign. 

So in a way, the little play of Zoey as Mira provided the perfect opportunity for Rumi to do something other than work. And with pleasant company too. 

The car door opened and Zoey stepped out, dressed in new casual black slacks and a teal blouse. A bit dressed up for an aquarium date, but Rumi was glad she picked it. 

Zoey fiddled with her hair nervously, “Do I look silly?”

“Nope, just pretty,” Rumi said with an easy smile, offering her arm to her. “So, shall we?”

Zoey beamed, “Lead the way!”

The reception area was pretty lax, but they gave Rumi a sidelong look. Funny thing about purple hair, people tend to notice. It was fairly empty besides Rumi and Zoey, and the blue light gave a magic atmosphere.

“So, where first?” Rumi asked. 

“The turtles!” Zoey declared, grasping Rumi’s hand and dragging her through the aquarium at record speed. She stopped suddenly and turned to her with a sudden expression. “Sorry…we can take it slower if you want…”

Zoey wound in on herself like a hurt puppy, much like she did when she was disguised as Mira. It made Rumi want to take her in her arms and hug her until she felt better, and Rumi wasn’t exactly a touchy person. 

“Hey, I want to see the turtles! We can work our way back from there!” Rumi assured, Zoey brightened again and continued to pull her towards the turtle exhibit. 

No one was there and there were half a dozen exhibits of turtles, and Zoey’s eyes turned to stars. She spied a large one and all-but put her face to the glass, “Oh my god, he’s huge! He might be over a hundred years old! Did you know that sea turtles can live over a hundred years?”

Rumi went to respond, but Zoey spotted another exhibit and leapt over to it, “Ooh! A leather back! These guys have existed in the same evolutionary form since the dinosaurs! Amazing!”

Zoey listed off more facts about turtles the longer they went on, and Rumi smiled. She was so…passionate and free about how much she loved the animals. Such joy for things that Rumi had to hide about herself or suppress for the sake of image, at least that of Celine. 

“When did you discover turtles?” Rumi asked, admiring a pair swimming around each other. 

“I watched a documentary when I was younger, my dad took me to the beach on weekends in the summer and I spent my time looking for them. It’s why I learned how to swim,” Zoey said. “It’s how my dad and I bonded, he loved the beach, and we’d talk about sea life for hours.”

“Hmm, where’d you grow up?” Rumi asked.

“Burbank, California,” Zoey said quickly, as if trying to skim over it. “Dad was born there, Mom met him in college, had me, they got married, divorced when I was eleven. Mom went back to Korea, I stayed with Dad through the school year, visited mom in the summer.”

Rumi looked at Zoey, and frowned. She was staring into the aquarium but wasn’t looking at any of the turtles. Rumi couldn’t imagine going through that, two parents on opposite sides of the world. She reached down and took Zoey’s hand. Her hand was warm, and she looked up at Rumi in question. 

“That sounds like it was really hard,” Rumi murmured. “I-I’m sorry. You don’t have to talk about it, if you don’t want to. But I’m willing to listen.”

Zoey took in her words, faster than Rumi could track, she hugged her, full on, cheek to her chin, arms wrapped around her. Stunned for a moment, Rumi gently raised her arms to reciprocate only to meet air as Zoey pulled away, her back to the taller woman, wiping her face.

“Sorry, I’m a hugger,” She said sweetly, but her voice sounded fragile. “And thank you…that was real sweet, I’m so-“

Rumi crossed the distance and took her hand, not too aggressively intimate, but not cold either. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I asked. You don’t need to hide yourself from me, Zoey, I like seeing you.”

Zoey turned slowly, her eyes watery in the blue glow of the aquarium. “Really?”

Rumi smiled gently, squeezing Zoey’s hand, “I don’t go on dates with just anyone. Not unless I’m serious about seeing them.”

Light flooded the darkened aquarium with Zoey’s smile, she squeezed Rumi’s hand, “Let’s look at the other fish!”

Zoey’s heart was beating fast, her stomach was tight with nerves, she felt like her face was flushed, and she was paranoid that she still smelled like coffee. And Rumi just smiled warm enough to melt her insides.

If Rumi was acting, then she had to be a professional seductress. Every time Zoey tried to pull back her rambling, oversharing or hyperfixating, Rumi just smiled and told her not to apologize. 

The only person who took her eccentricities in stride was Mira, but they had an easier more gradual stage of getting to know each other. Rumi dropped out of heaven and still acted like an angel, if she ended up breaking Zoey’s heart, she might think it was worth it for the journey. 

“Like sea life? I mean besides turtles?” Rumi asked as they walked to another part of the aquarium. 

“Oh yeah! Turtles are just the best!” Zoey said proudly. “But I think all sea life is cool, splashing, swaying, vibing in the waves!”

Rumi snickered, “You sound like a surfer.”

“I’ve surfed some,” Zoey said. 

“No! Really?” Rumi asked, looking delighted. 

“Yeah! It took me some tries, but I got the hang of it, kind of like skateboarding, but the ground is voluminous and moving separately to me,” Zoey said. 

“Wow! I’d love some lessons if you were up for teaching a novice,” Rumi said. “I always wanted to learn.”

Zoey felt her heart beat faster again. She really needs to stop doing that, I might die of heart attack young. 

“Really?” Zoey asked. “You’d want me to teach you?”

“Yeah! I think you’d make a good teacher.”

Zoey buzzed in place. Hated and loved getting praise because she was putty if she had it. 

They walked into an exhibit with an octopus and Rumi stopped dead, eyes wide. Zoey followed her gaze, and smiled, an octopus was out and posturing, looking just as interested in Rumi. 

“What’s your name?” Rumi crooned, looking through the glass at the Octopus. It raised a tentacle to touch where her hand was opposite of the glass. 

“Octopi are smart cookies!” Zoey said, smiling at the energetic and excited expression Rumi wore. “They’re going to inherit the earth after the apocalypse!”

Rumi laughed, “I believe it.”

Zoey smiled, admiring the cephalopod. “What do you like about them?” 

“They’re different? Cool and mysterious, but also underestimated. I think I read somewhere one of these guys broke into a shark tank and strangled them.”

Zoey snickered, “Dark. You admire the strangling sharks?”

“Nah, feels wrong,” Rumi tilted her head for a second. “Okay, if you’re a sea turtle and I’m an octopus, what’s Mira?”

Zoey’s brain raced, “Ooh good one! Uhm…”

She raked her brain for appropriate marine creatures, before finding the perfect one. 

“A Mako shark!” Zoey exclaimed, right as Rumi said the exact same thing. They both looked at each other and laughed.

“It was that or a swordfish!” Zoey said, snickering.

“Oh, that’s a good one!” 

The two laughed for a few minutes, Zoey gripped Rumi’s arm and leaned onto her shoulder to steady herself. Rumi still had her hand in hers and squeezed warmly, she looked up at her. Rumi’s eyes were hooded, gazing down at her, Zoey bit her lip and Rumi glanced at them, considering…

Rumi licked her lips, leaning down slowly, questioningly. Zoey wasn’t capable of thinking, she leaned up, focused on Rumi’s lips, not sure if they would kiss or she’d turn her head. 

Mira’s face flashed in her mind, Zoey felt a mix of guilt and dissapoint. Not that she’d kiss Rumi instead of Mira dissapointed, but sad that Mira wasn’t there too. 

A loud voice shook them before the bridge could be crossed, “Excuse me!” They both turned to see the receptionist. “We are closing for the night, our intercom is broken.”

Zoey felt herself go beat red, Rumi smiled apologetically. “Oh sorry, we’ll head out.”

Rumi wrapped an arm around Zoey’s shoulder and led her out of the aquarium. She tried not to get any redder, but surrounded by Rumi’s warmth and her smell, something soft and vaguely fruity, she felt way too relaxed. That didn’t stop her from putting her head on Rumi’s shoulder. 

The taller woman tensed, but then relaxed as they left the Aquarium. 

It was quiet in the parking lot, and Zoey tried to hide her disappointment that the night was over. Rumi didn’t seem to gather that, and removed her arm from her shoulder to further the dissapointment. 

“You hungry?” Rumi asked. 

She was. But Zoey was feeling squirmy, Mira was going to be worried, she was tired from the day, and she was scared that if she left with Rumi, something was going to happen. And she didn’t want to take advantage of Rumi or be taken advantage of. A voice suspiciously similar to Mira’s warned her that she didn’t actually know Rumi that well, and despite how sweet she was and how gorgeous she was, Zoey was having doubts. 

And even if Rumi was as she presented herself, Zoey was way too low on the ladder to seriously consider a relationship. Especially with her long-standing crush on Mira. She felt her gut retighten, she was a mess, physically, emotionally and socially, this all was a sweet dream…but only a dream.

“Zoey?” Rumi asked. 

Zoey sighed, “No, I’m good.” She shouldered her purse. “I had a good time tonight, and I appreciate you seeing me again.”

She couldn’t hide her turmoil, and Rumi grew concerned. “Hey, did I…upset you?”

Zoey shook her head, eyes starting to water, “No, I just…I just need to get home.”

Rumi wasn’t letting it go, “Hey…If you’re uncomfortable with me, I understand, but I need to make sure you’re okay before you go.”

Tears ran down Zoey’s face. Why do I have to fall for such wonderful, unreachable people?

“Zoey…” Rumi tried to reach for her, but stopped herself, almost frantically trying to figure out how to reach her. “If…I? What can-?”

Zoey lost it, she leapt forward and bawled into Rumi’s shoulder. “I’m sorry! You just-! You’re too-! Damn it!” She cried, her fingers squeezing into Rumi’s arms. “I like you, and I know I shouldn’t and it hurts that I can’t have anyone I want!” She screamed. 

Rumi was stunned for a moment, and Zoey was sure she’d push her away, call her nuts and run. Instead, she pulled her close in a hug that was soft and comforting. Only making Zoey cry harder. 

Soft circles were rubbed into her back, and Rumi started humming, gentle, sweet and comforting. It eased Zoey’s breath and helped her come down from her upset heights. God she was a mess.

“Tell me something,” Zoey said into Rumi’s shoulder. 

“What do you need?” Rumi asked. 

Zoey bit her lip, “Were you…really going to pursue legal action if we didn’t show up to meet you?” She asked.

Rumi stiffened, but didn’t stop rubbing her back, “Of course not! As if there was anything to charge you with, I just bought you a coffee, nothing damning. I-I know it was dramatic, that’s my…mom coming out. I was…scared you’d disappear. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Shaking her head against Rumi’s shoulder, “You didn’t scare me. I just…needed to know.”

Rumi swallowed and pulled away gently, “You don’t have to see me after today, if you don’t want to.”

Her emotions were swinging back and forth like a pendulum, relief that Rumi was giving her an out, swooning because she was giving her a choice, and panic because she really wanted to see her again. 

“I want to see you again,” Zoey admitted fragilely. “I just…I’m confused right now.”

Rumi laughed gently, “Well, it’s been five days since we met, so I get it.”

Zoey broke into a laugh and leaned against Rumi again, “Thanks, for being so…sweet.”

“I can only do my best,” Rumi said, turning away and coughing. Zoey felt her tremble and smirked. So she does have a weakness. 

“Can I ask a favor?”