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When the studio receptionist escorted Rumi to the recording booth, Jinu was already there, leaning casually against the wall with one ankle crossed behind the other, staring at a poster.
He smiled before he even looked up, like he was genuinely happy she had arrived. Their eyes met and her heart gave a treacherous little leap.
Then, he opened his mouth and shattered the moment. “Cutting it pretty close.”
“I’m ten minutes early,” she said.
He straightened up and crossed his arms, that smile of his twisting into something cocky. “More like five minutes late.”
“Yeah, well, not all of us can use evil demon powers to teleport to exactly where we need to be,” Rumi reminded him. Eyes going wide, Jinu glanced frantically around the room.
“Not so loud!” he hissed, as if he hadn’t talked about her patterns in front of hundreds of fans the other day. “The cameras are probably running.”
“Oh, so you’re acting even more suspicious to throw them off the trail,” said Rumi, sitting down to wait for Geena and her crew. “Great plan. Very smooth.”
Jinu sat down next to her and sulked, but Rumi didn’t even get to enjoy her victory. Their seats were so close together that Jinu’s arm was touching hers, and she couldn’t even blame him because the chairs were bolted to the floor. Geena usually had an extra seat for when Huntrix came on her radio shows and they never minded being close, but it was just Rumi and Jinu today.
She made to stand up and Jinu copied her, almost like a reflex.
“Wait,” Rumi said, thinking out loud as she dropped back into her seat, “Were you waiting for me to sit first this whole time?”
“I was being polite,” Jinu replied. There was nothing polite about his shoulder brushing hers, but neither of them moved away. Were all demons this warm or was it just him?
Rumi rolled her eyes. “It’s not the 1600s anymore. You don’t need to pretend like you’re some gentleman.”
“I never said I was a gentleman.”
A gentleman definitely wouldn’t lean in that close, or look at Rumi like that. That gaze always stripped her down, not in a creepy way, but like she didn’t have to hide anything from him. It was probably just because he knew her biggest secret, but if she stared into those eyes long enough, she was pretty sure she’d tell him everything.
The door creaked open, and Rumi and Jinu sprung apart as Geena and her producers walked in. If there were cameras running, they caught a lot more than Jinu acting suspicious.
Rumi shot to her feet and Jinu, of course, followed suit.
“Rumi!” Geena exclaimed, wrapping her in a hug. “It’s been too long! Loving the new single, by the way! How are you? How are Mira and Zoey? How’s Celine?”
The answers Rumi gave were perfectly media friendly, but the truth was, she was conflicted and confused, Mira and Zoey were frustrated with her, and Celine was even less supportive than usual. Jinu’s pleasant smile twitched at each of Rumi’s lies. How did he already understand her better than an old family friend?
“And Jinu!” Geena grinned at him. “It’s great to meet you. We’re such big fans, and we can’t get enough of Soda Pop!”
“I’m honored to be here on behalf of the Saja Boys,” Jinu said as he bowed. Rumi fought the temptation to roll her eyes. This, from the man who just said he wasn’t a gentleman. What was that supposed to mean anyway?
Geena and her team bowed and fawned, and she whisper-shouted to Rumi, poorly hiding her mouth behind her hand, “He’s so cute!”
That’s how he gets you, Rumi wanted to say. She flashed Geena a placating smile and caught Jinu’s eye. He looked far too pleased at being called cute, as if he didn’t know exactly what he looked like. And what was with that expectant look on his face? What, was she supposed to agree with Geena? Out loud?
“Ah, but enough of my fangirling, let’s sit down and get rolling,” Geena said.
Rumi wrinkled her nose at Jinu and he pouted, but they both sat, arm to arm once again.
“Can we get you two some tea? Coffee? Water?”
“Water would be great, thanks,” said Rumi, relaxing into the shared space. She wasn’t going to cede any territory.
“Tea, please,” said Jinu, pressing back against her elbow.
“Don’t you two look cozy,” Geena said as her assistant fetched their drinks. “Though I suppose you’ve had plenty of chances to get to know each other given the way your songs have been neck and neck on the charts.”
Jinu laughed a little too long and Rumi nudged his ribs.
“There’s a lot of overlap in our fanbase,” Rumi said. “And we’re happy to share any guidance the Saja Boys are willing to accept.”
“We’ll take it all,” Jinu said. “Huntrix has years and years of experience, and only a fool would refuse advice from a sage.”
A sage? If that was that some kind of ancient proverb, he must have gotten it from the source, because only one of them had been around for centuries and it wasn’t her.
“We’ve always been wise well beyond our years.” Rumi knocked her knee against Jinu’s as if to add unlike some people.
Jinu didn’t push back. He was steady at Rumi’s side, even leaning into her (but maybe that was just her imagination). “What I meant was, I’m grateful for Rumi’s perspective. This is all new to me, and she’s shown more kindness and patience than I deserve.”
Oh, now he wanted to act his age? The worst part was that he sounded so sincere, she couldn’t even be angry about it. In fact, it sent her heart fluttering yet again. Thankfully, Jinu was right about one thing: Rumi had years of media training, and she didn’t let Jinu’s admission throw her off. Besides, two could play that game (if honesty was a game).
“Jinu’s given me a fresh perspective as well, in ways I never expected.”
Geena sipped her coffee and grinned. “Does this mean the rumors circulating about you two are fair game once we get rolling?”
Jinu and Rumi glanced at each other, and there was that look again. Vulnerability, reflected back at her.
“I think Jinu and I would prefer to stick to professional matters,” Rumi said. Jinu’s knee was steadfast against hers.
“Agreed,” Jinu said, holding her gaze. “I’d rather talk about Rumi’s talent and dedication. She’s been an inspiration to me from the very beginning.”
Now he was just being shameless, and damn him, it was kind of working.
“You keep me—I mean, us—on our toes,” Rumi replied, determined to keep her racing heart in check. “The Saja Boys push us to keep working hard for our fans, and I can’t wait to see what you do next.”
She looked deep into Jinu’s eyes, making it clear that the last part was just for him. There was more to him than good looks and clever ploys, and she was more than willing to give him the chance to prove her right.
It was Jinu’s turn to be exposed, and satisfaction settled deep in Rumi’s chest, along with something she didn’t want to name just yet. Maybe ever.
But one thing was certain: cute didn't do him justice.
“Roger,” said Geena, breaking the spell. They both turned back to her, and judging by her smile, she could read between the lines. “This’ll be our little secret.”
Rumi was an expert in keeping secrets, but she didn’t really mind if this one got out. If working her way into Jinu’s heart was what it took to save the Honmoon, and to understand herself better, that was a risk she was willing to take.
Even if it meant opening her heart to him, just a crack, in return.