Chapter Text
The day after the Idol Awards. No more Saja Boys. No more Gwi-Ma. No more Jinu.
But then why does everything still seem hopeless?
——/
Rumi lay in her room, purple here still in her signature braid. Stray and frizzy hair that reflected her mental state. Her head was buzzing. So many demands— crying, hiding, loving. Her head was foggy. Everything was a blur, it didn’t even feel like she was the person who defeated Gwi-Ma.
“Uhggghhhhgg” She flopped over on her side. Her dinosaur plush was over on the opposite side of the bed, and her pillow was by her feet.
“huh?” thud
“…ow.” The floor was cold, but it felt nice against her warm skin. Skin.. wait.
Rumi instinctively went to cover up, even though she was all alone. She didn’t want any of her band mates to see her patterns. Not yet at least. They might kill her for all she knows.
knock knock
“Rumi? It’s Mira. I heard a thud from your room. Are you ok? Do you need any help?”
SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT She stumbled up, tripped over her feet, and crashed back down.
“UHHHH I’m good don’t worry about me it’s ok I got it I’m good I’m ok.” please say she’s gone I need a jacket or *something*
There was some muffling outside her room, most likely Mira and Zoey.
“It’s Zoey this time, can you let us in so we can help you? I know you tend to be secretive but you know yesterday-“
Yesterday… What happened yesterday? … Why can’t I remember yesterday?
“Rumi?”
“UHM yeah just one second hha.” She stumbled up and eventually got over to her closet, narrowly avoiding tripping again. What was wrong with her body?
She finally opened the door “Heyyyyyyyyy-“
“RUMI I WAS SO WORRIED YOU WANTED TO GO TO YOUR ROOM LAST NIGHT MIRA AND I WERE SCARED AND AND” She was full on sobbing now. Her buns, usually tight, were disheveled, much like Rumi’s braid. She was still in her pajamas, with little turtles and bunnies. Her expression held a heaviness that was rarely seen on the makanae’s face.
“Woah what? Hold on, I'm still tired. Slow down.”
“What she means to say, is that yesterday after we came back from the Idol Awards you just wanted to head right to your room. I understood but Zoey was still scared. Last night was heavy.” Mira’s face was bare. Her hair, although neater than the other girls, still had frizz and oddness to it. She no longer wore pj’s, just a comfortable outfit.
Mira grabbed Rumi’s hand and led her out of her room to the elevator. Everything still felt foggy and tired.
Zoey bounced up and down, occasionally biting at her nails. Mira fidgeted with the strings of her pants. Rumi dozed off a few times, but her head kept hitting the wall of the elevator.
ding!
Zoey raced out of the elevator and plopped down on the couch. Her favorite turtle plush, a huge green sea turtle named Shrimpy, was sitting on the white cushions. There was a half eaten bag of shrimp chips, some cookies, and kimbap waiting. Rumi and Mira were making their way to the couch.
“So were you guys camping outside my room or…”
“Well Mirs woke up first and she came to check on me. At first I didn’t know what was going on because I forgot what happened, but some things slowly came back to me. I had the idea to wait for you.”
“And *I* told her that you might be having a rough time because of yesterday-“
“What happened yesterday?”
The girls turned and blinked. “You- you don’t remember? Is that why you’re wearing a hoodie again?” Zoey asked. A little bit of understanding there, but confusion took control.
“What? I always wear a hoodie?”
“But yesterday…”
“Zoey, you were also confused about yesterday before I reminded you. I was also confused at first. It was extremely rough.”
“Hehe I forgot.”
Mira led the way to the couch again as her and Rumi didn’t make it there yet. She sat Rumi down next to Zoey, and herself next to Rumi. She needed Rumi to be comfortable. She couldn’t let anyone feel they needed to hide. It doesn’t matter that she was hiding stuff, she needs to be there for others. Rumi and Zoey need her.
“Ok so can someone explain-“ She looked down. She saw her bare legs. Her patterns covered her thighs, but they weren’t purple— They were iridescent. She instinctively went to cover her patterns but two sets of hands stopped her. Her brain fogged up. Chest tight. Hands digging into her skin. Try to cover up. Cover up. Cover up. Cover up. Hide Hide Hide Hide. Demon Demon Demon Demo-
A deeper voice spoke out: “Rumi… do you remember any of what happened yesterday?”
Heart still racing and breathing still shallow, she managed to choke out, “I.. what… Why aren’t you killing me? Why are you so calm???”
Zoey started to tear up. Even though she didn’t quite remember, something in her brain gave her bits and pieces of what it allowed her to see. Of the few scenes it showed, she was looking at Rumi, demon and all, and with something glowing near her. She pieced together that it was Mira’s Gok-do.
Alarms went off in Rumi’s head. Her best friend was sobbing. “ZOEY ARE YOU OK? ARE YOU HURT?”
“Rumi…” She turned to the pink-haired girl. There was a sorrowful expression on her face.
Mira also had to put some pieces together, but for her it was more emotional. It was hard to believe any of it was real. After all, why would she not have any emotional attachment to such a presumed stressful situation? But even with the ever present fog and choppy-ness, her memory had never faltered. She remembered it all. She remembered the shining of her weapon, the glowing eye, the fire beckoning to her, and the hugs shared as they floated up. Part of her was glad something in her brain kept the emotions from her.
Mira took a deep breath and wiped some tears from Zoey and Rumi’s faces. She took a deep breath. “Rumi, I do admit it’s concerning you don’t remember at all. Anything. But I’m here for you.” She turned to look at the black haired girl. “And Zoey, you can come to me as well. I know everything is stressful to you but I can help.”
Comfortable silence took over the room. Rumi was breathing slowly again, although in beats of three. One two three, One two three, One two three. Zoey’s tears had dried, and she was now cuddled next to Rumi. Mira wore a stoic yet soft expression on her face. She would pick up the pieces. Put them back together. Everyone would be ok.