Chapter Text
And soon, Bobby finally picked them up.
The limo hummed along the wet streets, raindrops streaking against the tinted windows as the storm outside finally began to thin. Inside, the air was a strange cocktail of silence, bickering, and unspoken weight.
On one couch, the Huntrix huddled close together. Zoey’s nimble fingers worked carefully through Rumi’s damp braids, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Every so often she would mutter, "Hold still," while Rumi leaned comfortably against Mira’s shoulder, her eyes half-lidded with exhaustion but calmer now in the safe cocoon of their warmth.
Mira, for her part, never stopped glaring daggers across the cabin as though her sheer willpower alone could keep the Saja Boys in line.
On the opposite couch, chaos bloomed.
"Move your leg, I said move your leg–!" Baby barked, shoving his knee aggressively into Romance’s side.
Romance just huffed dramatically, pushing Baby back as he rolled his eyes, "Oh, c’mon! You have the whole seat, why can't you let me be comfortable, too? It's uncomfortable*l enough sitting this far from the girl I like, don't make–!"
Baby's face twisted in mock anguish, "Oh, the pain" He rolled his eyes dramatically and flopped further against the seat in faux dramatic flair, "Such cruelty. How ever will I survive knowing some pretty boy like you is suffering just three inches away from his crush?"
Romance gasped theatrically, pressing a hand to his chest as if mortally wounded.
"Pretty boy? Excuse you! I am ethereal, darling. A masterpiece." He tossed his rose-pink hair over his shoulder with a flourish before narrowing his eyes at Baby, lowering his voice as if to tease him.
"And don't act like you're not itching for an excuse to be closer to Zoey either, Casanova." His smirk sharpened as Baby's ears tinted red, "Oh-ho~ Don’t think I haven’t noticed how your eyes flicker every time she moves those little braiding fingers of hers–"
Baby shoved him harder before he can finish aa he desperately tries to hide the red in his face, and the two devolved into an undignified elbow war that made the limo rock slightly with their jabs.
Meanwhile, Mystery had found a new obsession. He pressed the window button up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. His eyes gleamed like a gremlin discovering fire.
"Clicky," He whispered in awe, "Clicky..clickyyyyy."
Bobby, driving in the front, cheerfully reminded the boyband, "If he breaks that, it’s coming out of your profits, boys!" He called back happily, not specifying whose.
In the middle of it all, Abby and Mira were locked in a silent, unyielding battle. His amber eyes narrowed, hers burning like lit coals. Neither blinked. Neither backed down. It had started the moment they sat down and showed no signs of ending soon.
Baby glanced up mid-argument with Romance, scowling, "Are you two seriously still at that? What even is this?"
Mira didn’t break eye contact, "Dominance."
Abby’s smirk curled faint, almost challenging, "Tension."
Zoey groaned loudly, tugging on Rumi’s braid a little too hard by accident, "Ow!" Rumi squeaked, her small flinch immediately softening Zoey’s face into panic.
"Sorry, sorry! Ugh, I swear, I’m trapped in a limo with five toddlers."
At the very end of the couch, Jinu sat slouched against the window, his posture heavy, his aura so gloomily dense it was almost physical. If the others’ antics were noise, his silence was thunder.
In the dim glow of the streetlights flashing past, it looked as if tiny mushroom caps were sprouting slowly over his head, a sad little garden feeding off his guilt.
So in summary, the positive energy in this room was all gone.
Bobby’s cheerful humming was the only one filling for it from the driver’s seat for a moment before it cut short.
His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, narrowing at the strange stormcloud of mood hovering at the very end of the limo.
The girls pressed together like a bundle of frayed nerves, the boys bickering like unruly puppies, and then.. Jinu.
Bobby cleared his throat, tone light but deliberate, "Alright, kiddos, how about we change the mood back there before we go insane?"
No one answered, Zoey was too busy soothing Rumi’s braid, Baby had Romance in a headlock, Mystery was still whispering 'clicky,' and Mira and Abby were locked in a silent duel.
"Right," Bobby said flatly, then leaned to flick a hidden switch. A panel by his seat clicked open, revealing a slim white box stuffed with colorful envelopes and glittery packaging.
He raised his voice, teasing, "Fanmail time. From today’s convention. Don’t worry, your Manager Bobby already sorted out the hate mail. This pile is all love!"
That got their attention.
Zoey's face lit up with excitement as she heard the word 'fanmail'. The prospect of reading messages from their fans lifted her mood instantly.
"Fanmail?! Yes!" She exclaimed, clapping her hands together in anticipation. She scooted closer to Mira, nudging her eagerly.
"We gotta read them all," She whispered, barely containing her enthusiasm, "Every single one. Come on, Mira, you know how much the fans mean to us."
Baby perked, his earlier flush fading into curiosity, "Fanmail? For me specifically, right?" He straightened up immediately, shoving Romance off him like yesterday’s trash. His eyes gleamed with sudden interest, part ego, part genuine curiosity about his admirers.
Romance, despite getting booted unceremoniously off the couch, merely huffed and readjusted his now wrinkled shirt, rolling his eyes dramatically before crossing his arms and leaning against the table, "Oh, of course, Baby. They only write to you specifically. How could I forget? It's because they pity you for being the least favourite.."
Romance leaned back smugly, waving his pride like a trophy while shooting Baby the most taunting grin imaginable.
Baby’s jaw flexed, his whole body coiled like a spring, moments away from launching himself across the limo to claw the smirk off Romance’s face.
Before it could spiral, Zoey’s sharp glare cut between them like a blade.
One snap of her hand, and both boys froze in place, grumbling under their breaths but sinking back into their seats as the air cooled again.
"Oh shush you two, Bobby is OUR manager, who do you think is the mail for?" Zoey corrected sharply, yanking one envelope from the compartment, "Huntrix, duh."
Mystery finally looked up from the window button, his face lighting with eerie glee, "Letters full of secrets," He whispered ominously, clutching one envelope to his chest "Human souls..in paper form.”:
"..Don’t be weird about it, Dogboy." Mira muttered, finally breaking her stalemate glare with Abby to pluck one of the letters neatly from the box.
Rumi blinked, still half-drowsy against Mira’s shoulder, "Do we have to read them out loud?"
"Yes!" Zoey and Romance said in unison. Zoey beamed while Romance gave her a dramatic wink.
"Let’s see.." Zoey ripped hers open first, everyone waited with bated breath as Zoey read the letter aloud, their anticipation palpable.
She cleared her throat, her expression softening as she read through the heartfelt words and messages of support.
"It says..'Dear Huntrix,'" She began, her voice tinged with gratitude, "I just wanted to say thank you for always inspiring me. Your music has gotten me through some tough times and your lyrics speak to me like no other artist does."
Her voice softened a little on the last line, and she pressed the letter carefully against her chest like it was something fragile.
Rumi sat up straighter, eyes misting at the mention of her name, "That’s.. so sweet."
Beside her, Mira gave a tiny, almost imperceptible smile at being called someone’s role model.
Abby chuckled under his breath, "Guess you girls really got fans like that, huh?"
And don’t you forget it," Zoey shot back proudly.
Romance had already opened his own letter, even though it clearly wasn’t addressed to him.
He flourished the paper with a grin. “Listen to this one: To the radiant, ethereal, absolutely flawless members of Huntrix—" He began, flashing Mira an obnoxious wink as she rolled her eyes hard enough to see her own brain.
"Every time you step on stage, my heart stops. Specifically yours, Mira (that glare could freeze hell itself and I mean that as a compliment). Rumi’s voice is literal sunlight wrapped in honey? Zoey’s energy is so infectious I want to bottle it?? Unfair. All of you are unfair."
He paused dramatically for effect before adding with a slight frown, "..P.S. Someone tell Romance Saja his ego called; it wants its spotlight back."
Silence. Then–..
Zoey wheezed, clapping a hand over her mouth while Baby choked on air near her.
Even Mystery let out something suspiciously close to an amused exhale from where he sat near the door frame looking dead inside moments prior..
Mira was already bright red from holding back her laughter, but she tried to play it off as annoyed.
"Romance, I swear, if you don't give me that letter right now–!"
She extended a hand out, palm flat and demanding.
Rumi buried her grin of amusement in her sleeve, and Zoey nearly doubled over, holding onto Abby for support as she cackled her heart out.
Baby, now holding a letter clearly addressed to Zoey, squinted at the glittery handwriting before loudly declaring as his cheeks were still red from laughter, "OH I GOT A GOOD ONE! To my sunshine Zoey~!!!"
Zoey’s head whipped around so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash, "HEY! THAT’S MINE–!" She lunged for it, but Baby easily held her back with one hand while dramatically continuing in his best fan-girl impression:
"I just wanted to say your smile LITERALLY cured my loneliness and also I would DIE for you? PS please step on me affectionately–"
Zoey turned into a human tomato, screeching as she tackled Baby into the limo seats in a flurry of flailing limbs, "DELETE THAT FROM YOUR MEMORY RIGHT NOW–!"
Mira was wheezing into her hands while Abby sighed deeply and rubbed his temples like he was questioning all his life choices leading up to this moment.
Mystery had pulled out his phone to record the chaos. Specifically at Zoey.
And Rumi? Rumi finally let out a real, full-bodied laugh, clutching her stomach as tears pricked at her eyes from sheer absurdity.
Even Bobby glanced back through the rearview mirror with an amused smirk before muttering, "..Kids these days."
Soon Baby finally surrendered, holding the letter high above his head until Zoey’s determined scramble landed her practically nose-to-nose with him.
For a split second, the whole limo froze at how close they were, Baby’s smirk twitching wider while Zoey’s face turned crimson all over again.
"Alright, alright.." He chuckled lowly, slipping the glittery envelope into her hand with ease, "Sunshine, you can have it."
Zoey snatched it back, huffing like a cat with ruffled fur.
But when her eyes flicked up, just for a moment, she whispered, "..Thanks."
That tiny, unguarded softness had Baby’s grin faltering for once, a flush creeping up the tips of his ears as he turned away quickly, pretending to busy himself with another letter.
Mystery, meanwhile, had gotten his claws on one. He peered down at the handwriting upside down, reading aloud with unnatural emphasis.
"Dear Mira, I love how serious you are. Please scold me in Tagalog. I will pay you.’"
He tilted his head toward her with the most innocently curious face, his hood shadowing his face, "Mira.. how much do you charge?"
Mira groaned and threw a crumpled napkin at him, "Not enough to deal with that."
Abby rolled his eyes but plucked a letter out, glancing at Rumi, "Here, this one’s for you." He skimmed it aloud in his deep voice, "They say, ‘Rumi, your voice is the only thing keeping me sane during exams. Please never stop singing.’"
His smirk softened just slightly as he handed it over, "Guess you’re somebody’s caffeine replacement! Wanna be my gym bud?"
Rumi blinked, surprised, before hugging the letter close to her chest with a small smile, "I already have yoga with the girls but thanks!"
Jinu, who had been slouched in his gloom, had one slid into his lap by Bobby himself, "Go on, kid." Bobby encouraged from the front.
After a pause, Jinu read it aloud quietly, his tone careful but steady, "To Zoey: you remind me of the sun. Even on my worst days, you make me feel warm. Thank you.’"
His gaze lingered on Zoey a second too long, something protective flickering in his eyes before he leaned back into the shadows again.
Zoey, still red from Baby’s earlier teasing, swallowed hard and managed a tiny smile, whispering, "..That’s sweet."
Romance, lounging smugly with his arms spread wide, hummed with a teasing grin, "Ah, fanmail~ Truly the poetry of the modern age."
Mystery immediately added, deadpan, "Half of these people need therapy."
Bobby chuckled under his breath, "..And so do half of you."
Zoey, still clutching her sunshine letter like it was both the bane and blessing of her existence, perked up as she noticed the rest of the white box Bobby had revealed.
Along with the letters, there were neatly wrapped, glitter-bombed packages wedged at the bottom.
Her eyes widened, "Wait, wait, wait–!" She gasped, pointing like she’d just spotted buried treasure, "We got packages too! Open them, open them!!"
Romance’s head snapped toward the box like a hawk, his smirk blooming instantly, "Yes!" He agreed immediately, already reaching for a package and tearing through it with no regard for his perfectly manicured nails. "Packages!! Quick, hand me the largest one. Surely it’s for me."
"Nope!" Zoey declared triumphantly, diving forward before he could. She snatched the top package, a box covered in pastel stickers and glitter glue, and held it high, "WE. Us, girls, are doing this together. As a team. Huntrix first!"
Romance slumped dramatically against Baby with a sigh, "Denied by democracy. The cruelty never ends."
Baby shoved him off with a grunt, "Stop touching me, drama queen."
Zoey ripped open the package with childlike glee. Inside was a crocheted trio of chibi dolls, Zoey, Mira, and Rumi, all in their latest stage outfits, complete with tiny embroidered microphones.
"Ohhhhh..these are incredible!" She exclaimed, beaming with joy, "Look at them! They're sooo cute! AH! MIRA THEY EVEN GOT YOUR EYELINER RIGHT!"
Rumi traced the delicate stitches of her doll with careful fingers, her expression softening into something rare, pure, unguarded wonder.
Even at her patterns.
"Whoever made this.." Her voice was barely above a whisper, "They..they noticed everything. This is perfect."
Mira’s composure cracked for half a second as she examined her own doll, clearly touched though she tried to keep her voice flat.
"They did get my eyeliner right," She admitted, running a thumb over the small doll-version of her with subtle amusement, "And the details on the dresses. Impressive."
Romance immediately leaned in over the box like a vulture, "Hey, now, that's not fair." He whined, still draped over Baby like a dramatic curtain and making absolutely zero effort to actually get up, "What if MY packages are in there too? What if there's one with my name on it and you guys take it for yourselves anyway?"
Abby, who, up until this point, had been watching the whole affair in a mix of bemusement and dread, finally spoke up, his voice dry, "Romance, how much you wanna bet it's just more fan letters for the girls?"
Before Romance could respond, Mystery quietly reached into the pile and pulled out a smaller package. He unwrapped it slowly, savoring the sound of the crinkling paper. Inside was..
A plush minecraft wolf, with a tiny collar that read "Good Boy."
"Good boy.." He repeated.
The rest of the group stared
in a mixture of horror,
surprise, and second-hand
embarrassment as Mystery
petted the plushie's head with
the most genuine look of
affection anyone in the limo
had ever seen from him
He actually..looked happy.
Abby barked out a laugh, shaking his head, "Oh, that’s actually cute.. HEY NOW I WANT ONE–"
Zoey squealed again interrupting Abby, reaching for another. This one was larger, wrapped in sparkly purple foil. She shoved it into Rumi’s lap, "Open it, open it, open it!!"
Rumi carefully tore it open, revealing a box filled with pastel origami stars and a note at the top.
She read it aloud softly, her eyes already glistening: "Rumi, whenever you’re feeling lost, please take a star from here. Each one is a reminder that you’re never alone. Thank you for sharing your light with us."
The limo fell quiet. Even Romance’s smirk faltered into something gentler as Rumi pressed the box to her chest, whispering, "Someone..folded all these for me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, disbelieving "Hundreds of them."
She picked up one delicate star between her fingers, turning it over with such care as if it were made of glass.
And then her lips curled into the smallest but realest smile any of them had seen in weeks.
"..I’m keeping every single one."
Her tone left no room for argument, this wasn’t idol-Rumi speaking. This was her.
Zoey leaned against her shoulder, smiling, "See? Our fans love us so much.”
Mira nodded once, her voice calm but certain, "We’re worth it."
Baby, trying to shake off the sudden lump in his throat to avoid all this quote unquote 'cringiness' he calls, grabbed another package and ripped it open aggressively. Out tumbled a mountain of snacks, pocky, chips, gummies, all in bright colorful packaging.
His eyes lit up instantly, "NOW this is a real gift." He cracked open a bag of chips, crunching obnoxiously loud, "Sorry, girls, but these are mine."
Zoey gawked, "HEY! Those are for all of us!"
Baby stuck his tongue out, stuffing his face full of chips and crunching obnoxiously loud just to be a dick.
"Nope! All mine~" He teased, munching on another handful with the most smug expression, "Finders keepers."
Zoey huffed, her brows furrowing in mock annoyance. She lunged forward, trying to snatch the bag of chips from Baby's grip.
But he quickly yanked it out of her reach, holding it comically high above his head like a prize.
"Hey! You can't hog all the snacks, you greedy jerk!" She protested, playfully trying to jump and reach for the bag again, "I want a taste too!"
Baby laughed, his smirk widening as he effortlessly kept the chips just out of her reach.
"You snooze, you lose, Shortcake! These chips are mine, all mine!" He teased, his tone dripping with false innocence.
Zoey pouted, her competitive spirit kicking in full force. She stomped her foot in mock frustration, determined to get her hands on the chips.
"Oh no, you don't! You're not going to keep all the snacks to yourself, you chip-hogging fiend!"
She made another attempt to reach for the bag, jumping up and attempting to swipe it from his grasp. But Baby, being taller, easily held it out of reach, reveling in her desperation.
The two were seconds away from a full-on tug-of-war when Mystery, silent as a shadow, slinked across the limo seat and appeared right next to Baby.
Nobody saw when exactly he moved, but suddenly his pale hand reached out and..snatch!
Mystery plucked the chip bag cleanly out of Baby’s grip without a sound.
Both Zoey and Baby froze.
Mystery calmly turned, placing the bag into Zoey’s hands like he was performing a sacred offering. "Here," He said simply.
Zoey's eyes widened in disbelief as Mystery materialized seemingly out of nowhere and liberated the precious snack bag from Baby's grip.
The unexpected act left her and Baby stunned, staring at Mystery in a mix of surprise and awe.
Then, as the bag was solemnly placed in her hands, Zoey couldn't help but break into a wide, grateful grin.
She clutched the chips close to her chest, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of excitement and relief.
"Whoa..thanks. Mystery! Myst, Tery, Um..Yeah, haha.." She exclaimed, her voice brimming with appreciation.
Baby sat there, mouth open, betrayed, "..How the hell–!"
"Too slow," Mystery murmured, already munching on a stray gummy he’d stolen during the distraction.
The rest of the limo burst into laughter, Romance nearly fell sideways on purpose just to add drama, Abby wheezed with delight, and even Mira cracked the faintest smirk.
Rumi shook her head, but the softness still lingered in her eyes from her stars, "You guys are children."
Zoey huffed, popping a chip in her mouth, "Children who SHARE, unlike Baby."
Before Baby could snap back, Mira reached calmly into the pile of packages. She picked out a sleek, neatly wrapped one with minimal decoration, black paper, a red ribbon, no glitter or stickers.
It stood out immediately.
"Strange," Mira muttered, turning it over in her hands. "This doesn’t look like the others. Do you think this is themed from our Takedown era? Some fans liked it because we looked 'badass.'"
Zoey leaned over, still crunching, "Ooooh, mysterious. Open it, open it!"
Mira tore through the ribbon, pulling out what looked like a custom photo book. The cover was embossed with silver letters: 'To Huntrix: Our Eternal Stage.'
Inside were glossy photos, candid shots from their concerts, fan signs, moments captured mid-performance.
But between the pages, tucked like secrets, were handwritten notes. Words of encouragement, admiration, affection.
And even thin chocolates that looked like they were imported.
Mira stilled, her fingers running along the careful handwriting.
Behind her, Romance’s smile faltered. Baby glanced away. Abby scratched the back of his neck. Mystery stared at the ceiling, feigning innocence.
And Jinu, still hunched gloomily in the corner, looked up the instant he realized what package Mira was holding. His eyes flickered with recognition, and then a stab of something heavier, almost like panic.
The Saja Boys shared a silent look. They didn’t need words.
They knew.
Because they were the ones who made that book.
All except Jinu, who had been too lost in his sulking to contribute but he understood instantly when he saw their tension. His gaze fell back to the floor, and his jaw clenched.
Mira turned a page, her frown deepening at the almost-too-polished phrasing of one of the notes, "Hm..must be one of our long term fans."
The other members leaned in to look, their curiosity piqued.
"Whoa, these photos are amazing," Zoey marveled, taking in the glossy images. Her gaze flickered between the photos and the notes. "And these personal messages..They must have taken so long."
Rumi, holding her Chibi doll close, nodded quietly in agreement, "It's almost intimate. Like the person who made this truly knows us."
The boys stayed dead quiet.
Romance grinned, draping himself even more dramatically over the table as if nothing off was going on as he chimed in, "That's because whoever is sending all these things clearly has very good taste. The photos capture the essence of your performances and your..uniqueness as a whole."
"Maybe they're like your own personal paparazzi." He winked playfully, but there was a stiffness in the way he held himself, a tension in his shoulders that wasn't quite there moments ago.
Zoey nodded enthusiastically, buying it instantly, "Awww, that’s so sweet!! Huntrix really inspires people!"
The girls’ attention stayed glued to the book, marveling, smiling, curious, while the Saja Boys exchanged silent, uneasy glances across the limo.
They had no idea.
And for now..the boys intended to keep it that way.
The limo had settled into a strange, almost tender quiet.
The chibi dolls rested neatly on Rumi’s lap, the origami stars sat secure in their pastel box, Zoey still crunched happily on the stolen chips, and Mira carefully turned another page in the sleek photo book.
Every so often, one of the girls would comment, marveling at the detail.
"Look, Zoey," Mira murmured, pointing at a photo of her mid-jump, hair fanned out like fire, "They even caught you in that leap you practiced for weeks."
Zoey gasped, pressing her nose close, "No way! That was from the Seoul showcase! I tripped right after that jump but they, oh my god, they actually made me look cool!!"
Rumi, her voice softer than the others, traced a finger over one of her own candid shots, her eyes closed, hand on her mic, a single spotlight crowning her like a halo, "They really..did."
Abby cleared his throat, shifting like the silence was crawling on his back, "Dedicated fans, huh." His smirk tugged faint, but he didn’t look at Mira for once, he looked at Jinu.
Jinu didn’t meet his eyes. He only slumped further, his hand brushing his knee, mushrooms practically threatening to sprout on his hoodie sleeve from how thick the gloom clung.
Zoey flipped another page with the eagerness of a child, her eyes wide, "These notes though, like, look at this one." She read aloud in a voice dipped with awe:
"Huntrix, no matter how heavy the storm gets, you are our clear skies. We’ll always be waiting when the thunder fades."
Her breath hitched, and she closed the book slowly, holding it like it might break.
Mira, ever the composed one, finally let the smallest hint of warmth slip into her voice "It’s beautiful work. Whoever made this wanted us to feel.. seen."
Across the car, Romance pretended to yawn with dramatics, "Yes, yes, mysterious admirer, beautifully poetic, yada yada. Next package, please. Let’s not all drown in sappiness!"
Baby leaned forward, propping his chin on his hand as he watched the girls swooning over the photo book with a hint of mockery.
"Sappy stuff, huh? Pfft." He rolled his eyes, "Can't believe you're getting all mushy over some fan mail."
He reached out to snag the chips from Zoey's hand, crunching obnoxiously loud for good measure.
Romance sputtered, "I am not!" He flailed a hand dramatically, accidentally smacking Baby in the face with his sleeve, "I simply prefer gifts that acknowledge my..ethereal presence. Like roses dipped in gold. Or handwritten sonnets about my eyeliner."
Abby chuckled low in his throat, shaking his head.
Mystery, however, simply leaned back, eyes lidded, his wolf plush propped on his shoulder like a guard dog.
He was watching the whole scene with unsettling stillness, but there was something in his gaze that made it clear:
He knew exactly what that book was, and he wasn’t about to say a word.
The girls remained oblivious, their attention absorbed by the gifts, the laughter, the sudden warmth from their fans’ love.
Then, Bobby’s voice cut through, calm but carrying that cheerful managerial lilt.
"Hate to be the party crasher, kiddos," He began, glancing at the rearview mirror, "But as fun as this unwrapping festival is, we’ve been parked for.." He checked his watch, "..going on fifteen minutes now."
Zoey blinked, mouth full of chips, "Wait. what?"
Rumi looked up drowsily, clutching her star box closer. "We’re..home?"
Mira shut the photo book with a firm snap, sitting straighter, her eyes narrowing at the darkened window, "Huntrix quarters. I recognize the streetlights."
Romance perked up instantly, "Ah, the glamorous drop-off." He tossed his hair with a dramatic sigh, "And here I thought the night of treasures would never end."
Bobby chuckled but his tone edged into business, "Huntrix, this is your stop. But uh.." hHe rubbed his neck, "..Saja Boys, here’s the thing. I don’t exactly know where you live."
The limo’s interior stilled.
Baby raised a brow, "..You don’t know?"
Bobby’s grin sharpened just slightly, the kind that meant he was done babysitting. "Nope. Not on my clipboard, not in my calendar. And I sure as heck ain’t driving around all night with eight kids and a wolf plush. So unless one of you boys wants to cough up an address right now.." He paused, drumming his fingers against the wheel, "I suggest calling yourselves a cab."
Romance gasped like Bobby had just proposed treason, "A cab?! But Bobby, darling, surely you jest! We are idols, paragons of beauty and talent! You can’t just cast us into the cruel wilderness of yellow taxis!"
Baby shoved him aside, "Shut up, princess, cabs are fine."
Mystery muttered in his monotone, still stroking his wolf plush, "Taxi drivers see everything. They’ll know our sins."
Abby just laughed under his breath, shaking his head, "Better than walking, man."
Jinu hadn’t moved. His shadowed gaze lingered faintly toward the floor, but the tension in his jaw ticked like a clock..so then he finally stirred.
His voice came out rough from disuse, quiet but firm enough to cut through the jumble of banter.
"Get up."
The other Saja Boys glanced at him surprised, even Romance stilled mid-flutter of his handkerchief. Jinu pushed off the window with a sigh, shoulders heavy but determined, and stood in the aisle.
"Come on. We’re not making their manager sit here all night." His tone brooked no argument, even if his expression stayed half-shadowed, the weight of his earlier gloom still clinging to him.
Mystery blinked slowly, tilting his head like an owl before shrugging, "But..this is my seat now–" He muttered, hugging his wolf plush he stole from Huntrix.
Abby chuckled at Mystery's reluctance, shaking his head in fond disbelief, "Dude, it looks like we could leave your ass sitting here all night, and you wouldn't move an inch as long as you've got that plushie! Get up, my boy! We're gonna get those corndogs on the way!"
"Wait..wait! farewell requires flair!" Romance protested, tugging back only to strike a dramatic pose toward the girls, "My beloved muses, parting is such sweet sorrow, but think of me when the moonlight–ow!" Abby yanked him forward before he could finish.
Baby snorted, standing up and straightening his jacket, "Don’t worry, they won’t forget you. Your whining specifically."
Zoey rolled her eyes, but her grin betrayed amusement, "Good riddance."
Rumi, still clutching her star box, offered a small bow of her head, gentle but sincere, "Thank you.. for tonight.”
Romance perked right back up at that, sending her a wink as if her words were directed solely at him.
Mira groaned softly and muttered, "She meant all of you."
Jinu ignored their antics and gave the girls a short nod, his voice calm, almost too steady, "Rest well. You’ve had enough for one night."
For the briefest moment, his eyes lingered on Rumi, warmth flickering beneath the gloom but he was the first to turn away, stepping down onto the wet pavement outside.
The others followed in a mix of stumbling, bickering, and teasing shoves, their chaos spilling into the night air until Bobby leaned out the driver’s window.
"Don’t cause trouble, boys! And call a cab before I have to drag you by the ears, you hear me?"
"Yes, Bobby! Thank you for the ride!" Jinu called back.
Mystery squinted at the passing streetlight and whispered, "The cab will arrive.. when it wants to."
Zoey, still half-laughing, tugged on Rumi and Mira’s arms, steering them toward the building entrance, "Come on, girls. Before Bobby locks us out!"
Their goodbyes were messy and loud, but they carried a strange kind of warmth, the storm had passed, and even the tension lingering in the limo felt thinner as the doors closed behind Huntrix.
For the first time that night, the rain sounded..gentle.
For Rumi at least, it did.
Her fingers brushed once more over the pastel origami stars nestled safely in her lap as Bobby drove them away, the world outside blurred by water streaking across the glass.
She thought of the harsh letters she’d received before, the endless online comments, the weight of expectation that had carved itself into her chest.
But now, with every fold of a paper star and every careful stitch in a doll, she was reminded: there were hands out there, hearts out there, who believed in her.
Who loved her enough to spend hours making something only for her.
No matter how loud the hate became, no matter how suffocating the silence in her own mind sometimes grew, she was still Rumi.
The thought made her exhale softly, almost a laugh, almost a sigh.
Rumi held the stars tighter, allowing herself for the first time in a long while; to simply feel the warmth pressing against her heart.
The rain outside could pour, thunder could crack, storms could roll endlessly.
But for tonight, Rumi let herself believe she was not drowning in it.
For tonight, the rain sounded gentle.