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The sun had barely dipped below the Seoul skyline, leaving streaks of lavender and rose painted across the glass windows of the Demon Hunters’ shared apartment. Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with the faint hum of music playing from Mira’s phone and the clinking of Zoey’s bracelets as she paced the length of the living room.
Jinu sat nervously on the sofa, his posture stiff as though every muscle in his body had been coiled like a spring. Despite his best efforts to appear calm, his fidgeting betrayed him—tapping his fingers against his knee in rhythm with the music, shifting from one side of the cushion to the other. He smoothed down his perfectly styled jacket for the third time, as though the fabric itself might crease under the weight of his anticipation.
Zoey stopped pacing long enough to fix him with a sharp glare. “Alright, lover boy,” she said, crossing her arms with mock severity, “before Rumi comes out, we need to set a few ground rules.”
Mira, lounging on the arm of the sofa with her ever-calm demeanor, raised an eyebrow. “Zoey, don’t scare him too much. He looks like he might faint already.”
“I’m not scared,” Jinu protested, his voice a little higher than usual. He straightened his back quickly, forcing a confident smile. “I’ve got this.”
Zoey wasn’t convinced. She took two steps closer, her crimson-tipped hair bouncing slightly with each movement, and leaned down until her eyes locked onto his. “Rule number one: treat Rumi like the queen she is. No exceptions.”
Jinu gave her a solemn nod. “Of course. She is a queen.”
Mira chuckled softly, shaking her head. “He’s not wrong.”
Zoey held up a finger, ignoring Mira’s commentary. “Rule number two: no funny business. And by funny business, I mean—”
“I know what you mean,” Jinu interrupted quickly, his ears turning red. “I promise, nothing inappropriate. I respect her.”
That answer made Zoey pause for a moment, as if she were testing his sincerity. When she saw the genuine determination in his eyes, her expression softened—but only slightly. “Rule number three,” she continued, “if you hurt her heart in any way, you’ll be dealing with me.”
Mira’s lips curved into a sly smile. “And me, too. I might be quiet, but don’t think for a second I won’t have your back, Zoey.”
Jinu’s shoulders relaxed a little. He wasn’t intimidated—at least, not anymore. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and answered with calm conviction. “I’d never hurt Rumi. Not ever. She means too much to me.”
The living room grew unusually quiet after that statement. Zoey and Mira exchanged a look, their tough façade breaking just a little. Jinu’s sincerity, the way his voice didn’t waver when he said those words, carried a weight that neither of them could dismiss.
Before Zoey could come up with another rule, the soft click of heels echoed down the hallway. All three of them turned their heads at once.
Rumi stepped into the room.
The dress she wore shimmered under the soft light—silky fabric the color of midnight, flowing down to her knees, with subtle golden embroidery along the edges. Her long hair framed her face in elegant waves, and the delicate necklace at her throat glimmered like starlight. For once, the fierce, unstoppable Demon Hunter looked more like a dream than a warrior, and Jinu forgot how to breathe.
His heart pounded against his ribs, louder than the faint music in the background. She was radiant. The kind of beauty that wasn’t just about her dress or her hair, but the confidence in her stride, the warmth in her smile when her eyes met his.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” Rumi said gently, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Was I too long?”
Jinu rose to his feet in one swift motion, shaking his head. His words caught in his throat, but he managed to breathe out, “You’re… perfect.”
The corners of Rumi’s lips curved upward, and for a brief moment, her cheeks tinged pink. She stepped closer, and Jinu, without thinking, offered his hand. When she placed hers in his, it felt natural, as though the entire world had aligned just for this moment.
“You clean up well, too,” she teased, her voice carrying that playful edge he loved so much.
Jinu laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. “I tried to look decent enough to match you, but… honestly, you make it impossible. You outshine everything.”
Their eyes lingered on each other, the air between them charged with a quiet, undeniable energy. Slowly, almost cautiously, Jinu leaned forward, and Rumi mirrored him. Their lips met in a soft kiss—brief, gentle, filled with all the unsaid promises they didn’t need to put into words.
But the moment shattered almost immediately.
“Ahem!” Zoey’s sharp voice cut through the atmosphere like a blade. She and Mira were standing side by side, both glaring as though they’d caught two kids sneaking cookies before dinner.
“Really?” Zoey exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air. “We literally just said no funny business two minutes ago!”
Rumi pulled back, covering her mouth with one hand to stifle a laugh. Jinu, meanwhile, looked like he’d been caught red-handed robbing a bank.
Mira shook her head, though her smirk gave her away. “You two are unbelievable. Couldn’t even wait until you were out the door?”
Zoey pointed dramatically toward the apartment entrance. “Out. Both of you. Date time. Now. Before you burn a hole in this living room with all that lovey-dovey energy.”
Rumi glanced at Jinu, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Guess we’ve been kicked out of our own apartment,” she whispered.
Jinu chuckled, tugging gently at her hand as they made their way toward the door. “Not the worst way to start a date.”
Zoey, however, wasn’t finished. “Remember the rules!” she called after them, hands on her hips.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jinu replied over his shoulder, his grin breaking through the nervousness.
The door clicked shut behind them, leaving Zoey and Mira in the quiet apartment. For a moment, neither said anything. Then Mira let out a long sigh.
“You know,” she said softly, “I think he really means it. About Rumi.”
Zoey leaned against the sofa, her arms still crossed but her expression softer now. “Yeah… I know. Still, someone’s gotta keep an eye on him.”
Mira smiled knowingly. “Or maybe you just don’t like admitting your best friend’s growing up.”
Zoey’s lips twitched, almost breaking into a smile, but she quickly looked away. “Whatever. If he makes her happy, that’s what matters.”
Meanwhile, outside, Jinu and Rumi walked side by side beneath the glittering city lights, the night still young and full of possibility. Their hands intertwined naturally, no words needed. For the first time in a long while, the world seemed quiet—no demons, no battles, no danger. Just them.
And though Zoey and Mira had made their rules, Jinu already knew his own: never let Rumi down, not tonight, not ever.