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Mira had just got back from a flight after a very long and draining photo shoot. With the time it took to travel in and out of the country it had been 48 hours since Mira had last seen her own bed; 48 hours since she had seen her two girlfriends. But as much as she wanted to finally relax, her most pressing concern when she had entered the penthouse was the condition of Rumi and Zoey. Somehow in her two days of being gone, both of her girlfriends had managed to become sick. Seeing them both so ill was all the convincing she needed to forgo her own plans of relaxation. What kind of partner would she be if she wasn’t going to take care of her sick girlfriends?
Rumi, ever the workaholic, was attempting to get as much work as she could done on her laptop. As hard as she was trying to make it seem like she wasn’t sick, she was failing miserably. Her nose was profusely running and it was as red as a tomato. She had already gone through one box of tissues before moving on to her second box. She was sitting up on the couch wrapped up in a blanket, sniffling every five seconds, and struggling to keep her eyes open.
Zoey was sitting at their dining table with three different types of medication within arms reach of her. She was cuddling with one of her weighted turtle plushies and she also had a blanket wrapped around herself. Unlike Rumi, Zoey was not attempting to do any sort of work today, so she instead sat slumped back in her chair staring at their penthouse wall. Zoey looked so far away and lost that Mira wasn’t even sure if she was truly up. That was if Zoey wasn’t constantly coughing that told Mira otherwise.
Mira couldn’t stand it. Seeing the two people that she cherishes the most, looking like absolute death. It was breaking her heart. It was bad enough that she was gone, but to think that they were dealing with their illnesses without any help—it only broke her heart more.
“You guys look like shit,” Mira jokingly said. Nonetheless Mira walked over to Rumi only to see her fighting against her own body to continue to stay awake.
“I am fine,” Rumi responded, although it was more to reassure herself than to reassure Mira.
”Sweetheart you are clearly not fine and you know it. I know you want to keep pushing, but it’s killing me to see you in this state. No more work for you today. I am taking you to bed and that’s final. No arguing.”
Before Rumi had a chance to respond, Mira closed her laptop, picked up Rumi bridal style, and went to the closest bedroom–in this case Mira’s. She set Rumi down on her bed and pulled the blanket over her.
When Rumi made a move on getting up, Mira was already a step ahead of her. She gently pushed her back onto the bed. “Rumi, please don’t leave.”
“What if you get sick too Mira? I’m fine really—“
“You are not fine. And for the record I am more than fine with getting sick, so lay back down on the bed. Please, just stay here and let me take care of you.”
Mira was holding the side of Rumi’s face, caressing her cheek and brushing the hair out of her face with her other hand. It did not take Rumi long to succumb to her sickness and allow her girlfriend to take care of her. Mira left a kiss on Rumi’s forehead and started to tuck her into her bed.
Mira then left her room to quickly get her other girlfriend. Zoey was still sitting in the same place that Mira had last seen her. At this point her eyes were completely shut now. Mira went to stand right next to Zoey. She gently tugged at her shoulder twice to get Zoey to wake up. When she did wake up to notice Mira next to her, Zoey moved to the side and stretched her arm out for Mira to carry her.
“Bed, please?” It was all Zoey could really manage to say before wrapping herself around Mira. Mira was already reaching behind Zoey’s back to pick her up off of the dining room chair. She then walked back to her room and gently placed Zoey on the other side of her bed.
With both of her girlfriends on either side of her bed, Mira went out to get any of the essentials that they may need. Various medicines, more tissue boxes, humidifier, anything and everything she could think of.
Now Mira was back in her room. Having just finished giving each of her girlfriends their respective medicines. She climbed onto her bed to be in the middle of Rumi and Zoey. Zoey, being a tad more clingy than usual(not that Mira had any issue with it), had already wrapped herself around Mira and was close to falling asleep.
Mira had her arms wrapped around both of her girls. Hugging them both as tightly as possible. So what if she gets sick? Someone had to take care of Rumi and Zoey. It was gratifying for Mira, truly, to be depended on; to be trusted.
When Mira was beginning to fall asleep, Rumi sleepily whispered to her, “Thank you.”
Mira looked at Rumi. Rumi’s eyes were barely open, but Mira could see the love in them. She could feel Rumi’s love when she snuggled closer to Mira which only made Mira hug her tighter.
“Thank you, my love. For letting me take care of you—for both of you.”
Mira went to kiss Rumi on her cheek. It was slow and gentle and soft. Filled with love and care. She turned over to Zoey to kiss her all the same on her forehead.
“I love you both. So so much.” Mira whispered softly.
With that all three girls were sound asleep.
Huntrix was scheduled for an interview. The interview was the only thing planned for the girls today. A simple prerecorded interview that would air the following week.
The Huntrix members were seated on three different chairs on one side of the room while the interviewer was adjacent to them. It was meant to be a rather easy interview; simply one to ask questions of the comeback of Huntrix, as well as commemorating their recent success.
It started out with an introduction from the interviewer to greet each of the girls. Then a recap of what the girls have been up to—individually and as a group. Light questions to help break the ice and to more easily get into the interview. Although Zoey couldn’t help but feel that something was off with the interviewer.
He had only asked Mira and Rumi at most three questions a piece to get to know them. When it came time for Zoey to answer questions, it seemed to her as if the interviewer was more interested in her. But he still seemed to pay attention to the other girls?
It could mean nothing, Zoey thought. Perhaps she was overthinking the situation and that the interviewer didn’t mean to do it intentionally. She chalked it up to it being nothing and carried on. After a couple more questions, everyone was given a quick five minute break. After the break they would be partaking in a set of games.
Mira and Rumi went to get their makeup touched up while Zoey went to get some quick snacks and water. When Zoey was getting back she heard their interviewer exclaim something distasteful inside a room that made Zoey slow to a stop.
“Man these Huntrix girls are not even that interesting, and dude the older girls aren’t even that pretty.”
Zoey was now at a full stop outside the room. The door to the room wasn’t fully closed so Zoey wouldn’t be seen, but could still hear the man. She didn’t want to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help herself when she heard the statement about her two girlfriends.
“Honestly, I don’t really see what their fans could like about them. The taller girl—Mira I think her name is—gosh her face is so expressionless. And that Rumi chick, she has these terrible tattoos or something that don’t suit her at all. Their personalities aren’t even all that either. Mira seems to have a god awful personality; I don’t think she’d get along with anyone with how bitchy she seems. Rumi is just some spoiled girl who had everything spoon fed to her because of who her mom was.”
The interviewer’s conversation made Zoey sick to her stomach. It’s not like Zoey or any of the other girls weren’t new to the criticism and hate that they could or would get. They were K-pop idols for heaven’s sake, but it had hurt Zoey more when it was just Mira and Rumi that were being criticized. The next statement that had come out of the interviewer’s mouth had not helped the way she felt about the situation either.
“You wanna know who the nicest girl is? The maknae:Zoey. She’s just so much nicer than the other two. Plus she’s not a bitch like Mira or an entitled brat like Rumi.” The interviewer then stopped speaking to look around to see if anyone was near. Zoey quickly had to hide against the outside wall to hide from the interviewer’s scan.
When the interviewer thought that no one was around he quietly whispered, “The only thing that Mira and Rumi have going for them are their bodies. Zoey’s personality may be cool, but her body doesn’t compare to the other two. Leave it to the girls with the crappy personalities to have the best looking bodies.”
Zoey was livid. Any source of hope she had for the man to redeem himself (which was already minuscule to begin with) went out the window. She didn’t realize that she was walking away from the room. She didn’t realize how her nails were digging into her palm almost close to drawing blood. Zoey was lost in her raging thoughts. A storm brewing in her mind on how to handle the situation at hand.
She had to do something. A man like that should not even be in the same building as her girlfriends, or any girl at that. Before Zoey could contact Bobby, the producer called for the end of the break. All three girls were back on the set. Unfortunately so was the same interviewer, unaware of the piercing look that Zoey was throwing his way.
The challenge that the interviewer and the Huntrix girls were meant to play would be a towel challenge. The producer explained that two of the Huntrix girls would pair up and the other girl would pair up with the interviewer. The challenge was that the people would be conjoined together with two towels—one belonging to each person. The goal was to be able to separate without letting go of the towel.
“It may be a little intimate, but it’s a recent trend that many people are doing. Now get into pairs and we can start recording,” the producer explained.
The interviewer made a move to be Rumi’s partner before Zoey quickly walked towards him.
“Welp, gotta do what we’re told.” Zoey was smiling, but her smile hadn’t reached her eyes. She moved farther away from Rumi and Mira forcing the interviewer to move farther away from them as well. If he was annoyed he didn’t say anything. Neither did Mira or Rumi mention anything of their maknae’s actions, though they were aware of it.
While everyone was ready and waiting to perform the challenge, Zoey leaned in closer to the interviewer. “I heard everything you said earlier about my girls. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet, but I do know that I will not let you near them,” Zoey whispered.
The interviewer was surprised at first, but only for a couple seconds. “Psshhh. Is that supposed to be a threat?”
”Alright, let’s make a good video everyone. Three, two, one, and action,” the director yelled.
Both pairs began to get themselves free. Mira and Rumi seemed to be having fun during the challenge. Zoey and the interviewer on the other hand were both putting up a front for the camera—which didn’t go unnoticed by Mira and Rumi.
“It’s a warning. I do not want to see you do anything my girls.”
”What are you really going to do to stop me then hm? So what if I think your other two members are good looking? Are you just mad that I didn’t compliment your body too?”
Zoey couldn’t respond. She became too angry to. Her hands gripped the towel. Her knuckles became a pasty white. All she could do was stare at the man in front of her.
“Besides, as hot as your other members are, you said yourself that you heard my conversation. Their personalities are still awful. I wouldn’t go near them unless I wanted to fu—"
Before she knew it, before she could even stop herself, Zoey pushed the man away. Everyone stopped to look at them. Mira and Rumi were mostly staring at Zoey, about to walk towards her.
“You don’t get to say that about them. Ever. You don’t know Mira and Rumi like I do. What you’re saying about them is wrong. You do not get to bully them.” Zoey was almost yelling when she said it, but she didn’t care. The interviewer was taken aback, acting as if he had been wronged.
Zoey had marched up to the producer. Firstly apologizing that the Huntrix girls would be leaving. Then after the quick apology she had explained that she was not gonna allow her or her girls to be in the same interview with such a pathetic man. She stormed off the set, hoping that Bobby would understand her and the situation.
Mira and Rumi had caught on to what may have happened and were right behind their girlfriend. It took a while for the two to catch up with Zoey. When they finally did, she had already gotten their car for them to go home.
It was a quiet ride. Zoey was sitting in the middle holding onto both of her girlfriend’s hands. Mira and Rumi held onto Zoey tight. They knew that Zoey would eventually tell them what happened, but it didn’t make them worry any less about Zoey.
It would be an hour until Zoey finally told Mira and Rumi what happened. Both girls listened quietly to what Zoey had to say. Zoey tried her best to not repeat exactly what the interviewer said about her girlfriends out of respect.
“Zoey I’m so sorry that you had to have heard him say that. I feel sorry that you had to take action against him. I know it can’t have been easy.” Rumi apologized while her eyes were beginning to become glossy.
“No. No, please you don’t have to say that Rumi. You have nothing to be sorry for.” Zoey went to give Rumi a hug.
Now it was Mira who spoke up. ”But Zoey, you really shouldn’t have to have come to our aid. As shitty of a man that interviewer was, Rumi’s right. It must be eating you alive that—“
"No. Stop. Both of you. He was bullying both of you and then he went to objectify your bodies. Yeah I didn’t really want to make a scene, but I couldn’t stand it any longer. I couldn’t let him make such terrible and degrading comments about both of you."
Tears were slowly falling down Zoey’s eyes now.
“I don’t at all feel bad for what I did because it was for you guys. I love you both, so much. And you both shouldn’t feel sorry for my sake. Both of you are always protecting me so let me do the same. Let me take care of you guys.”
Zoey pulled both Mira and Rumi into a big hug. At this point all of the girls are crying. But Rumi and Mira could not be more comforted by Zoey’s words, by her actions. They could only feel love for the smaller girl. Knowing that Zoey would go to such lengths to protect them. It was heart warming.
The three girls stayed hugging each other. Crying together. Relief surrounding them knowing they will always be there for each other.
All three of the Huntrix girls had to catch a flight. Rumi was on the couch double checking that everything was accounted for.
The flight was scheduled to be in the afternoon. Rumi would’ve preferred an earlier flight so as to not cause that much of a disruption at the airport, but Zoey didn’t feel like waking up early. So Zoey begged Rumi for a later flight—though all she really had to do was show Rumi her puppy dog eyes for Rumi to cave in.
So there Rumi was all packed and ready to go, awaiting her two girlfriends. Mira had then exited her room with a rather large suitcase.
”You know Mira, this business trip is going to be at most like four days. It looks like you’ve packed enough for two weeks.”
“When has that ever stopped me from overpacking?”
Chuckling at Mira’s response (though she knew all too well how serious her girlfriend was), Rumi sat up from the couch.
”Zoey, baby, are you almost ready?” Rumi called out, her voice echoing throughout the penthouse.
“Oh! Uhm yeah sure I’m almost done!” Zoey answered almost too quickly.
”She’s totally not almost done. You should help her while I get some of her stuff from my room.” Mira had left her suitcase by the door and proceeded to go back to her room.
“No rush Mira, we should be right on schedule to head to the airport. I have already asked the driver to have a car ready and waiting for us down in the lobby. We’ll be done packing in a few minutes.”
“Sure, I’ll be here when you guys are done,” Mira said.
Rumi knocked on Zoey’s door to let her know she was coming in. Inside Zoey was running all over her room shoving her clothes into her suitcase.
“Rumi! Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry, but don’t worry I’m so close to being done.”
“It’s ok we’d actually be leaving pretty early anyway.”
“No it’s not ok. You told everyone to be ready at this time and I’m not even done packing. And I was the one who begged for an afternoon flight anyway, but now both of y’all are waiting for me and—“
Rumi was at Zoey’s side, sensing Zoey’s rising anxiety. Both of her hands took place around the shorter girl’s waist. Zoey looked up into Rumi’s eyes and began to calm down. Rumi conveyed nothing but patience and love towards Zoey.
“Zoey, I promise you that it’s ok you aren’t fully packed yet. Neither me nor Mira are mad at you. Everything is going to be alright,” Rumi said with a calming smile.
Zoey’s breathing began to slow and her mind was becoming more at ease. And she couldn’t help but giggle when Rumi gave her a kiss on the lips.
“Here, let me help you pack and we’ll go downstairs together.”
Once all of the girls were packed and ready, Rumi led the way out of their penthouse. As promised, a driver had been waiting for them. Rumi opened the door for her two girlfriends to enter first. After everything was loaded in their car they were steadily on their way to the airport.
Once there, all three girls instinctively went to put on face masks. Rumi was leading the way, carrying her own suitcase along with Mira’s. Zoey was in the middle and Mira was right behind them with Zoey’s suitcase. A handful of security guards were with them as well.
Despite having their masks on, it wasn’t exactly hard for the people in the airport to notice the Huntrix girls. Before long there was a bit of a crowd surrounding the girls.
The girls were trying their best to appease their fans with quick pictures, but then more people started to come towards them. The security that the girls had was quickly surrounded. Before long, the crowd was beginning to grow and the girls’ personal bubble was beginning to shrink.
Rumi noticed the tension between her girls. Not that any one of the three K-pop idols couldn’t handle themselves—they were demon hunters after all.
Zoey squeezed Rumi’s hand tighter, getting fearful of their safety as the group of fans were surrounding them. Rumi, noticing Zoey becoming uneasy, gave a quick look to Mira then back to Zoey.
“Okay guys I’m really sorry to cut this short, but we do have a plane to catch,” the leader of the Huntrix girls said bluntly while she began to break through the crowd. Their security guards were changing their positions to be around them. The fans took it as a sign to leave the girls alone, so they slowly began to disperse. The girls picked up their pace and went to go through the rest of the airport.
Rumi let Mira and Zoey go in front of her in case another situation popped up. She didn’t want to let her guard down until Rumi was sure that everyone would be safe.
While the girls were waiting to board their plane, Rumi felt Mira’s hand on her shoulder.
Mira said, “Hey, you know everything is alright now, right?”
“Mira I just want to be safe; I want to know that both of you guys are safe.”
“My love, we are about to board our plane.”
Zoey was beside the two girls now, “Unnie, thank you for handling that situation back there! I’m glad we’re all good now—what’s wrong?”
Both Mira and Zoey were staring at Rumi. Their eyes were still and focused. They weren’t pressuring Rumi to say anything, but they were still concerned.
Rumi let out a deep sigh. “I just get worried about you two, that’s all. I know everything is fine now, but I am still nervous for you two—for all of us. Just let me take care of you, please?”
“But you do take care of us,” Mira said,
“Yeah unnie, today alone you helped me pack my bags, you helped change our flight time, and you helped control our crowd of fans,” Zoey expressed.
Rumi was staring at both Mira and Zoey. She was staring at Zoey’s kind face and her big eyes; she looked so cute, she always does. Zoey’s hand was on Rumi’s other shoulder—caressing it slowly to help ease Rumi. Mira had a compassionate look adorned on her face. Mira always looked so effortlessly pretty.
“I love both of you guys,” Rumi began to say. “I have no issue of protecting you two if it means that I will always have you. Plus I like taking care of the two of you, so I really don’t mind.”
“We love you too,” Zoey and Mira responded.
Mira began to say, “But you don’t have to be the only one that takes care of us. We can all take care of each other.”
“That’s right, Rumi. We will always be here for you, just like how you are always here for us.”
“Thank you, Mira and Zoey, truly.” I love them. I love them so so much.
Before they began to board their private jet, Rumi pulled her girls in for a hug. For a moment they stood there, as if time had stopped. They felt safe in each other’s arms—they always do.