Chapter Text
Mira tried not to think about Rumi.
She was left disappointed when a week passed and that purple-haired beauty never walked through the doors. She tried not to show it, even to Zoey, who would understand and not tease her for it.
It wasn’t everyday that Mira felt enamored for someone. Anyone.
She better let this pass. Not be sad about something that didn’t really start.
“Mimi, check this out,” Zoey leaned into her, showing her phone screen.
Mira and Zoey were in Mira’s office, a large space that was able to fit what was pretty much a mini living room, with a couch, coffee table, and a TV. Not too far away, her desk and two chairs were there, for actual business.
Zoey had her sneakers rested on her coffee table, her legs elevated, as they ate snacks and drank energy drinks. The place was already prepped for tonight, so they were taking this time to get their energy up and load in carbs.
“What the fuck am I looking at?”
“Lionfish are invasive creatures! So this group’s mission is to find and stab them, and this guy’s commentary is so funny, the way he would throw in a boom! when he stabs them with his spear!” Zoey then added, “I need to spice it up in between my turtle reels.”
Mira was semi-interested in the YouTube short, watching as a man talked calmly (and a random boom! once in a while) over footage of spearing lionfish. She found Zoey’s mind fascinating. Mira was always pretty neutral on things like the ocean and fish and whatnot, but Zoey found such interest and joy in it, Mira found joy in it too. (More so in Zoey’s enthusiasm.)
Knocking on the door disrupted their lionfish murder videos.
“Come in!” Mira called out.
The door opened, revealing one of the two bodyguards Mira hired for the front doors. “Uh, boss?”
“Yeah?”
“There’s a girl in the front asking for you. Said you’ll know right away who she is.”
And, god damn it, Mira did know right away.
“Uh, yeah, just let her in. I’ll head over.”
As soon as the door closed, Zoey started her grilling.
“Oo, is that the girl I think it is?”
Mira rolled her eyes as she stood up, but a smile still graced her face.
“It can’t be anyone else.”
Zoey squealed, shooting up from her seat and latching onto Mira with a pulse-stopping, tight embrace.
“Oh, my God, it’s finally happening!”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I still remember that time you drank something a little stronger and you became yearnertron 3000.”
Mira groaned, cringing at the thought. She had no memory of that night; she was just trying to test a new bottle that was added to the wall.
She never talked about her dating life, really. There was nothing to talk about with any deep feeling.
Which, that was the problem.
Mira’s entire dating history was just short flings, summer romances, and trying to figure out her sexuality.
There was nothing more serious. Nothing that made her feel—
“Well, get on out there, lover girl!” Zoey let go, spinning her around and pushing her towards the door.
Mira chuckled, not thinking much as she opened the door and made her way towards the front. The building was spotless and shiny in the normal ceiling lights. She was pretty impressed, nodding as she looked around.
Mira’s steps slowed and shortened as Rumi got closer and clearer.
In a white turtleneck, black jacket, and jeans, Rumi was effortlessly attractive. Her purple hair was still very vibrant and in double dutch braids.
And of course, still distracted on her phone.
Mira blinked, waking herself up from her little hypnosis she put herself in.
“Hey beautiful,” Mira greeted her, just loud and confident enough that Rumi stopped typing.
Looking up, Rumi beamed at her. Mira grinned back, noticing how Rumi’s smile stretched across her face and showed a lot of teeth.
“I thought I told you my name so you don’t have to call me that.”
“In my head,” Mira corrected her.
Rumi rolled her eyes, her phone’s screen brightness dimmed against her face.
(That blush couldn’r hide under concealer even if it tried.)
“First off, I just want to say sorry, for going missing, basically.”
Mira tried her best to be nonchalant and wasn’t at all sad about it. She stuffed her hands into her pockets, shrugging her shoulders.
“You didn’t promise me anything. It’s not something to be sorry about.”
A glint fluttered by Rumi’s eyes. It was so subtle and short, Mira could have missed it, had she not been so entranced. There was a small something, a reaction to Mira’s response. It was a little too dismissive, she would admit.
Now Mira had to wonder if she should say sorry this time.
“Anyway,” Rumi caught herself, quickly moving on, “I’ve been wanting to see you, but my schedule is just so insane. I figured… I better not waste time. Here.”
Rumi handed her phone over, her brightness high again, revealing that she had the ‘New Contact’ screen open.
Mira was almost in disbelief. She thought this little chase game was going to last longer.
“You tend to play hard to get?”
“I’m…” Rumi paused for a beat. “Hard to reach, after a while.”
Mira typed in her name and number, saving it into her phone.
“Must be a crazy busy job you got there.”
Rumi just smiled, nodding her head as she took her phone back.
“I’ll try not to disappear on you. I’ll text you as soon as I can later today.”
“Is that a promise this time?”
“A loose one.”
Mira, out of habit from being friends with Zoey, lifted her pinkie to her. Her eyes just looked back and forth between her finger and Rumi's face. It was a little too late to put it down, so she simply waited for rejection.
Except, it doesn't come.
Rumi looked taken aback at first, but then smiled fondly, hooking their pinkies together.
“I look forward to it.”
Their eye contact lingered as they let go and as Rumi turned around to leave.
Mira felt her heart skip.
It made her realize she’d been holding her breath, too.
“Woah…”
Mira avoided her cellphone like the plague.
Not difficult to do, she only used the thing for calls (rarely received those), texts (only Zoey really does that), and e-mails, keeping her social media (both for HUNTR/X and her personal) on her computer.
She kept her phone on silent for the entirety of her shift behind the bar.
The stools were never empty, someone always needed a refill or ordered a big round, and the floors were always filled to the brim, with the music blasted and filling her brain.
Thinking was pretty fucking hard.
As soon as the final hour came to the end, the place dying down and helping the last people out the doors, Mira finally took a real, deep breath.
Now that she could finally hear and see clearly, she turned to Zoey, who was standing to her right. “Hey, Zoey.”
“Yes, boss lady?”
Even after another hectic night, she still smiled.
“Can you handle the clean up a bit? I need to check some things.”
“No prob, bob! Tell your new boo I said hi.”
Mira huffed a laugh. She mentioned no such thing to Zoey. She kept it to herself, though Mira couldn’t help her smile and burn in her face after Rumi left, so…
Anyways—
Secluding herself into her office, she finally took her phone out of her back pocket. It was freakishly hot and, despite not using it, the battery had drained a lot.
A text from a new number was at the top of her notifications.
She already saved it, knowing who it was.
Text as promised!
I’ll be working really late today so I might be able to answer you when you’re off.
Mira sat down, sinking into her office chair and elevated her legs on the corner of her desk, crossing her ankles. The pain from standing nearly all night was starting to make itself known.
Hey beautiful. I just finished the night.
Are you still working?
To Mira’s surprise, she only had to wait a few seconds for the bouncing ellipsis to appear at the bottom.
I am!
How was your night?
Busy as always. Smooth sailing, thankfully.
Can I know what you do for work or do we have to meet again?
Well, I guess you can get a picture.
It was an anxious minute.
Mira swallowed, noticing her throat was a little dry. She placed her feet down, turning to her mini fridge behind her to get a water bottle.
A notification from her phone nearly made her drop it.
Mira opened it embarrassingly fast, met with a picture of a desktop computer.
A spreadsheet was on the screen, showing a list of names in alphabetical order, grade letters, and long descriptions in the next column.
You’re a teacher?
I work in SNU, the department of vocal music, to be specific.
Just a lot of grading and reviewing right now.
Ah, so you sing good?
I don’t want to brag, but don’t take me to a karaoke bar if you hate losing.
Mira snorted to herself.
How old are you? You’re a little young to be a college professor.
24.
Long story.
Music prodigy, mostly.
So you’re really good.
Noted.
But I'll still take you to a karaoke place someday.
Haha, if you say so.
What kind of dates do you like then?
Why? Thinking about taking me on one?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Well, I live a pretty busy life.
To be honest, I think I can count the amount of dates I’ve been on on one hand!
I like the idea of an aquarium.
Or just walking in a park. Or sharing a meal or drink in a small, local place.
Lavish is nice, I love that stuff, but I already do that.
Unless you like lavish and expensive things! Then I don’t mind.
I wanna do something that you like.
“Mira!”
Mira dropped her phone into her lap, nearly sliding off and onto the floor.
“Huh? What?”
Zoey giggled, closing the door behind her.
“Please tell me you weren’t standing there for a long time.”
“Five minutes! You usually sense me as soon as I think about coming over here!”
Mira sighed, removing her glasses to rub her face.
“Wow, you’re really into her!” Zoey sat on the edge of the desk. “Did I interrupt something?”
“We were talking about what she’d like to do for a date.”
“Oo, maybe wine and dine her? Take her somewhere fun and exciting?”
Mira peered down at her lock screen, showing Rumi’s text.
Let’s start with lunch? On the weekend in the afternoon?
Mira bit her lower lip, but her smile didn’t stop.
“Someone’s smitten.”
Mira looked up again, but Zoey's grin wasn't shit-eating and teasing.
It was fond. Happy. Gentle.
Mira felt light, as if a weight she didn't know she was carrying was lifted off her shoulders.