Chapter Text
Mira downed the last dregs of her drink and looked around. Zoey was officially half an hour late.
Around her the bar hummed with life, friends laughing, couples flirting. Mira shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her leather jacket suddenly feeling stifling. Her outfit she'd picked for the evening, a dark brown leather jacket and crop top combination, paired with baggy cargos was supposed to be effortlessly cool, but at the thought of being stood up her cheeks flushed from the effort she'd put in.
All the late nights working overtime at her dance studio and this was the one day she got to take off? She'd been looking forward to this evening all week.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, swiping onto the contact saved under 'Turtle' with three emojis. Zoey's blurry picture lit up the screen, cheeks puffed out, smiling wide- a hasty selfie she'd taken when she stole Mira's phone to put her contact in.
Mira had called her twice already, each at 10 minute intervals. She pressed call for the third time, then cursed as it went straight to voicemail.
Damn it Zoey. Was she working today? Mira couldn't remember. There was a high chance Zoey could be asleep, blissfully unaware of the plans they'd arranged a week earlier. Despite the fact that they lived together, Mira barely got to spend any quality time with her best friend these days. Their schedules seemed so out of sync and sporadic.
Mira sighed, picking up her glass and heading to the bar. She'd give it 15 more minutes, and if Zoey didn't show she'd call it a night.
She leaned against the bar idly, waiting to be served. The bartender was busy with another order, shaking a cocktail for a slim lady with long purple hair tied neatly into a braid wearing a cap and sunglasses.
Mira snorted. Who wears a hat and sunglasses inside?
The noise must have caught lady's attention because she turned her head. Suddenly, Mira's breath froze.
She knew that face. Diamond shaped, slim nose, full lips, long purple hair tied in a meticulous braid. Could recognise her anywhere. Famous singer and actress, daughter of Miyeong from 'The Sunlight Sisters.'
Rumi tensed, a wave of recognition flashing behind her sunglasses. For a beat they both stared at each other.
"Mira what are you doing here?" she spoke, in disbelief.
Mira felt her stomach drop like a stone. Ryu Rumi. It must've been about 7 years since she'd last seen her. On the other side of the country in Busan, may she add. What were the chances?
"I work in Seoul now," Mira replied, trying to keep her voice even and unaffected, although her insides were screaming like she'd just witnessed a resurrection from the dead, "I could ask you the same question?"
"I also work nearby," Rumi replied tightly. Her hand twitched like she wanted to remove her shades but thought better of it.
Mira noticed.
"So you're flying incognito now, huh?" Mira pointed out, feeling a tug of amusement at Rumi's haphazard attempt at a disguise. "How's the acting and singing stuff going, by the way?"
Rumi flushed. "Keep your voice down," she hissed, stepping closer. The bartender placed her cocktail down, a strawberry daquri the same colour as Mira's hair. Rumi flashed him a quick smile, her expression becoming tight again as she looked back at Mira.
"Yes, the acting is going well," Rumi replied cautiously, keeping her voice low. She kept her mouth open, jaw working like she wanted to say something more. She decided against it.
"Cool." Mira said, stuffing her hands into her pockets, trying to act casual. The awkwardness hung thick in the air between them like fog.
Up close, Mira could really study Rumi's face. She had changed, noticeably, irreversible so. Her cheeks had gotten slimmer and she looked taller, body no longer awkward or gangly. She no longer had braces, her pearl covered turtleneck matching her teeth. The freckles she'd once had were covered in a thin layer of foundation, the only hint of their existence a small smattering kissing the side of her neck.
Rumi coughed, the first one to break the thick silence between them. "Mira, listen-"
Suddenly a hand closed around Rumi's shoulder.
"Hey Ryu, what's taking so long?"
An attractive man with black curtain hair approached Rumi from behind causing them both to jump. Rumi's faced quickly softened when she saw who it was.
"Oh hey Jinu, I was just talking to..." she glanced at Mira hesitantly, "...an old friend."
Mira's mind went blank the second Jinu appeared, resting a hand on Rumi's shoulder with such familiarity and closeness. Her mind instantly jumped to what seemed the obvious- Rumi had a boyfriend. Was she straight? Bi? All at once, she felt sick to her stomach, unwelcome memories flooding back in a torrent. Her skin felt hot, boiling over. She needed some air, somewhere free from force of Rumi's piercing brown eyes, the way they cut into her.
It was too much. She stood up abruptly, bar stool scraping with a harsh noise.
"It's fine, I was just leaving. Enjoy your evening or whatever," Mira said, tone curt and clipped, eyes moving between the both of them.
She left without looking back.
Outside, the cold hit her like a wall, icy but needed. Shutting the door behind her, she stepped out quickly into the street, practically running headfirst into the woman that was rushing towards the door.
They collided- before they recognised each other.
"Mira!"
"Ouch- Zoey!"
Zoey looked up from where she'd just headbutted Mira's shoulder. She was a similar age to Mira in her early twenties, with dark black hair tied hastily into two space buns, a yellow crop top and baggy patchwork jeans. Her work bag was slung over her shoulder still, a tuft of what looked like a white blouse peeking out from the zip. Her cheeks were flushed with exertion, eyes wide.
"Ohmygosh, Mira I am SO sorry!" Zoey garbled in a rush, "I had a meeting about taking on a new client and it ran WAY over, then my phone died and I forgot my portable charger and I had no way to text or call or-"
"Zoey, breathe," Mira said gently, steadying both of her hands on Zoey's shoulders. "It's okay, really."
Zoey exhaled, visibly relaxing.
"Oh thank god. Thanks for understanding Mira, really. I know I've been very busy recently. So... you still up for a wild night on the town?" Zoey wiggled her eyebrows, looking up at Mira on her tippy toes, one hand squeezing her arm.
Mira considered, thinking about returning to the bar, getting drinks in a corner as far away from Rumi as possible. They could try and make a night of it, or go some place else, find a club that drowned out every emotion churning inside her. But the thought of seeing Rumi again, talking, flirting, living her new life left a pit in her stomach. Mira sighed, still unable to get Rumi out of her head.
"Actually Zoe, I'm sorry but I'm not feeling it tonight."
Zoey's face crumpled, clearly she had been looking forward to this. Sensing her disappointment, Mira quickly intervened, offering an alternative. "How about we get some ramen instead? I'm starving."
"Oh okay," Zoey replied, feeling a little confused. Mira had been talking excitedly about this evening the entire week and now suddenly she wasn't up for it? Still, Zoey had been ridiculously late so she chalked down to Mira being annoyed at that. She cursed inwardly- she'd blown it again, screw her stupid meeting.
Still, she mustered a genuine smile, greatful for the second chance. "Sure, I'm down for ramen."
Mira didn't seem herself Zoey noted, watching her absentmindly swirl soggy ramen around her plate for the third time and not attempt to eat it.
Zoey had tried her best to lighten the mood, bringing out all her best anecdotes from the week-
"Hey so you remember Mrs Park? Old ajumma with a stick up her ass? Always gives me stank eye when she sees me in the snack ilse at E-Mart? Well yesterday- get this, she actually GREETED me. Pinched my cheeks and told me how healthy I looked. But when she got up close, I smelt her, and guess what?"
"What?" Mira replied, leaning forward in her seat, eyes shining.
"She STANK of weed. Who would've have known Mrs Park would be x10 chiller as a pot head?"
Mira had laughed, genuine, head tipped back, hand smacking the table. "No fucking way. How did she even get some? Let alone do her groceries high?"
"Probably had the munchies," Zoey replied, laughing. "Wait, maybe that's why she greeted me! She recognised my excellent taste in snacks in her time of need!"
But even after that hilarious tale, within 5 minutes Mira was back to her sullen, pensive expression.
Damn, she had really fucked up, Zoey thought. Or something else was on her mind. Or both.
"Hey- are you okay?" Zoey asked gently, reaching out to place her hand on Mira's arm.
"I'm fine," Mira replied too quickly, then realising her mistake, tried to soften the blow. "Just tired."
They both knew that wasn't true, but Zoey didn't want to press. Instead, she accepted the answer, giving Mira a squeeze before letting go.
She really wanted to know what was wrong, to cheer her up, to make her smile again, to kiss the little frown that scrunched the eyebrows on her face-
Whoa, hold up. Zoey could have kicked herself under the table. She wasn't allowed to even think about that last one. Especially when Mira was definitely not looking so devastating with her smokey eyeshadow and leather jacket.
Mira's off limits. She told herself firmly for the umpteenth time. She's your best friend dumbass, don't fuck it up.
So instead Zoey restrained herself, pinching her hand so hard in her lap it left a little cresent moon. She forced a smile and tried the next best thing to extend their evening.
"Want to watch and movie later?"
"Sure," Mira replied absentmindly, not looking up from her soggy ramen. "That would be nice."
The movie was a good suggestion it turned out, temporarily drowning out the mantra a certain purple haired woman had started in her brain. She and Zoey sat cuddled up on the coach of their shared apartment. It was a cosy space, lit by ambient yellow lighting, decorated with a mixture of Zoey's vibrant trinkets and jungle like houseplants juxtaposed with Mira’s elegant and minimalist choice in furniture. The couch however, was covered in blankets and cushions, a half eaten bag of popcorn balancing precariously on the armrest. Mira finally relaxed, sinking into the plush couch cushions, feeling the familiar warmth of her best friend curled up beside her.
They hate-watched a shitty rom com, laughing and poking fun at the oblivious main character who failed to pick up on the most obvious romantic advances from the two main leads.
Eventually, she was forced to pick between the nerdy best friend and the hot CEO in an overdramatic rainy rooftop scene.
When the main character chose the nerdy best friend, Zoey groaned loudly, a cornel of popcorn threatening to fall from the corner of her mouth.
"Come onnnn," she complained at the screen, wiping the popcorn crumb away before Mira had a chance to take care of it herself. "What about hot moneybags CEO man? Man, I wish in these movies she'd just pick both and call it a day! Why should she choose?"
Mira laughed, agreeing with Zoey. "To be honest the two guys had more chemistry together than with the whats-her-name main character. If they could have all fucked it out and kissed it wouldn't be such a shitty ending."
"Damn straight!" Zoey chimed in from where she'd ended up comfortably curled up, head resting in Mira's lap.
Mira clicked the remote off and checked the time on her phone. "Okay Zoey... time for bed."
She gently moved to shift Zoey off her lap, rolling her eyes as the dark haired girl pouted in protest.
Zoey's cuteness tugged at her heart, but Mira had mastered the art of putting her foot down.
It was only after they had packed up and went to bed, staring at ceiling in her room that Mira allowed herself to try and process her thoughts.
Ryu Rumi works in Seoul now. It really shouldn't be surprising, given how it was the fashion and acting capitol of Korea. But what were the chances they'd bump into each other again? Especially given that she was now famous or whatever.
On impulse, Mira grabbed her phone and searched for something she hadn't allowed herself to do in 7 years. Googling Ryu Rumi's name.
Instantly, hundreds of articles and pictures flashed onto Mira's screen, half blinding her with their brightness. Rumi, gorgeous and radiant, accepting an award, Rumi in a backless long sleeved dress walking the runway, Rumi, hair towselled eyes half lidded, singing into a microphone-
Mira turned her phone off, face burning. Nope, not going there again. Especially knowing Rumi has a shitty boyfriend, what was his name again? Jizz-nu?
Mira smirked and rolled over, trying and failing to keep purple hair from tangling its way back into her brain.
She'd be over it in a week or two, she told herself firmly, swallowing down the lump in her throat. Just like she had to before.