Chapter Text
Chapter One
Morning sunlight filtered in through the front window of Moonbeam Books & Coffee, catching motes of dust that glimmered and danced where Rumi had disturbed them as she opened a box of old books someone had donated. She coughed from the dust that flew up in her face, waving her hand to try to dispel it.
"You good, Rumi?" Jinu called from the coffee bar, where he was busy cleaning the espresso machine, getting ready for the wave of lunchtime customers that were sure to come browse books and get a coffee.
"Yeah, fine!" She waved her arms once more before giving up and just accepting that the dust was just now part of the atmosphere in the store. Rumi started sifting through the books in the box, pages yellowed with age and smelling slightly of mildew, sorting through them by genre and condition so she could see where she needed to place them and what to price them at.
The jingle of the bell on the door alerted Rumi and Jinu to a customer's presence, and they both looked up to see a tall woman with long pink hair enter.
Wow, she's gorgeous, was Rumi's first thought as she laid eyes on the woman, who walked up to where Jinu was and ordered a large Americano.
"It'll be just a minute," Jinu told her, gesturing to the nearly cleaned espresso machine, "But feel free to wander and look through the bookstore while you wait. I'll call you up when it's ready if you tell me your name."
"It's Mira," The woman said, nodding at the instruction and paying for the drink. She moved away from the counter, slipping past Rumi where she knelt and sorted books. Rumi caught the scent of jasmine and sandalwood as she passed. Mira started browsing through the available selections.
"Are you ready to start looking for a new roommate when I move out this weekend, Rumi?" Jinu asked as he finished cleaning and started to make Mira's drink.
"Yeah, I guess," Rumi replied, "But I don't understand why Olivia doesn't just move in with us. We have plenty of space for all three of us."
"I know," Jinu agreed, "But Olivia wanted a space with just us two. Not that I'm upset to move in with her, but," He made a face, "It is going to take some getting used to to not just walk downstairs and start my shift."
"Oh, boo hoo," Rumi teased, "I did say you could both stay. You'll just have to put up with it." She stuck her tongue out at him, and he returned the gesture as he finished up Mira's drink.
"Order's up, Mira!" He called over to her. Rumi watched, trying not to stare as she made her way over to the counter, a book tucked in the crook of her arm.
"Thanks," She said, then paused, looking like she was debating saying something else. She took the drink, inhaling the rich aroma of the coffee and taking a sip. She smiled faintly, a look of pleasure crossing the severe expression she had had on her face since she had walked in.
She moved back to the bookstore's side, passing by Rumi again as she browsed, coffee in hand and slowly amassing a collection of books in the crook of her arm. Rumi watched her out of the corner of her eye for a moment as she finished sorting the box of books and then started shelving them in their appropriate places.
The bell by the checkout counter rang once, and Rumi looked up, seeing that the tall woman was standing there, a pile of books placed on the counter, sipping her coffee.
"Did you find everything you wanted?" Rumi asked as she walked over. Mira nodded and gestured at the pile.
"You have a pretty good selection here," She said. Mira paused, looking once more like she wanted to say something else. Rumi looked at her expectantly as she started ringing her up.
"Did I overhear correctly?" Mira finally asked, taking another sip of her coffee, "That you have a room that's getting ready to open up?" She arched an eyebrow as she asked. Rumi continued ringing up her books. She could hear the jingle of the bell by the door, then the murmur of conversation where Jinu was talking to another customer.
"You did," Rumi confirmed, suddenly curious, "I am about to have a vacancy." She rang up the final book in the pile, giving Mira her total and Mira handing over the money. Rumi started placing the books in a bag, noting the selection that Mira had chosen. She had good taste in books.
"Would it be possible to maybe tour it?" Mira asked, "My girlfriend and I are looking for a new place, and neither of us would mind having another roommate. Plus this is a nice area."
"Yeah, I think so," Rumi said, a slight wave of disappointment coursing through her when she heard that this beautiful woman in front of her was taken, but still willing to maybe explore having her as a roommate. She'd probably get along well with her if the books she'd chosen were any indication. She thought for a moment, tugging at the cuffs of her long sleeves nervously before asking, "Would you be able to come back when we close this evening at six?"
Mira nodded, taking the bag that Rumi extended to her.
"I'm Rumi," Rumi said, "By the way."
"I'm Mira," Mira said, then asked, "Would it be alright if I bring my girlfriend, too?" Rumi nodded.
"Yeah, sure," She said, "Bring her along! But fair warning, the place is a bit of a mess right now with Jinu getting his things moved."
"That's okay," Mira said, "Thanks! I guess I'll see you this evening." She nodded one final time at Rumi before starting to walk off, scent of jasmine and sandalwood lingering.
"I'll see you tonight," Rumi said, a little delayed. Mira cast a glance back and smiled softly, raising her bag up as a final goodbye as she pushed the door open, bell tinkling softly.
Rumi leaned up against the counter after she left, sighing audibly.
"Well," Jinu said, coming over, "That was quick. I'm not even moved out yet!"
"Sorry," Rumi told him, "I panicked a little when she asked."
"Ah, yes," Jinu said, "The infamous gay panic from Rumi when a beautiful woman comes in, ladies and gentlemen." He grinned at her, and she turned pink. She shooed him off, trying to recover from her embarrassment as the next customer came up to her to be checked out.
"Go man your station, Jinu," She said, muttering under her breath, "You asshole." He caught the insult, quiet as it was, and his grin just grew wider as he turned to go back to his counter.
* * *
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, Rumi finally flipping the sign on the door at six on the dot. She re-shelved the last few books that had wandered from their spots throughout the day as she waited for Mira to come back with her girlfriend. Jinu had gone upstairs already and was working on packing up more of his things.
A light rapping noise at the door alerted Rumi of their presence. She went over and opened the door, seeing the same tall, serious woman from earlier; a shorter woman with a bright, friendly face and hair up in space buns stood beside her. She was very cute, and Rumi instantly liked her.
"Hi!" The shorter woman exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of her feet excitedly, "You must be Rumi!" Rumi smiled at her and nodded. "I'm Zoey! Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too," Rumi said, stepping back so they could come through. She locked the door behind them, double checking that the closed sign was flipped the right way.
"Would you give about five more minutes to shelve these last few books before we go upstairs so you can see the place?" She fidgeted with the cuff of her sleeve again.
"Yeah, sure," Mira said, "Do you want us to help?"
Rumi shook her head as she grabbed the books from where they sat and started methodically placing them back in the spots where she knew they went.
"Nah," She said, "It'll be faster if I just do it. You don't know the system."
The books were placed back in their rightful spots within the predicted five minutes, Zoey wandering through the aisles and looking at the cozy decor as Mira watched Rumi work. Rumi brushed her hands against her jeans, wiping off the little dust she had on them.
"Okay," She said, looking over at them, "Follow me!"
She wound through the aisles, Mira and Zoey in tow, to where a beaded curtain hung in a doorway, half-concealing a set of stairs that led to her apartment above the shop. She walked up the stairs.
"So, Rumi," Mira started, "Do you own this place?"
"No," Rumi said, "My aunt Celine does. But she didn't want to run the place anymore, so she let me take over. It was more my mom's passion before she died, anyway."
"Cool!" Zoey said, "It's nice that you're keeping her passion alive!" She sobered a little, saying, "I'm sorry she died, though."
"Yeah, I think so, too. And thanks," Rumi looked back and smiled sadly at her as she reached the top of the stairs, turning the handle on the door to her apartment. "Come on in. Sorry about Jinu's mess." She kicked a box out of the way as she walked in through the entryway.
The apartment was surprisingly spacious with a large open concept living area and kitchen taking up the majority of the apartment. A spiral staircase wound up one side to a loft, which served as Rumi's office space. Two doors split off on either side of the open area, leading to bedrooms and bathrooms. On the far side of the living room was a wall of windows, letting in the last of the sunlight, with a sliding door leading out onto a decently sized balcony overviewing the outdoor seating area from the coffee shop below.
Half-filled boxes were strewn across the floor and furniture haphazardly, a testament to how incredibly unorganized Jinu was. Rumi sighed.
"Sorry, it looks even worse than when I came up for lunch," She smiled wryly at them. Both Mira and Zoey smiled back at her.
"It's okay," Mira said, "I love the space so far. It feels homey."
Rumi gave them the tour, showing them the living area first, then her room, which was far neater than the rest of the apartment, and finally knocking on Jinu's door, where he was packing. He opened the door, the room looking like a tornado had blown through it.
"Hi again, Mira," Jinu said, then nodded to the shorter woman beside her, "And you must be the girlfriend?"
"Yup!" Zoey said, grinning at him as she looped her arm through Mira's, "I'm Zoey."
"And this would be your room," Rumi said, "If you end up moving in." Her fingers still tugged on her sleeves, pulling them further over her wrists.
Mira and Zoey looked at the space appraisingly. The room was fairly large, definitely large enough for the two of them to coexist comfortably. The bathroom next door had a door leading into the room itself, too. They exchanged looks as Rumi watched.
"How much did you say this would be, again?" Mira asked. Rumi gave her the number. Mira and Zoey looked at one another again and nodded.
"When can we move in?"
* * *
Mira and Zoey left after Rumi talked everything over with them, exchanging numbers and agreeing that they could move in as soon as Jinu had his things out that weekend. Rumi walked them out, shutting the shop door after them and making sure everything was in its place for her to open in the morning. She trudged back up the stairs, smelling the food Jinu was cooking wafting down the stairs.
"I hope one of them can cook," Jinu said as she came back in, "Because we both know you're hopeless at it."
She stuck her tongue out at him. He did the same, stirring the stir fry he was making as he did.
"So I guess you're replacing me with not one, but two gorgeous women," Jinu teased her mercilessly, eyes sparkling with mischief as he clutched his heart with his free hand.
"Well, I'm only returning the favor," Rumi said, ears turning pink, "You replaced me first. And you're leaving me."
"Fair point," He said, gesturing at her with his spoon, "Are you sure you'll be okay here?"
She nodded, rolling her eyes. "It's not like you're moving out of the city. You're just going a few blocks away, and you'll be here nearly every day anyway to work."
He clutched at his heart again, gasping, "You wound me! It sounds like you aren't even going to miss me!"
"Shut up," Rumi told him, eyes rolling even harder. He just grinned at her.
They had been friends for longer than either one of them could remember. Jinu had been her rock through all the rough times after Rumi's mom had died. They'd even tried dating once during high school, but it had just felt so wrong, like trying to date her brother, that they'd ended it after a single date. They'd lived together for two years now, since they'd graduated university; and now, he was leaving her. She felt a pang of sadness, and she fidgeted with her sleeves again.
"Hey," Jinu said, coming up beside her and bumping her shoulder lightly with his, "It's okay. I'm still here for you, even if I'm not living with you anymore."
"Thanks, Jinu."
She bumped his shoulder back, a little harder, smirking as he lost his balance briefly. He stuck his tongue out at her before going back to the kitchen to start dishing out their dinner. Rumi sighed, then started clearing off the table so they could eat. As happy as she was for him and Olivia, she was actually going to miss having him there with her. She just hoped that Mira and Zoey ended up being good roommates. They both seemed like her type of people, despite their wildly different personalities.
They ate their dinner in relative silence, both lost in their thoughts. Rumi cleared the table and cleaned up once they finished, their usual routine since Jinu did most of the cooking. Jinu disappeared back into his room, continuing on with the flurry of activity as he packed up his things. Rumi padded over to the balcony door once she was done cleaning up, a glass of wine in hand, and slid the door open, stepping out into the warm summer night. She sat down on the cushioned chair, leaning back and closing her eyes, just listening to the noises of the city around her, letting the background noise lull her into relaxation.
Jinu found her out there a while later, wine glass empty on the table beside her and Rumi with her arms wrapped around her knees, sleeping with her chin resting on her knees. She really could fall asleep basically anywhere. He gently shook her awake and got her back inside so she could get ready for bed. He smiled as he led the groggy girl back inside and to her room.
"Thank you, Jinu," She whispered as she leaned up against him, "I really am going to miss having you around."
"Oh," He said, smiling down at her, "No, you won't. You're going to be having far too much fun with those two to think about me!"
She just rolled her eyes, stepping away from him and into her room so she could get ready for bed. She changed quickly, trying hard not to look at her arms where she knew she would see the raised, silvery lines of old scars that had faded, the deep shame Celine had told her she must hide from everyone.
Your faults and fears must never be seen, Celine had always told her. Jinu knew, of course. He had found out when they were teenagers, and he had promptly lifted his sleeve to show her the same marks on his upper arms. He hadn't had the easiest childhood either after his abusive father had kicked him out, and he'd ended up in the foster system until Celine had taken pity on him and let him stay with her and Rumi for two years before they went to university.
Rumi pulled a comfortable long sleeve shirt over her head, hiding the scars. She went to her bathroom, brushing her teeth and taking her makeup off before she curled up in bed. She drifted off, thinking about her two new roommates and whether or not this really was a good idea.