Rumi glances back at the clock on her bedside, huffing when she fumbles the cute little turtle stud earring she's trying to put in.
'Negative four minutes!'
'What?'
'We should have been outside four - now five - minutes ago. Have you seen my purple top?'
'Um!’ Zoey hops out of the bathroom, tugging up her socks. She’s wearing a familiar purple top and a sheepish grin. ‘In my defense, you can't keep wearing it, babe! It clashes with your hair!’
Rumi laughs into the mirror. ‘Oh, okay, so is that where my pyjamas went? That nice purple set Maman sent?’
‘They’re silk, Rumi.’
‘That’s your declaration of innocence?’
‘It’s my declaration of heroism. Saving you from a fashion disaster. And,’ Zoey adds, wrapping herself around Rumi to press a kiss to her neck, ‘I like wearing them. It’s like you’re there with me.’
It’s almost embarrassing, watching herself in the mirror and seeing her own face light up and the way she relaxes back into Zoey’s arms. But then she sees the sweet flutter of Zoey’s eyelashes and her grip tightening in a happy hug, a blush of pure joy rushing to Zoey’s cheeks. Just from holding her. And it’s suddenly less embarrassing and more…lovely.
‘I’d sleep with you every night,’ Rumi murmurs. And sighs, immediately hearing her mistake. Zoey is already starting to look like that awful green Christmas monster, grin unfurling wickedly. ‘No, my love, wait, that’s not what i -‘
‘Miss Rumi! You sly dog!’
Rumi huffs. Nudges Zoey away from her with a firm push, and hurrying to sweep her hair back and press in the second earring, insisting,
‘I’m never being nice to you again. You steal my tops, you make fun of me, you leave crumbs in my bed.’
‘You love me in your clothes,’ Zoey says, voice taking on a knowing lilt, and pouts, the glint in her eye giving away that it’s all play. ‘Don’t I look pretty in this?’
Rumi turns. Takes her time to watch the pretty blush fill Zoey’s cheeks before she dips and presses her lips to it, the warm sweet apple of her cheek. The fine spray of freckles there.
‘You look so pretty, mon cœur. Which is good because Sae-hee’s been waiting…ten minutes now.’
Zoey yelps. Dashing out of the room, down the hall, and out to the entryway to buzz her girlfriend in. Rumi listens with half an ear as Sae-hee sighs about wasting away on the street, abandoned by her beautiful girlfriend, starving for attention. And food!
‘Rumi! Are you ready?’
‘Almost! Have you seen my jacket?’
There’s a flurry of helpful noises and then Sae-hee is knocking on her bedroom door, peeking in. The lightweight jacket dangling from a finger.
‘This one?’
‘Yes! Is this okay? Does this work?’ Rumi asks, shrugging into her jacket and flattening it a little nervously.
‘You look great! And I’d say flats would be fine but you might want something with more support? We’ll be walking a lot, probably.’
‘Oh! Thank you. I’ve never been to a carnival before…’
‘Never?’ Saehee grins. ‘Oh that’s perfect! I knew Zoey would love today but it’ll be twice as much fun showing you everything. Zoey!‘
‘No, no, don’t tell her—‘
‘Rumi’s never been to a carnival! She has to know,’ Saehee insists, when Rumi groans, and slings an arm around her shoulders to bring her out. ‘We have to plan how to hit everything. Games, food—there’s a Ferris wheel this year!’
‘Ooh, yes yes yes!’ Zoey bounds over from the couch, backpack packed, water bottle filled and frosty, as she announces proudly. ‘They’re so romantic,’ she says dreamily, foot popping up behind her as she swoons. ‘Rumi’s scared of heights, though. One time, when - with Jinu - there was this cat and a tree and it was a whole thing. The cat got down. Rumi did not.’
Rumi covers her face with both hands. Sae-hee gives her a friendly shake, laughing at her.
‘We could have left it at scared of heights, my love,’ she grumbles to Zoey’s giggling. ‘You guys should go up though. It’s really cute and you want to,’ she insists. ‘I’m not bothered! I can take a picture for you! And maybe,’ Rumi tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Sae-hee mentioned that they sometimes have a petting zoo?’ She laughs when Zoey squeals.
‘Yes, yes yes!’
‘My turn to take photos for you two,’ Sae-hee offers. ‘Not a fan of animals. Or shit. Or hay. They smell weird. And I’m wearing my lucky date sneakers.’
‘Lucky?’
‘Wore them on a date with you. I’d call that pretty lucky,’ she flirts shamelessly and pulls Zoey, tilts up her chin for a kiss Zoey melts into.
By the time they break apart, Rumi has filled Sae-hee’s water bottle and collected her own handbag, and Zoey has succeeded in melting her girlfriend’s brain. Sae-hee’s hair is tousled from Zoey’s fingers brushing through it. She takes the whole time they lock up to recover and then finally lets out a big sigh.
‘Wow. Okay.’ She claps her hands. ‘I factored in the Zoey of it all,’ she says, ignoring Zoey’s little indignant howl and Rumi’s knowing nod, ‘and we should be right on time.’
Flat colored variant + the rough sketch that started it all. Sry, I haven't shared art here in a min. I'm very exhausted. I ruined my sleep schedule once again
snowghoul
germansingergirl
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stormborns
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turnnoffyourmind
