The Love I Give

The letter on the desk nearly robbed Rumi of her common sense, while its deliverers—peacefully sleeping on her bedroom floor—made it clear she had no other choice. "Damn you, Jinu!" Swallowing nervously, Rumi examined herself in the mirror once more. The midnight blue dress adorned with hundreds of starlike crystals bore no resemblance to her hunter's gear (and certainly didn't match her usual style), yet fit her perfectly. "If things go wrong, I can always leave—right? She shook her head, dispelling the thought". The clock's hands mercilessly raced past midnight. He should already be waiting. She could only hope he wouldn't bring that ridiculous mannequin or torment her with the pointless jokes she detested. "Well... time to go". Silently praying to every god she knew, Rumi slipped into the beautiful yet utterly impractical heels and crept out of the hotel room without waking the girls. ________________________________________ The designated meeting place turned out to be the roof of an old cinema. The panoramic city view stretched beneath them, the electric blue moon hanging so low it seemed within reach. Jinu stood with his back to her, his silhouette sharp against the night sky. His graphite-gray suit shimmered with silver threads that caught the light with every movement. "You're seven minutes late," he said without turning. "My showing up at all is a miracle!" "One I'm profoundly grateful for." He finally faced her, closing the distance between them in three strides. His gaze traveled from her stilettos to the crystals in her hair before he leaned in to whisper: "You're breathtaking, Rumi." Heat flooded her cheeks. That voice—both foreign and achingly familiar—made her heart stutter. Crossing her arms defensively, she narrowed her eyes. "What's the catch?" "No catch." He stepped back, holding her gaze. "I just wanted to show you something." A snap of his fingers ignited thousands of tiny lanterns across the rooftop. The darkness dissolved into golden radiance as the fireflies of light began their aerial waltz. Rumi's breath caught. "This... is impossible," she murmured, mesmerized by the dancing luminescence. Jinu's smirk deepened. "Demon magic—just prettier than your hunter tricks. The night holds dangers... and wonders." When his fingers brushed hers, she jerked away instinctively. "Fine, I'm impressed," she conceded, struggling to maintain composure. "But don't expect me to cooperate." "Oh, I expect resistance." His voice dropped to a velvet murmur. "But tonight, why not surrender to the moment?" His outstretched hand hovered between them—an invitation, not a demand. "Planning to enchant me?" She scoffed, yet placed her palm in his. "Only if you wish it." As his lips curved, the lanterns brightened, forming a glowing path to the roof's edge. They stepped forward—and the city beneath them awakened. Neon signs, car lights, and glowing windows fused into a living kaleidoscope. "Well, hunter? Am I winning you over?" His breath warmed her neck. "I've seen better." His laughter rang clear as wind chimes. "Then hold tight." Suddenly he yanked her forward—not toward the ground, but into open sky. Rumi's scream died as her feet met... nothing. They stood suspended above the urban constellation, the cityscape unfolding beneath them like a fantastical map. "WHAT THE—" "Windwalking." Jinu winked. "An exclusive talent." Her pulse hammered, fear and exhilaration twisting together as she crushed his fingers. "You're... insane." "Flattered." Pulling her closer, he conjured music from the air itself—a sultry melody that seemed woven from stardust. I know sometimes Sometimes we cry As the vocals melted into the night breeze, Jinu began moving. Without thinking, Rumi followed. Their steps defied gravity, light as dandelion seeds adrift in the cosmos. The wind played with her hair as the music seeped into her bones. I think about love in a lot of ways And if it didn't hurt, would it feel the same? The singer's voice curled around them like mist. Rumi closed her eyes, letting the rhythm guide her. Dancing—real dancing—had never been her forte, yet here she floated between heaven and earth, every step equal parts flight and freefall. "You're full of surprises," she muttered, acutely aware of his hand tightening at her waist. Never change it "Just the beginning." His grin promised mischief as the world inverted. No, leave you, I won't No, leave you, I won't The city soared upward as they plunged toward the starfield—only to alight upon... water? No. An endless mirror reflecting both the sky and its intertwined figures. "Illusion?" She tested the surface cautiously. "Reality is what you believe." Spinning her away then back, he pulled her flush against him. Rumi laughed breathlessly, her heartbeat now pure euphoria as their reflections waltzed into infinity. Darling, there's a dark side to every street Sometimes in the strangers that we meet Another gesture dissolved the mirror, leaving them standing amidst the constellations themselves. "How...?" She reached toward the distant stars. "Magic." He captured her hand. "Not your hunter's craft. Demon magic takes centuries to master—I've learned to wield it kindly." Their celestial waltz resumed, starlight dusting their shoulders. No, leave you, I won't No, leave you, I won't Eyes closed, Rumi focused on the warmth of his hands—her anchor in this impossible night. "Know something?" She met his gaze. "I don't usually trust demons." "And I don't dance with enemies." "Enemies?" Her eyebrow arched. "Potential ones." His laughter echoed as she shook her head, smiling despite herself. "You're impossible." "Guilty." His fingers interlaced with hers. "And Rumi? Your secret's safe with me." They turned in slow circles above the jewel-box city, comet trails silvering their footsteps. When Jinu suddenly stilled, his arm remained firmly around her. "Something wrong?" Her whisper caught as his proximity short-circuited her thoughts. In answer, he traced her cheekbone—a touch that burned like magic yet demanded nothing. "Everything's perfect." Then his lips found hers. The kiss mirrored their dance: weightless as a shooting star, warm as the city's glow beneath them. For the first time in years, Rumi stopped analyzing threats—there was only this moment, this man, this rightness. As they parted, Jinu smiled more genuinely than she'd ever seen. "Now we share a secret." And in that moment, Rumi knew— Something had changed. She no longer wanted to run.