Hidden Patterns | Kpop Demon Hunters x Reader

[ 20 ] feeble lie

"...a new member? How come I'm only just now hearing about this??"

Bobby's voice slices through the apartment, sharp and incredulous. His pacing is almost frantic, heavy steps forging a restless path across the living room. His hands rake through his hair, tugging, then smoothing, then tugging again, as if he can wring sense out of the chaos by sheer force of will. The air around him practically hums with his agitation. Not that he's ever been a particularly calm person to begin with, but still.

The girls all stand nearby, clustered together, yet each with their own posture, and their own silence. Rumi hovers near the wall, arms folded stiffly. Zoey and Mira keep closer to the center, next to the couch, their gazes darting nervously between Bobby and each other like they're watching a fire form.

As for Celine...

She alone holds herself with complete composure, hands clasped loosely in front of her, although her expression is taut with restrained annoyance.

She's also the first to respond, breaking Bobby's rant, and when she exhales, the sound is loud and deliberate. Almost theatrical in its disappointment.

"Blame Rumi for her reckless, impulsive decisions," Celine says, fixing Rumi in a glare. "Apparently, she's wanted [Name] to join the group for quite some time now. Because of that, she ended up doing something foolish. I should have done a better job of watching over her."

The words land with a certain sharpness, and every syllable seems to add to the tension that much more.

Rumi stiffens. Her brows knit together, twisting into a defiant scowl, but she doesn't respond. She can feel the weight of the accusation, pressing down, trying to paint her as childish, thoughtless, incapable of responsibility. And sure, she knows Celine has always watched her more closely than the others—always hovering, always scrutinizing. It's because of her secret. Because Celine is so desperate to hide that Rumi is half demon. She knows that, and she understands it, but that doesn't mean she has to like it.

Bobby halts mid-stride, whipping around to face them with wide, incredulous eyes. His face flushes pink from the sheer force of his panic. "Well, what do we do now? The video's still up. Why hasn't it been taken down yet? The rumors are just going to continue to spread!"

"Because there's a chance [Name] might be joining us," Rumi mumbles, voice low but firm. There's a tinge of frustration to it, and beneath that, something more fragile. Like a thread of hope that trembles, resisting the urge to snap.

Bobby blinks. Once. Twice. Three times, altogether. His lips eventually part, but the words are slow to arrive.

"Wait, really? So, the title of that video was real? Huntrix is actually gaining a new member?"

"We've been forced to consider it," Celine admits, her tone begrudging. Her eyes cut briefly to Rumi, sharp as razors. "Mainly because Rumi's been so stubborn about this whole thing. I'm worried about what she might try to do next if she doesn't get her way. It's a situation we shouldn't have ended up in, but now that we're here, we've been weighing our options. [Name] pointed out to me that she believes Huntrix can benefit from all this added exposure. As you've probably observed yourself, since that video got released, they've been trending even more than they already were. They've experienced a new surge of popularity, in a very short period of time. Everyone is asking for the 'new member' to be officially revealed. It's become a very hot topic, as much as I hate to admit. That being said, this is only me speaking with reference to my past experience as an idol. You're their manager, so what do you think?"

Her words hang in the air like smoke, wrapping around Bobby and demanding an answer.

Naturally, he falls silent, lips pursed, brow furrowed deep. They can all practically hear the gears grinding in his head as he weighs benefits and risks, numbers flashing through his mind at an alarming rate. The room itself seems to hold its breath while he contemplates. Rumi's fingers curl into fists at her sides as she watches him, heart hammering, her entire body tense with anticipation.