२८

Rumi quietly followed Wonwoo as he guided her towards the kitchen. Rumi looked around, wondering if it would be awkward to join him like this. She impulsively agreed hoping to get a free coffee but now she was debating whether it was right or not? Should she make an excuse and leave? But-ah he's already making the coffee. Rumi stared at the instant coffee jar he opened. Coffee and veiny arms go well together, don't they? She sighed leaning against the counter while enjoying the sight.

"Rumi-sii? Rumi-sii?"

"De...De?!" Rumi straightened and slapped herself out of her thoughts. What is wrong with her these days? Am I going through heat or what? Rumi shook her head. "De? Were you saying something?" She asked putting on a smile.

"Ye. How would you like your coffee? Do you like milk in it or-"

"Ani. Just coffee and water." Rumi replied the smile not moving. Wonwoo stared at her in silence for few seconds. Mwo? Am I smiling too much? Her smiled dropped as quickly as her grades did in school. "I look like an idiot, don't I?"

"No, you don't."

"Eh? Did I say that out loud?" Wonwoo nodded his head making Rumi slap her forehead. "Now I definitely do." She muttered earning a chuckle from Wonwoo. "Sorry, I can be dumb sometimes." Rumi said smiling at him embarrassed.

"Ani, it's fine. And you don't look like an idiot when you smile. You look pretty." Wonwoo said but the words seemed to fall short on Rumi's ear. "I was just wondering about your likes and dislikes." Wonwoo continued thinking it was for best that she didn't hear that.

"My likes and dislikes? Suddenly?" Rumi questioned tilting her head to side. "Ah-um-ani it's not like that." Wonwoo stuttered realizing what he said. His cheeks were quick to turn red. "I meant I was questioning your choice of coffee. Ah! No! Not that. Shit that came out wrong." Wonwoo started fidgeting; his mouth was going off spitting stupid things. What is wrong with him? He scolding himself. A snicker was heard. Wonwoo looked up to see Rumi laughing behind her hand.

"Wonwoo-sii you are quite cute." Rumi laughed. "You don't have to be so cautious around me after what we have been through." Rumi said. "And to answer your question, I have cut down on sugar intake. My parents are diabetic so I am being cautious."

"Ah." Wonwoo nodded. To be honest he almost couldn't hear anything after she called him cute. "It will taste bitter." Wonwoo said shyly looking up at her. "It does." Rumi nodded scrunching her face. "But I have somehow gotten used to it. Now if I drink something sweet it tastes weird to me." Rumi explained her eyes moving back to Wonwoo hands who was pouring the coffee in mugs.

"How about honey? It is a great substitute and also healthier than sugar. Would you like it? We might have honey somewhere here." Wonwoo said searching the bags full of grocery for honey. "Here it is." He said pulling out a bottle from the plastic bag. Rumi smiled looking at his enthusiasm. "Would you...?" He asked showing the bottle to her. Rumi chuckled and nodded her head lighting up his face. "I'll add little to yours." He said squeezing some in Rumi's mug and to his own. "Here." He smiled placing his masterpiece in front of Rumi.

Rumi smiled thanking him. "Gamsahabnida~ Hmm, it smells good." She complimented while sniffing the coffee. Wonwoo smiled. "Should we seat outside on porch? There's a nice bench." Wonwoo suggested. Rumi smiled and nodded her head so both of them walked outside. "Here." Wonwoo guided her to a white bench which looked like swing but wasn't. Both of them settled on it, Rumi let out a sigh stretching out her legs. "Tired?" Wonwoo questioned staring at her.

"Hmm." Rumi smiled turning her head to side to look at him. "I really underestimated working here." Rumi said leaning back on bench. "It's definitely tiring than being on field. I thought it would be easier since there would be no physical work but man, it too difficult. Working here is mentally draining I rather do physical work." Rumi said shaking her head.

"But isn't it safer?" Wonwoo asked. Safer? Rumi furrowed her eyebrows turning towards him. "I mean you don't have to be alert all the time and its not dangerous like on the field. You don't have to worry about what is going to be happen in next moment and you don't have to always live with the thought that you might not see another day." Wonwoo said looking at Rumi with weird look in his eyes. "I think it is rather mentally draining."

"What? What are you-"

"Ah, mianhamnida." Wonwoo looked away. "I heard from Youngjae hyung that you served for your country before you came here." Wonwoo answered her unasked question.

"Ah." Rumi nodded turning her own head away. "Ha manus, tyachya pottat kahi rahat nai (This guy, nothing remains in his stomach)" Rumi muttered. "De?" Wonwoo looked at her in question. "Ye? Ah, it's nothing." Rumi shook her head smiling and sipped her unattended coffee. He needs to be put on a leash or might blabbered out more than he needs to. Rumi thought.

"How is it?" A sudden question startled her. Thankfully it was about coffee. Wonwoo was looking at her mug. "It's good." Rumi smiled. "Taste like sugar in it." She said sipping it again. Wonwoo chuckled at her awkwardness before sipping his own coffee. "Weren't you scared?"

"Huh?" Rumi turned to look at him again.

"I asked weren't you scared when you joined the army?" Wonwoo asked. "We have mandatory service and even the thought of it is little scary."

Rumi smiled, thinking about how it won't be long when these boys would have to serve. "It can be scary." Rumi smiled a sigh leaving her mouth. "Then why would you join the army?" Wonwoo shift his position so now he was fully facing Rumi.

Rumi chuckled and shook her head at curious cat. "Hmm why would I, huh? Maybe because I was trying to run away from my problems. Maybe because it was more scary to stay inside that house." Rumi said an undistinguishable look on her face. "My teenage self thought it was the only good option for me." Rumi said letting out a chuckle. "I wasn't good with studies and I didn't really like it. I still don't." Rumi laughed looking at Wonwoo. "It was too random; I woke up one day and decided to go for examination and then I found myself at the camp training among the comrades. I didn't even realize what I had gotten myself into until I was standing at the crossfire with rifle in my hand. You know the moment when the ride at the carnival suddenly stops and you feel the terror rising in chest, that is what it felt like."

Wonwoo stared at her in disbelief how can she compare a mere carnival ride to standing in crossfire. What is this woman? She doesn't even understand the depth of the situation. "The fear rose eating away all my other thoughts, I wouldn't sleep at night fearing that I might not see sunrise again." Rumi laughed shaking her head.

"You are weird." Words left his mouth unconsciously. Rumi laughed out loud. "How can you laugh at something like this? And who just decides to join army suddenly?"

"I did." Rumi laughed again pointing at herself. "But you know even if I am dumb and random, there is one quality that beats it all."

"Mwoyeyo (What is it?)" Wonwoo played along rolling his eyes.

"Bravery!" Rumi said posing, flexing her biceps. Wonwoo blink his eyes, debating whether he should react or not. "Nongdam-ee-yo (I am just kidding)" Rumi laughed slapping Wonwoo's thigh. Wonwoo pressed his lips preventing himself from yelping in pain. "It wasn't bravery but the same fear. When you feel it every day you start getting used to it and one day you stop feeling it at all." Wow, this woman is really weird. Wonwoo thought as he watched her sip on her coffee with a smile on her face. "Ahh now I've talk about it, I miss those days. I think training was the hardest part of military life." Rumi said looking at Wonwoo who had look of belief on his face.

"You do not regret your choice at all?" Wonwoo asked, it was more like a statement. Rumi smiled with slight nod of her head.

"But I wouldn't say I didn't regret it during my time there. There were instances where I did regret and wanted to quit because training was too hard and after all it was an impulsive decision that I had taken to run away from my problems. There were others who were genuinely there because they wanted to serve for their motherland and there was I looking for an escape. I would watch as another of my one batchmate would get injured while doing his best and I would question myself what am I doing here?" She said a sad smile taking over her face thinking back to her memories.

"But you didn't quit."

"Hmm." She smiled nodded her head. "I didn't. It was atonement towards my fellow comrades."

"Then why did you retire?"

"An injury." Rumi smiled looking at Wonwoo. He pressed his lips together and looked away. An injury, how was big it was for her to retire? Wonwoo thought sipping his coffee. There was silence, apart from noise of the staff preparing for the shoot. Rumi was reminiscing her old memories while Wonwoo wondered what kind of woman she was. What kind of situation she was in to take such decision? In your teens you would run away and get into bad situations like addictions or something but who joins a military camp?

"Ru-"

"Mwoya?" He was cut off by the little otter who walked out rubbing his eyes. "What are you both doing here?" Chan asked walking towards them.

"Annyeong. Did you get good sleep?" Rumi asked smiling Chan who nodded his head in answer. "Come here." Rumi patted the space between her and Wonwoo. Chan waddle and placed his butt on the space she had patted whilst pushing Wonwoo into corner. "Yah-" He was cut off again.

"What are you both doing out here? Were you having a little date or what?" He asked looking at both of them and their mugs. Rumi laughed about to deny when Wonwoo spoke.

"Yes. Until you decided to be third wheel." Wonwoo commented scoffing. "Why are you here, anyways?"

"Mwo? What is wrong with me being here? I want to be here and I can be here." Chan answered back provoking him. "And she invited me." He said pointing his thumb towards Rumi. "Why are you here, anyways?" Chan turned towards Rumi and imitated Wonwoo making Rumi chuckle at their childishness. "Hmm...what are you drinking?" Chan asked looking at the mug in her hand.

"Eo? Coffee. Want some?" Rumi asked offering the mug to him. Chan nodded moving to take the mug when Wonwoo slapped his hand.

"Hyung!" Chan whined rubbing his hand.

"Take from mine, you mannerless child." Wonwoo scolded. Chan furrowed his eyebrows and blinked his eyes few times. "Am I still sleeping? Why is Wonwoo hyung offering me his food? Am I dead or something?" Wonwoo rolled his eyes at his antics. "Do you want it or not? I won't be offering again."

"De! I want it!" Chan snatched the mug from his hand and sipped it before he loses his opportunity. "Hmm. Did you put honey in it?" He asked.

"Yes." Wonwoo answered snatching back the mug from him. Chan hummed and smacked his lips as if savouring the taste of the coffee. "Masisseo? (Is it good?)" Rumi asked smiling at the kid earning a nod from him. "Kiti god." Rumi cooed patting his hair.

"Mwo?" Chan asked hearing the foreign language.

"I called you cute." Rumi chuckled pinching his cheeks. "Gomawo." Chan rolled his eyes at her compliment.

"Does Rumi-ssi have a habit of calling everyone cute?" Wonwoo comment from other side.

"Eh? Aniyo, it just he looks like a cute aegi(baby) right now. I want to pinch his cheeks." Rumi cooed again pinching Chan's cheeks. Wonwoo scoffed at that. She had called me cute earlier and now she's calling Dino cute.

"Ah-apa!" Chan whined pulling her hand away from his cheek. "And I am not an aegi. I am twenty-three years old for your record." He said. "Aww...then you are big baby."  Rumi teased making him scoffed and cross his arm. "Are you mad?" Rumi asked nudging him to which he clicked his tongue and looked away.

"Don't you have work or what? Slacking here and making others work." Chan said making her laughing.

"Well, what do I have to say? Isn't it amazing to just slack around?" Rumi said purposely leaning back on the bench while bumping into Chan's shoulder. "Ah? Rumi-sii did the room problem work out?" Wonwoo asked looking over Chan's head. "The hotel staff is still working on it."

"Heh. You don't even do you job properly. How can you forget to book rooms for your own staff? Pabo." Chan commented. Earning a smack from Wonwoo. "Yah, where are your manners?"  Rumi laughed at Chan's offended face.

"It's fine. Don't worry Chan-ah. I won't be leaving if that is what you are worried about." Chan scoffed at that. "I will be here till end of the trip doing my best to annoy you." She teased patting his head. "If I don't find any room then I can always room with Hyun or I don't mind sleeping outside." She smiled.

"Tsk. So annoying." Chan hissed bumping his shoulder with hers. "Takes one to know other." Rumi laughed winking at him. Annoying this kid is fun. Rumi thought smiling to herself while moving her mug to lips when saw Hyun staring at her. "Huh? What is it?" She muttered waving her hand at Hyun. He looked away before waving his hand back. She opened her mouth to ask. "WHAT HAPPened...?" He turned and left. "Uh? What is it with this guy? Wasn't he just staring at us?" Rumi asked looking at the other two who nodded their head in affirmative.

"Rumi. Can I ask you something?" Chan suddenly, Rumi turned towards him. "Are you dating Hyun-ssi?" A huge sigh was heard. "What? Are you?" Chan asked.

"Why?" Rumi suddenly looked exhausted. "Why are you interested in my dating life?" She asked.

"I was just asking. There are rumours going around." Chan said glancing at Wonwoo and at her. "Hoshi hyung was also trying to set you up with Woozi hyung but you weren't interested so I was wondering if you were dating Hyun-ssi?" Wonwoo snapped his head towards Chan. What Hoshi was trying to set Woozi with Rumi-ssi? When did this happen?

"What if I am?" Wonwoo snapped his head at Rumi. What? "What if I am? Do you have problem with that?" Rumi asked. "Ah! Are you interested in me?!" Rumi gasped covering her mouth. "Omo! Otokke? I didn't know about that?!" Rumi grabbed Chan's hand.

"M-mwo? Y-yah! What are you saying? It's not like that!" Chan exclaimed pulling his hand back from her grip. "I-I am not into you. I am not into older women!" He screamed jumping away from the bench. "Gwenchana Chan-ah, noona will break up with him, if you really like noona." Rumi cooed trying to grab him hand.

"Ani! Aniyo! I don't! I don't like you." He exclaimed before turning and running back inside. "Chan-ah! Chan-ah! Noona will do as you like!" Rumi shouted watching him run away inside as he slammed shut the sliding doors. "Ha! Jinja." Rumi laughed looking at Wonwoo who staring at her wondering what just happened. "It's fun teasing him like this." She said.

Wonwoo nodded looking back at house. "I am sorry about him." Wonwoo said. "Aniyo. Its fine." Rumi smiled shaking her head. "But I don't really get this. Why is everyone so interested in dating life of others? The topic of dating isn't like no-no zone for entertainment company?"

"Yeah, it is. But I guess the more restrictions you put the more people try to break it." Wonwoo answered shaking his own head. It is true that topic of dating was sensitive but now it had somehow become popular and openly discussed. And to be honest it was a good change in Wonwoo's opinion. The idols were free to live according to their choices though they had to be cautious but at least they had company's support unlike the old times. "Nowadays, it is okay. After all we idols are also humans and we also want to fall in love and be with someone. The company allows us but we have to be cautious."

Rumi nodded. "It's good then." Wonwoo hummed looking at Rumi who was staring ahead with a smile on her face. "What about you?" Rumi turned to look at him. "Don't you want to fall-"

"Jamsimanyo (Wait a second)" Rumi politely said pulling out her buzzing phone. "Eo. What happened? Oh okay." Rumi said looking at Wonwoo. She mouthed sorry while getting up. Wonwoo smiled and shook head. "The coffee was nice and talking to you too." Rumi said covering her phone. Wonwoo felt his cheeks heating up. "Then, I'll get going." She bowed towards him and left.

Rumi hurried towards the reception desk; her co-workers were gathered waiting for her. "What did they say? Is it sorted?" She asked walking towards desk.

"Not really." One of her co-workers said. All of them turned towards the hotel manager for answers.

"Umm, I am really sorry but we couldn't get you any rooms. All of them are currently booked." He apologized. Everyone let out a sigh in disappointment. "But." Everyone snapped their heads in attention. "But we have a cottage."

"Cottage? Is it available?" Rumi asked slapping her hands on the desk.

"Yes, but it is surrounded by common pool and court on both sides. So, it can be little uncomfortable for you. We don't want to make you stay uncomfortable but we don't really have any other rooms available." He answered looking at Rumi. Rumi sighed and looked at her co-workers, there were five of them, two males and three females including her.

"Can I check it out first, to see how it is?"

"We'll take it." One of the female co-workers said. "Rumi-ya, lets just take it. It's not like we have any other option. There are no other hotels around here." Rumi looked at others in hesitation. Others nodded their heads in agreement.

"Aarso." Rumi sighed. "We'll take the cottage."

A/N :

My exams are over!! And I'm probably gonna fail! But anyways here the long awaited chapter. I hope you like it. Don't forget to leave your votes, comments and share this story with your pals! Do add this book to your library and reading list so you won't miss an update.

Love,

Alba💜