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"Hmmm...Lalala...hmmm...lalala."

"You seem to be in good mood these days." Misoo commented grabbing a chair to sit beside Rumi who had been humming to herself while working on her desktop.

"Wae? Are you here to ruin it?" Rumi asked glancing at her. Misoo had bundles of paper in her hands. "I'm not doing the shredding job; ask interns to do that." Rumi said glancing at bundle.

"Yah! Aren't you getting too confident these days?" Misoo scolded hitting Rumi on her arm. Rumi clenched her jaw, closed her eyes, and counted to three before opening them. "Unnie how many times do I have to tell you to n-" "-not to hit you. Yeah, yeah I know. I didn't hit you that hard." Misoo waved her hand dismissing her warning. "This data needs to be updated." She said slapping the bundles of paper on Rumi's desk. Rumi glanced at them and then at Misoo who grinned at her.

"You want me to update this crap in this computer?" Rumi asked pointing at the bundle. Misoo smiled and nodded her head. "Unnie..."

"Fighting!" Misoo stood up and started heading towards her cabin.

"Unnie you can't do this to me!" Rumi cried. "I have been stuck on this chair for four days. Unnie jebal!"

"You asked for it. You said it yourself four days ago that you didn't want to clean up any mess after Jina-ssi!" Misoo replied before shutting the door of her cabin.

"But that doesn't mean I have to do this!" Rumi whined slipping down in her chair. "Unnie jebal..." She cried earning sympathy looks from other co-workers. "She totally ruined my good mood." Rumi pouted getting back on her chair. "Okay let's do this." She took in the deep breath and started going through the papers Misoo had slapped on her desk.

Like she had whined, Rumi had been stuck on her office chair for last two days apart from going out for a lunch. She even had stayed up for late hours because Ms. Rumi Raikar was staying true to herself; running away from the problems instead of facing them. Since the start of her as she puts it 'heart problems,' Rumi had been avoiding Wonwoo who was frequent to her and Youngjae's shared apartment. She even had started going out during lunch hours in case she bumped into him in canteen. She had also requested Misoo to not ask her to run any errands near Seventeen. She believed unless until she stays away her heart problems would recover. She even went for routine check up and complained to her doctor who shrugged it off saying it wasn't anything serious and that her heart was completely healthy. If it was healthy then why does it act differently than normal? She had questioned herself. The answers were right in front of her but she was too stubborn to accept them.

Rumi believed a person should stick by rules, follow the straight path, do the rightest thing. In simple, follow mind over heart and she believed she was one of those people, the practical ones but she couldn't be more wrong about herself. In fact, she was the most emotional, sensitive one who did things according to her heart, her instincts rather than using her practical side. Maybe it was not that she believed she was one but pretended or tried to be one; to free herself from her scars.

"When will I complete this?" Rumi muttered to herself typing in the numbers. Her eyes glanced at the table clock which displayed it was half past five. "Ajun ardha taas (Half an hour more)" She sighed and then shook her head. "Nah. I can't go home." She had to look for refuge somewhere else today. Last few days she had been tagging along with Hyun who was on stake out but Gu Hwa forbid her from that too since she had become quite famous. Rumi scoffed remembering his words. "Ah! I hate him, see I even got the numbers wrong at his thought." Rumi grumbled at herself when her phone rang. Using one hand to fix her mistake and while using other she picked up the phone and put it to her ear without checking the caller id.

"De?" She answered.

"Rumi-ya?" Rumi furrowed her eyebrows and pulled back phone to check the caller id, it was Hoshi. A smile formed on her face as she put the phone back to her ear and greeted him back quite cheerfully. "Hoshi-ya!" It's been days since he had called her or texted her. The one who used to annoy her with texts and calls everyday had been silent since they had returned back from the trip.

"Rumi-ya."

"Hoshi-ya." Rumi smiled playing along. She heard his little chuckled before he spoke.

"Mwohae?"

"Nothing, just trying to work." Rumi replied trying to multi-task but failed to do this. Numbers and technology were two of her enemies which she was yet to defeat. "What about you? Have you been busy these days?" She asked.

"Hmm. Something like that." Hoshi hummed from other side before there was silence, Rumi almost thought he had hung up until he spoke again. "What are you doing after work?"

"Don't know." Rumi answered half attentive, the numbers taking up most of her attention.

"There is this café I wanted to check out." Hoshi said before continuing. "Join me."

"Eo? Me?" Rumi asked. "Aren't other boys around? Why are you suddenly asking me?" Rumi questioned.

"They all are busy. And I wanted to treat you for taking care me that day."

Rumi laughed. "Eoo...so it's about that. Hoshi-ya don't worry about it. It's my job to take care of you guys." Rumi said thinking about the time she had look after his drunk self.

"How is that your job? You are not our manager or bodyguard."

The grin from her face disappeared before she let out an awkward laugh. "Right, I'm not. I meant like, I was in charge there so I had to look after you guys."

"Weren't you in charge of production? Why would you have to look after us?"

"Ah." She took a sharp breath. "Why are we discussing about my job profile here? Let's talk about the café you wanted to check out." She quickly changed the topic not wanting to dig herself a grave. "When are you planning to go?"

"Are you free after work today?"

Rumi checked the clock again and nodded her head before realizing Hoshi couldn't see her. "Eo? Are we going there today?" She asked.

"Hm. You get off after six, right? I'll wait at the basement. Meet me there."

"Okay. I'll meet you there." Rumi nodded before both of them bid goodbyes. "I guess I found refuge for today." Rumi smiled to herself and continued working waiting for clock to struck six so she could get off this chair.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The whole ride to café was rather silent, very unexpected to Rumi which she had tried to fix by picking up conversation in between but Hoshi seemed inattentive so she let it go thinking he might be trying to focus on his driving. But his demeanour did felt little different to her. The usual extroverted, talkative Hoshi was mum today. Did something happen? Rumi wondered glancing at him when he pulled the brakes and announced that they were here. Rumi looked outside to see they were parked in front of a very modern looking café. It looked no different than any other café around in the city. "Eo." Rumi nodded and climbed out of the car. Hoshi was out and by her side in seconds, a mask covering his face while a hat rested on his head. When did he put on that? Rumi questioned to no one in particular as she followed him inside the café.

As soon as they entered the café Rumi was greeted with a very sweet smell. Rumi looked around for the culprit to see a guy passing by her carrying a plate of what look like waffles. Is that even edible? Rumi thought before following Hoshi who had walked up to the counter. A man greeted them, Hoshi leaned in and whispered something in his ear, soon the man was guiding them upstairs. Oh? It's two floored? Rumi thought as both Hoshi and her were guided to second floor which seemed devoid of any other customers than them.

"Please." The man smiled pulling out chair for Rumi. Rumi smiled and thanked him before settling down it. She looked at Hoshi who had already set across her. The man placed menus in front them and left. Hoshi picked up the menu and glanced through it while removing his mask and hat. Suddenly it striked to her that she was out with a celebrity and not with some her normal friend. No wonder they receive so many sceptical looks downstairs.

"Yah." She leaned in and whispered. "Is this really okay? To be here out with me?" Rumi asked her eyes already moving around being cautious. Hoshi chuckled placing the menu back on the table.

"Isn't it too late to ask that now?" Hoshi asked raising his eyebrow at her. "We already got off from same car and climb up here together."

"Ssibal. I completely forgot!" Rum cursed standing up. "You stay here. I'll leave first-" Hoshi grabbed her and pushed her down back on her chair.

"Rumi-ya. It's okay. It is safe here. This café and the owner are quite particular about their customer's privacy. And my other celebrity friends had only good things to say about this café." Hoshi reassured her running his hand through his hair.

"Are you sure?" Rumi asked her eyes moving, checking every corners. There were total of two surveillance cameras on this floor. "There must be more downstairs right? Where we entered from?" She asked more to herself. "You, put that hat back on." She commanded without glancing at him. Hoshi scoffed and leaned back on his chair observing her. She was practically scanning the floor with her eyes, carefully examining every corner and even the wall piece which was hanging across them, she even felt under the table. How couldn't he notice that? The incident at changing room, then her hanging out with Hyun and even her close association with Gu Hwa-ssi. Her conversation he had accidently eavesdropped on. It all makes sense now.

"Are you ready to order?" The owner of the café returned. She straightened up and scanned him from top to bottom, her eyes narrowing at every small movement of his. Hoshi almost snorted and turned to him. "De? I'll have your signature dish. Rumi what about you?" Hoshi asked looking at her. "Eo?" Rumi questioned glancing at him. "Probably not anything sweet right? Any savoury items you would like to recommend?" Hoshi turned towards owner who nodded and pointed out few dishes to them.

"Yes, we have pastas, and our signature wagyu beef burger which Soon Young-nim ordered. There is new menu added recently, it is a savoury pancake with various veggie mix and it is served with sweet and spicy syrup." The owner explained glancing at Hoshi and Rumi. "Rumi?" Hoshi called getting her attention.

"Ah, right? I'll have the pancake, thank you." Rumi replied giving the owner a tight-lipped smile. "Add two chai to that." Hoshi added. The owner nodded before noting it down on his notepad and leaving his customers to themselves. Rumi watched him until he was out of sight and again went back to scanning the café. Maybe she should inform Hyun about this in case something does happens. The café or owner doesn't look suspicious but you never know, right? Rumi thought and pulled out her phone.

"What have you been doing these days?" Hoshi suddenly questioned making her look at him. She had a question mark on her face. "I'm generally asking, we didn't talk for days so I was wondering." Hoshi explained. Rumi nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing much, just sitting in front of desktop and typing away." She answered nonchalantly, Hoshi nodded. "What about you? You've been quiet these days?" Rumi threw in the question while sending her location to Hyun and asking him to check the place. "Did something happen, recently?" She asked putting her phone aside.

Hoshi smiled and shook his head. "Nothing happened, I was just thinking of things but it's all good now, I guess after confirming them." Hoshi replied making Rumi knit her eyebrows in confusion. What things is he talking about? Whatever, it's none of my business unless it's some other trouble. "I'm really sorry about other day. You had to look after me. I don't remember much but I heard from hyung that you brought me back." Hoshi said carefully observing her. Rumi smiled and nodded her head.

"It's no worry." Rumi said leaning back in her chair. "It's like I'm cursed. I somehow always end up around drunks." Rumi said waving off his worry. "But you really need take care of that mouth of yours." Rumi said narrowing her eyes at him. "It keeps sprouting nonsenses when you are drunk."

"Like about you and Hyun-ssi in bushes?"

"Mwo?! You remember that?" Rumi sat up in alert. "You remember what you saw and heard that night?" She interrogated. Just as I thought. Hoshi smiled to himself. "Ani. I heard from hyung. That I spoke of something about you both doing in bushes." Hoshi replied. "Oh?" Rumi gave him a sceptical look before nodding her head. "The food is here." Hoshi commented, soon her attention was diverted back to the owner who served dishes with a lady accompanying him, Rumi proceeding scanning her down, she even narrowed her eyes at her when the lady glanced at Hoshi few times.

"Your pancakes ma'am." The owner smiled placing the dish in front of her. "Would you like me to pour the syrup?" Rumi smiled and nodded her head before thanking him. "Uh, and can I get an extra plate please?" It was the lady who replied to her and returned back to their table with plate and placed in front of the her. The lady stood beside her smiling, more specifically at Hoshi; until the owner nudge her. "Please enjoy the food." He bowed and dragged the lady along with him.

Rumi scoffed staring at them. "It's safe you said." Hoshi chuckled and shook his head. "Stop laughing and put on your hat." Rumi glared at him. "Since the deed is already done we should at least be careful now." She commented serving half of her pancakes on the extra plate she had asked and pushed it to Hoshi. "Meogeo (Eat up)" She said.

Hoshi looked at her and then this plate she had pushed to him. "Yah mwoya..." He said. "I suddenly feel shy like I am on a date with my namjachingu (boyfriend)." He proceeded to act like a blushing girlfriend. Rumi tsked at his actions. "Jagiya..." Hoshi cooed giving her finger hearts making Rumi gag at that, Hoshi laughed at her face.

"What is this again?" Rumi asked sniffing the tall glass. "Chai." Hoshi replied cutting his burger in half. "Chai, right." Rumi scoffed turning her attention to her pancakes and devouring them. She noticing Hoshi trying to serve her his burger. "That's beef. I won't be eating that." Rumi commenting looking at the overflowing burger.

"Uh? Wae? Ah, right! You don't eat beef right? Wonwoo mentioned that." Hoshi nodded placing half of his burger back to his plate.

"Wonwoo-ssi?" Rumi's ear picked at that name. "Wonwoo-ssi mentioned about that? He remembers something like that?" Rumi muttered the last sentence more to herself. Why would he remember something like this? Soon her cheeks and ears were heating up turning red. She looked up suddenly there was Wonwoo sitting in front of her smiling. Wonwoo-ssi... Rumi smiled dizzily moving to clean of sauce on his lips. "Mmmmm...This is so good." Hoshi moaned chomping on his burger. Rumi blinked her eyes, pulled her hand back and started coughing. What the hell is wrong with her? Now she has started day dreaming about him? She picked up the glass and sipped the chai to sooth her dry throat. "Eh." She made a face in distaste. "What a sorry excuse of chai is this? Is this brown-coloured milk?" She said scrunching her face and placing the glass down on table.

"Wae? Did you not like it?" Hoshi asked chewing on his burger. Rumi nodded her head making a face. "What were you thinking ordering chai for an Indian on foreign land?" She commented. "I thought you would like it." Hoshi said picking up his own glass and sipping. He hummed smacking his lips together. "Don't tell me it tastes good?"

"I mean it's not bad and not that sweet." Hoshi commented. "How it is supposed to taste if not like this?" He asked sipping it again. It tasted fine to him.

"Tsk! It's not even close to it. I'll make you chai someday. You'll forget this brown-milk." Rumi replied returning back to her pancakes. Completely forgetting about her day dreaming, courtesy of Hoshi who now started pestering her about when she will make him chai and does she how to cook? He suddenly started naming typical Indian dishes to foreigner like butter chicken and naan or chicken tikka.

"Yah, just eat up okay." Rumi said done with her pancakes. She picked up the glass of her brown-milk and started sipping it, even though she had lot to say about it. "I thought you didn't like that? Why are you drinking it? Order something else." Rumi scoffed putting down the now empty glass. "And do what with this? We are paying for it, you know? Right your rich ass won't know of my middle-class struggle." Rumi pointed looking at her phone which buzzed.

"Right..." Hoshi said glancing at her phone which light up with Hyun's on it. Hoshi squinted his eyes to read what the text was about. I'll look into... "Are you done yet?" Rumi's question made him snap his head towards her. "Eo?"

"I asked are you done yet?" She repeated her question pointing towards his plate.

"Ah...Yes, done." Hoshi replied picking a tissue and wiping his face. "Do you want order a dessert or- never mind. Let's go." He put on his mask and hat back on. "Should we go for drive? Whether is good today."

"Ani. We are going back home." Rumi stood up and started making her way down. "You are driving back home and I am taking a taxi." She informed.

"Taxi? Wae? I can drive you back home quite fine." Hoshi complained as she walked to counter. The owner greeted them cheerfully. Hoshi placed his card on the table while still nagging at her when Rumi slapped her own card beside him. "Yah, mwohae?" Hoshi asked glancing at her card.

"Mwo? We are splitting the bill. Sajangnim?" Rumi called the owner who looking at Hoshi. "Sajangnim we are ready to pay." Rumi said tapping her finger on the counter. The owner hesitantly nodded and took both of the card.

"Seriously, Rumi-ya? Aren't you being too much? I was supposed to treat you." Hoshi whined as the quietly returned their cards back. Rumi thanked him and started making her way out. Hoshi quickly bid him bye and followed her. "I'm driving you back home." He said running up her and dragging her to car. Rumi shrugged of his grip ready to protest. "If you don't get in the car I'll remove my mask and hat and start shouting. Should I?" Hoshi threatened. Rumi stared at him daring him to do so. "JAGIYA YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS-" He shouted his hand moving to remove his mask.

"Yah!" Rumi grabbed his hand stopping him and looked around. The passersby were giving them weird looks. "You little shit." Rumi cursed and started dragging him towards his car, Hoshi grinned and unlocked his car. "Someday you're gonna get it from me." She glared getting inside the car.

"Hehehe." Hoshi giggled as putting on his seatbelt and starting the car. "You wouldn't listen to me so I had to do that." Hoshi commented smiling to himself after being able to get her weak point. "You wanted to take a taxi when I could clearly drive you back home and you even paid for the food when I was supposed to treat you." He complained driving out of the driveway.

Rumi tsked at him and looked away. "I am not that of humble person to reject away free food. I was being cautious. We were already alone in that café, if you had paid for the food alone it would've seemed like we were on a date." Rumi explained. Hoshi mouth formed a 'oh'. Wah, she's really careful. Hoshi thought nodding to himself.

"That's acceptable. But that café is safe. Lot of my friends had brought their girlfriend to that café." Hoshi reassured staring ahead. Rumi huffed muttering a whatever. "Drop me at that bus stop. And no, you are not throwing a tantrum again." Rumi glared at him before he could argue. "I'm being serious Hoshi." Hoshi nodded and pulled over the car.

Rumi opened the door as soon as the car came to stop and got off. "Drive straight back to your dorm and don't get in trouble on way." She said leaning down to look at him through window. "Call me if you get in trouble, don't be stupid and act on your own." She warned.

"Ne eomeonim." Hoshi bowed rolling his eyes at him.

"I'm being serious here, Hoshi." She warned again. "Drive safely and text me as soon as you reach home, okay?" She asked.

"Okay." Hoshi nodded his head. "You too. Text me when you reach home." Rumi nodded and waved her hand. "I can drive you home you know..." Rumi straightened up and stepped back paying no heed to his words. "Aarso! I'm leaving! Bye." He said to which Rumi waved her hand. He chuckled and drove off watching her wave in his rear-view mirror.

A/N :

Hoshi has sensed something. Do you think he'll reveal what he has found about Rumi? What do you think? Let me know in comment section below. Don't forget to vote and share this story with your pals. Also do add this book to your reading list so you won't miss an update.

Love,

Alba💜