३७

"Hehehe. Hoshi-ya. You are my only good friend, you know that?" Rumi giggled as she settled down on the table with her tray of food. Chan snorted following her. "It's not you who should rethink but hyung." He commented. "What? I am just complimenting him. Hoshi-ya aren't you my best friend." Hoshi laughed looking at her stuffed cheeks, she looked like a hamster.

"Cheoncheonhi, the food not going anywhere." Chan said making a face, Rumi grinned at him making him more disgusted. "Yah, your manners, aish." He looked away. "You are making me lose my appetite." "Really? Then give it to me, I'll finish it." Rumi said trying to take his food tray. "Yah!" Dino slapped her hand away. "What are you? Gorilla, where does all that food go?"

Rumi patted her stomach proudly and said "In my stomach. I have great digestive system and do you even know how much of hard work I do. I need lots of energy for that. You can't have energy if you don't eat well." Rumi explained as she continued stuffing her face.

"Then you should eat well, hmm?" Hoshi smiled passing her water bottle. Rumi smiled in gratefulness.

"Ah, since we are here." She wiped her mouth with back of her hands earning comments of mannerless from Chan. "I need advice on something. Ani, it's actually my friend who needs it." She quickly changed her words being cautious. Hoshi nodded asking her to go on. "So, here's the thing. Umm well, my chingu and there is this person they are good friends, but recently, you see my friend did something to this person and that person misunderstood it and is upset." Rumi glanced at two. "How should I-ani my chingu clear this misunderstanding?"

"Hmm, talk to that person." Hoshi said. "You said they are good friends right?" Rumi nodded her head and then shook it. Are they even friends? Rumi asked herself. "Mollaa..." Rumi sighed clutching her hair. "Well, talking I know is the solution but how should my chingu do that, like approach the person directly or?" Hoshi nodded his head.

"First of all, what did you do?" Chan asked. Rumi looked at him like deer caught in a headlight. "I didn't do anything! It's my friend who needs advice!" Chan held up his hand. "Aarso, aaraso. You friend, what did he/she do? For making it hard to approach that person." He asked fixing his words. "Must have said something which might upset that person or something else?"

Rumi looked away at that question. "Is it important?" She asked glancing at Chan who nodded his head. "Umm well um slapped him-" "Mwo?!" He exclaimed before she was done. "-and asked him to leave?"

"Yah? This is no misunderstanding." Hoshi asked looking at her in disbelief. "That person didn't misunderstand anything. Your friend slapped him, obviously he will be upset." Rumi groaned throwing her head back. What should I do now? I shouldn't have done that. "Then what should my friend do now?" She asked. "Forget about it. I don't think I'll ever talk to a person who slapped me across the face." Hoshi said shaking his head.

"Mwo?" Rumi straightened up and looked at him. "Across the face? No! I didn't slap him across the face. I just slapped his hand away because I couldn't take it anymore. I don't know what would I've done if he stood that close for any second longer." Rumi confessed remembering her urges trying to get best out of her. Ah, mianhaeyo Wonwoo-ssi for having such thoughts of doing it you and also sorry for slapping you.

"Jamkkanman. Weren't you talking about your friend? Then why did you slap someone here? What is this? I am confused?" Hoshi asked looking at her and Chan

"Hyung, you are so naïve." He shook his head. "I can't give you advice on half of the information. But from what you said it's clear that you need to straightened out your feelings before you talk with that person." Rumi looked at him stunned. This boy is too clever or I am just dumb. She thought. "And what are you, a teenager?" Chan asked. If anyone didn't know better then they would really think Chan was the older one among three sitting on the table. "I couldn't take it anymore." He imitated her words. "Teenagers are better these days."

Rumi narrowed her eyes at his comment. I take that back. He's just a brat. "Yah! Just because you have better experience in dating life, doesn't mean that every other person does. And teenagers these days are too forward for their age. You are live example of that." She said looking him up and down.

"Mwo? Yah! I'm not a teenager. Eeship sam. I am twenty-three years old. An adult for your kind information!" Chan roared slapping his hand on the table. "A very much of adult than you, who doesn't act her age!"

"I do act very much of my age. It's you whose trying to be adult. Yah, act your age, will you? When noona was age, I did things you kids nowadays don't know of; always stuck on that piece of metal. You know how many health problems it causes?" Rumi asked aggressively pointing towards Chan's phone which was sitting beside his tray.

"Rumi-ya, he is not that young you know. I mean he tends to act like an adult-" "You shut up!" Both of them snapped making Hoshi clammed his mouth.

"Kids nowadays? What do you think you are? It's a digital world now, one can't survive with that piece of metal. Do you even hear yourself? You sound like halmeoni ani those nosy ahjumma who are always nagging at other's kid."

"MWO! Ahjumma?! Who are you calling ahjumma, you damn kid? You are ahjushi who keeps nagging at me, you are mannerless, act your age!" She mocked imitating him.

"Ah ho, look at her. She calls herself an adult while arguing with someone younger than her." Chan complained tapping Hoshi, who refused to get in between them after being scolded at. "So, you admit that you are a teenager." Rumi said snorting.

"Aish, this woman-I said younger not a teenager! You witless woman!" Chan shouted while Rumi poked her tongue out at him "Ah, I can't with this woman." Chan held his head. "It's like banging my head on a wall, only hurts my head."

"And we were wondering who's making all that noise." A new voice said making the trio look at it. It was Seungkwan, Mingyu and Wonwoo walking towards them with their trays. "What it is that you both are screaming at top of your lungs?" Seungkwan asked looking at Chan and Rumi. Chan scoffed crossing his arms and Rumi was too busy staring at something or more specifically at someone to pay attention to his question.

"Don't ask." It was Hoshi who spoke shaking his head. "I don't even know what they are arguing about at this point. They kept asking each other to act their age. He says she is childlike; she say he acts mature and should be act like teenager he is, both get offended and then he calls her old she gets offended. She also calls him old; he gets offended and then he calls her child and she calls him teenager, he gets offended again. Do you get any of it because I don't even know what I am saying." Hoshi asked looking at the new arrivals.

"Forget it. I never asked anything. Rumi-ssi, we can join you, right?" Seungkwan asked finally diverting her. "Ah de." Rumi nodded shifting for him to sit down. Earlier the sitting position as such, Rumi was sitting alone on one bench, Hoshi right across her with Chan beside him; now it changed to Rumi on corner of the bench with Seungkwan beside her Mingyu following him and Wonwoo-ssi... Rumi looked at him, he was sitting right across her.

Wonwoo pushed his tray forward accidentally bumping it with Rumi's. He looked up apologizing. "Mianhaeyo." She was already staring at him. Wonwoo pressed his lips and averted his eyes. It's been days since he had seen her. She looked tired; her dark circles had deepened, she looked thinner too. Wonwoo thought peeking through his eyelashes, she was looking away preoccupied by something Mingyu was asking. "What were you talking about that got you arguing with him?"

"It nothing really-" Hoshi cut her off. "She needed advice on something." Seungkwan turned to her. "And you were asking it from them?" He asked pointing at Hoshi and Chan. Rumi pressed her lips, yes I realized that now; she nodded her head. "I don't know her friend or she slapped-" Rumi kicked his legs to stop him but Wonwoo yelped in pain. Rumi widen her eyes and ducked down to see Hoshi had his legs tucked back and Wonwoo was holding his shin.

"Ah-I, I didn't mean to." Rumi stuttered out the words shaking her head. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to. I just wanted to-Yah! This is your fault!" She accused pointing her finger at Hoshi who was taken aback. "What did I do? I was only telling them you needed advic-" Rumi stood up slapping her hand on the table. "I! I will handle it. You said to talk right? Talk is what I'll do." She nodded her head before picking up her tray. "Does anyone want drinks?" She asked looking at the stunned faces.

"Um ice-americano?" Seungkwan replied. Hoshi shook his head while Mingyu asked for water. Chan replied with your blood. Rumi rolled her eyes and moved her eyes on Wonwoo who again averted his eyes. "Wonwo-" He cut her off with her with a curt nothing. Rumi nodded and left muttering something to herself. She had an odd way of attracting attention to herself, like now she walked muttering something in her native language and pulling her hair. If one didn't know better then think she's an asylum fugitive.

"What was that?" Hoshi said turning to look at Wonwoo. "Something happened between you two." Now this was not a question "I thought you were friends." Hoshi said to Wonwoo who refused to look at him.

"I thought so too." Wonwoo muttered under his breath. "Nothing happened between us." Wonwoo answered focusing on finishing his food

"No, something did happen. You were being cold towards her suddenly." Hoshi argued. "Earlier you were defending her and now suddenly you are being like this."

"What does defending her have to do anything with this?" Wonwoo grumbled. "To defend someone doesn't mean that you have be close to that person. And for the records we are not close, we never were." Wonwoo said putting down his chopsticks in annoyance. He was annoyed, too annoyed not only because Rumi avoiding and flinching away from him flashed in his mind but also because it Hoshi who kept prying into this.

"I think you are." Chan piped in. "I remember you both having a nice coffee date in the backyard." Wonwoo snapped his eyes to him. "In fact, I particularly remember you trying to shoo me away from being a third wheel. You both looked close enough." Wonwoo sighed and looked away. How I wish it were true. He thought. "It was nothing like that. We were just talking. And you kept asking her questions like if she was dating Hyun-ssi." Wonwoo argued. "Because I wanted to know and I'm pretty sure you wanted to know too." Chan retorted back.

"I did not! Why does Rumi-ssi dating Hyun-ssi or anyone have to do with me? Nothing. In fact, it has nothing to do with anyone of us." Wonwoo stated. "Rumi-ssi did us some favour and I was returning them." Wonwoo said remembering the conversation they had that night. She was being nice because I had helped her, wasn't she? Because after that night when she was done returning them she started avoiding me. "That was all to it. We helped each other few times and that was it. She was only being nice." Wonwoo balling his fist.

"Wonwoo-ya." Hoshi called.

"You too Hoshi." Unknowingly jealousy was getting worse out of him. For Rumi had no problem with Hoshi and his nonsense. "Stop troubling Rumi-ssi with your non sense. She doesn't want anyone prying into her life, she has enough going on to take up your nonsense." She clearly didn't want me there. The way she had asked me to leave. "She's being nice to us doesn't mean we are close enough to pry into her life."

"Hyung." Seungkwan grabbed his fist making him look at him. Seungkwan was looking behind him, Wonwoo followed his eyes to see Rumi standing behind them holding a tray full of drinks. Rumi pressed her lips together and put on a smile. "I brought back drinks. Here ice-americano for Seungkwan-ssi. And orange juice for others." She chirped serving drinks to each of them. "Chan-ah, my blood can wait, make do with orange juice for now." She joked hoping to lighten up the mood but nobody seemed to be laughing. "It was bad, wasn't it?" She asked serving Mingyu whose lips formed a straight line while eyes glanced at Wonwoo. Rumi sighed and walked towards Wonwoo holding the bottle of orange juice. "Wonwoo-ssi...this is for you." She said politely placing the bottle by his tray.

Wonwoo glanced at Rumi and the bottle she had placed. Is she being nice again? Why? "Thank you but I am fine." Wonwoo stood up, gathered his tray, and simply walked off. His members called for him. "Uh-I'll talk to him." Rumi quickly said and ran behind him.

"Wonwoo-ssi let me do it." Rumi said trying to help him with tray. "I can do it myself." He curtly replied placing the tray on the convertible belt and made his way to elevator, Rumi followed behind him. "Wonwoo-ssi at least let me explain. Are you not going to give me a chance to explain?" Rumi asked standing beside him waiting for the elevator. "Wonwoo-ssi please." Rumi begged when he didn't respond. She let out a groan looking around them. I can't do this here. She thought grabbing his hand and started dragging him. She opened door to emergency stairs and pulled him inside.

"Rumi-ssi what are you doing? Let go of my hand." Wonwoo called trying to free his hand from her grip. She didn't loosen it until they were alone on the emergency stairs. "Rumi-ssi what do you think you are doing?" Wonwoo asked narrowing his eyes at her. Rumi looked away muttering a curse under her breath. She had done it again. "Wonwoo-ssi wouldn't listen to me or give me a chance to explain-" He cut her off. "Explain what Rumi-ssi?!" Rumi looked up startled at his tone. "Do you think I am dumb to not notice things like you straight away avoiding me?" Rumi shook her head. "No Wonwoo-ssi it is not like that you misunderstood things. I-"

"Misunderstood it? What is there to misunderstand here? Only a fool would, Rumi-ssi." Wonwoo said looking into her eyes. "I noticed everything Rumi-ssi. You turning the other way whenever we saw each other, you returning home late because you knew that I would be there." Rumi clenched her jaw having no excuses for it. She was doing it. She was doing everything he said to avoid him. "You think I misunderstood? Rumi-ssi doesn't like me and I got the message clearly when you flinched away from me that day."

"Aniyo Wonwoo-ssi. I didn't- I mean I did but it was not beca-"

"Rumi-ssi asked me to leave." Wonwoo cut her off again. "And I did because I know Rumi-ssi hates me." Rumi shook her head again trying to speak to deny, to tell him it was a misunderstanding. "It was clear. I first thought you wanted to maintain distance from us, all of us because of the rumours that's why you kept avoiding me in the company but that was not it. You weren't just keeping distance from all of us but from me. You would turn away from me, you would return home late because of me. You had no problem going out on date with Hoshi but Rumi-ssi can't stand being around me. Rumi-ssi hates me."

"I DON'T!" Rumi slammed her hand on the wall behind Wonwoo, she trapped him between wall and herself, her hand sitting right beside his head on wall. Wonwoo looked at her stunned, his eyes widen and heart going so fast that it might jump out his chest. "God damn it." Rumi cursed before looking up, her eyes meet his. "I don't hate Wonwoo-ssi. Ahhh what I feel for Wonwoo-ssi is far from hate." She whispered glancing from his eyes to lips and back to his eyes. "Wonwoo-ssi, doesn't even know what your sight ani just thought of you does to me. My heart suddenly starts acting weird, it starts beating so fast that I fear it will burst out. I thought had I gotten some heart disease and even consulted a doctor." She laughed shaking her head. "Then realised it was not a disease but something I was feeling for the first time." Rumi stepped back from him. "Wonwoo-ssi jowahaeyo."

Wonwoo's eyes widened than they already were. What is Rumi-ssi saying? Am I hearing things? He blinked his eyes few times wondering if he was day dreaming but no she was standing right in front him, looking at him, waiting. Wonwoo opened and closed his mouth no word would come out. Rumi let out a groan and looked away. "Ahh I didn't want it to be like this." She muttered. "I wanted to apologize but I came of like an aggressive dog right?" She groaned again. Wonwoo nodded and then shook his head. What is happening? I don't understand. Rumi-ssi doesn't hate me but likes me? Wonwoo looked at her. Ani, this- I am day dreaming again aren't I?

"Rumi-ssi-"

"Aniyo Wonwoo-ssi. It's okay." Rumi cut him off. "I am such a dumb person I wanted to apologize to Wonwoo-ssi but not only I did not do that properly but burden you with my feelings." Rumi said looking down at her feet. There was silence for few seconds. "Wonwoo-ssi doesn't have to. Wonwoo-ssi isn't liable to answer to my umm feelings. I just didn't want Wonwoo-ssi to misunderstand things. I was doing it all because I didn't know what was happening to me. And...now that it is out, we have cleared it, right?" Rumi nodded to herself. She was doing it again, trying to pretend to be the practical one, when her heart wanted nothing more than wanting to ask Wonwoo what he felt about her. "Wonwoo-ssi doesn't have to think much about what I said. Just know that I don't hate you." She bowed and opened the door to leave but stopped and turned back to Wonwoo who was still frozen against the wall.

"Uh, this is for you." She said holding out the juice bottle. "Mianhaeyo." She apologized again and left. Wonwoo looked at the door, worrying she would return again but she didn't. He let out a sigh as he's legs finally gave away. "Ahhh, I suddenly don't have any strength." He muttered and then looked at juice bottle she had handed him. He unscrewed the cap when something caught his eye. Mianhaeyo Wonwoo-ssi. Wonwoo chuckled feeling the text she had left on the bottle.

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

"Oppa, I am home." Rumi exhaustedly said kicking off her shoes and walking inside. "Are you home oppa?" She asked placing her keys and helmet on the entry table. A grunt was heard in response. Rumi sighed making her way to the couch. "Are you still angry with me? Oppa I told you I didn't mean to do that." Rumi tiredly moved his legs and sat down on couch. Youngjae scoffed and sat up.

"So did you talk to him?" Rumi let out a groan and threw her head back. "Then I am still angry with you." He huffed getting up and walking to kitchen.

"Oppa, really. Can't you just let this be? Things are difficult, now that I have gone and confessed." Last sentence was whispered more to herself. Wonwoo-ssi definitely thinks of me as some pervert now. "Oppa, forgive me? What should I do to make up to you?" Rumi begged in a groan. Youngjae didn't respond. Rumi suddenly remembered them. She stood up and walked to her room. Youngjae watched her go thinking she had gotten upset. Is she going skip dinner again? He wondered ready to shout when she stepped out with grin on her face.

"Mwoya?" He whispered as she slapped something on the table. What is this? He narrowed his eyes on the pieces of the black card paper. "These are Vip tickets to what was the name again-" "Formis9" Youngjae complete her sentence. Rumi grinned and nodded her head. "How did you get these?" Youngjae asked.

"One of the members gave it to me." Youngjae raised his eyebrow at that. "I don't like that look on your face but I'll ignore it since I'm doing the making up here. The concert is tomorrow. Are you free tomorrow?" She asked wiggling her eyebrows. Youngjae rolled his eyes and looked away. "Are you sure oppa? Because these are Vip tickets and I heard from Jeonghan-ssi they will be attending." Rumi smiled gauging his reactions. "By Jeonghan-ssi I mean Yoon Jeonghan-ssi from Seventeen. I also heard others are attending too like Joshua-ssi, Leader-ni-"

"Okay what time?" Youngjae asked snatching the ticket off the table. Rumi grinned tapping at the time written on the ticket.

A/N :

Hehe, I'm a day late. But I hope this chapter makes it up to you.😅

Love,

Alba💜