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Chapter 42

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24H | SEVENTEEN

"Ah jinja! I'm not getting in car with three of you ever again!" Rumi exclaimed getting of the car. "I've never felt such an urge to bash my own head before!" Rumi cried in annoyance as the two idols got off behind her.

"Waeyo? Rumi-ya don't be like that. We are soulmateu." Hoshi said throwing his arm over her shoulder. "I think we make the best group of all, what do you say hyung?" Hoshi asked looking back at Youngjae who chuckled and nodded his head in agreement. Rumi turned to glare at him. "Don't forget. Tula majya barobar ghari yeicha ahe (You have to come home with me)"

"Mwo? I don't understand." Youngjae replied with a teasing smirk on his lips.

"Noona, I agree on this with Hoshi hyung." Chan joined the duo. Rumi tsked shrugging off Hoshi and quickened her feet. "Eo? Noona! Eodiga. Wait for us!" Hoshi teased running.

"Ahhh, I'm totally regretting this." Rumi muttered to herself as she went ahead to check out the restaurant. She has to makes sure it is safe for the idols to be here. Two managers followed along to the counter to talk to restaurant owner, Rumi let them do the talking while she scanned the surrounding. It was late so there wasn't any crowd that she needed to cautious about. Hmm. She nodded and then scanned the owner, and nodded again. Too engrossed in making observations she didn't notice that they were done with talking.

"Um Rumi-nim, let's go." One of the managers said. "Ah, ye you guys go ahead. I'll be back." She smiled bowing. She waited for them to leave before moving towards the areas which her eyes couldn't reach. Making sure that there was another exit for emergency she returned to the table where everyone had gathered.

"Noona you're back!" Hoshi exclaimed acting all cute. "Here! Here!" Chan joined him patting the seat between them. Rumi scrunched up her face in disgust. "Ah jinja, I don't want to be anywhere near you." She groaned looking for another spot.

"Here." Thankfully Mingyu pulled out a seat for her in between him and Minghao. Rumi exhaustedly thanked him. "It's exhausting with them, isn't it?" Minghao asked from beside her. Rumi let out a huge sigh and nodded her head. "Junhui hyung is not here today or it would've been worse with those three." Minghao said speaking from experience. "I think oppa filled in that place though. I wanted to kill myself in that car." Rumi replied throwing her head back, Minghao nodded his head in sympathy and lightly patted her back.

"Yedera, please place your orders." Mingyu announced, the playful environment went silent before turning chaotic with everyone throwing in the order. Rumi kept silent and let them do their things. "Ah I'm getting dizzy." She muttered wondering how leader-nim handles these boys and half of them are not here. Leader-nim wanjeon respect. Rumi mentally sent a salute to Seungcheol.

"Rumi-ya you didn't place your order?" Jeonghan asked from across the table.

"Um I took care of it." Youngjae said as 'oh' sound echoed the table. "Rumi isn't a picky eater except for beef and sweet things." He continued; Rumi nodded confirming that. "Hyung must be doing all the cooking then?" Chan asked. "Ani, Rumi is good cook. But I must admit that I do the cooking most of the time." Chan turned to look her with 'I knew it' face. Rumi huffed rolling her eyes.

"Yah, what face are you making? Do you cook by yourself? If not for Dokyeom and Mingyu I don't think any of us is a good cook." Jeonghan commented putting the maknae in his place. This time it was Rumi turn to look at Chan.

"Seokmin-ssi, is really good cook though. That kimchi jjigae was too good, Seokmin-ssi." Rumi leaned to forward to look at Dokyeom who sitting in her line. Dokyeom grinned and bowed towards her. "Thank you but otokke, it was all left over." He apologised feeling bad they had served her left overs. "Aniyo. Gwenchanayo. It was really good. Spicy and tangy totally my taste." Rumi said smiling at him.

"She really likes spicy food. The chilly flavour spicy." Youngjae commented thinking about how he adds more spices whenever he cooks for her. "Really? I can take some spice." Dokyeom nodded. "Wonwoo hyung likes spicy food most among us." Dokyeom said looking at the very quiet Wonwoo. Rumi's eyes snapped right to him. She had tried very hard up till now to not focus on him when he was sitting right across her.

"Eo?" He asked surprised at the attention. "Ah spicy food. De, I can take spicy food." He said his eyes glancing at Rumi. Rumi put on a smile small. Let's not make awkward Rumi-ya, people are starting to notice. She mentally warned herself.

"Your food and drinks are here." Saved again, she thought as number of bottles were placed on the table. "Ah, I won't be drinking." Rumi said, Minghao joined. "Nado." The owner nodded and asked them if they wanted soft drinks instead, receiving affirmatives he served them cans of soft drinks. Rumi made a sound as the drink sizzled on opening. "Minghao-ssi cheers." Minghao smiled clinking his can with hers "Cheers."

"Yah, you two. Aren't you leaving us out?" Hoshi commented from other side.

"Tsk. For rest of the evening, I don't know you three." Rumi replied sipping on her can as Minghao offered to do cheers again. Rumi smirked and clinked their cans again tauntingly. After some bickering the pack continued with their dinner, the table had two halves contrasting each other. The right was active, loud, screaming out suddenly, laughing at top of their voices. While on the other hand left half was much quieter apart from few conversations which right half included them in, they mostly focused on their food.

"Jinja, someone stop them." Jeonghan laughed wiping his tears. "Don't let them drink anymore." He begged pointing towards Dokyeom and Hoshi who had already lost it.

"Aniyo we are okay. Not drunk yet." Dokyeom assured shaking his head. "I can't say the same about this one though." Dokyeom pointed towards Hoshi who shook his head trying to control his own laughter.

"Mianhaeyo. These two are the lightweights of the group." Seungkwan apologized to Youngjae covering both Hoshi and Dokyeom's faces. Youngjae chuckled nodding his head. Of course, he knew that. In fact, the one apologizing wasn't any better than them. He chuckled sipping on his own glass. He had gotten the pass since Rumi wasn't drinking.

"What about Youngjae hyung?" Dokyeom asked gaining his attention. "Can you handle drinks well?" Youngjae nodded and placed his glass down. "How much?"

"Hmm, maybe after eight-ten bottles of soju I start to get tipsy." He said nodding his head. "Wahh. That means you can handle more than that." Mingyu said an impressed look on his face. "Maybe." Youngjae shrugged a smile suiting his face. Rumi tsked from beside Mingyu.

"Oppa just gets drunk on feelings. If he's excited he can get drunk on just one bottle." Rumi commented making him roll his eyes. "I bet, even if he empties that whole carton right now he won't be drunk because he's too nervous." She smirked wriggling her eyebrows. "Waeyo?" Mingyu asked making Rumi laugh. "You guys keep forgetting that how big fan he is of yours. He has those books-ani what are those called albums? Lined up in his room-"

"Yah! You better shut up!" Youngjae exclaimed throwing a bottle cap in Rumi's direction which she easily caught. "Uh-huh. I think you are getting tipsy hyung." She teased showing the bottle cap she had caught.

"Is that true?" Jeonghan asked looking at Youngjae who look anywhere but at him and shyly nodded his head. "Hmm, since Youngjae hyung is carat then we can't Rumi bully hyung anymore." Jeonghan pointed tongs he was holding at Rumi, his eyes narrowed. "Nobody is allowed to bully carats other than us."

"Mwo? Bully?" Rumi laughed. "When did I bully him?"

"Yah, you were." Hoshi stood up pointing his own spoon at Rumi. Dokyeom pulled down muttering about how drunk he is. "Hyung, don't worry we will protect you." Hoshi said putting his arm out in front to shield Youngjae. Rumi laughed at Youngjae's face which was turning into a beetroot.

"You keep laughing at others. You are not that good at drinking too, noona." Chan piped in from across. Rumi snorted and nodded her head. "I never said I was."

"You are worse." It was Youngjae's turn to reveal some secrets. "Yah! Do you even know what I have to go through every time you get drunk?" He retorted cross his arms. "I sometimes fear that she might end up in jail." Youngjae continued looking at everyone who had tuned in for gossip.

"Waeyo? Does Rumi-ssi go around beating up people?" Minghao asked. "Minghao-ssi!" Rumi exclaimed from his side. Minghao laughed apologizing.

"Ani for sexual assault." Youngjae corrected. "Mwo?!" Rumi laughed at Youngjae cooking up lies. "Yah! I am being serious. You don't even remember a thing next day but I have to live with those nightmares." Youngjae pointed his finger with accusation at her. "Normally she doesn't like showing affection at all. She wouldn't let me pat her head but when she downs three bottles she'll be all over you."

"Okay. Now you are being too much." Rumi laughed.  "No, it's truth. You get all flirty and touchy. She keeps trying to kiss anyone that's near her." Rumi laughed shaking her head, she can't be believing that it's the truth.

"I can vouch of her being flirty when drunk." Chan said holding up his hand. "Mingyu hyung can too." He said looking at Mingyu who nodded his head. "That time too you were flirting with Vernon hyung."

"Yah that time I wasn't-" Rumi stopped before she exposed herself. "Aarso, I accept defeat." She nodded her head. "But, oppa seriously? Kissing? I can't be doing that?" Youngjae scoffed. "You can and you do every damn time." Rumi laughed "Ah jinja."

"No wonder, you are being called soulmate by this guy." Seungkwan commented pointing at very drunk looking Hoshi. "You both have the same habit of kissing people while drunk." Rumi rolled her eyes at that.

"You cannot compare me to that guy. He is crazy-" "Rumi-ya! My soulmateu!" Hoshi cut her off standing up again making everyone laugh at the table. "Aish, somebody get him a glass of water please." Rumi commented. Dokyeom once again pulled him back down to his seat.

Rumi shook her head at the duo who started arguing about being drunk. These guys are too much. She thought when her phone buzzed. Rumi checked the caller id and let out a sigh. "I can't have a moment of peace for myself, can I?" She muttered pressing the lock button and silencing her phone.

"I have noticed Rumi-ssi has a habit of not receiving the calls." Mingyu commented from her side. Rumi looked up at him and glanced at her phone. "And I have noticed Mingyu-ssi has been noticing me too well. Are you interested?" She asked winking at him. Mingyu was taken aback. "I thought Rumi-ssi gets flirty when drunk?" Both of them burst out laughing at that. Her phone buzzed again. This time with different caller id, Rumi pressed the lock button and silencing it again. Rumi glanced at Mingyu who was already looking at her. He gave her small smile. Rumi returned it. "Excuse me then." She said and stepped out to receive the call.

Rumi walked outside of the restaurant and picked the call. "Bol Soham." She said placing the phone to her ear. "Kay zala? Sagla thik ahe na? (What happened? Everything is fine, right?)"

"Ho, sagla thik ahe. Mi paise aale he sangayla phone kela hota. (Yes, everything is fine. I called you to say that I received the money.)" Rumi nodded humming.

"Thik ahe. Ani te fridge cha? Repair zala ka? Nahi tar navin ghe. (Okay. And what about fridge? Did it get repaired? Or else get a new one.)"

"Nahi, zala toh repair. (No, it got repaired.)" Rumi nodded her head again. There was silence on both side when Rumi heard a loud sigh. "Mani, tu ekda bollun ka nahi ghet kakin shi? (Mani, why don't you talk with Aunty once?)" Rumi let out her own sigh and shut her eyes.

"Soham, tula dusra kahi bolaycha ahe ka? Jar nahi tar mi zara busy ahe. (Soham, do you have anything else to say if not then I am little busy right now.)"

"Mani, kiti divas tu asa karna- (Mani, for how many days are you gonna do-)"

"Eo? Ah ye! Soham, he bagh mi tula nantar call karte, ha? Ani aik kahi garaj lagli tar sang mala. Chal bye. (Soham, look I'll call you later, okay? And listen if you need anything let me know. Bye)" With that Rumi hung up. "Aish." She cursed pocketing her phone. She leaned against the wall behind her and closed her eyes shut.

Running away, she's gotten very good at that, hasn't she? Rumi let out a bitter laugh. "I could use a stick right know." She muttered glancing at the group breathing out white puff. "Nahi, you need to control yourself Rumi." Rumi nodded, pushed herself off the wall and made her way inside.

A smile automatically found its place on her lips. No matter how much dizzy they made her feel with all that chaos, they made her forget about other things, she felt abnormally at peace. Her worries disappeared among those quirky comments and teasing. Rumi snorted at Dokyeom who taken over Hoshi's place of being overly active while Hoshi looked beaten out, barely holding up. Everyone were still at it, bickering and laughing. Rumi smiled and quietly took her seat.

"Rumi-ssi were you out smoking again?" Wonwoo suddenly questioned.

"De?" Rumi looked up stunned. She blinked few times, confirming if she wasn't dreaming. Is he really talking to me? This is the first time he tried to converse with her. The whole evening, he didn't utter a word to me. "A-aniyo." Ah, why did I have to stutter. "I wasn't. Went to receive a call." This time she answered with firm voice. Rumi gulped when Wonwoo just stared at her, his eyes unmoving as he licked his lips and fixed his glasses.

"Good." He nodded. "I have promised Rumi-ssi I will treat you to good food whenever you feel like smoking." He said placing something in her plate. Rumi glanced at her plate and back at him.

"Aish, this guy." Mingyu snorted picking up the garlic from Rumi's plate. "You said good food then why are you serving her garlic?" He said showing the garlic to Wonwoo who blinking his eyes and let out a grin. Minghao snickered at that. "I think he's drunk." Mingyu said shaking his head. "Don't worry. Here have this." Mingyu said serving some cooked meat to Rumi's plate.

Rumi smiled at him in gratefulness and glanced back at Wonwoo who had a silly grin on his face. No wonder, he initiated the conversation. Ahh, I have ruined it, haven't I? Now, this will be only time when Wonwoo-ssi will talk to me, right? When he's drunk enough to not remember my confession. Rumi mentally groaned and angrily shoved the piece of meat in her mouth.

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

Rumi parked the car in front of the restaurant and got off. The idols walked out, some on their feet while others hanging off their members. Rumi chuckled at Dokyeom and Hoshi being helped by their manager and Youngjae into the car. Minghao who was trying his best to help Chan to walk. She opened the passenger's door for them to get in when suddenly Chan pushed of Minghao and came directly at Rumi. "Yah!" Rumi scolded putting her palms on his shoulders to keep him away. "Yah, let go." She said trying to push him away.

"Aniyo!" Chan cried tightening his arm grip around Rumi's waist. "I want to thank noona for saving me!" He exclaimed nestling his head under her neck. "I would be so humiliated if not for Rumi noona."

"Aish ssi-aarso. Noona knows that Chan-ah is thankful. Now let go." Rumi tried pushing him away again. Minghao came to her aid. "Yah! Let go of her!" He scolded slapping Chan's back. Chan shook his head-more like his whole body to show his denial. Rumi pressed her lips together from cursing out.

"Ahh, he's going to be so embarrassed when he sees this." Seungkwan commented from behind them, he's phone out recording everything.

"Seungkwan-ah stop recording and help us." Minghao scolded.

"DINO-YA!" The voice startled everyone even Mingyu who was carrying very drunk Wonwoo out. Suddenly he pushed of Mingyu and started storming towards Rumi and Chan. Minghao fearing being pulled into the mess stepped aside letting. "Let go of Rumi noona, right now!" Wonwoo warned. Noona? Rumi choked at that. What? Did Wonwoo-ssi just call her that? Why was her body suddenly tingling? Ahh, this is not the time for being a horny ass, Rumi! Rumi screamed at herself.

By that time, Wonwoo had grabbed onto Chan's waist and was trying to pull him off her. "Ah! Ah! Jamkkanmanyo!" Rumi said as he was dragging her along with Chan who wouldn't loosen his grip. "Wonwoo-ssi stop."

"Aniyo. I will save Rumi-ssi. I won't let anyone hurt and rip Rumi-ssi shirt again."

"Mwo?!" Rumi looked at him surprised and then realized he was referring to other time. "Wonwoo-ssi nobody is trying to hurt to me or um rip my shirt." She whispered out the last part. She nervously glanced around; it was already uncomfortable with Chan stuck to her but having Wonwoo hanging this close. "Aarso. Wonwoo-ssi, remember the last time. On count of three you pull him off okay?" Rumi said glancing at Mingyu. She nodded to him to come forward. "Wonwoo-ssi let go of him and on count of three you pull him." She said looking at Wonwoo. Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. "On count of three." She whispered looking into his eyes. Wonwoo nodded and slowing let go of Chan. As soon as his hands were off, Mingyu grabbed him from behind and locked his arms.

"AH! Let go of me!" Wonwoo cried thrusting around. "I need to save Rumi-ssi!" Rumi nodded at Mingyu in gratefulness who nodded back and dragged Wonwoo away to their car. "Ahhh let go of me!" Rumi let out a sigh of relief watching him being pushed inside the car and turned her attention back to kid still stuck to her.

"You leave me with no option then." Rumi muttered looking down at Chan's head. She'll have to make use of the strength then but first she needs to take care of other one. "Seungkwan-ssi." She called her voice firm and curt. Seungkwan looked at her and gulped. "Stop recording and get inside the car." She said nodding towards the car, her tone filled with authority. "De." Seungkwan bowed putting aside his phone and quietly doing as instructed.

She then turned towards Minghao who's eyebrows were shot up in surprise. Wah, why did she reminded him of their leader? "Minghao-ssi?" Minghao nodded waiting her instructions. "I will be needing your help with door."

A/N :

Alcohol + Svt = Chaos.

Love,

Alba💜

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