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Chapter 45

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24H | SEVENTEEN

"Yeogi." Wonwoo looked up to see Rumi holding an ice-cream cone for him. Wonwoo smiled taking it while thanking her. Rumi smiled back and sat at the other end of the bench. When stepping out of the apartment building Wonwoo had offered to come along with her to convenience store but Rumi had refused and had left him on a bench in nearby park. "Hehe...eating ice-cream when weather is getting cold has a different fun to it, isn't it?" Rumi asked licking away her ice-cream happily.

"De." Wonwoo nodded licking his own. "Hm what about hyung's?" He asked noticing there was none other than the ones they were eating.

"I'll buy it later or else it'll melt." Rumi grinned showing her teeth. Wonwoo chuckled looking away. "Waeyo?" Rumi asked when Wonwoo leaned in wiped off the ice-cream she had gotten on her cheek.

"Rumi-ssi is such a messy eater." Wonwoo said leaning back. "Ah." He had once again immobilized her. "I didn't mean to-I mean I did want to but I shouldn't have?" He found himself losing his sense of logic. "Mianhaeyo." He apologised bowing his head.

"A-aniyo." Rumi finally stuttered out. "I understand Wonwoo-ssi wanted to help." Rumi looked away going back to her ice-cream. There was complete silence apart the rustling of leaves as the wind blew. Both of them would peek at each other every now and then but wouldn't speak up.

"Sorry about-"

"I'm sorry about-" Both of them burst out laughing. "Rumi-ssi can go first." Wonwoo smiled politely asking her to go first.

"Umm, I'm just sorry about today. Oppa was being too much, sometimes he doesn't know when to stop." Rumi apologised looking at her feet. It must've been uncomfortable for Wonwoo-ssi with oppa saying those things to him. She had already made it awkward with her not so threatening confession and now she was doing these things. I shouldn't have bought those slippers! "Wonwoo-ssi, I am really sorry for making things awkward and uncomfortable!" Rumi suddenly stood up and bowed ninety degrees.

Wonwoo flinched back and looked around. "Aniyo. It's okay I wasn't." Wonwoo said shifting back and patting the bench. "Rumi-ssi doesn't have to apologize. Please."

"I have to. That day I was out of my mind. I confessed ani-It was like I was threatening you. I didn't mean to it's just I tend to get little restless when things don't go my way and act out! I am really, really sorry for doing such uncomfortable things!"

"Rumi-ssi you didn't. But please stopping bowing towards me. Now it is really making me feel uncomfortable." Wonwoo begged looking around. Rumi peeked up and realized they were in public place. "Ah." She straightened up and backed away. "I'm sorry-" "Please stop apologizing too." Rumi clammed her mouth shut. "Please, anjusaeyo." Wonwoo said patting the bench again. Rumi nodded and did as instructed. "I shouldn't have let you if you were going to be like this." Wonwoo muttered. "Eh?" Rumi snapped her head in attention and then covered her mouth. Wonwoo signed his shoulders dropping.

"Actually, I wanted to apologize first. For yesterday, getting drunk and doing those things. I don't know what took over me. I normally don't do things like this. Jeongmal mianhamnida (Really sorry) for causing trouble."

"Animnida. It is okay, I understand. It's because I'm cursed, not your or Chan's fault. Seungkwan-ssi seemed have recorded it I failed to stop him. I'm pretty you both got teased for it. I'm sorry." Rumi apologised bowing again.

"You are doing it again. Apologizing when it is not your fault. Rumi-ssi that day too, it was my fault for overstepping the boundaries. I shouldn't have said those things nor should I have gotten upset with you. I don't know what I was thinking, getting all upset because Rumi-ssi was avoiding me. Of course, it was fine if Rumi-ssi doesn't want to talk with me but I don't know why I got so upset maybe I got little jealous because of Soonyoungie that I burst out like that. I even drove Rumi-ssi into the corner that Rumi-ssi had to confessed like that." Rumi choked and started coughing loudly at that. "Rumi-ssi, are you okay?" Wonwoo worriedly leaned towards her.

"I-I'm fine." Rumi said putting her hand in between.

"Rumi-ssi, it is I who should apologize for making things awkward and uncomfortable between us." Wonwoo said looking at her with apologetic eyes. Ah I don't like that look. Rumi thought looking away. "I am really sorry Rumi-ssi." Rumi nodded avoiding his eyes. "I know you were trying your best but I went ahead and said those things that and I know it must be difficult for Rumi-ssi. I will stop coming here from now on, today I just wanted to apologize. I'll explain to hyung don't worry; you don't have to uncomfortable just for other's sake. I am really sorry for all this time. I am really sorry that-"

"Wonwoo-ssi I rather much take your rejection then you apologising like this." Rumi turned to him with a smile. Wonwoo suddenly stopped his mouth opening and closing. She had a smile on her face but why did her words felt cold. "I'm not fragile hearted that I cannot take rejection. Like I had said that day, I just wanted to let you know about how I felt, I never expected any answer or wanted you give it any second thoughts." Why did her words cut through my chest? "Wonwoo-ssi you don't have to be so considerate. You didn't drove me to a corner or anything. I do not regret confessing, just the way I did, I do." Rumi chuckled before pressing her lips together.

"I was going to confess someday or other. I am like that you know, say what I feel, strait-laced. So, it is okay to reject my feelings directly rather than apologizing. You feeling sorry for me is like rubbing salt on my wound."

Wonwoo didn't know how to respond to it. To be honest he never really thought of what he felt about her confession. The only thoughts that ran around his mind were how childish his behaviour was; about the things he had said in front of the boys. He was only thinking of not wanting to make her feel any more embarrassed. Now also he wasn't really thinking of responding to her confession he was just feeling sorry because he had embarrassed her that by saying those things in front of the boys. He was apologizing for that and not about him not wanting to return her feelings. "I'm sorry-ah." Wonwoo cut himself off before he went and rubbed salt on her wound again. Rumi smiled and stood up.

"It's getting late. We should get going." Rumi said putting her hand out. Wonwoo glanced at her hand and then at her hand. "Wrapper." Rumi smiled pointing towards the ice-cream wrapper he had clutched in his hands. "Ah." He nodded and placed it in her hands standing up. "Ru-" Rumi had already turned around. Wonwoo sighed and quietly followed her as she threw the trash in dustbin, guided him out of the park and called for the taxi. "Wonwoo-ssi?" Rumi smiled opening the door of passengers for him.

Wonwoo nodded and walked in before stopping. "Just a second please." He said to the driver before turning back to Rumi who furrowed her eyebrows but still put on a smile. A forced smile, he had learned to differentiate them by now. "Rumi-ssi." She hummed nodding her head, the smile not moving an inch. "I really didn't mean those things I said that day and today too. I am sorry if it fe-"

"Wonwoo-ssi." Chuwo. The way she called out his name was too cold. "It's getting late. You should go." She said this time her smile disappearing as she stepped back. "Have a safe drive back to dorm." She politely bowed. Wonwoo opened and closed his mouth words failing to come out. Her tone was too curt too cold. Have I done it? He watched her head bowed refusing to look at him. He stared at her debating before sighing and getting in the taxi. Wonwoo's eyes watched her figure in the side mirror as driver shifted the gear and taxi started moving. Not once, even once she looked up much to Wonwoo's hope. "Otokke..." Wonwoo sighed leaning back in his seat.

"Oppa, I am back." Rumi muttered closing the door behind and dragging her feet to the couch where Youngjae was resting. "Here's your ice-cream." She sighed placing the bag on the table and plopping down on the couch beside him.

Youngjae grinned thanking her to which she hummed and slipped her head on his lap. "What about you? Don't you want one?" He asked looking down at her. Rumi signed and shook her head. Youngjae nodded went back to unwrapping his ice-cream. "What happened? Did you both talked?" There was silence before a meek yes was heard. He stopped and looked down. "Are you crying?" Rumi turned her head and glared at him. "Ani, you are not." He answered himself while turning her head back to its place.

Rumi sighed again. "Oppa mianhae but I don't think Wonwoo-ssi will be come here from now on." Rumi apologized staring at her reflection in the dark television screen. "Are you sad?" Rumi turned back to look at him. "Sad? Why would I feel sad? Hah, I am not sad. Are you sad? You must be." She sat up. Youngjae watched her avoiding his eyes.

"Eo. Why you will be sad? Right, I must be. I am sad." Youngjae answered licking his ice-cream.

"Whatever. I am going to bed. You too, don't stay up late playing games." Rumi said hurriedly getting up and leaving to her room. Rumi slammed door the behind her and sat on her bed with exhausted sigh leaving her mouth. "Sad? Why would I feel sad?" She muttered getting under the covers and laying down. Rumi tossed and turned around under the covers before finally kicking them off and sitting up. She leaned towards the side table and opened the first drawer. "Ah damn it. I forget I got rid of them." She muttered to herself looking at the empty drawer which used to store her cigarette and lighter. Pushing close the drawer she leaned back laying down once again. "Arg!" She let out a groan covering eyes with her arm. "Why do I feel disappointed?" Rumi muttered before she let out a bitter laugh. "Was I that confident? Of course, I was going to get rejected. What was I even thinking? There was no chance of Wonwoo-ssi ever liking me in the first place. What is there to like in me? I have no manners whatsoever. I tend to act like a barbarian and I am not even half as pretty as those girls around him. Disappointed, pff." She laughed.

"I must've gone crazy."

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

Rumi's life was back to usual, dodging between her pseudo identity to working as agent in background. She would spend her morning working in front of computer screen and after lunch she would disappear in security room. She was trying her best to focus on her job and forget about the disappointment of getting rejected. And to her fortune her days were going peaceful unusually peaceful to exact. Apart from Han Jina not losing her tail there wasn't anything up with her daily life recently. Rumi had finally managed to get her hands on Jina's information and yes, Misoo had beat Hyun to it.

"Unnie, I had enough of it." Rumi exclaimed walking into the Misoo's cabin. "What it is? Why is she able to get away with it?" Rumi questioned leaned on her desk. Misoo raised her eyebrows and tilted her head to look behind her. She made her 'ah' realizing who Rumi was referring to.

"Wae? I thought you both were getting along these days?" Misoo asked. "I heard others talk about how you both sort it over and are hard to separate? Oh, and how come you are having lunch with her and refused me every time?"

"Sort it over, mwo? News travels faster around here." Rumi laughed plopping down on the chair. "And are you going to pay for my lunch if I say yes?" Misoo tsk raising corner of her mouth in distaste. "Exactly, now tell me what do you know about the brat? I know she's rich and got some good connections but who?"

"Dae pyo." Rumi looked her confused. "She's daughter of Deputy Chairman." Rumi leaned back in chair mouth open. She knew Jina had connections but daughter? "Don't worry she won't here for long. Her father wants her to work as normal employee first and learn before she takes over. She'll be gone soon so endure it for little more." Misoo requested patting Rumi hand.

"What else do you know about her? Like her lifestyle?" Rumi questioned when Misoo gave quizzical look. "Ahhh forget about it." Rumi stood up. She'll get everything else from Hyun.

"How much can you eat?" Jina questioned Rumi with a disgusted look on her face. Rumi smiled happily carrying Samgyetang, the most expensive dish on the menu today. "Look at all that fat floating over..." Jina muttered as Rumi sat down waiting no seconds dipping her spoon and slurping the creamy pale soup.

"Ahhhh..." She moaned leaning back. "Jina-ssi you are missing on something amazing just because of those diets." Rumi said smiling at Jina who glanced at bowl and licked her lips. Jina was good at keeping up with her diets and never like having food apart from it being cook by Michelin star chef. But these days she found herself fighting the urge to try the canteen food. Having lunch with Rumi and watching her enjoy the food made Jina really wonder if the canteen food was that good? "Here try some." Rumi said holding spoonful to feed her. Jina unconsciously leaned in licking her lips.

"Ani!" She leaned back looking away. Rumi shrugged and pushed spoon in her own mouth. "Did you call him yet?" Jina asked turning to glare at Rumi, as if she was the devil tempting her.

"Eo! I fofgot." Rumi said her words muffled with spoon in her mouth. "I don't think he will be around for few days." She said removing the spoon. "They are preparing for what's the word again-ah comeback yes, they are preparing for a comeback. I thought you knew-ah you wouldn't considering your absence in meetings." Rumi taunted her with a smile.

Jina scoffed rolling her eyes. "You could've said that before." She stood up picking up her coffee up. "Eo? You are leaving?" Rumi questioned making a sad pout. "Yes and stop making that face. You are already ugly, doing that doesn't do any good." Rumi laughed as she walked off. "Okay! Thank you for the lunch! Hehe, just you and me..." Rumi giggled admiring her bowl of chicken soup.

"Mwohae, have you finally lost it?" A tray was placed besides hers. Hoshi put his legs over the bench and sat down beside her. "Laughing like some crackhead."

"What are you doing here?!" Rumi suddenly exclaimed holding his back of head pushing it down so his face wasn't visible. She glanced around to see if Jina was still around. "Ah! Ah! Ah! My neck. Yah!" Hoshi cried in pain while Rumi continued to scanned the canteen area. "Haven't I asked you to not show up!" Rumi gritted through her teeth while letting go his head after confirming the coast was clear.

"Ahh...apha!" He yelled glaring at her. "I thought it was okay to show since I didn't receive your call today." Rumi groaned. "You told me to not receive your call to return your text during lunch time." Rumi sighed letting it go, it was of no use arguing with a blockhead. "And besides I did not come alone today." Rumi furrowed her eyebrows when his company showed up.

"Leader-nim." Rumi grinned as Seungcheol grinned back saluting. It wasn't just him, Wonwoo was there too. Rumi politely smiled and bowed in greeting. "Yah!" Hoshi nudged her. "What are these double standards? Why are you so happy to see him and not me?" Rumi lifted her corner of mouth and gave him once over and turned to face Seungcheol. "Leader-nim, how come you are here today? I've never seen you before here." She asked completely ignoring Hoshi. "Yahh!" Hoshi pushed her with his shoulder.

"Hmm, food is expensive here." Seungcheol answered and Rumi nodded understanding. "Schedule is tight so had no option. You must be busy too, right?" Rumi shrugged her shoulder smiling in answer. "She's always busy but not too busy to skip lunch." Hoshi answered. "Speaking of lunch, how come you are having something expensive today..." He trailed off his hand moving to steal the chicken leg from her bowl. Rumi slapped his hand away.

"Uh huh, hands to yourself." Rumi warned pulling her bowl away from him. "My precious chicken." She smiled as Hoshi muttered cheapskate under his breath. "Did you buy it?" He questioned eyeing the chicken. "Ani, I got myself a new sugar mommy." She grinned looking at him.

"Mwo?! Sugar mommy? Yah what about me?!" Hoshi exclaimed grabbing her shoulders. "Are you cheating on me?! No wonder you asked me to not show up at lunch!" He dramatically cried shaking her.

"Ahh. So, that was the reason." Seungcheol commented pointing his spoon at them. "And here I was thinking why are you hanging around him? Mooching him off, nice." Seungcheol gave her a thumps up which Rumi returned with a 'hehe' and a peace sign. She's been learning a lot about these signs with Na-ra and others. Kids these days use lot of shortforms and signs. She was trying to keep up.

"Wah, hyung you are unbelievable." Hoshi gasped feigning hurt. "Your brother is being cheated on and you are what? Nice? Hyung you are suppose to be on my side!" Seungcheol looked up. "Rumi-ya, good job." He nodded and went back to eating. "Hyungggg! Wonwoo-ya you are on my side right?" Wonwoo quietly pushed a can of soft drink towards Rumi ignoring Hoshi. "Wahhh jinja! These guys..." Wonwoo waited for Rumi to look at him again but she never did just bowed her head in thanks and laughed at whining Hoshi. Is she really not going to talk with me again? After that night we haven't seen each other, I never went back to their apartment and we didn't run into each other in company either. At least she's not avoiding me, right? But not talking while sitting right in front of me bothers me more. Should I try initiating it?

"Rumi-ssi how is Youngjae hyung?" Rumi stopped at those words. She hummed placing the spoon back in the bowl. "He's good." Wonwoo smiled when she finally looked up at him. "I was-" Rumi already had turned to Seungcheol.

"It is this coming month right? Your comeback." She asked. "I mean I've heard things but before that you have some concert coming up, right? Wahh how are you guys going to manage it?" Rumi asked worriedly glancing at Hoshi and Seungcheol. Seungcheol laughed nodding his head. "We just do it. Our schedule can get busier than this." Seungcheol answered with small smile. "Must be exhausting." Rumi said empathically.

"Obviously, did you think we just look pretty and handsome to earn money?" Hoshi asked with a snort. "Eo." Much to his-no everyone's surprised Rumi nodded her head. "Yah." Seungcheol looked at her. "Sorry but if I have to be honest, I really used to think like that until I started working here." Rumi explained. "This is like a new world to me. I have seen fair share of weird things before in my life but this really different." Rumi shook her head as if still not able to cope up with those things.

"Yah, you are only one weird." Hoshi said looking at her annoyed. "You think you are still living in 90's." Rumi turned to him with narrowed eyes. "Mwo? Mwo? How can our company hired someone like you? Hyung, I don't think HR team is working hard these days."

"Yah! I am not that of a stone head. I'm trying to learn these things! Just yesterday I learned these." Rumi exclaimed and proceeded to make various types of hearts with her fingers and arms. "And mwo? What is that? Ah Mbti! I am a I!" Rumi cried in desperation. The trio stared at her in silence before bursting out in laughter. "Mwo! Mwo?! Why are you all laughing at?"

"Aish." Hoshi wiped his tears. "Ah Rumi-ya..." He pinched her cheeks. "Aigoo I didn't knew you can be this cute." He giggled as Rumi slapped his hands away. "Yah myeot sariya? (How old are you?) Do you belong to group who still ask about blood group?" Seungcheol through between laughs. Rumi furrowed her eyebrows and looked at other two for help. "Blood group? Is this another one of the trends?" She asked making the boys go in another fit of laughter.

"Aniyo, Rumi-ssi. He is calling you old." Wonwoo helped trying to hide his laughter. Rumi looked at him confused before going 'I'm old,' Wonwoo burst out laughing at her cute clueless self. "Aniyo, just how people now ask about Mbti, years ago people used to ask blood group to know about one's personality." He explained making Rumi go 'oh.'

"Ah, well we used to ask about rashi back home, hmm rashi la kay boltat (rashi, hmm what do they call rashi)-ah zodiac sign, sun sign?" Rumi said nodding herself. "Anyways, things are too complicated these days." Rumi shook her head fed up with it.

"Still, you've been in Korea for what? Four years? That makes it these recent four years right?" Seungcheol asked earning a nod from her. "Then you should've known about these things if you learned Korean and our culture." Rumi nodded giving it a serious thought. "I should have right?" She asked looking at him. "Yah, why are you asking me? Whom did you learn from? Classes, youtube or was it your brother?" He questioned.

"Ani, oppa is too impatient. He tried and abandoned me in two days." Rumi revealed earning a comment from Hoshi. "Because you are an incompatible student." Rumi threw him a glare. "I used to work part-time in markets. Oppa said it was best way for me. It really was though, I got learn, earn money, and free food." She grinned happily at free food. Hoshi snorted calling her pig.

"Ah, no wonder." Seungcheol nodded in understanding. "That's why you curse like sailor." Rumi showed a peace sign feeling proud of her new learning. Seungcheol chuckled shaking his head. "Gwiyeowo."

"You can't show peace sign to everything. Let me show you other things. Do this." Hoshi said putting his hand out and making a claw sign. "No, no. Don't learn anything from that guy." Seungcheol warned. Rumi nodded putting her hand down which was about to follow Hoshi's. "He can't be trusted, nor any other guys." Seungcheol said. "Learn from this guy, he won't teach you bad things." Seungcheol said pointing at Wonwoo. Rumi snapped her eyes at him, Wonwoo himself looked surprised at that. Seungcheol glanced at them, he had noticed the tension between those two. Though Rumi was trying her best to not hide it but he had sensed it right away. And from what he had heard these two definitely had something going on though it wasn't any of his business still both were part of his pack now. So, he wanted them to resolve it.

"Ani, it's okay. I am learning from co-workers. They are quite up with trends." She refused smiling at Seungcheol.

"Are you sure? It might look like it but Wonu knows lot of things, he's very knowledgeable, right Hoshi-ya?" Seungcheol said looking at Hoshi for help. Hoshi knitting his eyebrows but nodded anyways. "Rather than hanging around this blockhead, hang around Wonu, I am sure he'll let you mooch off him too." Seungcheol said jokingly bumping his shoulder with Wonwoo's. Rumi let out an awkward laugh with small nod of her head.

A/N :

I'm two days late but I hope this chapter makes it up!

Love,

Alba💜

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