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"Thank you very much for understanding." Rumi bowed several times. "No, thank you for protecting our idols." The girl bowed back. Rumi smiled nodding. "Then, I'll trust you with that. Gomapseumnida." Rumi bowed towards them one last time and turned around to get in the taxi.

"Um jogiyo!" Rumi stopped and turned around to see a girl had walked up to her.

"De?"  Rumi asked. The girl held up the plastic bag she was holding. Rumi looked at her in question. "Um, your cheek is all swelled up." She said nodding towards Rumi's cheek which didn't look in good condition. "I bought ice for drink; you can have it."  The girl said removing the juice pouch from the bag and pushing the plastic bag in her hand. "Ice it, the swelling will go down."

Rumi chuckled and nodded her head. "Gamsahamnida." She bowed her head in gratefulness before climbing inside the taxi. Rumi closed the door behind her while settling down in the passenger's seat. "I'm sorry for the wait." She apologized to the driver who had been waiting for her. The driver nodded in understanding and pulled out of the driveway. Rumi leaned back in the seat and let out a sigh. Am I going soft? She snorted to herself at that thought. Her eyes met Seungcheol's who was glaring at her through the rear-view mirror. She turned around to look at the two idols. "I'm all sober now." She chuckled. She was not. "What about you? Are you both okay?" She asked glancing at both of them.

"We are-"

"Are we okay? Are you in a position to ask us that?!" Seungcheol roared. He had been holding it since Jeonghan had pushed him inside the taxi. He knew he couldn't have done anything back then but still it was infuriating to having to stand there and not able to do anything while that girl called her names and assaulted her. "Have you looked at your face yet?!" Seungcheol roared. Rumi sighed, "It's nothing, really-" "Why did you have to get in middle of it?"

"Seungcheol-ah, she was just trying to help." Jeonghan held his arm trying to calm him down. Jeonghan knew why he was behaving like that. He himself was fuming inside but more importantly he was worried about Rumi. Not able to do anything for their near ones in such situation was always frustrating and Seungcheol was putting it all out on Rumi. "Trying to help? Nobody asked her to! You could've backed off. I could've handle it."

"There were people around leader-nim. And it is my job to help and protect you all." Rumi said sighing again. Hearing those words fumed his anger more. "IT IS NOT! You work for our company that does not mean you have to protect us at the cost of getting hurt!" He roared, Rumi was little surprised at his raised voice, she had never seen him like this before. "Do you think you are doing us good, oh she protected us! Do you think that is going to make us feel good? No, it is not!"

"Seungcheol-ah..." Jeonghan squeezed his arm, though he agreed with each word of his but this was not the correct way of expressing it. "Do you think we want to see our friends getting us because of us?!" Seungcheol asked glaring at her. Rumi didn't know what to say. She pressed her lips and looked away. She was frustrated too, getting hit across her face? If someone from her agency knew she smiled at it and offered her other cheek then they would not believe that she was Rumi Raikar but some imposter in her disguise. Getting hit was one thing but being snapped at after that was another.  She couldn't snapped back him or explain that yes indeed it was her job, that she was hired to protect them. So, she did what she has been getting good at these days. Pretending everything is fine. "I know. I'm sorry." She apologised. Seungcheol was about to retort back when Jeonghan stopped him.

"Rumi, you don't have to apologise. We know you were trying to help us. It's just we don't want to see you getting hurt because of it." Jeonghan worriedly said. Seungcheol scoffed and leaned back in his seat looking away. Jeonghan sighed glancing at him. "Thank you for helping us earlier." Jeonghan bowed towards her. Regardless, she had tried to protect us. Rumi silently bowed back and returned to her seat.  Jeonghan glanced at her worriedly, her face didn't look good. "Are you okay, Rumi?" He questioned.

"De, I'm fine." Rumi replied glancing at them through rear-view mirror. "Leader-nim, your fans are quite nice, one of them gave me ice for the swelling." She chuckled showing the plastic bag to Seungcheol, who glared her in response. She let out a laugh at that. She was not sober at all.

Rest of the ride was silent until they reached the dorms. Rumi around and opened her mouth to speak but Seungcheol was off slamming the door of taxi. Rumi pressed her lips and sighed. "You didn't have to come along; we could have dropped you off first." Jeonghan said. Rumi shook her head and smiled. "Ani, I have to make sure you get back safe after what happened." Jeonghan sighed but nodded his head anyways.  "Get back safe." He said getting off. Seungcheol was waiting for him outside, arms crossed his foot taping the floor. Jeonghan walked up to him. "Seungcheol-ah have you calm down yet?" He asked throwing his arm over his shoulder.

"No." Seungcheol flatly replied. "She didn't even regret it a bit!" He exclaimed glaring down at the taxi when the passenger door opened and Rumi climbed down. "Yah!" Seungcheol screamed at her. "Why are you getting off?! Are you going to help us to bed too?!" He taunted when the taxi behind her drove off. "Yah the taxi!" Seungcheol ran towards it but it was long gone.

"Rumi, why did you got off?" Jeonghan asked walking back to her. Rumi smiled. "Making sure you get back home safely." She replied glancing at Seungcheol who stomped towards her. Jeonghan was quick to hold him back. "Are you purposely trying to get on my nerves?" Seungcheol glared.

"Maybe." Rumi teased. "I just I want to clear my head. I'll walk back to bus stop." Rumi fixed her words before Seungcheol lost it. "Are you sure? You had a little too much and it's late. Let me call another taxi for you-" Jeonghan was stopped from taking out his phone. "Aniyo. I really want to take a walk." Rumi shook her head.

"Since you are here, get in we'll fix your stupid face." Seungcheol said shrugging off Jeonghan's grip. Rumi shook her head in denial. "No, I shouldn't. You go back and fix your temper first." She retort. "Aish ssi-" Seungcheol held up his fist as if wanting to hit her. "Ahh mwolla! Go do whatever fuck you want! Get bashed by another kid! Go!" He screamed before storming inside the apartments. "Seungcheol-ah!" Jeonghan called behind him but was paid no heed. "Rumi..." He turned towards her. Rumi chuckled. "Gwenchanayo Jeonghan-ssi. I'm fine really. Please go back." She said grabbing him by his shoulder and turning him around before pushing him towards apartment. "Go on or you'll just make me late."  She blackmailed. Jeonghan hesitantly glanced at her and walked inside. Rumi smiled and waved her hand at him.

Jeonghan walked inside to see Seungcheol waiting. "Has she left yet?" He asked. Jeonghan nodded his head. "Seungcheol-ah you didn't have react like that. She was trying to help us you know?" Seungcheol scoffed as both of them walked into their apartment. "I know, but she's just too infuriating!" He exclaimed as Jeonghan sighed again.

"Mwoya, what happened?" Jun asked looking at very fuming Seungcheol walk in. Wonwoo looked at two of them. "Didn't you go out for drinks? Did you both fight?" He asked when the water bottle from his hand was snatched as Seungcheol plopped on couch with curt no. "Why are you both up?" Jeonghan asked trying to distract them from their annoyed leader.

"We were playing games." Jun replied glancing at Seungcheol. "What happened with him?" He questioned looking at Jeonghan who let a sigh. "We had an encounter with stubborn fan." Jeonghan confessed. "Was it bad?" Jun asked earning a nod of affirmative. "The girl was little drunk, so was hard to get rid of. Rumi tried to help but was attacked."

"What?" Wonwoo head shot up at Rumi's name. "Was Rumi-ssi with you? And what do you mean attacked?" Wonwoo asked looking at him. "That idiot tried to protect us and was verbally and physically assaulted! Idiot! She didn't even regretted it when I screamed at her. She had audacity to smiled at me!" Seungcheol ranted.

"Calm down will you?" Jeonghan sighed, he was annoyed too. Plus, she said she will walk back. "Ah, can you call her and see if she reached the bus stand?" Jeonghan rubbed his forehead, now that he was sober his head had started to ache. "Which is the nearest bus station from here?" He asked looking up at his members.

"Mwo? You mean, Rumi-ssi was here?" Wonwoo asked snapping his head at Jeonghan who nodded his head. "Yes, I asked her to come i-" Before he could complete his sentence Wonwoo had ran out. Wonwoo tried to keep up his pace with house slippers he had ran out in. He pushed opened the apartments' door and looked around for her. Nowhere to seen, he started making his way out to alley thinking she had left when his eyes fell on the figure sitting on the pavement. He stopped and walked in front of her. "Rumi-ssi." She was sitting down, hands on knees with her head bowed down. Hearing her name being called she looked up and squinted her eyes, a dazed smile formed on her lips.

"Wonwoo-ssi." She called standing up. "It is-" She stumbled from getting up too quickly, Wonwoo grabbed her steadying. "-Wonwoo-ssi." She giggled. "Why is Wonwoo-ssi here?" She asked before laughing at her own question. "Right, Wonwoo-ssi stays here." She answered herself.

"Are you okay?" Wonwoo asked. Rumi nodded and looked up at him. No, you are not. Wonwoo's eyes fell on her swollen cheek. "You are not Rumi-ssi." His hand moving to grab her chin to look at her wound but Rumi stepped back avoiding him. Wonwoo's hand stopped mid-air and dropped back to his side. What is this, it felt weird in chest, he didn't like the feeling of Rumi avoiding him.

"Wonwoo-ssi should be cautious of your moves because I am not in correct state of mind, right now." Rumi warned peeking at him through her eyelashes. "I won't be able control myself." She teased smirking at him. To be honest, she wasn't that drunk, little tipsy but after that slap she had sobered up. Though her head felt like it was splitting apart. Wonwoo standing in front of her with that worried look made her think back to conversation she had with Seungcheol and Jeonghan earlier. She doesn't want to put Wonwoo in trouble. "Then let's go."

"Go where?" Wonwoo didn't answered just grabbed her hand and started dragging her inside. "Wonwoo-ssi wait! I can't. I'm fine really." Rumi argued trying to dig her feet in ground but her legs weren't cooperating.

All three of them looked up when the door was opened. Wonwoo looking like he was on mission and flustered looking Rumi dragged by him. Wonwoo got rid of his slippers and leaned down to help Rumi remove her shoes. "Ah-aniyo! Aniyo, I can do that." Rumi stepped back panicking. Wonwoo stared at her and nodded. Stumbling she managed to remove her shoes and shyly looked up. Seungcheol was sitting on couch glaring at her, while Jun and Jeonghan were worriedly looking at her. "Come in." Wonwoo helped her inside. "Annyeonghaseyo." She shyly bowed at Jun who greeted her back. Jeonghan was by her side guiding her to couch, while Wonwoo disappeared somewhere.

"Sit here." Jeonghan pushed her beside a pissed looking Seungcheol who made some space for her. Jun had brought her a glass of water. Rumi smiled thanking him. "Are you okay?" Jun asked looking at her swollen face. Rumi opened her mouth to assure him but was cut off by Seungcheol scoff. "Does she looks okay to you? Look at her stupid face. Why don't you ask her whether she'll liked to be bashed again?" Rumi turned to glare at him. What is with this guy really? Rumi was about to retort back when Jeonghan patted her hand. "Seungcheol."

"Really what is with his temper?" Rumi asked pointing her thumb at him. "I said I'm sorry. What else does leader-nim want me to do?" She asked turning towards him. "Jun-ssi, is it fair? To be scolded after like this?" Rumi asked looking at Jun. She was trying to lighten up the mood because they genuinely looked worried. "I don't want to bring this up but you are being annoying. Yah! Naega neohante noona-ya! (I am older than you!)" She exclaimed pretending to be angry.

"Then act like one!" Seungcheol argued back.

"I was!" Rumi said. "I was protecting you like I should."

"Rumi-ssi." Rumi snapped her head at Wonwoo who had returned with first-aid kit. Rumi opened her mouth to complain but Wonwoo shook his head making her scoff and cross her arms. "Why am I being scolded?" She muttered. "Give it to me." Jeonghan said asking for the first-aid kit Wonwoo was holding, he looked down at it and hesitantly passed. Jeonghan began preparing to treat her wound. "There's no need for it, Jeonghan-ssi. I am fine really." Rumi said watching him pour brown liquid on a cotton bud. "My skin is little sensitive that's why it looks like this. I am fine really. The swelling will go down by morning." She reasoned trying to touch her cheek when it was slapped away by him. "Ow."

"You are bleeding." He said. "There's a big scratch. It is going to sting." He warned moving to clean her wound gauging her reaction not wanting to hurt her.

"You should get a shot or something." Seungcheol commented from beside her. "For what? Rabies?" She snorted earning a tsk from Jeonghan. "Ani, the girl should get it, since she scratched a dog like you." Seungcheol retorted. "Yah!" Rumi exclaimed.

"Mwo?! What were you even thinking? You let her call you all sort things, she hit you and what did you do? Offer her other cheek?! What happened to Rumi who beat up a man in middle of a resort?" Jeonghan placed a bandage allowing Rumi to fully face Seungcheol.

"What did you wanted me to do? Hit her back? She was drunk, leader-nim." Rumi asked raising her eyebrow in surprise. He was definitely not in right state of him mind right now. "We all were, I tried to handle it calmly."

"So, what? Being drunk gets you license to hit others?" Seungcheol argued back raising his own eyebrow.  "Rumi, you could've just back away. I could've handle it. This is not the first time when members are hoarded like this. I could've handle it and protected him."

"And who is going to protect you then?" Rumi asked. "When you are doing your best as the older brother, protecting your members looking after them, who is going to protect you then, huh?" Seungcheol opened and closed his mouth suddenly flustered with her statement. "Leader-nim, there are people who here for you. So, you don't need to do it all by yourself, hmm?" Rumi smiled patting his head. "I understand that you both were worried, I know that you are care for me and don't want to see me getting hurt while doing something like this but I'm sorry I am going to keep doing this." She confessed. Rumi really wondered if she should feel good about boys caring about her or feel guilty knowing that she will worry them considering her identity.

"I am going to step in whenever you all are in danger." She said glancing at all four of them. "I might get hurt sometimes that's okay because what's little wounds gonna do to me." She grinned pointing towards her cheek. "I'll make sure you all are safe. Take it as if I am here for that, to protect you all." Rumi smiled glancing at Jun, Wonwoo who standing in front her and then at Jeonghan and Seungcheol beside her. "You can get all angry you want but I will not stop meddling." She grinned looking at Seungcheol.

"Protect us with that weak body." Seungcheol scoffed looking away not being able to maintain eye contact. He was suddenly feeling warm inside. Her words felt like warm, soft blanket in winter. "Yah what weak body? I bet I'm stronger than you." Rumi teased bumping her shoulder with his. Seungcheol scoffed muttering something about bringing her down in one go. Rumi just laughed return. "Chala mag." Rumi stood up. "I better get going before I miss the last bus." She said smiling at them. "Jeonghan-ssi thank you for this." Rumi said pointing towards her bandaged cheek. Jeonghan pursed his lips and nodded his head. She then turned towards Jun and Wonwoo, "Thank you for taking care of me." She politely bowed towards and then turned towards the big boss. "Leader-nim, I'll get going." She said with teasing smile on her face. Seungcheol huffed and stood up to walk her out.

"Ani, hyung I'll go." Wonwoo said glancing at Rumi and then at him. Seungcheol looked at him and then nodded his head. "Rumi-ssi?"

"Ye. Have a good night." Rumi bided her byes and followed Wonwoo. "You really don't have to walk me out Wonwoo-ssi." Rumi said as both of them made their way out of the apartment building. Wonwoo glanced at her not saying anything. Rumi furrowed her eyebrows. What is it? Is he mad? Rumi stopped as they were about to step out of the gates. "Wonwoo-ss is everything alright?" She asked making him stop and turn to look at her. "Are you upset?" She asked.

"Aniyo I'm alright." Wonwoo replied with little shake of his head. Rumi pursed her lips and nodded her head. "Then, I'll get going." She smiled at him and turned around to leave. "Rumi-ssi?"

"De?" Rumi turned to look at him when Wonwoo grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug. Rumi froze as Wonwoo's arms circled around her shoulder pulling her closer. Her body went stiff, what was happening right now? Whatever was happening, it wasn't good for her heart which was going too fast. She could smell the fragrance of his perfume, or was it his natural scent? "Wonwoo-ssi, what are you do-"

"Shhh...Let's just stay like this for few seconds." Rumi pursed her lips from breathing out loudly. Her arms stayed unmoving by her sides. Ah, what if he can hear my heart going fast? Wait a sec- I probably smell of sweat and alcohol. "Mianhaeyo." Wonwoo said, he's deep and soft voice rumbling in her ear. "I am sorry for what happened today." It was hard to focus on what was he saying with him basically whispering in her ear. "You shouldn't have to hear such words and face such things." He continued as Rumi tried hard to focus on what he was saying and not his sensuous voice.

"I-It's fine. I am used to it." Rumi replied when Wonwoo pulled back a little looked down at her. "It isn't something that you should get used to, Rumi-ssi." He scolded. "You don't deserve to be called names and this." He continued as his fingers traced the wound on her cheek. "Look at it. It must've hurt?" He asked, his eyes full of worry. Rumi was tongue-tied, the way he was looking at her, their closeness. How come this man made her feel restless yet comfortable. Rumi let out a sign, her eyes closing and unconsciously leaning into his hold. Wonwoo's thumb lightly stroke her cheek. "It's okay." He said making her open her eyes.

Once again Wonwoo pulled her in a hug, one arm going around her waist while other gently grabbing back of her neck. "It's okay to show that you are tired sometimes. It's okay to be wanting to have a shoulder to lean on. Rumi-ssi, doesn't have to always pretend that everything is alright." He said stroking her head. Rumi smiled and circled her own arms around his waist. "Hmm." She hummed nuzzling her face in between his shoulder and neck. Wonwoo smiled and continued stroking her head as both of them stood in comfort of each other's arms.

"Gomawayo." Rumi pulled back and looked up at him. "What for?" She asked furrowing her eyebrows, Wonwoo smiled. "For what you did earlier for hyung." Rumi smiled back and nodded her head.

Wonwoo stared down at her, he had finally seen the little dimple under her chin. He wanted to poke it but stopped himself realizing their close proximity. He had his arms still circled around her waist as hers around his. Her dark fox eyes were looking up at him, her warm breath was hitting his face. He could feel her heart beating unruly against his chest as she nervously glanced into his eyes and down at his lips. She was trying hard not to but they would often go down. Wonwoo licked his own lips watching her eyes go even darker. Wonwoo himself stared down at her full lips. Rumi visibly gulped, "Wonwoo-ssi."  She called pushing her hand in between them. It was like Wonwoo broke out of his trance; he blinked few times and stepped back feeling a little push.

Rumi cleared her throat and looked away, avoiding to look at him. "Umm I should get going." She said pointing her thumb towards the gate.

"De? Ah de." Wonwoo himself looked away feeling his cheeks heat up. "Umm, get back safe." He said turning to look at her. She was already looking at him but look away as soon as their eyes met. "Ah then. Good night." She quickly bowed and basically ran away without waiting for Wonwoo to say his byes. Wonwoo chuckled "She looked like a chicken running away."

"Good night, Rumi-ssi." Wonwoo smiled to himself.

A/N :

Thoughts?

Love,

Alba💜