५४

Rumi climbed in closing the door behind her. "Good morning!" She greeted putting on the seatbelt. Hyun glanced at her, "It's half past twelve." Rumi clicked her tongue. "Well, it's morning for me." She replied the grin on her face unreplaceable. Hyun rolled his eyes and shifted the gear. "Why are you suddenly all smiles these days? Did something happened while I was gone?" Hyun questioned glancing at her. "Am I?" Rumi turned towards him with same grin. "Maybe because you were gone?" Hyun snorted at her response. "I don't know, I'm just feeling happy these days." Rumi continued staring up ahead. Hyun glanced at her; she really did look happy. He smiled to himself.

"So, how far have we come along?" Hyun asked. "As I mentioned the other day; nothing much. I don't how long or if they will be able to get into that system? And about everything else, is going smoothly, I think." Rumi added. Hyun stared at her in rear-view mirror. "What about the incident?" Rumi turned towards him furrowing her eyebrows. "What incid-ahh that. Wait a second. If you know about everything then why are you asking me to report?" Rumi narrowed her eyes annoyed.

"Because I want to hear from you. How did you get into such situation in first place? Haven't I and captain warned you about maintaining your distance with them?" Rumi rolled her eyes. "Rumi don't you see you are getting too attached to them?"

"I am not. We are as close as co-workers are supposed to be. I work around them, it obvious that I need to maintain some relationship." Rumi explained. "And about that incident, wasn't it good that I was around them that time? Aren't we here to prevent such incidents from happening?" Rumi asked looking at him.

"We are but the way you all are gotten close can become a big problem in future." Hyun argued glancing at her. "Rumi, I heard what happened that night. You were there you did what you have to but how did they react?" Hyun asked. Rumi pursed her lips and looked away. "Tell me how did they react to the incident?"

"Leader-nim was pissed that I got involved and hurt myself." Rumi muttered. Hyun stared at her. "And now he wants me to press charges against that girl. But I can handle it. I have talked with them already-"

"Talked? What? Did you say you were hired by their label to protect them? That you weren't just Rumi Raikar from productions department but a security agent who has been working under a disguise. That you know everything about them and has been pretending to be this naïve woman who don't know anything about their world." Hyun retorted frustrated with her trying to justify something she knew that it was going to come bite her later. Hyun sighed. "Rumi it's just not you who is getting attached but they are too. And you know it that this attachment is going to be an obstacle for you in future."

"I've never let any attachment stir me from my duty, Hyun." Rumi said her voice curt. And it was true, everyone in the agency knew that, Rumi Raikar was a crazy bitch but she was someone who got her job in any conditions. No matter who stood in her way, she would do whatever it would take to complete her case. Her career as an agent was something remarkable, if it hadn't been for the last case she was assigned on then she would've been on a high position instead of being a mere agent. "I'm not trying to doubt your ability here Rumi. In fact, I am in no position to doubt it." Hyun said. "I just trying to warn you about the obstacle. I know you would do your duty well but what about them? How do you think they would react if they found out that the only reason you were being friendly was because you were asked to?"

Rumi sighed. "I don't know Hyun okay! And what is so wrong with that? Yes, I was friendly with them because I was paid to but that was earlier! Now I genuinely like being around them. I finally feel like I am part of this society in this foreign country. Is it so wrong to be wanting that?" Hyun stared at her in rear-view mirror with guilty eyes. Of course, it was not wrong. He knew how she was treated in the agency. A woman that to a foreign woman competing against all these men was something they could never digest. She was always isolated.

"I know." Hyun sighed. "I am really sorry for that Rumi but I still think you should maintain some distance with them. It is better for you and them." Rumi just looked away not responding to him. Hyun was feeling guilty. For the first time Rumi had expressed her pains in front of him and yet all he did was object her instead of comforting her. "Rumi I-" Her phone rang interrupting him.

"Eo Hoshya." Rumi greeted picking up the call. Hyun glanced at her but she ignored him continuing her conversation. "No, I'm on my way to company, wae?"

"You disappeared this morning. We are supposed to have dinner together, did you forget?"

Rumi rolled her eyes while a smile forming on her lips. "Ara but what are you doing up? Shouldn't you be having your beauty sleep? And it's still noon why are you worried about dinner?"

"Tsk because you'll find an excuse to avoid it so I'm already warning you." Rumi chuckled shaking her head. "I'm telling you I won't be hearing any excuse. I'm coming to pick you up in evening, we'll go to shopping first and later for dinner."

"Shopping?"

"Eo. After work I'm picking you up."

"Okay, okay fine." Rumi agreed. "Then we still have like five hours left, are you going wait or...?" Rumi trailed of with teasing smile on her face.

"Aish. Okay fine I'm hanging up. Bye." Hoshi huffed and hung up. Rumi chuckled locking her phone. This guy really. She laughed to herself when she felt pair of eyes on her. Rumi glanced up to see Hyun was staring at her.

"Rumi-"

"Stop. Just stop. I know what I am doing. You don't have to be oh so worried about me." Rumi said quite irritated with his nosiness. "My duty won't be affected and if so, it ever comes to whatever obstacle you were mentioning about then I am capable of taking care of my own things. So, thank you and from now on I would appreciate if you mind your own business." Rumi clenched her jaw and looked away. Hyun sighed and turned his attention to road. I'm just worried about you Rumi. Why can't you just get that?! Hyun tightened his grip on steering wheel.

As soon as Hyun pulled brakes, Rumi was up and out making way to her office. "Stupid Hyun." She muttered to herself lifting her id card to scan but the security guard had already opened doors for her. Rumi bowed her head in thanks and walked in. "Ruined my good mood." She huffed heading towards the elevator. Huffing and puffing she climbed into the elevator. "Yela kay karaycha ahe? (What it is with him?) I can be friends with them if I want. Who is he telling me otherwise? Future madhe problem hoil mahne! Huh! Ithe present cha ata pata nahi ani future cha vichar. (There will be problems in future he says! Huh! Here we still don't know about present and he's thinking about future.)" Rumi bitterly snorted crossing her arms. "Rumi but I still think you should maintain your distance with them! Huh as if!" She scoffed imitating him from earlier.

"Um Rumi-ssi?" Rumi snapped her head to side and looked up realizing she was not alone in the elevator. "Are you okay?" Mingyu asked worriedly smiling at her.

"Mingyu-ssi?" Rumi finally aware of her surroundings started looking around. It wasn't just her in the elevator but Mingyu and some guy with lip piercing was giving her strange look. Rumi checked him out, what's with him? Baby face and huge ass body? Is he an idol too? Rumi thought. "Ah!" She suddenly exclaimed startling both men. "Did I took the artist elevator again?" She asked her eyes wide.

Mingyu was quick to her rescue. "Aniyo, aniyo. This is staff elevator." Rumi let out a sigh in relief. "We took the staff elevator today, there's something wrong with other one." Mingyu explained. "Again? I hope they don't stop this one accidently too." Rumi muttered leaning against the wall of elevator. "De?" Mingyu looked up at her in question. Rumi chuckled. "You don't get scared easily, do you? Because I don't want to carry out a six-foot man." She laughed at her own joke then cleared her throat realizing no one was laughing along. "Ahem joesonghamnida." Rumi apologized bowing towards the two.

"Are you really okay though? Earlier? It seemed like you were cursing out someone?" Mingyu asked. Rumi laughed and shook her head. "Yah, aniya." The other guy nudged him. "She wasn't cursing." Rumi raised her eyebrow at him. Hm? Who's this guy? "How do you know that?" Mingyu nudged him back. "Because I know!" The guy huffed nudging him back. "What do you know?!" Kids with grown bodies. Rumi shook her head.

"Ah. Ah. Ah. Stop both of you." Rumi intervened pulling both apart. Rumi huffed crossing her arms. "How old are you kids?" She asked looking up at tower and boulder. "Kids?" The guy rose his eyebrows at her reference. "Mianhaeyo." Mingyu apologized with a pout. Rumi pursed her lips and nodded before turning to other one. "He was right. I wasn't cursing anyone." The guy smiled in triumph while nudging Mingyu who tsked pushing him. "Eoo!" Rumi scolded narrowing her eyes at Mingyu who apologized again. "How do you know? Do you understand Marathi?" Rumi asked looking at the guy.

The guy smiled and nodded his head like a noddy. "I mean a little bit. Mostly curse words." He replied. "Curse words?" Rumi eyebrows shot up. "Eo. Mardar-" "Ahhhh..." Rumi shook her head clapping her hands. "No need to. Yeah, I get." Rumi nodded showing him thumps up. Mingyu looked at his friend, "How do you know them?" The guy smiled. "Noona taught me. Ah hyung's girlfriend." He whispered at least tried to. Rumi rolled her eyes. "Uh? Rumi-ssi?" Rumi turned to him. "Do you happen to know Gauravi noona?"

"Eh?" Rumi knitted her eyebrows. "Nugu?"

"Yah, just because they speak same language does not mean they all know each other." Mingyu elbowed him. The guy tsked but nodded knowing his friend was right. "Ah, maja. I forget to introduce myself. Jeon Jungkook." He smiled putting his hand out. Rumi smiled shaking his hand. "Rumi Raikar. Nice to meet you." She nodded. Ah? Jeon? Rumi tugged Mingyu's sleeve, who leaned down, "Jeon? Is he related to Wonwoo-ssi?" She whispered. Mingyu shook his head. "Oh okay." She nodded and put on her smile again. "Well, nice meeting you Jeon Jungkook-ssi. I didn't know there were other Indian's working in company."

"Eo? Actually, she used to. Now she works with other company." Jungkook informed. Rumi hummed nodding her head. The elevator stopped with ding sound. "Ah, it's me." Rumi smiled. "Then I'm off." Rumi saluted and climbed off the elevator.

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

"Shii baba ha manus! (Oh god, this guy!)" Rumi sighed looking at her phone. "Yah!" Rumi screamed opening the passengers door. "Eo? Hwasseo?" Hoshi grinned ending the call. "Do you not understand, I'll be down in two minutes?" Rumi jeered getting in. "Do you have to spam with calls?" She glared while putting on her seatbelt. "Hehehe. I thought you'll bail on me." Rumi rolled her eyes. "It took me two minutes Hoshi, two minutes to get down!" She exasperated showing him her two fingers.

Hoshi chuckled igniting the engine. "Ara but I never know with you. You could disappear at last moment." He replied shifting the gear and pulling car off the drive way. "Last time too, I had to beg you to come along."

"Speaking of which, are we really going alone?" She asked turning towards him. "Shouldn't we bring someone along? What if people catch you? There would be problems. Aniya, aniya. Let's cancel this. What was I thinking when I agreed to this? Yah, turn around the car-"

"Aishh- see! This is why! This is why I was spamming you with calls." Hoshi accused. "We went out last time? Did someone saw us? Eo? You overthink every little thing Rumi! And what if they saw us? Didn't you go out with Coups hyung and Jeonghan hyung before?" Hoshi argued. "That was differen-" "Ahhh! Shush! We are going and that's final!" Hoshi screamed making Rumi clam her mouth shut. Rumi cleared her throat. "Uh ahem. For your kind of information; I can scream too." Hoshi gave her a blank stare. "Aarso. I'll keep quiet."

The pair reached the mall, Hoshi got off putting on his sunglasses. "It's evening? What is with this guy?" Rumi muttered quietly following the idol. Hoshi made a beeline to accessories shop. Rumi checked out the store, "Looks expensive, what are you buying?" Rumi asked walking along him. "Gift for a friend." Hoshi replied as the staff greeted him. Rumi hummed and followed along. "Help me choose one." Hoshi said as he come to stop in front of jewellery section. "Do you think rings would be too much?" Hoshi asked turned towards her. "Eh?" Rumi looked at him in question. "You are asking me?" She asked noticing the staff whispering among themselves while glancing at two. "Eo. Is there anyone else beside you?" Hoshi asked raising his eyebrow.

"Uh-um? Don't know. I mean you should ask someone who is more knowledgeable in this field." Rumi replied. "And Hoshi do I have to be here? Can't I wait outside?" She whispered glancing at the staff who were basically ogling them. Hoshi rolled his eyes ignoring her and going back to scanning the pieces of jewellery. "How about studs?" He asked himself before calling the staff over. "I want to look at those studs." He asked pointing at the glass cabinet. The staff was quick to his request. Rumi stood beside him quietly as he keenly checked diamonds. "Eottae?" He asked, Rumi looked at the staff who was smiling at her. She pointed at herself as if asking 'me?' Hoshi glanced at her. "Ahh? Joah. They are nice." Rumi nodded. Hoshi sighed and looked around. "That looks nice."

"Would you like to see that?" The staff asked, Hoshi nodded as staff brought him pair of diamond studded chains. He went on feeling them with awe on his face. "Sir, try it on." The staff suggested. Hoshi smiled taking one chain off the mould and placing it around his neck. Hoshi hummed grinning to himself. "Let me see it properly." He muttered as removed his sling bag and jacket and handed them to Rumi. The staff helped him to properly secure the chain around his neck. "What do you think?" He asked checking himself out in the mirror. Rumi hummed replying, "Looks good" making Hoshi tsk. The staff chuckled at the pair.

Rumi turned towards the staff. "What am I suppose say then? If it looks good and it looks good. What else do I have to say?" Rumi asked annoyed with his huff and puffs. It wasn't her fault that he brought her along to shopping. The staff laughed at her annoyed rant. Hoshi made a face at her and then turned to staff. "I will take this. Both of them." He smiled as staff nodded helping him take off the piece. "Anything else?" Hoshi shook his head. "Thank you." He smiled walking towards the counter. Rumi rolled her eyes following him. "You are useless." He muttered taking his bag. Rumi snorted. "You brought me along. Not my problem."

"Thank you for shopping us. Have a nice day. Sir, Ma'am." The staff tried not to laughed at the pair and bowed handing back the card and bag of their purchase. Both of them bowed back as Rumi carried the bag while Hoshi took his card back. "Let me carry it." Hoshi said nodding towards the bag and his jacket. Rumi shook her head. "No, let me. And really, are you not afraid?" She asked making him furrow his eyebrows. "Ah jaude! Chal chal ajun kuthe jaycha ahe? (Ah let it be, let's go where else are we going?) Let get this over with." Rumi vented. As she had wished Hoshi had dragged her around various shops, and tried on various outfits while making her sit through all.

"Arghhhh!!" Rumi groaned sliding down the couch in exhaustion. "Ma'am? Coffee." "Uh?" Rumi sat up straight. "Ye, thank you." Rumi smiled taking the cup in her hand. The staff in the clothing stop also had taken pity on her but this guy was not having it all. Rumi thought as Hoshi walked out putting on yet another outfit. "What do you think? I like this one better than earlier one." Hoshi said giving a twirl. "Phe-uh!" Rumi almost spit out the coffee. The staff lady quickly handed her some tissue. Rumi thanked her while wiping her face. "Yah mwoya?" Rumi looked at him in disbelief. "Bocha distoy tujha! (Your buttocks are visible!)" She exclaimed pointing towards his jeans which had slits on each side just under his ass.

"Mwo bocha?" Hoshi looked at her confused. "Yah! Are you cursing at me again?"

"Ani I meant your butts, your bum, ondungee! I can see it!" She said pointing at them. "What-what kind of clothes are these? Why is in the first place there's a slit there? And mwo? You like this one?!" She asked her eyes wides as they could get. "Eo? What's wrong with them?" Hoshi replied. Rumi just turned towards the staff, "Can you believe this guy? I just told I can see his butt." The lady nodded her head while trying her best to not laugh. "You! Why did you ask my opinion if you are going to do whatever you want?" Rumi exasperated throwing her hands in air.

Hoshi just shrugged his shoulders. "I'm buying this one." He replied and went back into the changing room. Rumi stood ready to throw her hands at him but fortunately the staff lady stopped her. "Argh, my head. It's going to burst from frustration." Rumi groaned holding her head as the lady helped her to her seat. "Calm down, ma'am please." The lady said trying to control her laughter. "I want to go home." Rumi cried looking at her. The lady pursed her lips to hide her laughter, "Sir will be done soon."

"Gaja!" Hoshi walked holding few pieces of garment in his hands. The lady moved quickly to his aid as both walked off to counter. Rumi sighed staring at the ceiling. "I'm hungry." She muttered before grabbing the bags and following them groggily. She patiently waited even though she was hardly had it; until he was done with the billing. "Thank you." Hoshi bowed carrying his bag of purchase. "Let's go, I'm hungry." Hoshi said looking around. Rumi tsked wanting to kick him in shin but controlled herself and quickly followed him before he changed his mind and walked into another store.

Finally, they were here, just entering the restaurant, taking in all the delicious aroma of food being cooked made all the tiredness and frustration disappear. Rumi scanned the whole restaurant making sure there won't be any trouble, before both settled down on corner table. "What are you eating?" Rumi asked her eyes already scanning the menu. "Gogi. Gogi." Hoshi sang. "Kimchi jjigae." He added. Rumi waved her hand placing their orders. "Ah, I could use a drink." Hoshi muttered looking at the various drinks the menu was offering. "I'm not dragging your drunk ass back." Rumi commented. Hoshi made a silly face imitating her as she rolled her eyes in return. "Ah, I need to use restroom." Hoshi muttered getting up. "Eo? Is your phone with you? Call me if something happens?!" Rumi called as Hoshi walked away ignoring her.

"Aish, this guy. I'm not coming out with him again." Rumi muttered to herself. Their food arrived, Rumi bowed her head in thanks as the guy placed side dishes on the table, ignited the barbeque stove for cooking the meat. The guy was about to leave but stopped glancing at her. Rumi looked up at him in question. "Um do you? Want me cook?" Rumi blinked her eyes, wondering what was going on? "I cook meat for you?" He spoke again doing some hand actions. "Ahh. Yes sure." Rumi nodded pressing her lips together to hide her smile. The guy smiled and started cooking meat for her. "First time?" He asked glancing at her. Rumi looked at him, "In Korea?" He added.

"Oh? Not really." Rumi smiled answering him. The guy smiled nodding his head. He then placed the cook piece of meat in her plate. "First eat with uh-this." He said passing her dish of salt. Rumi did as instructed. He watched her cautiously waiting for her reaction. "Good?" Rumi smiled giving him thumps. He chuckled in delight at her reaction. Wah I should really come out to eat often, Rumi thought to herself as the handsome guy cooked meat for her.

"Eo? The food is already here?" Hoshi returned glancing at the guy cooking meat. He looked towards Rumi who was shamelessly ogling the guy. "It's almost done, keep turning them from time to time." The guy said bowing towards Hoshi. "Enjoy." He turned towards Rumi with a smile. "And call me if need help." He said pointing at himself. "Yes, I will." Rumi smiled nodding at him. The guy walked away; Hoshi watch his friend giggle while sipping on water. "What was that?" He asked looking at guy who had walked away but his eyes were still on their table. "Were you flirting while I was gone?"

Rumi chuckled shaking her head. "Don't know. He saw a foreigner and decided to help out. He was trying his best so I didn't want to disappoint him, I played along." Rumi explained smiling to herself. "It's not everyday you get handsome guy cooking meat for you." Hoshi chuckled shaking his own head. "You do know that there's a university around here, so lot of kids work as part timers?" Rumi shrugged her shoulders stuffing her face. "He can be your son." Hoshi joked earning a kick from her. "But some guts he has huh? Flirting with a woman right front of her company." Rumi nodded laughing. "Kids nowadays are too bold." Rumi commented agreeing.

"But I didn't know you had a thing for younger ones?" Hoshi said as Rumi placed the cooked meat in his plate. "Huh?" She questioned. "Your type? Like particular type of guy, you would go for?"

"Hmm? Do people have types? I mean do people prefer only certain type?" Hoshi nodded. "Is this a new thing?" She laughed. "Huh? I never thought about it." Rumi shrugged. "There must be a type." Hoshi said. "Describe me the guys you've dated before." He said nodded at her. "I haven't." Rumi replied chewing on the meat. "Mwo?" Hoshi looked up at her. "Sorry, you haven't in past what thirty years of your life?" Hoshi asked blinking his eyes as if not believing it. "Um." Rumi nodded. "I never had time to spent it on such thing. I was too tangled up in relationships I already had that I never thought of making a new one. Rather I never wanted to." Rumi confessed with a chuckle.

"Wae?" Hoshi asked putting down his chopstick, giving her all his attention. Rumi glanced at him, "Yah, why are you getting all serious for?" She chuckled but Hoshi was all ready to hear her. "Aish. Okay, let's just say I grew in very dysfunctional family. Well, where for everybody family was something they would return back to and for me family was something I wished to ran away from." Rumi said with a bitter laugh. "I endured it through my teens, and finally escaped or so I thought. Somehow like everybody else I returned thinking it is my family after all. Like who doesn't have family problems, right?" Rumi asked looking up at Hoshi. "But they just made me realised why I left in the first place. Hoshi-ya, there's only so much you can do to hold on the thread that's binding it all but once it starts cutting through you, the only thing you can do is let go." Rumi bitterly smiled. Hoshi pursed his lips patted her hand.

"Aish. I talked too much." Rumi laughed. "No, you didn't. And if you are not gonna talk with your soulmate then who?" Hoshi said squeezing her hand. Rumi chuckled. "Eo, soulmate." Both of them smiled at each other and returned back to eating. "What about you? You're not dating anyone?" Rumi asked breaking the silence.

Hoshi laughed. "Yah, do you keep forgetting that I am an idol? And if I was do you think I would spend my free time with you?" Rumi nodded laughing at his answer. "While you on other hand you have lot of suitors? What was it again lady Casanova?" Rumi threw a piece of garlic at him. "Getting confessed in an elevator, at company dinner. Which one did you accept?"

"Neither." Rumi replied waving her hand to swipe away the smoke. "Rather, I am waiting for someone to accept mine." Rumi muttered while coughing. She was about to grab the exhaust pipe when a hand beat it to her. "Let me." The guy was back, waving off smoke from around her. "Thank you." Rumi smiled up at him. "Ah-byuntae-em!" A cough was heard from across her.

The pair had eaten to their heart's content mostly Rumi because Hoshi had to maintained his diet. "Here." Rumi handed her card. Hoshi looked at her. "Mwo? Wasn't I suppose to treat you dinner?" Rumi said glancing at him. "I should've eaten more then." Hoshi muttered. Rumi snorted, bowing back at the cashier who handed her card back. "Not my fault." She replied as both of them walked out. "Next time I'll make sure." Rumi snorted again.

"As if, I'm not coming anywhere with you next time. Once was enough, no thank you."

"Yah-"

"Excuse me!" Both of them turned around. Hoshi snorted. "I'll wait near the car." He said patting her arm and walking up his car which was parked in the front. He leaned against the car and watch the two converse. "Ah there you go." He laughed watching the kid hand her piece of paper. Rumi said something making the kid nod, he grinned running his hand through his hair. Rumi said something again before they bided byes. Hoshi raised his eyebrow at her. "Byuntae." He commented throwing car keys at her.

Rumi laughed catching them. "What? I didn't do anything." She defended getting in driver's seat while Hoshi climbed in passenger's seat. "He gave me his number. Said he'll show me around the city." Rumi confessed.

"Poor kid."

"Come on, now." Rumi laughed igniting the engine.

"You could be his first love!" Hoshi teased.

"As if!"

A/N:

I don't know what was happening in this chapter. We have Jungkook and Gauravi cameo from  Fangirl and of course, there's Rumi not recognizing Jeon Jungkook. Then there Hoshi and her having a little date. Anyways, let me know what do you think? Until next time!

Love,

Alba💜