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24H | SEVENTEEN
"Thank you." Rumi bowed picking up her coffee cups and walking up to Jangmi who was waiting near the roof top garden. "Here." Rumi said handing Jangmi's cup to her. "Thank you!" Jangmi smiled looking up at her. "So where were we?" Jangmi asked as both of them made their way to the bench.
In last few days Rumi had changed a lot, Rumi who normally hated spending her free time around her co-workers was having lunch with them, was sharing evening coffees with Jangmi. Lately these two, would meet up every evening to enjoy their coffee on this roof top garden. Both would share their pains and complains mostly Jangmi because that girl would just keep going and going.
"Ah, I was talking about the new changes right?" Rumi nodded sipping on her own coffee. "It has gotten little hectic. There are many changes we had make in recruitment process. It's really a mess in office these days. Unnie do you see these dark circles?" Jangmi leaned in pointing at her eyes. Rumi nodded, even though she couldn't find them. "I have been reviewing cv's like crazy." Jangmi exhaustedly sighed before sipping on her coffee.
"It is difficult when changes are sudden right?" Rumi commented.
"Eo." Jangmi agreed. "We had system which have been followed for years and now suddenly we have to change the way it has been working. So, it is little problematic but we'll get used to it. Since the reason behind this change is more problematic." Jangmi sighed again. "Hmm?" Rumi questioned looking up at her. "Oh, I forgot to mention about that right?" Jangmi asked smacking her forehead. "Recently the HR department and security department had a meeting. Your um friend Gu Hwa-nim actually conducted it." She awkwardly mentioned Gu Hwa's name, let just say that she was still not over it, Gu Hwa being her love rival and all.
"It was him who suggested this changes. Considering the recent happenings, the security team believes we should be cautious with our recruitment, like who we really are hiring, we need to do a proper background check, and character check of the individual before hiring. They believe there is reason why these people, paparazzi and sasaengs are breaking into private lives of our artists." Jangmi explained and motioned Rumi to leaned in. "It is said that people from our company are selling information." She whispered making Rumi look at her. "I mean, I believe it too. Tell me, how do they know when and where so and so person is if not someone is informing them? And the only person who knows these information can be someone from inside." Jangmi continued leaning back.
"True, it can be that way but these changes can only help us with future recruitment. But what about the current employees? What if it is someone among us?"
"Obviously, Unnie!" Jangmi exclaimed slapping her hand on Rumi's thigh. "It is someone among us. Come on in here." She asked Rumi to lean in again. "Do you know why we suddenly have hired the new security team? It is because of this. They are trying to find the moles. They have been slowly working through each department. Your friend he's quite peculiar. He really knows his things. Everybody did have same question as you but we can't directly act on it, can we?"
"Wae? Since we already discovered that it is someone from inside shouldn't we start investigating the employees?" Rumi asked looking at her. From the beginning Rumi had this doubt, why were they taking this long route, having her play around in disguise when they could've just investigate each employee around the artists.
"Aniya, aniya, aniya." Jangmi waved her finger while shaking her head. "We can't do that. If we do then it will be like breaking the bond between the company and it's employees. We can't have that."
"Why not? After all the company here is the big entity, if someone is working against it then company has every right to question it's employees." Rumi argued. Jangmi shook her head. "It is not that simple Unnie. The company and employees have a bond of trust, if its broken, neither will survive. This company is like big mechanical machine, we the employees are its cogs; from janitor to artists to directors each is important cog connecting everyone. While the teeth of cogs is the trust. It one of them is broken the cog gets stuck making the whole machine to break down. Questioning each employee will be like the questioning the bond of trust between company and employee, it will cause big havoc and for such a big label like ours, we can't afford it." Jangmi carefully explained.
Rumi hummed nodding her hand. "Your friend, he had wisely thought about this, planning how should we approach this issue." Jangmi said. "He really works very efficiently; I've never seen anyone from security department working with such thoroughly organized plans. He's really good." Rumi nodded her head again. "You can say that." She muttered; Gu Hwa is good at such things, after all strategic planning was one of his best strengths. "Shireo." Rumi glanced up, Jangmi was frowning at her. "I don't like Unnie complimenting Gu Hwa-nim." She complained.
Rumi laughed. "Mwoya? It was you who was singing praises." Jangmi scoffed muttering a 'was not.' "Arasseo. But Jangmi-ya, you are telling me all this, details of meeting. Isn't this supposed to be confidential?" Rumi raised her eyebrow in question.
"Hmm not really." Jangmi replied sipping on her coffee. "Some of it is and some isn't but that's okay, it's just unnie. I can tell everything to unnie." Rumi laughed shaking her head. "Yah, don't be like that. You never know, I can be someone pretending to be someone else." Jangmi laughed at that. "As if Unnie, one doesn't even have to know you to know how nice and caring you are. Just to think, you convincing me that you are the bad guy is hilarious. I know you can never ever even think about harming someone let alone those boys."
"You can't go trusting anyone and everyone Jangmi-ssi." Rumi advised. Jangmi sputtered with laughter again.
"Unnie I may look gullible and naïve but I have a very good judgement of people. I am a HR for god's sake, making judgment of people's character is part of my job and I've been in this industry for long enough to know my way around. I know what kind of person it is in first glance." Jangmi huffed flicking her hair back. "I mean, isn't that sneaky photographer incident proof enough? You caught the guy while almost fighting him. And the recent incident, you protected Jeonghan and Seungcheol oppa. You can't convince anyone that you are a bad guy here."
"Okay." Rumi nodded accepting her defeat. "Eh? But how do you know about later?" Jangmi turned towards her with a smirk on her face. "Unnie are you forgetting who am I? I know everything that goes around and inside this label." A corner of Rumi's lip lifted. "Ah, right." She nodded looking away. Indeed, she had found the right person. "So, anything unusual you've heard these days?" Rumi casually questioned while sipping on her coffee. "Like, someone being suspicious?" Rumi hummed nodding her head. "Not really, I would've already been on that person's ass." Jangmi answered. "You know, Gu Hwa-nim asked me same question days ago."
"Did he-" Rumi's phone rang cutting her off. She pulled out her phone from pocket to check the caller id. A shy smile formed her face. "Eooo? What is that look?" Jangmi said narrowing her eyes on her phone. Rumi giggled hiding her screen. "I need to take this, it's important." Rumi stood up. "Unnie you are making me jealous!" Jangmi complained as Rumi laughed walking to scheduled corner. She took a deep breath before place the phone to her ear. "Wonwoo-ssi." She greeted.
"Rumi-ssi." Rumi exhaled feeling tingles in her stomach. His voice did something to her, the way he called out her name. Rumi bit her lip smiling. She hasn't gotten used to this yet; their calls. Since that night, this had become regular, calling each other whenever they could from their busy schedules. With their album release Wonwoo had gotten busy with promotions making it difficult for them to run into each other. Rumi was banned from anywhere near them by Gu Hwa, she had suspicious that it was Hyun's doing but either way there was nothing she could do. Wonwoo would be too tired from his schedule to have his usual dinner with Youngjae and her, so the only time they could spend with each other was on these phone calls.
"Mwohaseyo?" He asked. "Nothing, having coffee with Jangmi-ssi." Rumi replied playing with the leaf of plant in front of her. "What about Wonwoo-ssi?" She asked. "Hmm, I am here for sponsorship shoot. Just got done with the first half, we are finishing up soon." He explained as Rumi nodded. "Rumi-ssi?" Rumi hummed remembering that she had forgotten to reply. "What are you doing after this?" Rumi furrowed her eyebrows looking at the coffee in her hand. "Probably will go home, waeyo?"
"Can you come pick me up?"
"Eh?" Rumi snapped her head up. "No, I mean its fine if you don't want to. You rarely get your evenings free and here I am asking you-" "Its not like that Wonwoo-ssi." Rumi cut him off. "What about manager-nim? He is not with you?" Rumi questioned furrowing her eyebrows. Gu Hwa had not only brought changes in hiring process but he had asked all managers to be extra careful with their artists. "Aniyo, he is. But he-he has somewhere to go and I don't want to trouble him by making two trips here and there." Rumi hummed checking her watch. "So, will you able to..." Wonwoo trailed off. Rumi smirked, "Wonwoo-ssi, do you really think I would miss this opportunity?" There was silence on other side, probably because he was blushing too hard to speak.
"T-then, I'll share the location!" He said too cheerfully. "I will be waiting Rumi-ssi." He whispered before hanging up. Rumi looked at her phone and chuckled shaking her head. Why is he so cute?! She giggled to herself turning around. "Ah! Gapchagiya!" Rumi placed her hand on chest startled, "Mwoya...?" She muttered to herself while smiling at Jangmi who had been staring at her with narrowed eyes. "Jangmi-"
"Nugu? Who was it?" She asked arms crossed.
"Eo? Ah, work. From work." Rumi said pointing at her phone as Jangmi tsked at her. "I need to leave." Rumi explained. "Let's continue our talk later eo?" She smiled looking too excited to work. Jangmi raised corner of lip looking at her up and down, her foot was tapping impatiently, her stance clearly telling, a word and she'll run for it. Ah, who was it? Jangmi thought. "Arasseoyo, let's talk tomorrow...and she's gone." Jangmi muttered watching as Rumi basically sprinted off as soon as she heard Jangmi say okay. She sucked air in through her teeth. "Hmh, I'm going to find out who snatched away my unnie."
Rumi pulled brakes and looked around the houses. "Is this the correct address?" She asked herself pulling out her phone. "Ha." She nodded verifying it. "Then I should to text Wonwoo-ssi~" She sang about to text him. "Rumi-ssi!" Rumi looked up see Wonwoo trotting towards her cutely as the huge bag hanging off his shoulder swayed along. Rumi smiled, "Cutie." She opened her visor and waved her hand at him. "Rumi-ssi..." Wonwoo huffed coming to stand in front of her. "Wonwoo-ssi..." Rumi smiled looking at him. "Were you waiting for long?" Rumi asked looking at him as he cutely shook his head while fixing his glasses. "Aniyo. I thought I was late and kept Rumi-ssi waiting." He answered, Rumi just smiled looking at him. "Waeyo?" Wonwoo touched his face. "Is something on? I was in hurry so I didn't wipe off the make-up correc-"
"Aniyo. You look pretty." Rumi smiled. "Very pretty." She grinned as Wonwoo looked away to hide his blushing cheeks but his ears gave away. "Bogosipeoyo." Wonwoo snapped his head at her in surprise, it was difficult to see her expressing with the helmet on but she must be grinning at him, with the way her eyes crinkled. "It's been too long since I saw Wonwoo-ssi. I want to keep looking at you..." Wonwoo pressed his lips together to hide his smile. "Did Wonwoo-ssi missed me?" She asked making him look at her. He bit his lip blushing. "I-" "Ah miahaeyo. I'm being too much right?" Rumi said looking away. Wonwoo was about to deny it but she had already moved on.
"Ahh maja!" She slapped her forehead. "I forgot to bring you helmet, Wonwoo-ssi..." She guilty looked at him. Wonwoo looked at her as a playful smile formed on his face. He opened his huge tote bag and pulled out the helmet from it. Rumi glanced at the helmet and then at Wonwoo who was grinning. "Hehe." He giggled showing it to her. Rumi laughed shaking her head as Wonwoo placed the bag on fuel tank so he could put it on. "Your glasses." Rumi laughed as he hurriedly removed and passed them to her. He put on the helmet and leaned down for Rumi to help him with glasses. "Hmm...good?" She asked helping him. Wonwoo smiled and nodded his head. Rumi chuckled, "Then get on." "Eo." Wonwoo nodded climbing behind her.
"What were you planning to do if I had said no?" Rumi asked looking at him through the mirror. "Carried the helmet back home." Wonwoo shrugged his shoulders. "But I knew, Rumi-ssi would come." He said wrapping his arms around her waist. "Did you now?" Rumi laughed. "Hmm, now that Rumi-ssi is here, there's this spot near here the staff was talking about-" Rumi turned around to look at him. "How far have you planned it?" She asked. Wonwoo grinned under the helmet. "Hehe, a little more?" He giggled making Rumi chuckle, "Arasseoyo, guide me then to this spot." She said turning the key igniting engine.
"De!" Wonwoo cheerfully replied hugging her close as both of them rode off.
Rumi pulled the brakes parking her bike. She felt Wonwoo getting off, she kicked the side stand and removed her helmet. "Is this the spot?" Rumi asked reading the sign board while climbing off the bike. They were at some sunset view point. She heard Wonwoo hum in answer, Rumi turned towards him he was hurriedly removing his helmet. He tucked it back in his bag and grabbed Rumi's hand. "Let's go Rumi-ssi the sun is already down." He started dragging her, "Huh?" Rumi looked at him and then at the view point which was in totally opposite direction of the way they were heading to. "But Wonwoo-ssi, isn't it that way?" She asked.
"Aniyo." Wonwoo replied guiding her through bushes and narrow trail downhill. "There's a better place than that." He said helping her down. True to his words, both arrived at the shore of the lake. "Wahhh..." Rumi awed in amaze at the view. The lake had taken the colour of the sun, reflecting the beautiful yellow and orange. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Wonwoo asked squeezing her hand. Rumi looked up at him with smile, "It is." Wonwoo smiled back. "Let's sit there." He suggested pulling her along towards the flat boulder.
Rumi's eyes wouldn't move from the orange view. "Wonwoo-ssi, how did you find this place?" She asked her eyes in awe taking in beautiful sight. It was too beautiful, the way slowly the sun drown itself in the lake painting it orange while leaving behind the usual blue sky in various shades of warm. While Rumi's eyes had found the view beautiful Wonwoo found her glinting eyes and that relaxed smile on her lips more beautiful. "Wonwoo-ssi." She had turned to look at him when he didn't answer.
"De..?" He asked smiling down at her. "You didn't answer." She said looking at him. "Ah? I heard staff members talking about it so I asked her, she suggested this spot to me." He answered looking in her eyes which unusually shone brown. They looked eternal under sunlight. He felt himself losing in them. Rumi smiled. "This is really beautiful Wonwoo-ssi." She said turning back to lake. "Yes, really beautiful." Wonwoo whispered.
Wonwoo cleared his throat, nervously licked his lips, and took a deep breath. "Rumi-ssi." He called. "Hm?" Rumi hummed in answer. He fiddled with his fingers finally mustering up courage. "Joahaeyo!" He confessed squeezing his eyes shut. "Nado. I mean, it is so pretty." He snapped opened his eyes in confusion. Rumi was smiling her eyes still on the lake. Wonwoo glanced at the lake and then at Rumi who was totally oblivious to his confession. "Aniyo Rumi-ssi." Wonwoo took her hand in his getting all her attention on him. "I like you, Rumi-ssi." He repeated, this time more clearly and loudly.
Rumi looked at him, her face going through ten different expression before her mouth opened. "Eh?" She blinked her eyes few times. "What? Sorry, I think my ears are ringing, Wonwoo-ssi." She awkwardly laughed but stopped noticing the serious look on his face. "Are you for real?" She asked looking up at him. "I mean, sorry but these days I keep imagining thing; I don't know if this is happening for real or I am-" Her blabbering was cut off with pair of lips crashing into hers. Rumi's eyes popped like fish out of water, her voice got stuck in her throat.
Wonwoo slowly pulled back, shyly meeting her eyes. "It is happening for real." He whispered. Rumi just stared at him frozen, eyes wide, still in same position. "Rumi-ssi?" Wonwoo worriedly squeezed her hand thinking he had broken her. "Rumi-ssi? Are you okay? Rumi-ssi, answer me? I am sorry for suddenly kissing you. I didn't mean to-I mean I shouldn't hav-" His words were drowned as the broken Rumi finally moved slipping her hand at back of his neck and pulled him in a kiss.
Wonwoo's eyes widen a little in surprise before a sigh left, leaning into the kiss as his eyes fluttering shut. He felt her soft lips against his moving in harmony, leaving behind longing and want. His own hand moved tracing her jawline before his fingers disappeared in her long locks pulling her closer. Both of their bodies melted into each other moulding together. The world seeming faded away for the two lovers as their lips entangled in witnessing golden hue.
With a gentle sigh, both slightly pulled back, their forehead touching as they catch their breathes. Rumi smiled against his lips. "You've ruined me." She whispered slowly opening her eyes, looking at the ones already gazing at her. "Wonwoo-ssi joahaeyo. Neomu, neomu joahaeyo." Wonwoo smiled, "Jeodoyo." He whispered back placing peck on her lips. Rumi's eyes widen a little before giggle left her lips.
"Wonwoo-ssi..." She lightly slapped his chest and buried her face in between his neck and shoulder blushing. Wonwoo laughed wrapping his arm around her hugging her close. The roles were switched, the usual confident Rumi was blushing and hiding in embarrassment while the shy kitty was playing confident though his reddened face said otherwise.
A/N :
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! They did it! They did it! I'm giggling! Rolling! ððððððð
Love,
Albað