५७

Rumi sneakily stole a glance at Wonwoo and quickly looked away realising he was doing the same. The odd couple had walked back to their bike quite awkwardly, both wouldn't meet other's eyes as if they weren't eating each other away few minutes ago. It was acceptable with Wonwoo being shy but Rumi was whole other being; bold Rumi was nowhere to be seen. Wonwoo glanced at her and then at her hand, he wanted to hold it so bad even when they were climbing back up. He wanted to help her up but she was way quicker than him. Wonwoo bit his lip and slowly extended his hand towards hers, just when it was about to touch he-

"Ahem!" She coughed covering her mouth. Wonwoo quickly took his hand back. "Are you okay? Is it cold?" Wonwoo asked worriedly, since the sun had gone down the weather had gotten cold and Rumi was just wearing thin t-shirt as covering. Rumi shook her head still avoiding his eyes. "I'm fine." She replied clearing her throat. Wonwoo leaned to side to meet her eyes but she turned away. "Umm, how about ramen?" She asked.

"De?!" Wonwoo's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "I thought Rumi-ssi was being shy but this ah-isn't it too fast?" Wonwoo asked blushing, he hands already moving inside his bag to take out the helmet.

Rumi turned towards him; he had already put on his helmet. "Is that a no?" She asked raising her eyebrow at him. Wonwoo looked at her and then at the thumb which was pointing towards the seven eleven across the street. "Ah." Wonwoo clammed his mouth at his feral thoughts. He quietly removed his helmet and stuffed it back in his bag. "Ramen is fine." He nodded looking at Rumi who had a confused expression on her face. "Let's go." Wonwoo awkwardly laughed before walking away to hide his embarrassed self. "What was that?" Rumi cocked her head to side before shaking it and following Wonwoo who had trotted away.

The bell tinkled as Wonwoo pushed open the door, they were dully greeted by the staff who didn't bother to look up. Wonwoo bowed towards him and made a beeline towards the ramen alley. "Ahhh!" He let out a silent scream, cursing at the ramen packets. It was like they were mocking him for his silly thoughts. "Pabo! Pabo! Pabo!" He scolded himself while grabbing one of the packet from rack and slapping it on his forehead. "Of course, Rumi-ssi didn't mean that! She wouldn't even know what it is to ask someone for ramen, you paboya!" He muttered smacking the packet on his forehead repeatedly.

"Wonwoo-ssi, what are you doing?" Wonwoo froze. "Are you okay?" He slowly put the packet down and straightened up. "Hmm I am fine." He smiled too widely. "It is the new way of breaking the noodles." He laughed showing crushed packet to her. Rumi furrowed her eyebrows before her mouth formed a 'o' as she nodded. "Hehe." Wonwoo laughed nodding his own head. "Which one are you eating?" He asked pointing towards the rack. "Ah? This." Rumi picked up one of them and then walked towards the other rack and picked up kimchi packet, eggs, and sausage. "Let's pay." Rumi smiled walking up to the counter.

Rumi placed all her purchases on the counter. "Will that be all?" The staff asked putting his phone away. When she didn't answered he looked up to see her staring at the Marlboro on display behind him. "Would one be enough?" He asked picking up and putting in with her purchase. Rumi opened her mouth when a hand came in view and pushed the white box aside. "Thank you but we will not be taking that." Wonwoo threw a closed lip smile towards him. Rumi looked up at him. "Wonwoo-ssi..." Wonwoo smiled down at her. "Let's eat ice-cream for dessert later." Rumi smiled and nodded back.

Rumi pulled the brakes and kicked off the side stand. She removed her helmet and turned towards Wonwoo who had climbed off and was removing his helmet. Rumi smiled getting off and leaning against the bike, she chuckled when he tucked the helmet back in his bag and leaned down towards her. "Why are you so cute?" She laughed patting his hair down for him. "Not cute." Wonwoo looked up meeting her eyes with little pout. "Waeyo?" Rumi asked her hands moving from his hair to his cheeks and pinching them. "Rumi-ssi calls everyone cute, I don't want to be called cute." He pouted. Rumi chuckled pulling his cheeks. "Then what would Wonwoo-ssi liked to be called?" Rumi cooed.

"Wonwoo-ya-" He whispered looking into her eyes. "-noona." He continued leaning closer, his eyes glancing down at her slightly parted lips. "I don't want to formally address each other anymore." He said glancing up. "Eo, noona?"

Rumi leaned in glancing down at his lips. "Wonwoo-ya." Wonwoo gulped as her thumb brushed against his lip. "I am threading on last strand right now. Don't push noona too hard, hmm?" Rumi whispered her lips lightly grazing against his. Rumi smiled against his lips and backed away. Wonwoo opened his eyes and blinked few times, his puckered lips returning to their original form realising Rumi wasn't there anymore. "Now go on before I change my mind and take you away." She smiled nodding towards the gate.

Wonwoo sighed straightening up. "Take me away then." He muttered under his breathe. "Arasseoyo. I'll leave." He pouted stepping back. Rumi smiled waving her hand. "Ah, right!" He returned taking Rumi's hand in his, who looked up at him in question. She felt something being placed in hand. It was that Marlboro she was eyeing earlier. "Wonwoo-ssi."

"I know how difficult it is." He smiled. "So, take it slow. Maybe one a day?" He suggested making Rumi smile and nod. "I'll try harder." Wonwoo hummed cupping her face. "I know noona can do it." He whispered before placing a peck in her lips and running away. "Ah?! What? Wonwoo-ssi!" She scolded watching him giggle and run away. She touched her lips before letting out a shriek in delight and then laughed at her silliness.

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

"Gomawo oppa." Rumi thanked Youngjae removing her seatbelt. "Will you be home early today?" Youngjae questioned handing her a tumbler, Rumi shook her head and looked at it in question. "You were coughing last night, it's ginger tea." He explained pushing it in her hand. "Finish it." Rumi smiled pecking his cheek. "Arasseo. Bye." She climbed off closing the door behind her. "Do you want me to pick you up in evening?" Youngjae asked rolling down the window.

"I'll text you." Rumi waved and entered the building. She greeted the security with a grin and salute who saluted back amused with her sudden actions. Normally she would enter half dead and walk into doors but today she seemed happier. Something good must've happened, he thought watching her skip away happily.

Rumi sang to herself as elevator doors close, "Rumi!" A hand appeared stopping the doors from closing. Rumi let out a huge groan as the owner of hand came to stand beside her. "Good morning." He greeted smiling down at her. "Ugh! Just go away don't spoil my good mood." Rumi complained waving her hand as if slapping away those stupidly sweet smiles. Gu Hwa chuckled, "What I didn't even say something yet?" Rumi shook her head. "Oh, I know you are about to and I don't want to hear it so be quiet and stand there like handsome wallflower."

"Handsome?" He smirked making her roll her eyes. "Be quiet." She warned. "Ani, but do you really think I am handsome?" Rumi groaned when he just did the opposite of being quiet. Rumi closed her eyes and leaned against the wall pretending she was alone. "Yah...Stop ignoring me." He nudged her shoulder. "I know you can hear me. You really were in good mood today; I saw you giggling to yourself. Did something happen? Eo?" He nudged her shoulder.

"Aish-" Rumi opened her eyes ready to give him a piece of her mind but her buzzing phone stopped. Rumi quickly pulled out her phone thinking it was Wonwoo but it was none other than her boss. She sighed and answered it. "Eo unnie?"

"Yah eodiya?" Rumi rolled her eyes. "On my way to office wae?" She asked glancing at Gu Hwa who was grinning down at her. Shi what's with this guy? Rumi made a face. "Head towards practice room, we have a meeting there. I am already there so hurry up." With that she had hung up. "Eh?" Rumi looked at her phone. "This woman. Which practice room?" She asked her phone screen. "She must've meant dance practice room. I heard there's some shoot going on." Rumi turned towards Gu Hwa who was still smiling down at her. "Aish-why are you still here?" She complained pressing the six on control panel.

"What do mean we are in elevator Rumi; how am I suppose to disappear suddenly?"

"Kaayamcha zalas tar barach hoil. (It would be good if you disappeared for forever)" Rumi muttered as the doors opened. "Bye, I'll see you later." Gu Hwa said which she completely ignored and walked out. "Konta nakshatrat aala ha majya nasibat kay mahit." She muttered greeted the co-workers who passed by her. "And now which one of these is correct one?" She asked glancing through the practice rooms. She saw bunch of people entering the one of them, "Must be this one." She followed them inside and was greeted with chaos. She glanced around the crowd, "Definitely not the correct one." Rumi smiled looking at the boys she had come to adore. "Rumi noona?" Rumi turned to see Dokyeom walking towards her. "Seokmin-ssi." She smiled greeting him. He paused for second before a grin form on his face. "Waeyo? Is something wrong?" Rumi asked catching the strange look on his face.

"Aniyo. It's nothing." He shook his head. "Nobody calls me by that name here so I was little surprised." He explained stopping in front of her. "Oh? Sorry, I didn't know. I'll be careful next ti-" "No, no, it's fine." Dokyeom smiled with little shake of his head. "What is noona doing here?" He question. "Ahh, I seemed walked into wrong room." Rumi answered glancing around the room. "By the way what's happening here?" Rumi asked nodding towards the unfamiliar faces, probably some girl group looking at how they were practicing some dance moves. "Oh that, we are making tiktoks." Dokyeom answered.

"Making what?" Rumi questioned when her eyes fell on person she was longing for. Automatically a smile formed on her face which soon disappeared when the girl playfully slapped his arm while he laughed at her actions. "What did you say you were making again?" Dokyeom gulped noticing the change of tone and look on Rumi's face. Uh-huh, someone's gonna get in trouble today. He thought letting out a nervous chuckle. "Hehe. Tiktok, we are making tiktoks. They are like short videos..." Dokyeom trailed off realising Rumi wasn't paying no heed to his explanation; she was too occupied with staring down his hyung who was completely unaware of trouble he was getting into.

Better warn him then later. "Wonwoo hyung!" He called, Wonwoo turned around laughter still on his lips. Won't be for long, Dokyeom thought waving his hand. Upon seeing Rumi standing beside him, Wonwoo left behind everything and came rushing towards them. "Rumi-ssi!" He greeted with a grin on his face. Rumi almost melted at that smile if not for the lady who had followed along him.

"Wonwoo-ssi." Rumi greeted back with a nod and tight-lipped smile, her eyes on the lady beside him. Dokyeom stared at his hyung's oblivious smile as he went ahead and introduced the lady beside him. Rumi bowed her head in greeting. "Nice to meet you. I am R-"

"Rumi-ssi." The lady cut her off with a smile. "I know, oppa and I were just talking about Rumi-ssi." The lady said putting her hand on Wonwoo's arm who had a proud smile on his face. Dokyeom almost choked at the way Rumi's eyes narrowed down at her hand. "We were just talking about food earlier. I mentioned about how I really love Indian food and oppa was just telling me how he knows someone who's Indian and cooks best food in the world." The lady laughed slapping his arm again. Corner of Rumi's mouth twitched. Mwo? Someone he knows?

"Unnie? I can call you that right?" The lady asked not waiting for any reply she started again. "Do you know any restaurants which serves good Indian food around here? You've must know right? Can you recommend-"

"No." Three of them look at her in surprise. The no was too curt. Rumi quickly fixed her tone and put on a smile. "I mean, I don't really eat out often and if I carve Indian food then I just cook it myself." Rumi smiled. "Ah right. Oppa did say you cook best food." The lady laughed nodding her head. Rumi glanced at Wonwoo who grinned at her. What is he smiling at huh?! Rumi turned her attention back to the lady. "Anyways, it was nice meeting you. I need to leave since I walked in wrong room." Rumi said emphasizing on her words while narrowing her eyes at Wonwoo. "Then excuse me." She smiled ignoring him and turning towards Dokyeom. "Seokmin-ah, noona's leaving." She smiled patting Dokyeom's head who smiled nodding his head like a cute little puppy. Rumi bowed her head towards the lady and left completely ignoring Wonwoo. "Eo?" A very confused Wonwoo questioned. "Rumi-ssi?" He called but she was long gone, Wonwoo turned towards Dokyeom in question who nodded and patted his arm in comfort.

"Someone he knows?! Knows?! Not even a friend! Wahhh!" Rumi exclaimed laughing in disbelief. "Wah jinja!"

"Rumi-ssi! Jamkkanmanyeo! Rumi-ssi!" Rumi stopped and turned around with narrowed eyes. "Rumi-ssi wait." Wonwoo huffed taking her hand in his. Rumi glanced at it and then at him. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?" He asked worriedly making Rumi snort. "Are you upset with me? What did I do?" Hah! Seriously? Rumi looked at him disbelief. "Rumi-ssi, please tell me."

"Nothing's wrong! Everything's alright! Why would I get upset at someone I know! What right do I have?!" She exclaimed shrugging off his grip. "What-" "Aniyo." Rumi shook her head. "Please return back to your tiktoks! I have work to do. So, bye!" She huffed and walked away leaving a very dumbfounded Wonwoo behind.

A/N :

Why is there trouble in paradise already? Nothing unexpected from dumb and dumber.😂What are you thoughts on this new couple? Let me know in comments section below. Don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter and do add this book to your library and reading list so you won't miss an update.

Love,

Alba💜