५९

Rumi running her fingers through her hair, a yawn left her mouth as she reached for her phone. "What time is it?" She muttered unlocking her phone; 6:45 the screen displayed the numbers. "Aish." She groaned rubbing her face in annoyance, she slept for at most fours hours. After yesterday's event she couldn't get a wink of sleep so she roamed around hotel premises tiring her body. Exhaustedly she folded her makeshift bed and pushed in corner. "Harami." She cursed glaring at the princess who had taken up the whole bed. Rumi held up her fist pretending to hit her while Jina slept peacefully unaware of the menace standing by her head. Rumi walked into washroom freshened up, picked up her zipper and left the room all while cursing at Jina.

"Majha nasibach futka ahe. (My luck is cursed.)" Rumi muttered to herself as she stretched her arms feeling the cool breeze on her skin. It was chilly but it was to her preference, she liked cold weather more than these hot and humid. Taking a deep breathe Rumi made her way to the tents, she bowed towards the staff who greeted her on the way. "Ige nuguya?" The assistant director asked watching Rumi make her way towards them. Rumi smiled greeting her. "Good morning pd-nim."

"Eo, morning-morning." She nodded through her baseball cap. "Coffee, Rumi-ssi?" One of the camera director asked as he was preparing for everyone. Rumi nodded bowing her head. "Yes please."  The assistant director patted the chair offering to Rumi who refused putting her zipper on it instead. "Where did you disappeared last night Rumi-ssi?" Rumi chuckled at the suspicious look she was giving her. "I had some work to do so I retired earlier to my room." Rumi replied bowing in thanks towards camera director who handed her coffee. "Or were you hiding in there?" He teased making Rumi let out a laugh. "Maybe." She winked sipping on her coffee.

"Another one is up." Assistant director nodded towards the small tent set up outside the hanok. They chuckled at the messy head of hair peeking out of it and looking around. It was Dokyeom who had just woken up and was trying to reminisce where he was, sitting there for few minutes he sobered up finally stepping out of the tent. He bowed towards the staff and disappeared towards the washroom. One disappeared another one appeared. "Eo Rumi. Good morning." Joshua greeted with gentle smile adorning his face.

Rumi smiled back. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" She asked nodding towards the tent. "Oh? I did. It was very comfortable." Joshua nodded. "What about you? I saw you walking around late night." Joshua asked leaning down so the staff could fix his mic. "You did?" Rumi raised her eyebrows. "Sorry, I did I woke you u-" "Oh no, no. I was up to use restroom when I saw you." Rumi made a 'oh' sound nodding her head. "I couldn't sleep so I was taking a walk around." Rumi explained, Joshua nodded understanding.

"Good morning, everyone." A cheery Dokyeom joined them. "Did you sleep well Dokyeom-ah?" Assistant director asked teasing him about his last night's cry for help. "Eo, I did." He laughed rubbing his arms to create warmth. "Yah, wear a jacket or something." She scolded him watching him shudder. "Mhm take this." Rumi handle up the zipper she had bought along. Dokyeom shook his head, "Aniyo-aren't you cold?" He asked looking at thin t-shirt. "No, I am fine. I like chilly weather like this." Rumi replied putting her coffee cup aside and holding up zipper to help him.  "Really?" Dokyeom asked putting his hands through arm holes. "Hmm, I grew up in hot and humid weather, never had winters like here so I like it." Rumi smiled as he zipped it and quickly buried his hands in pockets for warmth. "Gomawo noona." Rumi smiled patting his arm and going back to her coffee.

"Eo noona?" Rumi hummed glancing up at him. "Did you and Hoshi hyung fight?" Rumi froze before letting out a sigh. "It's just I heard Wonu hyung and him talking last night." Rumi hummed nodding her head. "De, it was my fault. I said some stupid things." Rumi sighed. "Gwenchana noona, he'll forgive you." His bright smile making her smile too. "Gomawo." She nodded and went back to sipping her coffee. She needs to talk to him, needs apologize.

So, Rumi found herself outside his room debating whether she should go in or not. "What are you thinking about it so hard? You should apologize, it was your fault in first place, that guy was totally innocent he doesn't know anything about what's happening around him yet you had to burst out at him like that." Rumi groaned to herself remembering things she had called him. Rumi took a deep breathe before knocking at the open door, no one seemed to be around. She peeked inside excusing herself and entering. Rumi was about to call out his name when she noticed him rummaging through mess on floor. "Jagiya did you see my airpod-" "Hoshi." She called making him pause and turn around. She gave him a nervous smile. "Can we talk?" Hoshi stared at her blankly before going back to rummaging. Rumi lightly grabbed his hand to make him look at her. "Please Hos-"

"Wae?!" He hostilely shrugged of her hand. "Wae?" He repeated, this time his voice few octaves lower. "Why do you want to talk to such annoyance?" Rumi shook her head. "Aniya, Hoshya I'm sorry. Last night- I didn't mean those things. I-I was really out of my mind. I really didn't mean any of those things. I'm sorry, it was my fault for screaming at you like that I was just an-"

"Angry." Hoshi glared at her. "You were angry and you thought why not take it out on me, right?" Hoshi bitterly laughed while Rumi shook her head denying it. "It's not like that Hoshya-" "And you know what? Things said in anger are always true." Hoshi said his words filled with pain and anger. "So no, you don't have to explain anything to me." Hoshi spat and turned around. "Please, can't you give me a chance? I really didn't mean to call you annoyance." Hoshi ignored her. "Please Hoshi, let's talk it out, eo? I don't want to ruin your shoot because of this fight."

Hoshi stopped and slowly turned around disbelief all over his face. Seriously? She was here because she thought I was going to ruin the shoot. He let out a laugh in disbelief his jaw clenching in anger. "Yah, how long do you think I've been in this industry?" He glared. "Too long to keep my personal life out of professional." He voice devoid of emotions. "Hoshi I didn't mean it like-" "No, you did. So just-just stop. I got your message quite clearly; this annoyance will be out of life from now on." With that he left the room. "Hoshi wait!" Rumi called but once again she was too late. "Fuck..." She cursed running her hand through her hair, why does her stupid mouth have to ruin every single thing?

There was sound of door opening making her turn towards it. It was Jihoon at the door with towel hanging around his neck. He stared at her eyebrows raised. "Ssawoss-eo?" He asked. Rumi let out a sigh with a nod of her head. "Joesonghamnida." She bowed towards him and dejectedly left the room. "Eo?" Jihoon watched in wonder how did these two got in a fight.

"Mwoya?" Rumi asked looking at the princess's bags packed and lined up at the door. "What is this?" She asked walking towards Jina who was busy going through her phone. She hummed in response, "What? Do you really think I'm going spent one more night in this..." Jina said making a face while looking around the room.

Rumi rolled her eyes, "So you are leaving?" Jina shrugged her shoulders. "Yah do you think you can do wha-" "I do." Jina removed her sunglasses. "To think I let you accuse me of such things; you should consider yourself lucky Rumi Raikar." Rumi narrowed her eyes at that. "Accuse? There's difference between accusation and stating facts Han Jina." Rumi retorted back making her chuckle. "Right, you would know that." She muttered standing up. "But here's a thing; Han Jina can do anything she wants but she wouldn't stoop so low to do things you accuse me of. Yes, I had ulterior intentions, I like making friends but to use such cheap tricks-" She let out a bitter laugh. "I don't like how you are summing me up with those sewer pests, Rumi-ssi." Jina said with bitter smile on her face. Rumi just stared back.

"Now that's out of the way, help me with these bags." Jina put her glasses back on and trotted out as if nothing happened. What? Rumi stared at the door and the four bags. "What was that? Is she still ordering me around?" Rumi asked herself. "Agh!" She cursed stomping towards the door ready to give her piece of her mind but stopped short looking at the bags. "Damn it!" She cursed again and dragged those bags along with her. "Stupid brat." Rumi muttered glaring at Jina who was standing beside her car. Her driver came to Rumi's aid and took the bags, Rumi sighed glaring at her. "Mwo?" Jina raised her eyebrow and climbed inside her car.

"Little bitch." Rumi muttered under her breathe when her window rolled down. What now? "I really envy him." Rumi furrowed her eyebrows. Envy who? Hoshi? Why? Jina then turned to look at her. "Did you really think I was spending my precious time every day in that greasy place just because I wanted to get close to him?" She raised her eyebrow at Rumi who opened and closed her mouth. What's that suppose to mean? "M-mwo?" The driver started the car making Rumi step back. "See you around." Jina smirked rolling her window up as the driver drove off.

"Did she leave?" Hyun asked to very dumbfounded Rumi who stiffly turned towards him. "Hyun-ah, I think she just called me her friend?"

Day had turned into night with Rumi's quest for forgiveness. Rumi didn't leave any opportunities of trying to talk to Hoshi who ignored every effort of hers. Rumi sighed as glass filled with colourless liquid was pushed into her hands. Rumi smiled pretending to laugh at that camera director's joke who clinked his glass with hers and walked away. "I thought you won't be drinking while on duty?" Hyun said coming to stand beside her. Rumi looked at her glass and sighed again. "Apparently staying sober doesn't really depend on you here." She replied making him let out a laugh and pat her back in consolation. The shoot of GOSE was finally done with them completing some number of episodes so here they were celebrating. All staff and artists were scattered in groups enjoying themselves to music and alcohol. "Rumi-ssi!" Rumi cursed before forcing her smile holding up her cup. "What are you doing standing there? Iriwayo." One of the staff called. Rumi laughed nodded her head. "If you see me going astray get me out of here." Rumi said to Hyun who nodded shrugging his shoulders.

Rumi slowly sipped on her drink while laughing at the jokes passed on her table. "Yahhh...why are you still on same glass?" The director slurred walking towards her with green tinted bottle. "Come on finish it up!" He exclaimed making others join him with cheers. "One shot! One shot! One shot!" Rumi awkwardly laughed. Damn it! I never thought they would come a day where I would dread drinking. Rumi downed the glass hoping they would stop but her glass was filled again. "That was a little sip. Here one more shot!" She mentally cursed at the director downing the glass again and turning it upside down showing she had emptied the contents. Everyone cheered and hooted making Rumi roll her eyes, where did I get myself stuck into?

Thankfully attention from her moved on to new interesting thing they found. An arm-wrestling competition; between staff, artist, and their managers. Rumi stood aside quietly observing them as they called out names, pulling people in competition. The winners got to brag while loser were presented with huge ass mug of what knows mixed drinks. Agh, I need to get out of here. She thought just then she felt someone slip it's hand into hers. Surprised she turned to look up Wonwoo standing beside her. "Wonwoo-ssi what are you doing?" She whispered looking around trying to take her hand out of his grip but he just tighten it.  "Calm down nobody's watching. They are too drunk." Wonwoo whispered leaning down. Rumi glanced around, they were but still...she sighed and shifted closer to him hiding their adjoined hands behind them. Wonwoo grinned to himself while staring ahead.

"What on earth they are doing?" Rumi muttered making Wonwoo chuckled. "It was Juwon hyung's suggestion, he just got out of military." Wonwoo commented making Rumi hum and nod her head. "What about you?" Rumi furrowed her eyebrows. "What did your comrades do to pass time?" Wonwoo asked.

"Oh? Hm we used to arm wrestle too but mostly we played kabaddi."

"Kabaddi?" Wonwoo repeated cutely tilting his head to side in question. Rumi chuckled, he sounded so cute. "It's like wrestling." Wonwoo nodded. "One player wrestles seven players to gain points." Eh? Wonwoo snapped his head at her. Rumi chuckled at his surprised face. "It's not that difficult though." "Difficult? Noona, how does one person wrestles seven other? Is there even a sport like this." Rumi laughed at his wide eyes. "It exist! It's widely played in my country and we even have international championships." Wonwoo shook his head not believing a word. "You can search it up if you want!" Rumi laughed nudged her shoulder with his. Wonwoo looked away tsking.

"Rumi!" Both of them quickly let of each other's hand. "Yah come here!" Rumi looked up at them in question. "You have to defeat her!" She saw the manager daring her while kissing her own biceps. "Aniyo, I can't." Rumi chuckled shaking her head. "Mwo you can't?! Who are you kidding here?!" Rumi had no choice as she dragged and pushed in front of the manager. "Are we really doing this?" Rumi laughed looking at manager who nodded placing her elbow in position. "Eo! Come on!" The manager let out a cry of war. Rumi nodded placed her own arm in position.

"And sijak!" Soon the backyard was filled with cheers. The boys cheering for their manager while staff members cheering for Rumi.  "Arghhhhhhh!" The manager putting in all her strength while Rumi was doing her best not laugh. "Manager-nim, are you sure you want to keep going?" Rumi asked with little laugh. The manager stopped and sighed. "Ah I can't." Rumi nodded pressing her hand on table easily defeating her. Everyone cheered on her side, she saw Wonwoo being one of them.  The loser was given a mug of special tonic while a smaller glass was presented to Rumi. "Eh? But wae? I won right?" Rumi had asked but the liquid was forced feed to her.

She scrunched her face and shook her head trying to not let it get to her head. "Are you done yet?" Rumi snapped her eyes at the voice. "Hoshi." He rolled his eyes while placing his arm on the makeshift arm-wrestling table. "Mwo? What are you looking at?" He asked his chin up in arrogance. "Scared?" He taunted smirking at her. Rumi felt her eyebrow twitch in irritation. The audacity, he ignored me all day and now what? "Of what?" Rumi taunted back removing her shirt, the crowd went wild at that. Suddenly there were people placing bets and Chan had turned into commentator.

"Now we have gathered for battle of the year! It's none other than the self-proclaimed tiger vs gorilla!" Chan exclaimed as everyone stared roaring and hooting. "Who is going to win this battle?! It is the Hoshi hyung with his stealth moves or it is Rumi noona with her gorilla strength!"

"You can do it, Rumi-ssi!" Wonwoo cheered from her side as he hold onto her shirt. "Yah." Wonwoo turned to Hoshi who was glaring at him, it was just not him but all his members. "Mwoji? A member of our own cheering for enemy?" Chan said in his mic or which was supposed to be mic? "Yah, museun enemy?" Wonwoo pouted but slowly shifting towards their side. Rumi chuckled looking at him. "Wonwoo-ssi, do you want me to lose for you?" Rumi asked winking at him.

"Yah." Hoshi called violently grabbing on her hand. "I'm going to slam your face before that!" His members cried out at that. Rumi snorted corner of her lip lifting. "Arraseo, let's see who's going to slam who." She dared getting ready for cue.

"Ssii-jak!" Both of them put their strength into it, Hoshi doing his best to press it down as Rumi doing hers to defend. Hoshi happened to move her hand. "Eoooo! Hoshi hyung has shown his stealth! The Horangi seemed to be taking upper hand!" Chan screamed in his mic. "Yah! Mwohae Rumi-ya!" The staff cried. A triumph smirk formed on Hoshi's face he glanced up at her just to see her smirking back. She raised her eyebrow at him. As if asking him 'Is that all?' Hoshi snarled putting in his all while Rumi causally leaned in. "When are you going to slam my face down? I'm getting bored here." Rumi taunted as the crowed went oh's and ah's.

"Getting bored she says!" Chan rubbed salt in wounds. "What does the horangi have to say?" Chan pushed to his mic in front of Hoshi who was unable to say anything with his face turning red from all the force he was using. "Wah hyung you are turning red." Chan said in astonish. "I don't think horangi is going to last any longer. Will it be gorilla's victory?!" Chan asked turning towards the crowd. "What do you say? Should I end it?" Rumi asked as Hoshi glared at her in response. "Ah, it looks like you are going to pass out." Rumi glanced at his red face, sweat forming on his forehead. "Mianhae, Hoshya but-" Rumi leaned back a little and easily pinned down his hand on table.  "-you can't defeat me." She smiled making the crowd cry in victory. Hoshi fell on his back defeated.

"Rumi-ssi!" Wonwoo cheered, it was not only him but Jihoon too. No.1 fan of her muscles. Rumi smiled flexing her arms to them. "Get up! Get up!" Hoshi was pulled up as a mug of special tonic was slammed in front of him. "Chug it down in one shot!" Dokyeom cheered slapping his back. Defeated Hoshi moved to take the mug when a hand slammed on it. Hoshi looked up, "I'll be your knight, let's talk after this." Rumi said as she picked up the mug and chugged it down.

She slammed the empty mug down gagging. "What did I just drink?!" She gagged looking at staff who laughed at her scrunched-up face. She wiped her mouth turning towards Hoshi who had his eyes narrowed at her. "So-" "I never agreed to it." He said standing up and walking off. "What? Hoshi!?" Rumi called after him but was ignored once again. Rumi sighed looking up at Wonwoo who smiled lightly patting her shoulder.

"Are you ready?" Rumi turned to front to see Joshua smiling at her, his arm sleeve rolled up. "What? It must've been easy defeating that hamster." He smirked.

A/N :

Ay I'm little late today. 🤭

Love,

Alba💜