७५

"Sibal saekki!" Rumi cursed loudly then covered her mouth glancing towards Wonwoo. 'Mianhaeyo' She mouthed apologizing. Wonwoo narrowed his eyes but nodded his head acknowledging her apology. Rumi gave him a cheeky smile before continuing her conversation on the phone. "Eo I'm listening." She said and then rolled her eyes. "Ugh I am listening really but you keep yapping nonstop!" She exclaimed before glancing towards Wonwoo who looked busy reading some book. "We are supposed to be spending time together but you are talking my ear off Hoshi." Rumi gritted through her teeth in low voice.

"Yah you bitch, are you choosing your hoe over your bro!" He screamed from other side. Rumi pulled her phone away while rolling her eyes. "Aish if I knew you would change your colours like this then-"

"Then what huh? And yah, isn't he your brother first?" Rumi asked.

"Ani not anymore. He's your hoe now." Rumi burst out laughing at that. "Wait until he hears about this." She replied earning strange looks from Wonwoo. "Are you really with him?" Hoshi asked. Rumi hummed in answer. "Ohhkay. Then I should stop cock blocking you."  "What the fuck yah-" "Don't forget to use condom. And happy fucking!" With that he hung up.

"Yah-yah! That idiot." Rumi laughed shaking her head at his antics. You never know what will come out of his mouth. Rumi thought chuckling and turned around making her way towards her lover. He looks sexy right now sitting with his legs crossed while one hand held the book open, she thought biting her lip. "Wonwoo-ssi..." She basically purred pushing his book away and climbing on his lap. "Hmm are you done with your call?" He asked as she placed her arms around his shoulders and nodded her head in answer. "Now what do you wish to do?" Wonwoo asked with little smile on his lips.

"Hmm...I wish instead of this book-" She took the book from his hands and tossed it aside. "-you should hold me." She then took his hands and placed it on her hips. Wonwoo smirked, "Should I now?" He asked fingers squeezing, tighten their grip. "Eo." Rumi nodded and leaned down for a kiss when her ringing phone interrupted again. "Ughh..." She groaned letting out few cursing. Wonwoo laughed at her frustration. "If it's Hoshi again then he's gonna get from me." She muttered leaning to her side and picking up her phone to check who was interrupting them again. Her face darkened as soon as she saw the caller id. "Who is it?" Wonwoo asked reading her expression. "No one." She replied silencing her phone. She put on a smile again. "So where were we?" Wonwoo smiled, "Somewhere between you wanting me to me hold you." Wonwoo replied pulling her closer. "Were we?" Rumi giggled rubbing her nose against his. Wonwoo smiled and connected their lips. His sneaky fingers dipped under her waist but unfortunately the ringing phone interrupted them again. And this time it was Wonwoo's phone Rumi decided to ignore it but Wonwoo's eye caught Youngjae's name flashing on the screen.

"Um jamkkanman-noona." He mumbled in between the kisses trying to pull back. "It's Youngjae hyung." He said picking up the call. "E-eo hyung." He said answering the call.

"Where are you both?" He was attacked with first question, not waiting for response he threw another one. "You are coming home for dinner." It was not a question this time. Wonwoo nervously gulped, Rumi was helping at all, instead of his lips she found his pale neck. "E-eo um." He managed to squeak out. Rumi was really putting him in difficult spot from leaving trails of kisses to sucking on his adam's apple that bobbed up and down every time he gulped. "And where the hell that brat is huh?!" He roared loud enough for Wonwoo to pull the phone away from his ear and Rumi to click her tongue in frustration.

"The fuck you want huh?" She roared back making a sour face. Wonwoo quickly put the phone on speaker mode.

"Mwo?! The fuck I want? I want you to fucking pick up your phone! Where have you dumped your phone?!" Rumi sighed rubbing her forehead. She had put it on silent mode earlier. "Mian, it's on silent mode so couldn't get it." She replied. "Anyways what were you calling for?"

"We need to talk." Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows, hyung sounded serious. While Rumi on other hand rolled her eyes, "Go on then. What is it?"

"Ani we'll talk after dinner. Get back soon." He said in warning tone. Rumi was about to retort back when Wonwoo intervened. "Ne, hyung. We'll be there soon." He replied quickly putting the phone back to his ear. "Eo. Hm. Arasso bye." He hung up the call and looked up to see Rumi was looking at him with narrowed eyes. Wonwoo nervously smiled, "Should we get going then?"

Fuming Rumi removed her shoes and stomped inside the apartment. Wonwoo sighed placing her shoes in their position and followed her inside. "We are home." He announced. Youngjae peeked out from the couch just to be startled with Rumi standing over his head. "Ssibal!!" He exclaimed holding hand over his heart. "Yah! Do you want kill me or what?!"

Rumi looked down at him and nodded. "Currently? Yes."

"Yah-" "What's for dinner hyung?" Wonwoo intervened again settling down beside him.

"Dinner can wait Wonwoo-ssi let him finish with whatever he wanted to talk about." Rumi said. Youngjae clicked his tongue at her rudeness. "Ani we'll talk after dinner." He said getting up. "I'll heat up the dinner, you both freshen up." He chirped an walked. Rumi held up her fist to hit him fortunately Wonwoo stopped her before that. "Let's go." He dragged her towards washroom.

"Thank you." Youngjae smiled at who had Wonwoo came up to help him with plates and then turned to make a face at Rumi who was sitting at dinner table causally browsing through her phone. "Look at that shameless brat. Here Wonwoo is helping me with plates and what are you doing huh?" He commented making look up. Rumi rolled her eyes, "Seriously, what is up your ass today?" Rumi asked as they both settled down in their chairs. "Expecting you do something makes me having something up my ass? That's great really." He replied with a sarcastic snort. Rumi was about to say something but Wonwoo once again stopped her.

"Noona." He shook his head. "Hyung, let it go this time. Noona has busy with work these days." Wonwoo tried to reasoned for her sake. Youngjae threw him a look, which clearly said 'you better not side with her'. Wonwoo pressed his lips together and nodded. "Okay, let's just eat." He announced and began stuffing his face with rice.

Rumi sighed and quietly trio continued their dinner that is until Youngjae broke the silence. "Rumi-ya." He called making Rumi looked up at him and hummed in response. "Is something wrong with your phone?" Rumi raised her eyebrow at that. "Ani, your weren't picking up any calls, that's why I'm asking." Rumi shook her head. "Nothing's wrong with my phone. I told you it was on silent mode so I couldn't get it." Youngjae nodded acknowledging her reason. Rumi stared at him, something's not right. He wants to ask about something else yet he's playing dodge game here.

"Okay what is it really?" Rumi asked confronting him. Youngjae snapped his head like deer caught in headlights. "Hmm, oppa?"

"Ani- it's just- um I received your sister's call today." There was clang sound of metal chopsticks being put down. "Rumi-ya she really wanted to talk with you but your weren't picking up her calls so she had no option but to call me."

"Why the fuck did you receive her call?"

The tone was cold and curt almost making someone shudder at it. Wonwoo nervously glanced at his noona and hyung, he knew it was sensitive topic so he had never asked her about her family but now seeing her react like this. "Rumi-ya, how could I not? She's your sister Rumi!" Youngjae explained as if stating the obvious.

"I don't have any sister!" Rumi slammed her hand on table. "I have no sister, no mother, no father. I have no family. Is that difficult for you to understand?" She had no expression on her face, it would've been better she showed some anger but this was far scarier. "Hadn't I asked you to block their numbers?"

"How could I do that Rumi? How are they supposed to know if you are alive or dead when you don't pick up their calls?"

"Then they should think I am dead and stop ruining my life than they already have!" She was seething with anger her chest heaving with keeping it all in. "Rumi..." "Ani I don't want to hear anything about it." She cut him off and getting up from dinner table. "Noona..." Wonwoo tried to stop her.

"Your father is in hospital." She froze hearing that. Wonwoo snapped his head at Youngjae. "He's not well Rumi. He needs his daughter by his side in this difficult time."

"He has killed her ten years ago. So he can endure this difficult time by himself." She replied walked into her room slamming door shut. Youngjae sighed bowing his head dejectedly. "Aish, what do I do now? This girl, why is she being difficult?" He mumbled rubbing his forehead. Wonwoo stared at him blinking his eyes, he didn't know what to do? He didn't know how should he calm Rumi down? Is he allowed to get involved in this? Does he have that right? He has no clue about what happened between her and her family all he knew was they don't get along and from instances that she left the house. "She didn't even finish her dinner." Youngjae said letting out a sigh. Wonwoo glanced at the unfinished bowl of rice and then at shut door.

"I'll bring her a glass of milk." Wonwoo said making Youngjae look at him. He apologetically smiled. "Mianhae Wonwoo-ya, I didn't wanted to interrupt your time together but her father is in serious condition. He really wishes to see her." Wonwoo nodded understanding.  "This girl, I do understand her side but whatever has happened he is still her father. She should just visit him once." He sighed explaining. "Bu this girl she wouldn't even pick up her sister's call."

"Hyung, let's give her some time hm?" Wonwoo said. Youngjae nodded and gave him small smile, maybe Wonwoo would be able to talk some sense into her. "Okay then, I'll warm up the milk." He said went back in kitchen.

Wonwoo knocked on the door twice before opening it and entering inside. He saw her figure under the covers her back facing him.  "Noona?" He called walking towards the bed. Placing the glass of milk on side table, he sat beside her gently placed his hand on her shoulder and called her again. "Noona?" She didn't respond for few seconds making him think she had fallen asleep until she slowly turned around and faced him. Her red swollen eyes looked up at him. Wonwoo smiled and brushed his thumb under her eye, "You shouldn't sleep on empty stomach, noona." He said in soft voice. "I've lost my appetite." She replied snuggling in his touch. "Still you should at least have a glass of milk." He said pulling her up. Rumi whined but she held the glass that was handed to her. Wonwoo nodded encouraging her, she reluctantly emptied glass before passing it back to him. "Jalhesseo." He cooed patting her head. Rumi playfully glared at him making him chuckle. "Hm!" He opened his arms, Rumi smiled and snuggled into them. Wonwoo hugged her close placing kisses on her head.

Both lovers stayed in the embrace enjoying each others warmth. "Wonwoo-ssi?" Rumi broke the silence. "Hmm?" Wonwoo hummed in answer stroking her hair. "Do you also think I am ungrateful?" She asked. Wonwoo's hand paused at that. "Ani, what makes you think like that?" He replied patting her head again. Rumi was silent after that. Wonwoo wanted her to speak out her mind, to just let it out but on her own accord he didn't want to force things out her.

Rumi let out a sigh and pulled back. She slowly looked up meeting his eyes. "Is it really that wrong of me for not wanting to forgive him?" Wonwoo stayed silent letting her talk. "Huh? After all that I've been through, how can they expect me to forgive him? When he was well and alive he could care less of people who were around him. He only cared about the daughter who didn't give two shit about him and chose to leave behind the ones who were her family for a stranger she had met few days ago. He decided to care more for who had left him behind than ones who were beside him. He chose to drown himself in loss of his first daughter forgetting about the rest of the world. What was the fault of eight-year-old, huh?" Rumi asked her voice choking over emotions. "What did she do so wrong to deserve to grow up without her father's love? In family where all she received was fights every night instead of bedtime stories, an alcoholic abusive father instead of a loving father who would place good night kisses on her forehead.? What did she do to deserve this?"

Wonwoo took her hand in his trying to comfort her. It was first he had ever seen her break down like this.

"Despite all this the eight-year-old grew up compromising her happiness for her family. Yes, for her family. Once when was just breaking out her teenage life, she felt she couldn't take it anymore and decided to leave but she returned back. For her family," Rumi let out a bitter laugh, wiping her cheeks. "You know, that man didn't bat an eye when his daughter walked in with bullet holes in her chest and legs. I think he wouldn't have even if I had returned in a coffin." Rumi laughed. "This is just ridiculous! How am I supposed to just accept his apology huh? Is that going to bring back my childhood? Is that going to bring back the family I've dreamt of?" Rumi asked her voice breaking down as she spoke, tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably.

"It is easy for them to say, forgive him he is your father after all. But was he? Was he the father they talked about?" Rumi asked. "Why did I become the selfish one when it was my sisters who decided to leave and make all mess? Why am I called the selfish one huh? I stood by him, I stood by all of them, taking it all. The betrayal, the abuse everything! Still I became the selfish one, the ungrateful one the moment I decided to leave!" Rumi cried aggressively pointing towards herself.

"Wonwoo-ssi I have been called names by my own family! I have been called disrespectful for protecting my mother from abuse. And do you know who called me that? My own fucking mother!" She began to laugh. Wonwoo grabbed her by arms hugged her close. "My own mother thought I was bastard, an ungrateful child, my own mother Wonwoo-ssi...my own mother..." He could feel her cries against his chest. He wanted her to let it out but he couldn't see her breaking down like this. It pained him, it felt like thousands of needles were pushed into his heart. It pained him knowing she was carrying so much of hurt inside her whilst he couldn't do anything to bring her relief.

"Shhh...it's gonna be all okay. It's all gonna be okay now." Wonwoo whispered his own voice breaking down.

"Why do I have to forgive him? Because he's on the death bed and suddenly he wants to be free from all the guilt?" She asked pulling back wiping her cheeks and nose. "No I won't forgive him. Never!" She cried shaking her head. "After all I am the selfish one, the ungrateful one, the disrespectful one!"

"Rumi-ya..."

Both snapped their head towards the door to see Youngjae standing there. From the looks of he had been standing there the whole time.  "R-Rumi-ya I-I didn't mean it like that." Youngjae said walking towards her stopped as soon as she turned her head away. "Rumi-ya oppa didn't mean it like that. I am really sorry." Youngjae apologized again heading towards her and taking her hand in his. "I am really sorry Rumi. I am sorry. I didn't know, I never imagined the words I threw into air like this were piercing through." He explained. "Look at me please, I swear I didn't mean it when I used those words. How could I when I know your pain? I am sorry." He said pulling her into his arms. She finally let it got, the pain echoed through her voice, from her cries the ones that were buried inside her.

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

"Has she fallen asleep?" Youngjae asked, as Wonwoo walked out of Rumi's room. Wonwoo hummed in answer while settling down beside him on couch. Both of them sat in silent staring at nothingness. "You must've never seen her before like this." Wonwoo answered in nod even though it wasn't a question. "I have." Youngjae continued. "Twice. First time in army bunks and second time when she lifted her hand against her father." Youngjae said. "It was when she decided to leave the house. I still remember that day standing at her door, watching as Rumi and her mother were trying to stop her father, to break free he shrugged of their grip pushing her mother down on the glass table. It was as if she had lost it seeing her mother's head bleeding.  In anger she had gripped her father by neck choking him." Wonwoo silently listened. "Until she heard her mother's cry to let him go."

"That day I had seen a different Rumi. The one I knew was fearless, who jumped into the field bravely into showering bullets and save her comrades. I had known brave, confident, daring, fearless Rumi but that day I saw a broken one, who was barely holding onto the pieces to keep up façade. I saw fear in her eyes Wonwoo. And you know it wasn't fear for something, someone. It was herself. She had started fearing herself. She was trying to convince herself that she had left because she wanted to run away from the problems. It's not true, it was never that. She knew what was happening, she knew what was going to happen if she stayed. Yet, she couldn't stop it. I never wish to remember that day again, I hope it disappears from her memories forever for it had broken her like this. But that day keeps haunting her."

"Today the cries, they were of her fighting against herself. She wants to stand for herself, for pain she's been through but guilt is eating her away." Youngjae said turning to look at Wonwoo. "That girl has given everything of hers to people who took her granted. She might shown you she's all self priority but it's all façade. She's someone whose gonna give you all even if it takes away everything from her. But people fail to recognize it."

A/N:

I'm back with new chapter. I don't know if this was what you were waiting for. But yeah here am I! Btw, I think this chapter's a mess. Let me know what you think?

Love,

Alba💜