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"How did he manage to get through?!" Chief snapped slamming his hand on the desk while the agent bowed their head. Everyone knew better than opening their mouth in front of Chief Gim Suk. Just like his name 'like a rock' he physically and mentally justified it. He personality was on another level, this man only knew right, didn't give shit about anything else like the other chiefs to whom status and everything else matter. Him being transferred to Seoul branch was what Gu Hwa had wished for but he never expected that he would meet him like this. "What have you all be doing huh?!" He demanded as Gu Hwa stepped forward. "We made a mistake. We were following the company's protocol, didn't realize it would turn to this-"

"Goddamn it Lee Gu Hwa! Use your fucking brains!" Chief's voice boomed making the room fall back into silence when a snort was heard. Chief snapped his head towards it, "Who was it?!" Others kept quiet knowing well where that snort came from. Rumi cleared her throat and stepped forward, "Agent 7864, Rumi Raikar, Sir!" Rumi reported. Chief Gim Suk stared at her with knowing look before speaking. "What so funny Raikar?" He snapped narrowing his eyes. Rumi straightened up trying to hide her laughter, "Nothing Chief." She answered staring straight ahead.  He huffed, "Bunch of idiots. Seoul had gathered a bunch of boneheads on name of agents." He sighed rubbing his forehead. This was not the first case with such incident happening as soon as he had transferred. He wondered how long has this branch has been running with such imbeciles as their commanders. He had scanned through all their profiles and only to come with few he could count on fingers who deserved to be called as agent while others were brainless sheep following another. And such spineless idiot were promoted to what commanders? He bitterly chuckled glaring at the idiot standing in front of him with his head bowed.

"How are you going to sort this Commander Lee Gu Hwa?" He questioned slapping the written report on the table. They have been going all wrong from the start. "We are planning to act on the evidence we have found from the unidentified site selling information, Chief."

"And why didn't you do so when you first recovered the said unidentified site?"

"We were following the company's protocol, Chief. The company didn't wish to disclose the information, it wishes to protect its employee's sentiments. We've been managing to do so and successfully eliminate few moles-"

"Was eliminating moles your fucking duty Gu Hwa?" Chief asked cutting him off. Gu Hwa gulped straightening up. "No, Chief."

"Then what is it?"

"To protect our client, Chief."

"Oh so you do know that?" He sarcastically asked tapping his foot in impatience. The more he talked with them the more he got aggravated. "How were you planning to do that when you're so stuck up on the company's protocol?" He questioned. Gu Hwa opened his mouth to answer but Chief Gim Suk held up his hand knowing he'll sprout some bullshit again. "I don''t want this shit. Bring me what can be done to protect the artists."

"Yes, chief." Gu Hwa answered. Chief Gim Suk stared him and then at the other agents. "Bunch of brainless little shits." He spat before leaving the meeting room. As soon as he left everyone let out the breaths they've holding and words of the relief whispered.

Rumi chuckled making Hyun stare at her in annoyance. He almost shat his pants when she had snorted in front of Chief and that idiot had the audacity to do it again. "Man, his curses don't make sense but they funny." She chuckled, Hyun rolled his eyes, he knew she had lost it since the incident but to jump face first into ditch was something else. He shook his head, "We are done here, let's go." He said nudging her towards the door. He had strict instructions from Youngjae to get her home as soon as the meeting was done. "Yeah, yeah no need to push." She replied nodded her head. Normally she would've thrown a fit for ordering around her like that. But now she really didn't give a fuck about anything but that. His eyes narrowing down on the chat she had opened thousandth time until know. He mentally sighed, how long is she going to be like this? From what he had known and heard, no one person could define her life other than herself. Then why? Why was she behaving like this? Hyun thought to himself while nudging her to side when she was about to bump into one of the banners. Still she kept staring her phone screen, not once looking up even when he opened the car door for her, she simply climbed in. Hyun took in few breaths walked to the other side and got in the driver's seat.

"Put on your seatbelt." He said while putting on his. Rumi paid no attention to his words. "Rumi." He called not once but thrice. Fed up, he angrily clicked opened his seatbelt and leaned towards her which finally made her break out of her trance and push him back in reflex making him go flying towards the door and ram into it. "What the fuck are you doing?" She asked accusingly. Hyun pursed his lips in pain while holding his shoulder and then angrily glared up at her. "Me? What the fuck are you doing?!" He snapped. "I called your name thrice! Thrice! Put on your damn seatbelt but no! You were so fucking busy in your sob story that you don't even know what's happening around you!"  He had finally lost it. He glared breathing heavily. "What is fucking wrong with you Rumi, huh?! Where did 'I don't give a fuck about anyone else I live for myself', Rumi go? Since when some fucking guy started leading your life?!" Rumi looked away. "Damn it!" He punched the steering. "What's fucking wrong with you? Have you even looked at yourself?" He asked. She looked like somebody had sucked life from within her. "You are not being yourself Rumi." She again ignored him and kept staring at her phone. Enough, Hyun was done with being civil. He snatched the phone right off his hand and threw it on backseat.

"The fuck are you doing!" Rumi cursed trying to lean back and grab it but Hyun push her right back into her seat. "No! What the fuck are YOU doing?!" He snapped back. "Look at me and tell me this is how you've always been?" He said grabbing her by arm making her face him. "Tell me, you've been always this weak little bitch who thought some guy had control over life and the Rumi that I knew was just some façade!"

"He is not some guy." She gritted through her teeth. Unbelievable. Hyun couldn't believe it anymore. The Rumi he knew would've decked him the moment he called her little bitch but now what? All she heard was the words he had called Wonwoo. Hyun let out a sharp breath, his grip tightening just for a second before he released her, shoving himself back as if the sight of her was infuriating. "Listen to yourself," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "You're not even fighting me, Rumi. The hell happened to you?"

Rumi's jaw clenched, but her eyes stayed locked on him, burning with something between fury and frustration. "You don't get it," she hissed. "You think this is weakness? You think I just let him—" She cut herself off, exhaling shakily, fingers curling into fists on her lap.

Hyun's eyes narrowed. "Let him what?" he pressed, leaning closer. "Go on, say it."

Rumi's throat tightened. She shook her head, biting the inside of her cheek so hard she tasted blood.

Hyun scoffed. "That's what I thought."

Her fists clenched even tighter. "You don't know what it's like," she spat, her voice shaking. "You don't know what it's like to be trapped—"

"Trapped?" Hyun cut in, voice sharp. "Or you've become wuss?" The words hit like a slap, and for a second, she just stared at him, chest rising and falling in quick, shallow breaths. He leaned back, shaking his head. "You would've been by his door now holding him by his collar." He muttered, "the old Rumi would have."

Rumi's breath caught in her throat, the weight of Hyun's words sinking into her chest like lead. She clenched her fists tighter, nails biting into her palms. "You think I don't want to?" she snapped, her voice barely holding steady. "You think I haven't tried?"

Hyun leaned in, eyes locked on hers. "Trying isn't enough, Rumi. If you really meant it, you'd be standing outside his door right now—whether he listened or not."

Her heart twisted painfully. The truth of it stung more than the anger in his voice. "I broke him," she whispered, the cracks in her voice finally breaking through. "He won't even look at me." Hyun's face softened for a second—but only for a second. "Then make him." Rumi's eyes flicked up, glossy with unshed tears. "He doesn't want to see me."

"Doesn't matter." Hyun's voice was steady now, but firm. "You don't get to walk away just because it's hard. You hurt him—so stand there and take whatever he's got to throw at you." Her chest rose and fell unevenly, the storm swirling behind her ribs threatening to break loose. "You think that's gonna fix everything?" Hyun's gaze didn't waver. "No... but it's a start."

Somehow Rumi found herself in front of Seventeen's dorm. She exhaled shakily, gripping the edge of her seat as if it could hold her together. Hyun's words sat heavy between them, unshakable, undeniable.

She turned her head slightly, staring out the window at the apartment building. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her jeans. "And if he never forgives me?" she asked, voice quieter this time. Hyun didn't hesitate. "Then you live with it. But at least you'll know you tried." Rumi let out a slow breath, her throat tightening. She reached for the door handle, her grip lingering for a second before she pushed it open. The cold night air hit her skin, sharp and sobering. She glanced back at Hyun. He didn't say anything—just gave her a small nod. That was all she needed. Steeling herself, Rumi stepped out of the car and walked toward the only door that mattered.

Rumi chewed on her lip looking from Jeonghan to Seungcheol. This wasn't how she thought it was going to go. "Umm how about coffee?" Jeonghan suggested trying to break the ice. Rumi smiled about to say yes but shook her head, she wouldn't want to be alone in room with Leader-nim. "I-I am fine." She nervously answer under Seungcheol unwavering gaze. "Umm how's your shoulder?" She questioned fidgeting in her seat.

"As you can see. It's all good." Jeonghan said lifting and waving his hand. It's been what a week? Yet look at him and his arm brace hanging off the dinning chair. Rumi shook her head, its not like she was any better to preach to him. "Right..." She trailed off falling back in silence.

Ugh! What was she thinking walking right into lion's den? Stupid Hyun, riling her up making her lose whatever sense she had left. She was pulled into Jeonghan's and Seungcheol's apartment the moment she stepped into the building. There was no way she was going to get to Wonwoo without getting through this lion sizing her up right now. Rumi cleared her throat and finally addressed him. "Hmm how have you been Leader-nim?" She asked with a nervous smile. Jeonghan who was sitting beside him, cautiously glanced at Seungcheol while making himself ready to throw himself in between if anything were to break out.

Seungcheol stared at her, just stared at her without responding. He was pissed off, when he learned about her identity. It felt like she had betrayed him but then when he learned the whole truth, he became upset. He believed the bond between them had grown more than just some co-workers or friends yet she felt that she couldn't tell him the truth. "Were you never planning on telling the truth?" He asked. Rumi paused, she glanced at Jeonghan and then back at him as if not believing it. His tone much softer than she had imagined. "Were you going to hide it until the end?"

Rumi smiled and shook her head. "It was not possible. It never was."

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Seungcheol asked. She kept silent. "Because company asked you to." It was a statement. "I know everything. What has been going around for past year. Why out of nowhere security got double? Why suddenly strange things were happening around us while somehow you ending up in middle of it? I know each and everything." He said making her purse her lips. "And I've come to understand your decision for not telling the truth but Rumi was our relationship that fickle for you to hide such important thing from us? Or it was all façade like your identity?"

"No." Rumi immediately shook her head. "It's not Leader-nim. It never was, believe me." She denied shifting to the edge of the couch. "It pained me every time I had to make up an excuse to hide the truth. I won't lie, at first I didn't care much. But after spending time with you guys, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't help but care about you more than I ever intended to. I even tried to distanced myself but it didn't help."

"Then why didn't you tell the truth?"

"I couldn't!" Rumi shook her head. "I just couldn't when I knew what it's consequences were gonna be." She frantically said balling her fist. "I also believed, you all had right to know the truth since it was regarding your security but I didn't wish for you guys to live that constant thought. I've seen Seokmin lose it when he was attacked at that concert, I've seen him panic, I-I don't want that happening to anyone of you. Can you think how he were to react if he knows what's happening around him? That you've been targeted like this? How do you expect me to explain this to him, to any one of you? It's tormenting! I can't let that happen." Rumi breathed. Seungcheol's gaze didn't waver. His fingers curled slightly, resting on his knees as he let her words sink in. The frustration, the desperation in her voice—it was real. He could see it in the way her hands trembled, in the way her breath came out uneven.

"You think carrying it alone was any better?" His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable heaviness to it. "That watching you throw yourself into danger without knowing why wasn't tormenting for us?"

Rumi bit her lip, her throat tightening. "It is my job leader-nim. I've been doing this for a living. I just didn't want you to feel that fear."

"Well, we did," Jeonghan finally spoke up, his voice quieter than Seungcheol's but no less sharp. "We felt it every time something happened, every time we couldn't understand why you were always in the middle of it. We may not have known the truth, Rumi, but we knew something wasn't right." Rumi's breath hitched. "I'm sorry. I didn't do better."

Seungcheol exhaled sharply, leaning back against the seat, Jeonghan squeezed his hand trying to calm him down. "You should have told us." Rumi looked down, shoulders sinking. "I know," she admitted, voice small. A tense silence filled the room, thick with the weight of everything out and spoken. Then, Seungcheol spoke again, his voice softer this time.

"So, what now?" Rumi hesitated before finally looking up. "What are you going to do?" He asked. Rumi looked in his eyes with firm stare, "I don't want other boys to know about this." It was cut and clear, she isn't going to change it any other way. Seungcheol stared at her and nodded his head after few seconds. Jeonghan looked between the two, it was like they both were having a conversation of their own without talking. "Doesn't Hoshi already know?" He asked making them turn to him. Seungcheol glanced at him and then at Rumi for answer.

Rumi sighed, "Um he doesn't exactly know what's happening. He just knows about my real identity."

"You told him?" Jeonghan questioned.

"Knowing his personality, I doubt she did. Most probably he found out on his own." Rumi nodded towards Seungcheol's answer. "It's surprising that idiot didn't go around blabbing around. Didn't he pester you?" Rumi shrugged her shoulder with small smile. "Of course he did." Seungcheol nodded. Jeonghan looked between the two. "How? How are you both doing that?" He asked bewildered. "Doing what?" Seungcheol asked. "You, knowing her answers. She's not even talking!" He exclaimed. Both Seungcheol and Rumi looked at each other and let out chuckles. "Mwo? Mwo? Mwo? Why are you laughing?" Jeonghan nudged him.

"Oh mianhe. Are you jealous Jeonghannie?" Seungcheol cooed earning quick slap on his arm. "Ouch." He smiled rubbing his arm.

"This is all good but what are you planning to do about that?" Jeonghan asked turning to Rumi. Seungcheol too turned to her waiting for her answer. "How are you going to make up to him? Did you talk to him yet?" He asked.

Rumi shook her head. "No, I couldn't he's not talking with me-" "Obviously." Rumi gave Seungcheol a look for his not so needed comment. "I was heading to his room when you both cau-" Rumi paused suddenly the wires which were loose suddenly sparked, her eyes going wide in realization as she slowly turned to the pair, who had a cheeky smile and very knowing look on their face. "You both k-" "Know. Yes, we do." Seungcheol once again interrupted her. "Do you really think you both can hide things from us?" Seungcheol asked raising his eyebrow while pointing between him and Jeonghan. Rumi sighed, of course one cannot hide things from their parents.

"We really didn't plan to hide it but-"

"Oh right, it just how it happened." Seungcheol's sarcasm dripping off each word. At this point Rumi was annoyed with him cutting off every damn time. "Mwo? What you glaring at?" Seungcheol dared her. Rumi was about to retort back something but fortunately Jeonghan stepped in. "Shush-shush. Going off topic. This can be done later Daddu. Now let's focus on main thing. What you gonna do?" He asked.

Rumi sighed leaning back in couch, her fingers running through her hair. "I don't know." She grumbled. "I've been desperately trying to contact him but he won't answer my calls nor my texts. Oppa and Hoshi believe I should give him time which I have but I can't anymore. I just can't. So here I was but you guys caught me before that."

"Either way you won't be able to see him." Seungcheol said making her sit up again. "He's not in Seoul, went for this promotion event."

"Mwo? Why don't I know about this?" Rumi said pulling out her phone and checking through it. "That motherfucker!" She cursed gripping her phone tighter. "He's deliberately doing this."

"Who are we talking about?" Seungcheol asked glancing at Jeonghan who shrugged his shoulder. "Fucking moron, does he think, doing this is going to keep me out of it?" Rumi just kept going on while angrily typing away on her phone. "Is she listening?" Jeonghan shook his head in answer. "Yah, do you want us to help out?" Seungcheol asked making her finally look up. Seungcheol raised his eyebrow waiting for her answer.

Rumi sighed and shook his head. "Ani. I'll handle this on my own." She said. "But-" Rumi again shook her head cutting off Jeonghan. "I don't want you getting in trouble because of me. Hoshi already is. I don't want you guys getting pulled in too. It's my mess. I will sort it myself." Rumi said. Both of them nodded, before Seungcheol commented. "You better fix yourself before you do that." Jeonghan slapped his arm.

"Mwo?" She asked clearly offended.

"Ignore him. He's being an idiot." Jeonghan said. "But I think you should maybe eat better I guess? Or sleep?" Jeonghan added. "How is that any different than what I said?!" Seungcheol exclaimed earning another slap.

Rumi groaned, knowing they meant well. She leaned in her palms covering her face. "I just can't sleep." She grumbled. "I haven't been able to except for that one time when I took those pills doc gave." She added. "I most probably won't be able to."

"Wae?" Seungcheol asked curious. Rumi peeked up from her palms. "I want to see him." Seungcheol gagged, he literally did. "I shouldn't have asked." He gagged loathing those lovesick eyes she was looking at him with. "Get those away." He said flicking his hand. "Here, look at this." He said picking up the magazine and throwing at her which had Wonwoo on cover page. "This might help."

Rumi grabbed it and intensely stared at it before letting out a sigh again. "No. This won't do. I need to feel him, touch-"

"Fuck! I'm outta here!" Seungcheol stood up. "I'm getting a drink! I can't do this." He exclaimed stomping off.

"A beer would be nice!" Rumi shouted as both her and Jeonghan laughed when he threw a finger at her.

Jeonghan shook his head, still chuckling as Seungcheol disappeared into the kitchen, grumbling under his breath.

Rumi sighed, leaning back against the couch, her fingers still clutching the magazine. Jeonghan watched her for a moment before speaking. "You know," he said, his voice softer now, "you could just go see him." Rumi exhaled heavily, shaking her head. "It's not that simple." Jeonghan hummed in understanding. "It never is." He leaned back, stretching his arms. "But I think you're making it harder than it has to be." Rumi tilted her head, considering his words. Before she could respond, Seungcheol's voice rang out from the kitchen.

"Jeonghan, if she starts crying, you're dealing with it!"

Jeonghan snorted. "Yeah, yeah." He turned back to Rumi, offering her a small smile. "Just don't wait too long, okay?" Rumi nodded, pressing the magazine to her chest as she stared at the ceiling. "Yeah... I know."

For now, she let herself laugh with Jeonghan and Seungcheol, the weight on her chest just a little lighter—if only for a moment.

A/N :

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