"It was because na unnie joahae (I like you unnie.)" Both Rumi and the boy froze and looked at each other. The boy coughed and looked away. Quickly placing the dishes, the boy bowed and left the ladies to their conversation. Rumi sighed and put down the cutlery she was about to use to eat. Rumi had hoped that Jangmi would wait until they are done eating so they wouldn't have gulped down the food in tense atmosphere afterwards but it looked like Jangmi had other plans.
Rumi nodded and gave her full attention to Jangmi. "I know it was pathetic and this is pathetic confessing like this after doing that to you. Unnie, I am really sorry. I know I have no right to give excuses or to explain myself but I don't want Unnie to think bad of me or make presumptions of what I did it for." Jangmi confessed looking into Rumi's eyes before looking away. "To be honest I liked you from the moment you saved me. It was like love at first sight for me." Jangmi chuckled to herself. "Very silly right. Everybody says I fall in love too easily, but you know what I fall out of love easily too. I thought this time it would be same too considering it was first time I had felt something for a woman. But the more I started to get to know you the more I got involved. I would look for any opportunity to see you to the point that you had to look for reasons to avoid me." Jangmi laughed.
"I tried my best after realizing that I was only making Unnie uncomfortable with all my feelings. Even if I liked you didn't mean that you would feel same. I know with all the advances I was burdening you so I stopped, hoping my feelings for you would subside but that night when everybody started talking about you and those rumours about you dating Gu Hwa-ssi, it was I like I couldn't hold it anymore. I knew there was no hope but I wanted to confess my feelings, just to let you know that Unnie, Joahae." Jangmi finally looked up in Rumi's eyes without wavering. "But that didn't go right. I ended up doing something regretful. I know this is like giving excuses but I was too drunk that time to even distinguish between right or wrong. I'm sorry, Unnie. I am really sorry." Jangmi stood up to formally bow at her but Rumi grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"Gwenchanayo." Rumi shook her head and asked her to sit down. Rumi smiled and let go of her hand. "Gomawayo, Jangmi-ssi for mustering the courage." Rumi spoke. She knew how was the conversation was going to go but she didn't expect to get this sincere confession. "I don't know what should I say after such receiving such sincere confession. To be honest I've never been to good with words or things like this. I don't even know to reply to your feelings because it is first time for me too." Rumi chuckled scratching her head.
"Unnie aarayo. You don't have to console me or worry about hurting me." Jangmi said. Rumi pressed her lips and nodded her head. "I know it's going to hurt you but Jangmi-ssi mianhaeyo." Rumi apologized giving her a sheepish smile. Jangmi shook her head. "Ani, gwenchana. You don't have to apologize. It was my fault from the beginning to attack you like that to now confessing my feeling like this and burdening you again. Ah, it must be so weird right?" Jangmi asked. "Having a woman confessing her love to you? I even got you in trouble with others. Ahh... it must've been hard hearing all those comments from others. Unnie jinja mianhae. I didn't even think about what you had face."
"Aniyo." Rumi grabbed Jangmi's hands again stopping her from getting anxious. "I didn't face anything nor did anybody had to say anything about it. Even if they did, I wouldn't have cared." Rumi assured rubbing her thumb over Jangmi's hand hoping to calm her down. "And I don't think it weird." She said making Jangmi look up at her. "I mean woman confessing her love to another woman. What so weird about it? It's just like one person liking other. I don't know much about love but I have heard enough to know that love doesn't come with any bounds. So, don't ever think or blame yourself for such stupid reason, okay?" Rumi smiled patting Jangmi's hand before letting it go.
"To be honest I have never felt such feelings before. Liking someone. I don't even know what it is to like someone? How do you even know you like someone? Is it really like what in see in the movies?" Rumi questioned carefully serving half of her pasta to Jangmi's plate, before cleaning and handing spoon and fork to her. Jangmi chuckled at that. She was like a baby; how does one not know about liking someone at this age? Unnie, is really something. Does she even know what are her actions making me feel right now? Jangmi thought. "Mianhaeyo, I shouldn't be asking you such questions to you."
"Ani, it's okay." Jangmi shook her head. "But Unnie are being real? You have never like someone before?" Rumi shook her head. "How about your heart beating a little faster just at a thought of someone? You suddenly get all nervous and clumsy, you specially start caring about the other person thinks of you? You can't meet their eyes. And whenever they do your heart skips a beat. Unnie must've at least felt this once?" Jangmi asked exasperated Rumi just gave her an embarrassed smile.
"Ah apha." Jangmi said holding her chest. "I was barking at completely wrong tree?" Jangmi asked herself in disbelief. "Jangmi-ya why did you have to go and fall in love with woman who doesn't even know what her actions do to other people?!" Jangmi cried beating her fist to chest. "Unnie you are to blame!" She accused pointing her finger at Rumi.
"Na? How am I to blame?" Rumi asked gulping down the food.
"Yes you are! How can you be this good and kind? Do you even know what your little actions do to other people? That day you saved me and took all those files on yourself. Even after do that you, you still treat me the same without any hatred. And today too! Why did you have to shield me like that in the elevator? Why do you have to hold the door open for me? Why do you have to clean this spoon for me?!" Jangmi exclaimed shoving the spoon in Rumi's face. "After doing all this how do you expect me to not fall in love with you?" Jangmi whispered calming down.
"Ah." Rumi said. Was I really doing that? And even if I was, isn't it common courtesy do these things? What kind of people is Jangmi-ssi around to fall in love with person who does the bare minimum? "Why does Jangmi-ssi want to me do then?" Rumi asked not knowing how to take Jangmi's accusations.
"Nothing."
"Do nothing? As in not do nothing about it or do nothing like clean the spoon?"
"Ahhh unnieee..." Jangmi whined making Rumi chuckle. "Unnie you are teasing me right? Now, I am hurt!" Jangmi scoffed crossing her arms looking away.
"Okay, okay. Unnie will stop now." Rumi laughed cooing at the sulking Jangmi. "The pasta's getting cold. Eat up." Rumi said nodding towards the pasta bowl.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Unnie, you didn't have to drop off." Jangmi said getting inside her car. Both Rumi and Jangmi had returned back to company after their lunch when Jangmi received a call for an urgent errand hence they were now in the parking lot.
"It's not that big of a thing. I can just a elevator from here." Rumi said pointing towards the elevator to her right.
"Unnie, you are doing it again." Jangmi said smiling at her Unnie who leaned down to look at her in question. "Forget it." Jangmi sighed shaking her head. "Thank you for today. And thank you for forgiving me." Rumi shook her head. "I was never upset in the first place."
"But Unnie." Rumi hummed for her to go on. "I know it might be uncomfortable but can we still talk? We can be friends right? I promise to not do anything that will you uncomfortable!" Rumi let out a out little laugh at Jangmi's pouty face. "Aarso. Now, get going you'll be late." Jangmi cheered in joy before nodding her head. "Bye. And drive safe." Rumi stepped back and waved at Jangmi who drove out of parking lot.
"Silly girl." Rumi laughed shaking her head and made her way to the elevator. Pulling out her id card she scanned it for open the doors. "Well, it's nice that we cleared it out." Rumi said to herself while stepping inside the elevator. The door closed shut as soon as she pressed the nine on button panel. "But still, I feel guilty; even more after Jangmi-ssi such sincere confession." Rumi muttered to herself. She had never such a confession before, then who would have after taking in her personality. Jangmi-ssi was the only one. Rumi thought chuckling to herself while leaning on the elevator wall. Don't why but Rumi was feeling good about herself suddenly. Maybe because Jangmi called her good-hearted person and many other compliments. It made happy knowing that someone out there liked her as a person. Though all those things Jangmi thought of weren't really true considering Jangmi hadn't seen her other side but still it felt good. Rumi chuckled again as the elevator door opened and a guy walked in, the guy gave her a weird look.
Huh? What with him? She thought before shrugging it off. Maybe because I was smiling to myself. These days she was doing that a lot, not the fake one but people around her genuinely made her smile, like Wonwoo-ssi.
"Johahanikka."
She had heard those words quite clearly to make her heart skip a beat. "Nahi (No) Rumi, I'm sure he didn't mean it like." Rumi assured herself. But why did my heart do that then? Rumi asked herself placing her hand over her chest. It's doing it again. Suddenly Rumi remembered her conversation with Jangmi. Heart beats faster. You get nervous and clumsy. You can't meet their eyes if they do your heart skips a beat. You start caring about what that person thinks about? I have been caring a lot more about what Wonwoo-ssi think of me. Whenever our eyes meet, my heart starts acting weird as if it has forgotten its work. I get all clumsy and blabber stuff whenever I'm around Wonwoo-ssi. "What is this suppose to mean? Does that mean I like-"
"Rumi?" Someone calling her name brought her out of her thoughts. Rumi looked up to see two of Seventeen member's whose names she failed to remember. She checked the digital screen on the top which showed she had reached her destination. "Hey." Joshua, I think that's what his name is. Rumi furrowed her eyebrows and walked out. What are they doing here? And this does not look like production department.
"Hi." Rumi greeted back smiling at him and the pretty angel. Rumi knitted her eyebrow and made her guess. "Joshua-ssi and Jeonghan-ssi?" Joshua chuckled and nodded his head.
"Wah, you really didn't know our names." Jeonghan said as if finally believing it. Rumi gave him a guilty smile. "It's okay, We know you are trying your best. And you don't have to be so formal with us." Joshua said giving her an eye smile. Jeonghan nodded. "We are way past that and Seungcheoli already made it official that you are one of us now." Rumi let out an awkward laugh and nodded her head. "By the way how did you get here?" He asked looking at her. Rumi furrowed her eyebrows and pointed towards the elevator. Didn't she just get off the elevator in front of him? Why is he asking something so obvious?
"He meant how did you use this elevator? Only artist and very few employees have access to it." Joshua explained glancing at the id she was clutching in her hand.
"Really?" Rumi furrowed her eyebrows and looked at her id. She didn't know about something like this? "I was meant to head back to department but I guess I took the wrong elevator from basement." Why wasn't she informed about something like this? She checked her id card. It didn't look any different from others.
"How long had you been working here for?" Jeonghan questioned. He was basically interrogating her. It was really weird how out of nowhere she was in their life though he didn't mind that but her appearance felt really weird like it wasn't coincident.
"Huh?" Rumi looked up not really paying attention what he was asking about.
"Even intern knows about something like this. Security is something about this company is well talked about. We have to scan are faces every damn time we have to use the elevator." Jeonghan complained looking at the elevator in distaste. Security, really? Rumi cocked her head to side. Maybe she was informed about it and didn't pay attention to. But is security a big thing here? With incidents like employees selling shots of idols and crazy fans breaking the said security?
"I am very absent-minded I guess." Rumi replied with shrugging. "So, were you guys were going somewhere?" Rumi asked diverting their attention from elevator thing. Joshua nodded. "We were heading to gym-"
"Unnie!" A shrill voice caught their attention. The trio looked at a short figure running in their direction. "Unnie." She called again.
"Isn't that-" "Formis9. Yes, member of Formis9" Joshua completed Jeonghan's sentence. "But who is she calling for?" Joshua asked when the girl came to stop in front of them and bowed in respect towards them before turning to Rumi. "Unnie." She grinned bowing towards her.
"Eo? Seoyeon-ssi?" Rumi smiled barely remembering the short girl's name. "How are you today?" Rumi asked patting the girl's head. Seoyeon grinned and blushed at her action.
"I am fine, Unnie." She shyly replied. Both Joshua and Jeonghan stared their interaction curiously. "Unnie I wanted to give you this." Seoyeon said putting out her hands which held two strips of black card paper. Rumi took the strips and stared at them curiously. Are these...? "These are tickets to our upcoming concert." Seoyeon answered her unasked question. "I hope you will come and watch us perform. You can bring your chingu or partner." She grinned pointing towards the two tickets. "Sunbaenim, you too please show us support." Seoyeon said turning towards Joshua and Jeonghan. "Then, I'll get going!' She quickly bowed and ran off.
"Eo? Just like that. Seoyeon-ssi?" Rumi called, she was here for a second and now gone. "Be careful on your way!" Rumi shouted when she saw her trip. Seoyeon gave her an okay sign which made her chuckle and shake her head. "Ah gwiyeowo." Rumi cooed.
"Another one on your list?" Jeonghan asked gaining her attention.
"De? Aniyo!" Rumi shook her head. "Jeonghan-ssi, what are you even saying? This is really a misunderstanding. Seoyeon-ssi is cute little girl. It's nothing like that."
"We know Rumi. He is just teasing you." Joshua laughed reassuring her while the culprit smirked at her. I change my mind. He is no angel though he looks like one. Rumi thought throwing a glare at Jeonghan's direction. These boys always seem to be reason behind my sufferings. One is brat, this one keep teasing me, other one just creates problems even though he means best and then there is that one, who keep stirring up something in my heart. Rumi's hand unconsciously when to her fast-beating heart. Just at thought of someone? Rumi snapped her head up with eyes wide.
"Gapjagya! Yah, gwenchana?" Jeonghan asked looked at Rumi. She was suddenly acting weird, one moment she was glaring at him and other moment she had hand over her chest and gasping. "Yah, are you having heart attack or something?" Jeonghan worriedly grabbing her arm and stared into her eyes. She looked like she was not having one? "Yah, answer me? Shua?" He glanced at Joshua for help.
"Rumi? Are you okay?" Joshua grabbed her another arm and shook her. Shaking her seemed to help as she was finally back to reality.
"Mwo? Why are you both?" Rumi asked looking at them. Jeonghan and Joshua let go of her and sighed in relief. "I'm sorry. I think something is wrong with my heart. It suddenly starts beating faster out of nowhere. I need to get it check out." Rumi muttered to herself.
"You are really something. You scared us, you know." Joshua said shaking his head at her. Rumi gave him a guilty smile and apologized to both of them. Jeonghan commented about her being weird as the trio decided to get in elevator and return to back to work.
"Don't you think she is really weird?" Jeonghan asked as he and Joshua made their way inside the gym. "Aren't everybody a little?" Joshua replied. "That's true. But something about her is definitely odd." Jeonghan said.
"Like?" Joshua asked.
"What are you two talking about?" Jihoon asked. He and Hoshi were already at gym working on their daily routine.
"About Rumi. Jeonghan here thinks she is little odd." Joshua replied nodding towards Jeonghan who greeted Hoshi by slapping his butt who was in a squat position. "I was just saying. Her behaviour is odd." Jeonghan said in his defence.
"Really? I find her rather interesting." Jihoon commented tilting his head. "I mean she is really strong. Her arm strength." Woozi shook his head in amaze at thought of her biceps.
Jeonghan tsk at his comment. "Does this gym freak not know anything about personality? Or do you judge people on by their body strength?" Jeonghan asked making an annoyed face at Jihoon who rolled his eyes in return.
"You would have talked about it too if you had seen her carry a grown ass woman in her arm a storey up! How much strength does one require to do that?" He asked looking at his own arms. "She doesn't even look like she has that much of muscle." He murmured posing while checking himself out in the mirror.
"It's useless talking to this one really." Jeonghan said shaking his head. All this while the one closest to the person of discussion was very quiet. The one who would jump up at her name, the one who would always have something to say seemed to be keeping to himself. "Hoshi-ya, mwohae? Why are you so quiet today?" Jeonghan asked looked at quiet Hoshi who and moved from his squat position and now was resting on a bench.
"Eo?" He looked up.
"Did you not sleep well? You look out of it." Joshua joined.
"He been like that for since yesterday." Jihoon commented. "Don't know what he is thinking so hard about?"
"I'm not." Hoshi shook his head denying it. "I enjoyed drinks too much on our trip." He reasoned. The trio laughed buying his reason.
"Yes too much. You had completely lost it. I'm waiting for the episode to come out. The editor's would have lot of trouble with Hoshi giving them too much content." Joshua said earning laughing from the other two. "Do you remember that you had walked off somewhere after the shoot if it had not been Rumi then we wouldn't have known." Joshua.
"Right." Jeonghan said slapping Hoshi's back. "She was running behind you like mother taking care of her naughty child." Jeonghan laughed remember how she had given her own shoe to Hoshi while she was carrying his lost slipper.
"Hmm. I remember." Hoshi nodded his head not really saying anything further. It was really like his mind was some where else. Like on the things he had heard when he was drunk and woken up next day wondering if they were true or were his silly dreams.
A/N :
Awwwwwwww... I feel sad for Jangmi. Do you?
Love,
Albað