"Careful." Wonwoo said as he guided Rumi to the apartment door. "I should've taken you to the hospital." He muttered. "Aniyo!" Rumi was immediate to protest. "I don't want to go there. They prick your skin unnecessarily and give you dozens of pills to take!" Rumi whined. "Shh..arasoyo. We are home now." Wonwoo sighed wondering where did she get that energy to complained. He held her up with arm while other arm when to ring the bell.
"Don't, oppa is not home." Rumi said pressing in the passcode. "He's on business trip." Rumi answered his unasked question. Wonwoo nodded and guided Rumi inside the apartment, he helped her with house slippers as she dragged herself to dining table. "What is wrong with me? I don't get this sick." She muttered. Wonwoo poured her a glass of water while Rumi tried to remove the jacket. "Won't you be cold?" Wonwoo asked as he moved to help her out.
Rumi shook her head. "It's fine. I just feel stuffy in this." She sighed in relief after the jacket was off. "Thank you." She thanked Wonwoo who handed her a glass of water. "My throat is dry." She muttered downing the whole glass, Rumi tried to clear her throat but ended up going in coughing fit. "Rumi-ssi, careful!" Wonwoo exclaimed patting her back. Her t-shirt felt wet. "Rumi-ssi, you should change your clothes. It is because of these wet clothes." Wonwoo said looking down at her wet jeans. Rumi hummed leaning back in chair. "You won't feel better unless you change into dry clothes." Wonwoo said looking down at her. "Come on change quickly, I'll make you some ginger tea."
Rumi turned to look up at him. "Waeyo?" Wonwoo asked. "I can make that much Rumi-ssi." Wonwoo defended making Rumi chuckle. Wonwoo huffed pouting. "Okay then." Rumi stood up with help from him. "I'll go change while Wonwoo-ssi makes me ginger tea." Rumi said with a teasing smile making Wonwoo huff and look away. "Ah, right?" Wonwoo looked at her in question. Rumi ruffled his hair and grinned. "You said you would let me." She whispered before walking back to her room. Wonwoo chuckled touching his head. "You are weird Rumi-ssi." He muttered and started preparing for her tea.
Wonwoo knocked on the door twice and walked in. Rumi was sprawled out with her leg hanging off the bed, her discarded clothes forming a mound by the foot of bed. Wonwoo placed the tray on the bedside table and picked the discarded clothes before dumping them in the laundry basket. Rumi got up groggily upon seeing Wonwoo tidying her room. "Wonwoo-ssi, I will do it, just give me few minutes." Rumi said her voice raspy from sore throat.
"You don't have to do anything." Wonwoo said as he lifted her legs and placed them on bed. "Just stay here and rest." He covered her with a blanket. He dragged the stool from dressing table and sat beside the bed. "Here." He handed her the mug of the ginger tea to her. Rumi shyly smiled and took the mug from his hands. Rumi slightly sipped on the tea. Wonwoo was cautiously watching her. "Is it good?" He asked waiting for her reaction. Rumi smiled and nodded her head making him sigh in relief. She then noticed the bowl of porridge, Wonwoo looked at it, "Ah, it's instant one. I found one in the kitchen." He explained making Rumi smile. "Waeyo? Are you laughing at me again?" He asked. Rumi shook her head chuckling. "Aniyo. I was just smiling." Rumi explained. "I just feel happy, being taken care off like this by Wonwoo-ssi. I should keep getting sick often." She joked sipping on the tea.
"You don't need to get sick for that." Wonwoo muttered looking at her. "De?" Rumi looked up in question. "I said you don-" Rumi's phone rang interrupting him. Both of them looked at it. "Let me." Wonwoo said helping her get it from the bedside table. Rumi thanked him and checked the caller id. "Soham?" She looked at the wall clock and picked up the call. "Bol Soham? Kiti vajtat tithe? (Soham? What time is it there?)" Rumi asked. Wonwoo silently took the mug from her hands.
"Two thirty. Oh, right sorry. Mi uthavla ka tula? (Did I wake you up?)" He asked from other side.
"Nahi, but tu ka ajun jaga ahes? (No, but why are you still awake?)" Rumi asked her eyebrows furrowed. Wonwoo looked at her wondering what made her knit her eyebrows like that. She was speaking in her mother language again. Wonwoo smiled, he didn't understand a word but it sounded good. Hearing her speak. "Night shift? Accha." She nodded her head glancing at Wonwoo, a smiled formed on her lips as their eyes met. "Kay zala ahe ka? (Something happened?)"
"Nahi te parcel pathavla tujha. Mala acchanak athavla tar call kela mi, majha time kade laksha nahi gela. (No, it's just I suddenly remembered about the parcel I sent so I called you not realizing it's late.)" Rumi hummed. "O-okay." Her voice breaking due to dry throat, Wonwoo quickly handed her the mug again. Rumi smiled and mouthed a thank you. "Tujya avajala kay zala? Bari ahes na? (What happened to your voice? Are you okay?)"
"Ha. Kay nai te jara pausat bhijli tar... (Yes, Nothing just got soak in rain so...)" Rumi answered sipping on the tea.
"Chaan. Mag medicine ghetli? Youngjae kuthe ahe? Ki ekti ahes? (Nice. Did you take medicine? Where is Youngjae? Or are you alone?" Rumi shook her head. "Nahi, toh job var ahe. Don't worry. Ahe ithe majhi kalaji gheyla. (No, he's on duty. Don't worry. Somebody's here to take care of me.)" Rumi replied shyly looking at Wonwoo who was already staring at her.
"Ohhhh..." There was sound of teasing from other side. Rumi knew what was coming next. "Directly ghari vagre ha? (Bringing him over now are we?)" Rumi hummed trying to keep in her giggles. "Boyfriend? Ki...?" He trailed off.
"Nahi. (No.)" Rumi replied. "Ajun tari nahi. (Not yet.)" There was playful humming making Rumi giggle. Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. Rumi-ssi is giggling a lot. "Majha sod, what about you? Ajun kakini tujhe lagna kasa nahi lavun dila? (How come aunty hasn't married you off?)"
"Aye chal na aata, kasa basa mi tila thambavla ahe. Mi bollo tila lagna kela tari Mani shi nahi tar konashi nahi. (Oh, come now, somehow I have stopped her. I told her I will marry Mani if not then no one else.)" Rumi burst out laughing. "Mag kay? Tevda tar fayda mi gheunch shakto tujha. (So what? I can take that much of advantage of you.)"
"Nalayak." Rumi laughed. "He sagla thik ahe but are you planning on finding someone or not?" Rumi heard a click of tongue from other side. "Baghu, rather than finding I would like to meet that someone naturally." Rumi snorted. "You and your philosophical talks." Rumi rolled her eyes. "Chal mag." Rumi said noticing Wonwoo staring at her with unreadable expression. "Apan nantar bollu. (Let's talk later.)"
"Ho ho, tujya ahho na raag yeil. (Yeah sure or else he will get upset.)" Soham commented earning laughter again from Rumi. "Okay bye mag. Kalaji ghe. (Take care.)"
Rumi hummed. "Bye. Tu pan. (You too.)" With that Rumi hung up on the call with a smile on her face. "Sorry. It was my childhood friend from home." Rumi apologised. Wonwoo hummed looking away and taking the bowl of porridge in his hands. Rumi stared at him. "It was nothing he just called to inform me about the parcel he had sent." She explained. Wonwoo mentally scoffed, what was so funny about that parcel that got you giggling? He thought refusing to respond. He took spoonful of porridge and blew on it before offering it to Rumi.
Rumi looked at it, Wonwoo nodded urging her to eat it. Rumi smiled and opened her mouth slightly as Wonwoo fed her. "Hmmm it's good." Rumi complimented hoping to get reaction out of him but Wonwoo just hummed in return. "He was worried." Rumi said carefully observing Wonwoo who stopped for a second but continued getting another spoonful. "That I was sick and no one was here to take care of me. So, I told him I wasn't alone, there is someone who is taking very good care of me." Rumi continued watching a small smile appear on his face before he sobered and held the spoon towards her. Rumi ate it with grin.
"You both seemed close." Wonwoo commented.
Rumi hummed nodding her head. "We are neighbours actually. Basically, grew up together." Rumi explained and then chuckled. "That nalayak." Wonwoo tilt his head in question. Rumi smiled at his cuteness. "Ah I was talking about him. I was teasing him about how his mother hasn't married him off." Wonwoo looked more confused. "His mother, Shirke kaki is like the matchmaker of our society so it's really wonders that she hadn't married off her son." Rumi explained excitedly. "That idiot, he told his mother that he will marry Mani or no one else. Nalayak por kuthcha." Rumi laughed shaking her head.
"Mani?" Wonwoo asked. "Mani as Rukmani. Everybody calls me Mani back home." Wonwoo nodded his head his mouth forming a 'oh.' Mani. Cute name. Wait a second, Wonwoo snapped his head towards her. "Ye?!" He exclaimed startling Rumi who almost spit out the tea.
"What? What happened?" Rumi wiped her mouth looking at him worried.
"He said marry Mani and Mani is you. He is going to marry you. You are going to marry him? You are engaged? But-but-"
"Aniyo! Aniyo! Aniyo!" Rumi shook her head and grabbed his hand. "He said that to get his mother off his back. Everybody thinks we both like each other so yeah. I'm not engaged or something, really Wonwoo-ssi." Rumi quickly explained. Wonwoo looked at her then at their hands. "Being engaged is ridiculous. I never thought of marriage, not even once in my life. Forget about marriage I never thought I would fall in love. Until I met Wonwoo-ssi." Wonwoo snapped his head up. "Joahaeyo." Wonwoo blushed.
"Rumi-ssi...Mwohaeyo..." Wonwoo looked away. He could feel his ears heating up. "Waeyo, I can't say it?" Rumi asked tilting her head to meet his eyes. "Didn't I say I'm going to flirt my way in?" Rumi continued. "But gapjagi...You can't do that." Wonwoo murmured while playing with the spoon.
"Then how about a warning?" Rumi suggested. "Like...I am going to kiss Wonwoo-ssi!" Rumi leaned in, Wonwoo widen his eyes quickly pushing a spoonful of porridge in her mouth. Rumi froze with spoon between her lips. Wonwoo covered his mouth to hide his laughter as Rumi leaned back dejected. "You still have a bowl to finish Rumi-ssi." Wonwoo warned through laughter. "Arasoyo..." Rumi pouted giving him the spoon back. "But do I really have finish that all?" Rumi asked looking at the bowl in distaste. "Hm? Didn't you it was good earlier?" Wonwoo asked raising his eyebrow. "Wonwoo-ssi..." Rumi whined as Wonwoo chuckled and continued to feed her.
Huffing and puffing Rumi had finished the bowl; and as a reward he had let her mess with his hair again. "Rumi-ssi?" Wonwoo called looking at Rumi who had dozed off while sitting upright. Wonwoo had went out to do the dishes and had returned with tub of cold water and bath towel. Wonwoo smiled. "You were so tired to fall asleep like this." He commented pushing his hand behind her neck and gently lying her down. "Look at you burning with fever." He muttered covering her with blanket. "I really should've taken you to hospital." He said squeezing water off the towel and placing it over her head. Rumi shuddered murmuring something. "Mianhaeyo, it's little cold but you will feel better." He said stroking her hair. Wonwoo lightly brushed his thumb over her cheekbones. A smile formed on his lips remembering her words from earlier. "Nadoyo..." He whispered.
Wonwoo hadn't realized when he fell asleep, he groaned sitting up straight, blinked his eyes few times. He stretched out his arms letting out a groan again, when did I fall asleep, he thought and looked down at Rumi. "Eo?" Wonwoo patted the bed. "Where did she go?" Wonwoo looked around the room, her blanket was lying off bed but she was nowhere to be seen. Wonwoo picked the blanket and walked outside. "Rumi-ssi!" He called thinking she might've went to restroom. There was no response. "Ru-" There she was, standing near the window while conversing on phone. Wonwoo walked towards her and placed the blanket over her shoulders.
"Eo. Araso. I will look-" Rumi turned around feeling weight over her shoulder, "-into it." She smiled noticing Wonwoo standing behind her. Wonwoo smiled back feeling her forehead, it's still hot. His eyebrows furrowed as he pulled the blanket closer to fully cover Rumi. "Hmm. Okay. See you then." With that Rumi finished her conversation. "Wonwoo-ssi..." Rumi smiled. "Why are you up? You should be resting, Rumi-ssi." Wonwoo scolded helping her to couch. "I needed to take that call and I'm feeling alright now." Rumi reasoned as Wonwoo made her sit on the couch.
Wonwoo huffed "Alright you say? Look at you, you're still burning up." Wonwoo retorted. Rumi sighed accepting defeat since her head was killing her, it felt like a boulder was tied to her head. "Do you have any medicines at home or should I go down?" Wonwoo asked looking at her worried. Rumi shook her head. "Aniyo, we must have them. Oppa kept them in the cabinet over sink. But-" Wonwoo was already gone. Rumi chuckled pulling the blanket closer.
"Here take these." He was quick, handing her a glass of water and a pill. Rumi glanced at pill and then at Wonwoo. "Take it." He urged. Rumi sighed and reluctantly swallowed the pill. She made a face before handing back the glass to Wonwoo who placed it and packet of tablets on the table. "You know, I normally don't take any pills, I rarely get sick, almost once a year." Rumi spoke. "I'm quite durable, No need of pills or anything just a good sleep and I'm all fine and dandy."
Wonwoo rolled his eyes. "That's just Rumi-ssi being careless." He commented to which Rumi protested. "You are. I've never seen anyone with a gash on her back say it's a scratch." Rumi laughed rolling her eyes. "Or anyone who joins military to run away from home. I mean seriously! You are really weird Rumi-ssi." Wonwoo said. "I still can't get over that fact." Rumi laughed looking away. "I can be weird sometimes." "Always." Wonwoo corrected making her chuckle. Rumi shifted near him while pulling the blanket closer. "Are you still cold?" Wonwoo asked looking down at her. Rumi hummed cuddling his arm trying to get as much warmth as she could.
"Maybe we should bring you to bed again." Wonwoo said caressing her cheek. Rumi shook her head. "Aniyo, I don't like it. Lying there makes me feel more sick." Rumi muttered laying her head on his shoulder. "This is much better. Sitting here with Wonwoo-ssi." Wonwoo smiled patting her head. Both of them sat in silence just enjoying each other's presence. "I'm sorry." Rumi suddenly apologized, Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. "You must be tired but here I am making you take care of me." Wonwoo sighed. "I am not that tired and Rumi-ssi isn't making me do anything. I am taking care of you because I want to." Rumi pulled back making Wonwoo look at her in question. "Waeyo?"
Rumi looked up at him in daze, her eyes droopy and a silly smile on her lips. "Tumhi yevda change ka ahet (Why are you so nice?)" She asked. "De?" Wonwoo looked at her in question. "Tumhi ashi majhi kalaji ghenar tar mi tumchya premat padnarach na? (If you keep taking care of me like this then it is obvious that I'll fall for you.)"
"Ye? Mwo? Prem-?" Wonwoo titled his head trying to understand. Why was Rumi-ssi suddenly speaking in her mother tongue? "Rumi-ssi I don't understand anything-" "Tech tar! (Exactly!)" Rumi threw her hands in air along with the blanket. "Tumhala kalatach nahi tumchya mule kay zala ahe majha! (You don't understand what has become of me, because of you.)" Rumi leaned in. "Mi vede zale ahe tumchya premat. (I'm crazily in love with you.)" She whispered cupping Wonwoo's face.
"Rumi-ssi..." Wonwoo leaned in her touch, he didn't understand a word but look in her eyes, her touch was enough for him to understand what she was trying to say. Suddenly she siting over his lap with her knees on each side of his torso. "Rumi-ssi, what are you doin-" "Shhhh..." Rumi placed her thump over his lips. "Wonwoo-ssi, tumhala mahit ahe ha tumcha aaavaj kay karto? He tumchi nazar... (Do you know what your voice does to me? The way you look at me...)" Rumi whispered tracing his cheekbone. "Tumchi he otha... (Your lips...)" She continued tracing his cupid's bow. Rumi glanced into his eyes then back at his lips. "Wonwoo-ssi, do you have any idea what you do to me?" She asked licking her own lips.
Wonwoo was frozen, he could not think of anything. All his thoughts and words were lost, the only thing he was conscious about was the mere distance between them right now. He didn't knew why Rumi was suddenly acting like this, talking in her mother tongue, getting this closer. Sure, she had teased him few times before but the way she was looking at him right now was different. He didn't know if she teasing him again, whatever it was Wonwoo was losing his mind and he knew that there won't be an end to it if Rumi didn't stop. Rumi removed his spectacles. "Rumi-ssi.."
"I don't want anything coming in between this time. Nor these glasses, Hoshi or that helmet." She whispered tossing his spectacles on the other side of couch. Rumi once again cupped his face and leaned in, Wonwoo's eyes closed his lips puckering waiting for her lips to meet his. Eh? Mwoji? Wonwoo opened his eyes and blinked few times. What is this? Rumi had not only missed his lips totally but had fallen asleep while smooching his nose. "Rumi-ssi-" Wonwoo tried to pull back when she slipped and fell asleep on his shoulder. Wonwoo blinked his eyes, "Huh?" He laughed to himself. "Rumi-ssi? Are you really asleep?" He asked earning some grumbling in return. Wonwoo chuckled as she made herself comfortable on his lap while nustling herself in-between his neck and shoulder.
Wonwoo smiled and started patting her back lightly. "Rumi-ssi I don't understand the language but I think I know what you were saying." He spoke his voice light, one hand patting her back while other hugged her waist. "But Rumi-ssi, I don't know how to respond to your feeling. It's really isn't because I don't want to but because I don't know if I deserve them." He whispered. "Rumi-ssi also doesn't have any idea what Rumi-ssi does to me. Do you know each day I wake up thinking ah what trouble would Rumi-ssi get into today? I hope she doesn't get hurt today. Do you know?" He looked down at her. "You are quite clumsy. Not at everything but at taking care of yourself." He continued stroking her head. "I want to take of care Rumi-ssi like this every day. I want to spend my evenings with you, sitting here as you bicker with hyung. I want to end my day with your hand cooked meal. I want to just stay with Rumi-ssi like this forever." Wonwoo whispered when he felt her kiss his neck. Wonwoo eyes widen in surprise. "Rumi-ssi are you awake?"
"I want to stay with Wonwoo-ssi too..." She said placing another kiss. "..forever." She mumbled before dozing off. Wonwoo looked down at her and smiled. He hugged her close. "Forever." Both of them stayed like that before Wonwoo realised she would hurt her back so he tightened his grip on her waist ready to get up when she grumbled again complaining. "No. Stay. Forever..." "Yes, but we should bring you to bed-" "No!" Rumi protested wrapping her arms and legs around his tightly. Wonwoo sighed in defeat. Wonwoo glanced at couch they were sitting on, hm better than staying like this, he thought. He tighten and laid on couch along with Rumi. Rumi protested some more before realising he was not going anywhere. Wonwoo chuckled at her antics covering her with blanket. Rumi nustled in his chest as Wonwoo hugged her close. Both of them fell asleep in each other's arms.
Wonwoo opened his eyes before blinking them adjusting to light. He smiled looking at the familiar ceiling and rolled over to his side stretching. Huh? Youngjae was sitting at other side of the couch stuffing his mouth with something. Wonwoo looked beside him. Rumi was gone, he quickly sat up straight. "Eo? You are up?" Youngjae asked with his mouth full. "Did you have a good sleep?" He asked. Wonwoo glanced around looking for Rumi. "She's in kitchen." Youngjae answer. Wonwoo nodded. "By the way why were you sleeping here? You could've used my room." Youngjae said.
"Ani, we just- I just fell asleep here." Wonwoo corrected himself. Youngjae nodded his head before pointing at pills sitting on the coffee table. "Are you sick? Headache?" He asked. Wonwoo shook his head. "Not me. Rumi-ssi is. She was running a fever."
"Eo? Was she? Wait a second. She took pills?" Youngjae asked looking at Wonwoo in surprise. Wonwoo nodded, "She whined but took them." Youngjae pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Wae? Is something wrong?" Wonwoo questioned noticing his expression. "Gwenchana?" Youngjae asked. "Did something happen? Did she do something?" Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?" Youngjae sighed. "Wonu-ya, she is allergic to them."
"Ye?"
"Eo." Youngjae nodded. "Taking them is like her downing three bottles of soju. She's gone." Youngjae said pointing towards his head. Wonwoo sat there opening and closing his mouth. "That's why I'm asking did she do anything to you? Ah.. Looking at your expression it seems like she did." Youngjae said with a sorry look. "Mianhae. I apologize on her behalf. Don't worry you will recover from it. I know it's unfair, you have to stay with those memories while to her it never happened-" "So, you mean Rumi-ssi has no memories of...?" Wonwoo asked with disbelief written all over his face. Youngjae pursed his lips and nodded. "Huh!" Wonwoo's shoulders dropped in defeat.
"Oppa, can you jus-eo? Wonwoo-ssi you are up?" Rumi smiled, Wonwoo looked up at her in distress. "Good morning." She greeted with all smiles. Youngjae let out a loud sigh before getting up. "Wonu-ya, freshen up I'll serve you breakfast." Rumi watched him walk away. "What's with him?" She asked pointing towards him. Wonwoo just sat there studying her face, wondering if she really doesn't remember anything. "Wonwoo-ssi?"
"Rumi-ssi, do you remember what happened earlier in the morning?" Wonwoo questioned. Rumi knitted her eyebrows, "What do you mean? Of course, I remember. Wonwoo-ssi taking care off. We sitting here, I remember taking the pills and then falling asleep on your shoulder." Wonwoo laughed in disbelief. "So, you don't remember-" He was cut off by Rumi's phone ringing.
"Ah, he's here." Rumi muttered checking her phone. "Wonwoo-ssi mianhaeyo but I can't drop you off today." Rumi said with sorry smile. "I need to leave urgently. You take rest, I'll ask oppa to drop you off." She explained. "But-" Wonwoo was once again cut off but this time by Rumi placing a kiss on his cheek. Wonwoo snapped his head up in surprise. Rumi grinned. "This is in return for that night." She whispered. "Bye." She smiled before leaving. "Oppa I'm leaving!"
A/N :
There's too much of language mess and translations. Hehe sorryð¤ And that's right the dumb and dumber missing the kiss yet once again.
(Readers realizing Rumi and Wonwoo actually didn't kiss.)
Love,
Albað