บท 17: १७
"Eo? Eo? Yah! Stop dragging me." Rumi warned as Youngjae started picking up his pace while dragging Rumi along. "Are you not embarrassing us now?" She taunted, Youngjae had not left a single opportunity of taunting her when they for the event.
"If I hadn't pulled you along then there would be lot more than just embarrassment." Youngjae muttered under his breath thankfully Rumi's ears didn't catch that. Someone who shall be not named had arrived at the event and it was better that those two don't in contact, so Youngjae had dragged her away. "Ah here are our seats!" Youngjae exclaimed pulling out the chair for Rumi. "Please." He said smiling at her, earning an eye roll in response. "Do you want something? To drink? To eat?" He asked.
"Yes, my champagne's gone." Rumi said showing her empty glass and turning around to look for the guy.
"No!" Youngjae exclaimed grabbing her shoulders stopping her from looking back. "Ha ha ha." He awkwardly laughed. "You don't have exert yourself, Rumi-ya." He smiled. "Oppa, will get you anything you want, Okay?" He patted her head while waving his other hand to get the champagne. The arrived with the tray, Youngjae smiled and picked up two glass before placing them in front of Rumi. "See, oppa can do anything for you, so Rumi should just rest well and enjoy the event, okay?" He said scanning the crowd behind her. He was nowhere to be seen. Youngjae sighed plopping down in his chair.
Rumi furrowed her eyebrow and glanced behind her back. What is wrong with this guy, suddenly? She thought looking back at him in suspicion. He's been acting weird since they arrived at the event. Was he drunk? No, he didn't even finish the glass which Rumi had handed him. Then, what is up with him? Rumi leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Mwo? Why are you looking at me like that?" Youngjae questioned feeling her eyes on him.
"You tell me?" Rumi retorted not moving her gaze.
"What? You are lookin-"
"Kim Youngjae!" A cheery voice cut him off. Youngjae turned to see it was his colleague calling him over. He waved his hand and glanced at Rumi.
"Go on." Rumi leaned back making shooing motion with her hand. "I'll be here, don't worry." She said shooing him away.
"Aarso. Don't go anywhere and do not cause trouble, okay?" Youngjae warned. Rumi nodded rolling her eyes. Youngjae gave her one last look before he left to where his colleagues were.
Rumi relaxed in her chair and started looking around, her eyes had finally adjusted itself to brightness in the ball room. The extravagant decoration made tsk in distaste. "They have no money to pay for over-timers but to spent on these glittery things." She chuckled bitterly glaring at the huge chandelier hanging of at the middle of ballroom. "What are they trying to show off?" She snorted. Then she suddenly felt it, them burning holes in her body. Rumi straightened up in her chair. Whistling she glanced to her right, oh there it was. "What are they gossiping about?" She looked to her left muttering to herself.
Okay, normally Rumi wouldn't have cared about people burning holes in her body or gossiping about her but it felt different today. She had started to grow uncomfortable under their stares. She was always the reason of gossip, be it her being a foreigner, or being the woman parading through room full of man. But today she wasn't the only foreigner nor only woman. "Fuck it!" She cursed standing up, she glanced around her looking for an exit. A balcony with no humans around. Perfect place for her. She smiled and made a beeline towards it.
"Ahhh!" She sighed spreading her arms, taking in the fresh air. "Feels better." She smiled hugging herself. "Hmm..." She nodded when her phone pinged again. It was probably Hoshi again. Rumi thought pulling her cell phone. "What's with this guy?"
Hoshi 🐯
Wahhh! Mwoya? What are you? Really!
How can you be so ignorant?
Yah!
Where did you go?
Yah!
Rumi-ya!
Yahhhhhhhh!
"Tsk." Rumi laughed at the impatience. "Does he have nothing else do other than bugging me?" Rumi said herself moving her fingers to type in reply.
I am busy unlike you so-
"Rumi?" Her fingers stopped. The voice was too familiar, that every time she hears it, she feels her nerve would pop from the anger rushing through her body. "What are you doing out in cold?" Her eye twitched. Pressing them close, she counted three before opening them again. Calmly locking her phone, she pocketed it. "Look at you." He walked towards her removing his suit jacket ready to place it around Rumi when she stepped back finally looking up.
"Gu Hwa." She said looking into his eyes. "Stop it, will you? Can you not understand simple words?" Rumi continued.
"Rumi, please. Why can't you just listen to me, once? Give a chance, eo?" Gu Hwa replied.
"Chance? What for?" Rumi snorted. "You know, speaking of chance, I remember having similar conversation with you before." She said. "Remember that night? You asked for a chance and went ahead and stabbed me in my back." She shook her head, smiling bitterly at memories. "To think, I thought of giving you that chance, Gu Hwa."
"Mwo?" Gu Hwa stepped forward. "What are you saying? Rumi, you-really?" Gu Hwa grabbed her shoulders stepped closer, a smile adorning his handsome face. "Rumi, I-I don't know what to say. I-I-my feelings are true. They were always true. I never lied about anything to you Rumi. I swear. Ahhh!" Gu Hwa laughed covering his face. "Rumi you don't know how happy I am right now!" He exclaimed. Rumi stared at him blankly, thinking has he gone crazy? He was about grab her again but she put her hand up making some distance between them.
"Are you dumb?" She asked. "I mean, are you not embarrassed? Don't you have any self-respect? Or are you just shameless?" She asked looking up at him tired with his drama. "Look, I am really tired, I just want a peaceful life and I can't have it with you around. So, if it's not work then please, I am begging you." She joined her both palms. "Stop showing up in front of me." Rumi said. Giving him one last look, stepping aside she left.
Gu Hwa chuckled shaking his head. Turning around he stared at her leaving back. "Mianhae Rumi. But I don't think I can let you have peaceful life now." He said smiling.
"Ha!" Rumi laughed. "Is he really dumb? Here I was talking about him stabbing me in the back and all he could get out of that was what? A dumb chance!" She stopped midday not able to believe his dumbness. "Ha! Fucktard!" She cursed glancing back before turning back continued walking back to her seat under those stares again. The uncomfortable stares were hundred times better than having to see that jerk face. Rumi thought nodding to herself as her settled down. "Ani ha manus kuthe gela? (And where did this guy go?)" She said looking around for Youngjae, who was nowhere to be seen.
"Welcome everyone to the Silver Jubilee ball of Crown Agency!!" A voice said as applauses echoed throughout the hall. Rumi scoff clapping along. The guy's voice was too cheery for Rumi to feel excited. "First of all, I would like to thank every agent for their hard work and service. We, the Crown agency truly appreciate your dedication. Congratulations on completing twenty years. These years are your achievements!!" Again, the hall was filled with applause. After that Rumi zone out, the guy had started taking long list of names thanking each of them for God knows what? Rumi look around for the champagne guy, who suddenly appeared beside her.
"Ma'am?"
"Oh? You are here." Rumi smiled picking one glass of his tray. The guy nodded back and stood still beside her, probably because she would call him again. "Aren't you tired?" She asked sipping.
"No, ma'am." The guy replied to which Rumi nodded.
"I am." She said. "These guys are too much." She continued nodding towards the guy on stage and crowd seating and standing ahead her. "How much do you get?" She asked turning and looking up at him.
"Umm..." The guy glanced around. Wondering why did he decided to wait around her. "I get paid hourly."
"Obviously-"
"And now, we will begin with the award ceremony!" Huh? That caught Rumi's attention. Award ceremony? Was there going to be something like that? She thought furrowing her eyebrows. The invitation didn't mention anything. Then again, she didn't remember reading it. Shrugging her shoulders Rumi went back to sipping her wine as bunch of names were called out, awarding the best performing agent, new agent etc. and etc. Rumi snorted hearing the titles. "Asa vattey Bollywood films awards bagtey. (Feels like I am watching Bollywood films awards)."
"And for last award, I would like to invite-"
"Thank god." Rumi muttered hearing that.
"And the best agent award of the year goes to..."The man trailed of creating suspense. "Goes to...None other than Le Donghyun!!"
Twenty-five minutes ago.
"Yah, have you seen his partner yet?" Youngjae's one of the colleague asked nudging his shoulder. "It's like seeing gold bowl in beggar's hand." He snorted.
"True. I wonder, why guy like him get women like this." Youngjae said shaking his head. "Choi-sii, is such a kind woman. She deserves the best and yet she's stuck with such an asshole."
"And now, we will begin with the award ceremony!" Youngjae furrowed his eyebrows. "There is award ceremony?" He asked turning towards his friend.
"Eo? Ye. You didn't knew?" He asked.
"Ani. I didn't." Youngjae shook his head. "Then again, it's nicer, to be appreciated like this." He said smiling as his fellow agents were awarded.
"And for last award, I would like to invite our honourable Chief of the Crown Agency on stage." The guy announced. "This award is for best agent of the year. And the best agent award of the year goes to..."
"Oh, I know, who is it." Another one of his colleagues said.
"Yah, are you playing the guessing game?" Youngjae laughed.
"Ani, I heard it-yah! Is Rumi going to be okay?" He suddenly asked mid-sentence.
"Wae?" Youngjae asked furrowing his eyebrows. "Goes to...None other than Le Donghyun!!" Youngjae snapped his head towards the stage. So much for avoiding him. Youngjae cursed and started making his way through the crowd. He needs to get to Rumi asap. Excusing his way through the crowd Youngjae arrived at their allotted table. "Where did she go?" He scanned the crowd, near the stage, she was nowhere to be seen. "Rumi-ya..." He panicked pulling out his phone and dialling her number. The number you trying to call is currently busy- "Ugh!" Youngjae groaned in frustration. "Where did she go?"
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Mwoya? What are you doing in my room?" Wonwoo question Hoshi who was lying on the bed upside down. His legs against the wall while back resting on the bed. "How did you even get in?"
"Mingyu-ah, let me in." Hoshi replied not caring to look up from his phone. He was bored, Rumi wasn't replying to his text nor his calls. "Why isn't she picking up?"
"Who are you calling?" It was Dokyeom; who had followed along Wonwoo trying to solve the mystery behind their saviour.
"Chingu." Hoshi replied dialling Rumi's contact again.
"Yah. You are on vacation, doesn't mean everybody else is on vacation." Wonwoo commented throwing his used towel on Hoshi face. Hoshi caught it before it hit his face.
"Why did she-ah finally picked up! Yah where we-"
"Rumi! Where did you go?" Huh? Hoshi stopped hearing a man's voice from the other side. Pulling the phone away from ear, he checked the contact. It was correct.
"Rumi- I-I didn't knew about the award ceremony. We shouldn't have come- I shouldn't have forced yo-"
"Oppa." Oppa? Hoshi listened keenly. Hoshi was officially eavesdropping on her conversation. She had picked up his call, though accidently. "Oppa, can we just leave." Why does she sound like that? Sad, maybe? Hoshi suddenly sat up.
"Wae? Wae? Wae?" Dokyeom looked at him alert. Hoshi held up his hand, making Dokyeom clam his mouth shut. Hoshi couldn't get the words but it seemed the people on other side were getting inside the car. The sounding of engine starting confirmed it. There was silence for too long, Hoshi almost thought the call had ended when he heard Rumi laugh
"Best agent."
"Rumi..."
"Can you believe it? A best agent! After betraying his partners, he received the best agent!" Agent? Betraying? What is she talking about?
"Rumi you should calm down. Don't do anything reckless-"
"Reckless! Yes, I am reckless!" She suddenly shouted. Hoshi had started feeling guilty. He was eavesdropping on something he shouldn't. "Yes, I am reckless for trusting my partner! Yes, I am reckless for fighting for justice! Yes, I am reckless for fight the damn respect that I deserve!" Hoshi pressed his lips together, pulled away the phone from his ear and pressed on the red button ending the call. He shouldn't have listened to that.
"What was that? Was she shouting at you?" Dokyeom questioned looking confused. Hoshi shook his head.
"Ani. She accidentally picked up the call." Hoshi explained.
"So, you were eavesdropping on her conservation." Wonwoo said while surfing through his hand phone.
"I-Well, I was, because I thought she was talking with her boyfriend." Hoshi confessed. "But seemed like I heard something I shouldn't have."
"Obviously." Wonwoo said. "And why were you being nosy anyways?"
"Who is this chingu?" Dokyeom asked. "Do we know her?" Hoshi shook his head again. "Then?"
"We met her few days ago. She works for our label. I'll introduce you guys someday." Hoshi said plopping down on the bed again. His mind going back to Rumi's words. She sounded so hurt. Is she going to be okay?
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nuggety_nugget
nuggety_nugget Hoshi and his habit of calling people out of nowhere. Smh. Don't forget to vote, comment and share this story with your pals. Do add this book to your library and reading list so you won't miss an update. See you soon.
Love,
Alba.
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