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"Hello Miss Rumi-" the driver paused, opening door to the backseat of the car while cautiously eyeing the fine-looking man that stood next to HUNTR/X'S lead singer "-and friend." The middle aged driver closes his greeting when he realized that Rumi had company.
"Friend?!" Jinu mimicks a little too loudly, looking utterly dumbfounded. Both Rumi and her poor driver were taken aback by his bold reaction, the former merely giving him a slight nudge and a warning glare.
"I'm sorry Mr. Lim, he's just a little sensitive about how people perceive our current relationship status" Rumi smiles sweetly before entering the vehicle- her boyfriend, following closely behind.
Jinu gave the driver an awkward smile, followed by a string of actual apologies. To which the kind-looking man just shrugs off, telling him that 'it's all good'.
All that aside, they were both driven to HUNTR/X tower where Bobby had summoned them both for one of his emergency meetings.
"Last week they allegedly thought we are siblings" Jinu finally voices his concerns, halfway through the ride.
"Well I heard couples tend to look similar as time passes" Rumi says jokingly as she always tries her very best to make him feel better.
"The week before that, the press even started a rumor that I'm your dad"
"Well you ARE really old"
Hearing the hint of laughter in her tone, he could not help but feel deflated on how his girlfriend found the situation amusing. Jinu did not spend 400 years looking for the love of his life, only to be called her friend/brother/dad. He should be lover/soulmate/future husband.
The situation didn't get any better once they had arrived at HUNTR/X tower. He wasn't done sulking over Dispatch's article of them from last week, when Bobby hands him another one.
Popstar Royalty Rumi from HUNTR/X spotted leaving the Awards Show hand in hand with rumored boyfriend Jinu from the Saja Boys
Jinu felt his eye twitch after reading that particular word in the latest edition. He swore at that moment he started hearing Gwi-Ma's voice again, telling him to just offer the souls of these deceitful journalists.
"This is bad" Bobby nervously tapped on his phone, doing damage control while marching around in a circle.
"This is really bad" All three girls, including their manager were surprised that Jinu finally spoke up.
"I'm glad you share the same sentiment as me Jinu"
"Of course Bobby! Would you look at that- I got promoted from friend to rumored boyfriend" his tone was far from accepting, he sounded like he was about to lose it any second.
Rumor? Really? Not even good enough to be just 'boyfriend'? What? Are they keeping his girl's options open now?
"Yeah- Wait. C-come again?" Bobby stutters when he realized that Jinu was unhappy- not about the dating rumor but because of something else entirely.
Mira and Zoey snickered at the show theater that's about to start, while Rumi is left sighing in her seat.
"Jinu" she calls for him, sensing that he's about to go on a downward spiral.
"Hold on Rumi, your 'rumored boyfriend' is still reading the rest of this very innacurate article"
"Jinu"
"What is it, love? Are you hungry? Do you want your 'rumored boyfriend' to make you lunch?" He continues his monologue, already making his way towards the kitchen.
"Jinu!"
"After you eat, your rumored boyfriend can maybe drive you around. This time people might think that I'm your new chauffeur."
And with that, he's gone. Probably directing his pent up rage and frustration somewhere else.
"What just happened?" Bobby asked, confused.
"I think he's finally lost it" Rumi sighs heavily. Still a weak smile managed to form on her lips everytime he's like this.
She always knew Jinu had this tendency of being dramatic. But there is absolutely nothing he could reveal about himself that she could not grow to love.