Given Taehyung’s wealth, Jungkook had half expected that they might fly first-class to SK but what Jungkook had not expected was that they would be travelling in the unimagined luxury of a private jet, with them the only passengers on board.
But that was exactly what had happened and now with the boys taken by the flight steward to sit with the captain, for a few minutes, Jungkook and Taehyung were alone in the cabin.
It was dark when their flight finally put down on SK, the darkness highlighting their surroundings apart from what they saw in the blaze of the runway lights as they stepped down from the plane and into the warm velvet embrace of the evening.
A golf cart type of vehicle was their transport for the short distance to the arrivals building, where Taehyung shook hands with the officials waiting to greet him before ushering them outside again to the limousine waiting for them.
A soft breeze ruffled the boys’ hair as they clung to Jungkook’s sides, suddenly uncertain and unsure of themselves.
It was Taehyung who lifted the sleepy children into it, settling Haru on his lap and then putting his free arm around Haneul, whilst Jungkook was left to sit on his own.
Jungkook’s arms felt empty without the twins and felt an urge to reach for them, but he resisted it, not wanting to disturb them now that they were asleep.
His headache and subsequent nausea it had caused him had not returned, still, he didn’t feel one hundred percent.
The car moved swiftly down a straight smooth road before eventually turning off onto a more winding road, on one side of which Jungkook could see them glinting in the moonlight.
On the other side of them, they were passing a steep wall of rock, protecting the Gyeongbokgung Palace, which eventually gave way to an old fashioned fortress-like city wall, with a gateway in it through which they drove, past tall modern buildings and then along a narrow street which broadened out into the large formal square Jungkook had seen on the internet.
“This is the main square of the city, with the Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace up ahead of us,” Taehyung informed dryly.
“Is that where we’ll be living?” Jungkook asked apprehensively.
Taehyung shook his head, “No. The palace is used only for formal occasions and mainly a place that attracts tourists. After my grandfather died I had my private villa built just outside the city. I don’t care for pomp and circumstance. My people’s quality of life is what is important to me, just as it was to my father. I cannot expect to have their respect if I do not give them mine.”
Jungkook looked away from him, his comments showed the kind of attitude he admired, but how could he allow himself to admire Taehyung.
It was bad enough that he could arouse physically without being vulnerable to Taehyung emotionally as well.
“The city must be very old,”’ Jungkook said instead.
“Very,” Taehyung agreed.
As always when he returned after an absence, Taehyung was torn in opposing directions. He loved the country and its people, but he also had the painful memories of his childhood here to contend with.
To banish such thoughts and concentrate on something else, he told Jungkook, “The Chinese, with other Asian countries, have also traded more heavily here, just as they did with our nearest neighbour. Like Taiwan, we too have fine textiles, silk, large deposits of gold and other metals, various precious metals, and possession of the country was fought over fiercely during the ancient wars. In the end, a marriage alliance between the opposing forces brought the fighting to an end. That has traditionally been how territorial disputes have been settled here-,” he broke off to look at Jungkook as he heard the small sound he made.
