Closer than Ever

Chapter 76 - Exposure Therapy

On the long flight back to Incheon from Portland via Seattle, I lean my head against the airplane wall and look out at the clouds. It feels really odd to be going back to Seoul after three extremely busy weeks in Las Vegas, plus the two day stop-over in Oregon. I smile fondly, thinking about the time I spent with Emily, our house parties with the BTS members, and the four concerts - each one different, each one amazing. 'Jeez, that D4 concert. That almost killed me and the guys, too. It's such a strange feeling to be surrounded by ARMYs who are confidently talking about a world tour, when I know that it isn't going to happen. ARMYs must know that the guys will very likely have military service. Why are they expecting a world tour? Of course, if I didn't have insider information, I might be right there with them, I guess.'

The flight deck informs us that we are now free to get up and move about the cabin. 'Namjoon was trying to gently clue people in with all his 'this is the really last concert' comments and such, but he said that in LA, too, so people might not have caught on. Gosh, the roar when the announcement for Proof went up! I bet that registered on seismometers!' I smile. 'I wish it was a whole new album, instead of just the three songs, but the guys are crazy busy with their solo albums and everything, so it's understandable. And who knows when Jin is going to get conscripted... It's hard to plan promotions with all this uncertainty.' 

Thinking of Proof reminds me of the day that they rehearsed for the Festa Live video in Las Vegas. 'Oh, goodness, that was so strange. My sweet man has some real issues to work through, too. We should probably both be in therapy. I know the company has counselors on staff...' I sigh. 'Poor Tae felt so guilty the next day, when he saw the bite mark and the strap marks around my neck. Sweetie. I pretty much ordered him to do what he needed to do though. I hope he believed me when I told him that I was expecting a few marks, but knew that he wouldn't really injure me.' I stare at the tops of the clouds. 'It would be perfectly OK with me if I never see his eyes turn pitch black like that again, though. That was actually scary.'

I look out at the Arctic sunset. 'I hope Namjoon is doing OK. That was so sad, when Harin canceled her trip at the last minute. I wonder what that was about?' My eyes come to rest on the flight guide playing on the tiny screen in front of me. 'Well, only nine hours and 34 minutes more until I'm back home with my lovie man,' I think. 'Hopefully there won't be any big readjustment freak-out this time, like there was after LA. I feel like we spend a lot of time in self-quarantine, lately. Wonder if Peakboy is tired of Lulu yet?' I chuckle at the way my tired brain is jumping from topic to topic, then close my eyes and try to get a little sleep.

The taxi drops me off in front of the condo, and I have a weird, disorienting feeling of deja vu. When the elevator door opens, Taehyung is standing there waiting with a bouquet of flowers, a goofy smile on his face. I roll my suitcase out of the way, shrug off my coat, and then run to his arms dramatically, and we both laugh.

"These are beautiful, thank you, my love!" I say, and pull his face down for a kiss.

"You taste like mouthwash," he says and I chuckle.

"I had mint gum so my ears would pop, babe." He wrinkles his nose.

I pull my suitcase over by the washing machine, pop the flowers into a vase with some water, and then walk back into the living room. He is sitting on the sofa, patting his lap.

I sit across his legs and snuggle up. "You know what's weird?" I ask him.

"Nope."

"We never sat like this in Las Vegas, except in the hot tub." I turn and look at him, smiling.

He cocks his head. "That's true! I don't know why."

"We didn't really use the living room or the family room that much, in that house, and that's where the sofas were." I shrug.