• M a k t u b : Spirit of the desert • [ Taekook ]

4. Jungkook, persuade

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In the moment when Jungkook was closer, Taehyung realized that he had an insatiable desire to know everything about this stranger who had mesmerized him beyond belief.

A smile shone on the man's face when he talked to Muhammad. He was quite young, probably younger than Taehyung himself. He stirred at the thought, swallowing the lump in his throat.

Tae remembered his marriage that threatened to ruin his entire life because wrong choices were always in Kim Taehyung's way of stumbling.

He couldn't get his mind off the fact that he might have been Jungkook's age when he decided to get married. But it doesn't necessarily mean that others will repent as he repented.

It was just his stupid choice and the wrong option he chose. Maybe Jungkook was really in love with that woman, who he could immediately assume was beautiful, even though he had never seen her.

- Hey, Taehyung, right? - he turned his gaze towards the source of the voice and his eyes met Jungkook's dark ones, when he nodded, unable to speak.

- It's wonderful to see another Korean here. - Jungkook spoke again, not in English, but in Korean, so that only Taehyung could understand him. And the elder was glad about that.

- How long have you been in Morocco? - the only question that had been running through Tae's mind for the last few minutes since he saw the man.

Jungkook spoke Arabic perfectly. With that in mind the other man himself could very easily conclude that it must have been the years in question.

- I have been here since the age of eight. So, 14 years. - he gave him a tender smile.

Tae didn't even notice when the other two older gentlemen left in an unknown direction, leaving them completely alone in the entire oriental atmosphere, so far away from their own thoughts.

- That's very long. - he commented and then sat down again on the comfortable sofa, while pointing with his hand to the place next to him.

Jungkook took the chance and sat next to the other, not noticing they were so close that almost Taehyung's breath hitched at the same moment the elder felt the flowery sensual scent of the rose all around him.

The rose against other masculine strong perfumes felt almost like a dream. He had to find out more about that mysterious man who chose a life far from his native land.

The man who preferred the scent of a rose to typical men's expensive perfumes.

The man who chose a Muslim woman as his life partner instead of maybe someone else.

- ...and I quickly packed one night, and now I am here, took over the company from my father.

- Do you ever want to go back home? - Tae didn't know why he asked that qiestion. But he was very interested in everything that young man said.

- Home? What do you mean? Home is here for me. I don't know what I would do in that city chaos of Seoul. I can't imagine myself outside the desert. - Jungkook sipped the tea that was standing not far from the sofa, and with every movement Taehyung was hit by the sweet smell again, which immeasurably intoxicated all his sense.

- Desert? Wow, I've been here for a few days now, but I'm definitely going to visit the desert until I get back.

- You definitely have to see it and feel it with all your senses, Taehyung! I will be your personal guide. - the offer was very tempting for the elder. Tae just swallowed.

He unconsciously licked his lips at the very thought of seeing that man again. And before he was stuck deep in his thoughts, Jungkook's words cut him off.

- So when are you coming back? We need to get organized. I really can be your personal guide and I can show you all the sights. Architecture is something special in Marrakesh... - the younger man spoke with such excitement.

Even though Morocco was his current home, he still couldn't get his mind off the fact that he enjoyed the company of another by his side.

That beautiful deep voice relaxed Jungkook to limits he didn't even know his being could reach. He was extremely glad to be able to speak his native language with someone, so far from his former homeland.

Taehyung seemed to have brought with him that one small piece of the puzzle that had been missing for years. The elder seemed to have unplanned brought that part of the past to the younger.

- Of course...

- Tomorrow, if you can, come to my office. I will take you to a nice restaurant for lunch. The chef of the restaurant is a good friend of mine, and his cooking is fantastic... - the younger one was ready to continue, but the ringing of Taehyung's phone interrupted them in that staring contest.

The older shook himself and unplugged the phone, when he saw her name on the small screen.

- Um, sorry, I have to answer this. - he said that and didn't wait for an answer and immediately headed for the exit of the palace.

On the way he met the dancer again, but this time he didn't even look at her.

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Jungkook rejoined the other two, but this time much more quietly than usual, deep in thoughts.

After half an hour, after shaking hands with almost all the guests,
Jungkook wished to finally breathe some air. He made his way to the exit.

When the fresh air met his lungs, he closed his eyes tightly with his head fixed on the blue sky.

- I see that you wanted fresh air too. - it was that deep voice. It sounded much better in silence than inside under the pressure of loud music.

- Tae, I didn't see you. Umm... and yes. I'm honestly tired of all of this. - he was honest. And it seemed to Taehyung that the sparkle in his doe eyes had disappeared, and it was replaced by some strange ghostliness.

- I believe you.

- What's going on with you? Is everything alright? - the younger asked curiously when he glanced again at the other one who was leaning against the colorful stone wall of the house, while holding the mobile phone tightly in his fist.

- Oh yes, no worries, I just needed silence...

- Then I have the perfect solution for you. If you want I can take you to a place that I go to often when I need peace. - Jungkook already got up with those words and extended his hand to the elder.

With a few seconds of hesitation, Taehyung took his hand. It was the second time he touched that palm, and already he became dependent on that touch.

The elder imperceptibly tightened his grip, as if he was afraid that his hand would slip out of Jungkook's smaller hand, and he couldn't allow it.

With those thoughts, they found themselves at a parked white jeep. Jungkook opened the door for the older man who walked in without asking anything.

Taehyung adjusted his seat belt when Jungkook opened the driver's door and settled down behind the wheel.

- Where are we going? - he asked.

- A little outside the city there is a part with dunes, not far. But the real thing will wait for us another day. The road to the Sahara is a bit longer and we need to be there for a few days. So for now we will have a shorter destination, but as soon as you can, we will also go to the Sahara.

- Of course. I would like to see that. But I wouldn't want to burden you. I can find a real guide, you have a job to do and...

- Please, Tae. I want to be the one who is going to see the look on your face when you see the golden expanse in front of you. Don't deny it to me. And plus, you won't find a better person than me who can explain everything to you in your native language. These people here... they don't even know how to speak. - despite that he noticed Taehyung's look and his little smile.

But what the younger man in a white suit didn't know was that it had been two years since Kim Taehyung had smiled like that.

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...to be continued...