Taejin - The Architect

Chapter 12: Perfectly Healthy

"Are you always this pushy?" Referring to the way Taehyung asked him yesterday to ride to Goseong, Seokjin sneered as Taehyung helped him to put his suitcase in the trunk, beside Taehyung's casual duffle bag.

Asking Seokjin to ride together was actually Kim Seobin's idea of "creating as many alone moments as possible". That little brother of his was an expert in love and more experienced than Taehyung, while Taehyung was busy chasing the man who only existed in his dreams.

"I'm sorry." Taehyung closed his sedan's trunk and scurried ahead to open the car door for Seokjin. "I will learn to be more considerate next time..."

In his past and present life, Kim Taehyung was always born with power. In his past life, he was a Grand Duke, the Chief of Black Hawk Legion, the King's most cherished cousin and first and foremost confidant. In this life, he was the firstborn son of a chaebol—-a conglomerate. His words were commands. So, sometimes he forgot that Jin was not someone who could be pushed around. Not in his past life, and apparently nor in his present. If Taehyung wanted to win him back, he should use another way.

Seokjin deliberately showed his sulky face before sliding into the passenger seat. Taehyung walked around and secured himself in the driver seat and started the sedan.

The black Mercedes soon ran through the highway on its way to Goseong in the northwest.

"How was your date with that guy last Saturday?" As much as Taehyung hated it, he was also curious about his love rival. So he fired that burning question anyway.

"It was fun." Seokjin shrugged. Fun! Two days had passed and his body still ached. His muscles were sore even until today, and his headache continued. "We went hiking and had lunch on the top of the mountain. The view was beautiful and the air was refreshing." He repeated the exact same sentence as he told Jimin before. A cliche and nonpersonal answer.

"So you like that kind of activity?"

"Hiking?" Hell noooo! Well, he liked nature and fresh air, but climbing up to the mountain for about a 7-hour round trip was too much for him! He was dead tired and he didn't want to do that ever again.

"I thought you don't like that kind of tiring outdoor activity," Taehyung added more.

Seokjin glanced in surprise. "Why do you think that? Your past lover didn't like it too?"

Past lover, past lover! Taehyung exhaled sharply. "He preferred indoor activities." He managed to talk with a soft tone. "If we took a walk, we'd walk in the garden, on easy pathways. He was a foodie and liked picnics in the flower fields or green savannas. He loved to play piano more often than going outside. He liked to read a lot. He read just about everywhere, in the greenhouse, among the plants, under a shady apple tree, in our private library, but preferably in bed."

Seokjin blinked. Yeah... he liked those too. Exactly like that. No strenuous physical activities. "Have you ever been to Goseong?" He changed the topic.

"Yeah, several times. The beaches are beautiful there."

"I've never been there," Seokjin said in a lazy tone.

"Really?" Taehyung glanced. "Let's see the beach together then!"

"Hm?" He glanced back. "Sure..." Then shrugged indifferently.

***

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And that was the initial plan. Unfortunately, the universe stored another plan for Seokjin.

Right after everyone arrived at Goseong in the late morning, all the team visited the construction site directly and the Geotechnical Engineers started their work. The weather was scorching hot that day and Seokjin's unfit body eventually collapsed due to the heatstroke.

Worried and panicked, Jimin and his team carried Seokjin to a shady tree and rested him there. "Have you had breakfast this morning, Hyung?" Jimin asked and opened a cold water bottle for him.

With his pale face, Seokjin shook his head. Kim Taehyung picked him up at 6 am and Jin didn't have an appetite to eat anything that early.

"You and your bad habit! I told you to prefer breakfast, rather than a glass of coffee!" Jimin scolded him in concern.

Taehyung was seen running hastily toward them. "What happened?!" He demanded. He broke through the little crowd. "Make a room! Give him enough air!" And the crowd stepped back per his order.

"I'm fine!" Seokjin waved weakly and drank his water some more.

Taehyung checked Seokjin's temperature, his forehead and his neck. He was indeed feverish. "I'll take him back to the hotel," Taehyung said in urgency. "You can continue your work, Jimin shi." He glanced at Jimin and the engineer team. "No worries." Then lifted Seokjin's body.

"HEY!"

"Sh! Don't make a scene! I'll take care of you!" His face was tense with worry, his brows furrowed, and his jaw clenched tight. Seokjin had no choice but to circle his hands around Taehyung's shoulder and hold on tight.

"Thank you, Mr. Kim!"

"Please take care of our Seokjin!"

"Take care, Seokjin shi!"

"Don't worry about us!"

"Just rest, okay!"

Seokjin's coworkers waved at them.

Taehyung carried Seokjin's petite body across the vast empty field to where he parked his car. He secured Seokjin into the passenger seat and drove away in silence. His serious and worried expression made Seokjin not even dare to argue.

They arrived about half an hour later, and out of embarrassment Seokjin refused to be carried and insisted on walking by himself into the hotel. But Taehyung propped up his still-weak body so Jin wouldn't fall.

"Where's your key card?" Taehyung asked as they arrived in front of Seokjin and Jimin's shared-bedroom on the 5th floor.

"Huh?" Seokjin was in a daze. ".... ah...!" The key card! He forgot. "Um... with Jimin..." His voice was weak.

"You'll rest in my room, then!"

"What?! Nooo!"

"So you prefer to rest here in the corridor?" Taehyung furrowed fiercely. Leaving Seokjin here alone to go back down to the receptionist just to take the spare key card was not an option.

Seokjin grumbled and let Taehyung half-drag him into his Junior Suite room. As they arrived though, Seokjin had another complaint. "There's only one bed!"

"So?" Taehyung helped Seokjin to settle on the king-sized bed and get comfortable. "You plan to stay in my room more than this afternoon nap?"

"What?!" Seokjin didn't follow.

"You can rest alone, don't worry. I won't join in..." A hint of a little smile bloomed in the corner of Taehyung's lips. "Unless you plan to stay longer till the night, then yes, there's only one bed and we'll have to share it!"

"NOO!" Seokjin shuddered. He instantly refused the idea.

The older one rolled his eyes and grinned. "Headstrong!"

"Pervert!"

A funny giggle burst out. "Should I call a doctor for you?"

"No! I'm fine!"

"Jin..."

"I have not had breakfast and the weather is too hot, that's it. I just need some time to rest."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure! I'm perfectly healthy!"

Taehyung sighed. He set the air conditioner to a comfortable temperature. "Headstrong!"

"Am not!"

"You wanna drink any medicine? I can make a call..." ​​Taehyung reached the restaurant menu on the desk, then handed it to Seokjin.

"... just for a headache."

"Okay... Let's order lunch first, so you can drink your med. What do you want?" He picked up the landline phone on the bedside table and dialed the room service to order their lunch.

***

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