kicks ✓ || namgi || k.th

049: destination

chapter 49: destination
location: new york city, ny

two years later

John F. Kennedy Airport was busy with activity as the plane pulled in from South Korea. Police had roped off the international terminal, and news crews were all around, taking footage and reporting. David James LaPostale was in the middle of it all, with his guards and staff nearby, awaiting the arrival.

The boys were now men. All seven had completed their military service together, and they were now cleared to return to America. The five who were returning to school had their student visas renewed, and the other two had new work visas both from Seokjin's old modeling studio and LaPostale itself for Yoongi. With Yoongi's compositional skills, he could work in their marketing department composing jingles and spots while he figured out what else he was going to do with his life.

The terminal doors opened, and all seven boys walked off the plane and into the terminal hall. They were all wearing identical black suits, and their hair was still short, but otherwise they all looked the same. They stood in a row, looking up at the terminal ceiling, appreciating just how great it was to be back in America...together.

David stepped forward. "Welcome back," he said, shaking Namjoon's hand. And Namjoon shook back, knowing the press would go haywire over this moment. Former Baepsae Heir Joins LaPostale In NYC, the headlines would read. The news had stayed abreast with the dismantling of the Mikrokosmos Project, which had almost been completed. The research and development team in Buan-gun had been switched from the project to the emerging mobile phone market. LaPostale had completely taken over Baepsae's remaining assets in South Korea. Namjoon returning to NYC meant that he could intern under David, then use those skills back home.

David and the security team led the group away from the terminal and into a limo, which took them to the Financial District. They arrived in front of a huge skyscraper, and David took them up to the penthouse level. The apartment was perfect for all seven men, carrying over simple Korean sentiment with modern views of the NYC skyline. It was a very short walk from a train that would take most of the boys to Columbia every day, and right next door to the Twin Towers.

"We're thinking about building a new headquarters further uptown near Columbus Circle," David explained. "I'm thinking we'll lease space there for a while, then build. The Twin Towers are becoming too expensive, but I'll miss the area."

The living room was massive, with an open-air kitchen nearby, leather couches, and a state of the art flat screen television that almost reminded Namjoon of a small JumboTron. A hallway curved around to the left that led to four bedrooms and two shared bathrooms. To the right was another smaller bedroom and then the master suite. "I know what you're thinking," David said with a smirk. "There are only six bedrooms." And when he opened the door, not only did Namjoon see a huge bed for both him and Yoongi, he saw an upright piano where Yoongi could write music.

"This is all amazing," Namjoon said with a smile. "I really look forward to working with you in the future."

"Namjoon, I do have to ask...how is your father doing?"

Namjoon sighed. "He seems to be doing okay. They never formally charged him with any crime, but it's impossible for him to get a job anywhere anymore. They moved back to Ilsan, and my mother works as a waitress there. They have money to get by, but he doesn't leave the house or see anybody anymore. I would like to go visit him again at some point."

"You should visit when he accepts you as you are. Not as how he wants you to be. The time isn't right for you to be open about yourself, Namjoon. You know this. After all of the drama your family has been through within the past few years, to have the son of disgraced Baepsae come out as a gay man? You might not be able to return to Korea. Give it time, though. There are advancements every day, and the world is changing because of the hard work that people of all colors and walks are putting in."