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The airport isn't exactly crowded today but Taehyung still leads the way out carefully. He keeps checking his phone while strolling in weary. Nothing he wears to dissemble himself, not even sunglasses. He enters the lobby to a mass of media waiting for him. Taehyung manages to smile tiredly at the flashing cameras, nodding and waving here and there. With the reporters tailing after him and his phone doesn't ping at all, he decides to make another call.
Why couldn’t his driver answer?
Taehyung lets out a desperate sigh as there is no answer. He grabs a hand linked to his arm gently, trying to sooth the best he could.
“Please,” Taehyung finally mutters to the reporters. He is bound to come out of the lobby without any ride. He couldn’t bear the thought of waiting for his ride with them around. His previous one hour flight doesn't help either. It was a total turbulence. Taehyung was fine with that, but he didn’t. The only thing Taehyung wants right now is his driver. Plus home.
“Taehyung-ssi, how was the trip?”
“I heard it was an important trip, is it true?”
As they get through the lobby, they stand waiting outside. Taehyung doesn’t respond to them, too busy making a call. When the other line finally answers, Taehyung sighs before dismissing his excuse and demands him to just pick them up right away. Taehyung ends the call and directs the younger one to a nearby seat. Before walking to the seat, Taehyung politely mentions to the media that he would love some space due to his complicated situation. By that Taehyung turns away before following his partner which has already made his way to the seat.
“Taehyung-ssi, you both look stunning.”
Taehyung glances to find one reporter walks along with him.
He smiles slightly, “Thank you,” before looking down.
“Taehyung-ssi, is the trip related to the preparation for the upcoming drama?”
The reporter is still following him.
Taehyung draws his hand atop his head to cover his face.
“Sorry,” He growls as he walks faster.
“Is Jeongguk-ssi in for the soundtrack?”
Taehyung clenches his jaw as the reporter keeps bombarding him with questions.
“How is Jeongguk-ssi’s actual relationship with Mingyu-ssi, I heard-“
That’s it.
The moment is blurry as Taehyung stops and turns to the reporter before pushing back the guy’s shoulder. The guy staggers backwards before Taehyung reaches for him again.
He grabs the guy’s collar shirt before snapping at him, “I told you I can’t deal with this right now. If you can’t just give me and my fiancé a fucking space I swear I don’t mind giving you a space in hospital.”
With that Taehyung lets go of the guy harshly. The guy looks pale and his mouth clamped shut. If anything the guy seems to be embarrassed. Taehyung gives the guy one last glare before he makes his way back to the awaiting figure not far from him. When he sees the younger’ eyes widen in worry, Taehyung’s expression softens. He takes his hand in assurance and guides them to continue their way, off of the seat.
Thankfully it doesn’t take long before his car speeds to the entry and Taehyung quickly assists him towards the car. His driver stumbles in panic as he tries to open the door in hurry to let him and Taehyung in.
/
The news is viral. Most of the times when Jeongguk scrolls through his phone, the news would be there with various headlines.
Kim Taehyung Abused a Reporter on Airport
The Infamous Actor Attacked a Reporter
Was That How You Treat a Reporter?
Kim Taehyung Flipped to Hear Fiancé’s Old Flame
Jeongguk fidgets with the hem of his sweater and curls himself on the couch. He bites his lip as he scans over and over again. Taehyung has already made it clear to Jeongguk that the news doesn’t bother him. The media could report whatever they like. It isn’t true anyway. Jeongguk understands this as much, but it still bothers him. Whenever he read anything about the incident, he feels guilty as he has things to do with that somehow and Taehyung doesn’t deserve this kind of judgment. It has been three days since and the news hasn't faded yet. Even Jeongguk is sure it will be after a week or so, he is still bundled up in his thought of clearing up. The public has to know their actual condition that time.
It was all Jeongguk’s fault.
Taehyung is very well-known as a kind and fun figure. If their condition was any better, the incident wouldn’t have happened. Taehyung has never had any bad encounter with media before. Public is also eager to find out why would Kim Taehyung do such a thing as they don’t buy the news easily. A statement is in due. Jeongguk has to speak up. He powers up his will even though he gets nervous just to think about it. But Taehyung has done so much for him. Since they came out. Since they got engaged which to Jeongguk is what might be the best thing that ever happened to him yet. He wants to do the same as Taehyung. Being brave.
At the sound of the door opened, Jeongguk gets up from the couch and pads the hallway.
“Welcome home, Tae.”
Taehyung cups Jeongguk’s cheek and kisses him.
He then rubs Jeongguk’s cheek tenderly and frowned, “Why are you still up this late?”
By that Jeongguk averts his eyes. “I’m reading the news,”
Taehyung groans as he embraces Jeongguk but he doesn’t say anything.
“And I’m thinking, I want to do some commentary..” Jeongguk continues.
Taehyung’s posture become tense and Jeongguk could feel himself shrinks a little. But as Taehyung pulls away to look at Jeongguk, Jeongguk steadies his breath. He wants to try.
Taehyung grips Jeongguk’ arms gently. “You know you don’t have to do that.”
Jeongguk looks back at the eyes that have been giving him lights for this past few years.
“I want to,” He whispers. “I just can’t stand them spreading bad news about you. It’s not nearing the truth.” He shakes his head. “I need to explain my condition so people will understand. It was because of my condition everything happened, Tae.”
Taehyung takes a deep breath. “Jeongguk-ah, please don’t think of this as your fault. I have my own reason and it’s so much more than just your condition. I decided to do that and I knew the consequence. If it’s to be anyone’s fault, it’s mine, not yours.”
Jeongguk could feel his chest tightens. “But.. But the news don’t stop. I want it to stop.” He says frustratingly. “It’s wrong. The headlines upset me because they are saying wrong things about you. I don’t want that. I have to do something.” I’m trying to be brave.
Taehyung is silent.
After a while he resigns to pull Jeongguk back to his arms, embracing him again.
“You’re very brave.” Taehyung kisses the top of Jeongguk’s head and Jeongguk could feel his chest warmed. “As a thank you how about we go with my proposal?” Taehyung murmurs. “I’m going to clear this up.”
Jeongguk makes a protest sound but Taehyung cut it quickly. “It’s me who did it, I want them to hear my reason.”
“Besides, when they asked about Mingyu, I didn’t like it.”
Jeongguk flushes as he buries his head further to Taehyung’s chest.
He knows Taehyung is joking because they are in actual good terms with Mingyu. But it still makes Jeongguk embarrassed whenever Taehyung brings it up like that.
Tahyung chuckles as he momentarily strokes Jeongguk’s hair before he pulls away.
“Okay to go with my proposal, bun?"
Jeongguk looks back at Taehyung. He smiles defeatedly, yet in a good way.
“Okay, Tae.. Thank you.” He plants a kiss to Taehyung’s cheek.
/
Jeongguk insisted to be the one calling out the media and Taehyung agreed to that. After consulting and confirming with their management, Jeongguk decided to invite them to the restaurant he and Taehyung owned on the fifth day after the outbreak. He sits together with Taehyung beside him. Upon seeing a lot of people come to their restaurant, Jeongguk is personally flattered. He hopes this is a good sign to the explanation.
“I would like to thank everyone who caters to this invitation,” Jeongguk greets warmly.
Cameras are flashing, requests to look at this and that direction could be heard.
“Jeongguk-ssi could you please tell us the details about what happened?”
The genuine concern that is plastered to most of the present faces has Jeongguk grips Taehyung’s arm encouragingly.
Taehyung rubs circle to the hand on his arm as he looks at the younger.
He slowly turns his head to everybody waiting for him.
Taehyung begins steadily. “You guys our media colleagues didn’t really understand what happened and why did I become upset back then.”
The audience is listening obediently.
“We had turbulence in our one hour flight,” Taehyung put his elbows on the table.
“My fiancé doesn’t take flying very well, a fact that you guys probably have known already.” Taehyung glances at everyone.
“When we were about to go back, he had a fever,” Taehyung pauses before he continues. “But we couldn’t reschedule our departure for we had another important thing awaited us home so we took the flight. Turned out the flight was a total turbulence for a full one hour.”
Sympathetic murmur fills the room.
“I was so worried about him. I had never seen him that sick before. For a few moments I was..” Taehyung seems to debate with whatever he wants to say before he decides to talk again with a smaller voice. “I was scared.. It scared me to see him like that and I was angry that I could do nothing about it. I couldn’t fly a plan..” He smiles weakly.
Jeongguk freezes.
In honesty, Jeongguk only expects Taehyung would tell everyone they had turbulence and to top it off Jeongguk was having a really bad fever. He didn't take flying very well either in the first place so everything went spiraling down. Taehyung’s sour mood was in result and the guy was just not lucky.
He doesn't know it was more about how worried Taehyung was about him.
He doesn’t know it was more about how scared Taehyung of losing him.
So this is what Taehyung called as his reason.. That it’s so much more than just his condition..
Jeongguk could feel his eyes slightly waters because the sentiment is beyond touching.
What good did he do to deserve somebody like Taehyung?
“When we landed, everything was still intense. I just wanted to get home so he could rest but my driver hadn’t arrived yet. It disrupted my concentration.”
Taehyung laces his fingers together, “It further disrupted my concentration when some media colleague kept on following me and asking me questions. I had already requested space for I need to call my driver and make sure my fiancé was okay.”
Taehyung continues slowly, “And the incident happened.”
“It wasn’t a violence, truthfully.” He frowns. “I just grabbed the guy’s collar and shoved, I will say I was kind of crossing the line but there was no violence there. If it did involve violence, there were securities around us, I wouldn’t be here if that was true.” Taehyung argues.
People nod at the justification and the cameras flash.
“Jeongguk-ssi, is it true?
As Jeongguk feels the question has to be answered by him, he is broken out of his own world and he tries to find his voice.
“Ah, yes, that's true. He did nothing violent. Collar grabbing and shoving, those were all I saw. He was also right about securities. They were everywhere and I could probably bailing him right now and not sitting here if there was any violence.” Jeongguk chuckles and sniffs a little.
“Also, please, I would kick myself before anything should I harm anyone. I picture the limit, you know.” Taehyung says amusingly.
Laughter is drawn by the statement.
Jeongguk could feel his mouth turns up. Fun, is Taehyung.
“I would implore our media colleagues not to exaggerate things further because we have our reason and nobody was injured,” Jeongguk asks in a softer voice.
He then takes a longing look at the older beside him.
“After all, I have to say, I'm so proud of him..” Jeongguk could feel Taehyung’s eyes are on him instantly.
“I have to admit sadly that I was so sick at that time and I couldn’t thank him enough for looking out for me,” He says.
“Everything happened five days ago was a fair demeanor of somebody who has the rights to ensure his beloved ones’ safety and comfort.” Jeongguk states.
The crowd seems to be in approval as most of them smile.
“Taehyung-ssi, do you have another thing to say?”
“Yeah,” Taehyung starts, “I guess.. I would like to apologize if any of what I did was not in favor to some people. It’s just.. My fiancé is my life I will do anything to keep him safe.”
Jeongguk blushes at that.
God, Taehyung and his bluntness.
“So this has nothing to do with Mingyu-ssi?”
Jeongguk quickly responds to the question, “Absolutely no. We’re really close to him and we’re all doing good. Mingyu is happy, and me and hyung are content together.”
Their eyes meet as Jeongguk smiles to Taehyung and his stomach is in knot to have the smile returned.
“Thank you very much Jeongguk-ssi!”
“Taehyung-ssi when will you marry Jeongguk-ssi?”
“Taehyung-ssi good luck for the upcoming drama!”
“May your relationship be eternal, Taehyung-ssi, Jeongguk-ssi!”
The flashing cameras are more rambunctious as Taehyung and Jeongguk stand.
Taehyung holds Jeongguk’s waist gently as they pose.
“Thank you, Tae.” Jeongguk murmurs.
Taehyung looks at him smiling before he whispers to his ear, “I love you.”