Chapter 10
Nephew! He'd hoped the tall man might only be a visitor, but he was a relative who probably lived with Seojoon, he realized now. The knowledge made Tae feel slightly ill at the same time that his pride forced him to lift his chin and calmly meet Jungkook's ruthless stare. Acknowledging the brief introduction with a curt nod, the man seated himself across from Tae and looked at the butler.
Jeon Jungkook
Is it too much to hope that there is any food left?
footman
The footman quailed visibly. "I - no, my lord. There isn't. That is, there's enough to eat but it may not be warm enough. I'll go down to the kitchens at once and have the cook fix something fresh and hot." He rushed out.
Senior Jeon
"Jungkook" Seojoon said
Senior Jeon
"I've just been suggesting to Tae that he ought to have a suitable servant and a wardrobe more appropriate to -"
Jeon Jungkook
"No" Jungkook said flatly
Taeh's urge to flee promptly overpowered every other instinct
Taehyung
"If you'll excuse me, Uncle Seojoon," he said, "I - I have some things to do."
Seojoon shot Tae a grateful, apologetic look and politely stood up as he arose, but his obnoxious nephew merely lounged back in his chair, observing Tae retreat with bored distaste
Senior Jeon
"None of this is Tae's fault," Seojoon began as the footmen started to close the doors behind Tae. "You must understand that."
Jeon Jungkook
"Really?" Jungkook drawled sarcastically.
Jeon Jungkook
"And does that whining little beggar understand that this is my house and I don't want him here?"
The doors closed behind him, but Tae had already heard enough. A beggar! A whining beggar! Humiliation washed over him in sickening waves as he fled blindly down the hall. Apparently, Seojoon had invited him here without his nephew's consent.
Tae's face was pale but set as he walked into his room and opened his luggage.
Back in the dining room, Seojoon was pleading with the hardened cynic across from him.
Senior Jeon
"Jungkook, you don't understand -"
Jeon Jungkook
"You brought him here," Jungkook snapped
Jeon Jungkook
"Since you want him here so badly, take him to Seoul to live with you."
Senior Jeon
"I can't do that!" Seojoon argued vehemently.
Senior Jeon
"He's not ready to face the high society yet. There's much to be done before he can make his introduction in Seoul. Among other things, we'll need a chaperone for the sake of appearances."
(AN: In England, there's what they call a debut, where young ladies are introduced to the ton or high society. It's what Seojoon wanted to do with Tae but, Tae is a male so I invented a male version of it.) according to original author or book!!
Jungkook nodded impatiently at the footman who was hovering at his elbow with the silver coffeepot, waiting for permission to pour and when he had finished dismissed him from the room. Then he turned to Seojoon and said harshly,
Jeon Jungkook
"I want him out of here tomorrow - is that clear? Take him to Seoul or send him home but get him out! I'm not going to spend a cent on him. If you want to parade him over Bangkok this season, then you'll have to find some other way to pay for it."
Seojoon wearily rubbed his temples
Senior Jeon
"Jungkook, I know you aren't as heartless and unfeeling as you sound right now. At least let me tell you about him."
Leaning back in his chair, Jungkook regarded him with icy boredom while Seojoon plowed doggedly ahead.
Senior Jeon
"His parents were killed a few months ago in an accident. In one tragic day Tae lost his mother, his father, his home, his security - everything."
When Jungkook remained silent and unmoved, Seojoon ran out of patience.
Senior Jeon
"Dammit! Have you forgotten how you felt when you lost Gguk? Taehyung has lost all three of the people he loved, including the young man he was halfway engaged to. He's foolish enough to believe the fellow will come running to his rescue in the next few weeks, but the man's mother is against the match. You mark my words, he'll yield to his mother's wishes now that Taehyung is an ocean away. His brother is now the ward of honorable Hye Kyo, so even his brother's companionship is denied Tae now. Think of how he feels, Jungkook! You're not unacquainted with death and loss - or have you forgotten the pain?"
Seojoon's words hit home with enough force to make Jungkook wince. Seojoon saw it and he pressed his advantage.
Senior Jeon
"He's as innocent and lost as a child, Jungkook. He has no one left in the world except me - and you, whether you like it or not. Think of him as you would think of Gguk in these same circumstances. But Tae has courage, and pride. For instance, even though he laughed about it, I could tell that his reception here yesterday humiliated him terribly. If he thinks he isn't wanted, he'll find some way to leave here. And if that happens,"
Senior Jeon
Seojoon finished tautly, "I'll never forgive you. I swear I won't"
Jungkook abruptly pushed his chair back and stood up, his expression closed and hard.
Jeon Jungkook
"By any chance, is he another one of your illegitimate sons?"
Senior Jeon
Seojoon's face whitened. "Good God, no!"
When Jungkook still looked skeptical, Sejoon added desperately,
Senior Jeon
"Think of what you're saying! Would I have announced your engagement to him, if he were my son?"
Instead of pacifying Jungkook, that assurance merely called to mind the engagement that had so enraged him.
Jeon Jungkook
"If your little angel is so damned innocent and so courageous, why did he agree to barter his body for marriage to me?"
Senior Jeon
"Oh, that!" Seojoon waved his hand in dismissal.
Senior Jeon
"I made that announcement without his knowledge; he knows nothing of it. Call it overenthusiasm on my part," he said it smoothly.
Senior Jeon
"I doubt Tae would have you, even if you wanted him. You're much too cynical and hard and jaded for a gently bred, idealistic man like him. He admired his father and he told me openly that he wanted to marry a man like him - a sensitive, gentle, idealistic man. Why, you're nothing like that,"
He continued, so carried away with near-victory that he didn't realize his speech bordered on insult.
Senior Jeon
"I daresay if Tae knew he was supposedly betrothed to you, he'll swoon dead away! He'd take his own life before -"
Jeon Jungkook
"I think I have the picture," Jungkook mildly.
Senior Jeon
"Good," Seojoon said with a swift smile. "
Senior Jeon
"Then may I suggest we keep that little engagement announcement a secret to him? I'll think of some way to rescind it without causing embarrassment to either of you, but we can't do it immediately."
When Jungkook's eyes narrowed on his smile, Seojoon quickly sobered.
Senior Jeon
"He is a child, Jungkook - a brave, proud boy who is trying to make the best of things in a cruel world he isn't equipped to face. If we revoke the engagement too soon after his arrival here, he'll be a laughingstock in Seoul. They'll say you took one look at him and backed out."
A vision of dark-lashed, glowing black orbs and a face too beautiful to be real drifted through Jungkook's mind. He remembered the entrancing smile that had touched his soft lips a few minutes ago, before he became aware of his presence in the dining room. In retrospect, he did seem rather like a vulnerable child.
Senior Jeon
"Go talk to him, please," Seojoon pleaded.
Jeon Jungkook
"I'll talk to him," Jungkook agreed shortly.
Senior Jeon
"But will you make him feel welcome?"
Jeon Jungkook
"That depends on how he behaves when I find him."
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