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December winds blown by winter were indeed cold. But Sunghoon was getting numb unbothered by the cold, instead, he was breaking into cold sweats. How can he not? This is like one of the most nerve-wracking days ever besides competitions and examinations.
Well because today was the day .
So what day exactly is the day ?
You see, he happens to be "courting" this friend and so finally today was the day he would officially ask him out.
That friend's name is Sim Jaeyun or Jake for short as most people call him. Don't ask Sunghoon what kind of person Jake is or he will write a whole Shakespearean poem telling how beautiful Jake is inside out. Let's just summarize that Jake is like the most beautiful thing that happened in the world according to Sunghoon. And if nobody is perfect, then Sunghoon believes Jake is closest to perfect. To him, Jake was the embodiment of beauty and the definition of sweetness. He was like the first bloom in spring, his smile was refreshing beating the heatwave of summer, the beautiful orange hues of autumn, and lastly the warmth that embraces Sunghoon's once cold winter nights.
Come to think of it, their first meeting was in winter too. Sunghoon remembers it clearly. It was the day of the first snow and they were both eight at that time. Jake's family just moved in next to Sunghoon's house. Like literally just next to his house. They became friends immediately and it didn't take long for them to get closer in just a matter of days. It wasn't so surprising when their parents suggested that they go to school together, and the fact that their rooms are facing each other, they would always talk late at night through their respective windows not realizing it's already 3 am before Jake suggests that they should go to bed already.
With that, Sunghoon's feelings eventually grew.
When they reached high school, yesterday they were like the bestest friends and suddenly the next morning Sunghoon just knew there was something different about Jake. Something was different with the way Jake smiles, or the way he calls Sunghoon as "hoonie", or when Jake takes a sip on his iced vanilla latté during their after school café hangouts, all the things that used to be happening normally on a day to day basis, suddenly hit differently.
Everything just shifted.
The shift , he knew that he no longer saw Jake only as a friend. He was already in love with him romantically.
And now at twenty, Sunghoon tried to be subtle in his actions at first. But during the new year’s eve, at the little backyard party their parents threw, Sunghoon didn't know what got into him that night but he somehow gathered up the courage to profess.
Of course, he expected Jake's initial reaction to his confession. After all, your childhood friend slash best friend just suddenly confessed to you. He can't blame Jake for being relatively surprised and unsure of what response he should give, so he said that he will prove himself worthy of Jake's love back.
So today was the mark of the sixth month of the "courting" stage. If you think six months was long, Sunghoon couldn't care less about that. Six months was nothing, it could've been longer but Sunghoon would not grow tired of it. Not to be all delusional, but Sunghoon also noticed that Jake never tried to dismiss Sunghoon's shower of affection. Rather he always appreciates every little action Sunghoon made for the latter. It was like he was getting signals that there's an ounce of chance that Jake might reciprocate his feelings.
Which is why Sunghoon's guts told him that this was the perfect time. That leads him to inviting Jake to this outdoor skating park. Jake has never tried skating with Sunghoon before, he only watched him during his training and competitions, and he was very supportive. Very supportive. He never missed a performance, not a single one . So he was actually ecstatic when Sunghoon told him that he would finally teach him how to skate. In contrast to that, Sunghoon was a nervous rack. He tried to calm himself but he feels like throwing up right now. He just wish that Jake won't notice it.
"Hoonie, are you alright?" God how could Sunghoon be alright when Jake just called him by his favorite nickname(only when it's Jake that's calling him) and threw a look with those honey oozing brown orbs.
"Y-yeah I'm all good!"
"You sure?"
Sunghoon nodded almost instantaneously. He earns a chuckle from Jake, he swore he felt tickles in his ears from that.
"Cute"
Jake is actually gonna drive Sunghoon insane, not that he has been already. Maybe this time, drive him crazier. Jake is not good for the heart, definitely not good for Sunghoon. Jake giggled more, amused by the taller's reactions as they walked closer towards the entrance of the park.
As soon as they arrived, Sunghoon brought out his skates from the bag he was carrying. One that he currently uses as another extra for Jake. Sunghoon puts on his skates swift and smooth like he usually does. He turns to his left only to find Jake seems to be struggling to put on the skates. He scoots closer towards the older before stretching his arms slightly leaning to help put it properly.
Jake's eyes followed Sunghoon's head that was in front of him. A smile immediately found its way to his pink lips, he unconsciously lifted his hand until it landed on Sunghoon's soft dark brown locks, giving it light feather pats.
"Our hoonie is so reliable now"
Jake coos almost sounded like he was teasing the younger. As Sunghoon sat straight back up, after being completely caught off guard by Jake's gesture. That came out of nowhere.
"Hey! What am I, a kid?"
"Well, technically I'm older than you"
"Yeah for like a number of days"
"Aaww our hoonie is sulky"
"Let's just go already!"
Jake bursts out laughing. Jake is really fond of Sunghoon's reactions, he finds them adorable. Jake followed behind Sunghoon as the latter set both of his feet on the rink. Jake froze just right at the edge of the entrance.
"Hoon, are you sure this is safe? I won't be sent to the hospital through this, won't I?"
"No you won't-" Sunghoon pauses, he shows off a sly smile before continuing "Not unless you slip and bang your head on the floor"
"Hoon!" Jake's brows immediately knit a frown. Sunghoon lets out a hearty laugh, his eyes forming crescents. Finally accomplishing his revenge to Jake's teasing.
"I'm just kidding if you ever slip you will usually just land on your butt. But don't worry I'm here right? I won't let you fall, I'll catch you. I'm reliable aren't I as you said?" Sunghoon offers his hand to the shorter man.
"Oh of course you are '' Jake scoffs before accepting Sunghoon's help. He puts one foot on the rink before the other one follows wobbling.
Sunghoon grabs Jake by the other's forearms, paralleling with his underneath Jake’s. He skates backward at a gradual speed while guiding the other positioning themselves at the center area of the rink.
Jake's legs continue to wobble as he tightens his grip on Sunghoon like his life depends on it. The smile never left Sunghoon’s lips, his line of sight meets the top of Jake’s head which was hung low observing both of their feet. They went on traveling like that for the first twenty minutes on the rink. Sunghoon had to assure Jake again and again when the other keeps panicking along the way.
“Do you want to rest for a bit?”
“I thought you wouldn’t ask”
Sunghoon just chuckled, Jake was obviously restless so he figured that the latter might have to sit out for a bit.
"I’ll be back in a bit!”
Sunghoon flashed Jake another eye-blinding smile before he glided away after guiding Jake back to the perimeter of the rink.
Jake actually felt bad. Sunghoon was finally teaching him his passion now he thinks he kind of ruined everything because he was panicking too much.
He held on to the railings and tried his best to get used to it. He doesn't want to waste this opportunity, he wants to be able to enjoy this with Sunghoon.
While he was busy fighting for his life in the sidelines, his ears suddenly picked up wows woahs from the surrounding. He raised his head to look for the source and of course it was caused by none other than Park Sunghoon.
Sunghoon shines the brightest when he skates. And Jake was always the proudest. Jake has always been there since the beginning of Sunghoon's figure skating journey. He witnessed all of the younger's ups and downs.
Jake's eyes followed Sunghoon as the other made a double turn earning another cheer from the crowd. Sunghoon turns his head in Jake's direction when he landed and smiled brightly again.
"What a showoff!" Jake mouthed while grinning playfully. He can hear Sunghoon's laugh as the latter was approaching him, but stopped about 8 meters away from him. Sunghoon motioned Jake to come closer.
"No way! Are you crazy?!"
"You can do it! Just calm down and remember what I taught you earlier"
"I can't!"
"You can! Just trust yourself!"
"I can't trust myself!"
"Then just trust me"
Jake froze. Sunghoon was looking straight into his eyes. It was rare to see him like this. This was one of the rarest times he heard Sunghoon speak with such a serious tone. But it wasn't intimidating. Not at all.
It made Jake feel a sense of security.
One final hard grip before Jake took a deep breath, readying himself. He tried to focus and try to make his muscles revisit what he had learned earlier. Surprisingly, his legs weren't wobbly as before. He looks back up at the figure waiting for him as he drew closer. A wide smile crept up his lips.
Oh! And Sunghoon swears he can fall in love all over again and again.
Sunghoon extended both of his arms waiting for Jake to arrive, the older continued to display his heart-melting smile whilst skating closer, closing their distance.
However, a loud sound emits from above causing Jake to lose his concentration and his balance. Screw the fireworks.
Maybe due to being an athlete or maybe because of being too much of a Jaeyun lover, either way, thanks to his quick reflexes Sunghoon was able to prevent Jake from meeting with the cold floor. His arm encircled Jake's thin waist. Jake, on the other hand, held onto Sunghoon's sturdy arms. Jake swears that he is not totally taking advantage of the situation to feel Sunghoon's toned arms.
"You okay?"
"That scared the shit out of me! I think I saw my life flashed before my eyes"
"Didn't I already tell you I won't let you fall"
"But I have fallen for you already"
Wait. What?
Both of them paused. Jake is already regretting his decision, or maybe just half regretting it.
"Did I hear that right? Is it what I think it is?"
Jake was already beaten red and it just got worse when he was cornered by Sunghoon's stare.
"Oh come on hoonie don't make it so embarrassing as it is"
"Wait no, tell me I'm not hearing things right? I was actually going to ask you out tonight that's why I brought you here…"
Jake didn't care about anything else anymore and started to look straight ahead, locking his sight with the taller.
"Guess I beat you to that"
"What?"
"Oh gosh hoon! I meant that let's just date already!"
Jake thought he saw everything flashed before him again, when Sunghoon's arms completely wrapped around him and lifted him, spinning both of them three times. After the third spin, Sunghoon refused to release the hug.
"Do you want me to die of a heart attack?!"
"No, I want you to grow old with me"
"Are you serious right now?!"
"I'm serious though, I want to spend every four seasons that will pass and the rest of my life with you"
Sunghoon pulls away a bit from the hug but still held Jake dearly. If Sunghoon was previously laughing, now, he was smiling at the love of his life, the bloom of his May, the bright sun of his June, the nostalgia of his November, and the warmth of his December.
"I would like to spend mine with you too"