A Night to Remember

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Between the frisky palm trees that sprawled evenly at the skating park, there sat two skaters side by side on top of the ramp. Both were so silent they could pick up faint howls of the cold wind occasionally swirling past them, making them shiver.

Reki stared at the sky, anticipating the fireworks that would soon erupt at the ink black sky indicating a new year.

Langa meanwhile, stared blankly, immersed from his thoughts. He couldn't help but feel anxious. For once, he was the one that initiated this hang out⎯  celebrating new year with only each other here at the park. Regret swelled inside him. He knew this was a bad idea.

Overwhelmed by tension, Langa reached for his nape and muttered, 'I'm sorry for wasting your time, Reki. I know we could've just stayed at S. They had a big party and all.'

Reki snorted, 'What? Langa this isn't a waste. Sure the party would be fun but it doesn't top on being with you, y'know?' He gestured his hand to Langa's shoulder, slightly sliding closer to him.

All this was enough to make Langa turn red. Reki's touch made him feverish but still he managed to keep his composure, meaning staying frozen.

Reki, on the other hand, felt impatient and annoyed. The whole day, Langa had been very careful to make as little eye contact or touch with him. Did something happen? Was it his fault? Whatever it was, Reki wanted to know. He turned to Langa and clasped his face with both of his hands directing Langa to him.
'Langa, tell me what's going on. Time is ticking and I don't want any secrets between us when the new year passes,' he spoke sternly.

Langa slumped. Suddenly all the pressure he'd been bottling up evaporated away as he stared back at Reki's almond eyes that glinted, let it be from his determination or the full moon that was right above them. His mouth curved into a smile that reached his eyes. 'You're right.'

His voice sounded different, Reki thought. He didn't have the monotonous tone he usually had. It sounded like.. relief? But it seemed more than that. Whatever it was, Reki felt allured by his voice, as if anticipating something. He couldn't wrap his mind around it but his heart continuously jammed against his ribs.

Langa reached for Reki's hands that still cupped his face and intertwined it with his, letting it then drop gingerly between them.

Reki was caught off guard. Now his mind couldn't think at all. Despite that, he didn't break eye contact.

Langa could feel Reki's hands clinging into his own firmly, making the butterflies that swirled in his stomach rise to his throat. He coughed and without a single second of delay he mustered, 'Reki, I like you.'

Those words pierced right through Reki's chest.  Without thinking he sputtered, 'I mean sure, who wouldn't like me? I mean I also like you y'know were⎯ '

'You know I don't mean it like that,' Langa cleared up, stopping Reki midway from his rambles. Reki's jaw hung still as he looked at his best friend whose eyes started to flicker.

'You said no secrets right?' Langa chuckled. Regret started to bubble inside of him. 'I really messed up now, huh?' Langa murmured under his breath, loosening his grip from the hand holding, dropping his gaze together. He braced himself, expecting the worst.

'Don't let go,' Reki blurted as he grasped back Langa's hands that were slipping away, earning a startled expression from him.

Reki swallowed the huge lump on his throat. Voice quivering, he professed, 'I like you too. I really do. You're the greatest person I've met. I like your company. You always stuck with me despite being called annoying and weird. I like how you're so passionate about skating, and the way you care for me even though I push you away sometimes over stupid things. And⎯ '

Langa threw his arms towards Reki and hugged him tightly to which he did the same. Resting on his shoulders Reki remarked, 'You really love cutting me off do you?'

Langa apologised with a hum but both knew nothing ever mattered more than this moment, embracing each other with feelings so raw.

Finally, as if the world finally let go of its longest breath, fireworks erupted from the sky.

Letting go of their embrace, their hands dropped to where it was before, interlinked.

'Happy New Year, Langa.'

But Langa was no longer staring at Reki, nor was even at the skating park. He pulled himself back from the vivid memory, a memory that would never be done again no matter how much it had been cherished. 

Fireworks of different colours and sizes sparked in the sky behind him.

'Happy New Year, Reki.' Langa greeted as he knelt before the gravestone of his deceased partner.

'There goes another year without you,' he uttered mourningly. Tears streamed down his face that he wished so hopelessly Reki would wipe away.

He settled down beside the monument and rested his head as he gazed towards the twinkling sky.

It truly was a night to remember.