Taekook shortstory: Never give up on your dreams

Part 6

The morning of the exhibition, Tae was nervous and a little irritable, which the friends all understood. Jungkook peppered him with soft kisses all over his face, making him giggle slightly, every time he wanted to explode in irritation. Hoonie also kissing him on his cheeks, squishing his appa's cheeks in his small hands to make Tae's lips pout, then laughed at his Appa's fishy face. As they were getting closer to the time to leave, Jimin kept Hoonie busy, giving Tae chance to focus and mentally prepare. Finally, at around 4 in the afternoon he got dressed in his signature clothes. V is back. He was wearing his black quarter length Billabong pants and his white large t-shirt with a silver V on the front, black chunky sneakers which had extra grip on the soles and his black cap. His skateboard and guards were in the black leather tote bag, custom made for him, with a huge silver V on the front.

They all left for the hall, Hoonie, Lisa, and Jihoon, with Tae and Jungkook, the latter driving the SUV. Tae kept on bouncing his leg, fiddling with his hands. Jungkook decided to intervene, taking the smaller hands in his, holding it tight. "Tae, baby, calm down, you've got this. You are a natural and you are the best in the world. You will be amazing" Tae nodded, taking deep breaths, yes, he was nervous, it has been more than a year. The last he was on a board before the photoshoot, was a week before Jennie passed end of August last year, and now it is already end of October of the next year.

They arrived and V and Jackson waited to be escorted by security to the back of the stage. Before they left, Tae gave Hoonie a massive kiss and a hug, telling him to behave and stay close to Jungkook or Jihoon. Jungkook pulled him into a hug and held him for a few seconds, before kissing him breathless, earning whistles and cat calls from the others. Then V left with Jackson.

Jin, Jungkook, Namjoon, Hobi and Jimin have never experienced seeing V skate live before, only Yoongi saw him once. Wooshik and all the others from the skateboarding group were already waiting for them at the VIP section which was right in front of the half pipe on a raised platform.

After all the videos played and other exhibitions finished, the announcer came back on stage again. "And now for the highlight of the event, to entertain you with skill and magnificence, the one, the only, Legend of skateboarding, V!!!!!" And the crowd went hysterical. This is who they wanted to see.

The spotlight fell on the slender boy standing on the precipice of the half pipe, the front of the board up in the air as his one foot stepped on the back. Silver hair shining under the spotlight. Taking a deep breath, he smiled beautifully and took the leap of faith, the board dropping almost vertically down the ramp, the wind blowing through the silver hair, his knees bent to go with the momentum and movement of the board. Up the other side, doing a one handed twist, clutching the board to his feet with the other, twisting in the air, flying down the ramps, and the crowd went crazy.

"That is your appa, Hoonie, look at him!" Jihoon was carrying the little boy on his shoulders so he could see his appa. "Appa! Hoonie sees you going so fast Appa!" The little boy cheered his Appa, who definitely heard him, because he smiled and looked straight at the little boy while doing a double twist before landing again halfway down the ramp. 

Jungkook could only stare, the boy was breathtaking. After about 7 minutes, V finally stopped at the top of the ramp, picking up his board in his one hand by the wheels. Bowing and waving at the crowd. He hasn't felt this amazing in quite a while. Walking down the stairs, he was met by Jackson, who hugged him and clapped his back. He knew the bug has bitten Tae again and he will not stop again now. This is who Kim Taehyung was, V, the Legend. 

Tae ran to his friends, Jackson coming behind him with his bag. Everyone high fived Tae as he joined them, Hoonie screaming for his Appa, who took him from Jihoon's shoulders and hugged him and spun with him round and round, making the boy scream with excitement. The small boy was so excited of what his appa did. "That was the most fantastic thing I have ever witnessed in my life" Jungkook said with awe in his voice. Tae blushed "Thanks Kook, but to be honest, that was beginner's level for me, during world champs it is go big or go home, so yeah, we will see if I am up to that again" Jungkook hugged the boy close, kissing the silver curls. They stayed a bit, conversing with dignitaries, who all wanted to speak to V.

At the end of the night, they all went to the mansion, thrilled at seeing their friend doing what he loves again.