Taekook shortstory: Never give up on your dreams

Part 10

The day of the ESPN extreme sport convention, everybody was getting ready, Tae finally feeling confident in himself again, he was ready. Everybody piled into the cars, dressed warm enough, it was cold outside. The convention centre will be much warmer, it was a huge indoor stadium with heating, so at least inside they will be ok.

They all got out, again being led to the VIP section, close to the half pipe and skate ramps. V, with Jackson left them, after V getting his smooches from his love and his son.

Getting ready, he was watching the other sports on the screen, rock climbing, BMX trick bikes, parkour, abseiling, bouldering; enjoying it all. Then it was his turn, he was ready. Wearing black parachute material sweatpants, his black shoes and a white long sleeve shirt, his knee and elbow guards fastened, he walked out to massive screams. Rielly Smith, the Australian world trick BMX champ walked up to Tae and gave him a hug. "Flippin marvellous to see you, mate. Missed you in Sydney at last year's convention, but Jax told me about everything. So fuckin proud of you, V. Now, go get it!" V smiled and thanked the crazy Ausie, one if his sporting friends.

Blocking out all the sound, he focused, and.....dropped down the 15m curve, speeding down, wind blowing threw his hair. His concentration complete, switching between Pivot stalls, rock n roll, sugarcane stall, and V's signature move, the invert, balancing himself on his one hand for almost 10 seconds before falling again into dizzying near vertical drop, rushing to again rise on the other side. He was almost done, just one trick left, the one he just couldn't get perfect, but he was gonna go for it. He did it in his last championships, so he knows he can do it, just get the confidence level up a bit. Flying down the one side of the half pipe, up the other, he ended his performance with the famous 900 degree trick, a 2½-revolution (900 degrees) aerial spin performed on a skateboard ramp. While airborne, the skateboarder makes two-and-a-half turns about their longitudinal axis, thereby facing down when coming down. And it worked perfectly, he knew even before he touched the bottom again. He did it.

He smiled so wide it felt like his ears will touch each other at the back of his head. He bowed and waved, ecstatic that he did so well. Running off he was met by Jackson and Rielly, who was jumping around like a kangaroo. "Bloody hell mate, that was fantastic! Awesome! Mind blowing! Leeegggeeennndd!" V laughed, oh, he was back alright. After enduring congratulations from everyone, he could finally go to his friends. Walking in he was pulled into the warmest hug, knowing it was Koo, holding him close. "Angel, I nearly had a heart attack at that last thing, I have never seen you practice that, but Jihoon and Lisa said they know you will end of with that 900 degree thingy." Tae could only laugh, yes, his friends knew him so well. "I have practised hard Koo, I will not do it if I was not sure, I promise." Jungkook could only kiss the boy's face all over, his anxiety going down a bit seeing his baby safe. Hoonie jumped and tried to the tricks his appa did, making wooshing sounds as in his imagination he was flying over the half pipe, earning chuckled and uwus from everyone. "Well, my next champ I see" Jackson said with a wide smile. "We will see Jax, we will see" Tae just shrugged with a smile.

After 10 minutes the announcer came back onto the stage, closing the event, but he had one more trick up his sleeve.

"Ladies and gentlemen, extreme fans, tonight we want to honour someone who has brought his chosen sport into the forefront, inspiring millions of boys and girls to pick up skateboarding. In his discipline he has been recognised as the greatest of the century, and because of that, the extreme sport association as well as ESPN is proud to induct this amazing sport person into the hall of fame. Please give a massive round of applause to the one only, V, the legend of skateboarding! Taehyung was frozen in place, not moving, not blinking, eyes wide and mouth open. Finally, with his friends all clapping and cheering, Jungkook, kissing him and the spotlight blinding him, he snapped out of his daze, moving towards the stage, where a sheet was pulled from the wall and his photograph with his signature was displayed. This will go onto the official hall of fame at the headquarters in Los Angeles. Tae turned around, looking at the thousand still clapping and cheering. The MC gave him the microphone, to say a few words and the whole stadium went silent. "Wow, I don't know what to say... I... this is hard.... Thank you, thank you for recognising my effort and the effort of all the guys and girls that give their all for their sport, doing the best to their own ability, and excelling in themselves, being their best version. I am humbled to be recognised by ESPN and my sport's association. I hope to bring pride to the sport for as long as I am able to pick up my board and make the drop. Thank you"

Tae bowed respectfully in all directions, waving, smiling. He walked back towards his friends, still waving, when his eye caught a movement. Turning his head, he looked straight at Kang Mark, holding a gun, pointing at Tae.