True Beauty - 2

15

(at the Ice Rink)

 I stood at the edge of the bustling indoor ice rink, the lights twinkling above me like a canopy of stars. I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck, nervously glancing at the sea of skaters gliding gracefully across the ice. Han Seojun, stood beside me, his signature mischievous grin firmly in place.

"You'll be fine," Seojun reassured, his voice a soothing balm to my jittery nerves. "I'll be right here with you the whole time."

I smiled weakly, my heart pounding more from his proximity than from the daunting task of skating. Seojun's hand was warm and reassuring as he took mine, guiding me towards the ice.

"I've never done this before," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to make a fool of myself."

Seojun chuckled, a soft, melodious sound that made my heart flutter. "Everyone starts somewhere. Besides, I won't let you fall. You can cycle now - remember?"

With a deep breath, I stepped onto the ice, immediately wobbling as my skates made contact. Seojun tightened his grip on my hand, steadying me. "See? Not so bad," he said, his eyes twinkling with encouragement.

We began to move slowly, Seojun's effortless grace contrasting sharply with my cautious, awkward steps. I clung to his hand, my knuckles white with tension. Every few seconds, my foot would slip, but each time, Seojun was there to catch me, his laughter warm and infectious.

As we circled the rink, I began to relax, my movements becoming a bit more confident. Seojun never let go of my hand, his presence a constant comfort. "You're doing great," he praised, his voice a soothing murmur in my ear.

"Thanks to you," I replied, smiling up at him. In that moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in a bubble of shared warmth and laughter.

Suddenly, Seojun stopped, pulling me to a gentle halt in the middle of the rink. The other skaters swirled around us, but we might as well have been alone. "You know, we make a pretty good team," he said softly, his expression suddenly serious.

My heart skipped a beat, my breath catching in my throat. "Yeah, we do," I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that I hadn't seen before, a hint of something deeper that tugged at my heart.

Seojun took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. "Alina," he began, then hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "I know we've been through this before, but... tonight feels different. Being with you like this, it's special."

My eyes widened slightly, my heart pounding in my chest. I remembered the last time Seojun had tried to confess his feelings to me, how I had gently turned him down, believing it was the right thing to do. But now, standing here with him, I wasn't so sure.

"Seojun," I started, my voice shaking with emotion. "I..."

Before I could finish, he gently cupped my face in his hands, his touch warm despite the cold. "You don't have to say anything," he whispered, his breath mingling with mine in the chilly air. "Just... stay here with me."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I gazed up at him, the sincerity in his eyes making my heart swell. Instead of speaking, he leaned closing the distance between us.

Our lips met in a tender kiss, tentative at first, then growing deeper as we both poured our unspoken emotions into the embrace. It was a kiss that spoke of second chances and newfound hope, a promise of something beautiful and real.

When we finally pulled apart, breathless and smiling, Seojun rested his forehead against mine. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time," he admitted, his voice a soft murmur.

A soft laugh escaped me, brimming with joy and relief. "Who would've thought my first kiss would be with a K-pop idol? I used to think it would be Chan, but..." I paused, realization dawning as I spoke. "His warmth and charm deceived me into thinking I was in love with him. But it wasn't him..."

As we resumed skating, hand in hand, the world around us seemed brighter, the cold air filled with warmth and possibility. For the first time, I felt like I was truly skating—floating on a cloud of happiness and love, with Seojun by my side.

As we continued to skate, our movements became synchronized, each glide and turn a dance of newfound connection. The ice rink echoed with laughter and music, but in our little world, there was only the gentle sound of our breaths mingling in the crisp air.

Seojun's hand in mine felt like a lifeline, grounding me amidst the whirl of emotions swirling within me. With each passing moment, the barriers I had erected around my heart seemed to melt away, leaving me vulnerable yet exhilarated in his presence.

After what felt like an eternity of shared laughter and stolen glances, we eventually made our way off the ice, our cheeks flushed with exertion and excitement. Seojun's warmth enveloped me as we found a quiet corner to sit, our breaths still coming in quick gasps.

Leaning against the wall, Seojun turned to me, his eyes sparkling with a newfound intensity. "Alina," he began, his voice soft yet filled with determination. "I meant what I said out there. Being with you feels... different. It feels right."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking into my soul. "I feel it too," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've never felt this way before, Seojun. You make me feel... alive."

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, his gaze never leaving mine. "Then let's make the most of this moment," he said, his hand reaching out to gently caress my cheek. "Let's see where this journey takes us, together."

With those words hanging in the air like a promise, Seojun leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that spoke volumes—of longing, of hope, of a future yet to unfold. Time seemed to stand still as we lost ourselves in each other, the world fading into the background as our hearts beat as one.

When we finally pulled away, breathless and exhilarated, Seojun rested his forehead against mine, his eyes shining with unspoken emotion. "I've dreamt of this moment for so long," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper. "Of finding someone who sees me for who I am, not just as a K-pop idol."

A soft chuckle escaped me, filled with affection and gratitude. "Well, you found her," I whispered, my fingers intertwining with his. "And I'm not going anywhere."

With a smile that lit up his entire face, Seojun pulled me into his arms, holding me close as if afraid to let go. In that embrace, I found solace and belonging, a sense of home I had never known before.

The rest of the evening passed in a blissful blur of shared laughter and whispered confessions, each moment deepening the bond between us. We talked about our hopes and dreams, our fears and insecurities, laying bare our souls for the other to see.

As the night wore on and the rink began to empty, Seojun and I found ourselves reluctant to leave, as if afraid that once we stepped out into the cold, harsh reality, this moment of bliss would fade into memory.

But as we finally emerged into the chilly night air, hand in hand and hearts intertwined, I knew that this was only the beginning of our journey together. With Seojun by my side, I was ready to face whatever the future held, knowing that as long as we were together, we could weather any storm.

And so, under the twinkling stars and the watchful gaze of the moon, we walked hand in hand into the night, our love shining bright like a beacon in the darkness, illuminating the path ahead with promise and possibility.