Photo Finish

Ice Ice Baby

     We arrived at Millennium Park. The ice rink was shaped in a long oval with metal fences around it. On the far side were people staring down at the skaters. The whole event was lit beautifully with street lamps and Christmas decorations. So many skaters took places on the ice, gliding elegantly along the smooth surface. The event had a place to rent skates by the entrance. Seeing as Dae and I didn't have any, we thought we should try them.
     With skates in hand, we walked over to a bench on the side of the rink. We sat next to each other and took off our shoes. Dae slipped his skates on with ease and laced them up like a pro. I on the other hand did not. I slipped one on, adjusted the tongue, and stopped. I didn't know how to lace them. Dae looked over at me and chuckled. I slapped his arm.
     "Here, let me help," he said, getting down on a knee.
     He took the laces and tied up the skate.
     "Next one."
     He helped me get the boot on and tied that one up as well. The whole while I stared at him, thinking about how good he was. He was so kind and pure. He wasn't afraid to help you and he wasn't awkward about certain situations. He was almost perfect, other than that strand of hair that bothered me. I reached out and fixed it back with the rest of his hair. He looked up at me and grabbed my hand with a smile. He helped me to my feet and over to the rink.
     Dae stepped onto the ice. He gracefully turned back and took both my hands. He skated backwards, leading me shakily onto the ice as well. I slid forward a ways as he let go. I quickly lost my balance and fell. My feet went up and my behind hit the ice. Dae quickly skated up to me. He took my hand and helped me to my feet again.
     "Here," he said with a chuckle. He moved behind me, his hands firmly on my hips.
     He pushed forward, myself sliding with him. He held onto me for a couple feet, making sure I stayed upright and not on my rear. I smiled, feeling the cool wind on my face and the ice gliding elegantly under my skates.
     "What are you doing? I'm gonna fall!" I called as Dae moved his hands.
     "Don't worry. I won't let you." He quickly took my hand and led me along, faster than before. 
     Surprisingly I kept vertical. We skated like that for an hour, tumbling occasionally until I could balance on my own. Then we took a break and watched everyone else like little ants on the path above. We had two coffees, both the same, in our gloved hands. Dae moved a few inches closer to me.  I pretended not to notice, a subtle smile on my face. A few inches more, and another, until we were shoulder-to-shoulder. He faced me, leaning against the railing. He reached out and fixed a stray hair out of my face.
     "You know," he started, causing me to look up at him, "your face is so small, but your eyes are so big. You remind me of the really pretty geisha dolls you see in Japan."
     "I actually wanted to be one when I was younger. I didn't know what they really did back then. I just thought they were really pretty."
     "Maybe that's why you remind me of them. Especially one feature." He paused, staring deeply into my face. I saw him glance lower.
     My heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
     "Their cute lips. Really red and tiny, but their smiles are so beautiful."
     "Really?" I asked, becoming mesmerized by his voice.
     He leaned in, closer and closer until our noses just barely touched.
     Bring bring~
     Bring bring~
     A sigh erupted from both of us as we gained space between. I pulled out my phone and read the text message. I gasped, jumping up and down excitedly. Dae looked at me confused.
     "What? What? Are you okay?" He asked, beginning to bounce with me.
     I stopped and took his hand. "Do you want to go on a trip?"
     "A trip?"
     "Yeah." I showed him the message. "Look, Em is going on a trip with her boyfriend and she asked if I wanted to come. But I don't want to go alone with them and third wheel, so she recommended a double date."
     Dae smiled and nodded. "Sure, it sounds fun. Where is it?"
     "It's a cabin somewhere in the mountains. It's got a forest around it and there's snow everywhere. It's so pretty," I said, looking up the website. "Look at the lights! We need to go."
     "Alright. Is it a day trip?"
     "She said we're spending the night. Is that alright? There's only...two rooms. She's staying in one with Damon and that just leaves..."
     "If you're fine with it, I'm in. Are we leaving soon? Do we need to pack?"
     "I dunno, I'll ask."
     Bring bring~
     "Oh, it's tomorrow. Don't we have the last scene in our shoot tomorrow?"
     "Yeah, but it won't take long. It's the wedding scene after IncredInk is gone. It should only take an hour or two."
     "We could meet them there later. I'll tell her."
     Bring bring~
     "She said it was fine and to be there by seven to go to a fancy dinner."
     "Sounds good. We have to leave early tomorrow morning, so let's get home." Dae took my hand and a sip of coffee. "You don't mind walking like this, right?"
     I looked down at my hand and shook my head. Dae smiled and looked on proudly.
     "Good."
     As we walked back to the car, I gradually got closer until I could hold his arm with both hands. Snow began to drift slowly down from the midnight sky, dusting the Christmas lights on every building and giving them an ethereal wonder. I looked up at my companion, realizing that no amounts of snow-dusted lights on earth could compare to him. He looked down at me, and must've been thinking the same thing with that bright, irresistible smile on his face.