While waiting quietly for the older man to return with the drinks, Beky remained completely lost in his thoughts, concluding that Jake was an extremely attentive and charming man. The food had been totally to his liking, the conversation flowed with a comforting calm, and the beverage already on its way would complete the moment. Ice-cold chocolate... God, how he loved cold chocolate. That man had to be a sorcerer; otherwise, how on earth did he manage to know everything?
"Here you go!" Jake announced, returning with the glass that felt freezing to the touch. The dark-haired youth didn't hesitate to take it and took a relaxed sip; that delightful cold running down his throat made him smile with genuine happiness.
"It tastes very good... thank you," Beky said. With that, he continued eating quietly while they chatted, laughed, and simply shared a fun moment.
After an hour and a half, both were already in the living room, letting their food digest a bit without interrupting the conversation. Suddenly, the clock struck a key hour: three o'clock sharp. It was the perfect time to head to the rink.
"Beky, it's time!" Jake spoke with joy. Without hesitation, he grabbed a few things and his childhood love's coat, helping him into it with delicacy before putting on his own. He walked by his side toward the exit and guided him to the car where, like a true gentleman, he opened the door for him.
"Thank you..." It was barely a sweet murmur of embarrassment at the Canadian's nice gesture.
Without further ado, they set off. Music accompanied the journey, seasoned with laughter due to out-of-place comments or funny jokes; the blue-eyed man wished that drive would last forever just to keep hearing the Kazakh's melodic laughter.
Upon arriving at the ice rink, Aibek felt even happier than he already was. Both were figure skaters, and the devotion they felt for the sport was absolute.
"Look, Jake! The rink is empty!" Aibek murmured with excitement, rushing toward the edge of the ice to admire it with a mixture of nostalgia and thrill. "Are we going to rent skates?"
His curiosity grew when the Canadian shook his head while leaving a duffel bag on the bleachers.
"No, honey. I brought our skates," Jake said, unzipping the bag to reveal a pair of skates for each of them. Of course, they were the ones they used in competitions—their professional skates.
Excitement shone brightly in those beautiful dark eyes, and Beky offered him an incredibly sweet smile upon seeing them.
"Come here, darling..." Jake guided him to sit down and began helping him put on the skates.
Both were truly happy during the process, but Aibek was particularly delighted with what was happening. Jake limited himself to observing the pure happiness of his childhood love. Once they were ready, Aibek was the first to hop onto the ice. As soon as he stepped onto the rink, he didn't hesitate to glide as he always did: in such a calm, delicate manner that he seemed to float over the ice. His expression, so serene and overflowing with emotion from feeling that freedom again, was so enchanting that Jake stood there fascinated. He knew then that he had chosen the perfect place for their date; a space where Aibek could be happy, feel free, and show that beautiful side he rarely exhibited when there were more people around.
"This is incredible! I already missed this feeling of being able to glide on the ice, feeling happy, free... almost as if I were floating!" he exclaimed with a huge smile. He looked so sweet that if anyone else were watching, they would fall in love with him at first sight. He was a special and cute boy, but with a protective shield due to his past. That was why Zinov always went after him, even though back then he treated him terribly—distancing himself, abandoning him, and practically destroying his confidence. The Russian planned exactly that: to break him so he would only depend on him, because to Zinov, Aibek was his and no one else's. What the blonde never expected was for Jake to appear—that egotistical and narcissistic Canadian who came into his life to help him out of that hole and show him another side of life; one where he didn't have to live locked away, but could be free, just like on that rink. That was why he had taken him on a solo three-day vacation to that forest, because although his plan was also to win him over, he first needed to see him this happy and free, confirming that Aibek deserved every good thing he was experiencing.
"We can come back as many times as you want—well, if that's what you wish," Jake commented sweetly and calmly. He smiled from ear to ear seeing Aibek so blissful.
He watched as the younger youth spun and jumped, executing those small movements that looked so beautiful on him. It seemed as though he were recreating a routine or, better yet, creating a new one; the only thing missing was the melody to make it look even more wonderful than it already was. Jake, little by little, joined the movement. He took Aibek by the arm and they began a dance, an elegant and subtle waltz in which their bodies united and separated rhythmically. It felt like the portrayal of a romantic and nostalgic story; there they were, holding each other and acting as if this improvised duet were the best thing that had ever happened to them.
A few spectators appeared—rink workers—and it was evident from their faces that they were delighted by what they saw. They made a magnificent pair for a skating duet; if they competed together, they would surely win gold in every competition all the way to the Grand Prix Final. But the reality was that both competed individually, divided, fighting for the gold separately. However, seeing them at that moment was witnessing a story full of affection but tinged with fear. That was why, after executing some quadruple jumps, they separated once more in the improvised choreography, as if fear were getting in the way. It was a beautiful story, sweet and sad all at once.
Jake had barely noticed it, but he felt that everything they were expressing on the ice reflected his own feelings: the fear that Aibek would reject him, the dread of being left alone and that no one would want to be with him, just like what happened with his fiancée, who left him for not winning the gold medal. But what mattered now was that he had to strive to evolve and win Aibek's heart to keep him by his side; he knew that feelings of absolute possession were not right, as he did not want to become someone like that blonde Russian who had caused so much harm to his friend—a friend he was madly in love with.
Slowly, they began to decrease the speed of their pirouettes until they came to a stop. Aibek was calm, but the emotion had overwhelmed him; strangely, the choreography had evoked memories of his worst moments with Zinov, with that Russian who had shattered him. For his part, Jake felt his heart leap; he felt that if he didn't hold onto his beloved Kazakh at that exact instant, he would lose him forever. With that impulse, the Canadian finalized the dance by firmly holding the Kazakh's hand, who for a second seemed to want to flee from all the problems surrounding them. However, Jake's perseverance transmitted security to him, and they ended in a beautiful final pose, holding hands and sharing a deep trust.
It was there that those dark eyes full of life and those blue eyes that never strayed from their target met, staring intently at each other for seconds that felt like minutes, while the applause of the workers echoed in the background. The connection was undeniable; both had created something truly beautiful. With ragged breath, their gazes locked, and their hands tightly intertwined, they proved they were the perfect match. It was only a matter of both daring to see it the same way.