"But even so! You usually draw the skater Jake Jayden much more frequently!" the reporter insisted, causing Bek to tense up again before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Yes... as an artist, I like his profile; it's different from everyone else's... as well as his purple eyes... they have a very distinct brightness. That's why I like to draw him," the younger youth responded with complete honesty.
The entire room fell utterly silent. The journalists looked at one another, their eyes wide with shock; no one expected such a transparent declaration from the reserved Kazakh skater. Hearing that, Jake felt his heart skip a beat. Unable to contain himself, he lowered his hand beneath the table and gently sought out Aibek's. The dark-haired youth gave a slight flinch, turning his face to lock his dark eyes onto the Canadian's.
"That is a very beautiful answer..." Jake whispered into his ear, giving him a smile so sweet that the contrast with his usual arrogance left the atmosphere suspended. Immediately, the rhythmic, deafening sound of camera flashes flooded the venue; the photographers knew they had their golden shot.
"Jake..." Bek murmured, but his words drowned out.
No one in the room, not the coaches, not even Venka—who was still praying for his life—saw what was coming next. Jake extended his fingers, delicately took the younger youth's chin, and leaned in to seal their lips with his in a tender, deep kiss, charged with a necessity that left the entire audience breathless.
Aibek's eyes flew wide open. His face softened almost instantly, even though beneath the table his hands clenched into fists, battling between panic and the torrent of emotions overwhelming him. He froze, feeling the Canadian's lips move with a protective softness, prolonging the contact until the chaos of the flashes erupted violently around them.
In that split second, Jake's possessive instinct kicked in. He broke the kiss and wrapped Bek in a firm embrace, hiding the dark-haired youth's blushing face against his chest.
"What are you all staring at?" Jake snapped in a voice that curdled the blood of those present, sweeping the room with a glare of pure hostility. His purple eyes, usually bright, were now dark and menacing, forcing the journalists to look away immediately. The atmosphere became so thick it was almost hard to breathe.
"We ask that you please excuse us... it is time for the skaters to retire," Taishi intervened with a firm stride, stepping to the front. The Japanese coach would never leave his pupil alone in a situation like this; though he was already processing the political scandal looming on the horizon, he was grateful that Jake held Bek securely, for otherwise, the easily startled Kazakh would have already bolted.
Taking advantage of the intervention, the Canadian didn't wait: he lifted his "treasure" almost entirely off the ground and forged ahead through the crowd. Taishi followed closely behind until they reached the official car.
"Are you two alright?" the coach asked the moment he shut the door. Behind them, through the tinted windows, the horde of reporters eager for an exclusive could be seen.
"What is wrong with all of them?" Bek asked, his voice trembling with frustration. He hated having his private life exposed in such a manner.
"They just want to know why I kissed you..." Jake mentioned with a feigned lightness, trying to hide that his own chest was a bundle of nerves. He knew the federation would not let this slide, but seeing Bek's reaction brought a pang of uncontrollable anxiety.
"Right... sure... and why did you do it?" the Kazakh shot back, fixing his dark eyes on the older man with a mixture of vulnerability and reproach.
Jake tensed and, clumsily, preferred to play the card of indifference. "Because... I just wanted to. I liked it, and I want to do it again," he commented with a strangely detached tone.
The instant the words left his mouth, Jake wanted to slap himself. He watched in horror as the sweet brightness in Aibek's eyes died out, replaced by a shutter of coldness.
"Take us to the hotel... Taishi-san... I would like to sleep," Bek murmured, turning his gaze away. He searched for his bear-eared headphones, put them on, and lost himself in his music, ignoring the world.
"Wow... I didn't think you were capable of ruining it again in less than five minutes," the coach commented from the passenger seat, without looking up from his planner.
"I'm sorry... I didn't want to hurt him... I just... wanted to tell him that I liked the kiss," Jake murmured, dejected. However, an idea crossed his mind. He recalled the traditional teddy bear factories in the region; a custom, tailor-made detail could bring the smile back to his "Beky." It was a secret plan that required the compliance of the strict coach.
He leaned forward. "I have a plan..." he whispered very quietly.
Taishi adjusted his glasses, arching an eyebrow in incredulity. "And what is this famous plan?" he asked, evaluating whether he should step in to save his protégé from another emotional blunder.
"It's wonderful!" Jake commented with excitement, but made a subtle gesture toward the backseat, indicating he would detail everything once they left the younger youth safe and sound.
Taishi sighed, shaking his head, but pocketed his pen. "You are crazy... completely crazy... but... I trust you," he concluded. He knew that if there was a chance to see Aibek happy, he had to give the Canadian the benefit of the doubt.