it's been seven years

It's Christmas tomorrow. Everyone is fussing, buying products for the festive table and choosing gifts for relatives and friends. There was already a tall Christmas tree in the center, decorated with garlands and colorful balloons. Signs were everywhere: 'The store is closed on the seventh of January. The workers have gone to celebrate Christmas'. And at the end, some funny photos of the team from corporate parties or just emoticons. On this day, seven years ago, they met. Seven years ago, Minho decided to go to the ice rink in the central square and he was lucky enough to meet a small and lonely Jisunh there. He was wearing skates and looking into the distance, sitting on a bench along the rink. "Why are you sitting here freezing your ass?" Minho asked without ceremony, sitting down next to him. The boy looked to be about seventeen, no more. "I can't skate, so I'm sitting here", Jisung replied gloomily, not wanting to talk to a stranger. "Why did you come for then?" Minho wondered. "None of your business," the polite "your" from the mouth of this guy hurt Minho, because he is still young, in the prime of his life. And when Jisung got up and was about to leave, Minho abruptly grabbed his arm. He gripped the guy's wrist with a death grip, pulling him back onto the bench so he could sit down again. Minho didn't know why he did this, but for some reason he didn't want him to leave on such a note, so Minho quickly said the following, "Let me teach you". Jisung turned and looked at the stranger incredulously. "Really?" "Yes." Minho replied firmly. "I've been skating for five years now, and I also have a figure skater friend, so I think I can teach you. The guy casts another suspicious glance at the older one and then held out his hand. "Jisung. Han Jisung." "Lee Minho". The cheeks and ears of the newly-made acquaintance blushed more, and to hide it, he immediately turned away. Minho giggled as he finished tying the laces on his skates. Cute.

°°°

Holding Jisung by the arms, Minho led him onto the ice. "Just please, Minho, promise you won't let me go until I feel confident in these things. I'm afraid to fall." The elder did not seem to be going to do this; he knows from experience how his limbs will hurt later (mainly his coccyx, knees and elbows). He wouldn't want Jisung to have a bad impression of him and skating later. "Good. I promise." Jisung took careful steps, trying to keep his balance and slide as Minho showed him. As long as he held onto the elder's hands, this wasn't that difficult. After a while, Jisunh decided to let Minho go and try on his own. Right-left, right-left, Jisung repeated to himself, looking down at his feet. "It worked, Minho! It turned out, I'm skating!" Younger shouted enthusiastically. He carefully turned around and smiled brightly, looking at the approaching Minho with a joyful look. "What a beautiful smile he has." Minho thought and smiled back. It was amazing that he could do this so quickly. Jisung was already cutting through the ice with blades more confidently, trying to turn to face Minho and roll backwards. Gracefully gliding and skirting people, he spread his arms out to the sides. Did Jisung seem so free and...easy? Minho even wanted to pick him up and check it out. Jisung's eyes were burning with happiness, he was smiling, blinding others with his smile. "Wonderful." Minho whispered softly, looking into those brilliant eyes. Having skated enough, the elder began to slow down and drive closer to the side of the rink. "I'm tired". Minho complained. "What did you expect? You're already old, you need to strain less at your age". Jisung immediately felt a slap on the back of the head and saw Minho's angry eyes. "That's it, I'm silent." "What makes you think I'm old anyway? I am at most two years older." "I'm eighteen, so you're twenty. Old man, I'm telling you". Another blow landed on his shoulder. "Okay, okay, let's go."

°°°

"There is a coffee shop nearby, there is such delicious coffee. I'm ready to sell my soul for it. Let's go?" Minho didn't expect the evening to continue, but Jisung firmly clung to his arm and wouldn't let go. "Okay, come on." All the way to the coffee shop, Jisung didn't shut up for a second. "He likes to talk a lot." Minho noted. He himself just listened, continuing to learn more information about a new acquaintance. Jisung revealed that he is writing songs and promised to show some of them as soon as they arrive. "You'll be the first to hear them apart from me and my brother." Jisung smiled, wrapping his scarf tighter around himself. Minho was pleased. He and Jisung have only known each other for a few hours, and he's already sharing something...personal (?) with him... Precious. "Almost there." Jisung said, pointing to a door decorated with a wreath of fir branches. The building of the coffee shop was decorated with garlands, deer stood in front of the windows, also glowing from the inside. There was even a low Christmas tree, next to which there was a sign: 'decorate me' and a smiley face. It was hung with a large number of toys of all colors of the rainbow and different shapes. Apparently, the kids of the area became its decorators. Inside there was a smell of strong coffee with notes of caramel and something citrus. Jisung pulled Minho to the far table next to the window, as he said, his favorite place. They greeted the waiter, who after serving the menu immediately asked, turning to Jisung. "Do you like it as usual? Or will you try some of the new stuff?" "Everything new is well—forgotten old, Chan, so let's do something new this time" The junior waiter smiled. Chan looked like the most calm person on the planet. He exuded an aura of trust and kindness. When Chan smiled, he had cute dimples and his eyes became so gentle. All in all, this Chan seemed like a good person. Quickly scanning the menu, Minho decides to try a honey-caramel latte, and Jisung orders an Americano with orange. "Your order will be ready in fifteen minutes." Chan repeated the entry in his notebook and went behind the counter, starting to brew a new batch of coffee. As promised, Jisung plugged the headphones into his phone and gave it to Minho, turning on some of his songs. A smooth melody started playing, Minho got goosebumps, and then Jisung started singing. "Wow," he thought, opening his eyes widely, "he just has an angelic voice." Minho tried to listen to the lyrics while melting away from Jisung’s voice; the song is definitely about love and Christmas. It was strongly felt how much emotion and feelings were invested in her. "Well, do you like it?" Jisung asked softly. "It's beautiful..." After listening to the rest, he took off the headphones, but did not give them back, clutching them in his hands. "Where can I listen to it? I want to listen to it endlessly.? Minho's words touched Jisung. His eyes watered and he bent his head to wipe them away. "Are you crying?" Minho was worried. "No, no, it's okay. Thank you." Jisung lifted his head back, giving the elder his most gentle smile. "Can I send you a file, for example, in Kakao?" "Yes, of course. Give me the phone." After dialing the necessary numbers and returning the phone to the owner, Minho immediately heard a katok with a file from the user 'honey'. Minho smiled at this cute nickname and also wrote it down in his contacts like this. "Here's your coffee. Desserts are on the house." Chan winked at the guys and left a tray of drinks on the table. "Enjoy your meal." Time flew by imperceptibly. Communicating with Jisung was easy and calm. Minho wanted to hug the person in front, he was as comfortable as possible. Jisung felt like home.

°°°

Jisung asked Minho to accompany him home, because 'he is a small, poor child who can be grabbed by an evil uncle on the way and taken to the forest.' After such an argument, Minho immediately agreed — there was no choice. He lived not far from Minho, which he immediately noticed. Why have I never seen him here? "Well, here we are." Jisung walked closer to the entrance and pressed the button on the intercom. «752». "I must remember." Minho thought. A woman's voice was heard over the speaker, and the door opened. "Thank you very much for the lesson and for the evening in general!" Minho huffed, and an awkward silence fell. "Um, so, bye? See you sometime." Jisung waved and went into the entrance, but Minho grabbed him by the sleeve of his jacket, stopping him, and pulled him to himself. "Whoa." was the only thing Jisung said, putting his hands behind Minho's back and dissolving into the warmth of the embrace. "Now for sure bye." The elder pulled away, hastily turning Jisung back towards the entrance. The door closed. And something was already tingling in Minho's chest.

°°°

His heart was pounding in his ears, and his face was flushed. He's just frozen. "Hannie, who was that boy standing with you at the entrance?" Jisung smiled tenderly, looking into the kitchen: "My new friend, Mom." He didn't think that this would be more than just a friendship.

°°°

The atmosphere of the holiday was in the air. Jisung and Minho walked around the central square, buying gifts for friends. Everything looked the same as seven years ago: the same tree, the same signs, the same Minho and Jisung. But in fact they are completely different. "Shall we go to the skating rink? Like back then." Jisung was smiling broadly, clinging to the guy's arm. By the way, he had an elegant gold ring on his ring finger. "Back then Jisung was sitting alone on a bench, and not skating." To this Minho received a frown from Jisung and a slight blow to his arm. "I just said that I can't. I was actually hiding my figure skating talent." Jisung said smugly, grinning. "I didn't doubt it." Minho played along. "Come on, star." After renting skates for an hour and putting bags filled with various boxes in a locker, they went out on the ice. Jisung immediately slides forward quickly. "Now catch up with me, Lee Minho!" sticking out his tongue, he starts to run away from Minho rather. There are devils dancing in his eyes. The elder just grins at this and starts sliding too. The frost burned their faces from the speed. Watching Jisung's confident movements, Minho recalled their first meeting with nostalgia: the feeling that it was only yesterday, and so many years have passed. Minho sped up a bit and, stretching his arms out, grabbed Jisung by the waist. "I got you." Minho's whisper burned the younger's ear, which made it turn even redder, and Jisung put his palm right in his face. "Okay, you won." Jisung admitted defeat, crossing his arms over his chest. "But this is the first and last time." Minho laughed turning the younger one around to face him. "Okay, okay, whatever you say, star. He took the ends of Jisung's scarf and pulled it tighter, adjusting the fabric so that it completely covered his neck and the lower part of his face. With a final giggle, Minho pulled him towards him, leaving short kisses all over his face. Jisung stopped him by covering his mouth with his hand. Minho grinned. "No, you won't do that, stop." Jisung warned, knowing inside that he would definitely do it. "Ew, Minho, damn it." Yes, Minho licked his palm. Jisung pulled his hand away, wiping it on his pant leg, and Minho laughed loudly again. Jisung couldn't resist, so he also joined the elder. Calming down, he looked lovingly at Minho and sighed. Warmth filled his chest; Jisung smiled and pulled Minho's arms, forcing him to move. Humming to themselves the tune of a familiar song playing from the speakers, they spun as if in a dance. Minho's gentle eyes looked into Jisun'gs sparkling eyes. They moved away from each other and were attracted by the magnet again, accelerating and slowing down. The song was ending and the couple stopped. Minho gently stroked the younger one's cheek, and Jisung cuddled up to the warmth of a loved one. "You're amazing." Minho gave him a final kiss on the tip of his nose, which made Jisung close his eyes. "I love you."

I have faith in what I see. Now I know I have met an angel In person And he looks perfect. No, I don't deserve this. Darling, you look perfect tonight.

Oh God, how much they're in love.