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It had been around two weeks since Langa and Reki got together. Well, not officially. After all, when the two boys added the third move of their handshake, the night they reconciled, Langa did kiss Reki. A short, soft kiss followed by a wide smile and sparkling eyes. But no one mentioned it.
They also never talked about the moment Langa jumped into Reki’s arms after his last race against Adam. Or of the kisses Langa had dropped on Reki’s neck once they were on the ground.
They hadn’t talked about it. Not when it happened, not in the following days. They did, however, hold each other’s gaze a bit longer. When walking next to each other, one sometimes gave the other’s hand a firm squeeze, never saying anything about it, never breaking the conversation.
At school, things were almost the same. They talked more during class than teachers found acceptable. When they ate lunch together, it was closer to each other than before, almost shoulder-to-shoulder and watched skating videos.
The long evenings at the skatepark usually ended with both sprawled on the ground, fingers intertwined, looking at the stars when the sky was clear. After a long day of schoolwork and an evening full of skating, Langa had just enough strength left in him to plop his head against Reki’s shoulder, sometimes dropping a kiss on it when it was time to go back home.
Yet never did they talk about the meaning of it.
They were comfortable with whatever this was, filled by a new sense of warmth and ease. Whatever it was made them happy, and things that make you happy are good, right?
There was however one new habit that emerged. One thing that grew on them and became routine when they headed out to skate.
The first time it happened, Langa had been tying up his shoes, Reki leaning against the doorframe while waiting for Langa. Langa’s hair hid his face, loose strands falling before his eyes in a blue curtain.
“Hey, Langa?”
Langa hummed in response, lifting his head to meet Reki’s eyes.
“I was wondering. Your hair is getting pretty long. Doesn’t it get in the way when you’re skating?”
Langa pushed his hair behind his ears, considering the question.
“I guess it does. Why?”
Reki rubbed the back of his neck and said, “I could tie them up for you. Only if you want, of course.”
Langa was a little surprised at the proposition, but quickly agreed. He sat down on a stool left in the entryway as Reki took place behind him.
After a slight hesitation, Reki started collecting loose strands of hair, pulling them gently towards the back of Langa’s head. With fingers softly grazing his scalp, Langa couldn’t help himself as he melted into the touch, leaning to rest the back of his head against Reki’s chest. The movement in his hair didn’t stop, fingers running through it in a slow motion, with just enough pressure. After a few more stokes, one hand made its way to Langa’s cheek, knuckles rubbing the soft skin.
“It’s kind of hard to tie your hair if you don’t let me reach the back, Langa.” Reki said with a soft chuckle.
“Hm sorry,” Langa replied, straightening his head, eyes still closed, appreciating the subtle lingering of Reki’s touch.
He could sense Reki’s smile on his back, one of these smiles that made Langa want to say things, get all the words flying in his head out. He thanked Langa and went back to the task. A few moments later, Reki stepped back to admire his work.
When he turned around, Langa found Reki with a deep blush, the back of his hand pressed to his mouth.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, it’s just…”
Langa looked at him with wide eyes and a slight frown. He cocked his head to the side, waiting for Reki to continue.
“You look great.”
The second time it happened, Reki blushed slightly less when he saw Langa. The red was still there, but no longer the same shade as his hair.
Langa also resisted the temptation that almost took over him, wanting to lean against Reki and just rest. That made it all end way too quickly, Langa barely having enough time to enjoy having that new touch.
And so, when Reki had finished and stepped back, Langa took the hair tie and pulled just enough to take it off. He turned to face Reki and said with his most serious face, “Do it again.”
Reki laughed to hide the red coursing through his face and happily complied, unable to refuse anything Langa asked him with that voice. This time, he took his time, gathering one strand of hair after the other, letting some fall so he could pick them up again. He could have sworn he heard Langa sigh and felt him drop his shoulders.
He took his time, caressing Langa’s neck all the way to his jaw. Reki wanted to give him all the physical contact he needed, all the attention he deserved. He tied his hair three time before he felt Langa was satisfied.
The third time, as Reki made sure the hair he tied up had no bump, Langa asked him why he was so good at it. “I never knew you could do this so well. And it doesn’t hurt at all.”
Reki smiled at that.
“Man, I have three younger sisters. It’d be weird if I didn’t know how.”
“Hm.”
“We could try something different with your hair today. I could just tie the top part. I could even braid it if you want.”
Langa, eager to feel Reki’s hands holding his head up, agreed to whatever Reki felt like doing. Even if that meant to tie a bow on top of his head. If he could feel Reki for a while, he was okay with anything. He also hoped Reki would try different things before settling for anything. He wasn’t disappointed.
After a few tries, he ended up with half his hair up and a small braid made with some of the remaining hair. Reki even added a small flower he had found on his way to the skatepark.
When Langa skated that day, his hand kept flying up to his little braid, reminder of Reki’s hands and how delicate they were when working. Every time, he would catch himself grinning like an idiot and almost told Reki what they had was all Langa could have ever wanted. That he was precious, and smart, and loving, and perfect.
He kept it to himself and enjoyed the scent of the flower tucked in his hair.
The fourth time – or maybe it was the fifth or sixth, as Langa stopped counting to only enjoy – almost killed Langa. His heart was about to explode as Reki cupped his jaw to tilt his head and gain better access to the side of his head, where he was slowly braiding. His fingers moved elegantly, as any artist’s would. He bit his lower lip and squinted his eyes, concentrating on his task.
Like the times before, Langa closed his eyes, shivers running up and down his spine.
The braid done, Reki let go of Langa and hopped on his board, doing tricks and jumps like he always did.
Langa only stood there, mouth slightly opened at the sight of Reki’s smile, his joy while he was on a board. All those thoughts flooded Langa’s head, words flying before his eyes, ears buzzing, all his body feeling the pumps of his heart. Before he could truly measure the impact of his words or phrase them a prettier way, Langa spat out, “I love you Reki! I want to be your boyfriend!”
Reki stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Langa with wide eyes.
Fear arose in Langa’s mind and a hand flew to his mouth. His heart beating so fast and loud it might come out of his chest. Reki wasn’t saying anything, a weird look stuck on his face. Surprise, maybe?
Of course he’s surprised. You don’t just scream at your best friend that you love them and want to be together.
Langa was so stuck in his thoughts, he almost missed when Reki started talking, or rather, laughing. He had also missed the moment when Reki had gotten so close to him, hand rubbing the back of his neck and gaze not quite meeting Langa’s.
“I thought we already were together… I mean you kissed me. More than once. And we hold hands like all the time. And I said I loved you when we were in the back of the car, going to your beef with Adam.”
“Oh.”
Oh.
Shit.
“But,” Reki quickly continued with a smile, “if you want a full answer, I’d be more than happy to be your officially boyfriend.”
Taking Langa’s hands in his own, he added, “And I love you too.” None of the boys could help the wide smile spreading across their face. Reki cupped Langa’s face, running the pad of his thumb across his cheekbone.
It was the first time Reki initiated a kiss. Like the ones before, it was clumsy, but warm and comfortable. In each other’s embrace, the world could have disappeared they would have never noticed, only focused on the loving hands stroking their back and shoulders, on the lips against theirs.
They were happy and in love and together. It was perfect.