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Langa’s heart thudded within his chest. Meaningful. Passionate. Warm.
This feeling…
It was the same when he first started skating.
When he first tore down the S raceway, hearing the screaming crowds and the hungry growl of his skateboard underneath - that feeling, that same beat in his chest invigorated him.
It was just like this back then, too , he thought.
He feels his body fly through the air.
Memories of the crunch of snow beneath his board, his dad smiling down at him, the chill of the mountain air.
An impact shakes through his legs as he lands on the skate ramp and accelerates towards the ground.
The ground roars underneath his board.
It’s the same for skating , he’s smiling to himself now.
He looks up and sees Reki smiling too.
Reki…
Reki hadn’t smiled in a long time. At least, not a real smile.
Ever since they’d fought, Reki had become the walking dead. Because, quite practically, he was walking more. He never brought his skateboard to school anymore. He never ditched class to hang out at the skatepark.
It must’ve been painful.
Langa knew how much Reki loved skating.
Just looking in his eyes now, how they glittered with excitement, it was exactly like when they first met. Those amber eyes were practically sparkling. Elated, jubilant, proud.
Happy.
Langa’s entire body is warm with relief. Reki was back to his old self. Reki didn’t hate him anymore.
Reki was skating towards him still. They were in harmony. They were the only people in the world who mattered.
Langa loved seeing Reki skate.
And Langa loved skating with him.
It’s who I skate with that defines my feelings!
“Langa- WoahHHAAHHHH!!”
A heavy thud, and the clattering and scraping of skateboards as they skittered away from their riders’s wipeout.
The two teenagers laid on the ground for a while, groaning from the impact.
Langa slowly propped himself up and rubbed the back of his head.
Boyish excitement fluttered within Langa’s chest.
The fall hurt, but it reminded him of the tireless nights of working with Reki to perfect his first Ollie. Sure, they had a huge crash and his elbows and knees hurt like hell, but he was with his favorite person, doing his favorite activity again.
This was real. They were real.
“Why didn’t you dodge me?” Reki mumbled, still facedown on the cool concrete.
A giggle began to spill from Langa’s lips. First, a trickle of joy, a quiet chuckle. But soon, it billowed into a crashing wave of laughter.
Nothing was particularly funny.
He was just so happy.
“I’m glad you find it amusing,” there’s a glimmer of a smirk on Reki’s face. He sits up.
Langa managed to stifle his laughter and lean towards his companion. He can barely contain the ecstasy he feels.
“You’re pretty awesome, Reki.”
For a moment, Reki’s eyes widened. There was a hint of confusion in his features.
“Okay?”
“You took the time to teach me how to skate,” Langa felt like his whole face was flushed. “And you made me my own skateboard too!”
He was grinning like an idiot.
That board… Made especially for him — custom-made, just for him — by Reki himself.
“What’s happening?” Reki’s voice quivers, just a little.
He’s not used to getting compliments , Langa thought to himself. It’s cute.
“Where’s this coming from?” the ginger looked suspiciously at Langa, as if acting confused will diminish the blush spreading to his ears.
“You’re really good at what you do.” Langa flat-out praised him.
It’s not an empty sentiment; he’s always admired Reki for his persistence and fortitude. Not to mention hearing him talk about boards and trucks was like listening to a different language.
Reki looked like he didn’t know what to do with himself. Sure, he had always taken pride in his work, but being complimented on it was another thing altogether.
“I never would’ve learned to Ollie if you and I hadn’t met,” Langa leans forward, trying to look Reki in the eyes.
Reki wasn’t making it easy. He glanced to his left and stared at the ground, the pink on his cheeks exposed by the moonlight.
“ Puh-lease ,” Reki grumbled, “you had potential and you made an effort.” He still avoided Langa’s gaze.
“It’s more than skill alone. You showed me how fun skating could be.” Langa was determined. “Everything important, I learned from you.”
Reki’s eyes widened at that.
Skating meant everything to Reki. Skating was his passion, his way of life. It was what made him happy.
Reki couldn’t stop the small, genuine smile that worked its way across his lips.
Langa’s smile widened too.
I should keep going.
“You teach me things I never would’ve thought of in a million years,” Langa gushed, “your idea to spin the trucks was genius!” Every word was genuine, heartfelt.
He looked down at his sneakers, trying to find a way to put his emotions into words.
Reki had always been there for him. This scruffy red-head with scratches and bruises all over was his everything. The one who taught him to enjoy himself again. The one who told him that he could do anything he wanted.
The one who told him the world was infinite.
When you find someone like that, who takes the guardrails off of your life and lets you see how vast and breathtaking the joy of life is, it’s like nothing else in the world.
Langa looked back up at Reki, face shining with glee.
“And I definitely wouldn’t ever have guessed I could skate against Adam-”
A hand stopped him mid-sentence.
He stared silently at Reki’s calloused hand, remembering the gesture.
Langa wasn’t very good at lying, so there had been times that Reki used that gesture to silence him before he spilled the beans about S to their parents or other kids at school.
Reki’s left arm remained extended while he covered his face with his right.
Langa heard the tiniest sniffle.
Although the ginger’s face was obscured by his forearm, Langa could still see the red on his ears.
“Let’s stop there,” Reki’s voice was strained.
Langa knew Reki was bad at taking compliments but this much denial was just sad.
“I get what you’re saying,” the red-head composed himself enough to move his arm out of the way.
He was completely flustered.
Reki looked up at Langa, expression still bashful.
Langa sat in silence, watching him. His smile was much softer now, a tender feeling in his heart.
Reki deserved so much better.
Langa wished he could compliment him every day. But then Reki might duct-tape his mouth shut or something.
“You know,” Reki muttered, “you never talk, and now that you’ve started it’s like you can’t stop.”
Something inside of Langa fluttered at the way Reki’s voice trembled.
“I have a little more to say.” Langa chuckled, his tone soft.
He could almost hear Reki groan in protest.
“Lately, it’s like I lost sight of why I was skating. All I could see was who I was up against, or where the race was happening… and nothing else. Just that.”
Langa’s eyes wandered across Reki’s form, trying to formulate the words he wanted to say. Trying to communicate such big feelings with such small words felt like an unsurmountable task.
Reki finally looked Langa in the eyes as he leaned forward apprehensively. Something about Langa’s voice made ever word sound like a great revelation or story. Reki couldn’t help but listen.
“But, you’ve helped me remember.”
Langa suddenly looked up, icy blue eyes crashing against passionate, glowing embers.
Reki almost jumped.
“Skating with you brought the excitement back! I’m having so much fun!” Langa leaned forward too.
Reki smiled.
“Really?” the red-head asked earnestly, he sounded almost as if he was out of breath. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”
Langa felt like he was melting.
Reki... Felt the same way?
The same passion, the same excitement, the same endlessness.
“Listen,” Reki’s voice had returned to that determined, bold growl that he always had. “Let’s skate together tomorrow, and the day after that, and never stop again!”
The warmth exploded within Langa’s chest. He never wanted to stop skating. Ever.
Reki’s eyes were aflame with exhilaration.
Langa didn’t have to put his hand to his heart to know their hearts were beating to the same song.
“Let’s do it!” Langa could barely sit still. “I want to skate infinitely with you!”
Reki paused, and tilted his head. He started laughing.
“‘ Infinitely ’ is a bit much, bro,” he chuckled.
Langa pursed his lips. “Let’s not forget, you’re the one who said it first.”
Reki looked up, confused.
“You taught me that skating is infinite.”
Reki’s expression of surprised slowly melted into that of warm affection.
He remembers.
“Y-you’re right.” Reki admitted simply. “I guess I did.”
Langa’s face hurt from smiling so much.
The conversation lulled to a stop, although Langa felt like he still had one more thing to say. Something still burned in his chest.
But how on earth could he express that?
How could he use his simple mind to demonstrate something that meant so much more than just a few words?
He hesitated.
Then, he held out his hand expectantly.
“I think we should add one more trick to our ‘dap’.”
Reki smiled, although there was a question in his eyes.
“I’m into it,” he shrugged dismissively.
They high-fived, pulled back, fist-bumped, and usually, their handshake would end there.
However, when Langa pulled back the second time, he formed a “0” with his hand and extended it out for Reki to meet.
Reki caught on and formed a “0” with his own hand and held it up against Langa’s.
Together, their hands kind of looked like the infinity symbol.
It was a dumb addition, and they both stared at it for a second. It suited them, though.
They both started laughing.
To skate infinitely with someone.
To share your infinity with someone you love.
Langa looked back up into Reki’s eyes.
In a quick moment, Langa opened his hand and intertwined his fingers with Reki’s.
“Woa- MMPH!”
It was their second collision of the day, but this was no ordinary wipeout.
Reki’s face felt hot against Langa’s.
Langa dared not open his eyes. He could enjoy this. Right here, in this moment, Reki and him shared their infinity.
Maybe Reki would yell at him when he pulled away. Maybe he would be angry with him.
But something in Langa’s heart told him that Reki was enjoying this just as much as he was.
The red-head wasn’t pushing against him or fighting him at all.
They were so close.
He could feel Reki’s heartbeat.
Slowly, arms wrapped around Langa’s waist.
His eyes opened for just a moment.
The look in Reki’s eyes was nothing short of intimate, flaming affection.
Langa melted into his embrace.
Two teenagers kissed at the skatepark.