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It was Friday, late in the afternoon, and Jimin was insisting with Taehyung to go out to a skating rink.
“I gave up on trying, Jimin. You know it.” He denied it for the nth time.
“No, TaeTae! Come on! I will be the most patient, best soulmate ever and teach you!”
“You already tried. It didn’t work.”
Taehyung was splattered on the couch of the apartment they shared, scrolling through his social media apps. Jimin was on the floor, kneeling, and with his face almost glued to Taehyung’s.
“Please, TaeTae!” Jimin pleaded, pouting and whining.
“Ask Yoongi hyung. He knows how to skate.” Taehyung averted his eyes from Jimin, trying to resist him.
“Already did, but he is going to work until later today. He will meet us there. Go with me? Pretty please?” Jimin whined again, throwing his puppy-eyed stare against his best friend this time.
Taehyung tried to resist. He really did. He didn’t want to be the third wheel on Jimin and Yoongi’s date again. He didn’t want to go to the skating rink just to fall on his butt and be the laugh of the rink. But Jimin was his best friend, his soulmate. He was persuasive. And he had those puppy eyes and the pout which were extremely powerful.
Jimin didn’t stop staring at him.
It only took a minute and a half for Taehyung to crumble.
“Okay...” He sighed loudly.
“Yey!” Jimin jumped up happily dancing to his victory. “Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s go.” He chanted as he held Taehyung’s hands and pulled him up from the couch.
Taehyung couldn’t hold back his giggles. He just loved to see his soulmate happy.
They arrived at the rink Jimin had chosen and Taehyung discovered it was a complete skate rink complex with an ice rink and a roller skate rink. They also had a third rink for beginners with instructors and all.
“Wow!” Jimin said. “Jin hyung didn’t tell me it was so big. I thought it was only an ice rink. But this is better!” He clapped and turned to Taehyung. “We can rent roller skates and stay in the beginners' track until you feel confident.”
“Jiminie...” Taehyung was a little intimidated by how many people were there.
Jimin saw him looking around and looked too. He realized his friend was getting shy and fearing to draw too much attention to himself. Jimin knew his soulmate very well, after all.
“We don’t need to rush to any rink. Look, they have a bubble tea station there! Let’s drink something... And judge the skaters.” Jimin whispered the last part, making Taehyung chuckle.
“All in good heart, and just for ourselves.”
“Of course!” Jimin said loudly, then lowered his voice. “I would never tell the stranger out there that he dressed his coat inside out.” He looked pointedly at a man on the ice rink.
Taehyung found the man Jimin was talking about and giggled louder.
“You’re terrible, Jiminie!”
“I’m not the one laughing here.” Jimin covered his mouth.
He passed an arm through Taehyung’s arm and led his best friend toward the bubble tea station.
They took their time enjoying their teas, and Jimin made Taehyung relax with silly conversation. After they finished their beverages, Taehyung deemed himself ready enough to face the skates again. They decided to start with the quad roller skate. It didn’t need as much equilibrium as the in-line or the ice skate. And they went to the beginners' rink.
“Don’t start already thinking you will fail, Tae.” Jimin said firmly. “We will go slow and steady.”
Jimin got in the rink first and warmed up a little bit. Then he went back to Taehyung and opened his hands, waiting for his friend to hold them. Taehyung took a deep breath in and held Jimin’s hands. He followed Jimin’s instructions about his posture, but his feet opened too much too soon and he almost fell quickly after they started.
Jimin continued with all the patience in the world while Taehyung was rapidly losing his cool. He wanted to skate. He thought it was beautiful and it could be fun. But he was pretty certain his body wasn’t made for it.
After half an hour of failure after failure, Taehyung gave up. Even the instructors couldn’t help him and he was just tired.
“Jiminie, go to the ice rink. You wanted to skate there, go there. I’ll watch and even film you.” Taehyung said as they sat down in the resting area.
“TaeTae”
“I’m serious, Jiminie. Skating is clearly not for me. I give up.”
Jimin knew better than to insist too much, so he accepted Taehyung’s stance and watched his friend return his skates while he changed the roller ones he had for ice skates. They went to the side of the ice rink and found a spot to sit down.
Jimin took his time putting on the new pair. He didn’t really want to leave Taehyung alone, but if he didn’t go to the rink Taehyung would be even more upset because Jimin didn’t have fun, so he stalled but when it was impossible to keep stalling, Jimin went to the ice rink and warmed up doing a few rounds around the rink.
Taehyung was watching Jimin while scrolling through his social media when someone landed a little pat on his shoulder. He looked up and smiled at Yoongi.
“Hey, hyung. I thought you were going to take longer to arrive.”
“Hey, Tae. Yeah. I managed to escape.” Yoongi smirked.
Yoongi raised his gaze and looked around. His smirk turned into a soft smile when he found Jimin on the ice rink.
“He is only 20 minutes in.” Taehyung supplied.
“I’ll join him when-” He was cut off by another voice.
“Here, hyung.”
Taehyung looked back and standing behind the bench he was seated was a muscular guy. He had longish hair — it touched his visibly strong shoulders — and were those tattoos on his right arm? Taehyung blinked fast, asking himself if he was seeing things. The guy was gorgeous.
“Ah, thanks, Jungkookie.” Yoongi received a pair of skates from the guy. “Taehyung, this is Jeon Jungkook, he works with me. Jungkook, this is Kim Taehyung, my boyfriend’s best friend.” He made the introductions.
Before Taehyung could react, they were interrupted by a cheerful screech.
“Yoongi hyung!”
Jimin came from the rink and hugged his boyfriend, kissing his cheek and making Yoongi blush instantly.
Jungkook lowered his head to conceal his smile. Taehyung just blinked fast, being hit by the realization that he was also cute.
“Hi, Jungkookie! Did hyung introduce you to my soulmate already?” Jimin addressed Yoongi’s friend.
“Hi, hyung. Yes, he did.” He smiled and Taehyung felt his heart stop for a beat or two.
Jungkook was so cute. He had a bunny smile that made Taehyung instantly endeared. The contrasts between his build and his cuteness were giving Taehyung whiplash.
“Great!” Jimin beamed. “Make company with TaeTae, Jungkookie. Come skate with me, Hyung!”
“I was just going to change my shoes when you interrupted me.” Yoongi bickered.
“So do it quickly!” Jimin bickered back.
Yoongi sat by Taehyung’s side and quickly changed his shoes, following Jimin to the rink.
“Are they always like this?” Jungkook asked quietly as the couple left and only then Taehyung realized he had sat by his side.
“Ah... Yes. Bickering is their love language.” Taehyung fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “Hm... Jiminie is your hyung?”
“Yep. By a couple of years.” Jungkook stole a glance at him. “You must be a hyung too. I think I remember Yoongi hyung saying that you’re the same age as Jimin.”
“Hyung talks about me?” Taehyung turned to the other one and tilted his head, incredulity all over his face.
“He talks about Jimin hyung. And he said himself he can’t talk about Jimin without talking about you too. At least, a little.” Jungkook giggled, showing his bunny smile and making Taehyung see stars.
“Ah! I guess hyung is right.” Taehyung scratched the back of his head, smiling shyly.
They fell quiet, observing the people in the rink. Jimin danced around Yoongi, who was skating lazily. Taehyung and Jungkook could see Yoongi smiling softly while Jimin talked and giggled around him.
In the rink, Yoongi hid his attention from their friends. Jimin didn’t even look at them, because he knew he would show his intentions if he did that.
“What are they doing?”
“You asked me that two seconds ago.”
“Hyung!” Jimin whined.
“They’re sitting there.”
“And what?!” Yoongi looked at Jimin with his blasé expression. “Hyung, you’re the worst spy ever! I should’ve brought Hobi hyung.”
“And Taehyung would realize your intention in less than one second.” Yoongi deadpanned.
“Hyung!” Jimin pushed Yoongi, who started giggling.
“We agreed we wouldn’t meddle, Jimin. I brought Jungkook so they could meet, and now it is with them.”
Yoongi speeded up a little, passing Jimin, who followed him instantly.
“But, hyung, TaeTae is so clueless...”
“We were clueless too, yet we made it. You can’t force them to like each other, let them get to know one another on their own, Jiminie.”
Yoongi held Jimin’s hand and kissed it, making his boyfriend fall quiet. Jimin felt his cheeks redden up and accompanied Yoongi around the rink without speaking for a while.
Taehyung and Jungkook observed the couple for quite a while. After some time, Taehyung side-eyed Jungkook and mustered the courage to talk to him.
“Do you skate?”
“Hm?” Jungkook got startled and looked at him. “Ah, yeah. I do. Sometimes.”
“Are you good at it?”
“Kinda.” Jungkook shrugged. “How about you?”
“I don’t. I wanted to, but I’m terrible at it.” Taehyung sighed. “It's amazing how I can dance in high heels, but I have no equilibrium in skates.” He blurted out and immediately blushed.
“You dance in high heels?” Jungkook's eyebrows went up.
Taehyung braced himself for mockery, but seconds passed and all he could see in Jungkook's face was some sort of admiration. That caught him off guard.
“You... You don’t think this is weird?”
“No!” Jungkook looked at him with big, sincere eyes. “I’m a grown-up man who still loves to drink banana milk. People think this is childish and weird, sometimes.” He shrugged and smiled sweetly. “But I don’t care.”
“You don’t?”
“No. Well... There are days when it bothers me, but mostly I don’t. Some people should mind their own businesses and not stick their fingers in others’ lives.” Jungkook shrugged again. “Does anyone who is important to you think like that?” He asked quietly.
“Hm...” Taehyung pouted as he thought about it. “Actually... No.”
“Then don’t care about the ones who do.” Jungkook smiled.
Taehyung giggled.
“I don’t think it’s that easy to do it, but I’ll try and give it a shot.”
Jungkook’s smile widened and they exchanged glances in silence for a little while, while also looking around and peeking at Jimin and Yoongi from time to time. At one of these times, something finally got Taehyung’s attention.
“Why are you not skating?” He asked and saw the other shrugging as if dismissing the question. “I just noticed you brought skates for you too.” Taehyung insisted, looking pointedly at the floor.
“I thought of going in, but I’m fine here... With you.”
Both of them blushed, but none noticed because, at that moment, the lights in the ice rink and surrounding it were dimmed, and music blasted from the speakers. Some of the skaters shouted excitedly and the atmosphere in the place changed.
Taehyung and Jungkook were surprised by it and looked around, noticing that there were little to no kids now, and everyone who was still there was focused on the ice rink or the roller rink for experienced skaters.
“Ah... I think matinee time is over.” Jungkook said.
“What?” Taehyung didn’t understand.
Jungkook looked at his watch.
“Ah, yeah. It’s past seven. When we looked at this place’s profile we saw they had a policy of no kids after 7 p.m. on Fridays and weekends.”
“Oh!” Taehyung still didn’t get the point, but one look at the rinks and he noticed a large number of couples. “Oh! It’s a hot dating spot...” His voice faded.
“I think so...” Jungkook mumbled, blushing hard.
Taehyung didn’t know what to say. Both of them stared at the ground, each blushing more than the other. Jungkook’s skates were forgotten at his feet.
“I’m gonna ki** Jimin!” Taehyung whispered. “I didn’t want to be a third wheel.” He sighed.
Jungkook didn’t express a reaction, so Taehyung thought he had been successful in not being heard. Little did he know that Jungkook was biting the inside of his cheeks so he wouldn’t laugh.
Jungkook cleared his throat.
“Do you want to try to skate? I could try and teach you.”
Taehyung turned to him quickly, mouth slightly ajar before he gulped and answered.
“I had my fair share of falls today already. And I am definitely not getting into the rinks to be the laugh of so many couples.”
“Oh, no! No! I was thinking I could ask if they would let us use the smaller rink.” Jungkook waved his hands in front of Taehyung, quickly explaining himself. “I mean, the worst thing they could do is say no. But if they say yes, no one would pay attention to us. I think...” He scratched the back of his neck.
“W-why?” Taehyung was surprised.
“You seem to want to learn and I’ve taught before. Kids mostly.”
“Kids?”
“Yeah. Some of the neighbors in my building. I taught them to skate in roller skates.”
“Oh!”
Taehyung was enchanted by Jungkook. He looked so sweet. He was beautiful and cute. Also, he seemed very nice. Taehyung almost wished they were on a date.
“I understand if you don’t want to, I don’t want to force you to do anything.” Jungkook said and touched Taehyung’s hand quickly.
“I-I can try if they let us use the other rink.” Taehyung stuttered and blushed, again. His hand warmed up under Jungkook’s touch.
“Okay! I’ll talk with them!”
Jungkook got up excitedly and grabbed the ice skates he had borrowed before. Taehyung observed him go with a skip in his steps and he couldn’t hold a coo seeing that. A few minutes later, he came back even more excited and smiling widely, with two pairs of quad roller skates.
“I forgot to ask your size, but the clerk pulled it on the file when I showed you to him.”
“They really let us use another rink?” Taehyung got up.
“Yes! The beginner one.” Jungkook was almost jumping in place.
“How did you get it?”
“I can be pretty convincing, I guess.” He shrugged and chuckled. “Are you ready to try again?” Jungkook extended his hand in front of Taehyung and waited for him to take it.
Taehyung looked at him for a couple of seconds before taking his hand and following him back to the rink.
Half an hour later, Taehyung slumped in a chair at a table with Jimin and Yoongi, followed by Jungkook. He was sweaty, but he was happy. He had had a lot of fun with Jungkook.
“Well, how did it go?” Jimin asked, giggling.
“I fell many times. Again. But I managed to stay up for a few minutes at times.” Taehyung chuckled.
“You really are a good teacher, Jungkookie!” Jimin praised the other.
“Tae hyung is a very good listener.” Jungkook beamed.
They didn’t tell how Jungkook often supported Taehyung holding him by his waist, and how much they talked. Jimin and Yoongi didn’t show they had watched them from a distance with hawk eyes.
The group ordered food and enjoyed it while talking and laughing. Jimin insisted — not too hard — they took a few pictures in group and pairs before going home, and Taehyung exchanged his number with Jungkook.
At home, Jimin turned to Taehyung as soon as they locked the door and shot him a question.
“Have you and Jungkookie set up a second date already?”
“Second?” Taehyung’s eyes widened.
“Didn’t you like your first date?” Jimin smirked.
“This wasn’t a first date, Minie.”
“Of course it was! I saw you and him kissing on his porch, TaeTae!”
“It was a kiss on the cheek to thank him for teaching me!”
Jimin just laughed and wiggled his brows. Taehyung squinted his eyes at his soulmate.
“You set me up?!”
“Did I pick the wrong guy for you?” Jimin raised one of his eyebrows, smirking.
Taehyung’s mouth fell agape. He took a couple of minutes to startle back into realization and answer that.
“No.”
“Thank me when you’re officially dating!”
Jimin left Taehyung standing in the middle of their living room, speechless and stunned and went to his room laughing loudly.
*The End*