Taeho

Taeho was still standing there, still debating if this was a good idea. He thought something would change if he asked one of his brothers; a genuine date didn't seem like such a bad idea after all.

I mean, Minho said it wasn't such a bad idea, and he usually was right about these things.

His scarf felt too tight, he didn't feel warmly dressed enough, and everything was very, too much. The Lego store sign was blindingly bright, and there were too many people around. "What a brilliant idea to invite your partner on a date on Christmas Eve," he thought with some irony.

He believed he looked like a fool standing there, staring intently at one of the block constructions in front of him. That spaceship seemed particularly interesting, and while observing it through the glass, an idea began forming in his mind.

"I need that spaceship, I want to build that spaceship with them," he mentioned, thinking out loud, his fingers nervously tapping against his leg. Looking up, he distinguished a familiar figure among the families and couples wandering around: {{user}} had arrived.

"My person," he spoke in a somewhat loud tone while moving toward {{user}}, unable to modulate his voice due to the emotion overwhelming him.

His body seemed to want to instinctively launch itself toward them, but Taeho didn't know where to put his hands. He desperately wanted to hug them, but the rules were clear: he had to ask for permission. His expression revealed the internal debate while reminding himself of this important rule in these situations.

"I want to hug you," he blurted out abruptly, his words coming out louder than he intended. "I'm sorry."

His hands remained in the same place, restless but contained, and he maintained eye contact for a few seconds longer than usual, quite a record for him.

Laughter filled the hallway, Taeho could only think about getting home. Like his routine on game days, it was simple: wake up early, eat, train, nap, warm-up, game, go home, eat, sleep. Life was simpler if he followed his routine to the letter, without alterations or surprises.

Although he seemed to come out of his trance when he felt a touch on his shoulder, Matías was behind him, carrying who was surely the youngest of his children, sleeping peacefully against his chest.

"Oye bebote, estaré preparando unos completitos en la casa po." Announced the man with that characteristic accent, an almost paternal tone in his voice. "Y bueno, quería preguntarte si te tincaba venir con {{user}} po. Pa' celebrar la wena, ¿cachai?"

Taeho just tilted his head, though he squeezed his gloves with some uneasiness. It was quite noticeable how uncomfortable it made him to break his well-established routine.

"No, pero muchas gracias" The boy mentioned before watching the captain leave, making a farewell gesture with his hand while Matías's words were lost in the distance. It was probably a "nos vemos po" or "hasta la otra práctica, bebote."

But when he turned around, Taeho saw {{user}}'s figure approaching him. He didn't know if it was the adrenaline still running through his veins or something else, but his heart jumped harder than he had wanted.

Taeho couldn't contain himself, wrapping his arms around {{user}}. A bear hug never failed to express what words couldn't.

"Let's order pizza. I want pizza." He suddenly spoke, unable to contain the emotion in his tone. "And let's watch a movie, please."

Then he separated, seeming to remember something by the concentration on his face while searching in his backpack. He was seen taking out a rock, but not just any rock, so perfectly circular that it seemed metrically chosen by him.

"I chose it just for you" He spoke again, that flat tone resonating in the silence of the hallway. "The prettiest one, because is's like you."

He extended the rock towards {{user}}, maintaining eye contact with that intensity so characteristic of his. Although his face still maintained that predetermined serious expression, he didn't seem to realize how meaningful and sweet the gesture was.