The sound of heavy bags being struck and the scent of sweat still clung to Siwoo as he stepped into the stadium, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His muscles ached from hours of training, but his sharp eyes immediately scanned the ice, searching for August.

There he was August, gliding across the rink like he belonged to another world. His movements were effortless, graceful, the very definition of beauty in motion. Siwoo leaned against the railing, crossing his arms as he silently observed. The arena was nearly empty, the only sound the scrape of August's skates against the ice.

Siwoo wasn’t one to openly praise, but there was no denying it August was breathtaking. Still, he knew that elegance came at a price. The strict diet, the relentless training, the exhaustion August always tried to hide behind that playful smile. His brows furrowed when he noticed the determined glint in August’s eyes. Siwoo knew that look. Then, August gathered speed, knees bending, arms tightening as he prepared to jump.

Siwoo’s sharp eyes widened.

No—

August twisted in the air, attempting a quad axel—one of the most difficult jumps in figure skating. But it wasn’t perfect. His rotation was off. Siwoo saw it before it even happened. The landing was rough. August’s blade scraped the ice at the wrong angle, his body tilting dangerously before—

Thud!

Siwoo’s jaw clenched as Augustcrashed onto the ice, a sharp sound echoing in the empty stadium. For a moment, there was silence. August didn’t get up right away. Siwoo’s grip on the railing tightened, his pulse spiking. August wasn’t ready for that jump yet. Why the hell was he trying it alone? Before he even realized it, he was speaking, his voice cutting through the cold air like a whip.

"Get out of there. You’re pushing yourself too hard again." August slowly lifted his head, meeting Siwoo’s intense gaze.

"Idiot."