I’ve been skating practically before I could walk. Moving cities has left me with no time to skate in the past month. I feel like I can barely breathe without my feet on the ice. Excitement thrums in my veins as I navigate the unfamiliar Seongsu Dong ice rink. I was told that the local figure skating club would be practicing and I could practice with a fairly empty rink. I shove my shoes and backpack into a rented locker before finally putting on my skates. I stand, more comfortable than if I was in shoes as I tread into the rink. I push against the frosted glass door inside, smiling when I’m enveloped by that familiar sting of cold. I hurry down a few steps and finally push onto the ice. My skates glide above the rink floor and I smile, feeling home. In the corner of my eye, at the opposite end of the rink, 8 people- who I assume are the figure skating team- warming up. I skate a few laps of half the rink as I watch. They glide in small circles, up and down the hockey lines, practicing small jumps and twirls. One, a man, I think is the coach skates closer and shreds ice as he halts a foot from me. “hello there, fancy seeing a new face around here.” He says, hands resting on his hips. “I just moved cities.” I answer, slightly out of breath. “Oh, how lovely, where from?” “Seochogu.” I smile politely “One of our boys was in Seochogu, what a small world.” Coach laughs, “if you wouldn’t mind, we’d love to have a new member. We’d love to have you train with us today, feel things out, no pressure.” My brows raise and my lips curl up. “Sure, why not?”

“This is Jungwon. Heeseung. Jay. Sunoo. Jake. Niki. And Sunghoon.” He announces as he skates in front of the seven boys. “Who will be your partner.” My eyes raise from his skates, up to his face. Is it just me or does this kid look like a vampire? His skin is pale, cheeks rosy from the cold, dark eyes partly obscured by his hair, shiny, bangs long, back cut short against his neck. “Hey.” I say softly. “Hi.” He says back with a small smile.