Hearts and Half-Pipes

2

As they took their positions, the world seemed to narrow down to the stretch of concrete that lay ahead, a physical manifestation of the path Reki wished to pave toward a future with Langa. The countdown began, and with a burst of speed, they were off.Each jump and flip was a word in the confession Reki couldn't voice, a dance of hope and fear. Langa, in his element, matched Reki's intensity, unaware of the duel emotions his friend was battling. They moved in perfect sync, their friendship a tangible force that propelled them forward.Halfway through, Reki's board clipped the edge of a rail, sending him tumbling to the ground. The fall was a jarring pause in the rhythm they had created, a moment of vulnerability that stripped away the facade Reki had been holding onto.Langa was at his side in an instant, concern etching his features. "Are you okay?"Reki nodded, the fall crystallizing his resolve. "Yeah, just a scratch. Let's finish this."