"So how was it?"
"How was what?"
"You know, your ice skating session."

Yoongi raised an irritated gaze to meet his younger brother's concerned one. "I told you, Kookie! I don't want to discuss everything I do in life with you!" Jungkook raised his hands in defeat and said with a touch of annoyance in his voice, "Fine! I'm sorry." He then proceeded to stalk up to the wide window ledge, his favourite spot in his brother's room, and sit down, glowering at the hunched figure across the room. Yoongi tried to get back to what he was reading, but one glance at his brother made him sigh and set the book down. He walked up to the window ledge and gazed out.

"I'm sorry I am like this."

Through the corner of his eyes Yoongi saw Jungkook's bright face turn to him with an expression of utter sadness. It broke his heart. He knew that he hadn't been alright for the past few months. His life seemed empty and suddenly nothing was worth doing. He didn't care about music, he didn't care about his beloved brown piano. He simply did not care. He had lost all interest in life. He had everything- a loving family, friends who adored and respected him, yet he could not bring himself to enjoy his life. He had worked so hard to get to where he was now, a rising star in the music producing industry, but suddenly it seemed as though his career had come to a standstill.

All his life Yoongi had dreamed of a time when he would have a perfect job in the stream that he loved, with the perfect daily routine. Now it seemed as though this very dream, upon becoming reality, was meant to only poison his existence. He could see himself for weeks, months into the future, doing the same thing over and over again, and he felt a growing sense of frustration and claustrophobia.

Now, after weeks of Jungkook's constant pestering, Yoongi had finally shown interest, however mild, in his brother's suggestion that he go ice skating, to clear his head. After all, there was nothing like a little cold air and exercise to make one feel fresher. Yoongi knew that the only reason Kookie kept asking him about everything he did was because he wished to help his brother.

"Ice skating was good. I met Namjoon."
"Your boss?"
Yoongi nodded, "And my friend."
"Did you speak of anything?"
"No, not really. He seemed nervous about a girl he was meeting."
"A girl?!"
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"
"Oh nothing. I never really put him down as a relationship guy. Did he tell you the poor girl's name?"
"Don't be mean Kookie. He did mention it, but I seem to have forgotten. She's a Kim though."
"Oooooooooo!"
"Shut up!"

Jungkook looked at the faint smile tugging at his brother's lips. For the first time in ages, he felt a sense of immense happiness talking to Yoongi. He had been right. There was hope for him after all.

***

It was Christmas Eve and Yoongi and Jungkook were tightening their new skates. The two of them had made it a tradition to go ice skating every Christmas, after which they would call their parents up and the family would be together till midnight. This year, they had invited their family friend, and Jungkook's schoolmate, Taehyung to join them. Their family and Tae's came from the same region in the country and had known each other since before Yoongi was born.

"Sorry I'm late!" Boomed Taehyung's baritone from across the rink. He grinned and began weaving his way towards them when everyone present suddenly turned to look at a slim, well-built figure in the middle of the rink. It was a young man, probably a year younger than Yoongi, who had set up a Bluetooth speaker and seemed to be warming up for a performance. Jungkook muttered something about attention seeking street dancers and stalked off to drag Tae to where they were sitting.

The music began, and with it, the dancing.

Yoongi sat, as if in a trance. The man in the rink was in skates, in the middle of the ice, performing the most graceful and breathtaking performance Yoongi had ever seen. By the end of the dance, Yoongi hadn't even noticed that Jungkook had not only brought Tae to where they were preparing their skates, but had also bought them warm cups of coffee from a nearby street stall. The dancer, grinning from ear to ear at his applauding audience, whipped off his woollen cap and bowed deeply. He then proceeded to grab his Bluetooth speaker and gracefully skate away to a nearby tea stall.

"Bloody street dancers," Jungkook muttered.
Tae looked at his friend in surprise, "You mean you don't know who that is?"
"Nope. And I'm not sure I want to know."
"But you don't understand!" Tae's eyes were gleaming with excitement. "That's Jung Hoseok! He's the best dancer in the land! It's a pity he doesn't participate in competitions though. He'd smoke all record holders to the ground!"
Yoongi's ears perked up at that. As a fierce competitor, he could not imagine why anyone with talent would deprive the world of it. He asked, "Why doesn't he participate?"
Tae turned to him, "Oh, I don't know really. Word on the street is that his parents don't approve of his chosen stream of study. I don't know though."

Yoongi watched the gliding figure. There was something about the dancer that tugged at his heart. The chubby, childish smile, the ears folded because of the woollen cap, the bright red hair. Suddenly,  Christmas was beautiful.