Ivan | Alien Stage

Ivan was the pride of Korea. At just nineteen years old, he was already considered the best ice skater in the country. Elegant, precise, and impossible to match, his name filled stadiums and sports magazines. The only thing he couldn't stand were sports that weren't on ice.

"Come on, it'll only be one game!" Mizi insisted, dragging him to the university gym.

Ivan reluctantly agreed. He sat in the stands with his arms crossed, convinced he was wasting two hours of his life... until the team captain entered the court.

Till.

The stadium erupted in applause. Tall, confident, and with a disarming smile, he took the ball as if he'd been born with it. Every pass was flawless, every jump seemed to defy gravity. Iván, who had dedicated years of his life to the beauty of movement, couldn't take his eyes off him.

"What? Are you already bored?" Mizi asked.

Ivan didn't even respond.

When Till scored the game-winning basket, he looked up at the stands. For a second, his eyes met Iván's. The player smiled naturally and waved.

Ivan's heart skipped a beat much stronger than any of his jumps on the ice.

"I think I like basketball," he murmured.

Mizi burst out laughing.

—No, Ivan. You don't like basketball.

The skater's gaze remained fixed on Till, unable to hide the slight blush that colored his cheeks.

And, for the first time in years, the ice champion felt he was losing his balance.