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..........M.E.R.I.D.I.A.N......L.I.G.H.T.S..........

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I circled around the ice in high speeds, utterly focused on my choreographic sequences and doing them perfectly in time with the music. The swift sound of blades could be heard as I painted the newly zambonied ice in my form of art.

"Someone's happy." Coach Brian laughed.

Doing one last spiral, I turned towards my coach and the momentum swayed my body sidewards that sent flecks of ice up in the air when I tried to break it.

A grin could be seen on my face. Shoulders heaving in exhaustion, I said, "After thirteen hours of flight? Anything could make me happy."

"I would say 'ditto' but I've gotten used to it with accompanying my students flying here and there," Coach Brian said, placing down my tissue box, tumbler, and towel on the barrier.

There were several coaches in the TCC but Coach Brian was considered to be my main coach. It's true that my other training mates back at the TCC also had important competitions coming up, but my competition date was earlier than theirs. Needless to say, where Coach Brian was needed, Coach Brian goes.

The other coaches, such as Coach Tracy and Coach Ghislain, stayed back at the TCC to handle and prepare my other training mates for their own competitions.

In a few strokes, I erased the distance between us where I then grabbed a handful of tissue due to my irritated nose. Again, a side effect of being on the ice. I threw it on the handmade receptacle then took a few sips of water from my tumbler. In an almost automatic manner, Coach Brian handed over my towel, which I gratefully received and wiped off my sweaty face with.

I've only done one incomplete run through of my FS program since I've gotten on the ice, but I was already this burned out. This was not good.

My shoulders were heaving whilst I thirstily gulped down my tumbler again. It seemed that doubts had crossed my expression because Coach Brian said, "You've managed to execute all the steps in the most minimal movements. Just do what you always do and it would all be fine, alright? When we get back to Toronto, let's focus on your endurance and power training."

I nodded, placing my tumbler back down on the barrier. I knew that Coach Brian was saying this to lift up my mood but we both know that I was in my fragile state at the moment. My physical state lagged behind my complex programs, which both improved in terms of PCS and TES.

Basically, I may have the winning programs but it would be in vain if I couldn't even perform it to its optimal potential.

Luckily enough, I could practice to my heart's content without any distractions whatsoever. We were currently in the NHK rink where the competition would take place, and so far, the other competitors haven't arrived yet. Well, that may be due to the fact that we arrived earlier than the rest, what with a week still to go before the actual NHK Trophy begins.

I pushed off the barrier and got into position in center ice. My program music started playing again, subsequently losing myself in the world of figure skating.

After a few hours of training, we returned back to our designated hotel. Some members of the Philippine Support Team had gone on ahead to deal with registering our entourage in the lobby where the event coordinators were positioned. That's why when we arrived at the hotel entrance, our identification cards and hotel keys were promptly handed out.

Yes, Coach Brian and I, along with the other half of the support team, headed straight to the NHK rink right after landing in Nagoya. Call us crazy... well, call me crazy, but I was too tense from the long flight that I had to let my stress out in some way. Usually, my way consisted of skating it off.

It was the same old scene as in my past competitions. The only thing that changed was that there was no sight of Coach Edmund anywhere. Instead, Coach Brian was the one beside me.

Suddenly, flashes of light from the shutters of cameras surrounded us.

Scratch that... this is new.

Blinded by the onslaught of light, I blinked a few times before I remembered my current state and a full-blown mortified blush covered my face.

I was still in my black training gear, a skin-tight black top accompanied by the customary black pants with my usual scruffy old greyish rubber shoes. My disheveled hair sat atop my head in a bun like a newly made bird's nest.

I didn't even wear my Team Philippines jacket to cover my sweaty self because I abhor wearing clean clothes over my - again - sweaty self.

Abruptly coming back to my senses, I swiftly tugged off my bun and combed my hair back and to the side with my fingers, hoping to hell and high that it's made more presentable and that the initial photos of me looking crazy wouldn't circulate around the net.

More flashes were seen before Coach Brian and the rest of the team ushered me through the crowded hotel lobby and towards the elevators. The flashes didn't stop until the elevator door was closed, and moments before the door closed, I could discern from the crowds of media that there were even a few big recording cameras that took a video of the whole process.

A big groan was heard from me as the elevator started moving upwards. Chuckles could be heard at my obvious distress.

"I'm glad ya'll find this funny," I grumbled and pouted, squatting on the corner of the elevator. "I can just see the headlines now... ugh!"

"Aww, it's not that bad," Karen Cruz, one of the seniors in the Philippine Support Team and spokesperson in my behalf, cooed at me while mockingly patting my head.

"I was actually gonna comment about it in the van but you suddenly got off and strode quite confidently to the hotel," Coach Brian pointed out, grinning madly.

*****

The shower in this hotel was mighty fine. Rubbing my hair with a pleasant shampoo and scrubbing a soapy sponge against my body, I finally began to relax. The painful throb in my head subsided gradually whilst lukewarm water poured over me.

I rubbed the tiredness off my face then combed my hair back with my fingers, feeling the water cascade down my body. I stood under the shower for a few more moments before letting out a sigh. My attention was caught when the familiar tone sounded off.

Blinking, I turned off the shower and thoroughly dried myself off. With only a towel wrapped around my body, I grabbed the brush from the counter and proceeded to comb my hair as I padded towards the bed where my phone was blinking in notification.

I heavily slumped down back-first on the bed as I checked my phone.

I'm offended.

An unlady-like snort escaped me. My fingers tapping back a reply.

Is this my turn to ask 'why'?

The world knew when you landed in Nagoya before I did. What's up with that? I thought we're close? Hence, I am offended. :(

My eyes widened at the text before it closed painfully. "Oh no..."

I turned my body around so that now I was lying down my front and burying my face down the bed, hoping to whatever gods out there that it wasn't what I think it probably was. My movement caused my towel to loosen and my bare back was revealed, causing goosebumps to form due to the cool environment. I grabbed the towel under me, bundled it, and threw it on the leather couch on the other side of the room.

Ignoring another sound of notification, I hurriedly combed my hair again and got in the covers of the bed, still too lazy to move about to get some clothes.

Finally gaining the courage to look at my phone again, I peeked at it then subsequently groaned in suffering a second later.

Yuzuru sent an image of my disheveled sweaty state, complete with the bird's nest hair.

I shared my suffering with Yuzuru.

Nooooooooooooo!!!! D;

LOL! What exactly did you do?

Then another reply came through.

Don't tell me... did you really skate directly after your flight?

I sent a sobbing GIF in return.

Yuzuru and I finally wisened up and followed our mothers' example. We got a social media account, not the public ones like Twitter or Instagram, but the Messenger app for private chats. We tried Line at first, but then I discovered that the Messenger app can voice call and video call. Hence, we switched to this app.

Suddenly, a request to video call came from Yuzuru.

I was just about to accept the call when I remembered my state of undress. That's why I rejected it immediately.

Ouch.

Oh, hush you. I'm not proper. Just showered.

That shut him up real quick.

I ignored him for a while and opted to search the net with the keywords:

Elana Ferrer

Nagoya

NHK Trophy 2010

As expected from the gloom hovering over me, I saw countless pictures uploaded of my severely haggard self that was taken a couple of hours ago. There were even articles that were named thus.

Elana Ferrer Arrived DETERMINED in Nagoya!

Fiery Ferrer Going For Gold!

Olympic Figure Skater Takes No-Nonsense Approach in First ISU Competition of the Season!

Probability of Elana Ferrer Taking Home NHK Title?

I continued to scroll down the search results when I saw Yuzuru calling via voice chat.

Accepting his request, I whined in agony to him, "Yuzu."

"What do you expect?" was Yuzuru's first words to me. "Of course there will be cameras. It's a major event."

"It slipped my mind." Burying my face down my pillow with the phone against my ear. "Juniors was lowkey compared to this. There's no cameras in Juniors except in the rink."

"... really?"

"Yah! It's not like I'm you, Yuzu!" I huffed, shuffling on the bed. "You're like, Mr. Popular who's always bombarded by cameras."

"That's... that's not-"

"It's true, and you know it." I sighed, before grinning. "Well, the bright side is that my news articles will be covered by yours truly."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Because~ you're going to come here, like, right now."

"So bossy."

"Deal with it. I'm literally alone here. I don't even know if the other skaters arrived yet."

"Hm..."

"Please, Yuzu?"

"Fine, fine, I'll ask them if we can go tomorrow. We're planning to go there in a few days anyway."

"Thanks, Yuzu!" I smiled, lying on my side as I fiddled with the blanket. "Hey, you know what?"

"Yeah?"

"I missed you." A soft smile played on my lips. "I'm glad that I'll see you again soon."

A pause was heard on the other side, before Yuzuru replied, "I missed you too. I'll be there tomorrow. Wait for me?"

"Of course I will."

*****

The next morning, I groggily made my way down for breakfast. I made sure that my appearance was decent this time to avoid the repeat of yesterday's events.

Yuzuru and I talked for hours into the night, we didn't notice the time as we're too caught up in our conversation. Hence, my groggy state. I would've wanted to sleep in, and I would if I could, but my internal clock woke me up at exactly 6am every morning.

I pushed the elevator button and waited for it to arrive at my floor while absentmindedly wondering if Yuzuru would arrive today or not. I couldn't blame him if he didn't because I was partly to blame with our late night talk.

The elevator door opened and I saw that it was already occupied.

"Oh, hello. Good morning," I immediately greeted the other person in the elevator.

"Good morning," she greeted back. It was Ashley Wagner, one of the USA's representative.

We exchanged pleasantries and the elevator started to go down once again. I turned to her and said, "I didn't know others arrived already. I thought I was the first one."

"My team arrived late last night, we went early in case of delays." Ashley shrugged.

"Same." I nodded. "That's the hard side of traveling across the globe just to get in time for the competition."

"Totally... oh yeah," Ashley said, smiling, "I saw that picture of you on the web."

"Don't remind me. I now consider that as one of my dark days in life." I groaned, closing my eyes and thumping the back of my head against the elevator. "Ow! Shouldn't have done that." I rubbed my head as it throbbed painfully.

"I feel you." Ashley crossed her arms and closed her sleepy eyes. "I would kill for a cup of coffee."

We both looked at each other and chuckled.

"Elana Ferrer." I held out my hand to her.

"Ashley Wagner." She shooked my hand.

We've seen each other here and there in past competitions when we were in juniors but we never really got the chance to talk. My first impression of Ashley was that I wouldn't get along with her.

It's not because I was picky about who I acquainted myself with, or because of some personality trait that I didn't like. It's just a feeling that one person gets when they first looked at a person from a far off distance.

That's why I was pleasantly surprised when I was proven wrong. Contrary to my preconceived notion, Ashley was very easy to get along with.

I like her.

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..........M.E.R.I.D.I.A.N......L.I.G.H.T.S..........

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(Let's ignore the fact that this is 2010 and the Messenger app is probably not in the market yet, ok? lmao!)

(If you liked this chapter, please leave a vote and/or a comment. It would mean a lot to me, thank you!~)