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

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A few years passed... alright, not years per say, quite an exaggeration. This was brought by immense boredom accompanied by the neverending wait for Yuzuru's result in Nebelhorn.

Silence reigned before a high-pitched yelp rang around the TCC rink. A few heads turned my way but hell, I was too busy dancing an excited little jig to notice, arms waving and all.

Yuzuru - da bomb - Hanyu won first place in Nebelhorn!

Nebelhorn actually took place two weeks ago but I missed the livestream of the competition because I overslept. I knew the result and congratulated Yuzuru about it but watching the whole showdown of the competition was entirely different from just hearing it from the news.

Thankfully, a dimly recorded copy circulated the net, no matter how late it was.

"What's up?" a certain muscle man asked while holding a cup of warm coffee on his hand.

I really should stop generalizing people.

"Uh, nothing." I chuckled, a little embarrassed.

Muscle man, oh alright, Javier squinted jokingly at me and copied my little jig from earlier. Now that I saw it... I must've looked a little crazy.

I gave out a strained laugh then turned away, hiding my grimace with my long wavy hair. My naturally wavy hair not only served to make me more fabulous, down girl, but also served to shield me from awkward situations.

Deciding to get my focus on, I sat down the bleachers and started to wear my skates on, tying the strings in a practiced manner. My fingers halted for a moment when I felt the spaniard, alright! alright... Javier, sit beside me.

"I don't think we've been formally introduced," Javier started, both hands seeking the warmth of his steaming cup of coffee, "Umm, is that too polite? Sorry, I'm still getting used with english. I'm Javier."

Now with my fully tied up skates and my hair on its customary training bun, I turned my attention to the guy. "Oh, I know. You've been quite popular with the girls here." I indicated my head to the side where a few girls skated by glancing at him.

"Not with one girl, though." A rogue-like smile went up his face.

"That girl," I stressed, rolling my eyes, "is unavailable."

He sipped at his cup and glanced at my phone. "That the lucky guy?"

"Nope." I popped the 'p' and pocketed my phone. I got on the rink and proceeded with my warm up, gliding around in large circles as I stretched my body.

As always, I aborted mission whenever things got too personal. I wasn't a personal kind of girl, so to speak. Especially when talking to a virtual stranger. I may have been in competitions with him in the past, but we didn't exactly chat up during those times.

I couldn't help myself. I glanced at him.

Probably shouldn't have done that. He caught my eye and shot me a wide grin.

It wasn't Javier Fernandez's fault that I acted oddly cold towards him. The blame was all on me. I mean, the guy was practically the embodiment of friendliness itself! My awkwardness had began to kick in again where I get tounge-tied and all.

Oh yeah, Javier was at Nebelhorn too. Forgot to congratulate him. Like, hey, 4th place is still one of the best in the world.

I slapped my cheeks to get my game on. My programs for this season consisted of two polar opposites. My short program consisted of an instrumental version of Michael Jackson's Dirty Diana and my long was Beethoven's 5 Secrets by the Piano Guys.

The long program was like a warhorse, yet not a warhorse since it was an orchestral remix of a modern song and Beethoven's legendary notes. Our main worry was the short program, it was a very risky one since the ISU loved classical music, and Michael is anything but classical.

Coach Tracy was the spokesperson that was tasked to, well, deal with me regarding my music choices. However, I really felt good dancing to Michael Jackson's songs. I wanted this season to be on the risky side. I mean, why not risk it? I have two more years before the Sochi Olympics came knocking on our doors.

Needless to say, I stuck myself with this risky short program.

*****

October 30, 2011

My stubborness almost risked me my precious gold in Skate Canada.

I think I got the message that the ISU hated my short program.

Hey! That's the King of Pop!

Couldn't you hear the crowd chanting Michael! Michael!? 

-was what I wanted to holler at the judges as majority of them gave me unforgivable scores on my short. Coach Tracy prevented us from being booted out of the venue.

I placed fifth on the short program. Even though I did a difficult combination of spins and jumps, and my choreography was spot on.

My bitterness was seeping through my surroundings.

Thankfully enough, the judges loved my Beethoven program. I executed my long program with finesse and grace. My technicals were also far superior when compared to other skaters, and that's the turning point in this competition.

If I hadn't learned those triple axels, I would've been done for.

I thank the Almighty for letting me meet Yuzuru Hanyu.

In the end, I won gold with a tiny gap from the silver medallist, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. I called her Liza, for short. Once you get past all the sarcastic and witty remarks thrown about, she's a pretty chill girl to hang out with.

"Say cheese!"

"Why not sushi?"

I got manhandled by Coach Brian and Coach Tracy into having my photo taken with Javier by my side. We held our gold and silver medals respectively. Javier draped an arm over my shoulders and beamed at the cameras.

Woah there, too friendly.

I tried to inch away from him but he fit me snugly by his side especially when we turned from here to there as countless photographers shouted, 'Elana, here!', 'Javier! Elana!', and 'This side!'.

After a whirlwind of interviews and post competition conferences, I let myself slump on the carpeted floor of my hotel room. I was sweaty. I couldn't bear desecrate my comfy bed. Just when I was about to doze off, the door bell rang.

I had half a mind to ignore it but it rang again.

With a groan, I got off the floor and sluggishly opened the door.

"Hey there, sweetcheeks," Ashley winked at me, one arm leaning on the door frame.

The door was promptly slammed shut.

"Rude!" was her muffled exclamation.

Fifteen minutes later, I walked out of the bathroom wearing my bathrobe while drying my hair with a towel. Ashley was splayed on my bed like a diva while she flipped through the channels.

"Why are you here again? I thought Rippon is your BFF?"

She gave me a withering look. "Mirai's with him."

"Oh." I let it go. I didn't know what's the beef between her and Nagasu but yeah, not going to bother myself with that.

"So, what's up with you and Javi?" Ashley settled on a cooking show as she turned to me. "I thought you liked that Japanese boy, Yuzu was it?"

"There is nothing up with Javier and I." I sat by the dressing mirror and brushed my hair. "And his name is Yuzuru. Well, fine, countless people call him Yuzu."

"Ooh, so you like Yuzu now?" Ashley was like a wolfhound on a trail.

I hesitated. "Yes, I do like him." A squeal was heard and I got myself smacked hard by a pillow on my face as a reward. "Ow! You!"

I threw the pillow right back at her but she shielded herself with another pillow. "Girl! You did not just say you like Yuzuru Hanyu!"

"Figures that you conveniently remember him," I scoffed at her, turning away, trying to hide my flushed cheeks. I roughly brushed my hair.

"Wow, you do like him."

"Geez, it's just a crush. It's not like I'm deeply in love with him, 'till death do us part, that kind of thing?" I sighed and shrugged carelessly.

Ashley contemplated as she twirled her blond locks, "Well, he is kinda cute, dare I say hot in the future? Against all that soft boy exterior persona, there is something sharp about him, you know, especially when he skates."

"Back off, Goldilocks." I shot her a venomous look.

"It's not like he's taken." Ashley had a playful smile.

"He's a kid Wagner, get your imaginary clutchess off him." I warned her, crossing my legs and leaning on the dressing table domineeringly.

"Not too much of a kid for you to like him," she hit back.

"I- ugh." I deflated visibly, head hanging down in depression.

"Uhh, my bad?"

"No, you're right," I said, glumly shaking my head, "What was I thinking? Liking a kid?"

"Hey, it's not too bad." Ashley sat on the edge of the bed. "You're like twenty, right? And like, he's fifteen, so..."

"Yuzuru is sixteen! Gosh, now I feel really depressed."

"Really? I thought he's, oh yeah, that's good, you know." She leaned over and smacked my thigh. "That's only a four year difference. Psh! No big deal!"

"... I really love your optimism in life."

"If you're so unsure, you could always go for Javi. He's hot."

"Ashley!"

*****

November 24, 2011

Cheers burst forth as Yuzuru landed his quadruple toe once again. It's important to know that those cheers leaned more on the girlish side. I could even see some rabid fangirls holding multicolored banners with pictures of him either handdrawn or printed on it. It was oddly reminiscent of my past actions.

What a playboy.

I grumbled unfairly.

I leaned against the banister of the rink with both my arms folded while leaning my forehead on top of them in a glum manner.

First, it was Kanako, then it was Ashley, and all over the stadium it was those fangirls. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next few years, the whole world would know the name Yuzuru Hanyu and an army of fangirls would descend upon him.

Who the hell would want to have a boyfriend like that?

I mean, look, this was just the practice session but those fangirls were ogling him already.

Groaning loudly, I closed my eyes tightly and rubbed my forehead on my arms.

Yuzuru confessed to me months ago. It was my decision to not answer his confession. Of course, not answering was likely the same as rejection.

It's unfair. Totally unfair.

Why couldn't I be the same age as Yuzuru, or maybe younger than him? Why didn't I meet him years into the future instead? I met him when we're just kids. This is so unfair.

Now that I thought about it. If I met Yuzuru later in life... we actually wouldn't have met at all. Our paths wouldn't diverge. Probably.

A warm hand gently rubbed my head. Surprised, I glanced up and saw Yuzuru giving me that devilishly handsome grin of his. Those fangirls seemed to agree as squeals filled the stadium.

"Don't do that." I grumbled lowly, pouting.

"Your thoughts are like a megaphone." Yuzuru grinned. "I could hear you from across the rink."

"Oh? Then what was I thinking?" I challenged him.

"You really want to know what I think you're thinking?" He narrowed his pheonix eyes and leaned close to me, smiling that lazy grin of his. A haze of pink powdered my cheeks.

"Nope! Not interested!" I stood up abruptly from my slouched position, knocking over Pooh-san beside me. Flustered, I caught the Pooh tissue box in time before it hit the ground. Yuzuru laughed at me. Coach Nanami was amused by our antics.

I clutched Pooh-san in my arms trying to contain my embarrassment.

"Elana! We're going," Coach Brian called for me, Javier already in tow. This was basically the practice session for men's skating. I decided to tag along because... I wanted to see Yuzuru's progress. I wanted to see if he's ok.

Heat predominant in my cheeks, I hastily bowed to Coach Nanami and spared that mischievous boy a spiteful glare then turned away with a flourish, wavy hair fabulously bouncing and all, confidently strode towards my team.

It wasn't until I was in the team bus when I noticed that Pooh-san was securedly nestled in my arms. So that's why those photographers went crazy with the flashes and countless girls stared at me with jaws dropped and startled wide eyes.

I slowly hugged Pooh-san close to me then a muffled wail resounded through the silent bus.

Hours later, I finally found the courage to text Yuzuru about the incident.

I accidentally abducted Pooh-san...

I know, it's all over the news :D

$&*$^#!

lmao! meet you later?

I hesitated. Yuzuru wasn't joking when he said that. It was really all over the news, the forums, and the gossip channels. Someone even uploaded a video from when I was slouching against the banister to Yuzuru coming over with a hint of smile on his face then proceeded to gently rub my head. There were countless pictures about the whole incident.

Oh hell, there was even a mini-news segment about the whole abduction process carefully filmed by Fuji TV. The Japanese media really loved their skaters.

If I were to accidentally lose Pooh-san now, I would be hunted down by the fanyus. Pooh-san was, after all, Yuzuru Hanyu's personal adorable mascot.

Suddenly, a ping! sounded on my phone.

Hey, wanna hang out before dinner? Going to the convinience store ;)

It was from Javier. I slowly blinked. We exchanged contact infos but not exactly because we're buddies or anything. It's purely because of the TCC, such as informing the other if the rinks open or if there's a special event going on.

It would be awkward not to reply to your own rinkmate.

Oh sure, wanted to buy some stuff, when you heading?

Right now, see you at the lobby?

I hesitated again, fumbling the keys before another ping! sounded on my phone.

When's the hostage drop off?

I blanked out.

Elana? Yoohoo? Lobby? Heading there now :)

Era?

Why do I feel like I was a two-timing wench?

I swear I'm not!

I'm not even in a relationship!

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

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(Hello everyone! Yuzuru MVS Hanyu in da house!)

(If you liked this chapter, please don't forget to vote or comment! See ya!~)