My Secret Lover

Chapter 44

Pov. Park Sunghoon*

I walked out of the toilet cabin and washed my hands. After drying them, I looked at myself in the wall mirror above the sink. Thoughtfully, I fixed my hair, smoothed out my white figure skating outfit, and was completely lost in thought.
Nervously, I ran my hand through my hair again because the hairstyle didn't suit me. After all, I had just been on the ice rink in Busan and would be seen live all-over South Korea for the New Year's Eve special.

So, it was only natural that I and many other skaters wanted look good and to score today, to show all of South Korea what they are capable of, and to be discovered by talent scouts!

Involuntarily, my hand wandered to the small scar on the back of my head, which always reminded me of the accident a year ago. My state of mind changed from nervous to depressed and my thoughts were now completely elsewhere.

Since my parents forced me to finish my studies at home and change figure skating clubs last year, I was mainly busy with training, so I can forget all the events before, during, and after my accident.

My father enrolled me in the Iseul Elite Incheon Figure Skating Club, where I met a new partner, Jang Wonyoung.

Coincidentally, my ex-girlfriend from high school, but we hit it off right away and were a super and unbeatable team. We often won first place together and are known as the "unpredictable ice prince and princess" pair by the jury, opponents, spectators, and many others.

That was also the reason why I dyed my hair white. Or rather, it was Wonyoung's idea after I lost a bet after a tournament at Korean BBQ, and she told me to dye my hair white as punishment to live up to our pseudo-name.

But actually, it didn't look so bad on me, did it...? But we didn't just get noticed because of my hair color.

We were able to make a name for ourselves in our scene because of our great performances. We were the infamous figure skating couple that everyone stared at and admired as soon as we walked into a room.

Looks, the club, our highly regarded elements, the iconic it-couple that constantly won first place: These were the main reasons among many others. At least this time my dad was proud of me...

I let go of the scar and immediately the bracelet on my wrist jumped into my eye. A slight grin appeared on my lips, but it quickly faded. The blue-black yarn had an ugly double knot and a once very important person had received the second copy of me as a gift at the fair long ago.

And I was still wearing it, idiot.

Until now I hadn't dared to pull it off. It already looked very worn, but the knot was so tight that I would have to cut it off to get rid of it.

But I couldn't. I didn't want to...

Annoyed and depressed at the same time, I sighed and pulled the sleeve of my white jacket down a little further so I wouldn't have to see the bracelet.

I wonder if he still had it on, too. Unlikely, the way I had snapped at him, I'm sure he didn't want to know anything more about me. Damn it, I shouldn't have lied to him! What was I thinking at the time, hurting him like that? Because I'd be lying if I said I was over the whole thing. I couldn't let go, I thought about him almost every day...

"Excuse me? Can I use the sink for a moment, please?" a figure skater pulled me out of my thoughts. A little embarrassed, I looked at the man in the red outfit and nodded in affirmation. "Yeah sure, sorry!"
"Oh, wait, you're Kim Sunghoon. The unpredictable ice prince, right? Is the princess here too?" the man asked a little too over-motivated, looking at me with wide eyes. "I'm Daniel Kim from the I-LAND figure skating club in Daegu. Please tell her to keep an eye on the one in the red outfit," he laughed mischievously and folded his hands together in a sheepish fashion.