Capturing The Ice Queen's Heart

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Blight

Looking so out of place in my big shirt and PJ bottoms, I glided on the ice to perform my free skate routine. My knees trembled as I did the backward crossover, but I recovered swiftly. I did the exact choreography, executed the elements, and poured my emotions into it just like in the Olympics.

I finished the routine without a mistake. Hinihingal na ako, but the music was on repeat so I did it once again... and again without breaks.

I got caught up with it and anyone would think that I was enjoying myself because I couldn't stop. After landing the triple toe-loop, I almost slipped as the ice became slippery and smoother than usual. I feared that I'd end up getting hurt but I was determined to skate.

I kept on performing the program and it was getting harder to move around the rink because of the ice's condition. I was skating for almost an hour and I felt really exhausted now. Tagaktak na ang pawis ko hindi lang dahil sa pagod kundi dahil sa init. Sobrang nangangalay na rin ako. But my mind wouldn't just give up, so I pushed myself to the limit.

I did it over and over again to prove that there was nothing wrong with me and my routine on top of that. It was a new program, but I executed it phenomenally. Alam kong magaling ako kaya bakit? Bakit 'yung maling impormasyon ang nakikita nila at hindi ang talento ko? It seemed like my heart would explode, thinking that all my efforts turned into dust.

As an athlete, maintaining good health should be my top priority but that didn't concern me anymore. Naliligo na ako sa pawis ngayon. I tried to launch myself for a jump, but the toe pick got stuck in the ice. Natisod ako at bumagsak nang nakadapa. Napa-ungol ako sa sakit dahil pati ang mga tuhod ko ay tumama. Basang-basa na ang damit ko gawa ng pawis at tubig. At hindi pa man ako nakakabawi nang biglang pinulikat ang aking kanang binti. Namilipit ako roon at sinubukang labanan iyon.

Ramdam ko pa ang sakit at pangangalay, pero pinilit kong buhatin ang sarili ko. I sat there, soaking wet, when the doors opened. Nag-angat ako ng tingin kahit pa nahaharangan na ng buhok ko ang buong mukha ko. Naaninag ko si Daddy na tumatakbo papunta sa akin. Muntik pa siyang madulas dahil tumungtong nang naka-sapatos sa rink.

He realized that my program was playing in the background. "What do you think you're doing?!" he asked painfully as he pulled me up.

I looked around and my plan to thaw the ice had succeeded. Pinabilis ng snow melt pit ang pagtunaw sa yelo kahit wala ang tulong ng Zamboni. The hot water melted the ice; it began to crack after I stumbled onto it. Ngayon ay unti-unti pa rin iyong nagbibitak at pinapalutang ng tubig. The Zamboni was supposed to scrape the ice, but this happened because I skated on it while I was thawing it.

Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto. "Azure, ano'ng nangyari? Bakit nagka-ganito ang rink?" Nalaglag ang panga ni Mama nang nakita ako. "Isla naman! Bakit basang-basa ka, anak? Ano'ng ginawa mo?"

Nag-aalala siyang sumugod sa akin kahit pa naka-heels. Looking miserable, she brought her hand to her mouth when she heard the music. Nakuha niya rin ang sagot sa sariling tanong nang naramdaman kung gaano ka-init ang tubig.

"It cracked like this 'cause you skated as you thawed the ice..." She was on the verge of crying.

Napayuko at parang lantang halaman na muntik nang dumulas sa pagkakahawak ni Daddy. He was holding my arms so tight so long as I wouldn't fall.

Inalog niya ang mga balikat ko. "Tell me, why did you do it? I told you to rest! Did I not make myself clear? At tingnan mo nga ang ginawa mo sa sarili mo!"

Pag-angat ko ng ulo, nanlabo ang paningin ko at hindi na napigilan ang pagbuhos ng mga luha. I cried so hard that I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. Nasapawan ko na ang music sa sobrang lakas niyon dahil bigla na lang akong sumabog pagkatapos kong kimkimin ang sakit sa loob ng ilang linggo. At baka ngayon lang ako naka-iyak dahil nasira na sa wakas 'yung rink at hindi man lang ako na-guilty kasi ang figure skating naman talaga ang nagpapahirap sa akin ngayon. Na sa ganitong paraan lang ako makakapaghiganti at makapaglalabas ng sama ng loob.