𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

Chapter ten

The days following the Olympics were a blur for jihyo. The media frenzy was relentless, hounding her at every turn, wanting to know more about the girl who had captured the world's attention with her tears and her third-place finish. It was overwhelming, but amidst the chaos, she found herself gravitating more and more toward Coach Harrise.

He had been a constant presence, offering support and encouragement when she needed it most. There was something comforting about his easy smile, the way he could make her feel like everything was going to be okay, even when it felt like her world was falling apart.

But it wasn't just comfort that she felt around him anymore. There was something else—something she couldn't quite define, but it stirred within her whenever he was near. It was confusing, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.

She found herself thinking about him more often than she should, replaying their conversations in her mind, remembering the way he had looked at her in the locker room. There was a part of her that wanted to dismiss it, to chalk it up to the stress of the competition and the emotional whirlwind she had been through. But another part of her—a part she wasn't ready to confront—wanted to explore it further.

---

It was late in the evening, and the rink was empty except for jihyo and Harrise. He had offered to stay behind to help her with some last-minute practice, and she had agreed, eager for the distraction. The two of them moved across the ice, the sound of their skates cutting through the silence.

"You've been quiet tonight," Harrise observed as they paused to catch their breath. "Something on your mind?"

Jihyo hesitated, unsure of how much to share. "Just thinking about everything, I guess. It's been a lot to process."

"I can imagine," Harrise replied, his tone understanding. "You've been through a lot, jihyo. More than most people could handle."

His words were kind, but they also carried a weight that made jihyo's chest tighten. She looked down at the ice, the reflection of the rink lights shimmering beneath her.

"It's not just the competition," she admitted after a moment. "There's... other stuff going on. Stuff I thought I had left behind."

Harrise's expression softened, and he took a step closer, his voice gentle. "You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready. But if you ever need someone to listen, I'm here."

Jihyo glanced up at him, her heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in his eyes. There was something about the way he looked at her, as if he genuinely cared, that made her feel like she could open up to him. Like she could trust him.

Before she could respond, however, the sound of the rink door opening echoed through the space. Jihyo's heart leaped into her throat as she turned to see who it was.

Her father.

He stood at the entrance, his figure casting a long shadow across the ice. The sight of him sent a cold shiver down her spine, and all the old fears came rushing back.

"Dad," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Harrise tensed beside her, his gaze narrowing as he took in the man standing at the edge of the rink. "Jihyo, is everything okay?"

Jihyo didn't answer, her mind reeling as she tried to make sense of her father's sudden appearance. She hadn't seen him since that day in the old rink, and now here he was, looking at her with that same intense, unreadable expression.

"What are you doing here?" Jihyo finally asked, her voice stronger now, though she couldn't keep the tremor out of it.

Her father's eyes flicked to Harrise, then back to jihyo. "We need to talk."