Capturing The Ice Queen's Heart

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Isla Lorenzo

I was three years old when the ice skate blade cut my finger for the first time; they said I was taken to the hospital because it wouldn't stop bleeding. I cried more when they forbade me to go to the rink than when my favorite toy got broken. I cried and cried until they let me do what I wanted.

I didn't need cakes and balloons. I wouldn't cry if I didn't receive a gift. I wouldn't throw a tantrum if I couldn't go out to play in the park like the other children did on Sundays. The teacher could praise my classmates, and I wouldn't feel jealous or insecure. I needed to skate. I was only interested in figure skating. I didn't care even if it meant that I would suffer from injuries. My mind was already set at the young age of 3 because it was my dream.

"Do you think people would like my dress?" I asked Coach Ara minutes before my first competition.

She concealed her laughter by clearing her throat. "The other kids are concerned if they could get the gold medal and you're worried about your dress?"

I nodded innocently. "It's too early to aim for that big, Coach. I'm here to gain some experience. Besides, I won't magically land an axel if that's what they're thinking about..."

"I got your point, Miss..." She squatted to retouch my lipstick. "And yes, you look pretty in that dress. It suits a five-year-old girl who thinks like 18. Blue is undeniably your color."

I smiled widely so that she could see my gums. After some stretching, I hopped on the anti-skid mat to check if maayos ang kapit ng skates sa mga paa ko. Hindi pwedeng bumagsak. Big no!

"Ouch! My butt!" Natawa na lang ako nang lumagapak sa yelo sa ika-limang pagkakataon.

I had been attempting to execute the quad axel during my free time—when no one was around. I brought it up once and my coaches disregarded the idea for it was too risky to execute. Paniguradong uusok ang ilong ni Coach Joaquin at sermon ang aabutin ko sa kanila ni Coach Ara kapag nahuli ako. I was just really stubborn and liked to break the rules sometimes.

After so many failed attempts, I decided to end it and rest my body. Umupo ako sa bench at naisipang buksan ang online forum namin. My peers are still talking about Nikola; some felt bad and some had already seen it coming.

Two weeks had passed since the unpleasant surprise of her involvement in a doping scandal. She tested positive for banned medication; her samples were collected before the Autumn Classics. Dinidinig pa ang kaso sa Court of Arbitration for Sport after the International Skating Union has applied the disqualifications. Hugas-kamay naman si McLean... katulad ng ginawa niya sa akin noon.

"What are your thoughts about the case of Nikola Kozlov? She also joined the Autumn Classics last September. Did you notice anything weird in her actions?"

I sighed quietly and let the reporter finish her questions. They wanted my opinion, but I wouldn't fan the flame. I wouldn't take advantage of the situation because that's how they'd benefit from it. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

Nasa MOA ako para manood ng ISU Junior Grand Prix, ngunit hindi pa man nakaka-upo ay nasalang na sa isang ambush interview. Halos magkaka-parehas lang naman ang mga itanatanong sa akin ng reporters at hindi rin nagbabago ang response ko roon...

"No, I didn't notice anything. I don't have the right to judge, so I don't have much to say. I'm just hoping for the best," maikli kong sagot kasi ayaw kong lumikha ng issue.

Naranasan ko nang ma-bash kaya inaalala ko si Nikola kahit paano. Matindi ang pinagdadaanan niya ngayon at sinasabi pa ng iba na karma niya iyon. She always gets on my nerves, but I never wished for her downfall. I wanted to beat her in the rink—in our craft. Not like this. Never in this way.