Yuri!!! On Ice Book 1

Chapter 44

December 21st, 2017- The Next Day- Grand Prix Final Free Skate-

Yuuri's POV 1st Person

"And another masterful performance from Katuki!" The announcer booms overhead as I land my final jump and glide beautifully to a stop on the ice. "He may have yet broken another record- how is he doing it!" 

I know how.

Victor smiles at me from the audience, flashing a thumbs up and giving me the secret look only I have ever received. I leave the rink and fly into his arms, kissing him the way we did that first time at the Cup of China. He spins me around and I laugh, dizzy and shaking my head slightly at my husband's foolishness. My husband's. The matching rings glint on our fingers, pulling us forever together, the words, 'He's never failed to surprise me' engraved upon them.

A camera flash brings me back to reality, jostling me from the beautiful dream I want so badly to be real. I leave the ice and Yakov gives me my guards. I catch sight of my hand as I take them- no ring. Well, what were you expecting? I mentally shake my head, That the ring would materialize there while you weren't paying attention? I make my way to the kiss and cry, Yakov beside me talking about something I find myself unable to pay attention to. It's all I can do to stay present right now and force myself to try and focus on his words.

"The Quad Flip was one of the best I've seen from you- what changed?" I just shrug and jerk my head noncommittally.

"Victor, I guess," Shit. I mentally smack myself, Just another lie to dig yourself out of later, once the truth is told. Still, I'm not going to think about that. Not until after the exhibition skate tomorrow. I can stay in my happy --fake-- little bubble for a bit longer. It's like pressing snooze, I get to rest for another few minutes before getting up and starting the day. Just a bit more complicated.

The scores come up and I'm yanked from my thoughts as a scream echoes around the stadium. "232!" The announcer yells from the loudspeaker, "That makes Katsuki's overall score 367! He's beaten Yuri Plisetsky by four and a half points! He's won!" 

My heart stops. Won? How is that possible- I couldn't have. I look towards the scoreboard, reading over the elemental breakdown. It's not a mistake, the components are correct, no deductions, and apparently my presentation was through the roof. So, that means, I won? 

I won.

I won. Me. First place. Gold. I won! A grin splits my face and before I know it I'm on my feet, laughing like a maniac. Yakov pushes me out onto the ice, all the while sporting an uncharacteristic smile. I climb the podium, unable to remove the stubborn beam from my features- not that I'm trying too hard. I don't know how this happened- I wasn't even thinking while I skated, I wasn't trying to win! But somehow, it has happened, and I stand in the center, for the first time in my life having done something to be proud of. Yurio's on my left and Otabek to the right as we receive the medals. Otabek seems slightly disappointed, but pleased all the same, with his bronze, and Yurio- He smiles. He slings the silver around his neck and holds it up proudly, impressively unperturbed by his loss. 

I cradle the gold in my hands, grinning down at it as someone would at their child. I kiss it, the metal cold and firm against my lips. In this moment, I feel everything in life fall into place- I've done it, I've won. I hold up my medal for the audience, the cameras devouring every minute of my glory.

Yurio turns to me suddenly, a small smile on his lips. "Don't get me wrong," He says quietly, so only I can hear it. "I'm beating you next year- but I'm glad you won." He pauses slightly, as if phrasing his next sentence in his head. "I'm glad you're getting married,"

The world loses its color. Of course, how could I have forgotten? The plan Phchit mentioned, the excitement of the crowd, my own subconscious reaction. For all intents and purposes, the engagement is finally over, and I am getting married. The only thing is,

"I'm not," I say quietly, and my happiness dissolves into the air, breaking as if it had never been. "I'm not getting married."

I sink down onto the podium, the fans and the cameras forgotten. My eyes threaten to spill over with tears, and for once, for the first time in months, I let them. I put my face in my hands and cry; sob as my world crashes down. I'll have to tell them now. There's no way around it. The entire world knows about the engagement and that it's just ended, they just don't know how it has. I'm going to have to come clean, admit that I've been lying to everyone, lying to myself. Admit that my fantasy, my wonderful little world, was just that; a fantasy. 

Yurio looks scared, not understanding what I've just said, and seeing me break down like this, seemingly for no reason. He crouches down and sits beside me, patting my back awkwardly, inept at this form of love. 

The press crowds around us, pushing in and snapping pictures of my tearstreaked face. Instantly, Yurio's up, now in his element. He pushes them back, shouting at them and defending me, showing he cares in the only way he knows how. Somehow, he gets them to back off and returns to my side, glancing at Otabek with a help look on his face, though he's not any better at consoling people. I get out of their hair quickly, however, leaving the rink and fleeing to some desolate corner of the hotel, needing to grieve in peace. I escape the press and end up in some hallway, a beautiful view through the window of Zurich greeting me. I lean against the wall and stare at it, letting the shimmering scene serve as a background to my misery. I don't really see it, however, the only thought running through my head being one phrase.

I'm not getting married.