Of Angels and Phantoms

Chapter 4- Language barriers

(I'M IN TIME. STILL IN TIME. IT'S STILL 11.15PM HERE.)

"I'm leaving Toronto. For good."

I looked up at Adam. "Wait...what?" I frowned.

"I'm changing clubs. Moving to Detroit. Michigan. Coach Jason took me in," he explained. "Alissa spoke well of him."

"You'll still pick up my calls, won't you?"

I kept silent for a moment, looking away.

"You know, about your condition..." Adam continued, "It could be better for-"

"Why are you telling me this? Haven't I made it clear when you left?"

"June, I-" Adam sighed. "June, it's pointless for you to stay with Orser. You need a change of environment, or your condition'll never-"

"Adam, I think that's enough." I pulled my hand away and folded my arms. "I...I'll see you around. Bye."

"June...June!" Adam caught up with me and held me back firmly. "Listen to me. I'm saying all this because I care. I care-"

"But I don't." I turned around and walked quickly towards Javier and Yuzuru, away from him.

--- ---

<Yuzuru's POV>

I turned to Javier, opening my mouth to speak. I pursed my lips, seeing his upset look.

Javier crossed his arms and stared at June and Adam, tensing as Adam grabbed her hand.

"Are they..." I spoke quietly, careful not to upset Javier further. "Okay?"

"I don't know why she's still willing to talk to him." Javier mumbled, seeming disappointed rather than angry. "After all that..."

I kept quiet, watching June pull away from Adam and walking back to us. I flashed her a smile as she joined us.

She gave Javier an apologetic smile and nodded at me. "Let's go, shall we?"

"What did he want?" Javier asked moodily.

"Nothing much. He just said he was leaving Toronto."

"Big deal."

"Javier..." June sighed. "It's over. There's no point in being so hard on him."

"I know...I'm just... I'm still mad at him."

I looked at them as they conversed, struggling to keep up. June glanced over at me, noticing my tensed face and chuckled.

"Mi dios, we really have to teach you some English!" Javier broke into a grin, slapping my back.

I made a face and rolled my eyes. "English...I don't like."

"You know what? June, you should teach Yuzu-boy some English. And he can teach you Japanese," Javier suggested.

"Javi, please." June sighed.

"I'm serious!" He exclaimed, raising his arms. "Didn't you say that your Japanese sucked?"

"But-"

I looked at them helplessly, barely comprehending their words.

"So are you up for it, Yuzu?" Javier asked. I nodded despite hardly understanding his question.

"See?" Javier gave June a victorious look.

"Are you serious?" June asked me in Japanese.

"About what?"

June gave me a blank look. "Javi...what he said."

"Uh..." I looked at her sheepishly.

June sighed, looking at me sympathetically. "I can't translate. I don't know how."

"It could be easier if we learnt sign language," Javier chuckled, shaking his head.

"Not happening." June vehemently objected. "We'll just...see how it goes."

--- ---

<June's POV>

Weeks later

"Wha...what?" I blinked in confusion.

"You see..." Yuzuru explained, moving his arms vigorously. "Just join this...and this..."

Javier slipped beside us, chuckling amusedly. "How's your Japanese lesson going?"

I rolled my eyes, ignoring him. Yuzuru shot him a slightly annoyed look.

"We're busy, Javi!" Yuzuru chided in his accented English.

"I see you have improved!" Javi clapped and laid back on the backrest, watching us.

"Alright, gather around!" Coach called out as the students streamed towards the rink. I waved to the boys and quickly slipped away towards the dressing room.

Yuzuru gave me a puzzled look. "Where are you going?" He asked.

I shot him a quick smile before escaping to the dressing room, closing the door.

--- ---

<Yuzuru's POV>

"Where's she going? She's not joining us?" I asked Javi.

"Not...not today." Javi sighed, stepping onto the rink. "We're preparing for Finlandia today, after all."

"She's not going?" I looked up in surprise. "But June is good..."

Javi nodded, letting out another sigh before skating away. Javi was especially quiet during practice today, gazing silently at June as she left the skating center with her backpack.

Coach began his intensive training, but seemed rather listless today too. Coach Tracy took over from him as he went to make a few calls.

"Focus, boys! You've barely a month left to Finlandia," Coach Tracy shouted across the rink. Javi nodded, moving forward without glancing away.

It was rare to see Javi so solemn...

I wonder...

Is it June?

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