Sparks Fly (ONGOING)

Chapter 18

Back to the hustle na ulit.

I've been training for almost a week now. Coach Ezra and I have decided to use one of my old routines for the championships. Instead of using Swan Lake as my free skate, I'll use something else.

So far, I'm relearning my old routine and familiarizing myself with it. That's what we are focusing on since I got back to training.

I was taking a water break when coach called me.

"Di, one of your old coaches from Zagitova told me he'd gladly coach you again," masayang sabi niya.

I couldn't help but be wary. It was so out of the blue. Napaisip tuloy ako sino 'yon. Coach used a male pronoun so it's most likely a guy.

"Alam kong ang random pero he purposely offered. Sayang naman since he could help you and there are times na 'di kita matutulungan since may iba pa 'kong inaasikaso sa Zagitova," she said apologetically.

I have encountered two male coaches my whole career. Sana iba 'yong sinasabi ni coach hindi 'yong naiisip ko. Sabi naman niya na he would gladly help me and purposely offered, so baka 'yong mabait naman 'yong mag-cocoach sa'kin.

I nodded at her. Wala rin naman akong magagawa. Nakakahiya din if tumanggi ako. Tutulungan na nga nila ako ta's 'di ko man lang i-accept.

I couldn't help but feel excited. 'Yong coach na tinutukoy kasi ay isa sa mga onti na mababait na tao sa old skating school ko. He's so easygoing and there's never a dull moment with him. He's so nice and I can confirm he cares more about the wellbeing of his students than the awards they could possibly win.

Patuloy ako sa aking training. I was doing a run through of my routine when coach called me. Once I skated out of the rink, I saw coach and someone I wished I never saw again.

Coach Dimitri

My blood ran cold.

Sa lahat ba naman, bakit siya pa?

Akala ko ba excited ako i-train nung tinutukoy ni coach? It can't possibly be him!

"He will be assisting me in coaching you, Di," nakangiting sabi sa'kin ni coach Ezra. I faked a smile and nodded.

"Hello po," I politely greeted. He just stared blankly at me and gave a curt nod.

It's a new semester already. I have lesser classes a day which means I have more time for training. It's a surprise that until now, Lukas and I still haven't had any classes together.

I'm in one of my class with Nico though. We became close and would sometimes walk to the rink together if ever we have the same schedule. They have their own rink, but it's still under maintenance for some reason.

Sa Everette kasi, required ang pumili ng course. We enrolled here to focus on our sport, but it wouldn't hurt to have a backup.

I am so sure that I'm going to be a figure skater my whole life; and I love reading, so I thought of being an author or editor as my backup. I applied for communication arts for more choices, hindi lang limited sa pagiging author. Kaparehas ko ng course si Nico kaya majority ng subjects ay magkaklase kami.

I still have three months to train for the championships. Ang aga pa lang nakakapagod na training, what more if malapit na?

I wouldn't complain if I had a different coach. I miss coach Ezra. I miss how she's tough, but at the same time loving to me. I miss how I have fun training.

I miss how I look forward to skating.

"Do you know why you can't do it properly? It's because you're fat!" Sabi sa'kin ni coach Dimitri habang ako ay nakakalat sa rink pagkatapos mahulog sa Lutz ko.