Moment of Truth

Chapter 9: Morning

"Are you excited to come with us?" Coach Brian asks as we wait for Yuzuru come to the Cricket Club.

I nod my head as I try to make myself warmer as the mornings here are so cold. It's 4:45 am and we're meant to leave for Montreal at 5 am. I've already texted Yuzuru asking if he was on his way. He texted back around 4:40 saying that he was 10 minutes away. We wanted to get there a day before the competition starts so Yuzuru can have some practice time on the ice.

Finally Yuzuru and his mother appear at the Cricket Club. We pack Yuzuru and his mother's luggage in the back of the car Coach Brian rented. Coach Brian and Yuzuru's mother sit in the front while Yuzuru and I sit in the back. I notice Yuzuru had his earphones in so I take the invitation to put my own in. I put my music on shuffle and just listen to whatever plays. I lean my head against the window and get comfortable to the drive over to Montreal. It'll be a long six hours for all of us.

One hour into the trip I feel something hard fall on my shoulder. I look over and I see Yuzuru's head on my shoulder. He must have fell asleep and shifted in his sleep. I let him rest there cause I know he'll need it before we get to the location of the competition. I lean my head back against the window and listen to my music. After awhile I find my myself drifting off as my music has become much softer and soothing.

What feel like hours later, I am woken up by the car not moving anymore. I move my head to feel that I've laid my head against Yuzuru's in my sleep. Coach Brian turns around to tell us something but stops speaking when he sees the position we're in. He nudges Yuzuru's mother and she turns around as well. She starts to giggle at us. Then she suddenly pulls out her phone and takes a picture.

"It's not what I looks like," I whisper-yell, trying not to wake up the Olympian.

"Then why aren't you pushing him off?" Coach Brian whisper-yells back sarcastically. Yuzuru's mother still giggling.

"That would be a very rude thing to do to a sleeping person."

"Well wake him up. We're grabbing breakfast."

I notice we've stopped at a Tim Hortons, a place known for their donuts and coffee. I haven't been to one yet, but I heard their food was good. I nudge Yuzuru with my arm trying to wake him up.

"Yuzu, wake up please," I try to coo soothing as to not abruptly wake him. "We're at Tim Hortons to get breakfast."

I nudge Yuzuru again. He begins to stir. He doesn't move his head from my shoulder yet, but he opens his eyes. He moved his head to look up at whoever's should he's lying on and see me. I smile weakly at him as the adults in front of us are snickering. When he realizes that he has his head on my shoulder, he quickly moves away from me and apologizes profusely. He even bows deeply to me.

"It's okay, Yuzu," I say to try and calm him down. The snickering continues in front of me. I shoot a glare over at the adults. "I understand thay you're tired. I'm perfectly fine with being used as a pillow."

A blush creeps across his face before apologizing again. "I'm so sorry, Mai. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."

"It's fine, Yuzu."

"Okay, lovebirds. Let's go get some breakfast and then back on the road," Coach Brian suddenly says catching the attention of Yuzuru.

Yuzuru looks out of the car and sees that we're not on the road anymore. He nods his head and begins to get out of the car. We all follow suit and head inside of Tim Hortons. Coach Brian treats us all to breakfast even though we told
him not to. I get a hot chocolate and a sausage breakfast sandwich. While the rest order, I get a phone call. I tell the others I'll be outside as I take the call.

"Hi Ricky," I sat into my phone.

"Hey Marie. I hope I caught you at a good time," Ricky says back to me.

"Well, not really. I'm on my way to a skating competition."

"Since when do you skate?"

"I don't, but I told you that I'm a translator for a skater and I have to go with him to all his events to help him with translating."

"Oh right. I didn't expect you to actually go everywhere they do. And it's a guy? What is he? Canadian?"

"It's part of my job description. And it is a guy. But he's not Canadian. He's from Japan but he trains in Toronto."

"Oh. Is he good looking?"

"Why is that any of your concern?"

"Just wanted to ask. You must spend a lot of time with him."

"You make it sound like a bad thing."

"All I'm saying is that you shouldn't be attached with this guy. If he's a competitive skater, he must be too busy to have a relationship, much less with someone who works for him. I'm just saying is that you shouldn't fall for this guy."

"Who said anything about falling for him? He's pretty much my boss and I respect him too much to ever ask for a relationship with him. This is not the conversation I imagined having with you right now, Ricky. Or so early in the morning. You know it's only 7 am, right?"

"Sorry, I just miss you. I've been thinking a lot about you lately. You know if you hadn't moved, we could've been together, right?"

"That's what everyone wanted, huh? Well it can't be helped. That has passed now, Ricky. I'm in Canada. You can't court me from all the way in the Philippines."

"I know, but I don't want to lose you to some hotshot skater while in Canada."

"Ricky, you can't control who I fall in love with while I'm here. So if I don't, I don't and if I do, I do. And you cant do anything about it, okay?"

"You're right, but that doesn't mean I can't try. I leave you to your morning then. I should sleep anyways. I have work in the morning. Bye Marie."

"Bye Ricky."