Moment of Truth

Chapter 14: Conflicted

Yuzuru is confused as to who came into the rink as it is a private skate session and no one else should be here. But once he was introduced to the mystery guy, some pieces are coming together.

"Yuzuru, Coach Brian, this is my best friend from the Philippines, Ricky Valesco," I introduce Ricky to Yuzuru and Coach Brian. "But you already knew that, huh, Coach Brian?"

"Yeah. It was kind of hard keeping it a secret, but it's worth it seeing the smile on your face."

"Well thank you very much, Coach Brian. I really appreciate this."

"It's no problem. Now, take the rest of the day off and enjoying being with your best friend."

Coach Brian shoos us off. I am reluctant to leave at first but Coach Brian lets me know that it's completely okay. I tell Yuzuru and Javier a goodbye as I leave arm-in-arm with Rick talking animatedly in Tagalog.

"So that is Marie's best friend," Javier states after a moment of silence between the three men.

"Mhmm. He emailed me about two weeks ago am saying that he wanted to surprise Marie here at the rink. I was surprised at first but I thought it would be a nice gesture to Marie for all she does here," Coach Brian explains. "She works hard to keep you kids in check."

"Mah-ree's best friend?" Yuzuru mutters as he skates back to the middle of the ice. But he just stands there.

"What's wrong with Yuzu?" Coach Brian asks as the Olympian just stands there.

"I think he might be confused about his feelings for Marie," Javier says looking at his best friend not moving.

"You know, I've been wondering about their relationship. Ever since the Autumn Classic, they've been closer than ever. But I've never seen him like this before."

"Maybe he's becoming a lovesick puppy. I told him, he can't deny his feelings for Marie. We've all seen the way he looks at her when she's not looking. And I think this best friend in town has really shaken him up."

Yuzuru suddenly takes off. Skating around the rink, he prepares to do a jump. He goes for a quad salchow, but falls on the landing. He gets right back up and tries again. He falls a second time. He goes for a third try, but Coach Brian goes to stop him.

"Yuzuru! Stop it!" Coach Brian yells out to the dazed skater. "Come here before you hurt yourself."

Yuzuru slows down his skating as he stares at his coach. He approaches Coach Brian wordlessly. He just stands in front of him with an unreadable expression. Coach Brian sighs and gestures for Yuzuru to leave the ice.

"I don't know what you're doing, but I want you off the ice. You've lost your focus. Take a break while I work with Javi, okay?" Coach Brian says to Yuzuru.

"But I'm fine," Yuzuru tries to reason. "Just bad jumps."

"You were too tight in both take offs. I don't want you injuring yourself right now. I don't know what just happened here, but I don't let you ruin yourself. Take a break, Yuzu. Come on, Javi."

Yuzuru grabs his skate guards and skates to the exit. He put them and walks over to where Pooh-San is. He sits in the spot that I usually sit. He puts Pooh-San in his lap and starts to play with his face, mashing it around in thought. He doesn't know why he couldn't concentrate in those jumps. He could do them 100 times in a row without failing.

"Yuzu, are you okay?" Javier asks when he comes over after his session with Coach Brian. "I've never seen you like this before."

"I'm fine," Yuzuru says waving his hand as if shooing away any thought of him not being okay.

"Then what was that out there? You can land a quad Salchow in your sleep, but twice in a row, you fall? Unlike you, amigo."

"I don't know..."

"Is it because Marie isn't here?"

"Eh?! No, no."

"Are you worried about your place in her heart now that her best friend is here?"

"No, no. Not that."

"Are you sure? I didn't want to tell you this cause Marie told me this in confidence, but Ricky was her suitor back in the Philippines. And she isn't sure if he wants to back down from anyone who wants her here."

Yuzuru's head snaps to look up at Javier. Suddenly a phone goes off near Yuzuru. He digs into his bag to find his phone. On the screen a text from me. It reads: 'sorry to leave your practice. I was just so excited to see my best friend. I'll see you tomorrow! :)'. Yuzuru doesn't bother to respond as he looks back to the ice. He mulls over the information given by Javier. It's confusing to see someone from Marie's past here in person, but it's not like it should matter to him. It's not like we're dating or anything like that. He doesn't like me in that way. Or at least he doesn't think so. He did enjoy being around me. He has friends that are girls and he likes being around them, but not in the same way as me. There's something different about me and that's definitely something Yuzuru didn't think of happening.