Dance Only With Me

Maya quietly sat next to Lucy, her heart still pounding with lingering anxiety. Lucy turned towards her, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

Lucy, surprised: "What happened? Weren't you going to the park?"

Maya hesitated for a moment before replying, "I was… but when I saw Lian Victor walk into the arena, I thought maybe it's better if I stayed. Being visible might not be such a bad thing."

Lucy smiled approvingly. "Smart choice. Coach always pays close attention, especially today since the Black Swan team is performing… they're the best here."

Maya glanced towards the center of the rink, settling beside the other students. Her eyes became transfixed by the flawless, synchronized dances unfolding before her. The skaters moved with powerful techniques and fluid grace, every motion a testament to years of rigorous training. Their movements were so seamless, it felt like magic had descended upon the ice, silencing the room with admiration.

Hours passed. The air grew heavier on Maya's chest, her mind restless, her body yearning to move. She leaned towards Lucy and whispered,

Maya: "I'm going to leave… Coach is entirely focused on the filming. He won't even notice I'm gone."

Lucy nodded understandingly. "Alright, don't worry. If anyone asks, I'll just say you went to the restroom."

Maya gave a grateful smile. "Thank you… see you later."

Without a sound, Maya slipped out of the arena, tightened the straps on her backpack, and walked toward the bus station. With every stop, her heartbeat slowed, and her focus sharpened. Her destination: the lakeside park—a place to find solace and steal precious moments of practice.

Upon arriving, Maya's eyes widened in surprise. Unlike the desolate frozen lake of her village, this place was bursting with life. Crowds filled the icy expanse, gliding joyfully while children's laughter echoed through the wintry air.

Maya murmured to herself, "What a contrast… back home, the lake was always abandoned. No one dared come close in winter. But here… it's like people truly love skating."

A soft smile formed on her lips. She laced up her skates and stepped onto the ice. Every movement reignited her spirit. Yet, the crowded surface made practicing advanced moves nearly impossible. Quietly, she accepted it—dancing, practicing, letting the ice soothe her restless soul.

Hunger soon crept in, leading her to a nearby street food stall. The aroma of warm food comforted her. After a simple yet satisfying meal and a brief rest, she returned to the Silver House. The filming continued, while most students had retreated to the dormitories.

In the room, Sophia was quietly reading. Maya greeted her with a smile.

Maya: "Filming's still going on?"

Sophia: "Yep… it's always like this during the season. They film until late at night."

Maya, intrigued, asked, "Why is this performance so important?"

Sophia: "Because it represents the Silver House. These performances attract people to the Olympic qualifiers… it's our brand."

Maya: "I thought Coach just wanted to promote himself."

Sophia chuckled. "It's quite the opposite. Lian Victor avoids the spotlight. He hasn't done a public performance in years, yet people still replay his old Olympic routines."

Maya blinked in surprise. "Really… I didn't know that. By the way, where's Lucy?"

Sophia: "She loves watching the performances. She's probably still at the arena."

Maya hesitated before asking, "Have you or Lucy ever been chosen for the filming?"

Sophia's smile turned bittersweet. "No… only former Olympians get picked, even if they haven't competed in years."

Maya: "But your skills are incredible."

Sophia's voice grew softer. "In this place… fresh talent often gets overlooked. Respect is reserved for the veterans."

A short silence followed before Sophia shrugged, her smile returning. "But sometimes, Coach surprises us. Remember last year? That little seven-year-old girl… her performance was shaky, but Lian Victor hugged her in front of everyone and praised her. It shocked us all."

Maya's curiosity peaked. "I never saw that! Can you show me?"

Sophia nodded, opening her laptop. They spent hours watching videos of the Silver House and Lian Victor's legendary performances.

As midnight approached, Maya slipped quietly to the training rink. The ice lay untouched beneath the arena's dim lights. She laced up her skates and pushed her body to its limits—move after move, fall after fall—her legs trembling but her spirit unshaken.

Around midnight, Auntie—the rink's cleaning supervisor—entered with her mop in hand.

Auntie: "Hey, girl… what are you doing here at this hour?"

Maya approached, smiling politely. "Hello… I don't know your name."

Auntie grinned kindly. "Everyone here calls me Auntie."

Maya: "I'm Maya… I know it's late, Auntie, but my training is important. May I stay?"

Auntie: "The rink's open twenty-four hours… but sweetheart, you also need rest."

Maya's tone grew firmer. "I can't afford rest right now… I need every minute."

Auntie shrugged. "Alright… do what you need."

Hours slipped by, and as dawn broke, Auntie returned to tidy the rink. She paused, spotting a sleeping bag in the corner. Gently, she tapped it with her mop.

Auntie: "Hey… what's going on here?"

Maya, her voice groggy: "Ouch… Auntie? What time is it?"

Auntie: "Six in the morning… did you sleep here?"

Maya yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Only two hours… I need to get ready."

Auntie, concern etched on her face: "Why push yourself so hard? The qualifiers are months away."

Maya forced a smile. "I'm not even an official member yet… I have to prove I belong."

Auntie sighed, brushing Maya's hair gently. "Take care of yourself, girl."

Maya packed up, grabbed a quick breakfast, and headed back to the park. She trained tirelessly—onlookers gathering, some applauding, others simply admiring. But Maya had eyes only for her goal… for the promise she made to her grandmother.

Two days passed—endless training, fatigue, perseverance. On the third day, after a group performance, Lian Victor gathered the students with his commanding voice.

Lian Victor: "Thank you all… you worked hard for this filming. The Olympic qualifiers are only months away, and we must be stronger than ever. This year, I want the newcomers to shine more. This place… the competition is only with yourself. We help each other, but each of you must show your best self. Every year, the rivals get tougher… so we must get tougher too."

As the excitement settled and the crowd dispersed, Lian Victor's sharp gaze swept the room, searching for one face in particular… but no matter how hard he looked, Maya was nowhere to be found. A frown creased his brow. He finished his speech, then called out to one of the students as they headed back to the dormitory.

Lian Victor: "Wait… you know Maya, the new girl?"

Student: "Yes, I know her."

Lian Victor: "Any idea where she is? Haven't seen her in days."

Student: "Last I saw her was two mornings ago… she was heading to the bus station."

Lian Victor nodded curtly. "Alright… you can go."

He made his way to his office but stopped halfway, addressing one of the arena staff.

Lian Victor: "When Maya returns, tell her to pack her things… she's done here. I don't tolerate people who don't value time."

Unbeknownst to him, Auntie stood quietly in a corner, having heard everything. Her brows furrowed, and she followed him towards his office. Before he could enter, she called out.

Auntie: "Lian… can I have a moment?"

Lian paused, turning around in surprise. Auntie's voice always carried weight.

Lian Victor: "Auntie… is something wrong?"

Auntie approached slowly but with conviction. "I overheard you… saying Maya doesn't belong here."

Lian Victor, coldly: "You heard right."

Auntie crossed her arms. "Why? You haven't even seen her dance."

Lian Victor didn't hesitate. "You've known me since I was a kid… you know I can't stand irresponsibility. I gave her a week, and instead of learning from others, she went off… wasting time. She doesn't belong here."

Auntie stepped closer, her tone calm yet firm. "You've always been like this… judging only what's in front of your eyes."

Lian frowned but remained silent as Auntie added, "Fine… send her away if you want. But stay in the Silver House tonight before making your decision… that's all I have to say."

Without waiting for a response, Auntie turned and walked away, her steady steps echoing through the arena. Lian stood there for a moment, watching her leave before entering his office… but for the first time in years, his mind wasn't settled—it was full of questions.