“You fall, you get up and smile.” Her mother shrugs.

“Why?” Jimin asks, feeling the wet cold seeping through her leotard.

“Because you’re human.” She smiles warmly. “You can fall and get right back up. Cry and then smile after, it’s all so simply human. You’re allowed to make mistakes.”

“Okay.” Jimin nods, standing up.

“You must be cold, let’s get ice cream.” Her mother says.

“But it’s cold.” Jimin frowns.

“It’s never too cold for ice cream.” She winks and Jimin beams.

 

—

 

“You’ll win silver again?” Seulgi asks Minjeong as the younger girl ties her skates. Minjeong looks up at her worried coach and beams.

“Of course I will.” She says confidently.

“Good. As long as you place in the three, we’ll be fine. I don’t really have anything to worry about, do I?” Seulgi smiles softly at Minjeong.

“Not at all.” Minjeong bounces up when she finishes lacing up her skates.

“Good?” Seulgi asks her and Minjeong nods.

 

Minjeong shakes out her body and Seulgi looks at her with something on her mind.

 

“This year she’s competing against you.” Seulgi says and Minjeong nods, not needing to know who ‘she’ is.

“I know.” She answers. “I’ve been competing against her since she won the grand prix.”

“Then you know we have to work twice as hard if we want gold.” Seulgi says and Minjeong chuckles.

“As much as I want gold, it’d be impossible with her.” Minjeong states.

“Well you’re Winter.” Seulgi grins. “The cold won’t bother you.”

“You’re still not funny, coach.” Minjeong snorts.

 

Their attention is off each other when the speakers begin to boom.

 

“Karina Yudovich!” The announcer calls out. “Russia’s very own black swan and machine on ice, please welcome her to the rink!”

 

Winter is up next, so Seulgi takes her where the skaters are meant to wait. They have a clear view of the rink and Winter swallows thickly when she catches a glimpse of Karina. She’s dressed in a simple black leotard with silver accents, paired with a headband resembling a black swan.

 

Karina skates around the rink as she warms up before her program.

 

“Welcome all to the European figure skating championship!” The announcer whoops. “On the ice we have Karina Yudovich, who is a two time world’s junior champion, a Russian national champion, and the gold medalist for the last Grand Prix Final - let’s see what Russia’s black swan has in store for us today!”

 

The crowd roars just as Karina skates into the centre— claiming position.

 

Karina’s aura is like no other— Winter will admit. She’s got this dark aura that commands all the people in a room to have eyes on her. Like she’s possessed, Winter isn’t better than anyone else who admires Karina.

 

She once skated beside Karina a long time ago, and now she’s skating against her.

 

How the times have changed.

 

When Karina finishes up her routine, and Winter’s jitters are just about up by tenfold— the crowd erupts into cheers.

 

“My, my - we can never be let down by Yudovich! What an impressive performance!” The announcer cheers.

 

“Ready?” Seulgi asks her and she nods.

“Sure.” She says.

“Don’t be discouraged by her.” Seulgi tells her.

“I’m not.” She says quickly and Seulgi looks at her like she doesn’t believe her.

“Okay. I believe in you.” Seulgi hugs her tightly before letting her go.

“Thanks, coach.” Winter smiles as she shrugs off her jacket— revealing a white bodice accented with gold.

 

As Winter makes it to the rink, she sees Karina and her eyes meet hers, and for a moment in time, it feels like the world stops when Karina’s eyes meet hers. Karina’s eyes are sharp and so deep like Winter might drown in them if she stared any longer. She swallows thickly before turning away.

 

“Winter Kim!” The announcer calls out. “Up next we have Korea’s very own ice princess, please welcome her to the ice!”

 

Everyone cheers as Winter grins and waves to everyone sweetly as she glides across the ice.

 

“On the ice is Winter Kim, silver medalist for the world junior championship - Kim has been dubbed a child prodigy all her life, going on to win Gold at the Korean nationals, and silver at grand prix! Hold onto your scarves folks ‘cause Winter’s about to freeze this place!”

 

The crowd screams and Winter smiles as she skates towards the centre, standing steady with her hands by her side.

 

And so it begins.

 

—

 

It’s no surprise when Winter places silver and Karina places Gold. They’re side by side again and Winter wonders just when are the people going to dig up the fact that they used to train together.

 

Winter gets down from the podium and she turns back and unconsciously helps Karina off of hers.

 

Winter smiles small and so does Karina.

 

Winter expects Karina to let go of her hand but when she doesn't Winter blinks and looks up.

 

“I’ll see you at World’s.” Karina says before letting go.

 

Winter is still in a daze when she’s sitting at a celebratory dinner with her coach and her teammates.

 

“Hah! Look - Minjeong’s got a gossip article!” Ningning snorts and everyone crows around her. Minjeong raises her glass of water to her lips shakily and takes a sip as she tries to prevent her curiosity.

“Sunbae - I didn’t know you knew Karina Yudovich?” Hanni, one of their junior skaters says and Minjeong swallows nervously.

“You should know her too.” Seulgi says. “She used to train on this team.”

 

“What!”

 

The whole team seems to not know this and Minjeong doesn’t blame them. Seulgi wasn’t a proper coach back then, when they were younger. She was just a retired skater who occasionally played with and trained with them when they were little. Later, Seulgi became a coach and Minjeong began entering competitions. Karina had left after that and then the team began to come together.

 

“She’s korean?!” Yuna, another junior, sputters.

“Born and raised.” Seulgi confirms.

“What’s her korean name?” Hanni asks.

“Yu Jimin.” Minjeong answers and her cheeks grow pink when everyone’s eyes are suddenly on her. “Her name is - or, was Yu Jimin.”

“How long did you train with her?” Aeri— another teammate asks.

“They trained together from four to thirteen.” Seulgi says.

“Woah, you’ve known her for that long?” Hanni’s eyes widen and Minjeong nods slowly.

“Wow, you guys must be besties.” Yuna says and Minjeong shakes her head slowly.

“Um.. I haven’t spoken to her since I was thirteen.” She says.

 

“What!”

 

“What was this then?” Ningning asks as she shoves her phone in Minjeong’s face.

 

Minjeong sees the moment when she had offered her hand for Karina to step down the podium, and then there’s another photo of them smiling, and another talking.

 

Talking?

Karina literally said five words to her and Minjeong out after that.

 

Winter Kim and Karina Yudovich seem to be in good spirits as they seem to be friendly! Let’s see them at World’s next!

 

“Force of habit?” Minjeong offers weakly and Ningning rolls her eyes.

“Boo.” Ningning pouts.

“Are you guys not friends anymore because she moved to Russia and joined their team?” Aeri asks and Minjeong imagines Karina speaking Russian and it sends a chill down her spine.

“I-I guess so.” She shrugs weakly. “We drifted after that and never came back, but when I saw her and when she won at Grand Prix… I guess I was happy.”

“Aw! That’s so sweet, Sunbae!” Hanni coos and Minjeong blushes.

 

They finish the dinner and they head for dessert at some ice cream parlour.

 

Everyone orders their ice cream and settles down. Minjeong looks over at Seulgi and finds her glued to her phone, watching a video.

 

“Coach?” She questions.

“Hm.” Seulgi hums.

“What are you watching?” She asks, leaning closer to her coach like a curious child.

“The competition.” Seulgi answers curtly.

“Are you watching me?” Minjeong asks until she’s leaning on Seulgi’s arm.

“No.” Seulgi says.

“You’re watching Karina?” Minjeong blinks.

“Her technique’s changed.” Seulgi comments and Minjeong looks at the tiny phone screen and watches Karina.

“It has.” Minjeong nods as she recalls watching Karina’s routine.

 

It was so powerful— Minjeong thinks she felt the ice shake every jump Karina made.

 

“It’s destructive.” Seulgi says and Minjeong frowns.

“Is it different from before?” Minjeong asks quietly.

“It is. She used to focus more on her artistry, but now it’s all technical.” Seulgi furrows her brows as she watches Karina land a lutz jump. “She’s all power and not grace - for example, her jumps are insane.”

 

Minjeong had never seen such a clean lutz before and she understands why Karina earns so many golds.

 

“It’s Russian.” Minjeong says and Seulgi snorts.

“You’re right about that.” Seulgi says. “I wonder how Karina’s been able to cope with the Russian training.”

 

Minjeong swallows and she imagines the kind of training she has to go through compared to Karina’s.

 

It’s incomparable.

 

—

 

It’s a few weeks later and it’s a couple days before the World’s in Saitama, Japan. Minjeong’s been practising her spins on the harness.

 

She feels invincible spinning, but she thinks she looks ridiculous to anyone else— like a potato attached to a ceiling fan, but Seulgi stops her and Minjeong slumps midair.

 

“You alright?” Seulgi asks her as she helps her down.

“Sure. If wanting to throw up whatever I ate this morning is alright, then I sure am.” Minjeong groans and Seulgi chuckles.

 

Minjeong stumbles before plopping down onto the bench where her skates are.

 

“You just said you wanted to throw up, and now you want to try it on ice?” Seulgi asks unimpressed and Minjeong shrugs.

“I’m invincible. I can do it now.” Minjeong beams and Seulgi rolls her eyes.

“Alright, but go easy. I don’t need you to get any sudden injuries now.” Seulgi tells her. “Thank god you’re my only athlete with no injuries.”

“See, I’m healthy and strong. I’ll never let you down, coach.” Minjeong grins as she tightens her skates.

“You never could if you tried.” Seulgi pats her head affectionately before letting her go on the ice.

 

She follows behind with her own skates and stands at a distance to allow Minjeong space.

 

Minjeong takes a deep breath and focuses on the steady ice beneath her. She focuses on the muscles in her legs, her arms, and the space she has to pull this off.

 

She centres her body and mind and then she opens her eyes.

 

She begins to skate around the ice— gaining momentum and air as she prepares herself. When Minjeong ever wants to do a jump— she sees it in her head like those step by step instructions. Those instructions then come together and make a picture in movement, and then it becomes one with her mind and body.

 

She pushes off the ice, she’s in the air— and then she spins.

 

Her core is tightened and she twists her body with the air— spinning with grace like a leaf in the wind.

 

Her feet meet the ground— connecting with the ice with a sharp screech.

 

She feels it is not enough, so she digs her skate into the ice before pushing off and throwing out another three perfect spins.

 

She skates to a stop and her heart rings in her ears loudly— beating like the drums of war as she catches her breath.

 

She turns back and finds Seulgi looking at her brightly.

 

“Coach! I did it!” She skates to Seulgi and she crashes into her as she hugs Seulgi tightly as they slide across the ice.

“You were so beautiful!” Seulgi hugs her just as tightly. “You’re insane, Minjeong!”

 

Another voice startles them apart.

 

"Kim Minjeong, you did not just do a triple toe and triple loop combo like it was nothing.” Joohyun grins as she watches them from where the ice meets the carpet.

“Joohyun-unnie!” Minjeong springs up and runs off the ice to hug her.

“Woah!” Joohyun stumbles back as she holds Minjeong in her arms. “Have you gotten taller?”

“She actually has, it’s getting annoying to see eye to eye with her.” Seulgi says as she gets off the ice too.

 

Minjeong and Joohyun break apart for Seulgi to hug her.

 

“Hi, baby.” Joohyun smiles softly as she kisses Seulgi chastely.

“Hi.” Seulgi beams.

 

Minjeong squeals and Seulgi rolls her eyes.

 

“Joohyun-unnie, are you here to feed me?” Minjeong jumps up excitedly as she thinks of Joohyun’s home cooking.

“How did you know, Minjeongie?” Joohyun pinches her cheek.

“You’re not tired from work?” Seulgi asks her, worried about her wife— who is a full time dance instructor.

“No, class was cut a bit short because one of the toddlers got sick.” She tells them and Seulgi nods.

“Let’s go - let’s go!” Minjeong cheers and Joohyun stops her.

“Hold on - get your skates off first!” She laughs and Minjeong grins sheepishly.

 

—

 

Joohyun drives them both back to the apartment she shares with Seulgi and Minjeong’s the first one to get out of the car— throwing her bag down at the door and kicking off her shoes carelessly.

 

Seulgi shakes her head before picking up Minjeong’s bag as Joohyun rearranges her shoes.

 

“Sometimes I think Minjeong is our child.” Seulgi chuckles and Joohyun laughs.

“You’re right about that.” Joohyun says.

 

Minjeong washes her hands and her face quickly before sitting down at the dinner table— bouncing in her seat as she kicks her feet up and down.

 

Joohyun heats up what she prepared earlier and places it in front of Minjeong who is buzzing like a bee.

 

“Careful, it’s hot.” Joohyun pats Minjeong’s head affectionately.

“I know.” Minjeong says even if she puts her spoon into the hot soup first thing— burning her tongue.

“Were you missing my cooking that much?” Joohyun chuckles and Minjeong nods.

“Yes, I’ve been dying for it.” Minjeong says dramatically.

 

They all sit down and begin to eat.

 

Joohyun pulls up the re-taped recording of the European figure skating championship that occurred a few weeks ago.

 

Joohyun watches intently as she monitors both Minjeong and Karina’s performance.

 

“Minjeong-ah, you’ve improved so quick.” Joohyun says. “Here you’re struggling to lift your leg at your axel jump and earlier at practice, you did it flawlessly.”

“I’ve got a good coach, what can I say?” Minjeong nudges Seulgi and she rolls her eyes affectionately.

“And I’ve got a good skater.” Seulgi says and Minjeong beams.

 

Joohyun continues to watch and Minjeong grows curious.

 

“Unnie?” Minjeong starts quietly.

“Hm?” Joohyun turns back to her.

“Do you… do you ever miss being on the ice?” Minjeong questions and Joohyun smiles softly.

“Sometimes.” She says. “I can still skate but I guess it’s not the same after tearing your ACL, plus I do sometimes miss competing.”

“That’s because you used to win all the time and beat me.” Seulgi reminisces on the time they were on the national Korean team together a long time ago.

“I am a bit competitive.” Joohyun shrugs.

“A bit?” Seulgi snorts and Joohyun hits her over the table.

 

Back in the day before Minjeong even ever thought about competing in figure skating, it was Seulgi and Joohyun before her. Joohyun was the ice queen and now the title is down to Minjeong— ice princess. Joohyun and Seulgi would always place together whether it be gold and silver, or silver and bronze, but a terrible incident happened right before World’s. Joohyun had torn her ACL and forfeited from ice skating. She then retired to recuperate herself. Joohyun had fallen into a bad slump and Seulgi was disheartened to not have her girlfriend and partner beside her on the ice.

 

Years later, Seulgi retired too, no longer wanting to be evaluated and wanting to compete. She’d rather skate for the art and not the pressure, and now Minjeong came along as her star pupil.

 

They watch Karina’s program after and Joohyun’s eyes never leave the screen. Minjeong doesn’t think she blinks either.

 

“Seulgi-unnie says her techniques changed. Do you think so too?” Minjeong asks.

“I can see it.” Joohyun answers. “It would make sense, though. Look at her - she’s all muscles. There’s power in all her turns and jumps.”

“She’s a beast.” Seulgi shudders and Minjeong looks at the TV.

 

She see’s Karina’s sharp gaze and evil grin meet the cameras and she swallows.

 

“If you’re described to skate like liquid gold - or like water, then do you know what Karina skates like?” Joohyun asks her and Minjeong shakes her head.

 

“Like fire.”

 

They catch up for the rest of the night and Minjeong falls asleep on the pull out couch early to prepare for her flight to Japan tomorrow. Seulgi looks down at Minjeong as she adjusts the younger girl’s blanket properly to come up to her chin.

 

“She’s so young and she’s out there achieving things no one does at this age.” Seulgi says quietly and Joohyun hugs her from behind. “I worry about her a lot.”

“She’s a big girl.” Joohyun says softly. “And she has you to take care of her.”
 

Seulgi nods and turns to her side to kiss Joohyun’s crown.

 

“Let’s get to bed? We have to wake up early.” Seulgi says and Joohyun nods, pulling her into the bedroom.

 

Minjeong wakes up the next morning to the sweet smell of eggs and toast. She cracks an eye open and sees Joohyun in the kitchen. She gets up and gets her favourite mug and pouring water into it. She drinks it and clears .

 

“Where’s Seulgi-unnie?” Minjeong asks.

“Dead asleep.” Joohyun snorts. “She sleeps like a log.”

“Of course.” Minjeong shakes her head before putting her mug down and heading to the bathroom.

 

She freshens up and checks her bag that she poached days earlier for convenience to see if she’s forgetting anything. She sees her skates in perfect condition and smiles. She zips up her bag and gets dressed.

 

When she exits the bathroom, she sees Seulgi had woken up already as she sees her at the dinner table eating a piece of toast.

 

“Eat up champ, we’ve got a long couple of days ahead of us.” Seulgi pats her on the back and Minjeong nods.

 

—

 

When they reach the airport, Joohyun comes around and takes out a bag of her own too.

 

“You’re coming with us?” Minjeong asks and Joohyun beams.

“Of course. It’s not everyday I get to see you compete at World’s. Soon you’ll be at the Olympics in Seoul.” Joohyun says and Minjeong’s grin widens.

 

They board the plane and make it to Saitama safely. They check into the hotel and Minjeong lies down on the bed— stretching her limbs. Seulgi had gotten her a room across from her own one with Joohyun, so if Minjeong ever needed anything, she could just go over and knock.

 

Minjeong doesn’t feel too tired and feels like she should practise.

 

She takes her bag and checks her skates again before going outside in the hallway. Just as she closes the door, she hears commotion to her right. She turns and her eyes widen as she lets out a little squeak.

 

Karina’s in the same hotel as her.

 

Karina looks back at her with eyes just as wide.

 

“Uh.. hi.” Minjeong swallows thickly and Karina smiles softly.

“Hi, Winter.” Karina says.

 

Minjeong looks down and sees Karina with a duffle bag labelled Russian national team.

 

“Are you heading to practise too?” Minjeong asks and Karina nods.

“You too?” She asks and Minjeong nods too.

“I’ll see you there then.” She says before turning away.

 

Minjeong watches her walk but then she stops and turns back around.

 

“It’s nice to see you again, Minjeong.” She says softly and Minjeong’s cheeks flare red as her stomach flutters with feelings of the past.

 

Karina disappears and she almost forgets why she had come out earlier. She shakes her head out of her reverie before knocking on the room in front of her.

 

—

 

“Good, take it easy.” Seulgi tells her as Minjeong skates past— doing a salchow jump. “Don’t want to overexert yourself for tomorrow.”

 

Minjeong can’t really help it, but as she skates— her eyes keep straying to her left. She catches glimpses of Karina training in the same rink as her.

 

It seemed like Winter and Karina were the only two that were that eager to practise first thing after landing in Japan. Most of the other competitors either stayed in their hotels or went sightseeing. They’re sharing the same rink, so they’re trying to be mindful and not to crash into each other. Seulgi and Minjeong don’t mind sharing, but it seems like Karina’s coach is displeased.

 

“Karina.” Karina’s coach’s voice is deep and heavily accented.

 

He says something in Russian and when Karina responds in Russian, Minjeong bumps into Seulgi.

 

“Yah, Kim Minjeong.” Seulgi flicks her on the forehead. “Quit ogling Karina and stay focused!” She whispers harshly and Minjeong flounders— face going red.

“I-I wasn’t!” Minjeong sputters and Seulgi rolls her eyes.

 

She sneaks another glance and finds Karina looking right back at her with a small smile.

 

She totally just heard whatever she just said to Seulgi in Korean.

 

Karina’s coach seems to be distracted after a while and Winter and Karina seem to converge closer together as they skate.

 

They end up skating side by side soon after— falling into a distant and familiar routine.

 

“You still understand Korean?” Winter asks dumbly and Karina hides her laugh behind her hand, eyes crinkling away in delight.

“I didn’t abandon my nation so easily as the press says.” Karina snorts and Winter flounders again.

“I-I didn’t mean it like that - I swear!” Minjeong almost loses balance as she shakes her hands.

“I know.” Karina cuts her off with a soft smile.

 

They skate past each other and then come back again as they make a round around the ice rink.

 

“Are you nervous for tomorrow?” Winter tires to make small talk.

“Not really, no.” Karina smirks.

“Are you ever nervous?” Winter snorts and Karina just looks at her with a soft expression.

“I have been.” She says.

“Oh really, when?” Winter challenges.

“Grand Prix.” Karina says and Winter blinks.

“Why?” She asks.

“Because you were there.” Karina says it so quietly, Winter thinks she’s hearing things.

 

They come to a stop in the centre and Winter blinks and Karina only looks at her with an unreadable expression. There are so many things Winter wants to say and she’s sure Karina has too, but timing is never right.

 

“Karina!” Her coach calls out.

“Sorry.” Karina says before skating away.

 

Winter returns to Seulgi who is beside Joohyun now. Joohyun hands her a water bottle and she takes a sip of it, suddenly noticing that she’s very thirsty.

 

“Was she getting into your head?” Joohyun asks, as she peers from the side and sees Karina’s coach talking fast in Russian in hushed tones.

“No, Jim- I mean - Karina’s not like that.” She shakes her head. “We were just catching up.”
“You don’t know that. She’s been training with the Russians for years.” Joohyun sighs. “No one knows what they do to their athletes.”

 

Minjeong looks back and sees Karina up in the air— doing a perfect jump and spin.

 

—

 

Minjeong returns to her hotel room after dinner with coach and Joohyun. She slumps onto the bed, tired from eating and sightseeing the streets of Japan. Her eyes flutter close for a moment, but then she hears the sound of the door to her neighbours room open and close.

 

She sits up and looks at the clock in the hotel room. It was 10:00 pm and Karina was just getting back now?

 

Minjeong sits on heart thoughts for a moment, pacing around in her room before she takes a deep breath and puts on her coat— pocketing her room keycard. She goes over to Karina’s room and stands there for maybe over thirty seconds before she knocks.

 

She shifts her weight from one leg to the other and each second that passes, Minjeong considers running away and pretending someone else just ding-dong ditched if Karina comes over to ask.

 

The door opens and Minjeong’s eyes widen.

 

“Who is it - oh.” Karina is just as surprised. “Winter.”
“Hi.” Winter waves weakly.

“Did you - um, did you want to come in?” Karina asks and Winter nods.

 

Karina steps aside and Winter looks around subtly. Karina still hadn’t settled in yet, the bag was still on the bed and the bed was still made. Karina’s still wearing what she did earlier at the rink.

 

“Have you eaten yet?” Winter asks and Karina shakes her head.

“Great - because I’ve been craving noodles so bad and I think I walked past a convenience store downstairs!” Winter says quickly, pretending she still isn’t full and dying from a food coma.

“I - I’m not sure if I’m hungry…” Karina hesitates and Winter brings out her puppy eyes.

“Please?” Winter asks and Karina softens.

“Okay.” She surrenders. “I’ll get my coat.”

 

Winter grins before hopping outside and waiting for Karina to come out. She hopes her body can stomach noodles right now because the thought of it makes her want to throw up.

 

Karina comes out and Winter beams.

 

She begins to walk and tries to relax because along the way, Karina links their arms together and Winter’s body stiffens at the contact.

 

They stop at the convenience store and they both pick out noodles before making them and sitting at the stools near the window. Karina watches the people still passing by at this time of night outside the window, and Winter watches Karina.

 

“I think they’re ready.” Karina says and Winter looks away quickly.

“Yup.” Winter winces at her strange behaviour.

 

Winter eats slowly as she tries to stomach it and she watches silently in surprise as Karina slurps up all the noodles in record time.

 

“I thought you said you were hungry?” Karina says