Love on Thin Ice

Chapter 10 - Max

After a week filled with hockey games and endless thoughts of Reina, I finally found myself back at the university. Despite the busy schedule with games and the excitement of training, her memory lingered in the back of my mind, refusing to fade away. The brief encounter at the hockey game replayed in my thoughts over and over again, each moment etched into my memory. No woman has ever been in my mind for this long. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special about her, something that drew me to her in a way I couldn't quite explain. "God, I sound like a teenager who's in love with his first girlfriend," I murmured to myself.

As I made my way through the familiar corridors of the university, my thoughts went to these studies. Do I really need it? I don't enjoy this, I do this because of mom. But I'm living my own life already, I have my own money, a lot of it. And it's becoming hard to study and play hockey, as I play in the NHL the main priority can't be studying. I'm getting physically and mentally tired of going to school after these long trips and games.

And then I'm back to thinking about Reina, again. The idea of a relationship intrigued me, but I wasn't sure if I was truly ready for it or if she would be ready. Being in the spotlight isn't for everyone, traveling around the world playing hockey also isn't for anyone. Yeah, for now, I'm not planning to sign a contract with a new team, I love this team, besides, it's one of the best in the rank. But we need to travel around for other games and in the season it's pretty often.

As I walked through the bustling hallway, lost in my thoughts, I accidentally collided with someone near the lockers, again. Instinctively, I reached out, and to my surprise, I found myself catching her once again.

Our eyes met, and in that instant, recognition flashed between us. My heart skipped a beat with a mix of excitement and disbelief as I held her in my arms once more. 

Reina looked startled. As she looked up at me, her gaze locking with mine, I couldn't help but feel a surge of familiarity and connection. I couldn't believe my luck as I found myself once again catching her in my arms. The familiar scent of her perfume and the softness of her touch sent a wave of nostalgia and excitement coursing through my whole body. 

"Why hello there, Ms. 'I don't answer hockey player messages," I teased, breaking the tension with a grin.

Reina responded with a hesitant "Hey... uh... about that... sorry. I had my reasons," her voice tinged with apology.

I couldn't help but smirk at her response. "Looks like fate wants us to meet again," I remarked, nudging her gently.

Reina countered with a skeptical, "Or maybe it's just a coincidence."

Chuckling at her reluctance to believe in fate, I replied, "Looks like someone doesn't believe in fate."

With a playful glint in her eye, Reina quipped, "What can I say, I'm more skeptical about these things. And looks like you are ready to catch every falling girl."

As I spoke, a playful smirk tugged at the corners of my lips. "Well, maybe I have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. And not every girl, only you."

Reina raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident in her expression. "Is that so? Or perhaps you're just exceptionally clumsy."

I chuckled at her response, appreciating her quick wit. "Touché," I conceded, still unable to wipe the grin from my face. "But regardless of how we got here, I'm glad we did."

"Well, I'm not so sure about that. It seems like you have a habit of causing accidents," Reina remarked with a hint of teasing in her tone.

I chuckled at her playful jab, eager to keep the conversation light. "Hey, now, let's not jump to conclusions. Besides, I think fate has a funny way of bringing people together," I replied, hoping to steer the conversation toward a more optimistic note.

"Fate, huh? That's a bold claim," Reina countered, her skepticism evident in her voice.

"Bold claims are my specialty," I quipped, flashing a grin. "But who knows, maybe fate has something special in store for us."

Reina's response was met with a nod. "Or maybe it's just a coincidence as I said before. Either way, it's nice to see you again."

"I'll take that as a win," I replied, my tone light and casual. "So, how have you been?"

Reina's answer came easily. "Busy, as usual. Just trying to keep up with classes and everything else."

"I hear you," I sympathized. "The trip to hockey games was not the easiest one, but I'm glad to be back on campus."

"But hey, enough about me. What about you? Any exciting plans?"

"Not really," Reina admitted with a wry smile. "Just trying to survive midterms."

"Sounds like a blast," I chuckled, sensing her stress.

"Oh, you have no idea," she retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

"Well, if you ever need a study break-" I began, the words trailing off as I recognized the voices of my "fan girls". Their swooning and giggling were unmistakable, a constant presence in my life. One more reason I hated university. As a professional athlete, I have no place in this kind of place, it's not for me. They were drawn to me like moths to a flame, and as much as I wanted to focus on Reina, I knew I couldn't ignore their presence. With an apologetic smile, I gently released Reina and turned to address my fans.

"Hey, everyone! How's it going?" I greeted my enthusiastic admirers, plastering on my charismatic and friendly demeanor as best I could.

The girls swarmed around me, their excitement and curiosity bubbling over in a flurry of compliments and queries. I tried to connect with each of them, and really I did. Yet, in the whirlwind of attention, my gaze kept slipping away, pulled back to Reina. 

All this attention....it's a blast sometimes, but not always. There are moments when I crave the simple stuff—just being a regular guy, away from the non-stop buzz of my phone. But that's just a dream when you're in the public eye like I am. Well especially in university, when I'm walking on a street, there are not as many people running to me and asking for photos and all that stuff. One more reason to leave this place, right?

In the midst of it all, my eyes darted back to Reina's last spot. But she was gone, vanished like a whisper.

"Thanks for your support, everyone!" I told my fans, flashing a final smile. "I've got to run, but I'll see you at the next game!"

With that, I began to make my way through the crowd, searching for Reina.