Potential To Be Strong

Chapter 20: Separation

"Yuzuru, there is no way I am going on your float," I say with a flat expression. It's time for Yuzuru's celebration parade. And he has this crazy idea that I should be on his float.

"Wouldn't it be cute if you were up there with me?" Yuzuru tries to argue with me.

I give him a look that reads, 'Seriously?' "I might be booed off by your fans. They want to see you, not little ole me."

"Then what are you going to do while I'm on the float alone?"

"If you had paid attention to the meeting with the parade committee, I will ride behind your float in a car." I flick his forehead softly. "Your family and I will be in the car together. Why the Japanese federation want me there is beyond me?"

"I asked them to put you there. I knew you had to be at my parade."

"Well that makes sense. I didn't think I'd participate, but this is for you. Not everyone is a back-to-back Olympic champion."

"Yes, that is true. I just want to get this parade over with and get back to skating. I have a lot to think about for this next season."

"It's still early. Let's focus on this parade first. It's going to be long and there will be a lot of people looking at you."

"I'd rather be looking at you."

I look over at Yuzuru and he's giving me a cheeky smile. I roll my eyes playfully before turning away from him. Yuzuru comes over and wraps his arms around my waist.

"You're not mad, are you?" Yuzuru asks childishly.

"Of course not. I-"

I'm interrupted by my phone going off. It's a call from my mother. I hold up a finger to Yuzuru to be quiet as I pick up the call.

"Hello Nanay," I say very gently.

"Hello anak. How are you?" My mother asks normally.

"I'm doing well. I'm just with Yuzuru right now."

"Oh, how is he?"

"He's doing fine. We're getting ready for his parade tomorrow."

"Wow. He's getting a parade? How fancy. He must be really famous."

"Well he is the reigning Olympic gold medalist."

"That's right. Well I just wanted to call you and see how you're doing. I've missed you at the house."

"I've missed you too, Nanay. How has everyone been? How have you been?"

"Everyone is fine. I'm okay. I didn't want to ruin your day or anything, but I needed to let you know that I'm moving back to home."

My heart stops for a second. I quickly move to the other side of the hotel room. My mom wants to move back to the Philippines? What about Mateo? What about Mary? What about father?

"Anak, I'm leaving your father. We're getting a divorce here in Canada and then after that I'm going back to the Philippines. I'm taking Mateo with me. Your ate is staying in Canada. She found a nice man and wants to stay with him. I know you're working with Yuzuru so I imagine you'll want to stay with him. He's good for you. I've always liked him. Just know that I'm not leaving just yet. It'll take awhile for the divorce to finalize, but hopefully you'll be back in time before I leave."

"Okay. I'll be back towards the end of summer. I hope you are not gone by then. I love you so much, mom."

"I love you too, sweetie. I hope to see you soon. Goodbye."

We both hang up the phone. I turn back around as I have been facing the wall this during the call. Yuzuru looks at me with concern.

"My mother is moving back to the Philippines after she divorces my father," I murmur lowly.

Yuzuru rushes over to me and holds me to his chest. "I am so sorry," he whispers, resting his head against mine.

"It's not you who needs to say sorry, Yuzu. I just can't believe this is happening. Canada was supposed to change our lives for the better, but it appears that that didn't happen for my parents. I don't know what to do."

"I don't know if you can do anything but be there for your family. Do you want to go back to Canada?"

"No, I ran away from Canada so I wouldn't have to deal with what's going on, but it seems like I can't avoid it."

I snuggle myself further into Yuzuru. I wish none of this was happening. But I wish I could have seen it coming.

"I don't know how this feels, but I am here for you no matter what," Yuzuru says softly.

"That's all I could ever ask for," I reply sadly.

I don't want what happened to my parents to happen to me if I were to marry Yuzuru. The thought has crossed my mind since I found out my father cheated on my mother. I know Yuzuru would never even imagine hurting me that way, but a girl never knows. And it hurts knowing my father could do such a thing to someone who has been there for him through thick and thin. I don't know for sure if Yuzuru and I will get married in the future, but I do know that we will not follow in my parents footsteps.

I pull away from Yuzuru and wipe unshed tears from my eyes. I walk over to the bed Yuzuru and I have been sharing at this hotel the JSF put us up in. I pick up two outfits I bought for Yuzuru's parade and hold them up for Yuzuru to see. One is a pale blue pants suit and the other is a black silk dress.

"So which one should I wear for the parade?"