A/N: Thank you guys so much for your wonderful comments :3 You guys are my motivation. I'll go back to ch.1 and add English translations for Stammi Vicino now. Without further ado, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Victor and I didn't speak about that night. He acted as though he didn't remember a thing. Maybe he really didn't, but when he woke up on top of me next morning, he didn't look surprised.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," he raised his eyes from where his head lay on my chest and smiled.
I forced my eyelids open and groaned at the harshness of the light entering through the curtains. When I came to, I pressed a hand on my mouth to keep my jaw from falling.
Victor and I slept in the same bed last night.
Victor slid out of the bed and yawned, stretching his back. He stumbled for a moment and held the bed-post for support, his other hand moving to his forehead. Then he acted like he didn't just get a bout of dizziness from all the alcohol he ingested last night, and said cheerily "Let's get some breakfast!"
I was too mortified to say anything.
During breakfast, Yurio suspiciously eyed Victor and me, while chewing his cereal. Then he gobbled down a small carton of milk and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. I couldn't bear to look at Victor, who sat beside me in nothing but a pair of sweatpants, the ring still hanging from his neck. He spread jam on a slice of bread.
"Russian jams are amazing," he said. "You should try some, Yuuri." He put the slice he'd been preparing on my plate.
"T-thanks, Victor," I managed to say as I took a bite. A rich flavor exploded in my mouth. "Mmm!" I exclaimed, my eyes sparkling. "They're vkusno!"
Victor smiled, his eyes becoming down-turned crescents. "I know right."
I managed a small smile but still felt incredibly tense, and that feeling continued for the rest of the day.
During practice, Victor checked his phone more often than he skated.
"Pinning for messages?" Georgi asked as he passed Victor.
"M-mm," Victor answered, looking at his screen.
"Ah, the trepidation of lovers~!" I really wanted to punch Georgi then.
Damn it. I was becoming like Yurio. Victor was turning me into a psychopath.
"Time for lunch," Mila said suddenly, skating past me.
"Not that place again," Georgi frowned.
"What's wrong with that place?" Mila asked, leaning on the dasher board, allowing a moderate view of her cleavage.
Georgi gulped.
"Moron," Yurio remarked as he stopped beside them. "Let's go. I'm starving." He paused. "Oi, Yuuri!" he called, "Are you coming?"
"Of course he is!" Mila scolded him, "And so is prince charming," she nodded towards Victor.
Yurio gritted his teeth. "What the hell, baba!"
"Coming!" Victor said as we left the rink. He was still looking at his phone, a pleasant smile plastered on his face.
We changed and left the compound. A cool breeze greeted us when we stepped outside, and the cawing of seagulls. The river appeared in the steely gray of a stormy day, it's surface a polished slab of lead. One couldn't help but surrender their gaze to the thoughts lurking in its depths...
Victor... what happened between you two last night?
A luxurious restaurant filled with people polished to perfection-with pretty staff, pretty customers, pretty view, pretty decor. She had worn her prettiest dress and looked as cute as a button, her auburn hair cascading down her shoulders. You sat by the large windows, naturally, a single candle flickering at the center of the table. You swept her off her feet. The food was delicious, and you ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, with the best wine. A romantic instrumental piece played in the background, and the bustle of the city unraveled beneath your feet.
You looked into her eyes with love, and she turned her head away, embarrassed. You told her not to worry and took her hand... kissed it with your gentle lips... she turned to you and smiled. You were such a gentleman.
A tiny bell chimed, when Mila pushed open a heavy, wooden door.
We had arrived at a small, cozy shop on the right side of the street. One by one, we filed in, Victor close behind me. Had he noticed my brooding? Probably not, although he did appear unusually pensive. We sat on a table for four and Georgi went to buy us pirozhki. When he returned, Yurio took a huge bite from one of his little dough balls.
"Grandpa makes 'em bettewr," he said through a full mouth.
Next, Georgi and Yurio started bantering about what makes a good pirog. Victor listened to them with a smile. Something buzzed in his pocket, diluting his attention. He looked down. That's when Mila seized the moment.
"So," she said, completely ignoring Georgi and Yurio, and glad that there was something finally worth her interest. "How was last night?"
Victor looked up and his mouth turn into a small frown. "Hmm?"
"You know! With Irina? You did go out, didn't you?"
Mila had asked something I had been wondering about, but hadn't found the nerve to ask myself. Honestly, I didn't want to hear about their wonderful night. All I wanted to know was how... how Victor ended up... in bed with me.
"Mm," Victor said, and smiled maliciously. "You would like to know, wouldn't you?"
Mila nodded. "Well, go on! Speak!"
Victor scratched his chin and looked at the ceiling briefly.
"It was wonderful!" He said suddenly, and continued enthusiastically, "First, we ordered an assortment of meats, and some salad to go with it. Soup, of course. Grilled Tuna as a main dish, and Arcione wine. They had the sweetest waiters, and everything was absolutely delicious. She loved it."
She loved it, huh?
The doting with which Victor described her enjoyment pained me. Why, Victor? Can't you see the pain I'm in?
But Victor made an effort not to look at me.
"Not the food, you dork! How was she?" Mila insisted.
Victor's enthusiasm dimmed, and a peaceful smile graced his lips. "The woman of my dreams, Mila," he said.
That's it. I couldn't take it anymore.
I had to do something, I had to say something... but what? What could I do that wouldn't humiliate me in Victor's eyes... or worse, humiliate Victor?
Nothing, except act like everything was alright. Yet the longer I sat, the harsher the tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I had to distract myself, or at least find an excuse for being sad. So I flipped out my phone, and started scrolling through Instagram posts. I hadn't been expecting it at all when it hit me: a photo of Irina and Victor sitting at a table, smiling. They both looked perfect. And happy.
That's when the tears started to fall.
I brushed them away with the back of my hand as quickly as possible, but everyone at the table had already noticed.
"Yuuri? What happened?" Mila asked.
"N-nothing," I said, chuckling between my sniffles. I felt horrible and somewhat relieved at the same time, as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water down my back. "I just... saw a post, on Instagram... about a badly injured wolf, and it broke my heart..." I ended quietly.
"Ah, sweet, sensitive Yuuri," Georgi said profoundly. "I can sense the heartbreak in your soul."
Yurio stared at me with an Are-You-Fucking-Kidding-Me face, then shrugged and said "Moron pig."
I smiled. Mila put an arm around me and gave me a squeeze. "Don't worry, Yuuri. He'll become an angel in puppy heaven."
Only Victor watched me quietly, finally allowing his eyes to rest on my face.
We left shortly after.
Yurio said he planned on dropping by Yakov for a small chat, and left.
Finally, Victor and I were alone.
We walked home, quietly.
"No plans for today?" I asked, sparking conversation.
"We agreed to meet at the Mars Field," Victor replied, looking out onto the river.
"Oh." I took a deep breath. "Victor," I said, "Do you really love Irina?"
Victor stopped and looked at me with a slight frown. "Of course I do."
"But-"
"What is this about, Yuuri?" Victor interrupted me, a dangerous hint in his voice.
I gritted my teeth; I would not be intimidated so easily. "You know perfectly well. Are you even dating someone?"
Victor chuckled, but there was something off about it. It didn't sound like his usual laughs; it had a dark, malicious quality. "You are unbelievable Yuuri! What makes you even doubt such a thing?"
"I found you last night, Victor! Passed out and calling my name, begging me to stay close to you! Don't ever try telling me I'm delirious; I know what happened. You're not happy... and I don't know your reasons for doing this... but you're hurting yourself."
He looked surprised and hurt by my outburst, but only for an instant. His face hardened.
"Don't be so full of yourself, little piggy," he said venomously. "Just because I got drunk after dropping her at home and came to you for help, it doesn't mean I want to hear unwarranted advice from you. Irina is a wonderful woman. I'm in love with her."
Ouch.
That hurt, a lot.
"Excuse me for wanting the best for you," I muttered, admitting my defeat. Why had I even started talking?
"And what would that be?" Victor didn't stop there. He hadn't taken out his anger yet. "You?"
Tears filled my eyes, and I turned away so he couldn't see them. "I just don't want you to get hurt," I said softly.
"Don't," Victor ended. He turned around, the tail of his long coat fluttering behind him, and walked away. I stood at the edge of the bridge, my tears merging into the river, adding new memories into its depths.
The sun had begun to set once I could get moving again. I didn't know in which direction to go, so I decided to go in the direction my feet took me. Swarms of people and lights passed by, some of them running in to me and swearing under their breath. Why were Russian people so hard to get along with?
I dragged my feet and sat on a bench in a beautiful park. There was a flame at the center, and some people had gathered around it to take pictures. I tilted my heart back and watched the stars that has started to appear in the sky.
Where to go next?
I didn't want to return to the apartment, and the ice rink would not admit me at this hour. I missed Hasetsu...
And yet, some part of me couldn't bear to leave Victor.
Victor...
Victor?
"You look so beautiful under the street lights," a tender voice cooed. A girl giggled.
My eyes searched for the source of the sounds. Then I saw it, behind the bushes.
"Allow me..." his hand reached out to her blonde hair and pushed it behind her ear. Her sapphire blue eyes sparkled with mirth.
"Oh, Victor..."
He leaned down and kissed her on her plump, rosy lips. She gave out a mellow moan. Victor leaned in deeper, his hands reaching around her waist and neck to pull her closer.
She looked young, and beautiful. She couldn't be older than 23.
Irina put a hand on Victor's chest and pushed him away, gently.
"Let's continue this somewhere else," she whispered, out of breath. I got a view of Victor's eyes at that moment, and they looked aflame with lust. He nodded and took her hand, leading her away.
My heart ready to burst out of my chest, I remained on the bench, waiting for my nerves to calm down.
But they didn't.
Eventually, I jumped out of my seat and started running, trying to expend the heat and the energy by removing my coat and allowing the cold to set in. I ran as far as my legs would take me, in the opposite direction of Victor and Irina. I didn't feel the cold; I didn't feel the fatigue; I didn't feel anything, except the violent beating of my heart and the icy air prickling my throat with every breath.
I want to die, I thought when I stopped to catch my breath, the tears on my face turning to ice.
A loud honk caused me to jump, as a car broke left and whizzed past. I realized I was standing in the middle of the cross-way at a red light. Slowly, I straightened my back and reached the sidewalk.
I was able to start thinking sensibly again. So I stopped and took a deep breath.
What now?
A/N: GUYS! I LOVE YURIO. I'm sorry I called him a psychopath T-T
Here is something I originally planned to involve in this chapter but didn't. I hope this makes up for the angst somewhat.
"Hey, Yuuri," Victor said with a smile. "How about we get some ice cream?"
I smiled. "It sounds wonderful."