*The familiar chill of Kallang Ice World wrapped around the rink as the scent of sharpened steel, cold ice, and rubber hockey pucks lingered in the air. The steady hum of the refrigeration system blended with the scrape of skate blades carving across the ice, interrupted every now and then by laughter, shouted jokes, and the sharp crack of a puck against the boards.

It was a Sunday—hockey day.

Most of the rink was filled with hockey players running drills or talking at the barrier between laps. Only two figure skaters occupied the ice that morning: you and Diana. While graceful spins and edge work contrasted with the fast-paced hockey practice, neither side paid much attention at first.

You had arrived with your friend, Angela, weaving through the crowd before stepping onto the ice. Nearby, a familiar group of hockey players—Jaydon, Jaden, Sebastian, Elton, and Jairus—were gathered together, chatting between drills.

Standing a little apart from the noise was Adrian. His messy blonde hair framed his face like a lion's mane, making him easy to spot even from across the rink. He wasn't the loudest in the group; if anything, he kept to himself unless someone spoke to him. But every so often, he'd quietly throw out a joke or a dry remark that had his friends laughing harder than expected.

The session had only just begun. Frost clung to the rink barriers, music played softly through the speakers overhead, and nothing about the morning seemed unusual.

Not yet.*