Бесплатный фрагмент - The voice of the Olympics

THE VOICE OF THE OLYMPICS

The preface

You have heard many times that random meetings are not random. But what if it is true? In our world, the intertwining of human destinies often presents us with amazing patterns of plots that we can hardly predict. Each meeting, each moment that we share with another person, can open doors to new opportunities and understanding.

Like comets that cross the sky, our paths may intersect precisely at the moment when it is needed the most. Some philosophers argue that every coincidence carries a hidden meaning. Perhaps it is the law of attraction that causes people to find each other at the most unexpected moments. Each of us is part of a common mosaic, and sometimes it is such meetings that become catalysts for change in our lives.

We may wonder what the mechanisms of these patterns are. Perhaps it is an intuition, inaccessible to our mind, that leads us to the right people. Or is it just coincidences that give us the opportunity to learn and grow, becoming more open and receptive to the surrounding world?

In this context, we can recall numerous cases when an unexpected meeting changed our understanding of life. Perhaps it was a conversation with a stranger in a café that inspired us with a new idea, or a chance encounter with an old friend that helped us solve a long-standing problem. Each such moment seems to suggest to us that we are not alone in this world, and that our story is intertwined with the stories of other people.

These intersections can serve as signals for us about the need for change. If we are attentive to these meetings, we may be able to sense the directions in which we should move. Whoever this person may be — Friend, Teacher, or a Person We Will Never Meet Again.

He can be the key to a new stage in our lives. Thus, it is worth opening up to new acquaintances and opportunities. One should not be afraid of “coincidences,” for they may lead us to greater harmony and understanding. After all, each of us is a story, and we are all united in this amazing human experience.

Chapter 1

The waiting area in the Tokyo airport was surprisingly quiet, considering the crowd of passengers waiting for their flights. Bella reached for her water bottle, glancing at the departure schedule. After three weeks of performances in Japan, she dreamed only of returning home. Melodies from the last concert swirled in her head, and a light aftertaste of happiness from the applause remained in her soul, barely drowning out her usual loneliness. Her gaze accidentally slid to a tall guy in a tracksuit with the logo of the Italian national team. He nervously looked at the smartphone screen and was clearly writing something, gripping the phone as if it were his only lifeline. Bella knew this type of person: collected, goal-oriented, but somehow internally vulnerable. She shifted her gaze back to the screen. “Judoist,” she thought, noting his powerful build and tired look. A guy clearly used to fighting not only on the tatami but also in life.

At that moment, Liam noticed nothing around him. Over the past two weeks, he had gone through four exhausting competitions and lost in the finals, missing the chance for Olympic qualification. It was a blow he did not expect, but giving up was not in his rules. He sent a message to his brother: “I’m almost home. Everything is fine. I’ll survive.” He was a master at lying to his loved ones.

— Mr. Athlete, Are You Okay? — The voice sounded unexpectedly, but surprisingly softly. Liam raised his eyes and met the expressive gaze of the girl he could not help but recognize. Bella Cavalli — a legend, a star, the very singer whose songs played from every second pair of headphones during his training. He blinked, not believing his eyes.

— Um, yes. Everything is fine — he mumbled, trying to hide his embarrassment. Bella sat down across from him, smiling, and rested her elbows on the table between them.

— Are you sure? You look like you just lost something important.

Her straightforwardness caught him off guard. He was used to strangers avoiding such topics, but there was not a hint of judgment in her voice, only genuine interest.

— You could say that, — Liam shrugged, not wanting to delve into details.

— I’ve lost too, — she admitted, leveling his gaze.

The audience will never see this, but the stage is just as much a struggle as yours.

Her words touched him. He expected to see a typical star — detached, unattainable. But sitting in front of him was a girl who seemed to know what disappointment was. The conversation naturally flowed into a stream that turned out to be surprisingly easy. They talked about music, about sports, about how hard it is to fight for your dreams. Each new question revealed unexpected commonalities. When boarding for the flight was announced, Bella stood up first.

— You know, sometimes it seems like the whole world is against us. But in those moments, I always think: if there’s time to look back at yourself — it means you haven’t lost yet. Remember that.

Liam smiled, feeling relief for the first time in a long time.

— Bella, can I have your number? — he blurted out before he could think. She was surprised, but quickly hid it. Her hand quickly wrote the numbers in his phone.

— Call if you need a reminder that the world hasn’t collapsed yet, — she threw out, waving her hand.

At that moment, Liam had no idea that this meeting would become a turning point in their lives. She left, but in his heart, he already knew — it was not just a coincidence.

Chapter 2

Liam sat in his chair, gripping the phone with her number. Bella. He couldn’t understand why this meeting had struck him so deeply. He was an athlete, accustomed to discipline, concentration, planning. And here was just a meeting at the airport, a couple of words about music and sports. But something in her gaze, in her confidence, in her strange yet sincere kindness made him think of her, even when he was already home, on his training mat in Italy.

He looked again at her number that he had written down and struggled with himself for several minutes. To call or not to call? During training, he was often told that he was too reserved, too focused only on his own business. But here she was… Bella. She had her own world, filled with light and sounds, but just as full of pain as his own. His fingers hesitantly touched the screen, and he began to write a message.

“Hi, Bella. This is Liam. We met at the airport in Tokyo. I thought you might not mind if I wrote to you. How are you?”

After sending it, he immediately felt awkward, as if he had done something wrong. However, the response did not take long to arrive. A minute later, her reply appeared on the screen.

“Hello, Liam. It’s amazing that you wrote. I was just thinking about our conversation. Everything is fine, it’s just that I’m a little tired on the way home. How are you?”

He smiled, feeling the tension begin to ease. “How are you?” — this question was so simple, but there was something unusual about it. In his life, Liam was used to the question “Did you win?” or “Are you ready?”. And here… just “How are you?”

“Tired. I just got back from the competition. I lost, of course. But still, I keep working, I keep fighting.” He felt that his words might sound a bit heavy, but still pressed “Send.” Bella, however, was not in a hurry to respond.

He sighed, deciding that maybe she wasn’t that interested, and suddenly saw her phrase appear on the screen again.

“Lost, but didn’t break?”

Liam smiled again. She understood him.

“Yes, didn’t break. If I had broken, I wouldn’t be writing to you now.”

Her response came quickly, and this time it was more personal.

“You know, I also lose sometimes, although the audience doesn’t see it. It’s especially hard when you have to go on stage when everything inside is falling apart. But I believe that the fight is not only on the mat or on stage. It’s every day, every choice.”

Her words strangely resonated in his head. He understood that the fight was not just about physical exertion, not just about medals and victories. Sometimes the fight is about getting up every morning and moving forward, despite fatigue and disappointments.

“You speak as if… as if you know what you’re talking about,” he wrote, not quite believing that this was really happening.

Bella replied after a few minutes, and in her words there was something warm, something that broke through kilometers and screens, as if she were nearby.

“I know. You are not alone in this. And I am not alone either.”

Liam felt his heart beat a little faster. In this message, there was something more than just words. He didn’t know how exactly, but it was a moment when something in his life could change. He didn’t know what exactly, but something in this girl attracted him. Maybe it was her warmth, maybe her resilience, or just the fact that she, like him, was going through her difficulties, despite everything.

“You know, Bella, you are right. Not being alone is the most important thing.”

When he pressed “Send,” he felt that a small step had forever changed something in his life. A few days ago, he was just an athlete striving for his goal. Today, thanks to meeting her, he suddenly felt that there was a place in this world not only for victories and medals but also for people who understand what real struggle is.

The phone buzzed again.

Bella was writing. “What if we meet, Liam? Just like that. No scenes, no pressure.”

He didn’t know how to respond right away. At first, the thought came that he had never been ready for such meetings. The gym, training, competitions — that was his world. And now… now he felt a desire to take a step into the unknown.

“Where and when?”

He didn’t even notice how a smile appeared on his lips.

Chapter 3

“Meet Bella.”

He didn’t know why it had become so important to him. Maybe it was her openness, her words about the struggle that somehow resonated with him. Or she was just that rare soul who could understand him, despite all the differences in their worlds.

In any case, Liam was determined to meet her. He already imagined them sitting in a café by the sea, how laughter filled their conversation, how they would look at the world with the same, yet so different eyes.

He wrote to her. Wrote several times, but received no response. For several days in a row, he sent messages, and each time he expected Bella to respond, just like the first time they met at Tokyo airport. But instead, there was silence.

At first, Liam thought it might just be a coincidence. Perhaps she was busy with work, perhaps she didn’t notice his messages. But as the days dragged on without a reply, he began to feel that something was wrong. She had simply disappeared.

He decided to check her social media. It was his habit; if something remained unclear, he sought answers there. Bella hadn’t posted anything new for several days, and this added bitterness to his soul.

Her pages used to be full of bright photos from concerts, travels, and meetings with friends. Now there was some strange silence. Her last posts looked lifeless, as if someone else, not her, had written those lines.

Liam immediately understood that something had happened. Either she had changed her mind. Or… simply wasn’t ready to continue the communication. Maybe she considered him just a chance meeting, one of those who remain in the past, like so many other people she had once crossed paths with.

He threw his phone on the couch, his eyes clouded. Damn, why was it so difficult? Why couldn’t he just let go and forget her? He looked again at the empty message feed, feeling something tighten in his chest.

Leave it all behind, focus on judo, dive back into training — this is what he should have been doing. After all, he had come here not to decipher someone else’s emotions.

Liam gathered his thoughts, he got up and headed to the hall. Training, wrestling — that was what brought him satisfaction. Why waste time on something that is not destined to come true? In the following days, Liam again immersed himself in sports, as if head over heels. He dedicated every minute to his training, developing new strategies, improving his techniques, giving it his all. With each repetition of a hold or throw, his mind cleared of thoughts about Bella. Judo was his life, and he knew that if he lost focus again, he would not only fail to win at the Olympic qualifiers but might also miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Chapter 4

After a couple of weeks, news came that seemed to bring him back to reality. At one of the last tournaments, just before the Olympic qualifiers, one of Liam’s strongest judo opponents, the European champion, unexpectedly withdrew from the competition due to injury. It all happened in an instant; the judges announced it during the morning warm-up. Liam felt the tension in his body shift to a slight shock. It was unexpected, but it meant one thing: he could go to the Olympics. Thoughts of Bella flashed in his mind, but they immediately disappeared, giving way to new goals. He had never thought he would move toward his goal in this way. This was his time. This was a chance he could not miss. The Olympic road was like an arena where there was no place for doubts and disappointments. Liam understood that there would be no room for the weak and indecisive on the path to gold. If he wanted to win, if he wanted to walk this path, he had to be completely focused on his goal. Bella? She was a part of his life at the moment when he was vulnerable, when he was searching for meaning not only in judo but also in relationships. But now, when his goal was clear, when he knew what he had to do, he could only move forward, without stopping. At the moment when his team once again, he congratulated him on the opportunity to get to the Olympics, Liam knew: this was just the beginning. The September air in Tokyo was not as foggy as before. Everything was now clear, and he focused again on what really mattered.

Two months passed. Liam was immersing himself more and more into judo every day. He trained from morning till evening, only this way could he forget about the silence that had settled between him and Bella. Over time, her name began to sound less and less in his thoughts, like a fading echo. He started to think that perhaps she just wasn’t ready to continue their communication. And, to be honest, Liam understood he also wasn’t ready to remain in the shadow of her world.

One day, sitting in a café with his friend Antonio, an old judo buddy, Liam carelessly recounted how a couple of months ago he met Bella at Tokyo airport, how they communicated, and how in the end she disappeared. Antonio twirled his finger at his temple and laughed.

— Are you serious? Bella Cavalli? What do you need her for? You know that people like her don’t date people like you. Do you think she even noticed you? She’s in another world, Liam, — Antonio laughed, winking. — You shouldn’t waste your time on her. It’s a waste of energy for you.

Liam felt his cheeks flush a little, and his heart seemed to constrict. He didn’t know what to say. Antonio was right in his own way — Bella was far from his world. He was just a simple guy from a small town in Italy who had dedicated his life to judo. And she… she was a superstar who had it all: fans, tours, dozens of people surrounding her. Of course, they were from different worlds. And, possibly, Antonio was right for her he was just another random acquaintance.

Liam was silent, and thoughts of Bella slowly began to retreat, although somewhere deep down there still remained a spark of hope that one day their paths would cross again. But he resolutely decided to leave that behind and focus on what he had now in his career, on his goal.

Meanwhile, Bella lived in her world, full of light, loud applause, and an endless schedule. For her, everything was not so simple. Concerts, rehearsals, interviews-life on wheels, where day merged with night, and even rest seemed like something unattainable.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had a good night’s sleep. With each week, her schedule became tighter. Rehearsals for the solo concert in Italy took up all her time, and every minute on stage was part of her striving to prove to herself that she could do even more. Her new album had become a real hit, and she understood that on this wave she needed to give her very best.

But the inner sense of anxiety did not leave her. Bella had always been in search of something that could bring her true peace, but against the backdrop of all this noise and fame, finding such a moment became increasingly difficult.

The voice of her manager interrupted her thoughts. Bella sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were dull, and her smile was unnaturally strained. She thought about Liam. Their brief correspondence did not give her peace. He was so different, so real, so… a real person with whom one could talk not about concerts and not about the best angle for a photo. But what could she offer him? She didn’t want to bring anyone into her world, and even less to disappoint someone. She decided to leave everything as it was and not write to him anymore.

— Bella, we have a press conference in an hour, are you ready? — The manager’s voice interrupted her thoughts. Bella sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. Her eyes His eyes were dim, and his smile was unnaturally strained. She thought of Liam. Their brief correspondence bothered her. He was so different, so real, so… a real person, with whom you could talk not about concerts and not about what is the best corner for a photo. But what could she offer him? She didn’t want to introduce anyone into her world, much less disappoint anyone. She decided to leave everything as it is and not write to him anymore.

The concert in Italy, her homeland, was a big event for her. It wasn’t just a performance, it was her return home, back to where it all began.

Bella knew that many people would gather for this concert, and for her, it was like an exam; she had to show her best. Behind the scenes, everything was organized, as always: security, administrators, dozens of people waiting for her command. But the closer it got to the concert, the more she felt loneliness. And perhaps, if it weren’t for the endless rehearsals, she would have succumbed to this melancholy, but her spirit did not allow her to do that.

On the day of the concert, Liam made up his mind. He could not remain indifferent. He had to see her. He did not know what he would say to her or how he would even approach her, but one thought would not leave him in peace: he just wanted to look Bella in the eyes. He went to the concert, handed in his ticket at the entrance, and walked into the hall, where the audience was already gathering. His heart was pounding, and he tried to hide his excitement. It was unexpected; he did not know what he was waiting for.

He saw her on stage, beautiful, confident, as always, but everything was so far away. Security stood everywhere, like a wall, separating her from the people. It was like a game of light and shadow: he saw her, but he could not touch her, could not be near her. Suddenly, Antonio appeared next to him. He had come with him, as always, and noticed how Liam was staring at the stage in confusion. Antonio smirked, teasing:

— See? I told you. She didn’t even notice you. Not your level, dude. This is not your world.

Liam did not respond, only clenched his jaw and turned away. He looked at Bella, and although she was so close, he felt as if a huge chasm separated them. This was not the meeting he had imagined. It was yet another unfulfilled dream. But despite all this, he could not help but acknowledge: his feelings were alive, and his heart continued to beat in her rhythm, even if she did not notice him.

Chapter 5

Bella was a high-profile star. Her life, full of luxury, fans and endless trips around the world, seemed like a dream. She was used to the fact that she was constantly surrounded by successful people: musicians, businessmen, actors. Each of them tried to attract her attention, inviting her to dinners at expensive restaurants, sending rare flowers and gifts that would take the breath away from others. But for Bella it had all become something familiar, almost mechanical.

Her world was filled with noise, camera flashes, applause, but behind it all she felt empty. She could have chosen any one of these successful men — many of them made no secret of their feelings, others hinted with light play. Yet every time she allowed herself to look deeper, Bella found that their worlds were exactly the same: shiny on the surface but empty inside. She recalled how Marco, one of Italy’s most powerful businessmen, had recently tried to win her over. He was charismatic, owned a chain of hotels around the world, and knew how to talk to women as if she were the only woman in his life.

At one of the meetings he gave her a key to a villa on the Amalfi Coast, hoping to express the seriousness of his intentions. But Bella had only smiled politely. She knew it wasn’t a show of affection, but another way for Marco to show his power. All of it, from the well-groomed expensive suits to the perfect phrases, seemed artificial. She couldn’t see behind it a man who was sincere with her.

Then there was Federico, a successful actor whose name was known all over Italy. They met at an award show and he immediately invited her to dinner. Federico was handsome, made her laugh with ease, and could tell her interesting stories about his life for hours. But behind it all, Bella saw an actor who seemed to always be in his role. She couldn’t understand who he really was, and it repulsed her.

With each new acquaintance Bella became convinced that success and fame do not make people real. In their conversations she did not find what she lacked: simplicity and sincerity. She often remembered her grandmother’s words from her childhood: “It doesn’t matter who a person is in the eyes of others, it matters who he is in your eyes. If you do not see his soul, then he is not yours.” These words became a reference point for Bella, and that’s why she couldn’t commit herself to any of the men she met along the way.

Bella immersed herself in music when she was looking for peace. She found inspiration in nights spent at the piano, in silence, far from the noise of the stage. Music was her only outlet, her sanctuary where no one could penetrate. But sometimes, when she paused for a moment, memories of Liam came into her mind. Of his kind gaze, of how sincerely he spoke of his dream. His voice, devoid of falseness, seemed rare to her in a world full of pretense. She remembered his embarrassed smile and how nervous he’d been when he’d talked about judo.

These memories made her wonder if she had missed something important. In her eagerness to protect herself from disappointment, she might have rejected someone who could have been real. But Bella chased those thoughts away. Her life was too complicated, too full of things and people, to allow herself to stop and think about someone like Liam.

Her manager, Karina, always said:

— Bella, you have to rise above it all. People look up to you, you’re an example to them. Ordinary life is not for you.

And Bella believed her, or tried to.

But there was still a quiet voice in the back of her mind that reminded her that all that glitz and glory meant nothing if there was no real feeling didn’t know if she’d ever hear that voice again, or if she’d ever be able to look into the eyes of someone who wasn’t trying to be anyone but herself again.

Chapter 6

Liam was fully immersed in training, preparing for his first Olympics. His life consisted of a rigid routine: training, proper nutrition, a little sleep, and everything started all over again. Bella was just a ghost from the past, beautiful but distant.

And Bella, tired of her schedule, decided to spend the day outside, unaccompanied by guards and managers. She wanted simplicity, silence, at least for a while. In Milan, in a cozy cafe on the corner of one of the quiet streets, she decided to hide from the bustle.

It was at this very café that Liam had walked into to grab a green tea before his evening run. His gaze happened to run across her. She was sitting at a table by the window, her long hair falling over her shoulders and a book in her hands, which she was lazily flipping through. He froze.

— Bella? — It came out of his mouth before he could think.

She raised her eyes and looked at him in surprise.

— Liam?

Their conversation began with a slight awkwardness. Liam asked how she was doing, and Bella replied politely. They tried to have a casual dialog, but tension hung in the air.

— It’s amazing to see you here, — he said, sipping his tea.

— I’m often in Milan, — Bella replied, smiling evasively.

Soon the conversation came to a standstill.

— Don’t you want to explain yourself?

— Liam asked sharply.

— What are you talking about? — Bella asked, her gaze lowered. She knew in her heart what she was talking about, but she couldn’t find the right words to justify it.

— First you ask to see me and then you disappear, tell me honestly, are you always like this?

Liam’s words sounded biased, but the girl realized he was absolutely right.

— Which one is it? — Bella asked confused.

— Not real, just pretending to be a good girl, but you don’t really care about other people’s feelings. You didn’t want to see me in the first place, right? You were bored, so you wanted to have fun, right?

— That’s not true! — Bella interrupted, trying to stop that negativity. — I wasn’t pretending with you, and I didn’t mean to hurt you in any way.

— Don’t worry, you can’t hurt me. I don’t care. Maybe you thought that if I was famous, I’d just throw myself at your neck and chase after you. No, I’m not one of your fans.

For a moment, something in Bella’s heart twitched, and she didn’t feel good about it. For the first time, there was a man sitting in front of her who didn’t want more from her. For a moment, it even seemed to her that he really didn’t care. Liam saw her as a spoiled starlet who was used to having the world revolve around her. Bella felt that she was wrong about Liam, though; he really only lived for his sport, not noticing anything outside of training.

— Are you still chasing your medal? — She asked with a touch of sarcasm.

— Do you still sing for applause? — He replied, not holding back the barb.