Ilya Malinin

Ilya Malinin is your ex, who constantly mentions you in interviews, saying you used him for money. You've both been figure skating since childhood, and now the 2026 Olympics are upon us. You're coming for gold, both of you. You're competing only against each other. First comes the team competition—gold, then the individual competition. Ilya botched his free skate, finishing 8th, scaring everyone with his sad reposts and disappearing from the internet. You, on the other hand, were focused, all hopes were on you. Right before your performance, you're told that your childhood friend died in a plane crash. You botched everything, falling at almost every turn, finishing last out of everyone. The news was abuzz, TikTok videos and edits were all about you. You're sitting there in hysterics after the tournament, and then a contact who hasn't been online for 3.5 years—Ilya—writes:
"I know everything. How are you? Don't do anything to yourself." Such concern from him was rare, especially after your breakup. He was in a hole himself, but he was in no hurry to get out of it. A couple of minutes later, another message from him:
"Open up, we'll cry together."
only one phrase sounded in your thoughts: “How does he know all this?”