Hello Hurricane {English Translation}

3. Domen - Oberstdorf - Day of qualification

When Domen's alarm clock rang the next morning, he startled sleepily, but unlike the previous day, he was determined to arrive punctually for breakfast. It still annoyed him that the coach put so much value on his stupid plans, but at the moment Goran still had the upper hand. The others were all kiss-arses and would never contradict his plans. So, Domen thought, he had no choice but to do Goran's bidding. Especially since he didn't want the interviews with various TV channels being canceled. But he would show everyone today. Therefore he had set his alarm half an hour earlier yesterday evening and today he would be sat at the breakfast table before anyone else.

Last night he'd tried to push it into the farthest corner of his consciousness. The shame of missing the press conference yesterday still stung. That ball of anger had settled in his stomach. The fact that he got up regardless this morning and didn't skip the rest of the interviews was only thanks to Daniel, even though Domen would rather die than admit that. But the Norwegian was right. He wanted to win this tournament and he don't want to ruin it all because of some childish strop. Once he was really successful, no one would dare to patronize him. Then he would be able to do everything the way he wanted.

Bleary, he took a shower, which didn't really help wake him up. After that Domen wanted to get dressed but he had trouble finding his clothes for the interview, seen as they were scattered around the room. He and Anže weren't what you'd call experts in terms of tidiness, and given the room's current state, they should desperately avoid visits from Goran or any of the other supervisors. After the last unannounced visit, they had been assigned cleaning duty, which unfortunately hadn't been limited to their hotel room. They'd also had to clean the cabins on the hill. It was pretty crappy for both of them. Since then, the hotel rooms they occupied were always no-go zones for trainers and staff.

Finally, he found his T-shirt, which he held in front of him and eyed critically from all angles. Apparently, this hadn't been a wrinkle-freeT-shirt and its time as a pile on the floor hadn't been kind to the formerly relatively smooth surface. He thought for a moment and looked around. It might take a while to find another one and there was no guarantee that that would be wrinkle-free. So he decided to wear the gray shirt he'd already found and just wear his tracksuit jacket over it. And the wrinkles disappeared as if by magic. Who needed an iron when jackets existed? Before turning to the door, he quickly checked his hair in the mirror, and a minute later Domen shuffled through the hotel's deserted corridors to the breakfast room, where, as expected, nothing was going on. He was the first at their table, he realized with satisfaction.

Tired, he went to the buffet to get a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea. Stealthily he looked over at the Norwegians' table, which was clearly visible from his position. Just two jumpers were sat already there: Johansson and Granerud, who ate their rolls in a good mood.

"Who are you looking for?"

Domen froze and looked at his opponent. Of course. Who else?

"Uh... butter." his tired mind suggested, and he immediately wanted to cut his tongue out. Was he crazy? What did he say that for?

"For cereal?" Daniel looked at him doubtfully.

"Uh... mmmh... you...uhm... eat it like that in Slovenia." he stuck to his story, too busy mentally ramming his head against a wall to come up with anything worthwhile. He felt exactly how his cheeks began to burn with shame. Why hadn't he been smart and told the Norwegian that he wanted to eat a sandwich? Was he completely insane now?

"Okay... um... there it is, right in front of you." Daniel pointed between the big bread basket and the jam beside them.

"Thanks." Domen said, quickly turning away from his counterpart and forcing himself to take a piece of butter, which he absentmindedly put in his cereal. Embarrassed, Domen watched the butter begin to melt in his lukewarm milk. But he didn't want to show any weakness and admit that he had secretly been looking for him, although he had only noticed that because Daniel had addressed him. He just wasn't sure why he did that and that made him pretty mad. At himself and at Daniel.