In the weeks that followed Yunho seemed to quietly follow her rhythm appearing just a few steps behind Bella no matter where she went.
One afternoon in the crowded cafeteria Bella moved slowly through the food line scanning the options when she suddenly caught sight of him standing a few feet behind her. Not close enough to be obvious but close enough to make her heart skip.
She shifted trying not to look but every now and then their eyes would meet briefly just long enough to leave her wondering if it was chance or something else.
It wasn't just the cafeteria.
On the way out of class at the library near the lockers Yunho's presence felt like a quiet shadow both steady and unexpected.
Bella wasn't sure if it was coincidence or intent. Either way it was a little unsettling.
Yunho also seemed to arrive early during Bella's tennis practice sessions quietly watching from the sidelines before anyone else showed up. He never interrupted nor said much just watched from a distance leaning against the fence or sitting on a bench his gaze occasionally flicking to her as if measuring some invisible line between them.
At first Bella told herself it was just coincidence. Maybe he liked the fresh air or the quiet moments the tennis courts offered. But it was too consistent too deliberate.
One afternoon as she practiced her serves she caught him watching her with a look that was part curiosity part something softer she couldn't quite name. For a moment their eyes locked across the court and the world around them seemed to pause.
Bella blinked shaking off the feeling and focusing back on the ball.
Later when practice ended she deliberately headed for the opposite exit hoping to avoid crossing his path a small quiet attempt to keep some distance in a situation that suddenly felt far less simple than before.
While Bella wrestled with these unfamiliar feelings a mix of confusion caution and something faintly thrilling others saw Yunho differently.
To many at school, Yunho was almost untouchable. The swim captain with a cool calm confidence that drew respect effortlessly. Teachers trusted him, teammates admired him and even the toughest students seemed to tread lightly around him.
Whispers floated in hallways whenever he passed, that's Yunho, some would say voices tinged with admiration or curiosity. Girls glanced his way their expressions a mix of intrigue and longing while guys nodded in quiet respect or good-natured rivalry.
But for Bella, Yunho was something different. Behind his composed exterior she sensed a vulnerability she didn't fully understand yet a strange sincerity in the way he watched her from afar hesitant and careful.
Yunho's POV
In the weeks that followed Yunho found himself drifting closer to Bella's world, drawn by something he couldn't quite name. He arrived early at the tennis courts settling quietly on the sidelines before anyone else showed up. Watching her move across the court the way she focused the small hesitations she tried to hide made his heart beat faster in a way that felt new and strange.
He was careful to keep his distance unsure how to approach someone like her. Yunho wasn't used to this watching from the shadows studying someone without knowing how to speak first. He wasn't sure if Bella noticed but every time their eyes met a jolt of something unfamiliar passed between them something unspoken yet deeply felt.
He watched her in the cafeteria lingering a few steps behind in the food line pretending it was coincidence when really he just wanted to be near her even if only from afar. Yunho knew she seemed nervous when their eyes caught the slight quickening of her breath the way she looked away as if afraid to meet his gaze.
What made Yunho uneasy was Jason. He saw how Jason was always friendly with Bella during tennis practice, how he was always close laughing a little too easily and how he always seemed to take the same bus home with her. It wasn't just coincidence; it was a clear sign Jason wanted to be part of her world.
Others saw Yunho very differently. To most he was the embodiment of calm confidence, the swim captain, respected and admired. His charming demeanour and steady presence commanded respect without effort. Teachers trusted him teammates looked up to him and students whispered his name with a mixture of awe and admiration.
Yet behind that exterior Yunho wrestled with uncertainty. His charm seems to lose their effect on Bella. He wasn't sure how to cross the gap between them. How do you start a conversation when the idea of approaching someone feels completely foreign? How do you say something without making it awkward or pushing too hard?
When Bella took a different path off the courts, Yunho's chest tightened. He wanted to follow to talk to her but he stayed back unsure of the right moment. It was new territory for him, this hesitance, this cautious anticipation.
Just then Chad appeared at his side, elbowing him with a grin. "Man you're like a love-sick puppy," he said eyes sparkling with mischief. "Following her everywhere and it's obvious to everyone except you."
Yunho flushed but Chad's teasing lingered in his mind long after the words faded. Yunho shook his head, trying to brush off Chad's words but inside a small smile tugged at his lips. Maybe Chad was right. Maybe he did look like a puppy tail wagging in silent hope. It was strange; this wasn't like him at all. Normally he was the sure, composed guy who led his team without a second thought. But with Bella, everything felt uncertain fragile.
He glanced back at the tennis courts where Bella was still practicing her form precise but with moments of softness he hadn't seen in anyone else. How do you explain that feeling when someone's just different? Like they quietly pull you out of your own world, into theirs, without even knowing?
Chad clapped him on the shoulder. "Hey! Don't overthink it. Just talk to her already. Worst she can do is tell you to buzz off."
Yunho scoffed eyes still fixed across the court. "Yeah and why would I walk straight into a rejection I can't undo?"
Chad raised a brow. "You seriously overthink everything."
Yunho shook his head. "No I think ahead. There's a difference. One wrong move and it's over before it even begins. I'm not here to lose."
They watched a few more rallies before Chad wandered off leaving Yunho alone with his thoughts and the fading echo of his teasing friend's words.