Jake remembered the last game he played when Yunho showed up unannounced. Jake caught the way Yunho kept glancing toward the stands, searching for someone. Bella.
Yunho wasn't just there to watch; when he took to the court during the basketball event, his entire demeanour changed. He was serious, focused, every move precise and deliberate. The usual easy-going charm was replaced by a quiet intensity, like he was trying to prove something to himself or maybe to someone watching.
Jake noticed how Yunho's eyes flicked up to the stands repeatedly, as if looking for Bella. When the game ended, Jake saw Yunho's expression shift and the moment Bella left her seat and walked away, Yunho vanished too, disappearing into the crowd without a word.
Jake pulled out his phone, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern. Yunho's serious side was a side Jake hadn't expected to see. But as a guy, he knew what it meant. It was almost as if Yunho was putting on a show, maybe for Bella.
He typed out a message to Bella.
Jake (to Bella): "Hey, just a heads-up, Yunho was way more serious during the game playing against me than a swim captain normally would and honestly, the way he kept looking your way... I think he's more interested than you probably realise."
Jake hesitated, then hit send.
He knew Bella might not be ready to see it, or maybe she didn't want to. But sometimes people needed a little nudge to notice what was right in front of them.
Bella's phone buzzed softly, drawing her attention. She picked it up and read Jake's message.
"Hey, just a heads-up, Yunho was way more focused during the game playing against me than a swim captain normally would and honestly, the way he kept looking your way... I think he's more interested than you probably realise."
She blinked, incredulous. Interested? Yunho?
Bella's mind raced back through every interaction she'd had with him lately. The teasing, the sarcastic remarks, the times he'd made her feel cornered or embarrassed.
That's not interested. That's him trying to annoy me.
She shook her head, the sinking feeling growing. How could Jake be seeing something she didn't?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitant.
Maybe Jake's wrong. Or maybe Yunho's just messing with me like always.
She finally typed back, keeping her tone casual, even defensive:
Bella: "No way. All I remember is him trying to embarrass me or pick a fight. I think he's just out to get me, not like that."
Bella put her phone down, frustration bubbling inside her. The thought that Yunho might actually like her felt confusing and completely out of place.
Bella set her phone down a little harder than she meant to, the soft thud barely echoing in her small room. She leaned back into her pillow, eyes fixed on the ceiling as Jake's message echoed in her head.
Interested? Yunho?
The idea felt… ridiculous. Irritating. Completely off-base.
She thought back to every interaction — the teasing, the sarcastic remarks, the smug half-smile he always seemed to wear when she got flustered. That wasn't flirting. That was provocation. He liked getting under her skin. That's all.
Right?
Then she remembered the time she ran into him near the campus pool. They bantered for a while, surprisingly easily. No teasing edge, no sarcastic bite. Just… talking. He even waited for her to grab his winning smoothie.
Bella hugged her knees to her chest, a smile creeping in against her will. Was she overthinking it? Was this Yunho just being polite or was Jake actually onto something?
And if he was interested, then what?
Bella squeezed her eyes shut, willing the thoughts away, but her body had other ideas.
Her cheeks were already warming, heat creeping up her neck in betrayal of the calm she was trying to hold onto. She pressed her palm against her skin, as if that could stop the flush.
No. Absolutely not.
But even as she scolded herself, her heart had started to beat faster. Not the panicked kind of fast that came with embarrassment or being put on the spot. This was different.
It was the kind of fast she felt that evening at the pool when Yunho looked at her with something softer than his usual smug grin.
She hated that those tiny, unremarkable moments were suddenly loud in her head, playing back like a scene she wasn't ready to admit meant anything.
Bella groaned and buried her face in her hands.
This is not happening.
Her phone buzzed again beside her. Another message from Jake popped up on the screen.
Jake 🏀
Anyway. Just watch how he looks at you next time. That's all I'm saying.
She didn't reply.
Not because she didn't want to. But because, deep down, she was wanted Jake to be right.
And if he was… she wasn't sure what scared her more.
The idea that Yunho might actually like her.
Or the quiet, fluttering feeling that she might like him too.