The moment Yunho was hauled out of the water, a wave of people swarmed around him.
Coaches, teammates, lifeguards, all talking at once. Someone was checking his leg, another shouting for a medic, while towels were shoved into his hands. His teammates clapped him on the back, half-concerned, half-hyped from the drama of it all.
Bella, drenched and breathless, stood quietly nearby.
She had just pulled him out of the pool. Her heart was still racing and her clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin. But no one seemed to notice her. A lifeguard brushed past her shoulder, unintentionally blocking her from view.
"Thanks, we've got him now," someone muttered, gently steering her back.
Bella opened her mouth to protest, but she stopped herself. What was she even supposed to say? She didn't belong in that circle. She had done her part. Now it was time to disappear.
She took a step back.
But then, Yunho moved.
Still half-wrapped in a towel, wincing from the cramp in his leg, he turned his head and searched the chaos until his eyes found her.
He didn't say anything. Instead, he reached out, holding out his towel.
Bella blinked, unsure what he was doing.
But then Yunho took a step toward her, limping slightly, lifted the towel and carefully wrapped it around her soaked shoulders.
The people around them went quiet. Just for a second.
Yunho didn't explain or look at anyone else. He simply reached down, took Bella's hand gently in his and guided her toward the bench, his grip firm despite the tremor in his fingers.
He sat down slowly, wincing again as he eased onto the bench, still not letting go of her hand.
Bella sat next to him, towel bunched awkwardly around her, still warm from his body heat.
No one said a word.
He didn't need to ask her to stay.
The gesture had already said everything.
Bella sat stiffly beside Yunho, her clothes still soaked, the borrowed towel clinging to her like a second skin. Her hair was dripping, her heart even more so.
She hadn't expected him to find her in that crowd, much less to walk, limp, straight over and wrap her in warmth like that. He hadn't said anything. He didn't need to. That silent gesture had sent her mind reeling.
Yunho's hand was still in hers.
Warm. Steady. Calloused.
Her fingers, numb a minute ago, suddenly felt too aware. Of the shape of his hand. Of the way he'd reached for her first, not the coaches, not his teammates. Her.
Why?
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He wasn't looking at her. His face was blank, somewhere between exhaustion and stubborn calm. But there was tension in his jaw and something unreadable in his profile.
Was it just gratitude? Embarrassment? Or... something else?
Bella's stomach twisted.
She didn't know what this meant. Not really. Their history wasn't sweet, it was awkward, confusing, full of sarcastic quips and friction. He had always left her flustered, not flattered. And yet... he'd looked for her. Only her.
But Bella felt like the ground had tilted beneath her.
Why did this feel like a turning point? And why did her heart hurt a little, like she wasn't ready for it?
She could feel people watching. Whispers flitted through the poolside like steam off the water.
"Did she really jump in?"
"Why is he holding her hand?"
"Is she his girlfriend?"
"Wait… Bella?"
Bella swallowed hard, trying to drown out the noise.
Meanwhile..
Emily stood at the railing with her mouth slightly open. She had watched it all, the way Yunho ignored everyone else, wrapped his towel around Bella, then held her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"What... was that?" she whispered, half to herself, half to no one.
One of the Year 2 swim girls next to her snorted, clearly annoyed. ""Seriously... what's going on between them?"
In the corner, Emily's eyes narrowed.
It wasn't just students. A few of Yunho's teammates looked genuinely confused, one even looked vaguely annoyed. The lifeguards kept glancing over. Coaches had pulled back, sensing that something unspoken was settling into place. Someone eventually handed Yunho another towel to warm himself.
She hadn't signed up for this. She'd acted on instinct, not intention. And now, Yunho had placed her in a spotlight she hadn't asked for, one she couldn't quite walk out of.
Beside her, he finally shifted. Still wincing slightly from the cramp, Yunho leaned forward and murmured, "Are you okay?"
His voice was softer than she expected. Not teasing. Not smug. Just concerned.
Bella turned toward him, her voice quiet. "You should be asking yourself that."
He gave a faint, tired laugh. "I'll survive." Then, after a pause, "Thanks to you."
Bella looked away again, cheeks warm but her chest still tight.
"I didn't even think," she admitted. "I just… jumped."
Trying to lighten the mood, she gave a soft huff of laughter and said, "Guess you'll need to hold my hand for emotional support now, huh?"
She expected him to pull away, maybe laugh it off.
But he didn't.
His fingers were already wrapped around hers, holding tight. Not letting go.
Then he squeezed fiercely, a sly smile tugged at his lips as he looked down at their hands. "I'm wounded, you know. I think I need to hold on a little longer."
Bella blinked, caught off guard by the charm, her heart skipping a beat.
******* Please add to your collection and give me a LIKE! Thank you! ********