When Bella moved into the neighbourhood at the start of term, she wasn't expecting to make friends. She kept to herself mostly, headphones in, hoodie up.
Kevin lived two doors down. He noticed her before she noticed him, mostly because he was always outside, shooting hoops, sitting on the curb with his friends.
One afternoon, he caught her coming home from class, earphones in one hand, keys in the other.
"You're new, right?" he said, casually leaning against the wall just outside her door. He had that easy, lopsided smile that made it hard to brush him off.
She gave a short nod.
"I'm Kevin. You should come by the basketball court sometime. We play most evenings."
Bella raised a brow.
Kevin grinned. "We're not that serious. It's just a bunch of us messing around. You're what, one year younger? Close enough. We could use someone new to talk to. It gets a little repetitive with the same dudes every day."
Since then, she'd started getting messages. Someone had added her to the group chat. It buzzed with memes, last-minute game plans, trash talk and the occasional 'who's bringing drinks?' She barely said a word in it, but Kevin always made a point of checking in.
Tonight, Bella sat on the ground near the edge of the court, hoodie sleeves pushed up to her elbows, her racket-shaped water bottle resting beside her. She wasn't playing, just watching. Still figuring things out. Still easing in.
Kevin glanced her way mid-game, his usual grin flashing across his face. He cut past a defender, called for the ball and shot in one smooth motion. The ball swished through the net clean.
Bella looked down, brushing her fingertips along the concrete wall beneath her, but the smile on her face lingered longer than she expected.
The distant rumble of the bus echoed down the street. Bella turned toward the stop, watching two boys step off, their movements sharp and fluid even in starched school uniform.
She'd see them bounce off the bus stop, Keith especially. Keith was impossible to miss, half alighting, half peeling off his shirt, lean muscles flexing under the fading sun. His grin was wide, eyes sparkling with energy as he jogged toward the court.
Behind him came Jake, quieter but steady. He adjusted his backpack strap, giving Bella a polite nod.
Jake and Keith were champions on their school's basketball team. Jake was polite and considerate, the kind of person Bella found herself drawn to unexpectedly. Keith, on the other hand, was the team's sprinter and the quintessential funny, clumsy jock, always ready with a joke or a smile to keep things light.
Keith grinned, "Hey, Bella! Ready for some serious basketball watching?"
"She's always waiting for you guys before she sat down to watch," Kevin interrupted, tossing a ball in the air. "We'll keep you entertained." Signalling to Bella before he shoved Jake and Keith onto the court.
Soon Keith bounded over, basketball tucked under one arm, already topless, ready for a sweaty session. "So, Bella, you ready for some real talk? Or just gonna sit there and look pretty?"
Jake followed behind, quiet but friendly, settling beside Bella with an easy smile.
Keith threw a playful glance at Jake. "Don't let the quiet guy fool you. He's the brains of this operation."
Jake shrugged modestly. "Someone's got to keep Keith in check."
Kevin laughed, "Yeah, or at least keep him from tripping over his own feet."
Bella laughed with them, feeling the warmth of their easy camaraderie. They took turns chatting with her, teasing, joking, sharing stories from their school teams and the latest basketball highlights.
The court buzzed with energy as more guys drifted in, tossing bags aside, cracking jokes and warming up under the low, evening light. The bench where Bella sat felt like a little island, quiet and tucked away from the echo of sneakers and the sharp rhythm of bouncing balls.
Jake drifted over after a quick round of warm-ups, a light sheen of sweat on his brow. He plopped down beside her with a quiet exhale, then stretched his legs out in front of him.
"Tired already?" Bella teased, nudging him lightly with her knee.
Jake grinned lazily. "Nah. Just taking a strategic break."
He leaned back, then, without asking, let his head fall gently into her lap.
Bella blinked. "Really?"
Jake looked up at her, eyes half-lidded, calm and unbothered. "You're comfortable. Besides, I needed a brain reset."
Bella rolled her eyes but didn't move. His weight was familiar, grounding even. This wasn't new. Jake had always had a quiet way of getting close, not showy or loud like Keith or Kevin, but in long messages at night and unexpected calls between study breaks. They talked about everything: school stress, basketball drama, random shower thoughts and once even the best flavour of instant noodles. He listened. Really listened.
"You okay?" she asked, fingers absentmindedly brushing a bit of dust off his hair.
Jake gave a soft nod. "Just one of those days. School's a lot lately."
"Tell me about it," Bella murmured, leaning back slightly.
He tilted his head toward her. "I would. But if I start, I might not shut up."
She smiled. "I don't mind."
From across the court, Keith called out, "Yo, Jake! You done flirting or should we continue without you?"
Jake didn't move. "Five-minute timeout."
Keith laughed and jogged off to join the others, calling out something about "love fouls."
Bella looked down at Jake again. His eyes were closed now, breath steady. She could feel the weight of his trust in the simple way he rested there, open, unguarded, like he didn't have to say anything for her to understand.
Jake stayed resting in her lap, the echo of bouncing balls and sneakers squeaking fading into background noise. Bella absently brushed a bit of grit from his hair, her gaze wandering as she replayed the day in her head.
"So…" Jake's voice was soft, almost sleepy. "How was it? First day of college."
Bella hesitated, tugging at the edge of her sleeve. "Kind of overwhelming. New faces. New everything. Like walking into a movie halfway through."
Jake cracked one eye open and looked up at her. "You meet anyone cool?"
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out at first. Her thoughts jumped straight to the tennis court. To Yunho. To the sharp light in his eyes and that maddening smile. That voice, casually teasing her like they'd known each other longer than a few breaths.
She blinked. "Sort of."
Jake tilted his head, reading her hesitation. "Sort of... how?"
Bella shrugged, trying to downplay it. "The swim team captain showed up while I was leaving the tennis courts. All attitude. Said he was 'cross-training.'"
Jake sat up a little, resting on his elbow now. "Wait. Like, he just wandered over mid-practice?"
"Right as I was packing up." She avoided Jake's gaze. "He had a tennis racket. Looked like he didn't know what to do with it."
Jake's brow furrowed, curious now. "And?"
Bella gave a helpless little laugh. "And he was cocky. Smug. Tall. Dripping with fake charm."
Jake narrowed his eyes with a lopsided grin. "And that left such a strong impression because…?"
She tossed a pebble at him, playfully. "Because he was ridiculous."
Jake chuckled. "Ridiculous and memorable. Got it."
Bella sighed, falling back against the bench. "It's not like that."
Jake didn't push. He just leaned back again, hands folded behind his head. "You'll figure it out. You always do."
And as she stared up at the fading sky, Bella felt the truth settle somewhere between comfort and restlessness. She had people who understood her. But one look from that cocky tennis intruder and her entire sense of balance had shifted just a little.
Jake was still resting peacefully on Bella's lap when the sound of fast footsteps pounded toward them.
"Oi! Loverboy!" Keith's voice rang out.
Jake barely cracked one eye open. "Go away."
Keith didn't. He stopped right in front of them, grinning like a menace and jabbed his sneaker lightly against Jake's leg. "Break time's over, man. We're running 3-on-3 now and I'm not carrying your quiet, poetic butt through another round."
Jake sighed, but he didn't move. "Tell Kevin to sub in."
Keith rolled his eyes dramatically, then turned to Bella. "Is he always like this with you?"
Bella smirked. "Only when he wants attention."
"Oh, he's getting it alright," Keith said and with a quick tug on Jake's arm, pulled him up off her lap with surprising ease.
Jake grumbled, but stood, shooting Bella a half-apologetic, half-amused glance. "Back to the grind."
Keith gave Jake a push toward the court. "Move it, Shakespeare. Court's calling."
Jake jogged off, still rubbing the back of his neck.
Keith plopped himself down next to Bella, catching his breath like he'd just finished a sprint, which he probably had.
"So," he said, twisting to face her, "first day done. How'd it go? Any weirdos? Good teachers? Cafeteria food edible?"
Bella laughed. "It was fine. A little chaotic."
"Sounds about right." Keith nudged her shoulder. "Which school again?"
"Hwayang University," she replied, pulling her water bottle from her bag.
Keith raised his brows. "Oof. Fancy. Smart kid. You trying to make the rest of us feel dumb?"
"Not on purpose," Bella said with a grin.
He leaned back on his hands, squinting toward the horizon. "Yeah, I think a few Hwayang kids show up at track meets. Heard they don't mess around."
Bella hummed in acknowledgment, but her thoughts wandered, to the tennis courts earlier. To that brief, infuriating moment with Yunho.
She shook it off before Keith noticed.
He glanced sideways at her. "You need anything, notes, rides, emotional support snacks, I got you. I'm versatile."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "You're clumsy and loud. That's not exactly multi-talented."
Keith gasped, clutching his chest. "Wow. Betrayal. And after I offered my entire heart and snack collection."
Bella laughed, bumping his shoulder. "Snack collection I'll take."
"Good. It's mostly ramen and jelly babies."
Keith leaned in with a mock-whisper. "Secret's in the balance. Sugar-fueled engine, iron will and just enough sheer luck."
From across the court, Kevin shouted something unintelligible and Keith stood with a groan.
"Duty calls," he said, brushing invisible dust off his shorts. "But seriously, glad your first day didn't suck. You ever need someone to roast your professors or carry your books for street cred, you know where to find me."
"Outside the convenience store buying banana milk?"
"Exactly," Keith said, flashing a grin as he jogged back onto the court, faster than should've been legal, all limbs and laughter.
Bella watched him go, shaking her head.
She honestly had no idea how Keith managed to inhale junk food like a black hole and still have abs like sculpted marble. Or how he could sprint like the wind after demolishing one whole watermelon and half the potato chips supply from the convenience store. He was pure contradiction, loud, goofy, effortlessly fast, and somehow, it all made sense on him.
She smiled to herself, leaning back on the bench.
First week down.