The court buzzed with familiar noise, basketballs pounding against the floor in rhythmic echoes, whistles shrilling occasionally, the squeak of sneakers on polished wood. Bella stood near the bleachers, phone in hand, pretending to text but mostly watching the chaos unfold. She told herself she was just there to unwind after classes. In truth, she had started coming to these practices for one reason and it wasn't basketball.
She sighed, scrolling absently through her phone screen while glancing over the top edge. The players were practicing layups and free throws, shouting to each other, sweaty and loud and competitive. It was, weirdly, comforting background noise.
Jake and Keith burst through the corner from the canteen in their own personal cloud of dumb energy. Keith had his hoodie half-zipped, a mischievous spark in his eyes. Jake walked behind him, lazy swagger and all, lobbing a small tennis ball between his hands.
"Bella!" Keith called over the noise, spotting her immediately. He jogged over like he owned the place.
She blinked, startled. "What are you two doing here?"
Keith gave an exaggerated shrug. "We're on a mission."
Jake stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Thought we'd check if the famous swim captain is still breathing after you fried his brain," he said, grinning lopsidedly.
Bella narrowed her eyes but smiled. "You're just using that as an excuse to hang around and cause trouble."
Jake looped an arm over her shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Guilty. Also, you're looking extra cute today, so we figured we'd provide backup. Two tall bodyguards, buy one get one free."
Keith took her other side, leaning in too close with an overly solemn face. "Can't have you standing around sweaty court jocks unprotected. That's how rom-coms start."
Bella laughed despite herself. "You two are the worst."
"You love us," Jake said, bumping her lightly.
Keith waggled his eyebrows. "At least love us more than your swim king, for a few minutes?"
Her cheeks warmed, but before she could fire back, something shifted in the air. She didn't hear him before she saw him. Yunho had just stepped off the basketball court through the canteen.
He looked like he'd come straight from the pool: damp hair pushed back but escaping over his forehead, his swim team jacket hanging off one shoulder like he hadn't bothered to put his arms through. Water bottle in one hand, phone in the other. He glanced around once, scanning the room with a focus that made something tighten in Bella's chest.
The moment his eyes landed on her, with Jake's arm still hanging a little too casually over her shoulders, his expression didn't change. Not exactly. But something behind it hardened. His jaw flexed. He started walking toward them with calm, measured steps that felt dangerously controlled.
Jake noticed him first and smirked. "Well, well, look who crawled out of the chlorine kingdom."
Keith leaned toward Bella in a dramatic whisper, "Should we run?"
Bella didn't move, pulse suddenly loud in her ears. "Nope."
Yunho stopped right in front of them, gaze flickering to Jake's arm around her shoulders, then to Keith's proximity, then finally settling on Bella like a storm cloud choosing where to strike.
"Didn't know there was a party in here," he said, voice even but a shade too cold.
Jake kept his grin. "Just checking in on Bella. Keeping her entertained."
Keith crossed his arms, nodding sagely. "Someone's gotta step up. You know how it is."
Bella let out a long sigh. "Can you two not?"
But Yunho didn't look away from her even once. "You okay?" he asked quietly.
She nodded. "They're just being… themselves."
Jake elbowed Keith with a conspiratorial grin. "Mission accomplished."
Yunho turned his head just slightly toward them, but his voice stayed calm. "Mind if I talk to her for a second?"
Jake raised a brow dramatically. "Oho. The captain speaks."
Keith put a hand over his chest and gasped. "Protective boyfriend energy?"
"Save it," Bella muttered, already stepping away from them. She turned to Yunho. "Yeah. Let's talk."
Keith pretended to cry into his sleeve. "She ditched us."
Yunho didn't bother replying. He was already walking toward the far corner with Bella beside him, a few feet of distance forming from the others.
Bella tried to act normal, but her heart was racing. She could feel his presence next to her like heat. When they stopped, she leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. "I swear they're just trying to mess with you."
Yunho's eyes travelled over her face, lingering. "I figured," he said quietly. "But seeing you like that… I didn't like it."
Her heartbeat stuttered. "Like what?"
He looked away for a second, jaw tight. "With them all over you. And me… not there."
Bella stared at him. "That sounds a lot like jealousy. You don't do jealousy, remember?"
A muscle in his jaw ticked. "Maybe I do. Now."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sound of the basketball bouncing echoed in the background, but it felt distant—like they were in a bubble just big enough for the two of them.
Yunho ran a hand through his damp hair, frustrated. "I got a text. Someone said you were surrounded by 'two tall guys with smug faces.' I didn't even think. I just… came here."
That caught her off guard. He had stopped his training? For her?
She tried to hide how much that meant, but her voice softened. "You didn't have to do that."
"Yeah," he said, eyes back on hers, gentle but serious. "I kinda did."
Bella felt her cheeks grow warm. She glanced over at Jake and Keith across the gym, now thoroughly distracted trying to see who could dunk on the low rim. She sighed. "They're idiots. They're my idiots. But that's all they are."
Yunho didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped a little closer, enough that their shoulders almost brushed. "Are we okay?" His voice had a rough edge to it now, as if the words cost him something to say. "After everything and… my silence? And yours?"
Her throat tightened. She swallowed. "I don't know. Are we?"
He blinked like he hadn't expected her to say that. For the first time since he walked in, he looked uncertain. "I thought… I thought maybe you needed space. You didn't text me either."
"I thought maybe you changed your mind," she whispered.
He exhaled sharply, like he was both shocked and relieved. "Change my mind about you? Do you even hear yourself?"
Bella looked at the floor. "You were everywhere on Monday. Laughing, acting like nothing happened. I thought maybe the kiss was just a moment."
Yunho's expression shifted. "It wasn't just a moment."
She looked up.
He stepped closer. "I've been trying not to mess this up. That's all. I didn't know how fast you wanted things to move. I didn't want to push you." His voice was so quiet now she could barely hear over the bouncing ball echo. "But I like you, Bella. I'm crazy about you. I don't want you thinking I'm pulling away."
Her chest clenched. She met his eyes. "Then try harder. Because I'm not a mind reader."
Yunho lifted a hand and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I will," he said, voice barely above a breath. "Promise."
From across the gym, Keith shouted, "HEY LOVE BIRDS. YOU DONE?"
Bella rolled her eyes and stifled a giggle. Over Yunho's shoulder, Keith was standing on tiptoe behind Jake making a heart shape with his hands just to be obnoxious.
Yunho sighed but let out a small laugh. "They're relentless."
"And loud," Bella said.
"I can handle loud," Yunho murmured, eyes soft again. "As long as you're standing next to me when they're being idiots. "
Yunho tilted his head, his voice low. "Will you wait for me to finish my practice so that I can walk you home instead of you going off with them?"
Bella looked at him, brows lifting. "Is that a question or a demand?"
Yunho's smile wavered, but he held her gaze. "A request. A very… hopeful one."
Bella's cheeks flushed. She nodded once. "Okay."
He walked backward for a few steps, still watching her, then turned and jogged across the court, picking up a ball from the rack and sinking a smooth shot as if nothing had happened. Except everything had.
Bella stood there for a full minute, heart pounding so loud it echoed louder than the gym noise.
From behind her, Jake reappeared, towels slung over his shoulder. "You good, princess?"
She smacked his arm but smiled. "Shut up."
Keith flopped onto the bench dramatically. "That was disgustingly sweet. I need to rinse my eyes."