The school's indoor arena was packed with students.
Cheers echoed through the building.
Banners hung from the walls.
Everyone was excited.
Everyone except Katie.
Katie stood near the starting blocks, nervously adjusting her goggles.
Her hands felt cold.
Her stomach twisted into knots.
She had practiced for weeks.
Yet standing here now felt completely different.
"What if I lose?"
she whispered.
Her friend rolled her eyes.
"What if you stop worrying for five minutes?"
Katie laughed weakly.
Easier said than done.
Then the crowd suddenly erupted.
A loud wave of cheers swept across the arena.
"Huh?"
Katie turned toward the entrance.
And immediately understood why.
Tian had arrived.
The entire student section seemed to come alive.
Girls waved excitedly.
Some even shouted his name.
Katie folded her arms.
"Seriously?"
Her friend smirked.
"Jealous?"
Katie nearly choked.
"No!"
Unfortunately, her red face said otherwise.
Meanwhile, Tian walked calmly through the crowd.
Completely ignoring the attention.
As usual.
His eyes scanned the arena.
Then stopped.
On Katie.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Katie froze.
Tian gave a small nod.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing flashy.
Just a simple gesture.
Yet somehow...
It made her heart race more than all the cheering around them.
The announcer's voice echoed through the speakers.
"Final competitors, please take your positions."
Katie swallowed hard.
This was it.
She stepped onto the starting block.
The pool stretched before her.
Crystal clear.
Waiting.
The whistle blew.
[BEEP!]
Katie dove.
The world disappeared beneath the water.
No crowd.
No noise.
No fear.
Only the race.
Stroke after stroke.
Turn after turn.
She pushed herself harder than ever before.
The finish wall appeared.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
SLAP!
Her hand touched first.
The crowd exploded.
Katie surfaced, gasping for breath.
Confused.
Then she looked at the scoreboard.
1st Place
KATIE
Her eyes widened.
"I... won?"
Her teammates rushed toward her.
Celebrating.
Laughing.
Shouting.
Yet among all the faces...
Katie searched for only one.
And found him.
Tian stood near the back of the crowd.
A rare smile on his face.
Not a big smile.
Not an obvious one.
But enough.
Enough to make Katie's heart skip a beat.
As everyone celebrated around her, she realized something.
Winning felt amazing.
But seeing Tian smile at her...
Somehow felt even better.