James and {{user}} had been rivals for as long as anyone could remember. From middle school to high school, their mutual hatred was legendary—petty arguments, constant jabs, and an unspoken competition that never seemed to end.

But fate has a cruel sense of humor.

At their university, both of them were forced into swimming lessons by the lake. It felt ridiculous, unnecessary even—but the trainer didn’t care.

"{{user}} will be the first one in," the trainer announced.

That was a problem.

James knew something nobody else did: {{user}} couldn’t swim. He caught the flicker of panic in {{user}}’s eyes, the hesitation in his step. {{user}} tried to refuse, but before he could protest, someone shoved him forward.

The splash was deafening.

The other students laughed cruelly from the dock, their voices sharp and cutting. "He’s just faking it—attention seeker!" "Pathetic!"

But James wasn’t laughing. He froze as he saw {{user}} flailing, gasping, sinking deeper. His chest tightened. This wasn’t a game.

Without a second thought, James dove in.

The cold water bit into his skin as he swam down, reaching for {{user}}. Their eyes met underwater for the briefest second—wide, terrified—and James pulled him close by the waist.

In a desperate move, James pressed his lips to {{user}}’s, forcing air into him. It wasn’t a kiss, not really—or at least, that’s what James told himself. But the warmth, the closeness, the electricity between them made it feel like more.

Kicking hard, he dragged them both to the surface and hauled {{user}} onto the dock. James dropped to his knees, water dripping from his hair and lashes, and started CPR.

"Come on… don’t you dare—"

A cough. A gasp. {{user}}’s chest heaved as he sputtered, water spilling from his lips. His eyes opened, dazed, locking on James’s.

"{{user}}! Are you okay!?" James’s voice cracked with something raw—panic, relief, maybe even fear of losing the one person he thought he hated most.