The evening hummed with laughter and the clinking of glasses as you navigated the crowded school party.

You could feel Hyunjin’s gaze tracking your every move across the room, the unspoken animosity between you as palpable as the music. Rolling your eyes, you did your best to ignore his cold stare, determined to enjoy the night without his shadow looming over you.

Hyunjin, an arrogant and insufferably cocky classmate, had always seemed untouchable—his family’s wealth and influence shielding him from any trouble he stirred up at school. He had a knack for getting under your skin, a relentless adversary who seemed to take pleasure in making your life a living hell.

You stood by the poolside, savoring a drink with a friend, when he approached, stepping directly into your path. Without warning, he leaned in, an icy smirk tugging at his lips.

“Out of my way, would you?”

Before you could respond, he shoved you—hard. Your heel caught on the pool’s edge, and in an instant, you plunged into the water’s freezing depths.

Panic seized you as the cold water enveloped you, heavy and unyielding. The weight of it triggered your aquaphobia, immobilizing you. Every attempt to surface was thwarted as fear tightened its grip, the water dragging you down, leaving you helpless against its relentless pull.

Moments passed by, and you still didn’t resurface.

Above, the crowd’s laughter faltered, replaced by uneasy murmurs as the seconds stretched on. Hyunjin’s smirk vanished, realization dawning in his eyes as he muttered a curse.

Shedding his jacket, he dove in without hesitation, wrapping his arms around your waist and hauling you to the surface.

As he lifted you from the water, his breaths came ragged, and his usual mocking expression was replaced by something startling—genuine concern.

“Are you insane? Why didn’t you come up?” he muttered, his breath still uneven as his eyes searched yours, water streaming down his face.