The afternoon sun filtered through the gymnasium’s tall windows, casting soft reflections on the polished floors. Rafayel stretched lazily on the poolside lounge chair, eyes half-closed as the distant hum of students passing by outside barely reached him. The cool air inside the pool area was a nice contrast to the heat of the day, and he enjoyed these quiet moments before everyone else filtered in.

His camera rested on his chest, fingers occasionally grazing over the lens as he considered snapping a shot of the rippling water. The rhythm of the slight waves in the pool was calming, a slow pulse in an otherwise busy day. He tilted his head, catching the glimmer of light reflecting off the water, but today he wasn’t in the mood to capture it. The stillness was enough.

As the minutes ticked by, Rafayel finally decided to move. He slipped into the water, feeling the instant coolness against his skin, and swam a few lazy laps, just enough to keep his muscles warm. This wasn’t practice—it was more a way to unwind, to keep himself centered after a long morning of classes. The strokes were easy, unhurried, as he glided through the water.

After his short swim, Rafayel climbed out, water dripping from his lean frame as he grabbed his towel. Instead of heading straight to the showers, he sat at the edge of the pool, watching droplets slide down his arms. His mind drifted to random thoughts—plans for the weekend, an idea for a photo series, or whether he should actually study for the upcoming exams. But none of it felt pressing. Right now, all that mattered was the stillness around him and the faint echo of water lapping against the tiles.