Bella stepped through the school gates on Monday morning trying not to attract any attention to herself. Her backpack was slung over one shoulder, her earbuds were in and she had made it her mission to walk into the week like it was any other.
Unfortunately, the week had other plans.
It started small. A few glances. Some nudges. A soft, suspicious giggle behind her. But as she walked deeper into the school courtyard, the current shifted. The energy was unmistakable, thick in the air with suspense.
She pulled her earbuds out slowly.
"Is that her?"
"Yeah, that's the girl who jumped in."
"No way, Yunho Yunho?"
"She sat with him afterward."
"I heard he wrapped her in his towel."
"Does that mean they're, like… together??"
"Is she even on the swim team?"
The heat rose to Bella's cheeks almost instantly. She lowered her head, trying to walk faster. Her sneakers squeaked on the tile as she sped past the lockers, hoping to reach the stairs without drawing more attention. She only made it ten steps before she passed a group of Year Two girls clustered near the vending machines.
These girls, apparently, did not believe in subtlety.
"First the tennis captain, now the swim captain," one of them said in a stage-whisper. "Must be nice. Stealing captains like that. Collecting them like Pokémon."
Bella blinked. That one stung.
Another girl gave her a slow once-over; eyes filled with calculated dismissal. "Didn't think she was his type."
Another chimed in, syrupy-sweet: "Guess he likes the rescue-meet-cute kind of girl."
Bella didn't say a word. Her throat was too dry and her thoughts too loud. She kept walking.
Why, her mind kept asking. Why was this happening?
She had done nothing wrong. She had acted on instinct, like anyone would. Yunho could have drowned. She did what she had to. It had nothing to do with romance or attention. And yet, she was now being treated like she had deliberately staged a dramatic performance for a crowd.
By the time she reached her classroom, she felt like every hallway had narrowed into a tunnel of stares.
Emily was already inside, slouched at her desk with her legs crossed and her phone in hand. She looked up as soon as Bella walked in, every bit the picture-perfect poise. Her cropped blazer was paired with wide-leg trousers that made her look like she had walked off a runway. A pair of branded diamond earrings caught the light as she tilted her head and her sleek hair was pinned in a low, clean bun that somehow made her look both intimidating and impossibly cool. One perfectly arched eyebrow lifted in immediate judgment.
"Oh no," she said. "The vultures are out, aren't they?"
Bella collapsed into her seat. "I think I just got hexed by three different girls."
Emily leaned closer, whispering, "I heard someone refer to you as 'the towel girl' by the lockers. Congratulations. You're officially a school legend."
Bella groaned and buried her face in her arms. "This is a nightmare. I didn't even do anything!"
"You saved him from public drowning and got hand-holding privileges. That's practically a K-drama contract."
Bella mumbled something incoherent into the desk.
And as if the universe hadn't already done enough damage, someone walked past their row and muttered under her breath, "Enjoy it while it lasts."
Bella's head lifted. She didn't even recognise the girl. Just another stranger with an unsolicited opinion.
Emily's entire posture shifted. Her eyes narrowed like she was calculating wind speed and trajectory for a verbal takedown. "Do I need to throw hands? Because I will."
"No. It's fine." Bella pressed her lips together, trying to shove the discomfort back down. "They'll move on. Eventually. Besides, there's always some new gossip, like Jenna and Mark's two-week breakup. Now they're sitting at opposite ends of the cafeteria like strangers."
She said the words, but even as they left her mouth, she didn't quite believe them. This felt different. More personal. She had unknowingly walked into the center of a spotlight she never asked for.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw Jake's name flash across the screen.
She hesitated for a second, then answered. "Hey, Jake. What's up?"
His voice came through low and urgent. "Bella. I need to tell you about some goss on you."
Bella sighed. "Of course you do. This day just keeps getting better."
Jake's voice stayed serious. "There's a bet going around."
That caught her attention.
"A bet?" she repeated. "How do you even know about this?"
"I heard it from Ava," Jake explained. "She and her friends are apparently tracking whether Yunho is actually going to ask you out. Like, officially. There's a wager pool and everything. People are putting real money on this."
Bella stared ahead, heart starting to beat a little faster. "Wait, seriously?"
Jake made a noise of confirmation. "Ava was bragging about it near the gym. Said it's the hottest gossip this week. You and Yunho are basically the new main characters."
Bella's mind raced. Bella leaned against the wall beside her desk. "Why would Ava tell you that?"
Jake was going in circles. "Let's just say we are talking and confiding in each other on a different level."
Bella frowned, crossing her arms. "That sounds suspiciously illegal."
"Hardly," Jake laughed, "I'm just resourceful. And I thought you should know what you're walking into. This isn't just hallway whispers anymore. People are actively watching you."
Bella took a deep breath. "Everyone is so juvenile. Why are we under the spotlight? I hate the stares and unspoken death threats from the girls I walked past."
She looked around the classroom, suddenly aware of how quiet it was. Even in here, she could feel the attention. The not-so-subtle glances. The curiosity simmering just beneath the surface.
She ended the call with a quiet thank you and set her phone down. The weight of it all sat heavy on her chest.
This was no longer about just her and Yunho. Somewhere along the way, their moment by the pool had been snatched up and turned into currency. Gossip. Speculation. A game.
Bella closed her eyes and tried to will the world away for a second.
She hadn't chosen to be the centre of attention, but if she was going to be there, she would do it on her own terms.