The moment Noel disappeared through the doors of the aquatic center — probably being interrogated by Ren and Jun all the way to the parking lot — Evan exhaled. Deeply. Like he'd just finished another race.
Before he could gather his towel and dignity, a loud splash behind him made him turn.
"Hey, loverboy!" came the unmistakable shout from somewhere in the water.
Evan groaned.
Three of his teammates were climbing out of the pool, dripping, laughing, and watching him like he was a wounded gazelle among hyenas. At the front of the pack was Levi, tall, broad-shouldered, with abs sharp enough to slice through tension and a grin that meant trouble.
Behind him were Tariq — lean, fast, and always half a second from a scandal — and Minsoo, who rarely spoke unless it was absolutely savage.
Levi slung an arm over Evan's damp shoulders. "So. Noel Chandra. On the bleachers. Watching you. That happen or was I just hallucinating from chlorine?"
"Definitely happened," Tariq added, wringing out his hair. "I clocked it the moment his expression changed when Hot Blond started talking to him."
Minsoo deadpanned, "He looked like he was calculating orbital trajectories... to punch someone."
Evan shrugged, trying (and failing) to look casual. "He just came to watch practice."
Tariq let out a high, fake gasp. "Just came to watch, he says. You've been pining after him for like, what, two years? And now he's orbiting your pool like a moon?"
"Can we not use celestial metaphors?" Evan muttered.
"Too late," Levi said, smirking. "He's basically your North Star now."
Evan rubbed a hand over his face. "I hate all of you."
"But you love him," Minsoo said blandly.
The locker room door swung open and Coach yelled, "Wrap it up! Showers and out in ten!"
As they made their way inside, Levi nudged Evan again. "Seriously though, you okay? That guy was talking Noel's ear off before Ren showed up with a flaming baton."
"I'm fine," Evan said. Then, quieter: "He stayed."
Tariq grinned. "He stayed, huh?"
Minsoo peeled off his swim cap. "Then maybe you should stop running."
That silenced Evan for a beat. He didn't know what it was exactly — the way Noel had looked at him, or the way he'd said You make swimming look peaceful. But something in him had shifted.
For once, the stars didn't seem so far away.
Levi clapped him on the back, sending another spray of water everywhere. "We're proud of you, bro. You were a silent mess last semester."
Tariq added, "Seriously. You got quieter than Noel for a bit. We thought you'd both combust from repressed feelings."
"Still might," Minsoo offered.
Evan rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the encouragement."
"Anytime," Levi said, heading toward the showers. "Now let's go, starboy. We've got a meet next week. Might as well win it for the guy who finally knows your name."
Evan smiled to himself as he followed them in.
Maybe this year wouldn't just be about medals and graduation.
Maybe it would be about finally catching up to the thing he'd been chasing all this time.
And maybe — just maybe — that thing had started chasing back.