Beneath the Bully's Gaze

13

Mira stood by the edge of the school pool, her heart racing with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

Today was swimming class, and like every other girl in her class, she was required to wear the new, school-approved swimsuits—tight, bright-colored numbers that left little to the imagination.

Mira's cheeks flushed as she glanced at the mirror reflection. The suit felt foreign against her skin, accentuating her insecurities instead of making her feel confident.
As she took a deep breath, she caught sight of Ethan across the pool deck, his presence as striking as ever.

He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, wearing his typical aloof expression. A knot tightened in her stomach at the thought of him seeing her in this swimsuit. He had always bullied her, and she braced herself for whatever cruel comment he might unleash today.

The teacher called everyone to gather at the pool's edge, and as the girls shuffled forward, Mira felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over her.

The other girls laughed and chatted, some adjusting their swimsuits, while Mira kept her head down, trying to avoid attention. She hated the idea of being judged, especially by Ethan.

As the lesson began, they started with some basic swimming techniques, but Mira struggled to focus. The boys were over at the other end of the pool, splashing and laughing. But as Mira's eyes drifted in their direction, she heard a few of them start to comment on the girls' appearances.

"Hey, did you see Mira?" one boy shouted, his voice carrying over the water. "She actually looks pretty good in that suit!"
"Yeah, I didn't think she had it in her!" another chimed in, and laughter erupted among the boys.

Mira's heart sank as the laughter echoed in her ears. She tried to ignore it, focusing on her instructor, but she could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Just then, she caught Ethan's gaze, and to her surprise, it was locked on her.

For a fleeting moment, his expression shifted from indifferent to something more intense, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. His lips pressed together in a tight line, betraying no emotion.

"Looks like you've caught some attention," a girl teased as she swam past Mira, her voice dripping with mockery. "Enjoy it while it lasts!"

Mira glanced at Ethan again, who remained standing by the wall, arms crossed. She couldn't read the look on his face, but there was something about the way he held himself that screamed annoyance. Was he jealous? The thought sent a shiver of confusion through her, but she quickly brushed it aside.

The lesson continued, and as the instructor asked them to pair off for a relay race, Mira found herself partnered with one of the boys who had made the comments earlier. The last thing she wanted was to interact with him, especially in a swimsuit.

"Let's see what you've got, Mira," he said with a smirk, swimming close to her as they prepared for the race.
Mira focused on the pool ahead, determined not to let his comments get to her. She dove into the water, her movements fueled by a mixture of anger and determination. As she surfaced, she noticed Ethan still watching, his expression unchanging.

But the boy she was racing against was relentless, swimming alongside her and making snide comments. "You know, if you had a little more confidence, you might actually be good at this."

Mira gritted her teeth, trying to push past him. Just as she was about to touch the wall for the final leg of the race, she felt a hand on her arm. It was Ethan, who had suddenly appeared at the edge of the pool.

"Stop harassing her," he said coldly, his voice slicing through the noise. The boy blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by Ethan's sudden interference.
"What? I was just having some fun," he protested, but Ethan's glare was unwavering.

"You think it's fun to make someone feel small? You're pathetic," Ethan shot back, his tone sharp and dismissive. The boy looked ready to argue, but with one last look at Ethan, he backed off, moving to join the other boys who were still cheering.

Mira's heart raced—not from the swim but from the unexpected confrontation. Ethan hadn't just stood up for her; he had humiliated that boy without even breaking a sweat. But before she could thank him or even process what had just happened, Ethan turned away, his indifference settling back into place.

"Get your head in the game, Mira," he said, his tone cool and devoid of warmth. "You can't let them get to you."
Mira felt a mixture of gratitude and frustration.

"You didn't have to do that," she replied, her voice shaky as she tried to keep her composure.

"Whatever," Ethan said, waving her off as he walked back toward the wall, his demeanor returning to its usual arrogance.

"Just don't embarrass yourself more than you already are."
As Mira watched him walk away, she couldn't shake the conflicting emotions churning inside her.

Ethan was infuriatingly cold and arrogant, yet there was a strange thrill in how he had defended her, even if it was in his typical brusque manner.

She turned back to the pool, feeling the weight of his words lingering in the air.

The lesson continued, but as she swam, she couldn't help but feel the heat of Ethan's gaze from across the pool. Even in his indifference, there was something about him that stirred a mix of emotions in her.

Perhaps, beneath the layers of cruelty and arrogance, there was more to Ethan than met the eye. But for now, she was left with the sting of his coldness and the confusion that seemed to follow him wherever he went.