Beneath the Bully's Gaze

Tangled Waves

Mira stood at the edge of the school pool, her stomach a pit of nerves as she glanced at her reflection in the glass panels lining the poolside. The sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting long shadows on the polished tiles, but it did little to soothe the tightness in her chest. Today was swimming class, and like every other girl in her class, she was required to wear the new, school-approved swimsuits—bright, tight, and revealing in ways that made her feel vulnerable.

The suit was a vivid turquoise, the fabric sleek and unforgiving against her skin. It clung to her body in all the wrong ways, accentuating every curve and contour she'd always felt self-conscious about. She wasn't fat—she was thin, but her body was shaped differently from the other girls. Her hips were wider, and her chest fuller, a stark contrast to the slender, willowy figures of her classmates. The suit didn't help—it only made her feel like she was wearing a target. Her cheeks flushed as she examined herself in the reflection, quickly looking away, unwilling to linger too long on the discomfort of it all. She hated the way the swimsuit seemed to make her stand out in a sea of perfect, airbrushed images. It was as if it highlighted her every flaw, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Across the pool, the other girls in her class were chatting and laughing, adjusting their own swimsuits with an air of ease, their confidence radiating from them like sunlight. Their bodies were no different than hers, but the way they carried themselves made all the difference. It was as if the swimsuit was an accessory for them—something to flaunt, to make them feel like queens of the world.

Mira could never be like that.

She turned her gaze to the side, catching a glimpse of Ethan leaning casually against the poolside wall. His stance was as nonchalant as always, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. His usual arrogance oozed from every pore, and though he was surrounded by a few of his friends, his eyes were still scanning the pool area—scanning *her*.

A cold shiver ran down her spine. He was here. She couldn't escape him.

Mira's heart beat faster, her stomach knotting. Ethan had always been a force in her life, but today, standing in this tight-fitting swimsuit, the weight of his gaze felt heavier than ever. She wasn't sure what it was about him that unsettled her so deeply—his cold demeanor, his sharp words, or the way he seemed to enjoy her discomfort—but it was always there, lurking in the background of every interaction. She braced herself for whatever cruel comment he might throw her way today, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him for too long. His presence alone was enough to make her feel exposed.

The teacher's voice broke through her thoughts, calling everyone to gather at the edge of the pool. The other girls, with their perfectly styled hair and flawless smiles, flitted to the front of the group like butterflies, eager for the lesson to begin. Mira hung back, trying to blend in, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. The bright color of her swimsuit felt suffocating now, a glaring beacon that marked her as different from the others.

As the lesson began, Mira focused intently on the instructor's instructions, but her mind kept drifting. The boys were at the far end of the pool, splashing and laughing as they goofed around, the sound of their voices carrying across the water. Mira couldn't help but glance at them—she knew they were talking about the girls. She knew the jokes that were coming, and sure enough, the first laugh rang out.

"Hey, did you see Mira?" a voice shouted, clear and loud above the ripple of the water. "She actually looks pretty good in that suit!"

Mira's stomach churned at the words, and she felt her cheeks heat up instantly. She wanted to hide, to disappear, but the voice of another boy joined in.

"Yeah, I didn't think she had it in her!" The laughter that followed was cruel and dismissive, like the sound of something shattering.

Mira squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment, trying to block out the noise. She told herself not to care—not to let their words affect her—but it was impossible. She could feel the heat of their stares, the weight of their ridicule sinking into her skin. And then, to her dismay, she caught Ethan's gaze.

For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and Mira's breath caught. There was something different in his expression—something that seemed to flicker beneath his usual disinterested mask. It was almost... intense.

But before she could make sense of it, his expression returned to its usual aloofness, and the moment passed. Mira quickly turned her gaze away, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Looks like you've caught some attention," a voice teased from behind her, and Mira felt a ripple of unease as a girl swam past. Her tone dripped with mockery, her eyes glinting as she shot a glance at Mira. "Enjoy it while it lasts."

Mira bit her lip, forcing herself to remain calm. She didn't want to acknowledge the teasing, didn't want to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her upset. But as the lesson continued, and the instructor called for a relay race, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every time she glanced up, Ethan's cold eyes seemed to find her again, unrelenting in their observation.

The instructor paired her up with one of the boys who had been making the comments. Mira felt a wave of dread wash over her. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck with him, especially in this ridiculous swimsuit.

"Let's see what you've got, Mira," the boy said with a smirk, swimming up beside her as they prepared for the race. His voice was thick with mockery, the way he lingered too close for comfort making Mira feel even more exposed.

Mira gritted her teeth and pushed herself to focus on the water. She wasn't about to let him get to her. She dove into the pool, determined to outrun the words that had already been thrown her way. She swam hard, her strokes sharp and quick, forcing herself to forget about the comments. The water was cool, refreshing, and for a moment, it was just her and the rhythm of her breathing. But as she neared the end of her leg of the race, she felt him beside her again, his voice cutting through the sound of the water.

"You know," he said, swimming parallel to her, "if you had a little more confidence, you might actually be good at this."

Mira's stomach twisted, but she didn't respond. She was so close to finishing, just one more push and she could be done with this whole ordeal. But as she stretched out for the wall, just inches away from ending her part of the race, she felt something—someone—brush past her. A hand landed firmly on her arm, pulling her off course for a moment.

Ethan.

In a move so swift it seemed accidental, Ethan appeared at the edge of the pool just as Mira's opponent was about to push forward. Without breaking his stride, he planted a foot deliberately in front of the boy's path, causing him to stumble and nearly lose his balance.

The boy faltered, his body tilting backward, but Ethan's movement was so subtle that it seemed almost like an accident. He didn't say a word, didn't make a sound as he turned away. But the boy, now flustered and embarrassed, shot a glance at Ethan, who met his gaze with nothing but cold indifference.

Ethan didn't flinch. He didn't smirk. He simply turned back toward the wall and folded his arms, as if nothing had happened. The boy, now clearly thrown off, hesitated for a moment before swimming off, his earlier bravado evaporating into the water.

Mira was left stunned, floating in the water, watching the scene unfold before her. The boy was gone, but Ethan—Ethan had done nothing but watch. It was as if, without saying a word, he had already delivered his punishment.

Mira's heart was racing, though not from the swim. She wanted to say something, anything, to thank him for stepping in. But she couldn't find the words. Before she could process what had just happened, Ethan turned back toward her, his eyes narrowing just a fraction.

"Focus," he said, his voice cool and dismissive. "You won't get anywhere if you let them get in your head."

Mira blinked, trying to make sense of it. Ethan wasn't someone she could ever count on, and yet... there was something different in the way he acted today. He hadn't said a word to her directly, but his actions spoke volumes.

But before she could formulate any further thoughts, he was already turning away, his posture returning to its usual arrogance. He didn't look back. He didn't acknowledge her discomfort, her confusion, or even the momentary flicker of something more. Ethan just walked away.

Mira watched him go, her heart still pounding, a swirl of gratitude, frustration, and uncertainty filling her chest. What did all of this mean? She didn't know.

But one thing was certain—Ethan had a way of making her feel both seen and invisible at the same time.