Depths Of The Heart [WinTeam]

Chapter 2: A Threat to the Throne

The next morning, the aquatics center buzzed with energy as the team assembled for practice. Win had arrived early, as he always did, hoping to get a head start on his training. But as he entered the pool area, he was surprised to see Team already in the water, swimming laps with that same calm, unshakeable focus that had irritated him the day before.

Win clenched his jaw, annoyed that Team was once again a step ahead. This wasn’t going to become a pattern. He dropped his bag by the bleachers, shrugged off his jacket, and started warming up, his eyes fixed on Team’s form slicing through the water. Even when no one was watching, Team seemed to move with purpose, each stroke strong, fluid, and controlled.

As Win stretched, Coach Taan approached, watching Team’s progress with an approving nod.

“He’s good, isn’t he?” Coach said, crossing his arms.

Win forced a neutral expression. “He’s all right.”

Coach chuckled. “All right? Win, the guy’s already pulling times close to yours.”

Win tightened his grip on his shoulder. “So? I’ll make sure he stays close—and never catches up.”

Coach raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk on his face. “That competitiveness of yours is why you’re captain, but don’t let it blind you. Team has potential. If he keeps improving, he could be an asset to you—and to us all.”

Win’s shoulders tensed. He didn’t need Coach reminding him of Team’s potential. He could see it just fine. But he wasn’t about to admit that to anyone, especially not to Team himself.

After a few more minutes, Team finished his laps and climbed out of the pool, water dripping from his hair and pooling around his feet. Spotting Win, he gave a nod of acknowledgment, but there was something in his eyes—something challenging. Win met his gaze head-on, refusing to back down.

“Ready to start?” Team asked, his voice casual, almost mocking.

“Always,” Win replied coolly, stepping up to the pool’s edge. “But try to keep up this time.”

Team’s smirk was infuriating. “I’ll do my best, Captain.”

The word “Captain” sounded almost like an insult coming from Team, and Win’s fists clenched involuntarily. He hated how Team seemed so unbothered, so unaffected by everything. It was like nothing could faze him—and that only made Win more determined to shake him.

Coach blew the whistle, signaling the start of the practice. The team dove in, each member falling into their designated lanes, but it was clear from the beginning that this wasn’t just any practice. Win and Team quickly broke away from the pack, locked in an unspoken race. Each time Win increased his speed, Team responded in kind, matching him stroke for stroke. The water seemed to boil with the intensity between them.

By the end of the set, both were panting, their muscles burning from the relentless pace. Dean, who had been keeping an eye on them from a few lanes over, swam up, grinning.

“Are you two trying to kill each other or something?” he joked, shaking his head.

“Just training,” Team said, flashing a smile that looked far too calm for someone who had just pushed himself to his limits. “Win here likes to set the bar high.”

Win’s jaw clenched as he caught his breath. “Someone has to, or you’d all be slacking off.”

Dean let out a low chuckle, glancing between the two of them with amusement. “Well, as long as you don’t drown each other, I’m all for the extra motivation.”

But Win wasn’t laughing. He could feel Team’s gaze on him, challenging, almost daring him to step it up even further. And he wanted to—he wanted to push Team until he finally broke, to prove that no matter how good Team thought he was, he could never reach Win’s level.