Depths Of The Heart [WinTeam]

Chapter 8: Breaking the Surface

The morning after their kiss, Win woke up with a warmth in his chest he hadn’t felt in a long time. His mind drifted back to the quiet moments they’d shared by the pool, and he found himself smiling, the memory replaying in his mind like a favorite song. But as reality set in, he felt a prickle of worry. What would this mean for them now? Could they really balance the demands of the team, their rivalry, and whatever this new, fragile connection was?

Team wasn’t any easier to read the next day. At practice, he seemed to avoid Win’s gaze, focusing intensely on his laps and drills. Yet, there was an energy in his movements, an unmistakable drive that spoke volumes. Win understood that tension—he felt it too. They had crossed a line that couldn’t be undone, and now they were left trying to find their footing.

Their morning practice ended with Coach Taan gathering everyone at the edge of the pool, clipboard in hand and his expression hard.

“I need you all at your best, no exceptions,” Coach began, his tone sharp. “The nationals are in two weeks, and we’re still rough around the edges. If anyone’s struggling, now’s the time to speak up.”

Win glanced at Team, who stood with his arms crossed, jaw set in determination. He knew the weight of that promise he’d made to Team was on the line here—to get through this together. Win squared his shoulders, letting his eyes meet Coach Taan’s.

“No one’s struggling, Coach,” Win spoke up, his voice carrying across the pool. “We’re ready.”

Coach Taan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the team. “Then prove it to me. I expect nothing less than absolute commitment.” His eyes lingered on Win and Team a beat longer, as if sensing the tension between them, but he said nothing and dismissed them with a curt nod.

As they all headed to the locker room, Team caught up to Win, his face unreadable. “About last night…” he began, voice low.

Win looked around, making sure they were alone before nodding. “Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about that too.”

They both lingered in silence, unsure of how to start. Finally, Team let out a frustrated sigh. “We need to focus. Nationals are close, and I can’t… I can’t afford any distractions. You understand that, right?”

Win felt a pang of disappointment, but he nodded. “I get it. We have a job to do. And this doesn’t change that.” He hesitated, then added, “But… what happened between us, it’s not just something I can ignore. Can you?”

Team’s expression softened, his eyes flickering with a vulnerability that made Win’s chest tighten. “No,” he admitted. “But I don’t know how to… balance this. I don’t want to mess up the team, or my chances, or yours.”

“Then maybe we don’t have to figure it all out right now,” Win suggested, stepping closer. “Let’s just… take it one step at a time. See where things go. No expectations. Just… us.”

Team looked at him, his guard lowering just a fraction. “Alright,” he whispered. “One step at a time.”

They exchanged a small, tentative smile before heading out, and though nothing was resolved, Win felt lighter. They had an understanding, however fragile. And that was enough—for now.

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The following days were a whirlwind of intense practice sessions, grueling drills, and late nights spent reviewing strategies. Win and Team fell into an easy rhythm, their rivalry on the surface seeming to sharpen, but beneath it, there was a quiet undercurrent of understanding, a shared look here, a fleeting touch there.

The other team members had noticed the change too. Dean, ever observant, approached Win one afternoon as they were cooling down by the side of the pool.