A/N  :         ~ ♦ ~           Denotes a change of pov or time or both .

Swimming ..

For many people , swimming is a hobby .

For others  it’s merely a type of sports  yet for some , it is their profession that they take pride in .

In the other extreme , some people think of it as a routine they are obliged to stick to because of it being a necessity in life .

However , for me , it is my everything .

My passion and serenity .

Even if am not swimming ,  being next to water relaxes me in a way I find rather striking .

We are approximately 70 % comprised of water after all , it’s only natural I can identify with such element of nature .

Another thing noteworthy , we can use water to describe almost anything !

see  One of my fellow coaches there ? He may seem like he is totally harmless but don’t get fooled , he is such a wicked one !

{ Still water runs deep } depicts him best .

You get my point ?

“ Chanhee ! “

Turning around at my name being called , I was welcomed by none other than my best friend and also fellow coach , Niel .

He is what you can call , fish lips .

Isn’t it funny ? he is a fish and a swimming coach .

I kept teasing him about it when we first got to know each other but now it’s kinda outdated to do so .

Approaching him with a playful smile , I shook my head mentally basking in such memories .

Now , it’s actually too early for him to show up since morning shifts are mine but I guess swimming is gaining lots of popularity especially around warm months .

“ Hey , how do you find  waking up early ? “ I asked , almost mocking but it’s not like he gets bothered . Nothing bothers him after all . If anything , he is the  bothersome one here .  I swear he is noisiest guy I have ever known .

passing me a sarcastic smile , he hits my shoulder playfully letting out a chortle and I cannot help but burst into laughter as he gulps because if he normally looks like a fish , such action makes him one in all shapes .

And I earn myself another hit as he notices my eyes fixated at him gulping .

“ Gosh , Chanhee ! you should really stop it . I don’t get bothered being called a fish but well your stupid grin actually bothers me . “

He lets his lips jut out in frustration and again I try to suppress my laughter because whatever he does makes his huge lips more emphasized .

In an attempt to change the subject , I avert my eyes to his clothes which were just as I have expected considering Niel has this unique fashion sense . A yellow shirt with a smile face print  paired up with fuchsia shorts would normally sound odd , nonetheless it looked just fine on him .  

I , on the other hand , sported white shorts and a pastel pink T shirt .

“ Chanhee  !! “

A deep voice pulled me out of my thoughts but it wasn’t Niel that time .

It was the security guard  , Minsoo .

He is two years older than me and we do get along just fine but it is  usually greetings exchanged between us . That's the scope of our interaction .

Why is he calling ?

I nod from afar signaling that I have heard him , catching a glimpse of a young man accompanying a child about 5 years old .

Oh ! Work already ?

~ ♦ ~    

As the guard called for the coach appointed to work with  Leo , I turned my face to find a surprisingly young man dressed in white shorts and a pastel pink T-shirt approaching us .

My hands that were holding Leo’s twitched at the sight .

From afar , he looked handsome but as he got closer and closer , I knew " breathtaking " would be an understatement . It doesn’t do him justice .

He seemed to understand the situation noticing Leo with me .

passing me a gentle yet playful smile , he bowed slightly and I mirrored it smiling a bit then hurriedly averted my eyes to the child holding my hands  .  It’s a habit of mine , I’m not good at maintaining eye contact even though I’m a teacher .

“ This is Lee Chanhee , the coach you requested as mentioned in the prior booking .  Chanhee , this is the new child .  “

The security saved us the pain but I still had to introduce myself .

“ I’m Lee Byunghun and this is ..  . “ I said nudging Leo to introduce himself . However , he kept on clinging to me until the coach bent down and smiled warmly at Leo trying to befriend him .

“ Hey , little angel . What’s your name ? “

I was stunned at the pace the coach worked with . smiling brightly , the coach ruffled Leo's hair . There was something in his smile that got me dazed and thank the  heavens everyone’s attention seemed to be focused on Leo  .

“ ..  Leo . “  He shyly answered but I already knew he was starting to like his coach .

“ Oh ! Leo , where’s your mother though ? It’s not a working day and usually , it is mothers bringing their children to practice . “

As the word mother hit my brain , I attempted to speak but Leo beat me to it .

“ Eh ? Uncle , is mother here in korea ? “

Shutting my eyes briefly  in irritation  at the exposed privacy , I sent Leo a weak smile shaking my head before shifting my eyes to the coach who stood up gradually, sending me a quizzical stare short after .

well , It’s not like I mind him knowing about me being Leo’s uncle but .. I certainly don’t find it comfortable to let him in on Leo’s mother .

“ His mother is not living here .. “  I trailed off gripping Leo’s hands tightly .

Wanting to change the subject ,  I cleared my throat before asking the coach to start but he raised his eyebrows smiling playfully along .  

“ Well ,  I would.  After they finish the routine measures.  “

he said pointing to the swimming pool procedures and I had to mentally curse my nervous state.  

This ain't good.

He is easily invading my personal bubble making me nervous by his smile alone .

“ Besides ,  you are .. “ he paused to check the time before proceeding “ 15 minutes early any ways . Your appointment starts 15 minutes later.  “  

The teasing tone coating his voice and that playful smile that never seemed to leave him forced me to sigh averting my eyes elsewhere.  

“ you can wait over there though .  “

I have already grown familiar with his voice that I only blinked as he spoke again and sadly I had to look at him to know which “ there “ he meant.  

And so I did ,  following his index pointing towards the chaise lounge not far from where we were standing.  

~ ♦ ~ 

Staring at leo and Chanhee teaching him wasn't Byunghun’s version of “ Fun “ but it's not like he had something better to do.  

He couldn't help but notice more and more about the coach.

In his defense ,  he already knows everything about his nephew that's why he naturally found himself staring at Chanhee.

The guy was a bit tanned ,  surely because of his profession ,  had bleach  blonde hair ,  gorgeous doe like eyes ,  perfectly heart shaped lips and really good complexion.

He had on a dangling anchor earring

that wasn't overrated nor small enough to be disregarded.

And suddenly ,  the lesson came to an end and he had to help Leo dry up while Chanhee finished first and smiled approaching Byunghun.    

“ such a good child  ~ “ Chanhee sang turning around briefly to locate Leo who was happily waiting for a healthy meal sitting about a table not far away.

Taking a deep breath in agreement ,  Byunghun nodded before whispering “ Yea.  “

His eyes already monitoring Chanhee’s movement like he couldn't register the fact the said would really sit down and chat with him , Byunghun unconsciously his lips adjusting his posture .

He couldn't help but notice the droplets of water cascading down the ends of Chanhee’s hair and before he could stop himself ,  he was already saying it out loud .

“ You didn't fully dry your hair..  “

The other seemed taken aback at first but then chuckled spontaneously running his hand through his hair  .

“ well ,  when you have to swim about the whole day,  it gets silly to fully dry it just to have it all wet again ~ “

Once again he wins over the argument with his witty replies and playful personality. that was his charm after all.

“ Oh ! Yea ..  I guess you are right. “

Awkwardly agreeing ,  Byunghun decided it was best to stare over at the water praying that some sort of force guards him were Chanhee to some more.  

And like his prayers got accepted , the next thing he knew was the blonde changing the subject .

Chanhee asked a question after the other " so where is his father ?  Why is it you accompanying the child ? where is the mother ?  " his tone casual and not playful anymore as he gave Byunghun his full attention .

Byunghun would only maintain eye contact for a short time before gazing back at the water as if to gather his thoughts . He then smiled bitterly before revealing it .

" They are separated and it's sad .. but ..  At least they are on good terms . " His eyes sparkled in a way that silently conveyed how much of a long story it was.

He could have lied saying the mother was just working abroad but what would excuse her never accompanying Leo ? He knew the other would get confused and ask some more questions because it's rare for couples to stay on good terms after separation.

And true enough Chanhee grew confused at that . It didn't take him long before he voiced his curiosity. From Byunghun's tone , Chanhee could tell the story was deep.

" Then why did they separate ?  Did he leave her or she left him ? " Chanhee found himself asking despite the fact he wasn't usually the type to ask those questions , let alone chat with parents or whoever accompanies kids to practice  .

Byunghun once again smiled , a beautiful one at that ,  so much emotion hidden in his deep brown eyes as he kept silent for a while .  

" Love left them .  " he simply stated looking ahead , a soft breeze engulfing them as if to better fit the situation .

In that moment Chanhee kept gazing at the said in admiration ,  interest and attraction . Byunghun sure looked like an average young man but truth is , he had lots to tell that

Chanhee couldn't help but find himself attracted to Byunghun's eloquent words.

The serene atmosphere lingered before the coach registered it and asked

" So .. the mother is out of equation ,  where is your brother ?  " Chanhee asked , his tone calculating but Byunghun didn't mind the said being nosy . And that should serve as a warning sign since usually , Byunghun doesn't like exposing his private life like that especially if it has to do with his family. However , he chose to disregard such warning.

" My brother .. has a new lover that he cant be intimate around if his child is present. " Directing his eyes towards his folded hands , Byunghun admitted , starting to feel a bit uneasy as the warning bells echoed about , that time much more intense.

~ ♦ ~    

It has been a few days since Byunghun first brought Leo to swimming practice and it was then that he realized he couldn't just do the same routine daily .

And so he acted on it .

After the practice has ended , he approached Chanhee with full determination .

" um.. Coach Chanhee , There's this thing I have been meaning to tell you . " the said played with his fingers to distract himself from locking gazes with the other because it would ruin the serious atmosphere . Though , knowing Chanhee , he would naturally ruin it sooner or later .

Talk about confidence and determination .

" Oh , yea ? " Chanhee asked already acting playful like Byunghun was about to confess he liked him .

And it didn't go unnoticed by Byunghun who rolled his eyes and was about to yell demanding the other to be serious for once .

" Okay , okay . what is it ? " Chanhee chuckled before getting serious or so he tired , his hands reaching for Byunghun's shoulder to ask for forgiveness .

" Look . I can't just bring Leo here daily , the time clashes with my work and It's stupid I just realized it . so .. I plan to bring him only on weekends but don't worry , I will pay the due amount expected of me like I used to . "  Explaining it , Byunghun swiftly removed the hand holding his shoulder and eagerly waited for Chanhee's opinion which came rather disappointing .

" It's not about the pay , Byunghun . Leo is learning not hanging out nor going on week-end picnics .  He should practice daily especially since he has just started . It would have been okay if he already mastered it and only needed some practice on the weekends but that's not the case . We are building the foundation now , you can't just do so and if you do , then I suggest he doesn't take lessons at all . .. " Chanhee trailed off feeling a bit bad his words came off rude . However , he had always expressed his opinions in that way leaving no room for the other party to oppose him .

" Look .. If your schedule ain't helping then let your brother do so , he is the father after all . " Shoving his hands in his pockets , Chanhee pointed out the obvious .

" No !! he can't ! " But Byunghun disagreed almost immediately and Chanhee's reaction to it was  an eyebrow raise .

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