When we sat down on the bleachers, Ally was still tirelessly shouting her brother's name. I elbowed her lightly, unable to hold back any longer.

"Hey, calm down! Your brother hasn't even been called yet, and you're already running out of voice."

Her enthusiastic yelling was starting to hurt my ears. Honestly, if I got the chance, I'd leave her here to enjoy this solo. But then again, this is the day we've all been waiting for.

The event began, and the announcer started calling out the swimmers' names one by one. Each swimmer emerged from the quarters, waving to the roaring crowd.

"Oh my God! There's my brother! Go, Kuya Carter!" Ally screamed again when the commentator called Carter Yson Themende's name.

The Vera University crowd erupted, raising banners with Carter's name. I couldn't blame them for being so obsessed with him. Kuya Carter was undeniably handsome and an excellent swimmer—traits that made him the heartthrob of many girls.

Then came the name that sent the crowd into a frenzy—Fuse Ethan Park. The cheering was so deafening that I almost covered my ears. Everyone around us seemed ready to faint as Fuse stepped out of the quarters, looking serious as he stretched his arms while walking to his spot.

I smiled to myself at how focused he looked. But my smile faded when they called the next name: Greco Pellaria. Like Carter and Fuse, Greco had a large cheering squad, with fans from various universities loudly supporting him.

Greco was Fuse's most formidable rival in the pool. Every time they competed, Fuse always won by just one second, taking home the gold while Greco settled for silver. But even Fuse recognized Greco as a legitimate threat, and today, the tension was palpable.

Greco emerged with his trademark smile, nearly causing a commotion among the girls in the audience. I had to admit—Greco was also incredibly attractive. But to me, Fuse would always stand out.

I watched quietly as the swimmers began warming up. I couldn't help but be fascinated by how effortlessly Fuse dove into the water and glided through it.

"NM, stop ogling Fuse's abs! You're practically drooling!" Ally teased.

"Cut it out, Allison Yra Themende," I shot back, using her full name. She glared at me; she hated being called by her full name, claiming it sounded ugly. Honestly, I thought it was beautiful. If I could, I'd switch names with her just so she could appreciate how lovely "Allison Yra Themende" truly was.

"Why don't you cheer for Greco instead? Didn't you say you liked him more than your brother or Fuse?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ally had a soft spot for Greco, probably because they were friends. Actually, it went beyond friendship—Greco once courted her, but she rejected him for reasons she never shared. Unlike me, who poured out my feelings about Fuse to her, Ally kept her stories locked away like a vault. Such a stingy little witch.

"I don't want to cheer for him. What if he thinks I still like him? I don't want to give him false hope," Ally replied seriously.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Are you sure Greco still likes you? For all we know, he's moved on already. It's been two years since you turned him down."

Before Ally could respond, the race began. The swimmers lined up for the butterfly stroke event. Fuse stood on the 4th lane's diving board, while Greco was on the 3rd. There were seven swimmers in total, each standing ready on their boards. My heart pounded as though I were the one about to dive in.

The starter's gun fired, and they all dove into the water simultaneously.

I instinctively covered my mouth with my hands as Greco took an early lead over Fuse. The gap between them widened, and Greco's fans went wild with cheers.

What was happening? Why was Greco ahead of Fuse?

Greco powered through the water with his usual bright smile—a trait that made him irresistible to many. There's something magnetic about someone who always smiles. But let's admit it—those who are brooding, stern, and a bit moody are just as captivating. And those traits were what drew me to Fuse.

I shifted my focus back to Fuse and gasped when he suddenly surged forward. He was closing the gap with an effortless speed that left me speechless. Soon, he was neck-and-neck with Greco.

As Fuse surfaced for a breath, I saw him grin slightly as he overtook Greco by a fraction of a second. The crowd erupted once again as Greco fought back, catching up with Fuse. It was a nail-biter, with the two of them battling fiercely for the lead.

"Go, Fuse!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. I couldn't help but cheer for him, hoping with all my heart that he'd win.

At the final turn, they were still tied. Fuse kicked off the wall with power, his strokes intensifying as they neared the finish line. Another swimmer joined the fray, matching their pace, but Fuse wasn't about to let anyone steal the spotlight.

In a dramatic finish, Fuse touched the wall first, just a split second ahead of Greco. The crowd roared with delight as Fuse emerged from the water, grinning triumphantly.

Greco came in second but remained gracious, smiling as always. His fans, though disappointed, continued to cheer him on with unwavering support.

Later, during the awarding ceremony, I couldn't take my eyes off Fuse as he received his gold medal. His confident grin and composed demeanor never failed to make him stand out. Greco, too, looked genuinely happy as he accepted his silver medal. His positivity and love for the sport shone through, even in defeat.

After the ceremony, most of the crowd dispersed, leaving the gymnasium less crowded. From where I sat, I could see Fuse standing by the poolside. I raised my hand to wave at him, but my smile faded when I saw Tanis approach him and throw her arms around him.

"Congrats, babe!" she said, beaming up at him.

Fuse smiled warmly and hugged her back. He then removed his medal and placed it around her neck.

"Happy birthday," he said softly. Tanis stared at the medal for a moment, her face lighting up with joy.

"Thank you, Fuse. You really kept your promise," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

I sighed, my chest tightening as I watched them. What would it feel like to be loved by someone like Fuse Ethan Park? Tanis was so lucky to have him, and Fuse was equally lucky to have her.

I didn't belong in his world. To him, I was nothing more than a face in the crowd. No matter how much I admired him, he'd never see me as anything more than a gawky kid.

Still, as much as I wanted to let go of my feelings, I knew deep down that I couldn't. Whether it was admiration or love, one thing was certain—he was the guy I wanted.