It's wednesday and today is time for strength training. The boys get coached in the weight room. The whole day they did nothing else than train, rewatch old competition, train again, lift, push, press. Hyunjin is beyond exhausted. He already was exhausted the moment they entered the weight room. His arms feel like jelly and he is on a high sleep deficit. He was short on energy and sleep and still dragged himself bavk to the pools in the late evening. The strange Australian boy was already there, waiting. He was laying on the floor and had his legs high up. On his lap lays a book, nearly read to the end.

"I nearly thought, you gained braincells and fetched some hours of sleep."

Hyunjin doesn't even bother to answer. He just threw his bag on one of the loungers, his shirt following shortly after.

He jumps head first into the cold water and starts to warm up. Meanwhile the captain is putting his book to the side and takes his usual place at the podium. When Hyunjin stops his warm-up and takes a sip of water, the boy jumps into the water.

"Let's race again. The winner has one free wish."

Hyunjin huffed.

"I'll wish for you to let me alone.", he sarcastically offers. Even though he is unsure after their last races, he agrees on the deal. He may really can get the stranger to stop distracting him before the big race.

"No wishes abou the comp!"

The strange boy nods.

"Deal."

The race was fair and good. They both were fast. This time they decided to swim 200 meters medley. Their times were unbelievable. They both knew it without even stopping. Chan still was faster. As always. And Hyunjin can't express how annoyed he is.

"One wish for me."

Hyunjin huffs again and grabs his water bottle.

"Spill and make it fast."

The strange boy smirks. Hyunjin tummy feels sick. He does not have a good feeling and at the same time he can't stop the annoying feeling of excitement rush through his veins.

"Let's go to the beach."

"What?"

"The beach. You know, this thing where the ocean meets the land?"

Hyunjin shoots him an annoyed glance.

"I know what a damn beach is. I won't go to the beach with you!"

"So you will break your promise?"

Hyunjin wants to wip that damn grin off his face. Of course, he won't break his promise. But he also won't go without cursing him publicly and loud enough for the stars to hear... in a murmured manner.

He follows the strange boy through the city, past the public beach and they drop of their things under a bush.

"If they get stolen, you buy me a whole mew gear in the next one hour."

"They won't get stolen."

"You will tho."

The boy rolls his eyes: "I will, now let's go."

The boy grins and runs through the trees. Hyunjin nearly trips a few times, before he can feel the sand under his feet. He looks and gets nearly thrown off by the gorgeous view. He turns around himself a few times, his mouth wide agape, ignoring the boy next to him looking up at him.

The stranger boy takes his hand into his own and pulls him to the water. The weather is warm, so they stayed in their bathing clothes. The boy runned into the water and pulled Hyunjin after him.

"Let's go, Hyune. Swim with me."

Hyunjin rips his eyes of the wandering view. They are bellydeep into the water. The strange boy lets himself fall back. Then he turns around and starts to swim. Hyunjin quickly catches up.

The boy grins and throws water into Hyunjin's face, who gasps and threw himself onto the boy, drowning him for s short time, before pulling him up again. The sranger giggles happily and Hyunjin starts laughing too. They have an amazing time. It's been such a long time since someone heard the sound of Hyunjin's laugh.

Suddenly the water around him feels like it lifts him again. Hyunjin looks at the strange boy. The boy looks back. He looks gorgeous. His eyes hang over his eyes, but they stoll shine bright like a mirror.

"Maybe you are not that bad."

The boy giggles again.

"Swimming is fun, right?"

Hyunjin looks at him confused.

"Be honest, Hyune, when was the last time you actually had fun while swimming?"

Hyunjin stays quiet. The boy is right. Swimming hasn't been fun for a long time to him. It's always been some kind of duty. At least since the last year. He thought back to the time where he decided to enter competitions, because he had so much fun at swimming. Suddenly a tear shows up in his eye. The boy is right, he hasn't enjoyed it for far too long.

A warm arm pulls him closer.

"It's okay. You haven't lost your spark yet. You just need to light it back up."

The boy pulls him back to the beach. They lay down far enough in the ocean, so that the water covers their whole bodies, at the same time far enough at the beach, so they would have no problems breathing, even if one of them would fall asleep (which surely won't happen). They laid closer than before.

The water was still warm from the sunny daylight, the sand was cooled down by the, by now longgoing, night.

"I am Chan. Well, my name is Christopher, or Chris, but you can call me Chan. It's probably easier for you."

A/N: little bit shorter this time. what would happen, if chan would just use hyunjin and distract him, so that the australian relay team can win. would i get cancelled?