♣♧ 𝓙𝓪𝓴𝓮 ♤♠

The sun was just starting to dip lower in the sky, casting golden streaks across the hotel pool. The air was thick with the scent of sunscreen, chlorine, and the distant smell of grilled food from the beach bar. Laughter echoed around the poolside, but for the most part, it felt calm. Peaceful. Y/N floated lazily near the edge, letting her arms trail along the surface of the water. She wasn’t expecting anything exciting to happen today. It was just another quiet afternoon of sunbathing, people-watching, and sipping cold drinks with a tiny umbrella in them. Until she noticed him. On the other side of the pool, Jake leaned back against the wall, water up to his chest, arms stretched out casually along the pool ledge. Blonde hair damp and messy, droplets running down his tanned skin. He looked relaxed, but his sharp blue eyes were quietly scanning the pool. Observant. Calm. He wasn’t loud like some of the other guys around, and that alone made Y/N notice him even more. She’d seen him a few times around the hotel over the past few days—passing in the hallway, grabbing breakfast in the lounge, or walking across the sand with his headphones on. They’d made eye contact once or twice. Just brief glances. Nothing major. But now, they were the only two in the pool. Opposite ends. Minding their own business. And something about that felt...electric. Y/N dipped under the water to cool off, then pushed her hair back as she resurfaced. When she glanced his way again, Jake was already looking. Busted. She quickly looked away, cheeks warm—though it might’ve just been the sun. But then she heard it. A splash. Y/N turned just in time to see Jake launching himself underwater. A smooth dive. He disappeared beneath the surface, leaving ripples in his wake. Her heart kicked up. Where was he going? A moment later, he popped up a few feet away from her, slicking his wet hair back and offering a small, playful smirk. "Sorry," he said, catching his breath. "Wasn’t sure if this end of the pool had better water or if you were just making it look that way."