Surging Love

Celestia University Indoor Basketball Court.

Grace Donovan clutched two bottles of water, standing in the shadow of the bleachers.

Droplets of condensation trickled down her fingers, leaving small wet spots on the concrete floor.

Grace's cheeks were flushed from the sun as she wiped the sweat off her face. It was scorching outside.

She scanned the court, looking for Ethan Parker among the moving figures.

Before she spotted Ethan, her eyes landed on the dazzling guy on the court.

He was wearing a black jersey, standing outside the three-point line, spinning a basketball with one hand.

His Adam's apple moved as he swallowed, and the sweat on his neck glistened in the light.

At 6'2", he stood out in the crowd, his jersey revealing the smooth, firm lines of his shoulders and back.

His muscles flexed with every movement, and despite the loose jersey, his strength was evident.

Add to that his stunning features, and it was impossible to look away.

He made a three-pointer, and the court erupted in cheers.

The girls' screams nearly burst Grace's eardrums.

"Oh my God, Damian Wolfe is so hot!"

"I'm totally smitten!"

"What are you dawdling for?" Ethan's voice came from the sidelines, filled with his usual impatience. He had just come off the court, his bangs damp with sweat.

Seeing Grace, he frowned immediately. "I asked for chilled water, and you bring me frozen? How am I supposed to drink this?"

Grace handed him the water, her voice barely audible. "The convenience store's freezer was empty. These were the only cold ones left."

Ethan took the bottle, opened it, and took a sip, his tone full of disdain. "Shit, can't even get a bottle of cold water right."

He glanced at Grace's faded school uniform skirt and sneered. "Dressed like that at the court? People might think our family was neglecting you."

Grace lowered her eyes, not responding. She knew arguing would only bring more ridicule.

Since her mother remarried, Ethan had never treated her kindly. In this family, she felt like an unwanted plant, best left in the corner.

Another wave of girls' whispers filled the air, like wind chimes in the breeze.

Grace instinctively looked up, her gaze passing over the heads of the crowd to the center of the court.

It was still that guy, standing there as the focal point of everyone's attention.

"Damian's on fire today!" a girl whispered from the back row. "Look at his shooting form, it's like he's a pro."

"I heard his grandfather is high up in the military, and his family's company is international. He's the perfect man."

Grace's heart skipped a beat. She knew Damian; Ethan had mentioned him countless times at home, always with a hint of cautious respect.

In the entire school, the only person Ethan dared not mess with was Damian.

Last week, Ethan wanted to join the sports department, but Damian dismissed him with a casual "Your attendance isn't good enough."

Ethan had complained to Grace all night, saying Damian was arrogant because of his family background.

"What are you staring at?" Ethan followed her gaze to the court and scoffed. "What, you got a crush on Damian? Know your place."

He finished the melted water in the bottle and shoved it into Grace's hand. "Hold this. The basketball team is recruiting next week, and I'm trying out. Don't get in my way."

Grace held the bottle, the plastic edge digging into her fingers.

She remembered choosing a university far from home, hoping to escape the oppressive atmosphere, only to end up at the same school as Ethan due to campus mergers.

In the past few days, Grace had been running errands for Ethan—reserving library seats, organizing class notes, and now bringing water in the sweltering heat.

Suddenly, the court erupted in cheers.

Damian jumped for a shot, his body forming a graceful arc in the air. The basketball swished through the net, and as he landed, he glanced at the bleachers.

His deep, clear eyes seemed to see through everything, pausing on her face for half a second before moving on, leaving her breathless.

Ethan followed her gaze and sneered. "Damian's surrounded by rich girls and campus beauties. You, who can't even afford a new dress, should stop dreaming."

Grace said nothing, looking down at the bottle in her hand. The coolness of the bottle mirrored her mood.

She remembered Ethan criticizing her handwriting when she helped with his notes, saying, "Your writing is so ugly, I'll do it myself."

She recalled him dismissing her design sketches with, "You think you can be a designer with this level?"

These words were like tiny needles, pricking her heart without drawing blood, but causing a dull ache.

So annoying.

"Don't follow me to the tryouts next week." Ethan adjusted his jersey, his tone slightly boastful. "I've asked around, and though Damian seems cold, he's very protective of his teammates. Once I'm in, no one will boss me around."

Grace tightened her grip on the remaining bottle, the coolness seeping into her palm.

She looked at the figure surrounded by the crowd on the court, then at her own worn-out sneakers. A thought suddenly emerged.

'If Damian is so protective of his teammates, how much more would he protect his girlfriend?'

What if she could get Damian to notice her? What if he could be her support?

The cheers rose again as Damian made another three-pointer. He wiped his sweat, revealing the smooth lines of his forearm.

The sunlight danced on his firm muscles, making the hot afternoon feel like a breeze.

Grace looked away.

Ethan took a few more sips of the ice water, barely getting any, growing increasingly irritated.

"This damn bottle is all ice. How am I supposed to drink it?" he snapped. "Go get me another bottle from over there."

Grace glanced at the side of the court where the water was stored.

There was water here, yet he made her go out in the heat to buy it.

"Okay." Grace obediently replied, walking towards the sidelines.

As she passed the players' rest area, she "accidentally" bumped into Damian, who was holding a cup.

"Sorry." She immediately bent down to pick it up, looking up to meet his gaze.

In the backlight, his features were strikingly clear.

Long, thick eyelashes cast shadows on his eyelids, his nose was high and straight, and his lips were slightly pursed.

Sweat trickled down his jawline, dripping onto his black jersey, creating a small dark spot.

"Here you go." Grace handed him the bottle, her voice as soft as a whisper, her eyes deliberately reddened. "It's... unopened."

Damian's gaze lingered on her red-rimmed eyes, then shifted to the bottle.

After a moment of silence, he took it. His fingers brushed hers, the heat making her flinch.

Damian noticed all of Grace's small actions.

So timid, yet trying to get close to him. How naive.

"Thanks." He turned and walked back to the court, not looking back.

Grace stood there, watching his retreating figure, her chest loosening from its tightness.

She looked at her fingers, still warm from his touch.

He wasn't that intimidating.

Maybe he wasn't so hard to approach after all?