In Between

Chapter 7

"Vian!" Theo yelled at her, noticing that she was really spaced out. Once she snapped out of her thoughts, hearing him, she jumped in shock.

"Theo, no need to yell!" Vivian replied, sitting at the pool side, splashing some water over Theo while her other hand held the timer.

"Pabo! I called you many times, but you didn't respond, so that's why I yelled," he said, enjoying the water, while Vivian turned her head, avoiding his gaze, realizing that she was indeed lost in thought.

"Anyway, did I show improvement in my time? Was my speed enough?" he asked her, as Vivian helped him monitor his speed and track his progress. Theo, being the swimming representative of Stone Hurst, had asked her to accompany him for practice.

"Well, yeah. More than 5 seconds of improvement in your recent time," Vivian replied.

"That's good," he said, chuckling and feeling satisfied because his practice went well. Again, Theo looked at her, noticing that she was just staring at her hands, holding the timer.

"Hey, are you really okay?" he asked, earning a hum from her, confirming that she was really distracted and hadn't understood his words earlier.

"Vian, seemed really distracted now. Is something wrong?"

"Yep, I'm fine. I'm just sleep-deprived," she said, smiling at him to assure him that she was okay.

"Huh?" Theo's expression turned confused as he realized her response didn't quite align with his question.

Honestly, she don't know why she's bothered today...

Pressured about the thesis or...

"You've been acting weird since yesterday. Are you really sure you're okay?" he added. Vivian snapped out of her thoughts, hearing him ask and staring at her.

"Yes, I'm really fine. Anyway, how's your study going, Theo the brat? Did you study or just practice?" she asked, changing the topic as she wasn't comfortable discussing it, because even she didn't know what was bothering her.

"Well, everything's under control, so don't you worry, buddy," he said, winking at her. Soon, Theo sat beside her, which made her scold him because his wet swimwear was getting her clothes wet.

"By the way, go buy some food now. We're having lunch here," he said.

"H-huh?" she asked, not believing that Theo was ordering her around, and gave him an Are you serious? look.

"Vivian, I'm hungry, and I know you are too. So, buy some food before I could eat you as my meal, you want that?" he said jokingly, displaying a playful smirk and chuckling. This made her hit his arm and splash some water on him.

"Pervert!" she said, standing up and walking away. Before she got far from him, she heard him speak again.

"Hey, Vivian, did I hand you money?" he chuckled, teasing her, which made her go back, realizing she didn't have money to buy the food he had asked for.

"Give me." she simply stated, extending her hand to get the money, as he handed her some, chuckling at her irritated expression.

Soon, she returned to the pool area from the cafeteria. As she walked back, she noticed some students sneaking around, and Vivian confirmed that they were probably looking for Theo.

Even if it wasn't obvious, Theo was known as a campus crush; with his good looks, talent, and intelligence, being the pride of Stone Hurst in swimming, she couldn't blame others for admiring him. However, she wondered how they could like him, given the different perceptions of him. Some saw him as a gentleman, kind and serious, but if they only knew how he was when they were together, their illusions might shatter. What they expected of him was far from his personality with Vivian.

Vivian knew that some students' illusions about Theo would be shattered, and some of what they thought about him didn't quite fit. The serious personality they attributed to him? She thought that was impossible, given that Theo often annoyed and teased her. And for the friendship she shared with him, she couldn't avoid the hard, stern gazes focused on her when they saw them together – probably from students who really admired Theo, assuming something was going on between them, even though they were just friends.

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Theo Pov.

I got up from the pool side where I was sitting a while ago, waiting for her, but she hadn't appeared yet.

She's slow, yeah...

As I stood up, I grabbed the towel and dried myself somehow, wrapping the towel around me to cover my topless body. Then, after drying off, I wore my white shirt, shoving my wet hair backwards, and turned myself towards the entrance of the pool area to check on her.

Near the entrance door, I saw her with some other students, noticing they were having a conversation, so I decided to approach them.

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"So, are you here with him?"

"Ah..." Vivian uttered, looking at them, recognizing some as his admirers.

"Honestly, I didn't know what Theo sees in you to be going around with you. I just can't even," one of them said.

"Are you really his girlfriend? Are the rumors true?" the other students asked, their gazes pouring onto her, leaving her silent and unsure how to handle their questions.

"But how? Considering you're not exactly his usual type. So, tell me, what's going on between the two of you?" the student standing in the center asked, their firm gaze making her gulp and feel a surge of nervousness, unable to utter any words.

Soon, Vivian felt some arms wrap around her, making her look up and see Theo beside her, diverting his gaze from her to the students.

"There you are, I've been waiting for you for so long," he smiled at her.

Now I'm in trouble because of him...

Her thoughts couldn't form a reply as their position wasn't well-received by the students standing opposite them, and Vivian noticed their shocked expressions, clearly disbelieving what they were seeing.

"Oh, were you having a conversation with them? Sorry to interrupt," he said, turning to look at them with a thin smile. Vivian subtly shrugged his arm off her shoulders to lessen the intense gazes of the students on her.

"Hi, girls," Theo added, greeting them with a kind smile on his lips.

"Hello, Theo," they replied in unison, giggling.

"Do you need something from Vivian?" he asked, diverting his gaze from the girls to her.

"Vivian? Isn't it a nickname?"

"Yes, that's my nickname for Vivian," he said, sounding proud, which made her close her eyes in disbelief.

How can this guy put me in danger now Can't he see his admirers' deadly gazes towards me? Vivian thoughts.

"So, you're in a relationship?" one of them asked, staring at Vivian and Theo.

As Theo grasped the point and understood the context, he placed a playful smirk on his face before speaking. "Well, not yet. But we can't say maybe one day?" His words filled their ears, and Vivian stared at him with a stern look on her face, while the students fell into silence.

"Anyways, if you don't mind, we're going inside now to have our lunch. Goodbye, girls," he said politely before taking her hand and holding it. As they left, the girls looked on, watching Vivian and Theo's figures vanish from their sight.

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"How dare you say that, you're really such a brat, Theo!" Vivian said in frustration, sitting by the pool and mouthing her food. Meanwhile, Theo couldn't control himself from laughing at her reaction.

"Now you've really put me in trouble."

"How? I did that so they'd leave you alone; you should be thankful for that, Vivs," he said, gifting her a kind smile, but his tone of voice was obviously somewhat teasing.

"Whatever. Do you really think they'll leave me alone after hearing your words earlier? You're really such a brat," she replied, rolling her eyes.

"Come on, let's get over this, okay? I know what happened earlier. I know some students here bullied you because of my charm. And now that they know, they're probably scared to mess with you because they can't get in with me," he said, chuckling while munching on his chips.

"Are you really concerned, or are you putting me in huge danger?"

"Hello?! Of course, I am. You're my best friend, and I don't want anything bad happen to you." he uttered sincerely, making her relax and inhale calmly.

After hearing this, they fell into silence, staring at their feet dangling in the water. Suddenly, Theo jumped into the water, catching Vivian off guard with her confused expression.

Before she could react, Theo instantly pulled her in, sending her into the pool as well, and she let out a scream of irritation. "Theo!" she exclaimed, while Theo burst out laughing on the other side of the pool.

"How's the water, Vivian?" he said, smirking, prompting her to splash some water at him in frustration.

"I'll sue you!" she said, glaring at him, fixing her hair and wiping the water from her face.

"Come on, you're not a lawyer," he said, teasing her.

Meanwhile, Vivian continued to splash water at Theo, catching him off guard and causing him to momentarily drown in the splash of water.

Yet, he felt a surge of happiness as he laughed at her antics, wiping water off his face. Vivian giggled uncontrollably, his acting like a dog taking a shower.

"Vivian, stop! Have mercy on me!" he pleaded, trying to avoid the splashing water.

"You deserve that!" she said, giggling and splashing more water over him. Her genuine laughter formed on her lips, and Theo couldn't help but feel happy seeing her smile.

"So, you want a fight? Then here!" he replied, smirking. Soon, Theo started splashing water back at her, and they engaged in a playful water fight, their laughter filling the room as they enjoyed the moment like carefree kids.

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To be continued....