Dive Into Love

Chapter 5: The First Note

Jax's Point of View:

Jax Armstrong had always loved the peaceful solitude of the swimming area after hours. It was his sanctuary, a place where he could unwind and let the stress of the day melt away. One evening, after a particularly grueling practice, he lingered in the locker room, enjoying the quiet. As he toweled off, he heard something unexpected: singing.

It was soft at first, a delicate melody echoing off the tiled walls. Curiosity piqued, Jax followed the sound to the shower area. The closer he got, the more he realized that the voice was beautiful, filled with raw emotion. As he neared the source, he recognized the song—a K-pop tune, "Ugly" by 2NE1. Though he didn't understand the words, the melancholy tone and haunting quality of the voice resonated deeply with him.

Peeking around the corner, Jax saw a figure in one of the shower cubicles. His heart skipped a beat when he recognized Miki Jin, a quiet, chubby Korean classmate. Miki was standing under the spray, his face tilted upwards as he sang, tears mingling with the water running down his cheeks. The sight of Miki's vulnerability struck Jax like a punch to the gut. There was something incredibly captivating about Miki's voice an d the raw pain he was expressing.

Jax didn't want to intrude, but hecouldn't tear himself away either. He quietly moved to the adjacent cubicle, leaning against the wall as he listened. The song ended, and Jax heard Miki's quiet sobs. He wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but he knew it wasn't the right time. So, he stayed hidden until he heard the water stop and Miki leave the shower room.

The following day, Jax couldn't get Miki's voice out of his head. During PE, as the students gathered in the gym, Jax spotted Miki standing alone by the bleachers. Their eyes met, and Jax saw a flash of recognition—and perhaps fear—in Miki's gaze. Jax's heart pounded. Did Miki see him last night? Did he think Jax was some kind of p*****t for lurking in the shower area?

Determined to set things right, Jax approached Miki with a friendly smile. "Hey, you're Miki, right?" he said, trying to keep his tone casual. "I'm Jax. Nice to meet you."

Miki seemed startled, but he managed a shy nod. "Hi. Nice to meet you too."

(Conversation during their P.E. Class.)

Jax hesitated for a moment, then decided to address the elephant in the room. "Listen, about last night... I heard you singing in the shower. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I didn't mean to intrude."

Miki's face turned crimson. "You... you heard that?"

"Yeah," Jax admitted, his voice gentle. "And it was beautiful. You have an amazing voice, Miki."

Miki's eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you," he murmured, his embarrassment giving way to a small smile. "I didn't think anyone would hear me."

"I couldn't help but listen," Jax said earnestly. "It was like... I don't know, like you were singing right to my soul."

Miki laughed softly, the sound tinged with both amusement and relief. "I usually sing when I'm feeling overwhelmed. It helps me let it all out."

Jax nodded, understanding. "I get that. Swimming does the same for me. It's my escape."

From that moment, their friendship began to blossom. Jax made it a point to seek out Miki, to draw him into conversations and introduce him to his friends. He found himself genuinely enjoying Miki's company, appreciating his quiet humor and thoughtful insights. And, as they spent more time together, Jax felt a growing protectiveness towards Miki. He wanted to shield him from the harshness of the world, to be the friend Miki so desperately needed.