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luvstaymin · 4 months

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diving records ᡣ𐭩 bang chan

⊹ series: recreation pursuits

⊹ genre: fluff, soft angst, slight suggestive

⊹ pairings: female reader x bang chan

⊹ word count: 7.4k

⊹ synopsis: Love sparks between the university's swim team captain and a journalism student assigned with covering the swim team's events. Their bond strengthens as they grow closer, but an incident drives them apart.

The electronic buzzer pierces through the air as you push the heavy door open of the swim recreation building. Instantly, the sharp scent of chlorine and the echoes of splashing water bouncing off the walls envelopes you.

Swimmers darting back and forth in the lanes, their synchronized movements to the rhythmic beats. You, a journalism student, stand out-of-place, with a camera hanging over your neck, a notebook in your hand, and a heavy book bag on your back. Stepping cautiously, your eyes widen with overwhelming nervousness. Edging closer to the swimmers on the bench, the air is thick with the scent of chlorine and the echoes of water rippling against the pool's edge. With every stroke, the swimmers carve through the water, leaving behind trails of bubbles. You fumble with your camera, adjusting the lens to capture the fluid motions of the swimmers.

As you carefully navigate the crowded poolside, you bump into a particularly intimidating member of the swim team. He shoots you a glare that sends a shiver down your spine. You quickly apologize, attempting to retreat, but he blocks your path.

"What do you think you're doing?" he sneers, eyeing your camera with disdain. "Don’t tell me you are here trying to sneak in the locker rooms with that filthy camera of yours.”

Your heart races as you stammer out an explanation, trying to justify that you were here as part of a class assignment, but he scoffs at your excuses.

"I saw you taking pictures, huh?" he jeers, reaching out to grab your camera. "Let's see what you've got. Probably just trying to invade our privacy, aren't you?"

Panic surges through you as the tall slender man wrestles the camera from your grasp, which he successfully retrieved.

Frantically, you attempt to reason with him, pleading for him to return your camera, “Please give it back. That camera— is very expensive.”

But he continues to taunt you, waving it in front of your face and hovering it over the water. A crowd of the swim members begin to surround the both of you with whispers being exchanged.

Just as despair threatens to overwhelm you, someone intervenes, “KIM SEUNGMIN.”

Their authoritative voice cuts through the building and everyone whips their heads to the direction of the voice.

“What do you think you are doing Seungmin? Stop fooling around and go back practicing. You know your ranks have been dropping recently,” the male scolds him.

“Chan- listen- she is one of those people! Do you want photos of us being leaked again? You know what happened last tim—”

“She is our journalist for the team. We received a notice recently from their journalism class. Give back her camera and you— fifty laps before you leave today.”

“No fucking way am I doing fif—”

The man named Chan stares him down.

Reluctantly, the boy named Seungmin, hands back your camera and mutters under his breath in search of finding an opening lane to start his laps. Everyone else around you both disperse in fear of having to swim additional laps. You retrieve back your camera, relief flooding through you as you clutch it close to your chest.

“I am so sorry about that, please forgive me. Y/N right? The journalist for our swim team?” Chan spoke.

“Oh yes, and you are Chan?”

“My name is Chris, but you can call me Chan,” he gives you a smile and puts his hand in front of you.

‘Does he want my camera?’

You hesitantly give him your camera, leading him to let out a chuckle. You watch him move your camera to his left hand, and he grabs your right hand, shaking it.

“It seems like you forgot what a handshake is,” he laughs.

You become flustered, and your eyes drop down to his form. Staring at his toned abs and defined muscles.

“Oh..” you stare at the water droplets dripping down his skin.

“Am I distracting you too much?” he grins and wraps his body with a towel.

“I-I’m sorry, it’s just,” you trail off, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks.

“It’s alright, Y/N,” he lets out a honey-like laugh, “Let me give you a proper tour around since I believe you will be joining us during our training and competitions. Don’t want to get you lost, y’know?”

With that, Chan leads you around the pool area, pointing out various training equipment and introducing you to some of the other swimmers. As you walk alongside him, you can’t help but feel grateful for his kindness unlike the one boy, Seungmin, who is still going at it with his fifty laps.

“Since we still have a couple of hours left of training, if you would like to take a seat on the benches and observe, you are more welcome to do so,” Chan smiles, “or feel free to judge myself as well. I am always open to hearing feedback for improvement. Let me know if you would be comfortable with that. I know our previous journalist wasn’t, so I want to make sure to give you that option.”

“We shall see about that,” you laugh, “thank you, Chan, for the tour. I will most likely stick around and get started with my assignment so don’t worry too much about me.”

Finding a place to settle in, you move upwards to the top of the bleachers to provide yourself some back support for the remaining hours they have left for training. Situating down, you take out your notebook, jotting down some notes about what you have learnt so far from the tour with Chan. If you were honest, you had no clue about the swimming sports and ended up in the sports department for swimming as you were sick on the day the class decided to choose their topic assignment.

As training wrapped up, the pool area emptied out until it was only you and Chan remaining. You were too busy looking at your laptop you pulled aside, researching all the fundamentals of the sport. Feeling a tap on your shoulder, you jumped at the touch.

“So, what did you think of our training session?” Chan asked with a playful glint in his eyes.

You smiled, “It was impressive! I honestly didn’t realize that swimming is something people would be serious about, but it definitely changed my mind.”

“It’s a lot of hard work, but moments like these make it all worth it,” Chan’s smile widened at your words with his gaze sweeping over the empty pool.

“Would you like to see what I have? I didn’t take any pictures yet since I was trying to grasp more about the sport. As you can tell, I am not quite a swimmer or even a sports fan. Don’t even question how I got here,” you let out a groan.

“I am sure you won’t regret it, Y/N,” he takes a seat next to you, not noticing the close distance between you and him.

As you continued to chat, the conversation flowed effortlessly between you, touching on everything from the intricacies of swimming techniques that they use to getting to know each other such as your favorite colors and hobbies.

Before you knew it, the evening had slipped away and you glanced at the clock realizing how late it had gotten.

Offering Chan an apologetic smile, “I should probably head out before I keep rambling all night,” you laugh, gathering your belongings, “I do not want to keep you hostage here.”

Chan nodded understandingly, wishing that you did not have to depart. There was something about you that he loved. The way your eyes crease into crescents of a moon when you get excited talking about things you love and how your facial expression becomes serious and intrigued when you listen to him talking about his swim stories or randomness of his friends.

“I don’t mind at all. It was great spending time with you, Y/N. You will be here tomorrow right? Again, you are more to stay however long you would like while we are training,” he said genuinely.

You returned with a warm smile, “Sure, I don’t have anything much planned for the next couple of weeks, so I will be here.”

Both of you walked down the bleachers and with a final wave, you made your way towards the exit.

With a spring in your step, you made your way to the swimming facility, feeling excited to see what the day had in store. As you swung open the doors, you couldn't help but grin at the thought of reuniting with Chan and the rest of the team. Making your way towards your newfound seat, you place your belongings down and unpack your camera from your bag.

Heading back down from the top of the bleachers, you began capturing photos of the swimmers in actions and jotting down observations in your notebook.

Lost in your own world, you didn’t notice a presence behind you, and they tapped on your shoulder.

Jumping in surprise, you spun on your feet and there was Chan standing in front of you with a warm smile on his face.

“Glad to see you so soon,” Chan greeted.

You looked up and returned a smile, “you act like you haven’t seen me for months,” you laughed, “practice going well?”

Chan shrugs, “Same old, same old. We have been working on some new techniques since there’s a big competition coming up next month. So yeah, things are heating up. What have you been up to?”

“Well, first off, I am wishing you and your team the best luck! Second, I have been taking photos and jotting notes here and there. I didn’t think these assignments would be harder than expected, but I will be around if you need me to capture anything specific.”

“I am glad you are settling in well, Y/N. Again, if you need me, let me know anytime,” he replies warmly.

“Until-” he glances at the clock on the wall, “three more hours, we should be finished up. You are welcome to stay as long as you want and leave anytime. I know I say this multiple times, but I want for you to be comfortable,” he adds with a playful wink.

“We shall see,” you smile, “Now shoo shoo, I feel like I’m distracting you from your practice routine.”

“I don’t mind at all,” he laughs, turning around and shaking his head before rejoining his teammates.

As the day progressed, you found yourself stealing glances at Chan whenever you thought he wasn’t looking. There was something about the way he moved through the water with effortless grace, the way he treats his teammates with care, and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiles. That left you feeling oddly captivated by a man you met in less than a couple of days.

Before you knew it, the hours passed, and the pool was once empty again with you and Chan.

“Hey Chan, would it be alright if I snap some of your solo shots? I feel like the lighting is just perfect now with the lesser number of people,” you observed through your camera.

Chan turns to you with a warm expression, “Of course, Y/N. I don’t mind at all. Which lane would you prefer me to be in?”

“I think lane number 8 would be perfect from where the lighting is at” you positioned yourself preparing to capture.

Chan nods his head and gracefully dives into water. Focusing on capturing every detail, every ripple of water, and every flex of his muscles; you couldn’t help but be mesmerized by his powerful and fluid movements.

The sunlight peeking through the windows dances upon the surface of the pool, casting a golden glow that illuminates Chan’s form.

As you snapped photo after photo, you found yourself completely engrossed in the beauty of the man unfolding before you. You realized that this wasn’t just about completing an assignment anymore. Instead, it was about capturing a moment of raw beauty of his passion.

As Chan reaches the end of the lane and emerges from the water, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. He looks towards you with a smile playing at the corners of his lips. Swimming back to where you were, he pulls himself up and briefly dries himself with his towel.

“Did you get some good shots?” Chan asked with his voice tinged with curiosity.

You nodded with a grin spreading across your face, “Want to take a look?”

“Sure,” his voice softens as he steps closer behind you, leaning his upper chest over your shoulder.

You fumble with your camera, trying to distract yourself from the sudden proximity. As you were showing him the photos, you couldn’t help but feel the warmth of his breath on your neck, sending shivers down your spine.

“These are amazing,” he murmurs with his gaze lingering on the image a moment longer than necessary.

You swallow hard, desperately trying to regain your composure.

“Th-thanks,” you stammered, hoping he didn’t notice the blush creeping up your cheeks.

Clearing your throat, you mention that the photos would turn out much better if you were able to get closer to the water.

Chan's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Why don't you just get closer then?" he asked genuinely with curiosity lacing his tone.

Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment as you confessed, "Well, ironically enough. I don't know how to swim. I have that fear of being a bit afraid of deep water. I know- as much as it sounds crazy as I was assigned to this area.”

Chan's expression softened, and his eyes reflected understanding, "Well, it's never too late to learn," he reassures, "I could teach you, if you'd like. It's not as scary as it seems if you start from the basics.”

“Oh- as much as I would like that, I don't really think it’s a good idea for you to take your practicing time out to teach me,” you rub the back of your neck.

“Y/N, I am more than happy to teach you how to swim. Take it to advantage that the best swim captain will be teaching you,” he reassures you.

“If that is okay with you of course? Then I would like that,” you finally agreed with a small smile tugging up your lips.

Chan’s warm smile widens as he gently ruffles your hair, “We can start tomorrow since we don't have a long practice if you are up for it.”

“Yeah, tomorrow sounds perfect,” you reply, trying to conceal the nervous flutter in your stomach.

As the evening sun cast golden hues across the waters, you couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness of learning how to swim, especially with Chan, as thinking of being in close proximity with him makes you go insane.

As you made your way back to the swimming facility, anticipation bubbled within you. Today was different - today, Chan had offered to teach you how to swim.

With a mix of excitement and nervousness swirling in your stomach, you entered the pool area with your duffle bag and spotted Chan waiting for you with a patient smile on his face.

"Hey, Y/N! Ready to get started?" he called out, waving to you over, “Oh wait, you need to get changed. Unless you want to practice in your jeans and t-shirt~” he teases.

You reply back with a sheepish smile, “Sorry for keeping you waiting. My class went over time, and god- the professor would not let us go.” You huffed out, “Changing room is that way, right?” You pointed at the direction you last recalled.

“Mhm, I’ll walk you over there,” he smiled and led the way.

As you entered the changing room, with Chan waiting outside, you quickly slipped out of your clothes and slipped into your one-piece swimsuit. Feeling a nervous flutter in your stomach intensifying, you emerged from the changing room. Chan’s eyes fell on you, and for a moment, you caught a flicker of something in his expression. His gaze lingered on your figure, and you couldn’t help but notice a slight flush creeping up his cheeks.

“Alright, all set?” Chan asked, his voice sounding a bit more flustered than before.

You nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and self-consciousness at Chan’s lingering gaze as you walked beside him. You tried to push aside any doubts and focus on the lesson at hand.

“Yeah, ready as I’ll ever be,” you replied, trying to sound confident despite the butterflies in your stomach.

As you stood at the edge of the pool, Chan wasted no time in getting started. With a confident smile, he quickly shed off his top, revealing his toned physique, before effortlessly diving into the water.

You couldn't help but admire the way he moved, his movements fluid and powerful as he treaded water effortlessly. The sunlight danced upon the surface of the pool, casting a shimmering reflection on the water as Chan beckoned you to join him. Turning back towards you, Chan extended a hand, his expression warm and encouraging.

With a deep breath, you took a seat on the ledge and held on Chan's outstretched hand, feeling a surge of adrenaline coursing through you as you prepared to take the plunge. With his guidance, you pushed yourself gingerly into the water, feeling its cool embrace envelop you as you waded in. Chan was by your side in an instant, his hand steady on your waist and reassuring you as he guided you away from the ledge and to the middle of the pool.

"Relax, Y/N. You're doing great," Chan said, his voice gentle yet encouraging.

You took a hesitant look underneath you, the water stretching out beneath you, its depths unknown and daunting. A wave of panic threatened to overwhelm you, but Chan's reassuring presence grounded you, reminding you that you were not alone in this.

"Please don’t let go of me," you whispered, your voice barely above a murmur, your eyes tightly shut.

"Hey, look at me. I've got you, Y/N. I won't let anything happen to you," Chan replied, his tone filled with reassurance.

With his words echoing in your ears, you opened your eyes and felt the water lapping at your legs. Each movement was slow and deliberate, but with Chan's steady guidance, you soon found yourself floating in the middle of the pool, the water supporting you like a gentle embrace.

"Are you feeling comfortable, Y/N?" Chan asked, his voice filled with genuine concern as he glanced over at you, his hand still steadying your waist.

You nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "Yeah, I think so. It's just... different, you know?"

Chan nods reassuringly, "I understand. Learning to swim can be a bit intimidating at first, but trust me, you're doing great. Just take it one step at a time, and soon enough, you'll feel right at home in the water."

With his encouragement spurring you on, you took a deep breath and tried to relax, allowing yourself to float in the water. Chan was patient and attentive, offering gentle guidance as he began to teach you the basics of swimming.

"Alright, let's start with something simple," Chan said, his voice calm and reassuring. "I want you to focus on your breathing. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Try to keep your breathing steady and relaxed."

Following Chan's instructions, you took a deep breath, the cool sensation of the water against your skin grounding you as you focused on your breathing. With each inhale and exhale, you felt yourself beginning to relax, the tension melting away as you settled into a rhythm.

"Good, now let's work on floating," Chan continued, his voice gentle yet firm. "I want you to lean back slightly and let your body relax. You can lean onto my chest first if you don’t feel comfortable to go all in yet. Trust the water to support you as you float on your back."

With Chan's guidance, you leaned back onto his chest first feeling his gentle buoyancy lifting you up. You tried not to think too much of it, but with Chan's reassuring presence by your side, you soon found yourself floating into the weightlessness on the surface of the water.

"See? You're doing great," Chan said, his voice filled with pride as he watched you float effortlessly on your back. "Just keep practicing, and soon enough, you'll be swimming like a pro."

"Alright, Y/N, I'm going to let go of you now," Chan said as he prepared to release his hold on your waist. "Just remember to keep breathing and stay relaxed. You've got this."

With a nod, you braced yourself from Chan's departure, trying to summon all the courage you could muster. As his hand gradually slipped away, you felt a surge of panic rising within you, the sensation of being adrift in the water suddenly overwhelming. For a moment, you tried to steady yourself, focusing on Chan's instructions and the rhythm of your breathing. But as the seconds ticked by, the panic threatened to consume you, and before you knew it, you were thrashing in the water, your movements frantic and desperate.

"Chan, help!" you cried out, your voice echoing across the pool as you struggled to keep your head above water.

In an instant, Chan was by your side, his strong arms wrapping around you as he pulled you close. "I've got you, Y/N. Just relax and breathe. You're safe with me."

With Chan's reassuring presence grounding you, you took a deep breath, the cool water lapping at your skin as you tried to steady yourself. Slowly but surely, the panic began to recede, replaced by a sense of calm and security in Chan's embrace.

"Take it easy, Y/N. There's no rush," Chan said, his voice soothing as he held you close. "We'll take things at your pace. Let’s try one more time, yeah?"

You nodded and took a deep breath in bracing yourself for another attempt at floating on your own. As Chan gently releases his hold on you, you feel a surge of anxiety welling up inside you. But this time, instead of letting it overwhelm you, you focused on Chan's reassuring words. With each passing moment, you felt yourself growing more comfortable, more at ease in the water. You floated effortlessly on the surface of the water. You glanced over at Chan, a wide smile spreading across his face, you knew that you had done it - you had conquered your fear and found peace in the water.

"See, Y/N? I knew you could do it," Chan said, his voice filled with pride as he watched you float serenely in the water, "You're a natural."

“Now how do I un-float?” You tried to lift up your head trying to keep your composure.

“First, don't panic. The pool is deep, so it may be a little harder since there are no shallow areas for you to do it on your own unless you know how to tread in the water, which you don’t, but the easiest way from your position is just moving your body from Point A to Point B,” Chan treads over next to you, “Second, move your hands in a backward circular motion and kick your feet up and down with pointed toes. Don’t kick too hard or it makes you feel rushed and you may lose your floating posture.”

“O-oh okay,” you followed his directions and slowly moved your hands in backward circular motion and kicked your feet, “Am I making progress?” you whispered.

“Slowly but surely. Again, don’t rush yourself. Take your time,” Chan says, swimming next to your side.

A couple of strokes later, you found your way to the end of the pool.

“Watch your head,” Chan places his hand between the concrete and your head, “Now, you can turn your body around and hold onto the ledge.”

Following his instructions, you flipped your body over and held onto the ledge with both of your hands pushing yourself up off the water.

“This is tiring. I don’t get how you do it,” you laugh and seated yourself, wiping the water off your face.

“You’ll get used to it the more you practice,” Chan lets out a cheeky grin and seats himself next to you.

You both sit in silence with yourself kicking the water until a loud rumbling noise releases from the man next to you.

“Sorry,” a blush crepts upon Chan’s cheeks.

“Want to grab dinner with me? A payment for teaching me today?”

“You don't have to. But if you insist~”

“Order anything you would like, it’s on me,” you both stand looking at the menu displayed at the top.

“Hmm, I don’t know what to get. Burger? Pizza? Steak also sounds good..”

“Never knew you were this indecisive~”

“I am not! Then what are you getting?”

“A pineapple burger,” you grinned widely.

“A WHAT?”

“Chan!” You hushed his voice.

“Sorry- but who eats a burger with pineapple? I don’t even get why people like pineapple on pizza either but with a burger? You must be kidding me,” he scoffs looking over the menu with many options.

“Well, have you tried it?”

No response came out of him but silence.

“I thought so! No judging unless you try Channie~”

“Cute…” he mumbles.

“Hm?” you blinked back at him confused.

“Oh, nothing. Fine, I'll get a regular burger.”

“Drink?”

“Pineapple juice.”

“You can drink pineapple juice, but not have a pineapple in a burger,” you shake your head in disapproval.

“They are two different things!”

“Yeah yeah, go find a seat, I’ll go order,” you shooed him away, stepping up in line to order.

Chan chuckles to himself shaking his head at the little debate the two of you were having. Finding an open booth seating, he slides himself onto one side and watches you from a distance ordering.

“Can I get two pineapple burger combos? One drink is pineapple juice and the other is apple juice. Thank you,” you swiped your card in and retrieved the number tag from the cashier.

Spinning around shoving the receipt in your bag, you spot Chan waving his hand over.

“Thanks for today again, Chan,” you seat yourself across from him.

“It's not a big deal. It’s like an exchange for your time being with the team.”

“Maybe one day, I’ll end up competing with professional Chan here,” you stick out your tongue.

“Impossible but possible,” he laughs, revealing his dimples.

“Your dimples are cute-” you said unconsciously, “I mean you should smile more often. I really lik- Oh wow the food is here, that’s fast!”

A blush crepts coupons Chan’s cheeks, and the server comes up with two trays setting one of each in front of you both.

“Thank you for the food, Y/N,” Chan smiles, lifting up his burger.

“You are welcome! Dig in, it looks so good!” You lift up your burger and bite into it, melting to taste the sweetness of the pineapple and the savory of the patty.

Chan does the same, lifting up his burger and taking a wide bite. His teeth sink into the burger, but he is immediately shocked by the distasteful burst of pineapple. He freezes, his eyes widening in horror.

"What the—" he mumbles through a mouthful, resisting to spit it out into a napkin and swallows it.

You burst into laughter, unable to contain your amusement at his reaction, "Gotcha!"

Chan glares at you, still trying to get the taste out of his mouth. "That was so not funny," he grumbles, reaching for his pineapple drink to wash away the lingering sweetness of the pineapple.

“Pretend the pineapple is like your juice. Drinking and eating the burger at the same time,” you laugh taking a second bite.

Chan rolls his eyes but can't help the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "Fine, you got me this time. But just wait, I'll get you back."

As you continue to eat, Chan can’t help but feel a bit wary, glancing suspiciously at his burger. He picks it apart, inspecting the pineapple, and takes another bite and chews at it slowly, “Oh, it’s actually not that bad.”

“See, I told you!” You grinned back at him triumphant.

Chan gradually relaxes, even starting to enjoy the unique combination of flavors. The conversation shifts to lighter topics, filled with jokes and shared stories. As the evening progresses, you notice Chan stealing glances at you, a soft smile playing on his lips.

The evening air cools, with Chan taking the initiative in walking you home, you feel a shiver run down your spine. Chan notices offering his jacket, “Here.”

You accept it, slipping into the warmth of his jacket, his scent enveloping you.

“Thanks,” you say softly, looking up at him.

Chan's eyes meet yours, and there’s a gentle warmth in his gaze that makes your heart flutter.

“You know,” he begins, his voice a bit more tender, “I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I feel really comfortable spending time with you. I haven't felt like myself in a while, and it feels really really nice.”

Your breath catches slightly, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, “Me too, Chan. I feel the same way.”

He smiles, a hint of shyness in his expression, “I’m glad to hear that. I know we only knew each other for less than a couple of weeks, and we got to hangout and tell your stories and mine.”

You nod, feeling your cheeks warm, “Yeah, it’s nice, isn’t it? I don’t really talk to anyone outside of my classes. It feels really nice to know that there is someone willing to be comfortable around me and on top of that similar interests too.”

You both walked together laughing and making fun of each other on the silliest of things. From scaring each other as if a bug fell on them or telling sarcastic jokes, the two of you fit right in such as pieces of puzzles connecting.

Arriving in front of your apartment complex, Chan shoves his hands in his pockets, tilts his head and smiles, “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

You nod, “Tomorrow. Oh, your jacket-” you begin to take it off.

“You can keep it and return it whenever. It looks better on you,” he winks with a playful smile.

You blush, wrapping the jacket tighter around yourself, “Thanks, Chan. For everything tonight again. I had a great time.”

“Me too,” he replies, his eyes softening.

There’s a moment of silence, but it’s comfortable, filled with unspoken words and shared feelings. You both linger, neither wanting the night to end just yet.

“Well, I should go inside,” you say reluctantly.

Chan nods, taking a small step closer. “Yeah, I should get going too. Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Goodnight, Chan,” you reply softly, turning around to enter your complex.

As you close the door behind, you slip off his jacket, hugging it to yourself for a moment before hanging it up. The scent of him still clings to it, a comforting reminder of the night. You head to bed, your mind buzzing with thoughts of Chan and the growing connection between you.

Weeks had passed since that evening, and every day seemed to draw you and Chan closer. Your routine had shifted from staying back from his swim practice to spending nearly every night together out with him. The days blended into a warm, comforting blur of shared meals, late-night talks, and walks.

One practice day, you were sitting on the bleachers, flipping through your notes. The sound of splashing water and echoing laughter filled the air as the team wrapped up their training session. Chan emerge from the pool, water dripping from his hair as making his way over to you.

“Hey,” he greeted, his smile warm and genuine, “Got a minute?”

“Of course,” you replied, closing your notebook and giving him your full attention.

He sat down beside you, his breath still slightly labored from the workout. “I wanted to thank you for all the coverage you’ve been giving the team. Our coach and the members appreciate a lot of the articles you made. It really helped us gain some recognition on campus.”

You felt a rush of pride at his words, “You guys work so hard, and I just want to showcase that to the rest of the school that swimming is just as good as any other sport.”

As you continued to talk, Chan suddenly looked at his watch and sighed, “The major competitions are coming closer, and Coach wants us to do some extra training,” he pouts and gets up from the bleacher, “No swim lessons for you today. I most likely can’t give you them until after the competitions are all over. Hopefully your skills aren’t rusty~”

You nodded understandingly, “Your competition is more important Chan. You’ve got this! Don’t mind me at all. I’m sure I can beat you in a race,” you stick your tongue out teasingly.

With a final wave, he jogged off to join his teammates, diving back into the pool.

As the days passed and the swim team became increasingly busy with smaller competitions, Chan's schedule grew more hectic. Despite his absence from the facility, you found yourself lingering around, drawn to the pool.

After finishing up your notes and edits, you decided to take a break and wander around the building. As you made your way to the pool area, you found yourself drawn to the edge of the pool, staring down into the crystal-clear water below. An urge to take a dip washed over you, despite the fact that you weren't much of a swimmer. You remembered the lessons Chan had given you a while ago, and the thought of waiting until after the competitions seems far too long for you. What if you forgot his tips and tricks? What if you lost the progress you had made? You didn't want to waste any more of Chan’s time.

With a determined sigh, you made your way to the locker rooms, changing into your swimsuit. As you stepped out onto the pool deck, you couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness creeping in.

Pushing aside your doubts, you took a deep breath and lowered yourself into the water. At first, everything seemed fine, but as you pushed yourself away from the edge, you felt a sense of panic rising within you. Your strokes felt clumsy and uncoordinated, and you struggled to keep your head above water.

Frantically, you tried to remember Chan's advice, but it seemed to slip through your mind. With each passing moment, the panic grew stronger, threatening to overwhelm you.

As you struggled in the water, you suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out, “Y/N!”

Without hesitation, he dove into the water and swam over to you, his movements swift and powerful.

As he reached you, he grabbed hold of your waist and guided you back out of the pool, “What were you thinking?" he scolded, his voice tinged with anger, "You could have drowned!"

You struggled to catch your breath, feeling a mixture of relief and embarrassment wash over you, "I-I'm sorry, Chan. I just wanted to try swimming on my own and practice-”

Chan's expression softened slightly, but the memory of you almost drowning ignites his anger back, "You could have seriously hurt yourself. You need to respect the water and know your limits."

You hung your head low, feeling ashamed of your recklessness, “I know, I know. I won't do it again."

Chan sighed heavily, "You could have put yourself in danger. What if I wasn't there to save you? Who would?”

You felt a pang of guilt at his words, and with a lump in your throat, “I'm sorry, Chan. I didn't mean to worry you."

With a heavy sigh, Chan turned and walked away, with his frustration still evident, "Fucking hell," he muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

You watched him go, feeling a sense of regret wash over you. You knew that you had made a mistake and that he wouldn't forgive you anytime soon.

After the incident, the tension between you and Chan hasn't gone away. The guilt weighed heavily on your shoulders, and you found yourself withdrawing from him, convinced that you were nothing but a burden.

You noticed a distinct change in Chan's behavior towards you. What had once been warm smiles and friendly greetings now turned into cold glances. As days turned into weeks, and the once-close bond you shared with Chan began to fray. You stopped staying for swim practice, using the excuse of being busy with other assignments to avoid facing him. And even when you did see him around the facility, the awkwardness between you was too visible.

You found yourself replaying the events of that day over and over in your mind. Had you disappointed him so much that he couldn't even bear to be around you anymore? The thought filled you with a sense of regret weighing you down like a heavy anchor.

As time passed, you found yourself attending the swim practices less and less, avoiding the pool and the lingering tension with Chan. Instead, you threw yourself into your assignments and made excuses with your professor of why your reports are not as the best as it was previously.

Meanwhile, Chan's performance began to suffer. His times slowed, his movements became less fluid, and it was evident that something was weighing heavily on his mind. His attitude towards his teammates began to sour. He grew increasingly irritable and short-tempered, snapping at anyone who dared to question his methods or offer advice. It was clear that the guilt from lashing out in anger at you was eating him.

One day, news spread like wildfire throughout the swim team. Chan had dropped out of the upcoming major competition, citing personal reasons.

As you sat in the library unaware of the news, you were buried with a pile of textbooks and notes resting your head onto the table. Feeling a tap on your shoulder, you looked up to see Hyunjin, another member of the swim team, standing beside you with a concerned expression on his face.

"Hey, you okay?" Hyunjin asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

You nodded, forcing a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. I’m- Just buried under schoolwork."

Hyunjin frowned, sensing that you were covering it up, “I know about you and Chan. He talks a lot about you. I know things haven't been great between you two lately."

Your heart sank at the mention of Chan's name, the weight of your guilt crushing you. "I know," you murmured, unable to meet Hyunjin's gaze.

He reached out and gently squeezed your shoulder. "You know it’s not your fault. Chan has been struggling a lot lately," he continued, his voice filled with empathy, “he misses having you around."

You felt a surge of emotion at Hyunjin's words, a mixture of guilt and longing swirling inside you, “I miss him too. I just felt that I was a burden to him after that incident. An inconvenience,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

Hyunjin nodded understandingly, "Maybe it's time you talked to him," he suggested, his eyes urging you to take action, "I think he could really use your support right now.”

“I don’t know,” you shake your head, “the last couple of times I saw him, it looks like he doesn't want me there anymore.”

“What do you know, Y/N? It’s completely the opposite. He cares for you. I have never seen him so happy ever since you joined us for practice and his performance was high too. His eyes were always heart-shaped when he was talking about you. I really mean it, Y/N.”

“He what?” Your eyes widened, “you’re telling lies. He doesn’t feel that way.”

“I’m being serious, Y/N.”

With a heavy heart, you nodded, feeling relieved welling up inside you, "Maybe you're right. Maybe you are wrong. But I can’t deal with this silence away from him. It’s hurting me too,"

As Hyunjin offered you a supportive smile, you knew that you couldn't continue to ignore the rift between you and Chan. It was time to confront the situation head-on and try to mend what had been broken. And with Hyunjin's encouragement, you felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, you could find a way to repair your relationship with Chan.

Pushing open the door, you stepped inside, spotting Chan sitting alone on the edge of the pool, with his shoulders slumped, and his gaze fixed on the rippling water below.

You made your way towards him, your heart pounding in your chest. Taking a deep breath to steady your nerves, you approached him slowly,

“Chan," you whispered softly.

He looked up with a surprise flicker in his eyes as he registered your presence. "What are you doing here?" he stands up and brings his feet to you with a guarded voice.

You swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. "I-I came to talk to you," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "I know things haven't been great between us lately, and I wanted to apologize."

Chan stared at you in silence, his expression unreadable. You took a deep breath and launched into a rambling apology, the words tumbling out in a rush.

"I'm sorry for avoiding you and for not being there for you when you needed me," you said, your voice quivering with emotion. "I just...I didn't know how to face you after what happened at the pool, and I let my own insecurities get in the way. I didn't want to burden you any longer or become an inconvenience to you.”

You paused, tears streaming down your cheeks as you waited for Chan's response. To your surprise, he reached out and gently wiped away your tears, his touch warm and comforting.

"You don't have to apologize," he said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "I've been struggling too, and I realized that I haven't been fair to you either."

You looked up at him, surprise flickering in your eyes. "What do you mean?"

Chan took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving yours. "I've been so caught up in my own guilt and frustration that I didn't see how much I was hurting you too," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "I miss you, and I'm sorry for pushing you away."

"I miss you too," you whispered, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders as you reached out to take his hand in yours.

Chan squeezed your hand gently, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "We can't change the past," he said softly, "but we can work on building a better future together."

You nodded, feeling a sense of hope welling up inside you. "I would like that," you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

The tension between you slowly melted away, Chan wraps his arm around your waist pulling you closer. He leaned in with his gaze intense and full of longing. Without a word, he gently cupped your face in his hands.

Feeling the heat of his breath against your skin, you closed your eyes, your heart pounding in your chest as his lips met yours in a soft kiss. It was as if all the pent-up emotions and desires that had been simmering between you erupted in that moment, igniting a fire that burned hotter than ever before.

Chan's kiss became deep and fervent, his lips moving against yours with a hunger that sent shivers down your spine. You melted into his embrace, your hands tangling in his hair as you lost yourself in the intoxicating sensation of his touch.

As you finally pulled away, breathless and dizzy with longing, you met Chan's gaze, the intensity of his stare sending a shiver down your spine.

With a soft smile, Chan brushed his thumb across your cheek, his touch tender and affectionate. "I'm sorry for everything," he murmured, his voice filled with sincerity, “I really like you, and it hurts to see you distance yourself. I really didn't want to lose you.”

You nodded, your heart swelling with emotion as you leaned in to press another gentle kiss to his lips, a silent promise of the future that lay ahead. And as you both stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, you knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, you would face them together, united by the unbreakable diving record of love.

a/n: the first recreational pursuits series have been released!! so sorry for the long wait, but it is finally here! thank you guys for the support, until the next!

#skz #skz angst #skz fanfic #skz fluff #skz x reader #skz imagines #stray kids #stray kids fanfic #stray kids imagines #stray kids x reader #bang chan x reader #bang chan #skz x you

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