Trust me if you don't trust water

ㅤ Chloe breathed heavily with nervousness, as if crushed by the confidence in Senel's gaze. The clothes no longer concealed his seductive, toned torso. He stood so close that it was enough to reach out and touch. To confirm that he was there, that he was real. "Are you ready?" Senel said with caring determination. "How could I be ready!?" Chloe flared, standing waist-deep in the water in her swimsuit, trembling with fear. No, of course, it was her initiative to ask Senel to finally teach her to swim. But it was the restless Norma who urged her to take this desperate step, literally keeping pace with Chloe, dreaming of bringing the two together by any means necessary. Especially since she and Shirley had ultimately decided to remain brother and sister, unable to overcome the "family" barrier… "Listen," Senel sighed resignedly, "the human body is seventy percent water. It will literally push you to the surface, even if you dive. If you don't panic, you won't drown. All you need to learn is to stay calm and breathe without swallowing water." "Easy for you to say…" Chloe lowered her head, stroking her shoulders, trying to overcome her nervousness. She was doubly panicked: because of the lesson and because of the near-naked Senel. He was literally standing before her in his underwear! Culturally referred to as swimming trunks. And she was no better… Norma had "taken care" of her swimsuit, so instead of the one-piece swimsuit she'd requested, Chloe had received a revealing bikini, which they'd practically forced on her. "I'll be here the whole time. If you don't trust the water, at least trust me." Chloe flushed. Senel's words didn't just warm her; they burned, like a declaration of love. Always here… Trust… If only they had applied not to swimming lessons, but to life, Chloe would have been the happiest girl in the world. And yet, she tried to pull herself together, to overcome her fears! Or at least one of them. The first thing Senel did was teach her to stay afloat. And she even managed to do it, though breathing was out of the question, as all she could do was lie like a board, her flushed face buried in the water, her eyes tightly squeezed shut. Every time she tried to lift her head, her legs sank under, and in a panic, Chloe began to move wildly, trying to stay above water, but only sank completely with each attempt to breathe. "It's okay," Senel caught her and reassured her. "You can do it. I'll support you so you can get used to it easier." Resigned and nodding, Chloe lay back down in the water. But this time, Senel touched her waist, sending a bolt of absurd delight through her body. "No, I can't do this!" Chloe quickly rose to her feet, pulling away from Senel. "What's wrong?" Senel asked, surprised by her reaction. "I…" "What am I going to tell him?!" Chloe began to panic even more, the coolness of the water not cooling her mind. "That I can't concentrate because of his touch?!" She needed to make a decision, but she couldn't find the words. It was important to put an end to her torment and the precarious state of their relationship. Better for him to reject her with certainty than for her to let dreams cloud her path. Gathering her resolve, instead of faltering words, Chloe approached Senel and kissed him on the lips, conveying all her feelings with an intimate touch. Senel's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't push her away. Chloe stepped back, glanced at him furtively, then immediately turned away, unable to look any longer. She clutched her hands tightly to herself, as if trying to calm her beating heart. The silence stretched on. The monotonous sounds of nature filled her ears more than usual, making her feel like her head was about to explode. A strange sound - Senel in the water came closer. The feel of his breath on her skin seemed to block out all other sounds, leaving only the pounding in her temples. "We've been through a lot together," he said seriously. "I don't want to hurt you." 'He'll refuse…' Chloe realized sadly. "I couldn't save my first love, I couldn't decide in time how I felt about Shirley. And I could give you false hope by admitting your feelings." Chloe turned to him cautiously, trying to find a clue in his gaze as to whether he was trying to say yes or no. "I'm not very good at understanding my own feelings, so I might realize too late whether we should be together or not. But if it doesn't scare you, I wouldn't mind giving it a try." Chloe's gaze brightened, a smile involuntarily spread across her face, and unbidden tears began to flow from her eyes. Instead of answering, Chloe threw herself into his arms. She wasn't even embarrassed by their half-naked appearance. Not right away. Then she pushed Senel away, hastily covering herself, feeling even more naked than when she had been brought to Senel like that. "Uh, so is that a yes or a no?" Senel was confused. "Y-yes," Chloe managed to say. Then she took a deep breath and blurted out, "I just wish I was a little more dressed right now!" "Oh…" the realization hit. Senel hadn't thought about it before, but now he realized he'd never been this close to a girl. Naked hugs. "Perhaps I really should get dressed," he hurried to the towel, trying to calm his agitated blood. At the very least, trying not to embarrass Chloe even more… ㅤ