As the swimmers approached the boat, Hande went to the main deck.


    Oni told her not to give the gs to everyone individually, but to arrange them on the backnding which is only a few inches above the water level. In that way, whoever reaches the boat can grab a g and resume swimming, and Hande''s job will be to fill in the gaps.


    Hande was disappointed that she didn''t get a good look at Ade on the screens, but she knew that she would see him when hees to get the g and she was excited about it.


    She was gazing toward the swimmers and it was obvious that not many are taking this seriously as apetition in speed.


    Sarah and Aiden were almost at the boat with Allen and Julius trailing behind them. Ade, Beck, and Nico were next. After them was arge gap before Jamari, Imani, Daniel, and Xiaohui. Tejan was adjusting his pace with Rosa, Esma, and Antonia. Merve and Masika swam together in a group with other girls. Seeing arge group of kids at the back, Hande regretted not joining. She would not stick out much, and maybe she would not best either.


    "Are you ready?", Sarah asked Hande.


    Hande nodded confidently and waved with a handful of gs in each hand, gesturing that she will fill up the gaps.


    Aiden gave Hande a thumbs up and he and Sarah took a g each before moving to swim back to the dock. They are notpeting officially, but they should still follow the rules.


    Allen and Julius grabbed gs almost at the same time and rushed to the shore.


    Nico and Beck were bickering while swimming. They took a g each and rushed back without stopping their chatter. Hande thought about how they are funny.


    Hande saw that Ade is taking a g and she did her best not to look at him. If he sees her staring, he might get some ideas and that is not what she wants. She got busy putting the gs in empty spaces.


    Hande didn''t realize how much her hands were shaking and she dropped two gs in the water. She exhaled helplessly as she watched them drift away slowly, a secondter she extended her hand to grab them. They are close, and she should be able to reach them. Or so she thought.


    Ade was swimming when he heard Hande''s scream a split second before a ssh. He turned to see Handee out of the water gasping for air, and in the next moment, her head bumped in thending of the boat and disappeared under the surface. Ade frantically looked around, but there was no one closer than him, and it didn''t seem that anyone noticed what happened to Hande. There was no time to think, he dove underwater and hoped that he will find her.


    "Hande?", Oni called from the upper deck. They heard the scream and the ssh and when they looked down, Hande was not down on the deck.


    Oni and Michael rushed to the lower deck and they were just in time to see Ade emerge to the surface with Hande in his arms. She was coughing and clinging onto him.


    They wanted to get Hande up, but her hands were clutching around Ade''s neck, so Michael and Oni helped both of them up.


    Ade sat on the sofa with Hande in hisp.


    "Masika!", Oni called. "Come quick!"


    Masika speed up her strokes and reached the boat. Jamari, Imani, Daniel, and Xiaohui were there, holding onto thending and observing the scene. They didn''t want toe up and create a crowd on the boat.


    Jamari would snicker at the sight of Hande not letting go of Ade, but Hande seemed to be in distress and Imani was right there (she would scold him).


    "She hit her head.", Ade told Masika.


    Masika swiftly checked Hande. "She is fine. Scared, but fine. When shees to the shore, I will examine the head. Keep her warm."


    Merve arrived on time to hear that her sister is fine. She didn''t know that Hande fell in the water, and she didn''t want toment on Hande sitting in Ade''sp.


    Oni pulled a nket from the storage under the sofa and put it over Hande.


    Ade wanted to tell Hande that she can let go now, but she was trembling, so he swallowed his words and patted her back while trying tofort her.


    "Get your gs and continue the race!", Michael reminded everyone who was lingering. "Hande is fine, there is nothing to see here."


    …


    The boat pulled to the dock and Ade carried Hande in the room which equipped for light medical procedures.


    Her arms were holding onto Ade tightly and she was hiding her face at the crook of her neck.


    Ade noticed that everyone is staring, and he pulled the nket higher, to cover Hande''s head. At least now they are watching him carry a bundle of a nket.


    Ade entered the room where Masika and Merve were waiting. He ced Hande on the examination table and pried her hands open to let go of him.


    "You need to let go so that Masika can check your head.", Ade said.


    She pulled her hands away from him and looked to the side, hiding her face in the nket.


    Ade was not sure what to say or do so he nced at Masika who gestured him that he can leave.


    Ade left the room and saw that Sarah and Aiden are in the hallway. Sarah is holding onto his t-shirt.


    "She fell in the water and hit her head on the boat.", Ade said, even though they didn''t ask anything.


    "We know. The drone was recording.", Sarah responded and gave Ade his t-shirt.


    Ade pulled the t-shirt over his head swiftly.


    Aiden patted Ade''s shoulder. "You did great."


    Ade should be happy that he was praised, but somehow he didn''t feel good. He nced back at the closed door of the medical room. "She is scared."


    Sarah nodded in confirmation. "And you did great byforting her when she needed."


    Ade remembered how Hande trembled. She didn''t cry or say anything, but she trembled. "Hande does not lookforted. No matter how much I tried, I was unable to get her to rx."


    Sarah agreed. "In addition to being scared, Hande probably feels guilty that you had to rescue her and that you didn''t finish the race because of that."


    Ade shook his head. "It was an ident. She didn''t do it on purpose."


    "True. It is not her fault, but she thinks that it is. And the fact that it happened around you makes it worse. In thest three months, out of everyone from the Cliffside Vi, Hande asked when you wille. She didn''t ask about anyone else.", Aiden told Ade.


    Ade was surprised. "Me?"


    Aiden nodded. "She was working hard, and she wanted to show you her progress. In a way, you are her role model."


    Ade''s eyebrows shoot up and his eyes were so open wide that they formed almost perfect circles. "Me?"


    Sarah was amused by Ade''s exaggerated reaction. "Is it so difficult to believe that a girl admires you? But now she embarrassed herself and got in your way."


    Ade remembered how Hande was talking confidently when they met. At that time, she said how the two of them are youngest and she wanted to learn how he managed to stand up for himself. And today she was timid and scared. He felt bad about the possibility that she admires him and she was looking forward to seeing him, yet he didn''t show up. Ade frowned. "I don''t think that she got in my way."


    Aiden approved Ade''s attitude. "Make sure to let her know that."


    Aiden told Ade that he can go and join others outside. They will stick around to hear how Hande is doing.


    Sarah went into the exam room and Aiden waited in the hallway.


    Aiden leaned on the wall and looked at Ade. "Why are you still here?"


    "Uhm… I want to let Hande know that I am avable if she needs me."


    "She will probably not have the courage to look at you."


    Ade exhaled and leaned next to Aiden on the wall. "That is fine."


    ---


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