Ayla's POV
The world tilted and before I even knew what was happening, I found myself underwater, gasping and struggling for air.
Cold water slammed into my body, dragging me down with a force that stole my breath. My eyes flew open, but all I saw was a blur of blue and light. Everything looked far away, muffled, unreal. Panic rushed through me like electricity. I tried to push upward, but the water pulled me deeper instead. My lungs screamed for air.
I didn't know a single thing about swimming. Not a stroke. And in this Olympic-sized pool, deep and endless, I was helpless. My hands thrashed, legs kicked at nothing. I could hear faint echoes above, shouts, screams, but everything was distorted under the water, like the world was wrapped in glass. My body felt heavier by the second.
I didn't want to die. Not here. Not like this. My mum won't be able to handle it if anything happened to me.
Bubbles escaped my mouth as I struggled, my chest burning. I opened my eyes one last time, searching for light, any light. And then I felt it, an arm, strong and steady, wrapping around my waist, pulling me upward.
The surface hit me like an explosion. I broke through with a violent gasp, coughing and choking. The air burned as it rushed into my lungs. My vision blurred, but I heard voices, dozens of them.
"Oh my God, Sophie jumped in!"
"She saved her!"
"She's such an angel!"
"She is indeed worthy of being called the Solaria goddess!"
I blinked through wet lashes, coughing hard. Sophie's arm was around me, holding me steady. Her long blonde hair clung to her face, water dripping from every strand. Her breathing was calm, too calm. Like she'd come prepared for this.
"It's okay," she whispered, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. "You're safe now."
Her hand brushed my cheek, gentle, reassuring. I stared at her, still coughing, my heart hammering in confusion. Wasn't she the one who had pushed me? Wasn't it her foot that had hit me just moments before I fell in? Then why was she smiling at me like this, like a saint?
She carried me toward the edge, her arm still firm around me. Students crowded at the poolside, all reaching toward her.
"Here! Grab my hand, Sophie!"
"Be careful, goddess!"
They pulled her up first. Of course, her first.
I tried to climb up too, my limbs shaking, teeth chattering, but no one offered to help. I was still coughing water when I finally managed to pull myself onto the tiles. My knees hit the floor with a dull thud.
"Sophie, are you hurt?"
"You're so brave!"
"You're incredible!"
"The way you jumped in like that, wow!"
She laughed softly, brushing her wet hair behind her ear, that perfect movie-scene smile lighting up her face. "I'm fine," she said sweetly. "I just couldn't watch someone sink."
They surrounded her, praising her, worshipping her. I sat there, dripping and trembling, forgotten like a shadow.
Then someone spoke, voice sharp and judgmental.
"Why did she even go into the pool if she can't swim?"
Another girl added quickly, "She probably slipped trying to show off. Sophie could have been hurt because of her!"
Their words hit me harder than the fall.
I looked up at Sophie. She turned her head slightly, her face angelic, her eyes soft, except for that glint. That tiny, knowing spark I recognized. Satisfaction.
She walked toward me, kneeling slightly, her tone soft, almost pitying. "You shouldn't jump into the pool carelessly if you can't swim," she said, smiling that goddess smile that everyone loved. "What if no one was here to save you next time?"
My throat tightened. "I," I tried to speak, but I coughed again, the taste of chlorine burning my tongue. Even if I could talk, who would listen? Not them. Not anyone.
She had done it on purpose.
And now, she was their hero.
I wanted to scream. To tell them all that she'd kicked me. That she had smiled just before doing it. But my voice was gone, swallowed by disbelief and fear.
The PE teacher ran in, eyes wide. "Sophie, that was brave of you," she said, hurrying to her side. "You saved your classmate's life."
A fresh wave of applause followed. Sophie smiled shyly, tucking a wet strand of hair behind her ear. "It was nothing," she murmured. "Anyone would have done the same."
Her eyes met mine for a heartbeat, and this time, her smile changed. It wasn't sweet anymore. It was triumphant.
Just then she then in
Elena.
Her steps were calm, deliberate, every eye turning as she approached. The air shifted, quieting instantly. The sound of her shoes against the tiles was sharp, echoing.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice low but commanding.
A girl near her rushed to answer. "Ayla fell into the pool, even though she knew she couldn't swim. Sophie didn't think twice, she jumped right in to save her. She's amazing!"
Elena's gaze moved to me, slow and unreadable. Her eyes, cold, sharp, studied me for a second that felt like forever. My lips parted, trembling.
"No," I tried to say, "I didn't."
But she looked away before I could finish.
Her attention shifted back to Sophie, who was now standing wrapped in a towel one of her friends had handed her. Without a word, Elena took off her own jacket and draped it over Sophie's shoulders.
"You should change before you catch a cold," she said softly.
Sophie smiled up at her, tilting her head slightly. "Thank you, Lenny," she said, her voice as sweet as ever. She placed her hand lightly on Elena's shoulder, familiar, intimate.
The crowd murmured. Elena helped her up, holding her protectively as they walked toward the locker rooms together. They left just like that, Elena's arm around Sophie, her warmth and care wrapped around the wrong person.
Not a single glance back at me.
As soon as they were gone, the whispers started again, sharper this time.
"She's such a troublemaker."
"Poor Sophie, imagine almost getting hurt like that."
"Honestly, Ayla should've been more careful."
I sat there frozen, my clothes heavy and clinging to me, my hair dripping into my eyes. No one asked if I was okay. No one offered me a towel. Not even a single look of concern.
The pool water around me rippled quietly, the laughter of others echoing across the surface. Sophie's name filled the air like music.
"Sophie the savior."
"Sophie the angel."
"Sophie the goddess."
And mine followed, cold, pitiful.
"Ayla the careless."
"Ayla the burden."
I pressed my trembling fingers against the tiles, feeling their roughness under my skin. My vision blurred again, not from water this time, but from the sting of tears I refused to let fall.
Then I heard a voice, soft, hesitant.
"Ayla."
I looked up. Eden stood there, towel in hand. Her eyes were gentle, filled with quiet worry. She didn't say much, just came closer and draped the towel around my shoulders.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
I forced a small smile, even though my voice shook. "I'm fine."
She nodded once, not believing me but not pressing further. She helped me to my feet, steadying me when my knees wobbled. As we walked away together, I could still hear the laughter behind us, the sound of students calling Sophie's name, cheering for her, worshipping her like she was divine.
Her name echoed through the air like a hymn.
And I could hear mine too, only in whispers.
No one knew the truth.
No one wanted to know.
But I knew. I knew exactly what had happened.
The image of her face when our eyes met underwater burned in my memory. That smile, it wasn't the smile of a savior. It was the smile of someone who had won.
As I walked toward the locker room, the towel heavy on my shoulders, the chill biting into my skin, one thought echoed in my head over and over again.
Sophie Langford was no goddess.
She was something far worse.
But what I couldn't even get to understand was why she did it, because I can't remember ever offending her.
She must be a psychopath, I assured myself.