𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐄 ¹- jj maybank

𝟎𝟏𝟖; 𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦

SEASON 1
EPISODE 3

"It's like— I don't know if I can trust her again."

»»-----　　-----««

THEY ARRIVED AT ANOTHER DOCK, and Victoria's eyes immediately locked on Topper's prized possession—a sleek, shiny wakesetter, its polished surface gleaming in the late afternoon sun. The 2020 Malibu 24-MXC was the kind of boat that screamed wealth and status. As they approached, Pope couldn't help but admire it.

"2020 Malibu, 24-MXC. The world's finest wakesetter," Pope remarked, his voice full of appreciation. "Number one in quality, luxury, and performance. This thing's top-tier."

JJ snorted, eyeing the boat with a wry grin. "This is war, Pope," he said with a sly look. "They hit us, we hit them. That's how it goes."

Pope, still wearing his determined expression, unbuttoned his shirt and pulled off his cap, preparing to dive in. JJ, with a smirk, put on his sunglasses.

Victoria watched them both, her gaze following Pope as he adjusted his shirt and prepared for the swim. "Do it," she said, her voice steady, though there was a hint of worry beneath the surface. Her eyes stayed on Pope as he dove into the water, making a beeline for the wakesetter.

JJ glanced at Victoria, his voice softening. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She took a deep breath, trying to push past the emotion swelling up in her. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied, though her voice wavered slightly. "But Pope, I feel so bad that I didn't go with him straight away. If I had just been there—" Her voice cracked, and she swallowed, trying to hold back the guilt that threatened to overwhelm her.

JJ, sensing the pain in her words, pulled her into a hug. "It's not your fault," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "None of this is your fault."

After a few moments, she pulled back, wiping at her eyes, trying to regain composure. The sound of water splashing caught her attention, and she turned just in time to see Pope, already emerging from the depths, holding a metal plug in his hand.

The look on his face was one of quiet triumph.

He surfaced, holding the plug high above the water. "Done," he said with a grin, the kind of grin that only came with victory.

Victoria's face lit up with a smile. "You did it," she said, her heart swelling with pride for her friend.

"I'm so proud of you right now," JJ added, his face breaking into an astonished smile as he pulled off his glasses. "Holy crap, Pope. That      was—"

"Impressive?" Pope finished for him, stepping back onto the boat with a serious look on his face. The grin faded, and he looked at both of them, his expression turning somber.

"JJ, Vic," he said quietly, his voice steady but intense. "You can't tell anyone about this. Not Kie. Not John B. Nobody."

JJ, always the one to joke around, looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, totally, dude," he said with a casual nod, but there was something in Pope's eyes that made him realize how serious this was.

"No," Pope replied firmly, locking eyes with both of them. "I mean it. No one. Not a word to anyone."

Victoria nodded without hesitation. "My lips are sealed," she said, raising her hand in a mock salute, signaling her promise.

JJ sighed dramatically, but as he looked at Pope, he could tell this wasn't something to take lightly. He grabbed the plug from Pope's hand and tossed it into the water without another word.