"Should we celebrate our victory with a glass of champagne? I mean fruit juice. We have come so far, so it's quite obvious that we need a celebration."
Jean grinned, his stocky thirteen-year-old frame shifting as he slapped Shawn on the shoulder.
"We've come so far. A celebration is mandatory."
Shawn rolled his eyes, his thumbs already flying across his phone screen. He was twelve, lean, and built more for quick movement than raw strength. His gaze stayed fixed on the glowing display as he bypassed the lock screen.
"Easy there, Jean. We won, sure, but shouldn't we invite Sally too? Or should I say… Mrs. Cobler?"
A sharp smirk appeared on his face as the call began connecting.
"No, Shawn, don't!"
Jean lunged immediately. His larger build won the brief struggle, and he snatched the phone away before the first ring could finish. His thumb slammed against the power button until the screen went dark.
"I told you, I'll ask Sally out when the timing is right. Today is bros-only time. No girls."
He shoved the phone deep into his pocket and released a long breath.
"That was close. You're lucky she didn't answer. You'd have faced my full wrath."
Shawn burst out laughing, and Jean quickly joined him.
They were a strange pair when viewed from the outside. Most people knew them as troublemakers who somehow always found themselves involved in schoolyard schemes. Few realized they spent weekends discussing electrical schematics, reverse-engineering gadgets, and combing through patent databases for ideas.
That morning, all those hours had finally paid off.
For four straight hours, they had sat inside the velvet-lined auditorium of Parks Ltd., competing against older students who possessed bigger teams, larger budgets, and significantly more resources. The innovation challenge had been simple in concept: solve a real-world problem with an original invention.
The reward was even better.
A month-long internship under one of the company's senior developers.
To Jean, those developers were celebrities. To Shawn, they represented opportunity.
Jean's enthusiasm made perfect sense. His older brother already worked at Parks Ltd., a fact Jean proudly mentioned during nearly seventy percent of all conversations.
Their winning invention had been a compact atmospheric water collection system.
Shawn had spent nearly three weeks refining the molecular separation grid, making certain the intake valves extracted exactly the right amount of ambient air without overheating the primary circuit board. The trophy was nice, but the real reward had been watching the judges stare in disbelief as clean drinking water steadily filled the collection beaker during their demonstration.
The polished trophies sitting beneath their seats now were simply extra decoration.
"So… what do we do now?"
Shawn leaned back in his chair and rubbed his stomach.
The catering staff had practically force-fed them miniature sandwiches, pastries, and enough desserts to satisfy an army.
"It's already late in the afternoon, and I'm stuffed. They gave us way too much food. Honestly, I just want to slip out of here. If we stay, they'll drag us into interviews, reporters will swarm us, and we'll probably end up signing autographs for hours. I want to enjoy this win for myself, just for a little while."
His eyes drifted toward the main exit.
Unfortunately, several news crews had already begun setting up cameras and tripods nearby.
Jean's lips curled into a familiar, dangerous grin.
"I've got the perfect place."
That expression alone told Shawn trouble was coming.
"Somewhere quiet, where nobody will bother us. It'll help us cool down after all this noise. There's a river about two kilometers north of here. If we sneak out while the teachers and directors are busy talking, nobody will even notice."
Shawn didn't need convincing.
He grabbed his jacket immediately.
Together, they slipped along the outer edge of the banquet hall, carefully timing their movements between the patrol routes of the venue's security guards. Within minutes, the air-conditioned atmosphere and endless congratulations faded behind them.
The warmth of the afternoon sun replaced it.
Their sneakers crunched against the dirt path leading away from the city.
Shawn matched Jean's longer stride, his shorter legs working slightly harder to keep pace. He was used to it. Being the shortest kid in class had taught him long ago to ignore sore calves.
His life had never been particularly easy.
His parents had died in a highway accident when he was only two years old. Since then, he had lived with an uncle who provided food, shelter, and little else.
Jean's home was where Shawn actually felt welcome.
More often than not, it felt like Jean was less of a friend and more of a brother.
"Hey, Jean… who do you think we'll get assigned to for the mentorship month? Doctor Stone? Mr. David? Or maybe..."
Shawn nudged him.
"Maybe your brother."
Jean visibly relaxed.
The competitive edge he carried around others disappeared almost immediately.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "But I do hope it's my brother. He might be strict sometimes, but he's the best option for us. We already know him, and he'd definitely treat us better than anyone else."
"Strict but familiar, huh? I guess that beats dealing with someone scary like Doctor Stone."
Jean puffed out his chest immediately.
Shawn hid a smile.
Some reactions were simply predictable.
Jean admired his older brother almost to an unhealthy degree. Every achievement, every habit, every success story became another piece of the future Jean wanted for himself.
As they walked, Shawn's gaze drifted toward the dark canvas bag hanging from Jean's shoulders.
"Hey, Jean. Why are you still carrying that thing?"
He pointed at the backpack.
"We're going swimming. What if they planted tracking chips in there? They could follow us."
Jean completely ignored the sarcasm.
Instead, he tightened his grip on the strap.
"There's something important inside. I need it."
The answer sounded unusually serious.
Shawn considered pushing further, but decided against it.
The path beneath their feet gradually changed. Hard dirt gave way to loose river silt. The air grew cooler, carrying the scent of wet earth, moss, and flowing water.
The river soon came into view.
It was broad and calm in some places, faster and more aggressive in others. Grey stones lined the shoreline, while sunlight danced across the moving surface.
Both boys had planned ahead.
Swimming trunks were already hidden beneath their school uniforms.
They stripped down quickly, tossing shirts and jackets onto a low willow branch.
Shawn stretched his legs while studying the water. His eyes tracked the current carefully, estimating depth, speed, and safe entry points.
Just as he prepared to dive in, Jean suddenly called out.
"Wait a second, Shawn."
Shawn paused.
Jean dropped to one knee beside the backpack and rummaged through its contents.
"Before you jump in, I've got something for you."
Shawn blinked.
"What is it?"
"Just open it and see."
Jean pulled out a small rectangular package wrapped in thick paper and handed it over.
Curiosity immediately replaced Shawn's impatience.
He tore through the wrapping.
The object inside was heavier than expected.
A matte-black watch rested within a molded plastic case. Its metallic hands reflected the fading sunlight, while the dark display remained inactive.
Even before reading the branding, Shawn recognized it.
His breath caught.
"No way..."
His eyes widened.
"This is the latest Dominators series."
For months, he had stood outside electronics stores staring at that exact watch.
The sleek design.
The advanced sensors.
The impossible price tag.
Every detail was familiar.
"Jean... are you serious? I can't believe you got me one."
His voice cracked slightly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jean smiled.
A genuine smile.
Not his usual mischievous grin.
"Happy birthday, bro."
Before Shawn could respond, Jean stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.
The hug lasted only a second.
Still, it carried more meaning than a hundred speeches.
Shawn hugged him back.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
"I'll cherish it. Always."
His hands trembled slightly as he fastened the watch around his right wrist.
The buckle clicked into place.
A moment later, the display activated.
Tiny sensors lit up beneath the glass and began monitoring his pulse.
Jean immediately ruined the emotional atmosphere.
"Alright, enough of the sappy stuff!"
He laughed loudly.
"Let's get in before the water cools down!"
Without waiting for a response, he exploded into a sprint.
His heavy footsteps kicked mud into the air as he charged toward the riverbank. Then he launched himself outward, clearing the reeds before crashing into the deeper water.
A massive splash erupted across the surface.
Shawn laughed and shook his head.
Some things never changed.