#seventeenfan

[synity]

When The Ocean Calls You

(Hong Joshua X FemReader)

*Rivalry/Enemies-to-Lovers, slow-burn, emotional tension, Coming-of-Age, Family Drama, emotional depth Surf Culture/Coastal Lifestyle, Social Class Divide Slow-Burn, Social Class Divide*

DISCLAIMER:

When the Ocean Calls You is an original story inspired by the Netflix series Surviving Summer. Like Surviving Summer, this story explores themes of teenage rivalry, friendship, family struggles, and the intense world of competitive surfing. The characters, plot, and events in When the Ocean Calls You are entirely fictional, created as a tribute to the spirit and atmosphere of the show.

This story is set in New South Wales, Australia, capturing the coastal lifestyle and surf culture that plays a central role in the characters’ lives. While SURVIVING SUMMER is set in Shorehaven beach!”

NOTE:

Hey everyone! I’m super excited to finally share the first episode of my original series When the Ocean Calls You. Y/N Marlowe (you) a self-made surfer from New South Wales, Australia and Joshua Hong, the privileged star from an elite surfing academy. It’s a story about family, friendship, and fighting for your place in the waves and in life. I poured a lot of heart into this, so I hope you feel the passion and tension from the very first page.

The salt hung thick in the air. The tide crashed violently, as if echoing the storm inside Y/N Marlowe.

She stood barefoot on the golden sands of New South Wales, her surfboard held like a sword, eyes trained on the water. Her sea-tossed braid swung over her shoulder part habit, part armor.

“Marlon!” she called out sharply.

Her older brother and squad coach turned from where he was setting up the flags.

“You’re late,” he said with a smirk.

She raised a brow, “Was early enough to beat Avalon here.”

Behind her, the New South Wales Squad gathered like a storm of sunburnt limbs and fearless hearts.

There was Hayley, the Brooklyn-born firecracker who could wipe out and laugh like it was comedy. Bodhi, strong, silent, and focused. Emma, brainy with the sharpest read of waves. Matthew, always cracking jokes, even while carving 360s. Austin, a tactical surfer who never backed down from a reef break.

Their training wasn’t polished. Their gear wasn’t sponsored. But what they had was raw skill, natural rhythm with the ocean, and grit that no money could buy.

That’s what made them dangerous.

That’s what made Avalon Academy nervous.

A sleek, black van pulled up, sparkling clean, with tinted windows and elite surfboards stacked like trophies. From it emerged the wave of rich, perfectly trained Avalon elites surfing’s private-school mafia.

Leading them was Joshua Hong.

Korean-American. Born in LA, trained in Hawaii, and molded into Avalon’s golden boy. Sharp. Intense. Controlled. And Y/N’s sworn enemy since she was twelve.

“Y/N Marlowe,” he called out, a smirk on his face. “Still surfing like your board’s too big for you?”

Y/N’s eye twitched.

“Joshua,” she responded coolly. “Still wearing wetsuits like you’re scared of the water.”

Behind him, the Avalon squad fanned out like shadows.

Vernon, sarcastic and too smart for his own good. Mingyu, towering and intimidating but loyal to his team. Yena, bold and strategic, never without a biting remark. Eunji, clean-cut and precise, a wave-slicing machine. Mae, unreadable and always ten moves ahead. And Wonwoo, the quiet genius who surfed like poetry.

The tension between the squads wasn’t new.

It was war, every year.

TRAINING TIME — NEW SOUTH WALES SIDE

Marlon clapped his hands to get their attention.

“Listen up. Avalon’s here early, which means they’re prepping harder than usual. You know what that means.”

“Trial season,” Hayley groaned.

“Yup,” Marlon said. “And this year’s the one. New format. New rules. No second chances.”

Matthew raised a hand. “What if we just break their boards?”

“Might be illegal,” Emma muttered. “Sadly.”

Y/N rolled her shoulders and walked toward the ocean. The sea called her like a second home no drama, no rivalry. Just rhythm.

But before she could paddle out...

Joshua stepped onto the waterline.

She paused.

He paused.

Then, without a word, both charged into the waves.

They cut through the water like two rival storms carving, duck-diving, snapping turns like they were born for this. Each trying to outmaneuver the other. Each trying not to notice how easily they danced around the same swell.

The others watched from the beach New South Wales on one side, Avalon on the other as their leaders battled silently in the surf.

Marlon narrowed his eyes.

“Why does it always have to be them?” he muttered.

BONFIRE NIGHT

As the sun dipped below the horizon, New South Wales lit a bonfire. It was tradition salt in the air, fire on the sand, stories that softened rivalry into family.

Y/N sat cross-legged, watching the flames crackle. Hayley passed her a can of soda.

“Thought you were gonna punch Joshua mid-turn,” she joked.

“I was considering throwing my board at his face,” Y/N muttered.

“But you didn’t,” Hayley said. “Because deep down, you wanna beat him fair.”

Y/N didn’t answer.

Because maybe, somewhere inside, Hayley was right.

FLASHBACK: AGE 12, AVALON BEACH

Y/N had wandered onto Avalon’s private training beach with her hand-me-down board, hopeful and wide-eyed.

Joshua had seen her.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he’d said, voice already sharp.

“Why? The ocean’s free.”

“Not this part.”

He didn’t smile. He didn’t help. And when she fell trying to copy his cutback he laughed.

That laugh burned into her forever.

The next morning, the Surf Australia Trials Director arrived in aviators and a clipboard. Everyone Avalon and New South Wales gathered around.

“New format for this year’s national Trials,” she announced. “Two squads. Mixed pairs. One Avalon. One New South Wales. You’ll be partnered and judged together.”

Gasps. Protests.

“That’s insane!” “We can’t work with them.” “Is this punishment?!”

Marlon stepped forward. “Coach Marlowe here. With all due respect, how do we expect them to collaborate when they’ve been raised on rivalry?” The director didn’t flinch. “Because that’s surfing. Conditions change. Teammates shift. Life doesn’t ask who you like.”

The list was taped to the board. Everyone surged forward. Y/N shoved through the crowd, heart thudding. She found her name.

Y/N Marlowe – Joshua Hong

The words hit like a wipeout. Joshua appeared beside her. “This is a joke, right?”

“I wish.”

Their gazes met ten years of rivalry between them. Now they were on the same team. Y/N turned and walked away. Joshua didn’t stop her. But deep down, they both knew: The ocean didn’t care about enemies.

Only survival.

The wind howled through the coastal trees. A battered white van pulled up outside a rustic surf lodge tucked between towering cliffs and choppy tides. A faded wooden sign read: “OFFICIAL TRIALS PREP CAMP — NO SIGNAL, NO COMFORTS, JUST WAVES.”

Y/N stepped out, hoodie up, board strapped to her back.

Right behind her, a sleek Avalon SUV rolled up. And, like a plot twist she already hated, out stepped Joshua, calm and polished in his sponsor-branded gear. They locked eyes.

“Kill me now,” Y/N muttered.

“Glad we’re on the same page,” Joshua replied smoothly.

The lodge had been split in two dorms: Avalon and NSW mixed. Unbelievable.

Y/N dropped her duffel next to Hayley’s bunk. Emma, Bodhi, and Matthew were already claiming beds. Hayley was filming the chaos on her cracked phone.

“Room with your nemesis. That’s some reality TV stuff,” she grinned.

Y/N flopped onto the mattress. “This is my nightmare.”

Just then, a second door opened.

Joshua stepped in, followed by Vernon, Mingyu, Mae, and of course Wonwoo.

“You’ve got to be joking,” Y/N said.

“Oh, we’re bunkmates?” Joshua deadpanned. “Try not to cry.”

Hayley smirked. “This is gonna be so fun.”

-COACHES ROOM-

Marlon paced.

“They’re going to kill each other,” he said, hands on his hips.

The Trials Director, Ms. Clarke, didn’t look concerned. “Or they’ll become the strongest pair on the coast. You’ve seen the footage. Together, they read waves like twins.”

Marlon scoffed. “They hate each other.”

“Perfect,” Clarke said. “Sometimes the ocean puts the wrong people on the same wave... and something genius happens.”

The sun was scorching. The tide rising. The judges set up cameras and buzzers.

“Paired heats start now!” a coach announced. “NSW and Avalon mixed. You’ll compete as duos. Timing, chemistry, communication. Let’s see if you can work with your rivals.”

Pairs were called.

Emma was paired with Vernon. Hayley with Yena (instant chaos). Matthew with Eunji. Austin with Mae.

And finally...

“Y/N Marlowe and Joshua Hong —heat 4. You’re up.”

Y/N adjusted her leash, jaw tight. “Don’t screw this up.”

Joshua raised a brow. “Just follow my lead.”

She scoffed. “In your dreams.”

They paddled out in silence. The waves were rougher today. Unforgiving.

From the shore, all eyes watched. Even Marlon had gone quiet.

Joshua and Y/N hovered, waiting. Then a perfect set rolled in.

Joshua started first, riding the clean right break. His lines were sharp, polished.

Y/N caught the left bold, unpredictable, her body moving with a rhythm no school could teach.

Then came the joint wave. Two riders. One swell.

They launched into it like enemies racing to survive.

And for the first time they synced.

Her spin met his cutback. His aerial opened into her reverse turn. A perfectly timed crossover that left the coaches speechless.

They rode the wave until it died in perfect silence before dropping off the side and floating on their backs, panting.

“Holy crap,” Y/N muttered.

“That was... terrifying,” Joshua said.

She laughed. Just once. And for a brief moment, it wasn't war.

That night, as the sky turned navy, everyone gathered around a campfire again.

Hayley roasted marshmallows next to Y/N.

“You looked like you actually... liked him out there,” she teased.

“I did not.”

“You didn’t hate him.”

“Okay maybe I a little didn’t hate him.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the circle, Joshua sat near Vernon and Mae, watching the firelight flicker against Y/N’s face.

“She’s not terrible,” he muttered.

Mae raised an eyebrow. “You’re in trouble.”

Vernon sipped his water. “This is either the start of peace… or the start of war 2.0.”

SCENE 7 — FLASHBACK (JOSHUA’S POV)

Joshua was 14. Avalon’s prized rookie. Training in the icy waters of Victoria.

He’d seen Y/N again at a comp.

She wiped out hard. Board snapped.

He remembered standing there, frozen, watching her get back up alone.

No sponsor. No team rushing over.

But she paddled back in like nothing happened.

That image never left him.

Later that night, Y/N snuck outside, the sea whispering her name. She needed air.

Joshua followed, silent. They stood beside the dark ocean, moonlight glimmering on the waves.

“Why do you surf?” she asked suddenly.

He hesitated. “Because it’s the only time I’m not pretending to be perfect.”

She nodded.

“I surf because the water doesn’t care who I am.”

They didn’t look at each other. But something shifted.

It wasn’t peace.

But it wasn’t war either.

Not anymore.

The next morning, Marlon scanned the performance charts.

Y/N and Joshua: Highest score in the first heats.

He frowned. “This is either a miracle... or a disaster waiting to happen.”

What nobody knows yet... Is that Avalon’s director is secretly manipulating the mixed team results, wanting Joshua to sabotage the pair so Avalon reclaims the title. But Joshua isn’t sure anymore.

Because for the first time in his life...

Y/N doesn’t feel like the enemy.

And the ocean?

It’s starting to call them together.

Y/N sipped on a juice box, legs crossed on the dusty beanbag. Her laptop balanced on her knees, camera gear laid out beside her.

Y/N: “Hey Marlon! Can you help me shoot a docu-style thing? Like... my journey here. It could be cool for sponsors and stuff.”

Marlon was already halfway out the door, whistle around his neck and clipboard in hand.

MARLON: “I can’t. I’ve got four back-to-back trainings and the juniors coming in for beginners’ class. Ask Alex.”

Y/N: “He said he’s got a meeting with his dumb crypto friends.”

Marlon answered: “Then find someone else, I’m swamped.”

Y/N: “Cool. Yeah. Sure.” *she says quietly, slightly disappointed.

The tide was gentle. Sky a pale blue. Waves smooth as silk.

Hayley, camera in hand, stood knee-deep in the sand, filming Y/N paddling out.

Hayley (behind the camera): “Alright, you doing great!”

Y/N flashed her a grin and sprinted into the water.

As Hayley adjusted the camera, someone stepped up beside her.

Marlon: “So... she asked you?”

Hayley didn’t flinch.

Hayley: “Well, you were busy. So yeah.” Marlon crossed his arms, watching his sister slice through the water like it was her second skin. “Mom always said she’d be a great surfer.” He said.

“She was always the optimist.” He chuckled. “It drove her mad.” Hayley glanced at him.

Marlon moved away, Hayley never stopped the recording.

Back in the water, Y/N was already carving through a wave, her laughter echoing over the surf.

Back in their Crib, next to the ocean.

Y/N was editing the clips, headphones on.

A soft smile formed as she watched herself catch her third clean barrel of the day. Then Marlon voice came through:

“She was always the optimist…It drove her mad.”

Y/N paused.

Rewinded. Played again.

And again.

The smile faded.

Y/N stormed out of her room, socks skidding across the floor. Marlon and Alex were watching a docuseries on shark migration.

“OI. I’m not doing beginners’ class tomorrow.”

Marlon “Wait, what? What do you mean?!”

Y/N: “I said I’m not showing up. Tell the kids to paddle around each other.”

“What the hell, Y/N?! You always do this! Every time we rely on you, you flake. It’s in one ear and out the other!”

“Why do you even want me there when you clearly think I’m not even that good?!” That was her last straw! “What?! Y/N Where did you get that from?”

“She was always the optimist.” *she imitated him.

Silence. “...No. No, Y/N. I wasn’t talking about you. I was talking about Mom. Our mother. To Hayley. You are great.”

A beat. Y/N’s jaw clenched. Voice dropped.

Y/N: “When Mom was sick… you weren’t there. Neither of you.”

She turned to look at her older brother Alex, scrolling on his phone.  “Ooooh, this looks heated.” Alex said Raising his hands to the air. “I’m gonna get some popcorn. Bye.”

He walked out.

Y/N glared after him, then locked eyes with Marlon. “You left. You were both gone. She and I we were fine! Just us. That’s all we needed.”

“Y/N…”

But she was already grabbing her jacket and slamming the front door behind her.

Y/N sat on the sand, knees hugged to her chest.

The moon lit the sea like silver glass.

In the distance, waves whispered memories. Her and her mom dancing barefoot in the water. Her mom brushing the salt from her hair. Her mom saying, “You’ve got the ocean in your blood, baby girl.”

Tears welled up.

She wiped them fast.

Marlon sat on his bed, shoulders heavy. He opened a drawer and pulled out a photo:

Y/N at 11, grinning, standing next to their mom, holding her first surfboard. On the back, scribbled in faded ink:

"She’ll be better than all of us. Watch her fly. – Mom"

He sighed. Regret painting every inch of his face.

Next morning, surf lodge kitchen

Rain taps against the windows, soft and steady. The air smells like toast and ocean wind.

Hayley stirs a mug of tea in silence. She glances at the clock on the wall. 7:42 AM. Still no sign of y/n.

Marlon walks in, hair messy from a rough night’s sleep, hoodie thrown over his head. He looks exhausted.

Hayley hands him a mug without a word. He takes it, murmurs, “thanks.”

Hayley leans on the counter, watching the grey sky through the window.

"she didn’t come back last night," she says finally.

Marlon doesn’t respond. Just presses his thumb against the warm ceramic like he’s grounding himself.

Hayley turns to him, voice softer now.

“you okay?”

He doesn’t look up. “i don’t know.”

She waits. And when he doesn’t speak, she does.

“she’s right, you know. about everything.”

He tenses. But hayley doesn’t flinch.

“you weren’t there. neither was alex. you both left her.”

Marlon finally looks at her, guilt in his eyes.

"i couldn’t do it, hayley. i couldn’t watch mum disappear like that. i thought if i focused on coaching, on making the squad better… it would numb it."

"it numbed *you*," hayley says, "but not her."

The tide is low.

y/n sits curled up at the edge of a hidden cove, a place only she and her mum used to visit. It’s quiet here. Peaceful. But today, even the waves sound sad.

She scrolls through her phone, watching the clip again.

"she was always the optimist."

"it drove her mad."

She exhales sharply and tosses her phone into the sand. It doesn’t break just lies there, face-down like it’s tired too.

Footsteps crunch behind her. “thought i might find you here.” y/n doesn’t turn around. Marlon steps beside her slowly, unsure if he’s welcome.

“mum used to bring you here after school,” he says quietly.

“yeah. said it was our secret.”

“she never brought me,” he admits.

y/n shrugs. “maybe she knew you’d leave.” the words sting. marlon winces.

“I deserved that.”

silence.

He sits down beside her, not too close. Just enough.

“I didn’t mean what you think I meant, y/n,” he says, voice raw. “when I said ‘she was the optimist’... I was talking about mum. not you.”

y/n doesn’t say anything.

“you’re not like her,” he continues. “you’re better. braver.”

She finally turns to him, eyes full of unshed tears.

“then why did you leave me?”

marlon swallows hard. “because i was scared. because i thought being strong meant ignoring pain. i thought... i thought if i didn’t look back, i wouldn’t break.”

“well i did break,” she says quietly. “and no one noticed.”

he reaches out, slowly. “i notice now. y/n looks at his hand for a long moment and then, finally, takes it. 

later that night, surf lodge living room

the rain hasn’t stopped. thunder rumbles far away, soft like a memory.

y/n sits with a blanket over her shoulders, hair still damp from the walk back.

alex walks in with a bowl of popcorn.

“so, you made up with mum junior?” he says, plopping onto the couch.

“shut up,” y/n mutters.

marlon enters behind her, dropping onto the armrest with a groan.

“if you’re not gonna help with beginners class tomorrow, at least take over afternoon drills.”

y/n smirks. “so now you want me there?”

“always did,” he says. “just didn’t say it enough.”

alex throws a popcorn kernel at both of them. “group therapy is cute and all but let’s watch a movie.”

“only if it’s not one of your weird sci-fi thrillers,” y/n warns.

“deal.”

They press play. For a while, it’s just the sound of the storm and the quiet hum of the TV.

And for the first time in a long time, things feel... okay.

The beach is buzzing with excitement. The first major local comp of the season. Vendors setting up, sponsors hanging banners, kids from all over New South Wales checking in. The waves? Perfect.

y/n stands near the registration tent with hayley, emma, matthew, bodhi, and austin. The self-made squad.

On the other side of the tent: joshua and his crew Vernon, Mingyu,Yena, Eunji, Mae, and Wonwoo. The elite academy kids. Every one of them in matching wetsuits with their academy logo stitched in gold.

y/n spots them and rolls her eyes.

“they all look like they shower in arrogance,” Emma mutters.

"or money," Bodhi adds, smirking.

Hayley leans closer to y/n. “just beat him this time, okay?”

y/n squints toward joshua, who’s already staring her down. His arms are crossed. Eyes sharp.

"watch me."

Joshua’s stretching near the rocks when y/n walks past. he doesn’t even try to hide the glare.

“you ready to choke again like last comp?” he throws casually.

y/n pauses, smirks. “you mean the one you won cause your coach manipulated the heats?”

Joshua snorts. “keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

“don’t call me that.”

“touchy.” y/n steps closer, just enough to make his jaw tense.

“you might be rich, Joshua, but out here?” she jerks her chin toward the ocean. “it’s not about money. it’s about guts.” he leans in, voice dropping.

“and you don’t have enough of them.” they stare at each other. fire. pure fire. Matthew calls her name from across the sand.

“good luck out there,” Joshua says with a fake smile. “you’ll need it.”

the crowd cheers as the surfers paddle out. water sprays, the horn blares. y/n, joshua, and two other local surfers are in the same heat.

y/n paddles fast, carving waves with sharp precision. joshua follows, smooth but technical. The judges are watching closely.

each time y/n catches a clean ride, joshua pushes harder. more aggressive. more determined. it's like they’re dancing, but with knives.

they’re not just surfing. they’re trying to break each other.

on the final wave of the heat, they both go for it. the same wave. shoulder to shoulder.

“back off!” y/n yells.

joshua doesn’t.

they collide.

the judges blow the horn. whistles go off. the crowd gasps.

they both tumble hard into the water, boards tangled.

back on shore, their coaches are yelling at the judges. y/n storms out of the water, pulling her leash off.

Marlon jogs up, furious. “what the hell happened?!”

“he cut me off!” y/n shouts, wringing water from her hair.

on the other side, Joshua’s coach is ranting about “reckless amateurs.”

Vernon is trying to hold joshua back. “you’re gonna get penalized if you keep mouthing off, man.”

Mingyu adds, “she’s in your head.”

Joshua scowls. “she’s been in my head since always.”

it’s quiet. too quiet.

y/n rewatches footage hayley filmed of the heat. the tension. the fall. the looks.

a comment notification pops up on the screen.

“they’ve always had beef. maybe it’s love-hate 👀”

y/n groans. “absolutely not.”

but Hayley, standing behind her, just smirks.

“you sure?”

Episode 1.

[synity]

When the ocean calls you-part2

(Hong Joshua x Fem!Reader)

*Rivalry/Enemies-to-Lovers, slow-burn, emotional tension, Coming-of-Age, Family Drama, emotional depth Surf Culture/Coastal Lifestyle, Social Class Divide Slow-Burn, Social Class Divide*

part one here

surf lodge, morning

The air outside was damp and heavy. Rain from the previous night had left the beach littered with wet sand and scattered shells. The wind carried the salty tang of the ocean, and clouds hung low, gray and ominous. y/n sat cross-legged on her bed, the soft hum of the ceiling fan above her doing little to ease her nerves. Her phone was clutched tightly in both hands, the leaked video playing on loop. She watched herself as a child laughing, paddling beside joshua, their boards brushing in the water. Her younger self was carefree, full of joy, and oblivious to the tension that would come to define them later.

“this is so wrong,” y/n muttered under her breath, voice tight and jagged, as if the words themselves were knives. She pressed pause and then play again, eyes narrowing. She couldn’t believe someone had uploaded it. Worse she couldn’t believe how much it stirred up feelings she thought she had buried.

hayley leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes soft but serious. “people are talking. a lot. joshua and his team have already seen it. and of course, the other squads are buzzing. everyone knows.”

y/n didn’t look up. Her jaw was tight, and she hugged the blanket closer. “good. let them think whatever they want. i don’t care.”

hayley raised an eyebrow. “you sound like you care.”

y/n flinched at the truth in that, biting her lip. She knew she cared, even if she would never admit it aloud.

The surf competition had begun. The sand was littered with surfers’ boards, towels, and footprints. The chatter of excited competitors mingled with the crashing waves. On the far side of the beach, joshua and his crew warmed up, moving in coordinated motions, stretching, practicing maneuvers. Their elite academy logos gleamed on their wetsuits like a shield of superiority.

y/n approached the waterline with her squad behind her hayley, emma, bodhi, matthew, and austin the self-made team, rough around the edges but brimming with grit. Her eyes immediately found joshua. He was already staring, arms crossed, his posture unyielding, his jaw tight.

hayley leaned close, whispering, “just… beat him this time, okay? don’t let him get in your head.”

y/n’s lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. “watch me.” She tightened the straps on her board and marched toward the surf, heart thumping with adrenaline.

As y/n passed by joshua stretching near the rocks, he didn’t hide his glare. His expression was sharp, calculated, every bit the rival she hated with every fiber of her being.

“ready to choke again like last comp?” he called out casually, as if his arrogance could cut through the chill morning air.

y/n stopped mid-step, smirk tugging at her lips despite her anger. “you mean the one you won because your coach manipulated the heats?” she snapped.

joshua snorted, the sound both condescending and amused. “keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

“don’t call me that,” y/n hissed, stepping closer until the air between them vibrated with tension.

“touchy,” he replied, leaning slightly forward, eyes glinting.

y/n’s voice dropped, sharp. “you might have all the money, all the sponsors, joshua, but out here? Out on these waves? It’s not about how perfect you look in a wetsuit. It’s about guts. And courage. Two things you clearly don’t have enough of.”

Joshua’s jaw tightened. “and you think you do?”

y/n’s chest rose and fell with rage. “i know i do.”

They locked eyes, neither willing to step back, the ocean behind them thundering like a drum of impending battle. Matthew and bodhi waved from the sidelines, but y/n ignored them. This was between her and him as it always had been.

Joshua tilted his head, voice dropping low, almost a growl. “you’ve been in my head since we were fifteen. you think i forgot?”

y/n’s hands tightened on her board. “then you should know better than to stand in my way now.”

The horn blew, signaling the start. y/n paddled fast, adrenaline surging. Joshua was already slicing through a wave like a blade. Every movement was precise, controlled, perfect and he knew exactly how to provoke her.

y/n countered his aggression with unpredictability. Every carve, every drop, every cutback was meant to show him she was still untouchable. Their waves collided again and again, a silent war being fought in surfboards and spray. The judges scribbled furiously, murmuring at the audacity, the synchronicity, the raw tension that radiated from the two surfers.

On the final wave, y/n and joshua both paddled toward the same perfect swell. Shoulder to shoulder. Boards collided. The water erupted around them, the force throwing them into the surf. The judges’ horn blared. Crowd gasped. Wet, tangled, and panting, they surfaced, hearts hammering, the rivalry burning hotter than the sun breaking through the clouds.

Back on land, y/n yanked the leash from her ankle, dripping water and frustration.

Marlon appeared, eyes wide, panic mingled with anger. “what the hell happened out there?”

“he cut me off!” y/n shouted, water dripping from her hair like molten glass.

On the opposite side, joshua’s coach was ranting about “reckless amateurs” while mingyu and vernon tried to hold joshua back.

“She’s in your head,” mingyu said quietly.

joshua’s eyes flared. “she’s always been in my head!”

y/n sits alone on the porch, towel draped over her shoulders, replaying the footage. Her young self laughing, carefree, paddling beside joshua. A pang of something she refuses to name twists in her chest.

A notification pops up. Someone sent her the same video from the group chat. Comments scrolling: “they were friends? no way… maybe it’s love-hate 👀”

y/n groans, burying her face in her hands. “absolutely not.”

hayley leans against the doorway behind her. “you sure about that?” she says softly, voice teasing but knowing.

y/n doesn’t answer. Not yet.

The ocean at night glitters under the moonlight. Waves crash relentlessly, silver streaks gliding over the dark water, endless, dangerous, beautiful.

Somewhere out there, joshua is looking at the same moon, fists clenched, mind racing with the heat of rivalry.

The tension is electric. They are enemies, rivals, and yet… something about the waves keeps pulling them toward each other.

But tonight, they are only two enemies, both too proud, both too stubborn, both too angry, and both trapped in the ghost waves of a past they can’t erase.

dawn, surf lodge

The sky was painted in bruised purples and grays. The ocean roared like a living beast, waves crashing harder than anyone expected for early morning. A storm was coming, and the surf comp organizers were on edge.

y/n sat on the porch steps, board at her side, staring at the churning waves. Her muscles ached from yesterday’s heat, her mind still simmering from joshua’s glares and his smug comments. Hayley appeared beside her with two mugs of coffee.

“You look like you’re plotting his death,” hayley said, trying to lighten the mood.

y/n snorted. “maybe I am. Just a little.”

Hayley sighed. “Focus on your heat. Don’t give him the satisfaction of getting under your skin before you even start.”

y/n nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. Yesterday’s collision, the video leak, the unspoken tension all of it made her blood burn. She tightened her grip on her board.

The competitors lined up. The organizers were arguing over wave assignments. Suddenly, a scream echoed from the storage tent.

“y/n! Your board!” Austin yelled.

y/n ran over. Her main surfboard the one she’d been using all season was snapped in half, a clean, brutal break right through the middle.

She froze, disbelief flooding her senses. “What… how…”

bodhi ran up behind her, furious. “Who did this?!”

hayley muttered under her breath, “it’s sabotage. Someone did this on purpose.”

y/n’s stomach sank. She looked toward the other side of the beach. Her eyes found joshua, standing casually with his crew, smirking just enough to make her doubt. The thought made her jaw tighten.

Marlon came running, panic etched on his face. “y/n! What happened?”

“Someone broke my board,” y/n spat, voice sharp. “Someone doesn’t want me competing.”

Marlon’s gaze scanned the crowd, suspicion in every direction. “We need a replacement now.”

They scrambled. A backup board was barely functional, scratched and worn, but it was all y/n had. She paddled out, gripping it like a lifeline, every motion filled with fury and determination.

Joshua’s eyes followed her. There was a flicker maybe guilt? but he quickly masked it with annoyance, adjusting his stance, ready for his own heat.

As they hit the waves, the tension was palpable. Every turn, every drop, was charged with the rivalry that had been building for years. Joshua’s maneuvers were sharp, calculated trying to push y/n off her rhythm.

y/n refused to falter. Every carve was faster, more precise. Every barrel she caught screamed: I’m not backing down.

The final wave of the heat arrived. Both y/n and joshua paddled toward it, shoulder to shoulder, boards slicing through the foamy water.

“Back off!” y/n yelled.

Joshua didn’t.

They collided violently, boards smashing together mid-wave. Water erupted around them, spinning them into the surf. Judges blew the horn frantically. The crowd gasped.

y/n hit the sand, coughing, fury mixing with pain. She looked up at joshua, who had tumbled just a few feet away, his expression unreadable but intense.

“You’re impossible!” she shouted, standing and stomping toward him.

“You love it,” he shot back, smirk twisting his lips. “Don’t pretend you don’t.”

“Love it?” y/n barked, pointing a finger at him. “I hate you!”

The words seemed to hang in the salty air. Joshua’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he straightened. “Mutual.”

After the heat, the organizers announced an investigation into the sabotage. Everyone was tense, whispers everywhere. Joshua and y/n avoided each other but their eyes found one another constantly. Every glance was fire, every smirk a challenge.

Back at the lodge, y/n sat on the porch, wrapped in a towel, watching the waves pound the shore. Marlon approached quietly, kneeling beside her.

“We’ll fix this,” he said, voice soft but firm. “We’ll find out who did it. Nobody messes with my sister.”

“I don’t need anyone saving me,” y/n replied sharply. But inside, a small spark of relief flickered.

Marlon ignored her words. He just watched her stare at the stormy waves, thinking about how joshua had been watching her out there too the hatred in his eyes, the challenge he threw with every maneuver.

Night falls. The beach is empty except for the sound of waves crashing and the wind howling. y/n sits alone on the sand, hair damp, arms wrapped around her knees. Her mind is a storm of anger, betrayal, and frustration.

Joshua appears at the far end, board under his arm, gaze fixed on her. He doesn’t approach. He just watches.

They are enemies. They are rivals. They are fire and storm, crashing into each other again and again.

And the ocean? It’s relentless. Just like their hatred.

The morning air was thick with humidity, and the ocean roared angrily, sending waves crashing onto the shore with a relentless rhythm. The surf lodge was unusually quiet as y/n sat cross-legged on the steps, her hands wrapped tightly around her surfboard, staring out at the tumultuous sea. The sabotage incident from the previous day had thrown everything into chaos her main board destroyed, a backup barely usable, and the whispers of suspicion circulating among every competitor, including her own squad. Her chest felt tight, anger bubbling just beneath the surface, mixed with frustration at her own vulnerability.

Hayley appeared beside her silently, hands clutching two steaming mugs of coffee. She set one down in front of y/n, but didn’t speak at first, letting the sound of the waves and the tension of the morning settle between them. Finally, she said, “Marlon’s gathering everyone. He wants to figure out what really happened.”

y/n huffed, ignoring her. “What’s the point? It’s obvious, isn’t it? Everyone thinks it’s Joshua. He probably planted someone in our squad just to watch me fail.” Her jaw tightened as her eyes narrowed across the beach toward the elite academy kids. Joshua stood near the waterline, calm, composed, utterly unreadable, but the way he looked at her made her skin crawl. Every glance from him felt like a challenge, a dare.

By the time the squad assembled in the lodge’s main hall, tension had reached a fever pitch. Marlon stood at the front, arms folded, eyes scanning everyone, a mixture of anger, determination, and protectiveness radiating off him. “Alright,” he began, voice firm, “we’re going to get to the bottom of this. Nobody leaves until we know who sabotaged y/n’s board.”

There was a beat of silence before bodhi muttered under his breath, “it’s gotta be one of them. No way someone on our side would do it.”

“Don’t assume anything,” Marlon said sharply. “This isn’t just about pointing fingers. It’s about finding the truth.”

y/n’s arms crossed, the corner of her mouth twitching with frustration. She didn’t trust anyone right now. Not Joshua, not his crew, and, painfully, not everyone on her own team. The thought that someone she considered a teammate might have betrayed her burned hotter than the sun.

Marlon’s eyes landed on hayley. “You were filming yesterday. Did you notice anything unusual?”

Hayley nodded slowly. “Yeah… actually. Before the heat, I saw Eunji hanging near the storage tent where y/n kept her board. She looked around like she didn’t want anyone to see her, then disappeared for a few minutes. I thought it was weird at the time, but…” Her voice trailed off.

y/n froze. Eunji. One of Joshua’s crew. Her mind immediately flashed to the smug smirk Joshua had thrown her way yesterday, his calm posture while she scrambled for a replacement board. Her fists clenched.

Marlon’s jaw tightened. “So we know who was near the board before it was destroyed. That’s a start. But we need proof. Vernon, Mingyu, Mae anyone?”

Joshua’s smirk vanished. His eyes darkened, storm clouds behind them. “You’re really accusing my team?” His voice was calm, controlled, but it carried a dangerous edge.

“Wasn’t me,” Eunji said quickly, glancing nervously between him and y/n. “I just… I wanted to check the boards for… uh, I don’t know, stability? Coach said to watch out for unsafe equipment.”

y/n’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Bullshit. You were there. And I saw you. Don’t lie to me.”

Joshua stepped forward, sudden and sharp, closing the distance between them in just a few strides. “Stop. Both of you. This isn’t about pointing fingers. You think I wanted her board broken? You think I’d stoop that low?”

y/n’s eyes blazed. “Then explain why your crew was literally caught near my board! Explain why everything seems to lead back to you, Joshua!”

His jaw tightened, and he leaned close, voice low and dangerous. “Because I hate you? Because I want to beat you? Sure. But sabotage? That’s not me. That’s not who I am. You think I need to cheat to beat you? You think I can’t do it fair and square?”

y/n’s hands trembled slightly, but her pride refused to falter. “Then someone from your side did it. And if you’re not controlling them, maybe that is a reflection of who you are.”

Joshua’s eyes flared. “That’s low, even for you.”

The room went silent. Everyone’s gaze flicked between the two of them, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Marlon stepped in, voice booming over the murmurs. “Enough! We’re not here to argue about pride. We’re here to find the truth. And right now, the only thing we know is that y/n’s board was destroyed intentionally. We’re going to figure out how, and who, and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

y/n felt a knot in her stomach, a mix of relief and lingering anger. She wanted to scream at Joshua, to tell him he couldn’t even look at her without hating her, but she forced herself to remain silent.

Joshua, however, didn’t take his eyes off her. There was something in his gaze recognition, annoyance, maybe even respect but it was fleeting, replaced almost instantly with the cold, sharp edge of rivalry.

“Just stay out of my way tomorrow,” he muttered under his breath, loud enough for her to hear.

y/n’s head snapped up. “Oh, don’t worry. I plan to make sure you eat your own arrogance with sand in your teeth.”

He smirked, the ghost of amusement flickering in his eyes. “Can’t wait to see you try.”

Marlon finally stepped between them. “That’s it! Back to your teams! Focus on the heat tomorrow! No distractions!”

The squads dispersed, but the tension lingered like a thick fog over the beach. y/n’s hands were still shaking, and her mind replayed the moment over and over the accusation, the truth, the undeniable hatred radiating from Joshua. She wanted to punch him, scream at him, tell him everything she’d felt since they were kids, but instead, she clenched her jaw and stared at the waves, willing herself to focus.

The night fell, waves crashing relentlessly under the moonlight. y/n lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm her heart. The hatred between her and Joshua wasn’t just rivalry anymore it had become personal. And now that the sabotage was out in the open, there was no turning back.

Somewhere across town, Joshua was doing the same, pacing in his room, mind spinning. Their rivalry had escalated from competition to obsession, from pride to personal vendetta. Both of them knew it: tomorrow, the waves would not just test their skill they would test everything they had between them, and only one could come out on top.

And as the moonlight glinted off the restless ocean, one thing was certain: the breaking point was coming.

The sun had barely risen over the horizon, and the ocean gleamed like molten silver under the early light. The waves were massive, rolling and curling with a dangerous beauty that promised both glory and disaster. y/n stood at the waterline, her board pressed tightly against her hip, muscles tense, mind racing. The sabotage from the previous day had left scars her board was fixed, barely, but her anger had not healed. She could feel it boiling in her veins, a white-hot heat that made her pulse quicken. Every step toward the surf was a statement: she would not back down, she would not lose, and she would not give joshua the satisfaction of seeing her falter.

On the opposite side, joshua was already in position, surfboard at the ready, eyes locked on her. His crew lingered just behind him, murmuring and gesturing, but his focus was entirely on her. The rivalry between them crackled in the air, thick and heavy, like a storm waiting to break. He flexed his fingers, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline, the sharp thrill of competition. Every glance from y/n made his chest tighten. Every smirk from her made him want to win more, harder, faster.

The horn blared. The signal for the heat to begin.

They paddled out, slicing through the water with purpose. The waves were unforgiving, towering and white-tipped, but neither of them hesitated. y/n caught the first wave, carving it with precise elegance, throwing her body into every twist and turn, water spraying like fireworks around her. Joshua followed, fierce and calculated, matching her every move, pushing himself, pushing her, daring her to fail.

With every wave they rode, the tension between them mounted. It wasn’t just a competition anymore it was personal. The stolen glance, the whispered rivalry, the sabotage incident it all weighed down on the water between them, like an invisible current pulling them toward collision. And then it happened: the perfect wave, tall, fast, a wall of blue that promised everything.

Both paddled for it at the same time, boards slicing through the water with power and speed. Shoulder to shoulder, the spray hitting their faces, the roar of the crowd a distant echo in their ears. y/n yelled, “Back off!”

Joshua’s eyes were sharp, unyielding. “Never.”

Boards collided mid-wave, a violent jolt that sent both of them tumbling into the churning surf. Water exploded around them, salt stinging eyes, muscles burning with exertion. They surfaced almost simultaneously, gasping, hearts racing, adrenaline screaming.

y/n glared at him, water dripping from her hair, spray catching the sunlight like a halo she didn’t want. “You’re impossible,” she shouted, fury rolling off her in waves as big as the ocean around them.

“You love it,” Joshua snapped, voice cutting through the roar of the surf. “Don’t pretend you don’t.”

“I hate you,” y/n spat, fists clenched, shaking with rage and exertion.

“Mutual,” he replied, eyes darkening, smirk twisting in a way that made her want to punch him and yet, she couldn’t look away.

They paddled back to the lineup, the tension thick enough to choke on. Every move, every glance, every wave was a battle of skill and pride, and neither would yield. The crowd watched, holding its collective breath, sensing that what they were witnessing wasn’t just surfing it was war.

On the shore, Marlon watched y/n, his hands clenched, tension radiating off him. “Stay focused. Ignore him. Don’t let him get in your head,” he muttered to her, though she could barely hear him over the wind and waves. y/n nodded, jaw tight, eyes set, refusing to let anyone see the panic and fear beneath the anger.

Joshua’s crew murmured nervously. “She’s insane out there,” mingyu whispered. “He’s going to get wrecked if she keeps pushing like this.”

But joshua didn’t care. His gaze was locked on y/n, every turn, every maneuver, every drop into a barrel a challenge, a dare, a silent declaration: I will beat you.

y/n caught the next wave, sharper, faster, pushing her limits, feeling the wind and salt burn across her skin. Her heart pounded. Every flick of the board, every carve, was a message: I’m not yours to control. I’m not yours to break.

Joshua paddled toward the same wave. Again. Shoulder to shoulder. Boards collided. Spray exploded. The crowd gasped. Judges shouted. The ocean was chaos, but chaos they thrived in.

They both emerged from the wave, soaked and panting, boards bouncing beneath them. y/n’s glare was pure fire. Joshua’s eyes were storm clouds. Neither spoke at first words were useless, powerless against the rage, the obsession, the hatred that had built over years.

Finally, y/n spat, “This ends today. I’m not letting you win. Not like this. Not ever.”

Joshua’s jaw tightened. “I never lose. And you… you’ll find out why soon enough.”

They paddled back to the shore, waves carrying them like judgment. The crowd erupted, cheering, unaware of the true intensity of the storm that had passed over the water. Marlon ran forward, pride and fear colliding in his chest, yelling, “y/n! Are you okay?!”

y/n only shook her head, chest heaving, heart still pounding, adrenaline still coursing. She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Not yet. Not while Joshua’s smirk lingered in her mind, haunting her.

Joshua stepped out of the water, crew behind him, looking every bit the perfect competitor, the unbreakable rival, but there was a flicker in his eyes a hint that he was as exhausted, as rattled, as she was. And yet, the hatred remained. The obsession remained. The challenge remained.

They were enemies, rivals, fire and storm, and the ocean between them would never be wide enough to separate what had already been ignited.

And as the sun set, painting the waves gold and crimson, one thing was clear: the collision course wasn’t over. It had only just begun.

The wind whipped across the shore like a living thing, cold and sharp despite the summer heat. Waves pounded relentlessly, churning with a dark energy that mirrored y/n’s mood. She sat on the edge of the pier, legs dangling above the foamy water, staring at the horizon as if the ocean held the answers she desperately needed. Every hour since yesterday’s collision had left her raw emotionally, mentally, physically. Her squad had been tense, whispers of distrust everywhere, and the sabotage investigation had thrown everything into disarray.

Hayley approached quietly, sliding onto the pier beside her. “Marlon’s trying to calm everyone down, but the tension’s insane,” she said softly, her eyes on the waves. “People are already picking sides. Some of your own squad… they’re not sure where their loyalties lie anymore.”

y/n’s fingers clenched around the edge of the pier. “I don’t care about their loyalties. I care about what I’m about to do out there. Joshua…” Her voice trailed off, voice low and sharp. “…he thinks he can break me.”

“Maybe,” hayley admitted gently, “but you’ve never let anyone do that. Not then, not now. And you won’t start today.”

y/n nodded, swallowing hard. She wanted to believe that, but inside her chest, a storm of anger, fear, and adrenaline brewed. She’d never hated anyone like this, never been challenged in a way that made her heart race and her blood burn simultaneously. And she wouldn’t let him win.

The squads gathered on the sand, tension palpable in every movement, every glance. Marlon took a deep breath and raised his voice. “Alright. This is the next heat. Everyone stay sharp, trust your skill, and focus. Nothing else matters right now.”

y/n tightened her grip on her board. Every step toward the water was a statement. She didn’t look at Joshua, but she could feel him there, like a shadow, always watching, always waiting, his presence a weight on her shoulders she couldn’t shake.

The horn blared. They paddled out, slicing through the waves with precision. The ocean was a battlefield, waves clashing violently around them, spray stinging their eyes. y/n caught the first perfect wave, carving hard, twisting sharply, adrenaline pumping like fire through her veins.

Joshua followed, movements sharp and precise, every turn a silent taunt. Their boards collided mid-wave again, sending spray flying, muscles straining against the pull of the ocean. y/n’s heart hammered, teeth clenched, and yet she felt alive in a way nothing else could match.

And then the betrayal.

Austin’s board caught the current wrong, sending him careening toward y/n’s path, forcing her to swerve to avoid collision. She barely caught herself, wiping saltwater from her eyes, furious. Hayley shouted from the shore, panic in her voice, “Austin! What the hell?! Watch your—”

y/n’s mind raced. Was it an accident? Or had someone intentionally put her off b alance? The whispers from the lodge came back: not everyone on her squad could be trusted. And now, she realized, she couldn’t trust Joshua’s crew either the line between accident and sabotage had blurred beyond recognition.

Joshua shot past her on the next wave, his expression a mixture of focus and barely concealed satisfaction. “Looking for a way to lose, y/n?” he shouted over the roar of the surf.

“I’m not losing!” she yelled back, paddling hard to catch the same wave, heart hammering, muscles screaming in protest. She launched herself forward, board slicing through the water, chasing him like a predator hunting prey. Every twist, every carve, every barrel she caught was an act of defiance, a message: you will not break me.

The crowd on the beach held its breath, sensing that this was no ordinary competition. These two weren’t just rivals they were flames colliding, sparks flying, hatred and obsession fueling every movement. Marlon’s voice rang in her ears, fierce and protective: focus. ignore everything else.

But she couldn’t ignore it. Not Joshua. Not the betrayal from her own squad. Not the way the ocean seemed to mock her, wave after wave, testing her limits.

On the final wave, they paddled together, shoulder to shoulder, boards colliding violently mid-crest. Spray flew like shattered glass. Both were thrown into the surf, tumbling, gasping, hearts pounding. y/n’s eyes locked with Joshua’s. There was no smirk now, no taunt only raw intensity, fire, and something deeper she couldn’t name.

“You think you can win,” she shouted, coughing, rising from the water, “but you’re going to regret every second you’ve ever tried to cross me.”

Joshua’s voice was low, sharp. “I don’t think. I know.”

Marlon sprinted down the shore, yelling her name, but she waved him off, determination blazing in her eyes. Hayley and the others watched helplessly from the beach, knowing that nothing could stop the collision of these two forces now.

And then, a sudden roar a massive wave, bigger than any before, barreling toward them both. Time seemed to slow. Instinct took over. y/n’s muscles tensed, heart racing, mind empty except for one thought: survive. Joshua mirrored her movements perfectly, board slicing through the water, eyes locked on her, and in that moment, the rivalry crystallized into pure, undeniable truth: they were unstoppable, equally matched, driven by hate, pride, and something neither wanted to admit.

They emerged from the wave, drenched, exhausted, hearts hammering. Neither had fallen, neither had yielded. But the damage was done the emotional toll, the betrayal, the intensity of the battle had left both shaking, raw, and completely exposed.

On the shore, Marlon’s hands shook with worry and pride. Hayley ran toward y/n, tugging her away from the edge. “Are you insane? That was—”

“I’m fine,” y/n said, voice low, trembling, eyes still fixed on Joshua, who was walking toward his crew, water dripping from his hair, muscles taut with exertion. She didn’t look away. She couldn’t.

Joshua caught her gaze for a moment longer than necessary. There was something in his eyes respect? acknowledgment? and then he turned, disappearing into the chaos of the shore, leaving her standing alone, chest heaving, mind spinning.

The ocean continued to roar. Waves crashed, relentless, merciless, beautiful. And y/n knew, as she wiped the salt from her eyes, that this rivalry this fire was far from over. In fact, it had only just begun.

And somewhere deep in her chest, she realized: she didn’t just want to beat him anymore. She wanted to survive him.

The surf lodge was quiet, almost eerily so, with only the distant crash of waves breaking against the shore. y/n sat cross-legged on her bed, fingers fidgeting with the strap of her wetsuit, eyes hollow from exhaustion and frustration. The past week had been relentless competitions, sabotage, rivalries but now, as the adrenaline faded, a different storm settled in her chest: the storm of family.

Marlon’s footsteps echoed in the hallway. He knocked lightly before entering, careful not to startle her. “Hey,” he said softly, leaning against the doorframe. His arms were crossed, but there was tension in his stance, a mixture of worry and restraint. “You okay?”

y/n didn’t look at him. Her jaw was tight. “No,” she said flatly. “I’m not okay. I’m tired of everyone deciding for me, of everyone acting like they know what’s best. I’m tired of… everything.”

Marlon stepped closer. “You think I don’t know that?” His voice cracked slightly. “You think I don’t see how hard you’re pushing yourself? How much pressure you’re under?”

“I don’t need your pity,” y/n snapped, finally meeting his gaze. “I need you to see me really see me. Not just yell at me when I don’t do what you think I should. Not just… be busy when I need you.”

Marlon flinched, as if struck. He opened his mouth, then closed it. “I… I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t realize you felt like that.”

“You weren’t there,” y/n whispered, voice trembling, “when mom got sick. You weren’t there. And Alex —” She jerked her head toward the hall where her other older brother lounged, playing on his phone. “never cared either. You left me and mom to deal with everything, and now you expect me to just… trust you?”

Alex glanced up lazily, smirking. “Ooooh, drama. Can I get some popcorn for this?”

y/n’s eyes blazed. “Shut up, Alex!” She stood abruptly, fists clenched, pacing the room. “You don’t get it. You never did. And Marlon… you think you’re different, but you’re the same. Always busy. Always doing everything but… being there for me when I needed you.”

Marlon stepped forward, voice low but intense. “I was trying to protect you! Do you have any idea how hard I worked to make sure you had everything you needed to surf, to be safe, to… to win? I’ve always been watching out for you!”

y/n laughed bitterly, the sound harsh in the quiet room. “Watching out for me? You weren’t there when it mattered most. You weren’t there when mom… when everything fell apart. And now you think showing up and yelling at me during training makes up for it?”

Marlon’s eyes softened, pain flashing across his face. “No… I know it doesn’t. I just… I didn’t know how to be there without failing. I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how.”

y/n’s chest heaved. She wanted to scream, to hit something, to release the anger and grief she had been holding in for years. Instead, she let herself collapse onto the bed, burying her face in her hands. “I just… I just wanted you to care. I wanted both of you to care.”

Marlon knelt beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “I do. I always have.”

Alex finally rolled off the couch, standing in the doorway, expression uncharacteristically serious. “Look,” he said, voice quieter than usual, “I wasn’t there when I should’ve been. I won’t make excuses. But I’m here now. If you want us to… actually be a family, then we have to start fixing it. All of us.”

y/n looked up, tears blurring her vision. Her brothers’ expressions were raw, unpolished Marlon’s filled with regret and protective fierceness, Alex’s with reluctant sincerity. It wasn’t perfect. Nothing about this had been perfect. But for the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of something she hadn’t felt in years: hope.

Marlon’s voice broke the silence. “We can start over. Small steps. But you have to let us in. You can’t fight everything alone, y/n.”

She swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “I… okay. But no more lies. No more pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. I need you both really.”

Alex smirked lightly, though softer this time. “Deal. And… maybe I’ll even get some popcorn next time without making it a joke.”

y/n chuckled faintly, wiping her tears. “Baby steps,” she muttered.

Marlon pulled her into a side hug, careful but firm, while Alex hesitated, then joined the embrace awkwardly. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t seamless. But it was something. It was family.

Outside, the ocean crashed endlessly, waves surging and retreating, wild and untamed. Inside, three siblings sat together, raw and exposed, learning that even amidst rivalry, sabotage, and storms, some tides could be navigated as long as they faced them together.

And y/n realized, with a mixture of relief and determination, that no matter what happened with joshua, no matter the battles on the water, she could survive anything because she had her brothers.

Episode 2