1

At age fifteen, a young boy was walking down the beach. His eyes were filled with tears and his heart was soaked with despair. He was young but he already had too much to handle. It was late in the night, the moon was the only source of illumination.

And the beach was rough and the waves strong.

The more he walked, the more he felt like the earth was his heart. It was getting heavier. When he got to the shore, he couldn't hold it anymore. Trenton burst out into tears, and when his legs got weak, he fell to the sandy floor. There and there he cried his heart out.

Meanwhile, a thirteen-year-old Madine got into an argument with her twin sister, Nadine. She was so angry because this was not the first time.

“How can you be so greedy? You ruined your own dress, now you want mine? Mom and Dad worked hard and got it for you but I had to sell cookies in school to get it for myself. How can you be greedy!” Madine shouted, her heart heavy and she was breathing roughly. She felt cheated again.

Nadine folded her hand over her chest and looked away. And then tears started to fall from her cheeks.

Mr and Mrs Oreo who had been watching them from the stair decided to intervene.

“Madine, you know your sister is sick with kidney disease, she cannot be stressed. Give her the dress. When your dad makes more money, he will buy another for you.” Mrs. Oreo stood beside Nadine and then rubbed her curly strands. Mr Oreo was also beside Nadine, no one stood on Madine’s side. This broke her heart.

For a second, Madine scoffed.

“When Dad makes money, he remembers Nadine first. He pays her private school fees because Nadine cannot go to a public school. He buys all of her expensive drugs and food because Nadine cannot eat the same food that we eat. You don't remember me but I don't complain. I don't want to give her my dress because I worked hard and got it for myself!” Madine shouted. It was her first time complaining. She always let it go because Nadine was sick with kidney disease. This time, she wouldn't because she was supposed to wear that dress to the school prom. Nadine shouldn't have it. She begged her parents to buy it for her rather they got it for Nadine.

“Madine, come back here!” Mrs Oreo screamed, watching her daughter sprint out in anger.

Madine did not answer, she rushed out of the house. It was the family vacation house and they had spent all of their money to build it. Because Nadine wanted it. They didn't have a lot of money but they built the house for Nadine. Madine was upset about that too because they could use the same money to send her to a private school like Nadine but they didn't.

She walked down the beach although it was late at night. She was always scared of the shore hence she walked farther from it. The vacation home was just in front of the beach, and her parents had bought it with their life savings.

“Maybe I should die. Maybe things would be better when I die.” She mouthed, kicking the sand with her feet. At the same time wishing she had been sick with kidney disease too.

The moment she raised her head, she saw a guy right in front of the ocean, and there was a coming wave. Madine watched and saw that he couldn't be bothered that the wave was rough and heading toward him. Standing there, she thought that he was going to move but he didn't.

Madine was terrified of the ocean, she couldn't dare to go closer. This was until she spurned her eyes and saw that the wave had surged over and taken the guy. The next second, he was waving his hand in the air and begging for help. Her heart flew out of her chest.

It was late, the life guard had closed for the day. For a second, Madine forgot about her fear and dived into the water. Her father had taught her how to swim, and thank God, she took the lessons.

“Help, I don't want to die!” He shouted.

Madine maneuvered her way through the waves and got the waist of the guy while he grabbed her neck and wrapped himself around her like a sandwich.

“We will both die if you hold me like this!” She pointed out and he immediately adjusted himself.

After some struggles, Madine managed to reach the surface. When they had gotten far from the moving water, Madine turned to him.

“Are you out of your mind? You know you couldn't swim and you went to the edge of the water, in the night!” She shouted, shaking her head at his carelessness. However, his carelessness reminded her of when she asked for death just because her twin sister wanted her dress. As if it wasn't enough that her parents have to spend a lot of money on Nadine’s health.

“Who said I couldn't swim?” Trenton stood, all shaky and nervous.

“Then why didn't you save yourself and opted to ask for help?” Madine raised her brows, her hands moving to her waist.

“Because I got cramps!” He defended, loudly. Too loudly.

Madine was taken aback by how loud he sounded.

“Are you sure? Or you couldn't swim?” she extended her eyes, giving a look that said she didn't believe him. And he was getting way too defensive.

“Shut up!” Trent shunned and then looked away.

“I am pretty sure I saw you didn't swim at all. Don't let your pride get the best of you, you can't swim.” Madine mocked.

Trenton looked back at her, already feeling flustered and embarrassed.

“Do you even know who I am? If you know who I am you wouldn't be teasing me in this way.” Trenton gave her a soft glance. He felt embarrassed when she started to laugh.

“Who are you? Can you buy me ten prom dresses because I am about to give my sister mine? If you buy me ten prom dresses then I will keep your secret.” Madine uttered making Trent smirk.

“How about this, marry me, and I will buy you dresses and also be certain that you would keep my secret. This way we both get what we want.” Trent drew closer making her cheeks turn pink. She hadn't been up close with a guy prior.

“Do you have lots of money? If you have lots of money then I will marry you. I need a man who can take care of me and help me achieve my dreams of being a great jewelry designer.” She looked in his grey-looking eyes which were almost blue from the moon's illumination.

Trent smiled and then nodded his head.

“You are really in luck, my dad owns the biggest jewelry business in the country. One day he will employ you and I will marry you. Do we have a deal?” He asked again making Madine smile once more.

“Yes, we have a deal!” She stretched her hand to him and he took it. The duo stared at each other just admiring one another. This was before Trenton was called by his father’s lawyer. He waved to Madine and left. Madine watched the handsome guy until he was out of sight. Her heart had quickly started to beat for him. He was handsome, like a male lead in a high school movie.

Meanwhile, Trenton got to his father’s room and then the doctor who was also his uncle dropped the bomb. The words that he didn't want to hear were said to him that night.

“I am sorry Trenton, your father is dead. Now you are the only heir to the wealth, you have to take over before your stepmother manipulates her way in. I know you are just fifteen but you have to protect what is yours.”