Vivian and Nina fell into the sea.
Vivian knew she was going to drop them both of them in so she was prepared. She resurfaced effortlessly but Nina had no such luck. She swallowed two mouthful of sea water before resurfacing.
The heavens suddenly opened, pouring down with rain. It stung their faces as the wind continued to rage and cut through their skins.
The rain only got heavier and coupled with the ferocious tide, Nina felt like she was getting battered. She knew that some massive waves were bound to appear at any minute.
They had to swim back to the shore as soon as possible.
Without even taking a look at Vivian, Nina swam straight to the shore. She didn't get very far when Vivian cut in front of her, blocking her path.
"Nina, you are here now. You may as well see the bet out. I promise that Brother John isn't going to save you."
The rain belted down so potently that Nina couldn't even catch everything that Vivian had said. She only saw Vivian turn around and shout for help towards the shore.
"Help! Help! We fell into the sea!"
Vivian's voice was so soft that it wasn't nearly powerful enough to carry through the torrential rain. John would have never heard her.
Her voice might not be enough, but that wasn't her plan anyway.
Vivian had been well prepared. The cry for help was not for John, but for the people she had placed to hear her.
People began to shout for help, and they shouted in John's direction.
"You had this whole thing planned?" Nina narrowed her menacing eyes.
"Yes. I have to show you that Brother John doesn't care for you as much as you'd like to believe. You are as dispensable as anyone else," Vivian said with a smug smile though she was freezing. "If you don't believe me, just wait and see if he comes to save you."
"I won't test him." This was non-negotiable for Nina. She wasn't going to try and test her relationship.
In all honesty it was also because she didn't believe that John would pass it anyway.
Nina swam towards the coast with all her strength.
Vivian let her go and followed her back to the shore.
They fell in off the reef so before they could reach the shore, they had to get around this huge reef.
As long as they could get passed that, they would be able to see the lights on the road and John waiting. By now he was already drenched, anxiously hoping that Nina was going to return.
Nina was in the darkness of the ocean, so John couldn't see her.
"Nina, don't panic. Someone will tell Brother John that you have fallen into the sea. Just wait and see if he comes to save you." Vivian motioned at the immobile figure in the distance.
John stood there like a statue. The only things that moved, were his trembling hands.
He stood in the bucketing rain and looked out at the dark sea. He couldn't make anything out but he could picture the water rampaging towards the shoreline. It was enough to consume him with fear, leaving him helpless. He couldn't leave though because he had to wait for his little girl.
He promised her that he'd wait.
A female tourist rushed over to John in a panic. She pointed out at the sea in frantic terror.
Nina saw the woman go over to him, but couldn't make out what she said from such a distance.
The rain was like a curtain, blocking Nina's view. She could barely even see John.
"Nina, I promise they'll let John know that you are in here. He has to know that you fell in. I'm showing you that he's not going to save you," Vivian said.
Nina said irritably, "Shut up."
She had been staring at John's blurry figure, but she didn't see it moving this way.
She was starting to feel anxious, thinking that what Vivian said might be true.
"What do you know?" Nina questioned.
"I do know something. But since Brother John didn't tell you, I better keep my mouth shut. Otherwise, he will hate me." Vivian suddenly burst into laughter.
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