The cool water splashed around as the boys dove and resurfaced, laughing and spraying each other. The afternoon sun glimmered off the surface of the river, turning it into a sheet of gold as Jean floated lazily on his back while Shawn tried to dunk him.
"Careful, scientist," Jean coughed between laughs, pushing Shawn away. "If you drown me, you'll have to write your research papers alone!"
Shawn chuckled, shaking his head as he treaded water. "Relax, I'll just dedicate the paper to my late partner, the noble Jean. The world will remember you as the kid who couldn't even handle shallow water."
"Shallow?!" Jean scoffed, splashing water right in Shawn's face. "Wait until we get to the deep side. Then we'll see who panics first."
Their laughter echoed across the riverbank. For a moment, the worries of competitions, teachers, and big corporations seemed far away. It was just the two of them—friends, geniuses, and kids enjoying a stolen afternoon of freedom.
After a while, they drifted closer together, resting against the smooth river stones. Shawn tilted his head back, letting the water run down his face. "So, what are you gonna do with your prize money? They gave us a good amount, not just pocket change."
Jean grinned, brushing his wet hair away from his eyes. "What about you first?"
Shawn didn't hesitate. "Easy. I'll save mine for future projects. You know how expensive parts are these days. Circuits, processors, nanofibers… if I start now, by the time I'm sixteen I'll have enough to build something groundbreaking." His eyes sparkled with excitement. "A real invention that changes everything."
Jean shook his head, amused. "Only you would think about circuit boards when you're sitting in a river."
"And only you," Shawn smirked, "would be the guy who talks to machines like they're people. Admit it, Jean—you call your drone 'buddy' when you think no one's listening."
"Hey, it's better than calling a drone 'darling,' which you did last year!" Jean shot back, laughing when Shawn spluttered in embarrassment.
"Slip of the tongue! And we agreed never to bring that up again!" Shawn protested, though his grin betrayed him.
The teasing died down as Jean's expression turned a little more serious. He lowered his voice, as though sharing a secret. "Actually… I already know what I want to do with my money."
Shawn leaned closer, curiosity dancing in his eyes. "Go on."
"I… plan to buy flowers. A bouquet. For Sally." Jean's ears turned slightly red as he looked away.
There was a beat of silence before Shawn burst out laughing so hard he nearly swallowed river water. "Flowers? For Sally?!" He clutched his sides, wheezing. "Oh no… Jean, my genius partner, the mastermind of molecules… is turning into a hopeless romantic."
Jean splashed water in his face again, but that only made Shawn laugh harder.
"Wait, wait," Shawn said between snickers, raising his hands as if to surrender. Then, with exaggerated dramatics, he pitched his voice high and clasped his hands together in mock imitation. "'Oh Jean, these flowers are so beautiful, but not as beautiful as the way you calculate air density when building a machine!'"
Jean groaned, covering his face. "You're the worst. You know that, right?"
"Hey, I'm just preparing you," Shawn replied, still grinning ear to ear. "She's either going to faint from joy or laugh as hard as I just did."
Jean gave him a shove, and they both splashed back into the water, laughter ringing out once again.
Jean leaned back in the water, wiping a line of droplets from his brow. His grin returned, mischievous now. "You know, Shawn, you tease me about Sally, but what about you? At this rate, you'll end up married to one of your machines. Imagine it—Mr. Shawn and his blushing bride, the toaster."
Shawn's jaw dropped. "The toaster? Really?"
Jean nodded solemnly, as if delivering a scientific fact. "Yes. And on your wedding day, instead of music, the guests will hear the sound of bread popping out. Truly romantic."
"Alright, that's it!" Shawn roared with laughter, scooping a handful of river water and launching it at Jean's face.
Jean sputtered, then retaliated, sending a splash so strong it nearly toppled Shawn. The two boys became whirlwinds of laughter and water, their war escalating into waves that rippled across the river.
Finally, Shawn raised a hand, panting between chuckles. "Okay, okay—you win the toaster joke round. But let's settle this another way." He pointed to the far edge of the river, where the reeds swayed in the breeze. "Race. First one to that side wins."
Jean smirked, his competitive streak flashing in his eyes. "And what's the prize?"
"The loser admits he's the worst swimmer in history," Shawn said, puffing out his chest. "And also… he has to carry both bags when we go back at home."
Jean scoffed. "Done. Get ready to carry my stuff."
"On three," Shawn announced, adjusting his posture like a pro about to dive into the Olympics.
"One."
"Two."
"Three!"
They both shot forward, cutting through the water like arrows. Shawn's strokes were powerful, sending up splashes, while Jean's were quick and precise, his smaller frame darting ahead. The river seemed to cheer with them, droplets glittering in the air as the boys raced side by side, neck and neck, laughter and determination spilling from them as though the whole world had shrunk to this one perfect moment of rivalry.
The river churned with their movements, two young bodies slicing through the water in a clash of speed and willpower. Jean kicked furiously, his strokes sharp and disciplined, but Shawn's movements carried a raw strength that pushed him forward with each pull.
Halfway through, Jean managed to get ahead by a few feet. He turned his head just enough to flash Shawn a cocky grin. "Try and catch up, machine boy!"
But Shawn only gritted his teeth and surged forward, his arms cutting through the current like blades. Determination lit his face, and in one final burst of energy, he pulled ahead of Jean.
The riverbank loomed closer. With a mighty kick, Shawn slammed his palm against the rocky edge just a heartbeat before Jean. Panting, he raised his other arm into the air in victory.
"Yes! Winner!" he shouted triumphantly, water dripping from his hair and face.
Jean reached the bank a moment later, clinging to it while catching his breath. His chest rose and fell as he glared at Shawn, though the grin tugging at his lips betrayed him. "No way… you cheated. There's no way you beat me fair and square."
Shawn leaned back, still gripping the edge, his laughter echoing across the river. "Don't be a sore loser, Jean. I told you—you're carrying both bags back."
Jean rolled his eyes but laughed as well, shaking his head. "Fine, fine. But just so you know, I let you win. Can't bruise your ego too much, birthday boy."
Shawn smirked, wiping water from his face. "Excuses, excuses. Face it—I'm just the better swimmer."
"Better swimmer today," Jean corrected, pointing a finger at him. "Tomorrow, you'll be begging for a rematch."
"Bring it on." Shawn's smile was wide, filled with youthful pride and joy. For that moment, under the fading afternoon sun and the glittering water, he felt unstoppable.