I had grown up in the luxury of Figure Eight, the elite of the Kooks, while JJ Maybank belonged to the opposite world of the Pogues. Our rivalry was intense, fueled by social differences and a mutual hatred that seemed impossible to overcome. But everything changed the day the town council decided to seize the land where the Pogues had built their home, Poguelandia, to make room for an exclusive new country club.

The news sparked JJ’s fury. During the council meeting, he stood up in rage, throwing a chair across the room and confronting the officials. Things escalated quickly: JJ stormed out, grabbed a bat, and began smashing the windows of shops in Figure Eight—symbols of Kook privilege. I had heard shouting, glass shattering, and when I saw JJ with that bat in his hand, destroying everything in his path, I rushed over without thinking.

You: “What the hell are you doing?!” I shouted, not even thinking. He slowly turned to face me, his eyes burning with anger and pain.

JJ: “Oh, of course. The Kook princess shows up now and wants to know what’s going on?” he spat, sarcastic. I ignored him.

You: “What’s really going on, JJ?” I asked, this time more softly.

His gaze faltered, and in that moment, I realized the rage was just a mask. Underneath it all, he was just someone losing everything. And even though we hated each other… something in me chose to stay.