"Alright, let's move to my house. It's literally 9:30 in the night." Jesper reminded.

"Yes, it isn't safe to be here at Yeha's house." Jamie added.

Today was a whirlwind - and not the good kind. Between the creepy factory -I mean the people in the factory-, those cryptic files, and the guy with my picture, I'm still reeling. And with Mom and Dad missing...it's all too much.

Seon Ho's calm words helped soothe my frazzled nerves, though. Jesper and Jamie's reassurances didn't hurt either. Before I knew it, we were headed to their house, Seon Ho quietly following. Jesper called his driver to fetch us.

The car ride was a blur, but the driver's smooth jazz helped calm my jitters.

I'm done with today's mysteries, though. My brain - and heart - needs a break.

Tomorrow, please be a boring day.

Ironic, right? I'm Yeha, the queen of complaining about boring days. But after today's chaos, I'm begging for monotony.

Who would've thought I'd crave a day with no mysterious files, no creepy stalkers, and no heart-pounding twists?

Just give me a dull, uneventful day with Mom and Dad safely back home.

"Is that too much to ask?"

"What is too much to ask?" Asked Jamie.

Ugh, did I just say that out loud?! Freaking great.

I am not in the mood to explain my thought process to anyone right now.

"Whoops! Thoughts spilled out. Ignore me, I am running on fumes." I tried explaining.

"No, you aren't. You are just overthinking and in my opinion, you gotta' call down." Jamie stated.

Jesper and Seon Ho nodded.

We were passing under the streetlights. Some of them were dim, while others didn't work. The cold breeze was enough to make my hair fly, and I could smell the ocean nearby. I left the car window open to feel the breeze, hoping it would ease my mind.

I'm STARVING! I haven't eaten all day, and my stomach is literally growling. I could devour a whole pizza by myself right now. But, I'm broke. Like, not a single penny on me.

Ugh, my empty stomach is making my head spin. Should I ask Jesper or Jamie if they can spot me some cash? Or maybe we can just hit up a food truck or something?

Ugh, relying on Jesper and Jamie feels suffocating. It's not that they'd say no - they'd probably offer me their last bite. But, I hate needing their help.

My stomach growls louder, protesting the delay. I press my palms against the emptiness, willing it to quiet down.

Do I even have a choice, though? My pockets are empty, and my hunger's getting unbearable.

"Yeha, want food?" Jesper asked.

My stomach screamed yes, but I hesitated. Pride, meet empty stomach.

"Yeah, I'm starving," I confessed, giving up.

Jesper's smile made me feel like he saw right through me. "Let's grab something, then," he said, already steering the car toward a nearby diner.

I shook my head, laughing. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"What?" Jesper asked, feigning innocence.

"Me being broke and starving," I teased.

"Ms.Moon, I would NEVER..." Jesper stopped for a second.

As I gazed at Yeha, her words tugged at my heartstrings. I felt an overwhelming urge to reveal what I wanted to say, but fear held me back. What if our friendship crumbled? What if she didn't feel the same?

Still, my heart refused to silence itself. I wanted to tell her how much she means to me, how her smile lights up my world, and how her laughter is my solace.

I took a deep breath, searching for the right words. Something sincere, yet casual enough to avoid scaring her off.

I had many ways to say this-

1.Ms.Moon, I'd never want to see you struggle. You're happy, that's what makes me happy. When you're hungry, I wish I could cook for you. But since I'd burn water, let me take care of you in other ways. What do you crave? I'm buying.

2: 'Yeha, seeing you happy is everything. When you're hungry, I want to feed you. Not just food, but every desire.'

3 'You're happy, that's my happiness. When you crave something, I'm your guy. Food, drinks, or dreams - name it.'

I ended up saying the last one.

Yeha's words knocked the air out of me. "Thank you so much, Mr. Kim." MR. KIM?! She's never called me that before. It sounded ridiculously pleasing.

I couldn't help but grin like a fool. My heart skipped a beat, maybe two.

'Say it again,' I wanted to beg. Just to hear that husky tone wrap around my name. Mr. Kim. Mine.

I cleared my throat, attempting to sound sane. "Anytime, Yeha." But my brain screamed: Tell her to call you Mr. Kim again! Please, for the love of all things holy.

What was wrong with me? I felt like a teenager crushing on his best friend. But I couldn't shake off this intoxicating feeling.

What have you done to me Ms.Moon Yeha?

Watching Yeha and Jesper's intimate moment, I felt suffocated. It wasn't jealousy; it was the crushing realization of why I'd distanced myself from my former best friend, Jesper.

My heart racing, I turned away, unable to bear the thought of rekindling our friendship. If we did, I feared something worse would happen. The truth I'd uncovered still lingered, a painful reminder of what could never be.

I thought I'd moved on, but this feeling - this gnawing sense of loss - proved me wrong. I couldn't risk reopening old wounds, no matter how much I yearned for our past camaraderie.

Memories of our past flooded my mind - laughter, late-night talks, and secrets shared. Our bond, once unbreakable, now lay frayed and tangled. I couldn't go back to how things were, not after what I discovered that day.

That day? Oh right that one day, when we actually broke our friendship.

Isn't it so easy to break friendships?

8 months ago

"Hey guys! Are you down to play truth or dare?" Dohyun asked.

"Sure" I and Jesper replied.

"Okay, I will turn the bottle" Dohyun declared.

Truth or dare? Intresting. Let's give it a try.

"Alright!" Jesper agreed.

The bottle spins around and comes to a halt, with its cap facing me, signaling that it's my turn.

"Truth or Dare?" I asked.

"Truth!" Jesper answered.

"Who's your crush?" Dohyun immediately asked.

"Umm." Jesper hesitated.

"Bro, just say it!" Seon Ho encouraged me to answer.

"Moon Yeha." Jesper uttered making both of us silent.

Time froze, and my heart sank. Jesper, my brother, my partner in crime, had fallen for Yeha - the girl who owned my heart. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath caught in my throat.

Memories flooded my mind: Jesper's laughter and Yeha's bright smile. I remembered the day she confided in me about her fears, and I vowed to protect her. Now, I had to protect my own heart.

I took a step back, my eyes stinging. I wanted to scream, to cry, to run. But I stood frozen, witnessing their connection grow stronger. My mind raced: What if Jesper feels the same depth of emotion? What if Yeha chooses him?

I forced myself to breathe, to calm down. But my chest ached, my soul heavy. I couldn't bear the thought of hurting Jesper or losing Yeha.

I thought of all the times I'd silently supported Yeha, all the moments I'd suppressed my feelings. I realized I couldn't keep quiet anymore. But how could I tell Jesper? How could I risk losing my best friend?

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I blinked, fighting them back. I wouldn't cry, not yet. I needed to find a way to navigate this mess without hurting anyone.

Jesper's concerned gaze locked onto mine, and I felt my defenses crumbling. He'd always been able to read me like a book. "What's up, kiddo?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine worry.

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. How could I confess my secret? 'Hey, hyung, I've been harboring feelings for Yeha'? No way. That'd be like betraying him.

My mind racing, I scrambled for an excuse. "Just stressed about work," I muttered, avoiding eye contact.

But Jesper knew me too well. He raised an eyebrow, sensing I wasn't telling the truth. "Seon Ho, come on. What's really going on?"

I felt trapped, torn between loyalty and my own emotions. Jesper was more than just my best friend - he was my mentor, my confidant. How could I admit that I'd fallen for the same girl he had feelings for?

I took a deep breath, attempting to deflect. "Really, it's nothing. Just tired." But the lie tasted bitter.

Jesper's expression softened, and he clapped me on the back. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here."

His words cut deep. He had no idea how much I needed to talk, how much I wanted to unburden my secret. But I couldn't risk losing him, or worse, losing Yeha.

I grabbed Jesper's hand, stopping him from leaving. My voice shook, "Jesper, I need to tell you something." Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and one escaped, rolling down my cheek.

Dohyun's concerned voice cut through the silence, "Hey, Seon Ho, what's wrong?" But I ignored him, my gaze locked on Jesper.

His eyes, filled with worry, searched mine. He didn't say a word, just squeezed my hand gently.

My heart racing, I struggled to find the words. "Jesper...I..." My voice cracked, and I felt my emotions spiraling

"I like Yeha." I said closing my eyes.

I whispered those words, and Jesper's hand slipped from mine like sand between fingers. My eyes clenched shut, bracing for the aftermath. The air thickened with tension, heavy with Jesper's anger.

Tears streamed down my face, a dam broken after five long years. I felt shattered, exposed. My best friend, my brother, now stood against me.

"I...I'm sorry, Jesper. I didn't know you liked her too," I stuttered, opening my eyes to face the devastation.

Jesper's face was inflamed, his eyes red-rimmed, fighting back tears. "Seon Ho, why?" he pleaded, his voice cracking.

I had no answer. No words could justify the betrayal he felt. We'd shared every secret, every dream. How could I have known he'd fall for Yeha too?

"Seon Ho, freak!" Jesper's outburst cut me deep. "We won't be friends anymore. That's it."

Dohyun intervened, calm and rational. "Jesper, think this through. Don't let anger decide."

But Jesper's decision was final. "This is the solution to my problem."

The weight of his words crushed me. Our friendship, our bond, was disposable. I watched, helpless, as Jesper turned his back and walked away. Dohyun followed, leaving me shattered on the floor.

I was all alone, I tried standing but..

I collapsed onto the floor, shattered into a million pieces. Tears streamed down my face, uncontrollable and raw. My body shook with sobs, as if my very foundation was crumbling.

I screamed, fists clenched, frustration and despair pouring out. My world, once full of color, now faded to gray. Jesper, my rock, my brother, was gone. Our friendship, our bond, lay in tatters.

I felt abandoned, lost, and alone. The weight of Jesper's words crushed me: 'We won't be friends anymore.' Those words echoed in my mind, a haunting refrain.

My chest heaved, gasping for air, as if drowning in my own tears. I couldn't catch my breath, couldn't calm my racing heart. Every memory of Jesper and me flashed before my eyes - laughter, adventures, late-night talks.

How could it end like this? Over a girl? Over my confession?

I wrapped my arms around myself, holding together the fragments of my shattered heart. The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to the laughter and camaraderie that once filled this space.

I wept, mourning the loss of my best friend, my confidant, my partner in every sense. Our friendship, once unbreakable, now lay irreparably broken.

Present

Ever since that day, we haven't been friends.