Alright, what on earth is going on? Why is this getting more confusing by the minute? I'm just a girl who wants to live a normal life, but suddenly, in my 11th grade, I'm encountering so many unexpected events!

Ugh, my life has officially gone haywire! First, my parents vanish into thin air without a word. No note, no call, no nothing. Just...poof! Gone.

Then, these two randoms, Hazel and Haden, show up out of nowhere,

And now, this...this...comedian-gangster wannabe is lurking around my house, looking like he got beat up by a swarm of bees. His nose is literally pointing towards the sky! What's next?

I trudged through the streets, flanked by Jesper, Jamie, and Seon Ho, my mind racing with questions. The cool breeze does nothing to calm my frazzled nerves. Every step feels like a ticking time bomb, waiting to unleash more chaos into my already messed-up life.

I can't help but feel like I'm stuck in limbo. Everyone around me is either acing exams or living their best life, while I'm just...lost. My parents' disappearance consumes me, sucking the joy out of everything.

I haven't cracked open a textbook in weeks, and fun? What's that? My mind's constantly racing with worst-case scenarios and unanswered questions.

But what really eats away at me is the guilt. I've dragged Jamie, Jesper, and Seon Ho into this mess, putting their lives on hold. I try to put on a brave face, pretending everything's fine, but honestly? I'm falling apart.

My chest tightens, and my breath catches in my throat. I can feel the anxiety simmering beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. The city sounds around me - the chatter, the car horns, the laughter - it's all just noise, a cacophony that can't drown out my thoughts.

I glance at my friends, their concerned expressions mirroring my own fears. How can I keep pretending everything's okay when it's not? The facade's crumbling, and I'm scared.

Ugh, I'm about to lose it! I trusted Jesper, but now he's stonewalling me. I need answers.

My mind's racing like a runaway train, thoughts crashing into each other. The curiosity is eating away at me, making my skin crawl. I feel like I'm drowning in uncertainty.

Every passing second ticks like a time bomb in my head. I glare at Jesper, his stoic expression fueling my frustration. Can't he see I'm bursting at the seams?

"Jesper, spill it!" I demand, my voice trembling. "What's going on? What do you know?"

Jamie and Seon Ho exchange uneasy glances, sensing the tension. The air's thick with unspoken secrets, and I'm suffocating under the weight.

"Come on, Jesper! Tell me!" I demanded again.

"Trust me, Ms. Moon," Jesper said, his eyes locked on mine, "I'll tell you everything. But please, just bear with me for now. We need to see this through."

He took a deep breath, his expression turning grave. "I never thought I'd say this, but...let's hear Seon Ho out. And let's wait and see what this guy does next. I've got a bad feeling he's looking for us."

Jesper's voice dropped to a whisper. "We can't afford to act rashly. If my dad's involved, we need to know what we're up against."

Jamie's eyes darted between us, concern etched on her face. Seon Ho nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the house.

I bit back my impatience, knowing Jesper was right. But the suspense was killing me.

I watched from our hiding spot as the comedian-gangster emerged from my house, standing at the entrance gate like he owned the place. Luckily, he didn't seem to have a clue we were watching.

He pulled out his sleek black phone - seriously, did he have a sponsorship deal with the color black? - and dialed a number. As he spoke, his face contorted in frustration, his brow furrowed and lips twisted.

"...no, I didn't find anything," he growled, pacing back and forth. 'Yeah, I checked everywhere...No, I won't...Fine." he was screaming so loudly that even we could hear him.

His tone was laced with annoyance, and his gestures betrayed his irritation. Whatever conversation he was having, it wasn't going his way.

"I think Jesper's right," I said, eyes fixed on the wannabe gangster. "They might be searching for us."

Seon Ho raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk spreading across his face. "Or maybe not."

Jamie's brow furrowed. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Seon Ho pulled out a crumpled file from his backpack, waving it casually. "Maybe he's after this."

My eyes widened. "The file from the basement?"

Seon Ho nodded. "Yeah, I grabbed it before we left. Didn't think it was safe to leave it behind."

"I'm going crazy with all these unknowns," I said, frustration simmering beneath my skin. "We've got two theories, but what if neither is right?"

My gaze drifted back to my house, the windows now dark and uninviting. The evening breeze carried the scent of damp leaves and uncertainty.

"We need a lead, something to clear up just one of my doubts," I continued, my voice laced with desperation. "Anything to make sense of this mess."

Jesper's eyes locked onto mine, understanding reflected in them. "We'll figure it out, Yeha. We won't give up."

Jamie nodded vigorously. "We'll dig deeper. There has to be a clue somewhere."

Seon Ho's fingers drummed against his thigh. "I'll start going through that file. Maybe it'll yield something."

Their determination fueled mine. Together, we'd uncover the truth.

"Actually, I know exactly where we could find our next clue." Jamie said while removing her phone.

"뭐? 어디서?" I asked curiously. (What? Where?)

"Follow me!" She said and moved and we followed her.

As we followed Jamie back to my house, the evening sun cast long shadows across the deserted street. The air was heavy with anticipation, and my heart thudded in my chest.

Jamie stopped abruptly, her eyes fixed on something on the ground. "Guys, look!"

We gathered around her, and I saw it too - a crumpled piece of paper lying on the asphalt.

"I saw this falling from his pants pocket," Jamie explained, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jesper's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?"

Jamie hesitated before picking it up. The paper rustled as she flipped it over.

My face stared back at me, my eyes locking onto the photograph in horror.

I felt a chill run down my spine as Jesper's jaw clenched, his face darkening.

"It's...me," I stammered, my voice trembling.

The photograph seemed to burn in Jamie's hand, its significance threatening to consume us. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the distant hum of crickets.

"Seriously, another twist?!" I exclaimed, my voice barely below a scream. "I'm so done with this!"

I paced back and forth, feeling like I was losing my grip. "This isn't some movie or book, okay? It's my life. My parents are missing, and now some weirdo has my picture?"

I glared at the photograph, my frustration boiling over. "I'm just a teenager, for crying out loud! Can't I just have a normal life?"

Jamie's concerned expression only fueled my irritation. "Yeha, calm down."

"Calm down?" I repeated, incredulous. "You think I can calm down when everything's spiraling out of control?"

Jesper stepped in, his voice soothing. "We're in this together, Yeha. We'll figure it out."

But even his reassurance couldn't quell my anxiety. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios, my patience wearing thin.

Seon Ho's gentle grasp on my shoulders halted my pacing. His calm, reassuring gaze met mine, and I felt my frantic energy dissipate.

"Hey, hear me out," he said softly, his voice a soothing balm. "This isn't a twist, it's an answer."

I took a deep breath, my lungs filling with air as my tension ebbed. Seon Ho's eyes cradled mine, their warmth spreading through me.

"Look at me, Yeha. Calm down. Nothing's going to happen. We're here for you." He emphasized each word, his voice dripping with conviction.
"I. Am. Here. For. You."

My heart skipped a beat as his words washed over me. The sincerity in his eyes, the gentle pressure on my shoulders, and the comforting warmth of his presence enveloped me.

Then, his words registered. "This is an answer...the guy was looking for you, not the file."

My eyes widened, and Seon Ho's grip on my shoulders tightened. "What does it mean?" I whispered.

Seon Ho's face inched closer, his breath mingling with mine. "It means you're the key, Yeha. And we'll figure it out together."

"Sure we will." Jesper said dryly, he seemed annoyed and again, I DON'T KNOW WHY!