Yeha's eyes welled up with tears. "Mom said...they're holding her and Dad hostage."

The room seemed to freeze. Jamie's face turned white, while Seon Ho's expression darkened.

"What?" I whispered, disbelief washing over me.

Yeha's voice cracked. "The investigators found out...Mom and Dad were getting close to something. Now, they're demanding silence."

My mind reeled. Kidnapping? Hostages? This was too much to process.

Jamie sprang into action. "We need to tell the police."

Seon Ho nodded. "And get the others involved. We can't do this alone."

Yeha's hands shook. "Mom said...if anyone finds out, they'll..."

She couldn't finish. The unspoken threat hung in the air, chilling us all.

I felt a surge of determination. We had to act.

"Let's get to work," I said, trying to sound calm.

Seon Ho nodded. "We'll find them. We have to."

Jamie wrapped his arms around Yeha. "We'll get through this together."

As we huddled together, a resolve formed within me. We would rescue Yeha's parents, no matter what.

"Wait, you know their location, right?" Jamie asked, eyes narrowing. "You asked your mom about it right in front of us."

Yeha nodded, her brow furrowed. "I did, but she gave me a cryptic message instead of an address. And, then she warned me that 'they' are coming and she has to leave immediately."

Jamie's expression turned skeptical. "Why wouldn't she just give you the address?"

Yeha's voice dropped to a whisper. "I think it's a code. Addresses are too long to recite, and Mom wouldn't say something random like that without a reason."

I watched the exchange, my mind racing with possibilities. Yeha's words hung in the air like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

"So, what is Yeha?" Seon Ho asked.

Yeha's voice trembled. "Mom said, 'Where the river of wisdom flows into the sea of peace, find the lighthouse of the scholar's island.'"

Jamie's eyes widened. "Sounds poetic."

Seon Ho's brow furrowed. "The river of wisdom... Could it be the Nakdong River?"

I nodded. "And the sea of peace... That's a common nickname for the South Sea."

Yeha's eyes sparkled. "And the lighthouse of the scholar's island... Could it be the Tongyeong Lighthouse on Tongyeong Island?"

Tongyeong Island, located off the coast of South Korea, is famous for its stunning ocean views, scenic hiking trails, and historical significance.

"Wait, what if we are going in the
wrong direction?" Yeha asked.

"Ms. Moon," I said, my voice filled with conviction, "since we started this journey, we've all been uncertain. We've questioned whether we're doing the right thing. But I believe it's better to take action than to sit idly by being consumed by doubt."

As I spoke, I glanced around the dimly lit room, meeting the anxious gazes of my friends. The flickering fluorescent light above us casts eerie shadows on the walls.

"We can't change the past," I continued, "but we can shape the future. We owe it to ourselves, to each other, and to those we're trying to protect."

Yeha's expression softened, her eyes glistening with a mix of sadness and determination. "You're right, Jesper," Yeha said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of our shared resolve settle within me. "Then let's keep moving forward, together."

"Where? Tongyeong Island." Jamie asked.

"Yeah?!" Yeah replied.

"But, that's too far from here." Jamie reminded.

"Doesn't matter, we are doing this for Yeha." Jesper stated.

Seon Ho yelled, "Hop in, I'm driving! We're hitting Tongyeong Island!" I raised an eyebrow, already knowing this spontaneous road trip was gonna be wild. 'You sure you're good to drive, dude?' I asked, buckling up. Seon Ho grinned mischievously. "Pfft, I've got this."

After 3 hours and almost 56 minutes, we reached Tongyeong island.

Hopefully we find something here. Hopefully I find my parents here.

None of us has ever travelled to Tongyeong island before so, we were unfamiliar with this place.

Tongyeong Island rose from the sea, its green hills shimmering like emeralds. The coastline is unfurled, revealing curved beaches, hidden coves, and rugged cliffs. Villages clung to hillsides, their tiled roofs sparkling like terracotta gems.

As sunset approached, golden light danced across the waves, illuminating fishing boats in the harbor. Saltwater and seaweed scents mingled with savory street food aromas.

To the east, Tongyeong Fortress stood tall, its ancient stones witnessing centuries of maritime history. Beyond, the Pacific Ocean stretched out, meeting the sky at a horizon kissed by sunset.

As dusk fell, soft lanterns lit village streets, casting a magical spell over the enchanting landscape.

We had to find the well known Tongyeong lighthouse- it's well known so, we can just ask anyone, at least something should be uncomplicated- so, we asked a local jewellery seller about the location but, I guess life is meant to be complicated, And, I hate it. The jewellery seller asked for money to give information and guess what? Are dumb brains didn't think of carrying money with us while leaving, How funny is that? I feel like a fool right now.

"How much?"

Jesper's question shocked me -I am not even going to try to lie when I say that- did he get his money?

"Ms.Moon, why are you looking at me with those eyes?"

Oh God, I just realised that I was just staring at him without even blinking.

"Uhh.. you got money? Because, I don't recall you taking any money from your house." I explained.

"Hey Ms. Moon, I've got a confession to make - I'm not that wide-eyed kid you used to know. I'm 18 now, almost 19! with my own bank account and a phone that's got Naver Pay covered. Want to see if I can make a good impression... or maybe even a bad one?"

"Huh? What does that supposed to mean?" Alright, everything was going fine until he said
'or maybe even a bad one?'

What does he mean?

"Honestly, he's just trying too hard to prove how grown up he's become - NEWSFLASH:- he's not - But, like, deep down, I think he's low-key insecure about whether he can actually pull off the whole 'mature vibe' thing when you put him to the test. Simple as that."
Jamie explained dryly except for her emphasis on 'Newsflash'.

"1000 KRW." The jewellery seller interrupted and asked. More Like, I interrupted.

"I thought that you'd ask something more." Jesper smirked.

"Ugh, bruh, seriously? You're willing to shell out 1000 KRW just for some info? That's wild. I can practically hear the cash register ringing in my ears. Jesper, come on, we don't need to waste your money. We can just ask someone else. Don't give me that look, I know 1000 KRW isn't a lot for you, but it's the principle. The ridiculousness of it is grating. Let's just walk away before you get ripped off."

"Yeha, calm down." Jamie reminded.

Of course, she reminded me, because I was practically fuming at this jewellery seller -I have anger issues- God, Yeha chill!

"I think that Yeha's is right we can ask someone else." Seon agreed with me.

Jesper was clearly not even looking at me and removing his phone from his pocket.

"Mr.kim, please." I said.

Jesper froze.