“Hey Tiffany, how are you enjoying you’re first week in Korea?” Taeyeon asks. She’s been my friend since I came here from America, lots of the kids, especially the girls, tease me and make fun of my Korean.

“Not too good, lots of people were laughing today when I had to perform, one of the most embarrassing moments ever.” I say cringing at the memory.

“You’ll be fine, especially since you have me.” She says smiling.

“Thankfully.” I smile back at her.

“Oh dear, here comes the queen.” She rolls her eyes. I turn around and groan when I see Hana coming down the hall with her group of girls followed by some of the boys. Hana’s the worst of the bullies, always insulting and sometimes even physically hurting me, I keep quiet because she could easily report me by being the cunning snake she is.

“Please tell me something to get my mind off her.” I beg Taeyeon.

“Story time then!” She claps her hands together, “Lets get to lunch and then I’ll tell you about something that happened a year ago.” We walk together to the lunch table when I trip over someone’s leg.

“Sorry, I didn’t–oh.” I straighten to see Hana’s smirking face.

“Watch where you’re going, loser.” She says and the people on her table laugh with her. I look down in shame and also trying to fight the urge to punch Hana’s pretty face. I keep walking with Taeyeon until we get to our table.

“So you were going to tell me a story?” I ask.

“Oh right, so last year a boy disappeared, no one knew how or where when one day they found a body on a beach just outside the town here and it belonged to that boy. According to the police he was murdered. They tried to find out who but they haven’t yet.” She says.

“Did that boy go to our school?” I ask.

“He was a year older than us.” She replies, “Apparently he was really popular and rich.” She adds.

“So he could’ve been killed for his money.” I say.

“I think there’s a picture on the website.” Taeyeon takes out her phone. “Here it is.” She shows me the screen, on it I see a good-looking boy with dark brown hair and eyes. We talk for the rest of lunch when it’s time to go back to class. When class ends I put my stuff in my locker and head home. My phone rings and I see that it’s the hospital where my dad is, “Hello? Is my father okay?” I ask.

“Hello Ms. Hwang, I am very sorry to say this but your father has passed away.” A voice says. My breathing hitches. Dead? He can't be. I drop the phone and run out the door, wanting to get as far away as possible. I trip and land on something soft, I inhale deeply and taste salt; I must be at the beach. The sun is setting and the tide is out. Without thinking I step into the freezing cold water and submerge myself. The words the person said echo in my mind as do images of my father. My lungs feel like they’re going to explode when I’m tugged out of the water. I cough violently.

“You shouldn’t be swimming when it’s so cold, but then again you don’t look like you wanted to go swimming.” A voice says. I look to where the voice came from but I can't see anything. “Over here.” It says again. I whip around and come face to face with the boy who was murdered.