Kira POV — Café
Kira still felt that sting of guilt from earlier. Jack brushing past her without even looking.
Maybe Ava was right. Maybe she jumped too fast.
But none of that mattered right now, not with everything she had seen in her uncle's room last night.
So she texted Judith, quick and urgent.
Judith arrived in less than ten minutes. She didn't even order anything, just sat across from Kira like she already knew what this was about.
Kira didn't waste time.
"Why did Ava's name show up with my uncle's email?"
Judith looked honestly confused at first, then she pulled something from her pocket. A folded piece of paper.
"I wasn't going to show this yet," Judith said quietly, "but since you're asking…"
Kira unfolded it.
A photocopy of a receipt from five years ago.
Money transfer.
Big amount.
From Kira's uncle's company…
not to the stalker,
but to someone with initials only: Y. K.
Kira's heart skipped.
"That's not my uncle's initials."
"I know," Judith said. "I checked."
Kira looked up at her.
"So whose is it?"
Judith leaned forward, voice lower.
"I think someone paid him. Not the other way around. Someone was funding him to watch Ava. And it wasn't your uncle. He was just connected to them somehow."
"…who?"
Judith hesitated, then said, "I found this too."
Another paper.
This one older, creased.
A summer camp registration list.
Kira scanned down until her eyes froze at one box.
Guardian contact: Yong Kim Miyeong
Kira whispered it, barely breathing.
"My mom…"
Judith nodded slowly.
"It wasn't just my family, Kira. Our parents were part of something. I don't know what exactly, but whatever happened that summer… wasn't just a random incident. Someone wanted Ava protected, yes, but also controlled."
Kira stared down at the paper, feeling everything collapse inside her.
"And if the stalker was just following orders…"
Judith nodded again, voice quiet but firm.
"Then whoever gave those orders… is still out there."
And for the first time, instead of enemies, Kira and Judith were suddenly standing on the exact same side — terrified, confused, and finally starting to gather every broken piece of truth they both desperately wished wasn't real.
.....
Kira got home feeling like her brain had melted.
Uncle. Mom. Money. Summer. It was all mixing into one confusing storm.
She opened the door and immediately heard Yuri.
Kira yaaa, come come come we are planning something fun.
Miyeong peeked from the kitchen with her apron.
Beach day this weekend. You girls need sunshine before your brains explode, arasseo?
Ava blinked.
The beach?
Yuri clapped excitedly.
Yes. Invite your friends. Make it big. Big energy.
Miyeong fake whispered dramatically.
Romantic vibes are always stronger near water.
Kira nearly choked.
Ummaaa.
Ava giggled and grabbed her phone.
Ok I will invite Ethan. And Judith too.
Kira did not react but her heartbeat jumped.
Ava nudged her.
Invite Jack.
Kira froze halfway up the stairs.
I do not think he will even pick my call.
Yuri raised one eyebrow like she was in a Kdrama.
Why? You fought?
Kira waved her hands quickly.
Aniyo. Just misunderstanding.
Miyeong suddenly narrowed her eyes at both Kira and Judith, who just came from the hallway.
What is wrong with your faces? Suspicious.
Judith smiled nicely.
Nothing.
Kira forced a smile too, too quick.
Absolutely nothing. We are fine. Totally.
Ava watched them both like a confused puppy.
Um. You sure?
Judith and Kira at the exact same time.
Yes.
Which obviously made it thirty times more suspicious.
Miyeong looked at Yuri dramatically.
Teenagers. I swear.
Yuri sighed in Korean under her breath.
Aigo, wae geurae.
Ava covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
You two are literally so dramatic.
Miyeong tossed her towel playfully.
That is why we are the main characters.
Kira tried to hide a nervous swallow.
If only she knew how main her mom truly was.
At the Beach –
Sunset hit the water like melted gold, and everyone was scattered on towels and folding chairs. Ethan and Ava were splashing water at each other, Judith was pretending to read, and Jack… Jack sat alone near the rocks, hoodie up like he was hiding from sunshine.
Kira hesitated for almost ten minutes before walking over.
He didn't look at her at first, but she sat down anyway, knees touching sand, close enough to talk but far enough to escape if things got weird.
Jack finally looked sideways.
You actually came.
Kira shrugged lightly.
Ava invited you, so… yeah.
Silence stretched, quiet waves behind them.
Jack picked at a seashell.
I am sorry for how I acted the other day. I was just… upset.
Kira softened a little.
I was wrong too. I judged you too fast.
He looked at her properly this time, eyes steady.
So we are good?
Kira nodded slowly.
Yeah.
Then it happened.
The wind blew hair in Kira's face and Jack reached to move it before thinking, and Kira turned her head at the same time, and for the tiniest moment their lips brushed.
Not a real kiss.
More like a shock.
A static mistake.
A too-close breath.
Both froze.
Kira's heart jumped so hard she actually stood up too fast.
I… should check something.
Jack blinked up at her, stunned.
I didn't mean–
Kira shook her head quickly.
It's fine. It was nothing.
But her voice betrayed her.
Because her cheeks were warm and she wasn't sure if it really was nothing.
She walked away fast, sand sticking to her feet, trying to breathe normally while her stomach did that annoying twisting feeling she only ever associated with someone she might actually like.
____________
Kira sat near the lifeguard tower pretending to scroll her phone but really just trying not to think about Jack's lips accidentally brushing hers. So embarrassing.
Judith suddenly appeared beside her like she teleported.
Kira. I found something. We need to talk.
Kira's head snapped up.
Found what?
Judith glanced around and lowered her voice.
A name. Connected to the money transfer. And it is not your mother or uncle this time.
Kira's pulse jumped.
Who?
Before Judith could answer, footsteps hit the sand behind them.
Ava's voice came first.
Found what?
Kira and Judith froze like two kids caught stealing cookies.
Ethan and Jack were standing right behind Ava, all three looking suspicious.
Ethan folded his arms.
What exactly did you two find?
Jack squinted, still trying to figure out why Judith was even part of this conversation.
Judith cleared her throat politely.
It is nothing.
Ava shook her head.
Judith, every time someone says it is nothing, it is always something.
Kira could practically feel Judith wishing she could disappear back into the lake.
Kira forced the fakest smile in existence.
It is literally nothing. Just… research stuff.
Jack raised one eyebrow.
Research. At the beach.
Ethan mumbled quietly.
Yeaaah. Totally normal.
And suddenly, the air around all five of them felt heavy again, like the ocean breeze itself knew something was wrong.