Chapter 1: Hello

    Hi, my name is Mikah Kim. I live with my parents and older brother in Marquette, Michigan. My mom says I loved to sing and dance everywhere when I was little. Now, as a fourteen-year-old, I don’t do that. I hate doing anything in public. I don’t raise my hand in class. I don’t talk to new people. I just don't do things like that. My cousin (and best friend) Taeyang is loud and talks to everyone, while I sit and listen to K-pop and write songs.

    Next week we’re moving in with my aunt, uncle, and Taeyang in Korea. We’ve been there a few times, but usually, when we see them they come here. I’m fine moving, but my brother, Carson, on the other hand, isn’t okay with this. He says it will destroy his football “career” and his “serious relationship" with his girlfriend Lillianna.

    Mom says moving will help us learn about our family's culture. I think I know more than Carson because I listen to K-pop and I eat Kimchi, even though he has been to Korea more than me! He has even lived there for two years.  I'm the first person in my family to be born in America. My Grandparents, parents, and brother were born in Korea. Now we're moving back. Yay...or should I say, YAYYYYY!

Chapter 2: Welcome

    Planes are boring to me. There's nothing to do besides sleep. Mom is reading, Carson is playing on his phone, dad is sleeping, and I'm looking out the window to see the world go by, as we fly to our new home. 

    Yesterday was my last day at school. It was hard to say goodbye to friends I've had since I was, like, two. But, I'm super excited to see Taeyang! We haven't seen each other in 3 years! I also can't wait to see the city of Seoul, where we will be living. All those bright, beautiful lights outside my window as I sleep. The traffic will wake me up in the morning. I just can't wait. 

    I asked how my Mom how much longer, and she said that we'll be landing in less than an hour. I look out the window one more time and see land! 

    3, 2, 1~We land! Mom wakes up dad and I grab my things. Carson is still on his phone. I tell him to get off because we're here. He gives me that "whatever" look that seventeen-year-old boys give. We walk off and then I see the best thing ever, my best friend, my favorite cousin, Taeyang!

    "Taeyang!" I shout.

    "Mikah!" she shouts back. We hugged. Of course, I hugged my aunt and uncle too. I'm not a monster. As we started to walk to the car we talked some more.

    "So, how has the music writing been going?" Taeyang asks.

    "Fine," I answer.

    "Just fine? You said that you would have been doing great with it, not just fine!" she yips.

    "I, well, I dunno. It's ok. I don't really know. Nobody has seen it," I said.

    She just glared at me. (She does that a lot.) We jumped into the car and headed to their apartment.

Chapter 3: Two

    When we got to their apartment, Carson teleported directly to the couch to play on his phone. Taeyang and I went to her room, which will be our room. It's smaller than my room back in Michigan but that's okay. 

    "Pick a bed," Taeyang says.

    I think a bit."The one close to the window," I answer.

    "Good, I didn't want Carson next to me as I sleep," she said.

We started to laugh as I unpacked my stuff. I took out my posters and taped them to the wall. I see Taeyang staring at them. Why would she be staring at them? I heard Aunt Aera call us for dinner, so we went.     

    Mom, dad, Aunt Aera, and Uncle Bae talked as we ate. Carson, Taeyang, and I didn't talk until dad said, "Are you two ready to start school in three days?"

    "Ya, I am," I answer. Carson says nothing.

    "Carson!" dad shouted under his breath. The whole table went quiet. Carson looked up.

    "Carson, answer your father's question," Mom said. He glared. I look at Taeyang and she looked at me. We excused ourselves before it "went down" at the table.      

Chapter 4: To the City

    After the situation at the table, Uncle Bae, Taeyang, and I went into the city as Aunt Aera and mom cleaned up. Dad sat down to talk with Carson. 

    In the city, we went to a store that sells "Designer Clothes" very cheap.

    "You girls can pick one thing," my uncle told us.

    "Awesome," I answered.

    "Why only one thing, Appa?" Taeyang asked.

    "Because I said so," Uncle Bae said.

    Tae just sighed and walked on. (She does that a lot.)  We looked around for a bit until we all got tired.

    "Well girls, should we head home?" Uncle Bae asked.

    "Ya, I'm pretty tired," I said.    

    "Sure, whatever," Taeyang whined.

    "Taeyang, what has got into you tonight?" asked Uncle Bae.

    "Nothing, I'm fine," Taeyang answered.

    We walked back to the car and went back to the apartment. When we got home, Carson was watching TV and Dad was unpacking in his new office. Mom and Aunt Aera were still in the kitchen.

    "We're home!" Uncle Bae shouted.

    "Hello girls. Why don't you go to your room and get ready for bed," Aunt Aera told us.

    "Okay," I said. Taeyang just walked to the room without saying anything.

Chapter 5: Writing Without Peace 

    When I got to the room, Taeyang was in bed, so I laid in my bed and started to write a new song with my AirPods in.

    "What are you doing M?" asked Tae. I didn't hear her.

    "Mikia!" Taeyang yelled. I looked up.

    "What?"

    "I said, what are you doing," Tae shouted a bit.

    I paused. "Nothing," I softly added.

    Tae nodded. Then for like two minutes, we sat in silence.

    "What are you writing then?" Taeyang asked. 

    "I said nothing, Tae," I snapped.

    "You can't just write nothing," Taeyang retorted. She walked over and looked and my notebook. I quickly pulled it away.

    "Ha!" she shouted.

    "Ha, what? Don't look at my stuff!" I tipped. 

    "Fine then, I won't. I'm going to bed," Taeyang said. 

    I didn't say anything. I just kept writing.

Chapter 6: TAEYANG!!!!

    I must have fallen asleep as I was writing because I was still in my clothes from yesterday. When I said it would be nice to wake up to the lights and noise of the city, I lied!  The racket of early morning traffic was ridiculous! I looked for my notebook but I couldn't find it. Then I saw Taeyang at the door with my notebook!

    "TAEYANG!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. She started running, so I followed her. We ran through the whole apartment till Taeyang stopped at my dad's office. He was standing right in the door frame. We froze.

    "What is going on here girls? Why are you chasing Taeyang through the whole apartment, Mikah?"  

    "Um," I paused. "Taeyang stole my notebook!"

    "You rat!" Tae shouted.

    "At 8:45 in the morning?" dad murmured as he shook his head.

    "But Mikah wouldn't let me see what she was doing last night!" 

    "But, at 8:45?" dad repeated.

    "Yes dad, at 8:45. Taeyang stole my notebook," We stood there for a moment.

    "Tae, give back Mikah's notebook and Mikah let Tae see what you were doing," Dad said. "You girls should hug it out."

    "No!" we both yelled. Dad just laughed.

Chapter 7: Off to the Mall

    After the notebook stuff and breakfast, mom, dad, Aunt Aera, Uncle Bae, Taeyang, Carson, and I went to the mall. Mom went with Carson to look for his school stuff. Uncle Bae and dad went to look at golf clubs, and Aunt Aera, Tae, and I went to look for my school stuff.

     "What do you think of this backpack, M?" Aunt Aera asked me.

    "It's fine," I answered.

    "You must like the word fine," Taeyang said.

    I glared at her.

    "What about this one?" Aunt Aera asked again, with a different backpack in her hands. 

     I shrugged. Then I saw it! THE ONE I WANTED!.

    A BlackPink backpack! My heart went boom, boom. Then I saw a BTS backpack too! Help me, please! 

    "See one you like, Mikah?" Taeyang asked.

    "No, two!" I said, stunned.

    "Ooo! Which two?" Aunt Aera asked excitedly.

    I pointed to the two backpacks.

    "Mikah, by the way, all the kids have those backpacks at school," Taeyang said.

    "They do?" I asked.

    "Ya. Ha, why don't you get the one with music notes on it. That song you wrote was-" I cut Taeyang off.

    "You read my song!?" I shouted.

Chapter 8: The Talk

    When I went home, I ran to my bed. Taeyang followed. 

    "I'm sorry! But for the last time, but it was amazing!" Taeyang said.

    "Ya right," I muttered in my pillow.

    "Mikia, it was good. I liked it.  I think you sould enter the talent show at school and sing it!"

    "Heck No Tae! I'm not doing that!" I shouted. 

    "Come on M! This will help," Taeyang said.

    "Help with what?" I asked her.

    "With the plan we had three years ago. Wait, you don't remember," Tae said in astonishment.

    "Oh, that plan... that I hated," I added.

    "You didn't hate it, you just disliked it," Tae replied.

    "That's not my dream anymore Tae, I don't want to become an Idol," I told her.

    "Wait, what! You don't want to be an Idol?" Taeyang seemed shocked.

    "Ya, I'm not ten anymore, things change," I said.

    "Could you at least try a talent show and see if that spark is still there?" Tae asked.

    I didn't say anything.

    "Hello? Earth to Mikah..."

    "Ya, I'll thnk about it," I caved. 

    Taeyang did her happy dance. She's so cute when she does that.

Then mom called us for dinner.

Chapter 9: First Day of School

    I woke up at six this morning. Carson and Taeyang were still asleep. I got ready for school. When I got into the bathroom, I saw a school uniform with my name on it, and one with Carson's name too.

    "Morning Mikah," said a voice.

    I turned around and saw mom with her coffee. "Hi, Mom. Do I need to wear this?" I asked her.

    "Sadly, yes Mikah," mom frowned. I rolled my eyes.

    "Could you wake up Tae and Carson please?" mom asked. I nodded, and went back to the room. When I got there, Taeyang was awake. 

    "Hey," Taeyang said sleepily.

    "Hey, could you help me wake up Carson?"

    "Sure."

    Taeyang and I woke Carson. Seventeen-year-old boys don't like waking up. We all got ready for school.

    When we got there, I followed Taeyang.

    "Why are you following me M?" Tae asked.

    "Because I don't know where I'm going," I snapped.

    Taeyang nodded and started to walk away. We came to a group of girls. They all hugged Taeyang. They started to talk.

    "OMG Tae! Ji-hoon asked me out on the bus!" one said. 

    "What!? He did?" Taeyang responded.

    "Who's Ji-hoon?" I asked.

    "Oh! Guys, this is my cousin, Mikah, she's new," Taeyang said.

    "Hi, I'm Jisoo," said one of the girls.

    "And I'm Chun Hee," said the other.

    "Nice to meet you," I said.

    RING! It was time to start the day.

    "See you guys in class. I need to bring Mikia to the office," Taeyang said over her shoulder..

    They waved goodbye. Taeyang and I walk to the office.  When we got there, a lady was sitting at a desk.

    "Well hello, Miss Kim," said the lady.

    "Hello, Mrs. Park," Taeyang answered. 

    "What can I do for you?" Mrs. Park asked.

    "My cousin needs help finding her classes. She's new," Taeyang told her while she introduced us.

    "Oh!  Hello Mikah, I'm Mrs. Park. Here is your class list for the quarter,"

    "Thank you," I said.

    I looked at my list as Taeyang and I walk out. My first class was math. 

    "What class does uncle teach?" I asked Taeyang.

    "Math. Why do you want to know?" she questioned.

    "I have math first and the teacher's name is Mr. Kim,"

    "Oh," Taeyang paused. "Fun, you have dad. Good luck with that, she said with a wink."  

Chapter 10: Help Me

    Taeyang showed me to the math room, 106. When Taeyang opened the door I saw Uncle Bae and the board.

    "Hello my daughter, what can I get for you?" Uncle Bae asked.

    The whole class laughed.

    "This is Mikah's first-class," Taeyang responded.

    "Okay! Class, this is Mikah. She is my niece," Uncle Bae told the  class.

    "Hello Mikah," The whole class said.

    "Hi," I said.

    "Could I have a hall pass please?" Taeyang asked.

    "Yes, you can my daughter," Uncle Bae answered.

    The class laughed again. I did too.

    "Have a seat next to Jisoo, my niece," 

    My cheeks started to blush. Taeyang left to go to her class.

    BEEP! The megaphone went off. "Could all kids who want to sign up for the talent show please go to the theater,"

    Kids started to leave. I stood up. Jisoo did too.

    I asked her, "You're doing the show too?"

    "Yes.  I'm doing a dance. What about you?"

    "Taeyang is making me sing one of the songs I wrote," I answered.

    "Cool," Jisoo said.

    We walked to the theater. There weren't a lot of kids in there. Jisoo and I wrote our names on a sheet of paper. We walked back to class.

    "Want to practice after school with me?" Jisoo asked me.

    "Sure, I'll bring Tae too," I said.

    "Cool."

    "How long till the show?" I asked Jisoo.

    "The show is in two weeks," she told me.

    In two weeks? How will I get the music done and edited? 

Chapter 11: Getting Started

    After school, I met with Jisoo. She waved at me. I waved back.

    "Where's Taeyang?" she asked me.

    "On her way," I replied. As I said that Taeyang walked up to us.
    "What's up?" Taeyang asked us.

    "Waiting for you, Tae," Jisoo said.

    Taeyang rolled her eyes. "Okay then. Let's go." We walked till Jisoo stopped. 

    "Here we are! My older sister's dance studio," Jisoo told us.

    We walked in. At the front desk there was a girl who looked similar to Jisoo.

    "Hey lil-sis," said the girl.

    "Hi, Young-mi. We're here to use one of the empty studios, " Jisoo said.

    "Go ahead girls," Young-mi answered.

    We walk into the first open room. Jisoo put on her sneakers and tied her hair back in a pony.

    "Show us what you got, M," Taeyang said.

    My eyes got big. I froze. I didn't know what to do. I hadn't sang in front of anyone in years.

    "I'll go first," said Jisoo.

    She turned on her music and started to dance. She was so good! I'd never known anyone that could dance like that!

    "How was that?" Jisoo asked.

    "I have no words," I said. Tae just nodded.

    "Now your turn, Mikah," Taeyang nudged me.

    I glared at her. "Fine, I'll go,"

    I closed my eyes and sang my song. The room went quiet. When I opened my eyes, Taeyang, Jisoo, and Young-mi were looking at me in awe!

Chapter 12: Story Time

    Young-mi drove Taeyang and me home. When we got there, it was dinner time. Taeyang and I sat at the table.

    "How was school, girls?" mom asked.

    "Fine. I made Mikah sign up for the talent show next Friday," Taeyang said.

    "Oh really, what are you doing, M?" dad asked.

    "Singing a song," I said.

    The table went quiet. everybody froze besides Taeyang.

    "You... you haven't sung in front of people in years M," Aunt Aera said.

    "She did in front of Jisoo, her older sister, and me," Taeyang told them.

    "Mikah? That's amazing. I'm so proud of you," mom said.

    I nodded,  "Tae made me!" I shouted a bit.

    "She was amazing," Taeyang paused, "I recorded it, see?"

    "You what?" I shouted again.

    Everybody watched it. I was even surprised when I heard it. Then they all looked at me.

    "What?" I asked.     

Chapter 13: Everybody Knows

    When I got to school the next day, everyone was whispering when I walked by. I looked at Jisoo.

    "What's going on?" I asked her.

    "You don't know? Well Taeyang posted..."

    I interrupted Jisoo," She posted the video? 

    "How do you know about the video?" Jisoo asked.

    "She showed my family at dinner last night," I said angrily.

    "Hey guys. What's wrong Mikah? You seem very mad," Taeyang said as she walked up.

    "Ya, because of you!" I shouted.

    "I was just helping, with the plan," Taeyang responded.