Mikey stared at his parents, the air thick with tension. They had just shattered the foundation of his life, and he struggled to find the words. What did it even mean to have parents who were secret agents? He felt like he had just stepped into a spy movie, and all he wanted was to walk out of the theater and return to his normal life.
"You want me to be part of this?" he finally said, incredulous. "You just expect me to join some... secret organization because you say so? I'm not trained for anything like that!"
His mom sighed, the weight of the moment evident in her eyes. "Mikey, it's not that simple. We've kept you out of this world for your safety, but things are changing. We're in danger, and we need your help. We can't do this alone."
"Why now?" Mikey demanded, his voice rising. "What happened? Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?"
His dad rubbed his temples, clearly trying to keep his composure. "We received a threat. Someone is aware of us, and they're closing in. It's only a matter of time before they find you."
Mikey recoiled at the thought. The danger wasn't just hypothetical; it was real and imminent. "Find me? Why would they want to find me?"
"Because you're our son," his mom said, her voice firm. "They could use you against us. We can't let that happen. We need you to understand what's at stake."
Mikey felt the world tilt on its axis. The very foundation of his existence was crumbling, and he was left standing in the rubble. A cold sweat broke out across his back as he realized the magnitude of their situation. He had been living a lie, a comfortable bubble that had now burst.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly as he searched their faces for answers. They looked so serious, so composed. How could they be so calm when everything was falling apart?
"We want you to come with us," his dad replied. "We need you to be trained. You'll need skills that you don't have right now. If we're going to protect you, we have to prepare you for the reality of our lives."
Mikey felt his heart race. He was just a kid, barely out of high school. The idea of training to be a secret agent sounded ridiculous, yet the gravity of the situation pressed down on him like a weight he couldn't shake off.
"What kind of training?" he asked, his voice softer now.
"Physical training, strategic thinking, self-defense," his mom explained. "Everything you need to survive and protect yourself. It's a lot to take in, I know. But we believe you can handle it. You're stronger than you think."
"Stronger than I think," Mikey echoed, his mind racing. He felt anything but strong right now. He felt lost, terrified. How could he transition from a normal high school life to this?
"Look, Mikey," his dad said, leaning forward, urgency evident in his eyes. "We're not asking you to make a decision right now. We just want you to know the truth. You can choose to walk away, but if you do, you'll be putting yourself at risk. We'll still protect you, but you won't have the tools to protect yourself if something goes wrong."
A long silence stretched between them, the noise of the diner fading into the background. Mikey stared at his parents, searching for something—anything—that would make this easier to digest. But the reality was stark, cold, and inescapable.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm swirling inside him. "So, what happens next?" he asked, resigned to the situation. "If I agree to this... whatever it is, what do I need to do?"
His dad nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his face. "We'll start with basic training. We'll need to keep it a secret for now. You can't tell anyone—not your friends, not even your closest buddies. Not until it's safe."
Mikey's heart sank at the thought. Keeping this secret would mean lying to his friends, pretending that everything was normal. He had never been good at lying. The pressure of keeping such a massive secret weighed heavily on his conscience. But the alternative—leaving himself vulnerable—was even worse.
"Okay," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it. I'll train."
His parents exchanged a glance, a mix of pride and concern in their eyes. "Thank you, Mikey," his mom said softly. "We'll get through this together."
"Together." The word rang hollow in his ears. How could they be so sure? They were the ones who had been living a double life. They were the ones who had kept him in the dark for so long. What else were they hiding?
Suddenly, Mikey felt a rush of anger surge through him. "But why didn't you tell me sooner? I could have helped—"
"It wasn't safe," his dad interrupted firmly. "We had to protect you. We never intended for this to happen, but things have escalated. You need to trust us, Mikey. We're doing what we think is best for you."
Trust. The word felt foreign and bitter on his tongue. How could he trust them now? After everything they had kept from him, how could he believe they were acting in his best interest?
A lump formed in Mikey's throat, a mix of frustration and fear. "I don't know if I can do this," he admitted, feeling the weight of his decision. "I don't know if I'm cut out for it."
His mom reached across the table, her hand resting over his. "You are. You just need time to adjust. It won't be easy, but we'll be there every step of the way."
"Yeah, right," he muttered, pulling his hand away. "Every step of the way until you guys decide to disappear again."
His dad's expression hardened. "We're not going to leave you, Mikey. You have our word. But you need to understand that this is bigger than just us. We're fighting a battle that you can't even see right now."
The reality of that statement hit Mikey hard. His whole life had revolved around school, friends, and the trivial issues of teenage life. Now he was being thrust into a world of danger, espionage, and unknown enemies. How could he even begin to navigate that?
"I can't just drop everything," he said, desperation creeping into his voice. "I have friends, a life... school."
"You can finish school. We'll work around it," his mom reassured him. "We won't take everything from you. We just need you to understand that you're a part of this world now. Whether you like it or not, you'll be involved."
The thought was overwhelming. Mikey felt a knot in his stomach as he thought about what lay ahead. He had always dreamed of being something more than just an average kid—of making a difference—but this wasn't how he envisioned it. He didn't want danger or deception; he wanted to be normal.
But normal was a thing of the past now.
"I need time," he said finally, his voice steady but low. "Time to think."
"Take all the time you need," his dad replied, his tone softer now. "But remember, we're here for you. You're not alone in this."
Mikey nodded, though the words felt inadequate. He had a long road ahead, and uncertainty loomed like a dark cloud over him. He looked out the window, watching as the city lights began to twinkle in the dusk, feeling an ache in his chest for the life he once had.
The truth was out now, and there was no going back. He was at a crossroads, and as much as he wanted to resist, deep down he knew that whatever came next would change everything.
He just had to be ready for it.