Matt Wel, 15 years old, from Australia..
Matt was on his way to school when he ran into his best friend, Ronnie Orf, who, as usual, was laughing and joking around with others.
At school, they spent a fun day together, and afterward, they headed to the mall. Matt arrived home first, while Ronnie continued alone. Suddenly, Ronnie heard someone calling him from behind—a group of troublemakers from school: Jack, Michael, Tom, and their leader, Jack.
Jack: "Hey, Ronnie... What do you want?"
Ronnie: "What do *you* want?"
Jack (laughing): "What do you think? Just hand over your phone, and we'll leave you alone."
Ronnie: "And why should I?"
Jack: "Come on, just give it to us, or we'll take it by force."
Ronnie kicked Jack hard, causing him to fall, and then ran away. But Jack was furious and shouted at Michael.
Michael: "You want me to teach him a lesson?"
Jack: "No, we'll deal with him at school."
Meanwhile, Matt was at home, studying in his room. After finishing his homework, he decided to draw. There was a knock on his door, and his sister, Lona, entered.
Lona: "Hey, big bro!"
Matt: "Hey, Lona."
Lona: "Are you going to draw today?"
Matt: "Yeah."
Lona: "What's your subject today?"
Matt: "My canvas is my best friend, Ronnie."
Lona: "Yeah, he's such a nice and kind person."
Matt: "Yeah."
Matt's father, Steve Wel, is a famous chemist and data specialist in Australia.
While Matt was drawing, he heard his father's loud voice. He went to see what was happening and found his father talking on the phone. Matt waited until his father finished the call.
Matt: "What's up, Dad?"
Steve: "There's an American researcher named Robson Lanks who wants me to assist him in the lab. He's coming here to Australia to meet me, even though he's never met me before. It's like he doesn't know I'm a famous chemist in Australia."
Matt: "And what now?"
Steve: "Nothing. I told him I'm not interested, and he said, 'As you wish. I'll find someone else.'"
Matt: "Yeah, I get it."
The next day, Jack, Tom, and Michael were standing in front of the school, talking.
Jack: "I want to teach Ronnie a lesson he'll never forget today."
Michael: "Yeah, but only because he kicked you."
Jack: "Yeah, and if I'd seen him yesterday, I would've beaten him up."
Tom: "But where are we gonna hit him? In front of the teachers and the principal?"
Jack: "No, you idiot! We'll do it in the courtyard during the second break, near the bathroom door."
Michael: "What if he doesn't go in?"
Jack: "We'll hit him in the courtyard in front of everyone. We've punished people before, but I hope he goes to the bathroom so I can beat him up properly."
During the second break, the group waited for Ronnie near the bathroom. When he arrived, they did what they planned and beat him up. After they left, Ronnie came out of the school, exhausted, his face covered in blood and bruises.
Everyone returned to class after the break, but no one noticed Ronnie's absence. The teacher noticed and asked the students...
Teacher: "Where's Ronnie?"
Students: "We don't know."
Teacher: "Jack and his gang..."
Tom: "No, no, no! We don't know anything, and it's none of our business."
Teacher: "Then why are you so scared?"
Jack intervened: "It's normal. He's got nothing to do with us, and Tom's just scared he'll get blamed for something."
Teacher: "Hmm, we need to find him because the lesson is important. Matt, go look for him. He's your close friend, after all."
Matt left to search for Ronnie around the school but couldn't find him. He went to the principal...
Matt: "Hello."
Principal: "Hello, Matt. What do you need?"
Matt: "Ronnie was here at the start of school, but now he's gone, and no one saw him leave."
Principal: "Are you sure?"
Matt: "Yes, I've looked everywhere for him."
Principal: "Alright, go back to your class. I'll call his parents to see if he went home."
Matt: "No, please! I need to make sure he's okay."
Principal: "As you wish."
The principal called Ronnie's parents...
Principal: "Hello, Mr. Jad. This is the principal of Ronnie's school."
Jad: "Hello, what can I do for you?"
Principal: "I wanted to know if Ronnie is at home."
Jad: "No, isn't he at school?"
Principal: "He was here at the start of school, but now he's gone. We thought he might have gone home."
Jad: "No, he's not at home. What should we do now?"
Principal: "Don't worry. Maybe he went to a friend's house or somewhere to rest for a bit."
Jad: "Alright... Goodbye."
Principal: "Goodbye."
The students returned to their homes, and Matt arrived at his house, visibly upset...
Steve: "What's wrong, Matt?"
Matt: "It's Ronnie."
Steve: "What happened to him?"
Matt: "He's disappeared, and no one knows where he is."
Steve: "He's not at school or at home?"
Matt: "No. I hope he comes back tomorrow and tells me what happened."
Steve: "I hope so too..."
Matt went up to his room, finished his studies, and then worked on his painting. As he painted, he talked to himself...
Matt: "Did Ronnie go to a friend's house? Did something happen to him, and he's in a coma? Was he kidnapped? What?! No, no...! He was kidnapped, and he's somewhere right now. I'm sure of it. What will happen if he was kidnapped? No... I can't believe that."
After finishing his painting, he stood back and admired it.
Matt: "I hope I'll see you tomorrow, my dear friend." Then he went to sleep.