𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙎 || TWICE FF

CHAPTER 22

Y/N's POV

Jihyo parked the car in front of the mall, the engine cutting off with a soft purr. We all got out, assembling on the sidewalk. I glanced back to see Jihyo still in the driver's seat, her fingers drumming on the wheel.

She lowered the window and leaned out, her gaze sweeping over us. "Remember, be careful... but have fun at the same time, okay?" Her words were laced with that classic blend of caution and encouragement.

We all nodded, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes a bit at the predictability of her advice.

Chaeyoung squinted slightly, calculating our timeline. "After the mall, we're going straight to the party, so could you pick us up around... 12 PM?"

Jihyo's lips curved into a teasing smile. "Who said I'm going to come pick you guys up? Most likely we'll all be fast asleep by then. You'll have to find your own way home," she snickered.

My jaw dropped, and a heavy silence fell over our group. I caught a glimpse of the others from the corner of my eye, all wearing identical expressions of disbelief.

Tzuyu's eyes went wide with alarm. "But how are we going to do that? If we ask someone we know to take us, we'll end up revealing our location. And if we take the bus that leaves us closest to the house, we'll still have to walk for about half an hour to get there—assuming there's even a bus running that late."

Jihyo shrugged, her hands still resting on the wheel. "I don't know, if you guys are old enough to go to a party, you're also old enough to get home by yourselves." She smiled, rolling up the window and looking ahead, only to roll it back down quickly. She turned to Dahyun with an apologetic look. "And sorry for forgetting you at home."

With that, Jihyo rolled the window back up, started the car, and drove off, leaving us staring after her.

Chaeyoung's eyes remained fixed on the street where Jihyo's car had disappeared. "I knew there was a catch. She never lets us go to parties that easily."

ding

The sound of my phone chiming drew everyone's attention. I pulled it out of my back pocket, glancing at the notification before turning my gaze toward the mall.

"They're waiting for us in the food court," I declared, heading towards the entrance with purpose. I could hear the footsteps of the three girls behind me, so I didn't stop until we reached the top floor where the food court was bustling with activity. It was a busy day, with almost all the tables occupied. After scanning the area, I finally spotted them. They were deep in conversation, but as soon as they saw us approaching, they stood up with smiles, waving their hands excitedly.

We greeted each other warmly, and the three new girls introduced themselves to the rest of the group.

Before sitting down, we pushed two tables together so we could all fit and started chatting.

"So, have you eaten yet?" I asked, tilting my head curiously.

Chaeryeong shook her head, crossing her arms. "No, we were waiting for you to order something."

"There are some good discounts at McDonald's," Yuna added, her eyes glued to the screen of her phone.

Ryujin sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "All you eat is McDonald's."