Secrets Unfold, 트레저 (Treasure)

The Team Gathers

*Later that day*

"I'll miss you!" Raemi wrapped her arms around Yongseo in a tight hug.

"I'll miss you too," Yongseo replied, holding on just as tight.

Their dad, standing by the door, raised an eyebrow. "Just don't be skipping your classes, missy."

Yongseo gave a playful salute. "Yes, sir, no skipping classes!"

"And if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out," their dad added with a soft smile.

Yongseo nodded. "Okay, thanks, Dad. Thanks for everything!" She took a deep breath, trying not to get too emotional. "You guys behave while I'm gone, okay?"

Raemi rolled her eyes. "Please, I'm the responsible one. You just focus on keeping your attendance above zero."

As they waved goodbye, Yongseo turned to find Hyunsuk leaning against his bike a few houses down, smirking.

"You sure have a lovely family," he said with a teasing grin, clearly having watched the whole heartwarming scene.

"Yeah, thanks," Yongseo replied, smiling but trying to shake off the sentimentality. "Don't get used to seeing me this soft, though."

Hyunsuk chuckled, hopping on his bike. "Too late. I've got it all on my mental record. You're a total softie."

Yongseo laughed as she climbed on the back of the bike. "Great. Now I'll never live it down."

*Later that day*

Yongseo glanced at the clock. She still had five hours before the meeting with Treasure, which gave her plenty of time to tackle her assignments. She casually refreshed her emails and noticed one from Yang and Lee Associates. Her eyes narrowed as she clicked it open.

"Your resignation has been accepted," the email read, followed by a long list of policies about what she was forbidden to disclose.

Yongseo scoffed, rolling her eyes so hard they practically did a full 360. "Oh, finally! Took you long enough," she muttered sarcastically. Then, with a flourish, she gave her laptop screen the accusing finger as if Mr. Yang himself could feel it through the pixels.

"Yeah, take that," she whispered triumphantly, smirking to herself.

Without another thought, she pulled up her assignments. "Alright, time to do something useful for once—like my grades. Maybe they'll actually pay me on time," she mumbled, typing furiously as if she was waging a personal war on her homework.

*Later that day after 5 hours*

Jihoon was the first to arrive at the meeting hall, as usual. After their gym session, the rest of the members had gone to shower, but punctual Jihoon was already there, chilling. He heard a soft knock on the door, which opened to reveal a startled-looking Yongseo.

"Relax," said Jihoon with a grin. "Everyone's going to be late by at least 15 minutes. Fashionably sweaty, you know?"

Yongseo let out a relieved breath. "Oh, good. I thought I was late for once."

Jihoon glanced at his wristwatch. "You're actually on time for once. A miracle, really."

She rolled her eyes and took a seat next to him. "You know, you don't have to call me out like that."

"So," Jihoon said, leaning back, "is your family cool with you suddenly being MIA?"

"Yeah, they're fine," Yongseo shrugged. "Didn't exactly tell them I quit my job though. I just told them I was going away for work."

Before Jihoon could respond, the door creaked open again, and Hyunsuk strutted in with his signature grin.

"What's up, early birds? What're we gossiping about?"

"Just asking if her family's cool with her 'mysterious disappearance,'" Jihoon replied, air quotes and all. "Especially her mom."

Hyunsuk frowned, confused. "Wait, but... I didn't see your mom when we were at your place."

Yongseo sighed dramatically. "That's because she's not around anymore. She's, uh, in a better place now."

Hyunsuk's face fell. "Oh... I'm really sorry."

Yongseo waved it off casually. "It's cool. She's probably having a better time than all of us stuck in this room."

Jihoon chimed in, "Yeah, no deadlines, no awkward meetings, just eternal peace. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal."

Yongseo smirked. "Exactly. She's winning."

Hyunsuk let out a soft laugh. "Okay, that's... dark, but fair."

As the members burst into the meeting hall, the energy was like a caffeine-fueled parade. "Hey Miss Yongseo, how's it hanging?" Jeongwoo asked, practically bouncing into the room. The rest of the members followed, greeting her with enthusiastic waves and cheers.

Junghwan plopped down next to Yongseo and asked, "So, what's the grand plan for your cash after this mission? Buying a yacht or just taking over the world?"

Yongseo chuckled, "First, I'll use it to pay and save for college fees, then I'll give a chunk to Dad, and the rest I'll invest in something less glamorous—probably stocks."

Jaehyuk chimed in with a grin, "Helping Dad out, huh? You're like the superhero of good deeds."

Yongseo rolled her eyes playfully, "Well, I kind of owe him. He raised me like his own, even though I'm technically his stepdaughter. Plus, I promised him a lifetime supply of socks if I ever made it big."

Yongseo expected a chuckle or two, but the room was as silent as a library during finals. Everyone stared at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Did I just drop a bomb or something?" Yongseo asked, raising an eyebrow.

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Author's Notes

Hey there, lovely readers! 🎉 Buckle up because Yongseo's journey just got even crazier! In this chapter, we dive into heartfelt farewells, secret identities, and the not-so-secret love for food. 

Watch out as she tries to balance college life, idol adventures, and her newfound status as a "superhero of good deeds." 

So, grab your favorite snack, get comfy, and prepare for more of Yongseo's hilarious antics—because if her life were a movie, it would be a comedy with a splash of chaos! 🍕💥 Enjoy the read!

-Cloud 10/16