Secrets Unfold, 트레저 (Treasure)

Emotional Breakdown? Check. Villain Arc? Double Check!

Meanwhile, Yongseo's hands found their way to her head as she tried to connect all the dots. The anxiety was creeping in faster than she could handle, and her breathing was getting heavier. Sensing this, Doyoung immediately got up from his seat and rushed over. "Whoa, whoa, Yongseo, breathe. Breathe in like you just smelled fresh pastries, okay? Calm and slow."

Junkyu, in his classic comforting tone, added, "You've got this. Deep breaths. Think of it this way—you now have an epic superhero backstory. And hey, if you ever need extra motivation for revenge on YLA, well... this is it."

But instead of feeling empowered, Yongseo let out a shaky breath that quickly turned into a river of tears. "I... can't," she whispered between sobs, completely overwhelmed.

Jaehyuk, always trying to lighten the mood, leaned in and said, "Okay, let's not cry too much, or we'll need a raft to get out of here. But seriously, we're with you. You don't have to carry this alone."

Yongseo let out a teary laugh, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "You guys are so ridiculous. Here I am, having a breakdown, and you're making jokes about needing a boat?"

Junghwan grinned, "Hey if laughter doesn't heal you, it at least keeps you distracted. Plus, crying burns calories, so there's a silver lining, right?"

Jihoon chimed in, "And if you need to scream or punch something, feel free. Just... not my face. It's kinda my money-maker."

Yongseo chuckled through her tears. "You guys are the worst... but in the best way possible."

"You can do this, Yongseo. You're strong. Your family, your mom—she'd be so proud of what you're doing right now," Jihoon said with that heartfelt, leader-like tone he sometimes pulls out. "And honestly, we're all proud too. Treasure is proud to have fans like you, Yongseo."

The room filled with nods and murmurs of agreement. Jihoon, always ready to get some extra backup, looked over at Hyunsuk. "Right, Hyunsuk hyung?"

Everyone turned to Hyunsuk... who was now also crying, completely out of the blue.

"Wait—are you crying?" Jeongwoo asked, his face equal parts confused and amused.

Hyunsuk sniffled and nodded, wiping his eyes dramatically. "Yeah, I just... it's so emotional, okay? We're gonna get through this!"

Yongseo, blinking through her tears, couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Hyunsuk, a whole leader of an idol group, sobbing along with her. "Okay, okay, I think I'm gonna need some hot chocolate after this. That's my comfort drink," she said, sniffling but with a small smile starting to form. "Thanks for cheering me up, I really do feel better now."

Jaehyuk jumped up like a man on a mission. "Say no more, I'll get you that hot chocolate. Does anyone else want anything? Hyunsuk hyung? More tissues for those tears?"

Hyunsuk shook his head, trying to pull himself together. "I'm good... Just water. I'm on a diet," he muttered, like crying wasn't already burning enough calories.

Haruto raised his hand like they were in class. "Jaehyuk hyung, can I get hot chocolate too? Actually, make that extra marshmallow. I'm feeling fancy today."

Junghwan chimed in, "Yeah, me too! With whipped cream, if possible. You know, for the vibes."

Jaehyuk sighed, mock rolling his eyes at the youngest members. "Sure, sure. Is anyone else while I'm at it? Full café service over here."

Yoshi, with his usual calm tone, added, "I'll have a nice hibiscus tea, please."

Jaehyuk stared at him like he just ordered a five-course meal. "Of course, you'd pick the one thing that sounds like it's from a fancy spa. You got it."

As Jaehyuk headed out, Yongseo shook her head, feeling lighter than she had in days. "You guys are something else, you know that?"

Jihoon grinned. "Hey, we're just doing our jobs. Emotional support idols at your service."

"And hot chocolate baristas, apparently," Haruto added with a laugh.

Yongseo smiled, feeling a strange mix of comfort and chaos. "You guys really are the best."

*The next day*

"Are you okay?" Hyunsuk asked as Yongseo stepped out of the building.

"Yep!" Yongseo replied, giving a dramatic thumbs-up. "I'm ready!"

Hyunsuk raised an eyebrow. "Ready for what exactly?"

"To study... and to take revenge on Yang Seomyeon," she said, with a tone that was way too intense for 7 a.m.

Hyunsuk smirked. "Ah, now we have more in common."

Yongseo glanced at him, confused. "Wait, you're studying too?"

Hyunsuk shrugged. "Nope, just the revenge part. You know, typical Tuesday stuff."

Yongseo burst out laughing. "Well, at least I'll have someone to help with both my assignments and my villain arc!"

Hyunsuk grinned. "I'll bring the coffee; you bring the dramatic monologues."

*Later that day*

Yongseo smirked as she worked on her assignments, but not because she was killing it academically—nope, she was imagining exposing Yang Seomyeon. The guy was a walking "Villain of the Year" award. Not only did he murder her mom and several other innocent people, but he also cheated more than a kid with a pocketful of Uno reverse cards. Leaving YLA? Best decision of her life, hands down.

Looking back, she realized how shady Yang Seomyeon had been all along. He was always weirdly grumpy whenever she was happy. Like that one time she asked for a day off to go to Treasure's fan sign event—he looked like she'd just asked for his kidney. He tried everything to stop her from going, probably hoping she'd end up hating Treasure because they worked for a rival company. The joke's on him though, because the real plot twist was that he was the fraud all along!

Oh, and the whole exporting drugs and illegal weapons thing? Yeah, she knew all about it—hiding them in YLA-manufactured furniture like a bad mobster movie. Too bad she didn't have proof, because let's face it, Yang Seomyeon was sneakier than a cat in a ninja suit. He probably knew she was plotting against him now, but hey, let the games begin!

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Author's Notes

Hey, you delightful chaos lovers! 🎉Yongseo's life just leveled up to superhero status! Who knew family secrets could come with a side of hot chocolate and emotional support from a bunch of wannabe baristas? ☕✨

Join Yongseo as she navigates the ups and downs of her new identity while plotting her revenge against the ultimate villain, Yang Seomyeon. Spoiler alert: He's not just a bad boss; he's a cartoon-level baddie! 🎭

So buckle up for a wild ride filled with drama, laughter, and a sprinkle of hot cocoa goodness. Because if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that revenge is best served with a side of marshmallows! Enjoy! 🥳

-Cloud 10/25