Only one? [male Chaeyoung x TWICE]

(7) why him?

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Mina's luxury penthouse, illuminating the sleek furniture and impeccable decor.

She groaned softly, squinting against the light as she sat up on her couch, clutching her head. Mina felt like someone knocked her out yesterday on how her headache hurt so much.

Her memories of the previous night were a jumbled mess. She remembered going to the bar with her friends, ordering drinks, laughing, and then...

nothing.

Her gaze fell on the empty water bottle on the coffee table, and a faint crease appeared on her brow. She didn't remember getting that. In fact, she didn't remember coming home at all.

'Did I call someone? No... I don't think I did...' 

Mina rubbed her temples, trying to piece together the missing moments.

Her purse was still on the floor where she must have dropped it, and her shoes were neatly set to the side. Someone had brought her home, that much was clear, but who? She thought about asking her friends, but Mina was hesitant to admit she had blacked out.

It was unlike her to lose control like that, and the idea of showing any vulnerability made her uncomfortable. Pacing the living room, she tried to retrace her steps. The vague impression of a voice lingered in her mind—low and calm, with a tone of quiet authority.

'Who was it?'

Unable to come up with answers, Mina sat back down and sighed. Her pride bristled at the thought of relying on someone else, but the situation gnawed at her curiosity. Whoever had helped her had shown a kindness she wasn't used to.

With no leads and no way to ask without risking embarrassment, Mina decided to let it go—for now.

But a part of her couldn't help but feel a flicker of frustration and... gratitude. She brushed it off quickly, muttering to herself, "It doesn't matter. Whoever it was, they're not important."

But as she went about her morning, Mina found herself distracted, her thoughts drifting back to the mystery of her night.

'Whoever it was, why did they help me?'

Mina pulled herself together, slipping into her usual polished routine. After a long shower and a much-needed coffee, she carefully selected her outfit—a crisp white blouse tucked into a pleated skirt with designer loafers.

The headache still lingered, but her sharp appearance betrayed nothing of her rough morning.

She called her driver as usual, her tone curt and professional, but as she stepped out of the apartment, she noticed the doorman standing at his post.

An idea struck her.

If anyone had seen her come home, it would have been him. She smoothed her hair and walked over casually, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "Good morning, Mr. Lee," Mina greeted with a practiced smile.

"Good morning, Miss Myoui," the doorman replied, tipping his hat politely. 

Mina hesitated for only a fraction of a second before continuing. "Last night... someone brought me home. Did you happen to see who it was?" Her tone was light, as though she already knew the answer and was simply confirming.

The doorman furrowed his brow in thought. "Ah, yes. A young man helped you in. He was very polite and well-dressed. Not someone I recognize as a regular visitor." Mina's heart skipped a beat, though she didn't show it.

"Anything else you noticed about him?" The doorman nodded, recalling the details. 

"He was on the taller side, had a neat appearance, and he had a mole just under his lip. Quite distinctive." The description hit Mina like a bolt of clarity.

There was no doubt in her mind who it was.

Son Fucking Chaeyoung.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.

'Him?'

Of all people, she hadn't expected Chaeyoung to be the one who helped her. She replayed their earlier encounters in her mind—the arguments, the biting comments—and felt an uncomfortable mix of embarrassment and curiosity. After all the mean things she had done the past few months, why would Chaeyoung help her?

"Thank you," she said smoothly, masking her thoughts. As she slid into her car moments later, Mina stared out the window, her mind racing.

'Why would he help me? And why didn't he say anything?'

The idea of confronting him crossed her mind, but Mina hesitated. For now, she'd keep this discovery to herself. But deep down, she knew this revelation had shifted something. She just wasn't sure what yet.

[small time skip]

The next few days were a blur of internal hatred for Mina. Every time she saw Chaeyoung around campus, a strange knot formed in her stomach. He always seemed so content, so unbothered by the world around him.

It was like he had everything figured out—something that frustrated her but also intrigued her. She saw him in the library one afternoon, his nose buried in a book, looking completely at ease with himself. His calmness was in sharp contrast to the storm swirling inside her.

'Why does it bother me so much?'

She caught herself glancing over at him, her thoughts all over the place. The memory of that night at the bar flooded her mind again—his steady hands, his voice guiding her, the way he had helped her home without a second thought. 'He was kind to me.'

That realization hit her harder than she expected. Mina had always prided herself on her ability to handle things on her own, to never let her guard down.

But Chaeyoung had seen through that mask, and somehow, that bothered her more than it should. Mina had never considered him much before, dismissing him as just another scholarship kid. But now, every time their paths crossed, her emotions swirled—was it frustration, or something else? She couldn't quite tell.

'Maybe I hate him for how easily he makes everything seem... so effortless.'

She found herself staring at him from across the courtyard one morning, watching as he joked around with Nayeon and Tzuyu. There was no tension in his movements, no sign of stress.

Just a calm smile and an ease in his voice as if he was perfectly content with his place in the world. But that only made her more confused.

'Is this what I hate? His ease, his kindness, his confidence? Or am I jealous?'

For the first time, Mina realized she didn't know how she felt about Chaeyoung. The more she thought about it, the more tangled her emotions became. There was part of her that wanted to ignore him, to keep pretending he didn't exist. But another part—the part she refused to acknowledge—was drawn to him, fascinated by the way he seemed so unaffected by everything, so steady in his own skin.

Mina tried to distract herself. She buried herself in her studies and tried to focus on everything but Chaeyoung. But no matter how hard she tried, there was always that little voice in the back of her mind asking,

'Why does he keep getting under my skin?'

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Writting a chapter after lunch is so... good. 

What ya'll think? Comment whatever yall think. It really makes an impact to what I want to write lol