Only one? [male Chaeyoung x TWICE]

(16) light of hope

[one night]

The bar was as lively as ever, the neon lights flickering against the dim interior as music pulsed in the background. Chaeyoung and Dahyun were stationed at the corner of the room, cleaning tables and serving drinks. It wasn't exactly glamorous work, but it paid well, and both of them had grown used to the rowdy energy of the place.

Tonight, however, things were a little more chaotic. The stage at the center of the bar hosted a group of amateur performers trying to mimic some kind of cabaret act, and it was... less than impressive.

"Can you believe this?" Dahyun whispered to Chaeyoung as they wiped down a table. She motioned toward the stage with a tilt of her head.

Chaeyoung glanced up, struggling to keep a straight face as one of the performers tripped over their own feather boa. "This might be the worst thing I've ever seen," he muttered, shaking his head.

Dahyun smirked. "It's like a train wreck. You don't want to watch, but you can't look away."

They exchanged a look before bursting into quiet laughter, careful not to draw attention from the bar's patrons.

"Alright, let's focus," Chaeyoung said, straightening up. "The sooner we finish cleaning, the sooner we can leave."

Dahyun nodded, though she couldn't resist glancing at the stage one last time. "You're right. Let's get this over with before they decide to do an encore."

As their shift wound down, they worked in sync, collecting empty glasses and wiping down surfaces with practiced ease. Despite the chaos around them, they managed to find humor in the situation, exchanging quips and inside jokes as they went.

When the last table was cleared and the chairs were stacked, Dahyun let out a sigh of relief. "Finally. I thought we'd never get out of here."

Chaeyoung chuckled, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. "Ready to call it a night?"

"Not quite," Dahyun said, her eyes lighting up. "I need to grab some groceries. Come with me?"

Chaeyoung checked his phone, scrolling through his schedule. "Sure, I'm free tomorrow, so I don't mind staying up late. Let's go."

They stepped outside into the crisp night air, the noise of the bar fading behind them. The city streets were still alive with activity, cars rushing by and the occasional pedestrian hurrying along the sidewalk.

"It's getting cold," Dahyun murmured, tucking her hands into her jacket pockets.

Chaeyoung noticed her small shivers and stopped walking. "Hold on," he said, pulling off his backpack. After a moment of rummaging, he pulled out a pair of gloves and held them out to her.

Dahyun blinked in surprise. "You carry gloves around?"

"Always prepared," he said with a grin. "Take them. You look like you're freezing."

Dahyun hesitated for a moment before accepting the gloves, slipping them on. They were warm and slightly too big, but she didn't mind. "Thanks," she said softly.

"No problem," Chaeyoung replied, his hands now tucked into his jacket pockets.

As they walked toward the grocery store, Dahyun couldn't help but steal glances at him. The way he had noticed her discomfort and acted so casually about it—it wasn't the first time he had surprised her with his kindness.

By the time they reached the grocery store, Dahyun had managed to shake off her thoughts. The familiar warmth of the store's interior was a welcome change from the cold outside, and she grabbed a basket as they began wandering the aisles.