Only one? [male Chaeyoung x TWICE]

(19) delighful

The three of them were piled into Jeongyeon's beat-up car, the engine roaring to life as she sped out of the parking lot.

"Where are we going?" Jihyo asked, clutching the dashboard as Jeongyeon took a sharp turn.

"To find answers," Jeongyeon said, her eyes focused on the road.

"There's a guy I know. He deals with...

Let's just say underground information. If anyone knows who those men are, it's going to be him."

Nayeon sat silently in the backseat, staring out the window as the streetlights blurred past.

Her hands were clenched in her lap, her mind replaying the moment Chaeyoung was taken over and over again.

"He didn't even think about himself," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jeongyeon glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "That's Chaeyoung for you. Reckless idiot. But he's our idiot, and we're not leaving him behind."

The words struck something deep in Nayeon, and she blinked back fresh tears.

They arrived at a dingy building on the outskirts of the city, its neon sign flickering weakly.

Jeongyeon led the way, her expression hard as stone. Inside, the smell of smoke and alcohol hit them like a wall, but Jeongyeon strode forward without hesitation.

At a corner table, a man with a scar across his cheek looked up from his drink. His eyes narrowed as he recognized Jeongyeon.

"Jeongyeon," he drawled, leaning back in his chair. "What brings you here?"

"Information," she said bluntly, crossing her arms. "There were men in black suits at the dance tonight. Took two people—a guy and a girl. I need to know who they work for and where they're taking them."

The man raised an eyebrow. "That's a tall order."

Jeongyeon stepped closer, her tone dropping. "Do I look like I'm in the mood for games?"

The man held up his hands. "Alright, alright. You're talking about the Steel Vipers, yeah? They do dirty work for one of the big players in the underground scene. I'd bet anything they're taking your friends to one of their safehouses near the docks."

"The docks?" Jihyo echoed.

The man nodded. "Yeah. Abandoned warehouses—lots of places to hide. But be careful—those guys don't mess around."

Jeongyeon turned on her heel, her eyes blazing with determination. "Thanks. Come on, we've got work to do."

As they headed back to the car, Nayeon grabbed Jeongyeon's arm. "Do you think we can really get them back?"

Jeongyeon looked at her, her gaze steady. "We're not leaving them there, Nayeon. Not Chaeyoung. Not Mina. We'll get them back, no matter what it takes."

And for the first time that night, Nayeon felt a glimmer of hope.

Jeongyeon's car sped down the darkened streets as the three friends sat in heavy silence. The adrenaline of the night's events was fading, replaced by exhaustion and the bitter sting of helplessness.

After what felt like an eternity, Jeongyeon broke the quiet. "There's something I need to tell you," she said, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Jihyo and Nayeon turned to her, their curiosity momentarily distracting them from their despair.

"My dad," Jeongyeon began, her voice steady but low, "is an FBI chief. He's been tracking a group involved in human trafficking and illegal deals with big people—the same group that those men in black likely work for."