+ MISSION HUH? +

Andrea and Taeyong stepped into the cafeteria, the scent of freshly made food mingling with the low hum of chatter. Her eyes darted to the back of the room, where her friends were gathered at a table, their laughter echoing faintly in the distance. A buzz of excitement coursed through her veins—she couldn't wait to see their reactions.

Victoria was mid-conversation with Haechan, her animated gestures punctuating her words, when she glanced up and spotted Andrea approaching. Her words faltered as her jaw dropped, her expression morphing into dramatic disbelief. "What the fuck—oh, sweet mother of pearl, hello!" she exclaimed, dragging out the last word as her eyes scanned Andrea from head to toe.

The outburst immediately caught the attention of the group. Heads turned in unison, their conversations coming to an abrupt halt. The first to react was Mark, whose eyes widened comically as he leaned forward to take a better look. "Dude, the yellow?" he said, his tone hovering somewhere between amazement and awe.

Renjun sat back in his chair, his grin sharp and approving. "I approve," he announced, his voice carrying a teasing lilt.

Haechan, however, was less composed. He let out an exaggerated scream, springing to his feet with theatrical flair. He circled around Andrea with slow, deliberate steps, squinting as though he were a fashion critic inspecting every detail. "I just need to—hold up—get the full 360," he muttered, waving his hand dramatically before striking a mock serious pose.

Jisung, seated quietly on the edge of the group, blinked a few times as though trying to process what he was seeing. Then, a small, genuine smile tugged at his lips. "You look great!" he said, his voice sincere as he gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Amidst the chaos, Jeno and Chenle exchanged wide-eyed glances, their mouths slightly agape in disbelief. Slowly, as if pulled by some invisible string, their heads swiveled toward Jaemin with matching mischievous grins. Chenle draped an arm over Jaemin's shoulder, the weight of his intention clear. "So," he began, his voice dripping with playful menace. "What do you think of it, Jaem?"

It was obvious they were teasing him, but Jaemin didn't flinch. He remained calm, his gaze lifting to meet Andrea's. Unlike the playful chaos around him, his expression softened with quiet sincerity. He turned his head fully toward her, his lips curving into a gentle smile. "You look beautiful, Drea," he said simply, his voice steady and warm.

Andrea felt her heart skip, her cheeks growing warm. She'd been flattered by everyone's compliments, their enthusiasm fueling her confidence, but something about Jaemin's words made her feel... cherished. His sincerity wrapped around her like a soft blanket, and for a fleeting moment, the noise of the cafeteria faded into the background. She returned his smile, her eyes glimmering with gratitude.

Andrea let out a laugh, her earlier nerves completely replaced by the warmth of her friends' support.

Andrea thanked everyone. She slid into the seat beside Victoria. Taeyong had brought her food which she had thanked him for as well. As the conversation around the table flowed like a lively river, Victoria leaned in conspiratorially, her perfectly arched eyebrow lifting for dramatic effect.

The two had been giggling about their transformations—how Andrea had finally conquered her fear of bangs "You look like a chic 90s rockstar," Victoria had declared. But Victoria's sudden gasp made Andrea freeze, mid-sip of her drink.

"Girl, I have to tell you something later when it's just us," Victoria whisper-shouted, her voice barely containing an undertone of mischief. Her words hung in the air, and Andrea's overactive imagination spun into overdrive.

Andrea's face scrunched up as if the weight of the world suddenly rested on her shoulders. "What? Are we gonna die? Do we have to sacrifice someone?" Her voice rose with mock panic, dramatic enough to rival an Oscar contender. She jabbed a thumb toward their friend seated at the end of the table. "Dibs on Mark."

"Excuse me?" Mark retorted, his tone a perfect cocktail of indignation and confusion.

Victoria snorted into her drink, smirking as she twirled her straw. "No, ma'am, it's about Jaemin."

Andrea's eyes widened in alarm, and before she could stop herself, she shouted over the table, "We're sacrificing Jaemin?!"

The sudden shift in the room's energy felt like a collective intake of breath. All heads turned toward Andrea as Jaemin, ever unflappable, tilted his head in mild bemusement. "Pardon?" he said, his calm exterior a fortress of serenity against the growing chaos. His gaze was steady, but there was a faint gleam of curiosity in his eye.

Victoria, barely able to contain her laughter, waved her hands frantically. "No! Oh my God, no!" She dissolved into giggles, clutching her side. "Just... continue whatever you're doing." She narrowed her eyes at Andrea with playful accusation. "And you," she pointed dramatically, as if delivering an edict from God, "stop yelling. I'll tell you later."

Andrea huffed, crossing her arms. The curiosity bubbling inside her felt like it was going to burst. "Fine," she muttered, but her mind was already racing with possibilities, each more ridiculous than the last.

As if on cue, Jaeda walked up to their table, her smile radiating a warmth that contrasted sharply with the imposing presence of the two bodyguards flanking her. Their stoic faces were unreadable, their bulging muscles straining against the tailored suits they wore, making Andrea wonder just what kind of world Jaeda lived in that required such constant vigilance.

"Hello," Jaeda began, her voice smooth and reassuring. "I came by just to say that this is your house now, make yourself at home."

The friends exchanged quick glances, their suspicions quietly simmering beneath polite smiles. Jaeda's hospitality seemed almost too good to be true, given the whirlwind of events that had led them to her mansion's grand dining hall.

Still, the unspoken questions lingered. Why were they being treated so lavishly? What did Jaeda gain from this? It wasn't long before Mark leaned in and whispered, "What's up with her? It's scary."

Andrea shrugged, trying to suppress the growing unease. "Maybe she just likes company? Or maybe she's hiding something," she replied, her gaze darting back to Jaeda, who was now exchanging quiet words with one of the bodyguards.

Victoria decided to focus on the positive. "Well, for now we just lay low. When was the last time any of us stayed in a place this fancy? This shit makes me feel so royal."

Andrea nodded slowly, though her mind continued to spin with curiosity and doubt. She resolved to keep a close eye on their enigmatic hostess. Something told her that the real story behind Jaeda's generosity was far more complex than it appeared.

+++++

trust i wanted to write more for this chapter but its 5:38 am rn and my eyelids are so heavy rn