42 | Reunion

***

Seohyun briefed the girls as she juggled her tablet and parachute, "In the left room, we've got a squad of 10 gunmen, whereas the right room houses six, including Mr. Lee. The Prime Minister occupies the right one. Outside, a total of ten more gunmen of them are protecting the rooms. There's a total of 20 innocent individuals in that left room by the way—I suspect Taeyeon Oppa is among them hence the heavier gunman presence."

Despite two CCTV cameras being out of commission, one remains functional, providing critical insight into the situation within both rooms."

Everyone nodded when they heard Seohyun's voice through an earpiece on their right ear.

"Okay, Yihyun and I will handle the left room, and Seohyun, you take the right with Jessica. Safety first, everyone, understood?" Tiffany directed, her focus alternating between her firearm and the team.

"And remember, once that door opens, the FBI will come storming in. Let's not push ourselves too hard," Jessica added, emphasizing the need for caution.

"Understood!" The girls chorused in unison, acknowledging the instructions.

After a brief pause, they meticulously plotted their descent and burst through the window, their entry causing the glass to shatter in all directions. Tiffany executed a flawless landing, gracefully touching down on her feet before swiftly engaging the gunmen to her left with two guns in both hands. Simultaneously, Yihyun unleashed a barrage of gunfire towards the assailants on the right, hitting them straight on their heads. The assailants, unable to withstand the onslaught, crumpled to the ground with resounding thuds.

Amidst the chaos, captive voices erupted into screams and cries, while some fumbled to capture the unfolding drama on their mobile devices. Meanwhile, Taeyeon, huddled beneath a nearby desk, squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears, recognizing the tumult as a signal of their impending rescue, even though he couldn't discern the identities of their saviors.

On the opposite flank, Jessica's entrance was marked by a cunning grin as she breached the window, her weapon trained squarely on Mr. Lee.

"Hello there, Mr. Lee. Fancy seeing you here," she taunted, not affording him a chance to respond before swiftly dispatching him with a single, precise shot to the head. As Mr. Lee crumpled to the ground, relinquishing his hold on the prime minister, chaos ensued.

Seohyun executed a flawless landing within the room, seamlessly dispatching the gunmen with expert precision, her shots finding their mark in their chests. In swift succession, she neutralized the three assailants before blasting the door open. Jessica swiftly dealt with an approaching threat while Seohyun swiftly took out the remaining adversaries inside the room, leaving them incapacitated before they could even react.

As reinforcements began to converge from outside, attempting to mount a defense against the gunmen, their efforts were swiftly thwarted as both the FBI and the Korean Police stormed the premises. Seohyun swiftly deployed tear gas outside, providing a tactical advantage to the advancing law enforcement, aiding them in overpowering the opposition.

"Goodness gracious," the Prime Minister uttered breathlessly, rendered speechless by the unfolding events. Despite his astonishment, a wave of relief washed over him, reassured by the apparent safety that now enveloped him.

Jessica approached the Prime Minister and swiftly untied him from his restraints. "I suggest you take cover and shield your ears, Sir. Our task is not yet complete," she advised, to which he promptly acquiesced, seeking refuge as instructed.

After a tense interval, Seohyun let out a sigh of relief as the figure of the approaching FBI agent came into view. With a subtle thumbs-up gesture, signaling the successful completion of their operation, a sense of accomplishment settled over them.

"Is it safe now?" The Prime Minister cautiously pokes his head out from beneath the desk, seeking reassurance amidst the lingering tension.

"It appears so," Jessica remarked as she helped him to his feet, her tone carrying a hint of cautious optimism.

Seohyun offered a reassuring smile to the Prime Minister before tossing a gas mask towards him, urging him to protect himself.

—

Struggling to catch her breath and shielded from the gas, Tiffany scanned the room anxiously, her eyes searching for Taeyeon among the crowd being escorted out by the police. Spotting him emerging from beneath the desk, relief flooded through her, and she hurried over to him without a word. Wrapping her arms tightly around him, she held him close.

Taeyeon, surprised by the sudden embrace of a woman wearing a leather jacket and pants, blinked in astonishment before instinctively returning the hug, his heart warming at the familiar touch.

"You're here," he whispered, his voice barely audible amid the chaos. "You're back, my love," he murmured, disbelief mingling with overwhelming relief as he held her close, grateful to have her back in his arms.

Tiffany pulled back after a while and held Taeyeon's face before she kissed him deeply for a couple of seconds before pulling back and smiling warmly at him. "Thanks for not getting hurt." she whispers, wiping the dust on his cheek tenderly.

Speechless, Taeyeon hugged her tighter, overwhelmed with gratitude for his survival and her timely return.

In an instant, a sharp noise pierced the air, jolting him to swivel his gaze rightward. There, he beheld one of the gunmen aiming his weapon at Tiffany's vulnerable back. Reacting on pure instinct, he swiftly pivoted her around, squeezing his eyes shut in anticipation of the impending gunfire...

BANG!

Yet, amidst the deafening report, he felt no impact. Opening his eyes tentatively, he found Tiffany hastily turning them both, her relief palpable as she witnessed Jessica's decisive action—her shot had neutralized the threat from the assailant's flank.

"Are you guys alright?" Jessica inquired with a smile, punctuated by a sudden sneeze. "Apologies for that, I'm still battling this fever."

"Thanks, Jess." Taeyeon exhaled, visibly relieved. "But are you okay?" His concern for Tiffany rushed to the forefront of his mind, prompting him to quickly scan her own body for any signs of injury.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Tiffany reassured, her voice steady despite the recent chaos. "It was an ambush mission; they didn't stand a chance to react." Her concern shifted back to him, her eyes scanning his form for any signs of harm. "But it's you I'm concerned about. You look unscathed, though," she added, a relieved smile gracing her lips.

"I managed to find a good spot to hide," Taeyeon admitted with a sheepish grin. 

"Let's get out of here, guys," Jessica declared, prompting Yihyun to hurriedly jog toward her. The couple followed closely behind, quickly joining the others in their exodus from the hotel. Seohyun caught up with them later, having made sure to hand over the remaining firearms she had confiscated at the scene.

***

As their vehicle glided smoothly past, the familiar sight of Namsan Tower and the bridge evoked a wave of nostalgia among the girls. In silence, they collectively absorbed the scene, allowing themselves to fully appreciate the beauty of South Korea. Despite their brief stay, they harbored hopes that this vibrant land might one day become their permanent sanctuary—a place they could finally call home.

Noticing the tranquil atmosphere, Taeyeon couldn't help but smile to himself. Steering them toward Yuri's residence filled him with a sense of contentment and belonging as if he were finally bringing them home to where they rightfully belonged. After all the passing years, this journey marked a long-awaited return to the place that should have been their home from the very start.

"Welcome home, girls," he broke his silence, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. The smiles that greeted him in return were equally heartfelt. "It's truly wonderful to have you back here," he continued, his words carrying a genuine sense of belonging and joy.

"Oppa, could we make a quick stop at a convenience store? I'm feeling parched," Yihyun piped up, her request drawing amused chuckles from the girls.

"Alright, let's swing by a gas station then," Taeyeon declared, steering the car towards the nearest fueling station.

Yihyun quickly hopped out of the car, while Seohyun made her way to the restroom. Jessica opted to remain, finding comfort in Tiffany's presence, her hand resting on Tiffany's yellow jacket she provided as she battled the flu. Meanwhile, Tiffany reached for Taeyeon's hand, intertwining their fingers as a gasoline attendant began filling their tank.

"How was Da-On?" Tiffany inquired softly, turning to Taeyeon with curiosity in her voice.

"It was stressful," Taeyeon admitted with a soft chuckle. "He threw a few tantrums the other day, but I'm glad I managed to handle it."

"He's missing his mother," Jessica muttered from the backseat, her tone carrying a hint of sympathy.

"It was his first time being away from me," Tiffany reflected, a sense of relief evident in her voice. "But I'm glad he took the truth well," she added, thankful she hadn't had to reveal the truth about Da-On's father.

"You wouldn't believe it, it happened so fast," Taeyeon shared, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I mean, I accidentally spilled it during our argument," he recounted, sharing the amusing anecdote with his son.

"I suppose emotions can sometimes blur the truth," she commented, prompting a gentle nod of agreement from Taeyeon.

After a while, Yihyun and Seohyun returned, and the gasoline attendant finished filling the tank. Taeyeon carefully maneuvered the car back onto the road, deciding to play some music. The soothing melodies brought comfort to the girls, and before long, they found themselves drifting off to sleep, lulled by the rhythmic hum of the engine and the gentle tunes filling the car.

"They're probably so tired." He softly commented, glancing at the sleeping Tiffany with a sweet smile.

***

As soon as they heard the car's engine outside, Yoona and Yuri rushed out of the house, their anticipation palpable. Spotting the girls approaching, they eagerly opened the car doors, enveloping Jessica and Seohyun in warm, tight embraces as soon as they stepped out of the car. Their relief was evident as they learned of the successful operation, filling them with gratitude and a profound sense of relief.

"Hey, am I not getting a hug?" Yihyun teased playfully, her eyes scanning the scene. It was Mr. Butter who answered her call, bounding over to her with tail wagging. As the couple savored their embrace, Yihyun knelt and embraced the golden retriever affectionately. "Well, hello there, Mr. Butter," she chuckled softly, returning the embrace. "I'm doing just fine, thank you."

"Yeah, the ever-so-friendly house dog," Taeyeon remarked with a fond smile, his hand gently caressing Mr. Butter's back.

Tiffany also felt the urge to join in, but before she could, Yuri finally released Jessica and enveloped her in a tight hug. Following Yuri's lead, Yoona did the same after exchanging a kiss with Seohyun.

"You girls did an excellent job," Yuri praised, her smile radiating pride as she looked at the trio.

"Thanks, Oppa. We simply completed the task at hand," Seohyun replied proudly, a smile gracing her lips.

"The training really paid off, didn't it?" Yoona couldn't contain his excitement, his hand intertwined with Seohyun's, earning a playful flick on the forehead in response. Yoona giggled at the gesture, her enthusiasm undiminished.

"Absolutely. By the way, where's our Da-On?" Tiffany wasted no time, leading the rest inside the villa house. She soon found Da-On sleeping in one of the guest rooms, a sight that filled her with relief. She couldn't bear the thought of her son being aware of the recent events.

Joining her to the side of the bed, Taeyeon wrapped one arm around his fiancee's waist and kissed her cheek. "From now on, no one's going to hurt us." he declared earning a sweet smile from her.

"Especially our son, considering he's prone to throwing tantrums," Tiffany playfully remarked, sharing a giggle with Taeyeon.

"Actually, it's the most adorable tantrum ever. I could get used to it," Taeyeon added with a grin, prompting another shared kiss that lingered for a couple of seconds.

"Let's eat, guys!" Jessica announced from the door after she witnessed such a cute and sweet moment with her friends.

"Yeah, after you, Sica," Tiffany said with a smile as she rose from her seat. Taeyeon quickly followed suit, reaching out to grasp her hand as they descended the stairs together, joining the others for what promised to be a memorable and meaningful dinner.

***

As the night's hush enveloped the villa, Jessica quietly slipped out of her room, careful not to disturb her sleeping friends. Despite her persistent cough and nagging cold, she had borne it in silence, not wanting to burden anyone. With familiarity born of countless stays, she navigated the halls effortlessly, making her way to the walk-in pantry where she knew relief awaited in the form of flu medication.

As she rummaged through the shelves, the faint echo of footsteps outside caught her attention, causing her to freeze in place. Straining her ears, she listened intently until the footsteps ceased, right outside the pantry door.

"Kwon Yuri, is that you?" she questioned, her voice barely above a whisper.

Pushing the door open slightly, Yuri entered with a gentle smile, noticing Jessica holding the pills. "You're still not feeling well?" he asked softly, reaching out to touch her forehead. "Yah, you're burning up!" Concern etched his features as he realized the extent of her illness.

"That's why I'm here, just some-"

"Just a moment," Yuri said, swiftly retrieving the pills before dialing his doctor's number, despite the late hour. "Doctor Lee, I apologize for reaching out at this late hour, but... could you advise on the appropriate medication for my girlfriend's flu?" 

[You have your stock in your pantry, don't you?]