The sun warmed my skin as I stretched out on the long beach chair, the sound of waves providing the perfect background to my solitude. With my sunglasses shielding my eyes, I allowed myself to relax, unbothered by the world around me.

It had been about fifteen minutes since everyone else left for their dates. The peace was a welcome change—until I felt the presence of someone settling into the chair beside me.

"The sun is good today."

The voice was deep and smooth, dripping with confidence. I opened my eyes, sliding my sunglasses down just enough to peer at my left. Jinyoung.

He leaned back casually, his dark shorts and black button-up shirt doing little to hide the physique beneath. Two buttons were undone, teasing the hint of his chest, the sunlight casting a faint glow on his tanned skin. His presence was as bold as his looks—he knew exactly what he was doing.

I tilted my head, taking my sunglasses off completely as I studied him with a faint smile. "And here I thought I'd have the beach all to myself," I said, my voice laced with playful annoyance.

His lips curved into a smirk, his gaze steady as it met mine. "You're not disappointed, are you?"

I let out a soft laugh, placing my sunglasses beside me. "I haven't decided yet. Should I be?"

"Depends," he replied, leaning forward slightly, his elbow resting on the arm of the chair. "Do you usually enjoy good company, or do you prefer being alone with your thoughts?"

"Good company," I replied smoothly, "but only if it's worth my time."

His laugh was low, rich, and entirely too charming. "I'll take that as a challenge."

"Is that how you approach everything?" I teased, crossing one leg over the other as I turned to face him more fully.

He shrugged, his smirk widening. "Only when I think it's worth it."

I arched a brow, tilting my head as if I were appraising him. "And you're confident I'm worth it?"

He leaned back in his chair, his arm resting along the backrest as his eyes raked over me unapologetically. "I think you already know the answer to that."

His boldness brought a small, amused smile to my lips. "You're not subtle, are you?"

"Subtlety's overrated," he said, leaning toward me just enough that I caught a hint of his cologne—clean, with a touch of spice. "Besides, I'm guessing you don't like playing games."

I gave a mock sigh, pretending to think. "That depends on the game. Some are fun, others are just... predictable."

He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You don't strike me as someone easy to predict."

"You'd be correct," I replied, matching his energy. "And you don't strike me as someone who's easily intimidated."

"I'm not." He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing, "But you? I'd bet you intimidate a lot of people."

"Only the ones who can't keep up," I said, my voice dropping just enough to make my point clear.

His smile widened, and he leaned closer, his knee brushing against mine as if by accident. "Good thing I like a challenge."

I raised a brow, unbothered by the proximity. "And here I thought you came out here for the sun."

"I did," he said, his tone light. "But then I saw you, and suddenly the sun wasn't the most interesting thing here anymore."

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head at his audacity. "Does that line usually work for you?"

He grinned, his hand casually resting on the edge of my chair, close enough that I could feel the heat of it. "I don't know. You tell me—how am I doing so far?"

I leaned back, letting my smile linger as I studied him. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But I think you're used to people falling for that confidence."

He shrugged, unbothered. "Confidence is attractive, isn't it?"

"It is," I admitted, my tone playful. "But it's not the only thing."

"And what else is on your list?" he asked, his voice dropping slightly, the flirtation in his tone unmistakable.

I smirked, leaning forward just enough to close the space between us. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

His gaze dropped to my lips for the briefest second before meeting my eyes again. "I would," he said, his voice low, almost a murmur.

For a moment, the air between us felt charged, the playful banter giving way to something heavier, something unspoken.

Breaking the tension, I leaned back with a soft laugh. "Well, good luck figuring it out, Jinyoung."

He chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair again. "You're going to make me work for it, aren't you?"

"Would you expect anything less?" I teased, slipping my sunglasses back on and leaning back into the chair, my tone final but still playful.

He let out a soft hum, his fingers drumming lightly against the armrest of his chair. "I like you, Yoori. You keep things... interesting."

I tilted my head toward him, my smile hidden behind my sunglasses. "Let's see if you can keep up, Jinyoung."

Jinyoung's smile deepened, his dimple appearing as he adjusted his position in the chair, turning his body slightly toward mine. He reached for a stray pebble on the sand beside his chair, rolling it between his fingers as if he needed something to occupy his hands. "You know," he started, his voice smooth but curious, "you strike me as someone who's seen more of the world than most. Am I right?"

I let out a small laugh, pushing my sunglasses up to rest on my head as I glanced at him. "Is that your way of saying I don't look like I belong here?"

He tilted his head, his dark eyes sparkling. "Not quite. You fit in, but it's like... you're a puzzle piece from a different box—one that just happens to make this picture look better."

I stared at him, caught off guard by the uncharacteristic depth of his comment. "That's surprisingly poetic, Jinyoung. Do you rehearse these lines?"

His laugh was soft, genuine, as he tossed the pebble aside. "Only when the person I'm talking to deserves them."

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself. "Fine. Let's say I have seen a bit of the world. What about you? You seem like someone who's good at adapting to wherever life takes you."

He leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were considering my words. "I've had to. I think when you move around enough—whether it's places, jobs, or even just groups of people—you learn how to blend in while keeping parts of yourself hidden."

I arched a brow at his honesty. "Keeping parts of yourself hidden, huh? What are you hiding, Jinyoung?"

He chuckled, his gaze sliding to the horizon for a moment before returning to me. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Maybe," I said, my voice playful. "Depends on how interesting the hidden parts are."

He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearm on the armrest of his chair, the proximity making my heart skip just a little. "What about you? You seem like you've got a few secrets of your own."

I smiled, tilting my head as I considered his question. "Everyone does. But I don't think secrets define us. It's how we choose to show up despite them that matters."

His expression softened, the flirtation in his gaze giving way to something deeper. "That's a good way to look at it. I think... sometimes people don't really want to know everything about you. They just want the parts that make them feel good."

I studied him for a moment, noting the shift in his tone. "Is that what you've experienced? People only wanting the easy parts of you?"

He shrugged, his eyes thoughtful as he met mine. "Maybe. Or maybe it's easier for me to give them that than to risk showing the harder parts."

For a moment, the playful atmosphere between us faded into something more introspective. I nodded slowly, my voice softer when I spoke. "I get that. It's easier to let people see what they want to see. It's safer."

His lips curved into a faint smile, the vulnerability in his gaze making my chest tighten. "But safer isn't always better, is it?"

"No," I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's not."

We sat in silence for a beat, the waves crashing softly in the distance as the tension between us shifted again, this time laced with something unspoken.

"So," he said, his tone lighter as he leaned back again, "what's something you've never told anyone else here?"

I raised an eyebrow, my lips twitching into a smirk. "Why should I tell you?"

"Because," he replied smoothly, "I'll tell you something in return. Quid pro quo."

I considered his offer for a moment before responding. "Okay. But you go first."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

"You did," I said, leaning back with a grin. "So, spill."

He hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. "Alright. I'm scared of failing."

I blinked, caught off guard by his honesty. "Failing at what?"

"Everything," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "Relationships, work, life in general. I think I put so much effort into being confident and capable because if I don't, people might see the cracks."

The rawness of his confession made my heart ache in a way I didn't expect. I softened my tone as I replied, "Everyone has cracks, Jinyoung. It's what makes us human. Trying to hide them doesn't make them disappear."

His gaze lingered on me, something unreadable in his expression. "Your turn."

I let out a soft sigh, glancing out at the ocean before answering. "I'm scared of being misunderstood. Of people seeing only the surface and never bothering to look deeper."

He was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice steady. "Then they're not looking hard enough. Because anyone who spends more than five minutes with you can see there's a lot more than just the surface."

I looked at him, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his eyes. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

"Not when it comes to things that matter," he said, his voice dropping slightly as his gaze held mine.

The air between us felt electric, the playful banter replaced by something heavier, more charged. I felt the heat of his presence, the way his knee almost brushed against mine, the way his eyes seemed to linger just a little too long.

I broke the moment with a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, this has been unexpectedly deep for two people who are technically supposed to be strangers."

He grinned, the dimple in his cheek returning as he leaned back. "Strangers, huh? I don't think we're that anymore."

I tilted my head, my smile teasing. "And what are we now?"

His eyes sparkled with mischief as he replied, "Whatever you want us to be."

The butterflies in my stomach fluttered wildly as I shook my head, slipping my sunglasses back on. "Careful, Jinyoung. I might start thinking you're trying to impress me."

"Who says I'm not?" he shot back, his tone playful but his gaze serious.

I smiled, letting the tension linger for just a moment longer before leaning back and closing my eyes. "Good luck with that."

His laugh was soft, warm, and entirely too charming. "Something tells me I'm going to need it."

I peeked at him from beneath my sunglasses, a sly smile tugging at my lips. "Oh, you'll need more than just luck, Jinyoung. You'll need persistence. And maybe a little patience."

He leaned closer, resting his forearm on his knee, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine. "Good thing I've got plenty of both. I don't give up easily, Yoori."

I raised an eyebrow, refusing to let him win this little game. "Is that right? What happens if you don't get what you want?"

His gaze flicked down to my lips for the briefest moment before meeting my eyes again, his confidence unwavering. "I can be patient," he said smoothly, his voice like velvet. "Because when it's worth it, I don't mind waiting."

The weight of his words lingered between us, charged and full of unspoken tension. My heart thudded in my chest, but I refused to let him see how much his presence was affecting me.

"Careful, Jinyoung," I murmured, tilting my head toward him, "patience is a dangerous game. You might end up waiting for something that never happens."

He grinned, his dimple deepening as he leaned back in his chair. "I don't mind taking risks. Something tells me you're worth it."

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head as I turned my attention back to the ocean. "You're relentless."

"And you're impossible to resist," he countered without missing a beat.

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks but kept my composure, letting the corners of my mouth lift in a small smirk. "We'll see how long that confidence lasts."

He chuckled, his voice low and intimate. "I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of each other, Yoori. And when we do, I'll be ready."

I didn't reply, letting the gentle crash of the waves fill the space between us. But as I felt his gaze linger on me, I knew this wasn't the last time he'd try to challenge me—or leave me questioning if I was ready for him.

I let the gentle crash of the waves fill the silence between us, choosing not to reply. But even as I avoided his gaze, I could feel it lingering on me—steady, curious, and entirely too self-assured. Something about the way Jinyoung looked at me left a lingering question in my mind: was I ready for someone like him?

The sharp tin tin tin of the speakers beside us snapped me out of my thoughts.

Host: "Singles, please come out to the campfire right now."

The chime repeated, signaling the end of her announcement. I sighed softly, sliding my sunglasses off and turning to Jinyoung. He was already watching me, his lips curled into that maddeningly confident smirk, like he'd thoroughly enjoyed our exchange so far.

I adjusted my posture, brushing off a nonexistent speck of sand from my thighs. "Looks like playtime's over."

Jinyoung chuckled, rising to his feet with a fluid ease that made me far too aware of how effortlessly attractive he was. "Or maybe it's just beginning," he replied, his voice low and teasing.

I arched an eyebrow but said nothing, letting him linger in his own charm. He extended a hand toward me, his palm open and waiting. It was such a simple gesture, but there was something undeniably confident in the way he held it out, as though he already knew I'd take it.

After a brief pause—just long enough to make him wonder—I placed my hand in his. His grip was warm, firm, and steady, the faint brush of his thumb against my skin sending an unwelcome spark up my arm. He pulled me to my feet effortlessly, his hand lingering for a beat longer than it needed to before I gently pulled away.

I smoothed out my dress, determined to keep my composure intact, and began walking toward the gathering area. Jinyoung stayed close beside me, his stride easy yet deliberate, as though he was already claiming the space next to me.

The others were gathered on the long benches surrounding the campfire setup—though it was still morning, so there was no fire, just the soft sound of the ocean behind us. Conversations died down as Jinyoung and I approached, the silence heavier than it should've been. Curious glances flicked in our direction, a few people failing to hide their surprise—or intrigue.

I scanned the faces briefly before taking a seat on one of the benches, crossing my legs with deliberate ease. I didn't look at Jinyoung, but I could hear the faint scrape of him as he sat beside me, settling in so close that his knee brushed against mine for a fleeting moment. He leaned back slightly, one arm draped casually over the backrest of his seat, the picture of effortless confidence.

Sejeong, seated across from me, raised an eyebrow as she caught my eye. Her lips twitched in a knowing smile, her expression practically screaming, "You're spilling everything later."

I ignored her, maintaining an air of nonchalance, even as Jinyoung's presence beside me felt impossible to ignore. The others tried to pick up the scattered threads of conversation, but I could feel the subtle tension simmering in the air.

Jinyoung leaned in slightly, his voice low but clearly meant for me. "Comfortable?"

I turned my head just enough to meet his gaze, my lips curving into the faintest smile. "Always."

He chuckled softly, his knee brushing mine again—this time, it lingered just a moment longer. The heat of his presence was undeniable, but I refused to let him know just how much he was affecting me. Instead, I leaned back, letting the faint ocean breeze play with my hair, as though I were completely unbothered.

But beneath the surface, the tension between us buzzed like a live wire, subtle yet impossible to ignore. And judging by the amused glances being exchanged across the circle, it wasn't just us who felt it.

But beneath the surface, the tension between Jinyoung and me buzzed like a live wire, subtle yet impossible to ignore. And judging by the amused glances exchanged across the circle, it wasn't just us who felt it. There was something undeniably charged in the air, something neither of us was willing to acknowledge directly, but it lingered, thick and palpable.

Suddenly, Nadine broke the silence with a sharp, almost playful, tone. "Look, someone's coming." She gestured toward the path, her eyes lighting up with curiosity as a figure appeared in the distance.

I turned instinctively, drawn to the movement, and watched as a tall man approached, his confident stride making the light breeze tousle his hair just so. He wore a beautiful gray suit that seemed out of place on this tropical island, paired with a beige shirt that softened the formality of the look. The contrast between the crispness of his outfit and the laid-back vibe of the surroundings only made him stand out more.

Seulki leaned forward with a smile, her voice tinged with excitement. "Oh! It's a guy."

My gaze followed her words, eyes narrowing slightly to take him in more clearly. He was striking—tall, with sharp features and a presence that commanded attention without him having to say a word.

Soeun let out a low whistle, her eyes widening. "He's super tall."

I couldn't help but agree, admiring the way he moved. He exuded a kind of coolness that made it impossible to ignore him. And as he drew closer, Soe, sitting next to me, whispered with a teasing grin, "He's handsome."

I turned to her with a smirk. "He looks really cool," I said, unable to hide my intrigue.

As the man approached, we all stood up, a mix of polite curiosity and the shared understanding that he was now part of this little circle. With practised grace, I bowed deeply, my smile sweet and welcoming as I offered a warm "Hello."

His bow was just as respectful, but there was an edge to it—a certain confidence that seemed both natural and calculated. He straightened up, settling himself onto the bench beside Jongwoo. There was a soft but undeniable aura of confidence about him. Even when he spoke, his words were measured, calm, yet full of intention.

"My name is Kim Sejun," he said, his voice steady and smooth, almost velvety. There was a hint of nervousness in his words, though, just enough to make him seem more approachable, more human. "I look forward to being here."

We all clapped, the sound of it breaking the