SEASON TWO!
SEASON TWO!
SEASON TWO!

CHAPTER TWO:
Challenge.

THE SOFT HUM OF THE DRESSING ROOM LIGHTS FILLED THE AIR AS SOE AND SEJEONG JOUNED ME IN THE QUIET MORNING BUSTLE, each taking up a spot in front of the wide vanity mirrors. The space was small but felt alive, like a scene from a backstage drama.

Sejeong, still groggy but more awake than when she stumbled in, was now brushing her hair out with slow, deliberate strokes. She'd swapped her oversized pyjama set for a crisp white blouse and denim skirt, the sort of look that read effortlessly casual. Meanwhile, Soe sat cross-legged on the bench, focused on curling her lashes, her floral sundress flowing around her like a lazy watercolour painting.

I dabbed the final touch of gloss onto my lips, the pink sheen catching the morning light, and reached for the delicate gold chain bracelet I'd set on the counter earlier. My look was complete: a soft pink Chanel tweed skirt and matching cardigan paired with white heels. Classy, approachable, and, most importantly, unforgettable.

Sejeong broke the companionable silence first, her voice cutting through the faint buzz of activity. "So..." She trailed off, glancing at me in the mirror as a mischievous grin spread across her face. "What did you and Yoongjae talk about last night?"

Soe immediately perked up, pausing mid-swipe of her mascara wand. "Oh, yeah! You two disappeared for a while. Spill."

I smirked, holding their gaze in the mirror as I clipped my bracelet into place. "Curiosity doesn't look good on you two, you know."

"Oh, please," Sejeong shot back, narrowing her eyes. "You don't just walk off into the night with a guy like that and expect us not to ask questions."

Soe nodded enthusiastically, leaning forward as if she was afraid to miss a single word. "Exactly. Come on, Yoori. Don't hold out on us."

I turned to face them fully, crossing my arms as I leaned casually against the counter. "Well," I began, dragging the word out just enough to make them squirm, "we talked. He's... intriguing, I'll give him that."

"'Intriguing,'" Soe repeated, rolling her eyes. "That's the most vague answer ever."

Sejeong leaned her hip against the counter, arms crossed. "Did he flirt with you? Or was it just you doing all the work?"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Do you think I ever do all the work? He held his own, trust me. And..." I let my voice drop into a teasing tone, "...he wears contact lenses. Made for some interesting conversation."

Soe nearly dropped her mascara wand. "Wait, what? Did you—oh my god, Yoori, tell me you didn't say something flirty about his glasses."

"Of course I did," I said with a smirk, shrugging nonchalantly. "What else was I supposed to do? He's the kind of guy who listens more than he talks. Someone had to keep things lively."

Sejeong groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. "You're dangerous, you know that? I can't imagine him not falling for that."

I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't. Who knows?"

Soe threw a hairbrush at me, missing by an inch as I ducked and laughed. "Yoori, you're impossible!"

"But you love me for it," I said, winking at her as I straightened up.

Sejeong huffed, though her lips twitched with amusement. "Fine, keep your secrets. But if something happens between you two, we will find out."

I smiled, turning back to the mirror to adjust my cardigan. "Don't worry, ladies. You'll be the first to know if anything worth mentioning happens. Until then, let's just say the night ended on... a memorable note."

Soe groaned again, muttering something about how I was the worst tease, while Sejeong laughed and returned to fixing her eyeliner.

As we continued our morning rituals, the air between us felt lighter, more playful, the way only women who understand each other can create.

"Girls, if you're done, let's get some coffee and have a talk," Jongwoo called out from just outside the dressing room.

I glanced at the girls and grinned. "Coming, boys!"

With one last adjustment to my hair, I grabbed my bag and gestured for Sejeong and Soe to follow. "Let's go."

The three of us stepped out, sunlight spilling over the beach as we made our way toward the guys. Yoongjae handed Sejeong and me each a cup of coffee, his movements casual but deliberate, his eyes briefly meeting mine as I murmured a soft "Thank you." Jongwoo passed a cup to Soe, who beamed in response.

We all strolled down to the middle of the beach, where a wooden table and a circle of chairs awaited us. The sea breeze was cool, but the sun was warm, creating the perfect contrast. I sat down gracefully, crossing my legs as I placed my cup on the table.

Jongwoo raised his coffee cup high, his enthusiasm infectious. "Let's keep our spirits up!"

We all raised our cups in response, clinking them lightly.

"I really need to keep my spirits up," Yoongjae added, feigning exaggerated weariness.

We burst out laughing, the sound blending with the crashing waves nearby.

I took a sip of my coffee, letting the warmth seep into my hands as I clasped the cup like a personal heater.

Yoongjae glanced at me, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "I think today will be both quiet and a mess—since Yoori's here."

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head as the others joined in.

Sejeong leaned over, a knowing glint in her eye. "That's right. She'll have everyone on edge, curious about who she is and when she showed up."

I shrugged, flipping my hair over my shoulder and letting it cascade down my back. "That's the effect I usually produce."

Jongwoo smirked, leaning forward as he rested his elbows on the table. "Yesterday, when I came back with my bag—"

"Yes!" Sejeong cut in excitedly. "Doesn't the bag feel... heavier?"

Soe nodded, her expression earnest. "It does. Mine felt the same way yesterday."

Jongwoo let out a small laugh. "That's exactly what I thought. My bag felt so much heavier."

I tilted my head, looking at each of them in turn. "Don't give up. I'll be rooting for you all. And who knows? Things may change."

Jongwoo nodded, the faintest glimmer of determination in his eyes.

Yoongjae leaned back, his expression light but teasing. "Yoori's right. What if things work out for Jongwoo..." He paused, letting his words hang for a second before breaking into a grin. "...and he cries over there?"

We all laughed, the image of Jongwoo crying a mix of absurdity and hilarity.

"He'll be like, 'I can finally leave!'" Yoongjae added, mockingly imitating an emotional outburst.

Sejeong leaned into the joke, her tone playful. "I think he might."

Jongwoo groaned, but his smile betrayed him.

The sun was merciless as I adjusted my sunglasses, their reflective lenses shielding me from the harsh glare. Jongwoo had asked for a quick talk, and while I wasn't sure what was weighing on his mind, I could tell he needed someone to unload it all on.

We settled into the firepit area, its sandy surroundings quiet for now. I crossed my legs gracefully, leaning back slightly, letting him find the words.

"So...?" I prompted, my tone soft but teasing enough to nudge him into starting.

Jongwoo rubbed the back of his neck, his expression somewhere between nervous and determined. "Do I really have a chance with her? I mean..." He trailed off briefly, glancing at me. "You still don't know both of them, but I really want to try and go to paradise with Seulki..."

I tilted my head, studying him through the tint of my sunglasses. His earnestness was endearing, even if he did come off as a bit of a yapper who just needed a patient listener.

He continued, the words spilling out faster now. "And yesterday, she went with Jinyoung to paradise. He just came yesterday morning, and he already got that opportunity with her..." Jongwoo stopped, a frustrated sigh escaping him before he added, "A lot of guys are behind Seulki, and I..."

His voice trailed off again, and I decided it was time to step in, my words measured but warm. "Something I've learned from being a girl," I began, shifting slightly and fixing my sunglasses, "is that the most attractive thing in a man is when he shows he's interested in you. When he actually manifests it, you know?"

He shook his head slowly, still doubtful, but I could see the gears turning in his mind.

I leaned forward just a little, my voice softer but firm enough to make sure he heard me. "I don't know Seulki, nor Jinyoung," I admitted, "but I think you're the sweetest guy in this program. And I really like how much you care about that girl and how you're actually trying so hard to go with her..."

I paused for a moment, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as the sea breeze caught it. "A man who only has eyes for one girl is far better than a man who walks around with the confidence that he's better than everyone else. Women notice the difference, Jongwoo. Trust me."

He blinked, the corners of his lips lifting into a small, genuine smile. "You really think so?"

"I know so," I said firmly, my voice carrying that mix of sweetness and steel.

Before he could say more, the distant sound of laughter and voices reached us. I turned my head toward the beach, spotting the other contestants returning from paradise. The three couples walked in pairs, their carefree demeanor and sun-kissed skin a stark contrast to Jongwoo's slightly nervous energy beside me.

He followed my gaze, his expression flickering between admiration and quiet longing. I leaned back, letting the moment hang as the group got closer, the tension of their return palpable.

He followed my gaze, his expression flickering between admiration and quiet longing. I leaned back, letting the moment hang as the group got closer, the tension of their return palpable.

I stood up smoothly, brushing off any sand from my skirt, and bowed at them with a sweet smile. All their eyes turned toward me, curiosity written across their faces.

The black-haired girl was the first to break the silence. "Woah, a new girl?"

I smiled politely, not saying much yet, and began walking with Jongwoo toward the dorms where Sejeong, Soe, and Yoongjae were waiting. The group followed behind us, their hushed whispers barely audible but easy to interpret.

As we neared the dorms, I felt their anticipation build, all of them clearly expecting me to introduce myself. I turned to face them, pulling off my sunglasses just enough to reveal my eyes but not my full gaze. "Hello," I said with a practised, effortless smile. "I'm Hong Yoori."

My introduction was simple but deliberate, letting my presence speak louder than my words. My eyes scanned the group, stopping briefly on the guy in the black shirt standing next to the black-haired girl. Their matching outfits didn't escape my notice.

Jongwoo leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper, just for me. "That's Seulki and Jinyoung."

I nodded in acknowledgment, keeping the same polite smile, my eyes lingering a beat too long on Jinyoung. His gaze met mine, and for a moment, it stayed there—intense, curious, and maybe a little too interested. I offered a small bow in greeting, breaking the tension with subtle grace.

Sejeong, sensing the moment stretching thin, looped her arm through mine and tugged gently. "Yoori, let's catch up with the others," she said, her tone casual but insistent.

I let her guide me, breaking the eye contact with Jinyoung as we walked toward the dorm. His gaze didn't leave me, though—I could feel it, lingering even as I disappeared inside.

Once inside the dorm, I went straight to my bed, sitting down and pulling a blanket over my lap, my legs hidden beneath the soft folds. Sejeong plopped down beside me, still holding my arm protectively like an older sister fending off an unknown crowd.

The other girls stared at me, their wide eyes betraying their shock and curiosity. I greeted them with the same smile I'd given outside, my voice calm and warm. "Pleasure to meet you all," I said, my tone just friendly enough to make them feel included without revealing too much.

One by one, they began introducing themselves.

"I'm Nadine," the black-haired girl started with a cool smile, her confident energy instantly drawing me in. "Nice to have another girl here to shake things up."

"I'm Seulki," the graceful one followed, her tone soft and elegant, her poise almost princess-like. "Welcome, Yoori," she added with a polite nod.

"I'm Soeun," the sweet one said warmly. "It's nice to meet you."

"Pleasure," I said, with a sweet smile.

"When did you come?" Nadine asked, leaning forward curiously.

"Yesterday evening," I replied, tilting my head as I tried to recall. "I think it was about an hour after you guys left."

"They hid you from us!" Soeun said with a playful pout, making me laugh.

"How were your dates in paradise?" I asked, genuinely curious. Their experiences would be a great way to understand more about the guys.

"We had a lot of fun," Soeun said with a soft smile.

Nadine smirked mischievously. "I think they would've been loud," she joked.

"Why?" I asked, confused but intrigued.

Soeun chuckled. "I went with Hanbin," she explained, and I hummed in recognition, remembering what Sejeong had told me about him. "We just talked nonsense," she laughed, "but it was really fun."

She paused, her smile widening. "And we had a deep conversation as well. I was actually surprised." Her tone shifted slightly, adding intrigue.

Sejeong perked up. "Really? Woah, now I'm curious!"

"Nadine, how was it? Did you have fun?" I turned my attention to her.

"I did," Nadine said casually.

"Did you speak in English?" Seulki asked, leaning forward slightly.

Nadine nodded with a hum, and Seulki made a small sound of impressed surprise.

"That's cool!" Soe said, her eyes lighting up.

"We talked in English," Nadine continued, and everyone reacted with awe. "Since we talked in English, I just said everything."

"That's nice," Soeun commented.

Seulki smiled knowingly. "That must've relieved some frustrations."

Nadine laughed. "Yes. He understood everything."

Sejeong grinned. "That's a plus."

Nadine nodded. "He seemed confident? He has confidence. He is very confident."

Soeun turned to Seulki. "And Seulki, I'm really curious."

I found myself curious too, debating whether I should approach Jinyoung with a flirty angle or keep it neutral.

Soeun pointed to Seulki's face, her expression brightening. "Look at her face!"

All the girls burst into playful teasing, their voices blending in a chorus of "Ohhhhhhh!"

Sejeong leaned forward, grinning. "Did you swim yesterday?"

Seulki nodded with a big smile, looking down shyly.

Soeun pressed further. "Were there a lot of surprising things about him?"

"Yes," Seulki admitted, her voice soft but sure. "Some of them were unexpected."

Sejeong tilted her head, intrigued. "How did you feel when he told you his job?"

"I wasn't too surprised," Seulki said thoughtfully, "but it was still unexpected."

Nadine raised a brow. "What about his age?"

Seulki smiled again. "He was about the age I expected him to be."

Another chorus of "Ohhhhhhh" erupted from the girls.

Soeun clapped her hands together lightly. "You guessed pretty well then!"

"Yes," Seulki confirmed with a small laugh, her cheeks slightly flushed.

I leaned back, observing the lively energy of the group and the way Seulki's subtle reactions spoke volumes. Jinyoung's eyes still wandered in my direction, though he stood close to Seulki. I noted it but kept my thoughts to myself, letting the conversation flow naturally.

The lively energy in the tent shifted the moment the familiar tin tin tin sound echoed from the speakers outside, grabbing everyone's attention.

The host's voice followed, smooth and teasing.
"Single's Inferno is the hottest inferno in the world. Today, you will be going on dates in Inferno at your discretion."

The girls glanced at each other, their faces lighting up with excitement as they exchanged grins.

"Take some time today to get to know the person you're interested in," the host added, the same tin tin tin signaling the end of her announcement.

We all looked around, the air buzzing with anticipation.

"I'm curious who will be the brave guy to come in no second," I whispered to Sejeong, who nodded with a knowing smile, her eyes darting to the entrance.

As if on cue, barely a minute later, a voice called out from outside the tent.
"Can I come inside for a second?"

The deep yet steady voice was unmistakable. Yoongjae.

"Already? Woah..." I whispered under my breath, my brows raising slightly as the girls looked toward the entrance.

Yoongjae stepped into the tent confidently, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Soeun.

"Soeun, do you have a moment?" he asked, his tone casual but expectant, clearly anticipating a yes.

So that's it... The pieces were coming together now. He wanted to take her to Paradise yesterday, but she chose Hanbin. And yet, Soe chose Yoongjae... The tea is scorching hot.

I glanced at Soe and smiled, giving her a small shake of my head as if to reassure her.

Soeun smiled softly, looking a little flustered but still poised. "Yes, I think I do," she replied, standing up gracefully and walking toward him.

Before the tent could settle again, another figure appeared. Jongwoo.

He hesitated for a moment but locked eyes with me. I gave him a subtle thumbs-up, silently cheering him on.

Jongwoo cleared his throat and turned his attention to Seulki. "Seulki, do you have a minute?" he asked, his voice firmer than I expected, his confidence showing.

Seulki smiled warmly, standing up with a quiet elegance, heading toward him without hesitation.

The air in the tent shifted once more as they left, leaving the rest of us to process the unfolding dynamics. The unspoken tension was palpable. Everyone was thinking the same thing, but no one dared to say it out