SEASON TWO!
SEASON TWO!
SEASON TWO!

CHAPTER SIX:
Final Date

I WAS STRAIGHTENING MY HAIR ALONE IN THE GIRLS' ROOM, humming a soft melody under my breath. The steady rhythm of the flat iron moving through my hair was oddly calming, a brief escape from the chaos of the day.

The sudden creak of the door made me glance up, and there they were—Seulki and Jinyoung standing together.

Seulki's cheeks flushed slightly as she smiled apologetically. "Oh, sorry, we were just looking for a place to have a chat," she explained, gesturing between herself and Jinyoung.

My eyes naturally drifted to Jinyoung, and my eyebrow arched almost involuntarily. He stood there, his usual poker face intact, though there was something unreadable in his expression.

"Oh, no problem," I replied smoothly, offering Seulki a polite smile before turning my attention back to the mirror. "I'm already done anyway."

I reached for my Tom Ford Lost Cherry perfume, spritzing a touch onto my wrists and neck. The sweet yet sultry scent enveloped me as I placed the bottle back into my bag. Grabbing my sunglasses, I slid them on with practiced ease, the tinted lenses shielding my eyes from any more accidental moments of vulnerability.

As I made my way to the door, I paused just briefly, glancing at the two of them. "Have fun," I said, my tone bored yet laced with subtle amusement, before walking out without a second glance.

The air outside the room felt lighter as I left them behind, my heels clicking faintly against the sand. The sun beat down warmly, the breeze teasing strands of my freshly straightened hair as I made my way toward the tents.

As I neared, I spotted Jongwoo lingering near the women's dressing room, his gaze fixed on the door with an unmistakable look of longing. I smirked, shaking my head slightly at his obviousness.

"She's talking with Mister Playboy Kim," I teased as I walked past him, not breaking my stride.

Jongwoo's head snapped in my direction, and he let out a laugh that was half-embarrassed, half-amused. "What?"

"You heard me," I said over my shoulder, grinning as I kept walking.

He fell into step beside me, still laughing. "You're ruthless, you know that?"

"Only when it's deserved," I replied with a shrug, leading us toward the beach. We settled into a couple of chairs nestled in the sand, the waves lapping gently in the background.

Jongwoo leaned back, his arms resting on the chair's edges. "So... do you really think she likes him?"

I tilted my head, considering his question. "Seulki? Hmm, I don't know. She's hard to read sometimes. But you..." I turned to him, pointing a finger for emphasis. "You're as transparent as glass. Anyone with eyes can see you like her."

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Is it that obvious?"

"Painfully," I said with a laugh. "You practically light up whenever she's around. It's cute, though. Kind of like a puppy."

Jongwoo groaned again, though this time there was a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, well, she's... different, you know? I don't even know how to talk to her half the time. And now Jinyoung's all up in the picture..."

I rolled my eyes at the mention of Jinyoung, leaning back in my chair with a dramatic sigh. "Don't get me started on him."

"Oh?" Jongwoo turned to me, his interest piqued. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I crossed my arms, staring out at the ocean. "He's just... frustrating. All that brooding and the mysterious act. Like, okay, we get it, you're hot. But does he have to act like he's better than everyone else?"

Jongwoo raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Sounds like someone's a little pissed off."

"Pissed off?" I shot him a look. "Please. I'm just calling it like I see it."

"Sure, Yoori," he teased, dragging out my name. "Whatever you say."

I narrowed my eyes at him but couldn't hold back the small smile creeping onto my face. "Anyway, this isn't about me. It's about you and your hopeless crush on Seulki. So, what's your game plan?"

Jongwoo hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on the ocean. Then he turned to me with a determined expression, the kind I hadn't seen on him before. "I've made up my mind. I'm choosing first before Jinyoung gets a chance. I'm planning on choosing Seulki to go to Paradise."

I raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. "Oh, so you're pulling the trigger this time? No more hanging back and hoping she notices you?"

"Exactly," he said, his voice steady. "It'll be my first time in Paradise, and I want it to be with her. I feel like... if I don't make a move now, I might lose the chance completely."

I leaned back in my chair, studying him. There was a quiet resolve in his expression, and for once, he didn't seem like the unsure, second-guessing guy I'd come to know. "Well, look at you," I said, crossing my arms with an approving nod. "Finally showing some guts. I'm impressed."

He let out a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks, I guess. I mean, it's nerve-wracking, but I just... I need to know if there's something there, you know?"

"Yeah, I get it," I admitted, glancing at the waves. "You don't want to sit around wondering 'what if.'"

"Exactly." He sighed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "And, honestly, I know Jinyoung's been hanging around her a lot, but I think—no, I hope—she might see me differently."

I looked at him, my expression softening. "You're a good guy, Jongwoo. If she doesn't see that, then it's her loss. But..." I hesitated, then gave him a playful nudge. "For what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing. At least this way, you'll know where you stand."

He smiled, a mixture of gratitude and nerves. "Thanks, Yoori. That actually means a lot."

"Don't mention it." I waved him off, though my smile lingered. "But if you mess this up, don't come crying to me, okay? I'm not in the mood to deal with heartbroken puppy Jongwoo."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I'll try not to, but no promises."

As we sat there, the sun dipping lower on the horizon, I couldn't help but feel a strange pang of... what was it? Annoyance? Unease? Something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Maybe it was the thought of Jinyoung—of how easily he seemed to charm everyone, even Seulki. Or maybe it was the fact that Jongwoo was taking action while I stayed wrapped in my own frustrations.

Either way, I pushed the thought aside. For now, this moment belonged to Jongwoo and his resolve to chase what he wanted. And I'd be damned if I let my own tangled feelings ruin it for him.

The sound of the host's voice crackled through the speakers outside the tent, cutting through the faint hum of tension.

"The person Kim Jinyoung chose is..."

She paused for dramatic effect, and I could almost feel the collective intake of breath from the remaining girls in the tent.

"Hong Yoori."

My eyebrows rose, but I didn't let any other reaction slip. The girls erupted into claps and scattered "congratulations," their smiles genuine yet tinged with curiosity.

"Well," I said coolly, reaching for my sunglasses and slipping them on. "Guess it's my turn, again. See you girls later."

I grabbed my Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandoulière 50 from beside on the floor, slinging it casually over my shoulder as I headed toward the tent flap. The murmurs of the other girls faded behind me as I stepped out into the golden afternoon sun, my eyes immediately landing on Jinyoung.

He stood there with his signature cocky grin, his bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes lit up when he saw me approaching, and as much as I tried not to react, I felt a flicker of something in my chest—annoyance, excitement, or maybe both.

"Didn't expect that," I said as I stopped in front of him, my tone teasing but my face impassive behind the dark lenses.

"Really?" he replied, his grin widening. "You should've known better."

I rolled my eyes, shifting the weight of my bag. "Let's get this over with."

We started walking toward the path that led to the helicopter, the sound of the waves and distant chatter filling the air. Before I could say another word, Jinyoung stopped, turning to me with that same infuriatingly confident smile.

"Here," he said, reaching for my bag.

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What are you doing?"

He ignored the question, smoothly taking the bag from my hand before I could protest. "Carrying it. What does it look like?"

I frowned, narrowing my eyes at him. "I can handle it myself."

"Sure you can," he said, slinging my bag over his free shoulder with ease. "But why should you when I'm here?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words didn't come. Instead, I just let out a soft scoff and resumed walking. "Fine. But don't expect me to thank you."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he said, his tone laced with amusement.

As we walked, the helicopter came into view, its blades slicing through the air. I could feel his gaze on me, but I refused to look at him, keeping my strides confident and unaffected.

This was going to be a long trip, I thought, though the corners of my mouth twitched ever so slightly

The soft clinking of cutlery against fine china echoed through the penthouse dining room as I reached for my glass of wine, sipping slowly while trying to ignore the pair of eyes that had been watching me for the past five minutes. Across the candlelit table, Jinyoung lounged comfortably in his chair, his signature grin firmly in place, like he was waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

I set my glass down and arched an eyebrow at him. "What?"

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as his fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of his own glass. "Nothing. Just enjoying the view."

I tilted my head, my lips curving into a smirk. "The view of me eating steak? Wow, you're easy to impress."

His grin widened, the faintest glint of mischief flickering in his eyes. "It's not the steak I'm impressed by."

There it was. That infuriating, persistent charm of his, so potent it could probably bring a nun to her knees. I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.

"Try harder, Kim Jinyoung," I quipped, twirling my fork through a bite of pasta. "That line wouldn't even work on Seulki."

His eyes lit up at her name, and I instantly regretted bringing it up.

"Ah, Seulki," he said, dragging out her name like he'd been waiting for me to mention it. "Speaking of her..." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as a slow smirk spread across his face. "You didn't seem too happy when I walked into the dressing room earlier."

I froze for half a second, but I quickly covered it up by cutting into my steak. "Happy?" I said, my tone light and airy. "Why would I be anything but happy? It's not every day you get to see someone so dedicated to making a fool of himself."

He laughed, a low, rich sound that sent an irritating flutter through my chest. "A fool? Is that what I looked like?"

"Well, let's just say if there were an award for shameless flirting, you'd win every year," I shot back, holding his gaze with a challenging smile.

His grin didn't falter. In fact, it grew, and he leaned forward again, his elbows back on the table, his eyes boring into mine. "Shameless, huh? Are you sure it wasn't something else?"

"Like what?" I asked, even though I knew exactly where he was going with this.

"Jealousy," he said smoothly, his voice dropping just enough to make my stomach twist.

I let out a sharp laugh, shaking my head. "Jealous? Of Seulki? Please. I don't chase, remember? I attract."

"And yet," he said, his voice teasing, "you were awfully quick to leave that room."

I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to let him see how his words were starting to chip away at my composure. "I left because I didn't want to be a third wheel to whatever weird, awkward moment you two were about to have."

"Oh, it wasn't awkward," he said, his smirk practically dripping with amusement. "But I did notice you giving me that look."

"What look?" I asked, my tone sharp but playful.

"You know," he said, leaning even closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur. "That look you give when you're trying really hard to pretend you don't care about something."

I opened my mouth to fire back, but the words got stuck somewhere between my throat and my brain. The way he was looking at me—so confident, so sure of himself—was making it dangerously difficult to think straight.

"You're delusional," I said finally, though the sharp edge in my tone was starting to dull.

"Am I?" he asked, his hand casually reaching across the table to brush against mine. It was such a small, fleeting touch, but it sent a spark up my arm that I knew he felt too, judging by the way his smirk deepened.

I pulled my hand back and picked up my glass of wine, using it as a shield. "Keep dreaming, Jinyoung. Maybe one day your fantasies will come true."

"Fantasies?" he echoed, his voice positively dripping with flirtation. "You think about my fantasies a lot, do you?"

"Only in the sense that they're probably ridiculous," I shot back, though the warmth creeping up my neck betrayed me.

He chuckled, his gaze never leaving mine. "You're fun, Yoori. I like that."

"And you're exhausting," I said, though my lips twitched in a small smile.

For a moment, we just sat there, the playful banter fading into something quieter, something heavier. His eyes softened, and for the first time that night, he looked almost serious.

"You know," he said, his voice lower now, more sincere. "I didn't choose you just to mess with you."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Oh?"

He nodded, his eyes locking onto mine in a way that made it impossible to look away. "I chose you because you're... different. You're real. And honestly?" He smirked again, but this time it was softer, almost boyish. "You're the only one who can keep up with me."

For once, I didn't have a quick comeback. I just stared at him, the butterflies in my stomach now full-on rioting, a chaotic mix of disbelief and... something else. Something I didn't want to think too hard about because, frankly, it was dangerous territory with someone like Jinyoung.

"Wow," I finally said, setting my fork down and leaning back in my chair. "You've got the whole confident, charming thing down to an art, don't you?"

He tilted his head, the corners of his mouth quirking up in that maddeningly self-assured smirk. "It's not an act, Yoori. I'm just being honest."

"Honest," I repeated, my tone laced with skepticism. "Is that what you call it? Because it feels a lot like you're just trying to get a rise out of me."

He chuckled, low and soft, leaning forward to rest his chin on his hand as he studied me. "Why is it so hard to believe I actually mean what I say?"

I picked up my glass, swirling the wine as I considered him. "Because you're too smooth for your own good," I said, taking a slow sip.

"And you're too guarded for yours," he shot back, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were trying to figure me out.

I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden shift in tone. "Guarded?"

He shrugged, his smirk softening into something almost playful. "Yeah. You talk like you've got everything figured out, but I think you're just as much of a dreamer as I am."

"A dreamer," I said, setting my glass down with a small laugh. "You've known me for all of five minutes, and now you're an expert on my personality?"

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as his grin returned full force. "Not an expert. Just observant."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't fight the smile tugging at my lips. "Alright, Mr. Observant. Enlighten me. What exactly do you think I'm dreaming about?"

His eyes gleamed, and I could tell he was relishing the challenge. "Marriage."

The word hung in the air between us, heavier than I expected, and I felt a flicker of something—embarrassment? Annoyance?—flare in my chest.

"Marriage?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "And what makes you think that's my grand dream?"

He shrugged, his gaze unwavering. "Just a hunch. You've got this... I don't know, this vibe. Like you've got your life mapped out, and marriage is one of the big milestones on the list."

I opened my mouth to argue, but then I stopped. Because, damn it, he wasn't wrong.

"Well," I said after a moment, leaning forward and propping my chin on my hand. "Maybe you're not as clueless as you look."

He laughed, the sound warm and genuine, and I couldn't help but smile.

"So, I'm right," he said, his tone teasing but his eyes oddly serious.

I shrugged, pretending to examine my nails. "It's not exactly a secret. I've always wanted to get married. Build a life with someone, start a family... you know, the whole package."

His smile softened, and for a moment, he just looked at me, like he was seeing something deeper. "That's nice," he said, his voice quieter now. "You don't hear people talk about that kind of stuff much anymore."

"What about you?" I asked, tilting my head. "Do you have the whole package dream, too? Marriage, kids, white picket fence?"

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back in his chair. "I wouldn't say it's a dream, but... yeah, I think about it sometimes. If I find the right person, I'd get married."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? You don't strike me as the settling-down type."

"Why not?" he asked, his tone genuinely curious.

I gestured vaguely at him. "I don't know. You're just... you. Flirty, unpredictable, probably allergic to routines..."

He laughed again, shaking his head. "You've got me all wrong, Yoori. I like routines. In fact..." He paused, his grin turning almost sheepish. "I've actually thought about being a full-time househusband."

I stared at him, my fork halfway to my mouth. "A househusband?"

He nodded, his expression serious despite the teasing glint in his eyes. "Yeah. I mean, think about it. If my wife has a job she's passionate about, someone's gotta keep the house running, right? I can do