CHAPTER SEVEN:
Finale

I WAS SITTING CROSS-LEGGED ON THE FLOOR BED, pen in hand as I scribbled in my journal. The tent was quiet except for the faint rustling of Soe rummaging through her makeup bag. Outside, the island buzzed with the lazy hum of a new morning, the kind that feels calm but carries a sense of anticipation.

The sound of the host's voice crackling through the speakers startled me slightly, and I looked up from my journal.

"The hottest inferno in the world, Single's Inferno. Today is the last day of free dates before the final decision tomorrow. Please, enjoy the dates until the end without any regrets."

"Woah," I muttered, closing my journal with a soft thud. "This is going literally crazy." I glanced toward Soe, who was now perched in front of her compact mirror, fixing her lipstick with laser focus.

She turned to me, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Who will be the first guy to enter this tent?" she asked, her voice teasingly sweet as she snapped her compact shut.

I matched her energy, placing my index finger against my temple in an exaggerated gesture of thought. "Who will it be?" I said in a playful tone, my voice laced with mock curiosity.

Soe burst into laughter, and I couldn't help but laugh along with her.

As our laughter filled the tent, the flap at the entrance rustled, and we both turned our heads just in time to see a familiar face peeking inside. Well, only a head—but that was enough.

Jinyoung.

His dark eyes scanned the tent, his lips tugged into that signature smirk of his that could disarm even the most guarded heart.

Soe, never one to miss a beat, cocked her head and said with her usual sharp wit, "Who you looking for? Seulki? Or Yoori?" Her tone was playful, but there was a glint in her eyes that made me chuckle softly.

Jinyoung didn't miss a beat either. His gaze locked onto me, his smirk deepening. "Yoori, come out, please," he said smoothly, his tone casual but undeniably commanding.

I raised an eyebrow at him, but the corners of my lips betrayed me with a slight curve upward. Soe giggled, nudging me lightly with her elbow.

"Well, well," I said, standing up slowly and brushing invisible lint off my pants. "Looks like my services are needed elsewhere."

Jinyoung's head tilted slightly as he waited, his smirk unwavering.

"Don't have too much fun without me," I teased Soe, earning another laugh from her before I followed Jinyoung out of the tent, my heart already racing in anticipation for whatever mischief he had planned next.

The sun was already climbing higher into the sky, its warm glow painting the beach in soft golden hues as Jinyoung led me down the sandy path, away from the tents and the other contestants. He had that familiar swagger in his step, a quiet confidence that made it feel like the world revolved around him—and maybe, for today, it did.

We eventually reached a table tucked beneath a makeshift canopy near the water's edge, its fabric swaying gently in the breeze. It was far enough from the others that their voices faded into the background, leaving just the sound of the waves crashing softly against the shore and the occasional rustle of the wind.

Jinyoung pulled out a chair for me, a small but chivalrous gesture that made me raise an eyebrow.

"Well, aren't you on your best behavior today?" I teased as I sat down.

"Gotta leave a good impression, don't I?" he shot back, his tone playful as he took the seat across from me.

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table as his dark eyes settled on mine. There was something about the way he looked at me—like I was the only person who mattered in that moment. It was disarming, to say the least.

"So," he started, his voice soft but laced with mischief, "this is it, huh? Our last solo date before the big decision."

I nodded, toying with the edge of the tablecloth. "Yep. Tomorrow's the grand finale. No pressure or anything," I said with a wry smile.

His lips quirked up into that signature smirk. "No pressure for you, maybe. You just have to pick. The rest of us..." He trailed off, tapping his fingers against the table. "We're at your mercy."

"Is that your way of saying you're nervous?" I shot back, tilting my head as I studied him.

"Nervous?" He laughed, the sound low and warm. "No. But curious? Definitely."

"Curious about what?"

"You." His answer was simple, but the weight behind it made my stomach flip.

I tried to play it cool, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "Well, if you're curious, you should know I'm not giving away any spoilers. You'll just have to wait and see like everyone else."

"Fair enough," he said, leaning back as well, though his gaze never left mine. "But what if I asked you this instead—if tomorrow wasn't about the game, if it wasn't about Inferno or the cameras or any of this, would you still choose me?"

His question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. The butterflies in my stomach were now in full flight, making it hard to think straight.

"That's a bold question," I finally said, trying to keep my tone light.

"Life's too short for anything else," he replied, his voice steady and sincere.

I looked down at the table, suddenly very aware of how intimate this moment felt. "You're really not making this easy for me, you know that?"

"I'm not trying to make it easy," he admitted with a soft chuckle. "I just want you to be honest."

I glanced back up at him, meeting his gaze. "I don't know what happens after this. I don't know if this..."—I gestured vaguely between us—"would work in the real world. But I do know that right now, sitting here with you, feels right."

A slow smile spread across his face, and he reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. It was a small, simple touch, but it sent a jolt of warmth through me.

"Right now feels pretty good to me too," he said, his voice low and full of meaning.

I smiled, feeling my cheeks flush as his words settled over me like a warm blanket. The way Jinyoung was looking at me—his dark, intense eyes searching mine—made it impossible to ignore the tension crackling between us. It was magnetic, pulling me in even when I knew I should keep my guard up.

"Oh yeah?" I said, tilting my head as if his comment hadn't just sent a thousand butterflies fluttering through my chest. "What feels so good about it?"

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the table and propping his chin in his hand. "You, mostly," he said, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head at his audacity. "You're something else, Jinyoung."

"You're right," he said, his lips curving into that signature smirk of his. "But I think you like that about me."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face. "Wow, you're confident, aren't you?"

He shrugged, leaning back in his chair now, his arms crossed lazily over his chest. "Confident? Maybe. Or maybe I just have a good sense for these things."

"And what exactly is your sense telling you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I tried to keep my tone light.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he let the silence stretch, his gaze locked on mine. The air between us grew thick, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Finally, he said, "It's telling me that you're just as into this as I am."

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks again. I leaned back, crossing my arms in mock defiance. "Oh, is that what it's telling you? Maybe you need to get your sense checked."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're a terrible liar, you know that?"

"I'm not lying," I said, though my voice betrayed me with its slight waver.

He tilted his head, his smirk softening into something more genuine. "Yoori, you keep looking at me like that, and I'm going to think you're trying to test my self-control."

I blinked, my mouth opening slightly as I tried to come up with a response. But the words wouldn't come. All I could do was stare at him, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

Finally, I managed to say, "Self-control? Is that something you're struggling with?"

"You have no idea," he murmured, his voice low and full of something that sent a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "Maybe you should work on that, then," I said, trying to sound more composed than I felt.

"Maybe," he said, leaning forward again, his eyes never leaving mine. "Or maybe I should just give in."

The weight of his words hung in the air, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world had narrowed down to just the two of us. My pulse was racing, and I could feel the heat of his gaze as if it were a physical touch.

"Careful, Jinyoung," I said, my voice soft but steady. "You're playing a dangerous game."

"Dangerous?" he repeated, his lips curving into that infuriatingly charming smirk again. "Or just exciting?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. Because the truth was, it was both. And the way he was looking at me made it impossible to deny that, in this moment, I didn't care about the consequences.

He leaned back again, breaking the tension just enough for me to catch my breath. "Relax, Yoori," he said, his tone playful now. "I'm just teasing."

"Right," I said, rolling my eyes even as a small smile tugged at my lips. "Just teasing."

But we both knew it was more than that. And as the waves crashed softly against the shore, I couldn't help but wonder just how much further we could push this before one of us gave in.

I rushed in, clutching my hoodie tightly around me as I scanned the circle of people already seated. Their laughter filled the space, a mixture of excitement and bittersweet energy that came with knowing this was our last night together.

"Sorry, I'm late," I whispered, trying not to draw too much attention to myself.

Jinyoung, who was sitting between Yoongjae and Sejeong, caught my eye and tapped the empty spot beside him. Without hesitation, I made my way over, plopping down and hugging my knees to my chest. The chill of the night was no match for the heat radiating from the fire and, strangely enough, from the warmth of the company surrounding me.

"It's our last night," Soeun said softly, her voice tinged with emotion.

"Let's have fun," Sejun chimed in, his grin infectious.

"It's so sad, though," Jongwoo added, his expression thoughtful as he stared into the flames.

Sejeong raised her drink. "Let's raise a toast."

I grabbed my cola, clinking glasses with the people on either side of me, their smiles reflected in the flickering firelight. The cold fizz of the cola was refreshing as I took a sip, grounding me in the moment.

"To the last day," Hanbin declared, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Should we finally reveal our ages and jobs?"

"Yes!" Soeun said eagerly, sitting up straighter.

"I'm really curious," Jongwoo added, nodding.

"I'm excited," Jinyoung said, leaning forward slightly, his smirk making me chuckle.

Hanbin pointed at Sejeong. "Nobody knows, right now. Let's start with you."

Sejeong smiled, her confidence radiating even in this casual moment. "I'm 26 years old," she revealed, and everyone immediately erupted in exclamations of surprise.

"And what I do is... I'm currently managed by an agency and working as a model."

Cheers and applause followed her announcement, our collective excitement making the air buzz with energy.

Dongwoo leaned forward, a teasing grin on his face. "My age is..."

Jongwoo interrupted, barely containing his curiosity. "I'm really looking forward to this."

Dongwoo laughed and finally revealed, "32 years old."

A collective "Wow!" echoed through the group, accompanied by surprised glances exchanged across the circle.

"No wonder you sound like a big brother," Jongwoo teased.

"And my job is... plastic surgeon," Dongwoo added with a small, proud smile.

The group erupted into chaos at his revelation.

"I told you he looked like a doctor!" Hanbin exclaimed, pointing at him like he'd won a prize.

I leaned forward, unable to resist making a joke. "I guess if I need cosmetic retouching, I'll go to Doctor Dongwoo."

Everyone burst into laughter, Dongwoo included.

"That's why he was careful not to get hurt in the games!" Hanbin quipped, earning more laughter from the group.

Dongwoo playfully defended himself, "That's not true! I went easy because I didn't want you guys to get hurt. I was worried about you."

Hanbin leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "But you can fix us though, right?"

I couldn't hold back anymore and started laughing. "Hanbin, you just said nonsense. What is he going to fix us with? Seawater and sand?"

The group dissolved into laughter again, the sound carrying into the cool night air.

Hanbin raised his hand. "Okay, okay, it's my turn!"

"I'm really curious," Nadine said, her eyes narrowing as she tried to guess his age.

"Age first!" Jongwoo prompted, leaning closer.

Hanbin grinned, dragging out the suspense. "My age is..."

"29?" Sejeong guessed.

"25?" Nadine threw in, tilting her head.

"I'm 24 years old," Hanbin finally revealed, looking proud.

"What?!" I exclaimed, my jaw dropping.

Jinyoung leaned closer to me, his laughter warm and teasing. "He's younger than you," he whispered, clearly enjoying my shock.

"Woah," I muttered, still trying to process the revelation.

Dongwoo looked equally surprised, turning to Hanbin. "Wait, you're eight years younger than me?"

Nadine's jaw dropped, her expression frozen in disbelief.

"Are you okay?" Sejun asked her, his tone light as he nudged her with his elbow. "You look like you're in shock."

The group's laughter filled the night again, blending seamlessly with the crackle of the fire and the waves crashing softly in the background. It was a moment I wanted to hold onto—a perfect mix of camaraderie, humor, and the bittersweet knowledge that tomorrow, everything would change.

Dongwoo leaned forward with an amused grin, his eyes twinkling in the firelight. "How old are you, Yoongjae?"

Yoongjae smiled coyly, dragging out the suspense. "I'm..."

Dongwoo immediately began drumming on his thighs, mimicking a drumroll.

"I heard he's young," Jongwoo teased, leaning in eagerly.

Seulki tilted her head thoughtfully. "He's in his 20s, right?"

Yoongjae straightened his back, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm 32."

A collective gasp filled the circle as everyone exclaimed in surprise. Well, almost everyone—I just sipped my cola with a knowing smile, remembering the conversations we had in Paradise.

Dongwoo dramatically stood up and walked over to Yoongjae, extending a hand. "Welcome to the 30s club," he declared with mock solemnity.

The gesture had everyone in stitches as Yoongjae laughed, shaking Dongwoo's hand.

Hanbin blinked in disbelief. "He's the same age as Dongwoo? Whoa, this is a major plot twist!"

Yoongjae chuckled and added, "I'm currently working at a stock brokerage in Yeouido."

The group clapped and cheered, impressed by the reveal.

As the applause subsided, everyone's attention shifted in unison. "Nadine!"

Nadine sat up straighter, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I go to Harvard," she said casually.

The reaction was immediate. Everyone screamed in shock and awe, their clapping louder than before.

Sejun, who was sitting right beside her, looked utterly flustered. "Nadine, I'm so sorry for talking to you casually!" he blurted out, his expression equal parts apologetic and panicked.

I couldn't help it—I burst into laughter, covering my mouth as tears formed at the corners of my eyes.

"I didn't realize you were that kind of person," Sejun added, shaking his head as if scolding himself.

Nadine giggled, clearly enjoying the attention.

Seulki leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I'm curious about our Yoori."

All eyes turned to me, the circle growing quiet as I felt the weight of their anticipation. Smiling, I sat up a little straighter, clearing my throat.

"I'm 26 years old," I began, watching as everyone nodded, processing the information. "And I'm an ICU cardiology nurse at Samsung Medical Center."

Gasps of admiration rippled through the group, followed by applause.

"An ICU nurse?!" Sejeong exclaimed, her jaw dropping. "That's so cool!"

"Wow," Hanbin said, leaning closer with genuine interest. "No wonder you're so calm under pressure."

Jinyoung, seated beside me, grinned and nudged my arm. "Saving lives by day and breaking hearts by night, huh?"

I rolled my eyes playfully, unable to suppress a laugh. "It's not as glamorous as it sounds," I said modestly.

Dongwoo crossed his arms and gave me a mock-serious look. "I feel like I should be extra careful around you now. You're probably analyzing all of our health conditions as we speak."

The group erupted into laughter again, and I shook my head, grinning. "Don't worry, Doctor Dongwoo. I'll leave the plastic surgery to you."

The teasing, the laughter, and the warmth of the fire felt like a bubble of comfort against the backdrop of the cool night. Even though tomorrow loomed like an unspoken goodbye, for now, we were here, sharing parts of ourselves we hadn't before. And in that moment, nothing else mattered.

The teasing, the laughter, and the warmth of the fire felt like a bubble of comfort against the backdrop of the cool night. Even though tomorrow loomed like an unspoken goodbye, for now, we were here, sharing parts of ourselves we hadn't before. And in that moment, nothing else mattered.

The conversation flowed effortlessly as jokes and playful banter bounced around the circle. Someone made a cheeky comment about Dongwoo's "future clients" around the fire, sparking another round of laughter, while Nadine and Sejun argued good-naturedly about something neither of them would ever agree on.

I was caught in the middle of it all, smiling and sipping my cola when I suddenly felt Jinyoung's gaze linger on me. It wasn't unusual for him to stare—he had this way of looking at people like he could see through every layer of you. But tonight,