"Yeah," she confirms with a grin, "but it's not just his looks. He has this mysterious vibe, you know? Like, he doesn't have to try, and people are just drawn to him."

Intriguing.

"Dongwoo," she says, pausing to think, "is like... a natural leader. Very mature, dependable, but not overbearing. He has this calming presence. You'd feel safe around him."

"That's nice," I reply, already piecing together images of these people in my mind.

"Hanbin is the sweetest. Seriously, he's like the human version of a golden retriever. And he's the group's unofficial chef. If you're lucky, he'll cook for you, and you'll fall in love just from that."

I laugh, leaning forward. "I'm already in love with the idea of that."

"Seulki is... she's like a princess. Graceful, elegant, but she's not stuck-up. You just can't help but want to take care of her."

I rest my chin in my palm, absorbing all the new details. "They all sound so different. It must make for an interesting mix."

"It is," she agrees. Then, with a curious look, she asks, "So... what's your type?"

I sigh dramatically, letting myself fall back against the bed. "I just want a man who gives all his attention to me and only me. Is that too much to ask?"

Sejeong bursts out laughing, shaking her head. "You do realize that's, like, 1% of the male population, right?"

"I know, I know," I reply, laughing along with her. "But a girl can dream."

We share a grin, and it feels like the start of a genuine bond between us. She leans back on her elbows, clearly comfortable, and we continue talking, exchanging small jokes and little stories about ourselves.

Just as the atmosphere settles into an easy rhythm, the door creaks open, and Soe steps back inside. She gives us a small smile as she takes off her shoes, but before she can say anything, Yoongjae appears behind her.

"Yoori," he says, his voice steady and confident, "can we talk for a minute?"

I glance at Sejeong, who raises an eyebrow but says nothing, and then back at him. "Sure," I reply, standing up and brushing invisible lint off my pants. "Let's talk."

I go outside, the night blanketing the island in an almost eerie quiet. The flickering candlelight lining the paths casts soft shadows as I make my way to a small seating area far from the dorms. The air is warm, but the sea breeze cools my skin just enough to keep it pleasant. I sink into one of the plastic chairs and cross my legs, leaning back in a relaxed posture. Moments later, I hear the faint sound of footsteps behind me.

Yoongjae appears, his expression calm as always, though there's a certain focus in his gaze as he pulls out the chair next to me and sits down.

"I wanted to talk with you before tomorrow," he says, his voice steady, like he's been rehearsing this in his head. "You know, tomorrow the others will come back, and we will perhaps not have any other chance to speak."

I raise my eyebrows, humming in acknowledgment as I lift a hand to scratch my cheek with one of my acrylic nails. "That's true," I say, letting my tone linger somewhere between casual and teasing. "Time's ticking, huh?"

He lets out a small, quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly as he adjusts his glasses. Well, his contact lenses. My eyes flick to his face, catching how the light reflects faintly off his clear frames.

"Are those real?" I ask, tilting my head slightly.

His brow furrows in confusion. "What?"

"The glasses," I clarify with a mischievous smile. "They make you look smart. But are they prescription or just for the vibe?"

He chuckles softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "They're prescription. Wouldn't be able to see anything without them."

"Hmm." I lean forward just a little, narrowing my eyes like I'm trying to see through him. "Not bad. You wear them well. They give you a certain charm. Like... the quiet intellectual type."

He raises an eyebrow, meeting my gaze directly for the first time. "Quiet, huh?"

I smirk, leaning back into my chair. "Well, you're not exactly the life of the party, are you? But you listen. And that's refreshing."

He nods slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I guess I do prefer listening."

I hold his gaze for a moment, then glance out toward the ocean, letting the silence settle between us just enough to feel natural. "So," I say, breaking it with a casual tone, "what did you want to talk about? Or did you just need a good excuse to escape all the group energy inside?"

His laugh is softer this time, and he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "A little of both, maybe."

I hum again, amused by his honesty. "Fair enough. So, what's on your mind, Yoongjae?"

He pauses, his eyes flickering toward the ocean. "You're... interesting."

I blink, caught off guard for just a second, before a grin spreads across my lips. "Oh? That's quite the compliment. Care to elaborate?"

He shakes his head slightly, as if trying to find the right words. "You're confident. Charismatic. You just... know how to hold a room. It's not something you see every day."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," I tease, though there's genuine warmth in my voice. "But you're not wrong. I'm kind of unforgettable, aren't I?"

His lips twitch into what could almost be a smile, and he nods. "You are."

I let that linger, the air between us heavy but not uncomfortable. It's the kind of tension that buzzes just beneath the surface, electric and charged but undefined.

"You know," I say, leaning forward slightly, "I'm starting to think you're more interesting than you let on. All that listening—makes me wonder what kind of secrets you're keeping."

He tilts his head slightly, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. "Maybe you'll find out one day."

I laugh lightly, tapping my nails on the armrest of the chair. "Mysterious. I like it. But don't get too comfortable with that poker face, Yoongjae. I'm pretty good at reading people."

"Are you?" he asks, his tone curious but still calm.

"Mm-hmm." I lean closer, my voice dropping just slightly. "And I think you're the type who notices everything but says very little. Which makes me wonder—what have you noticed about me?"

His gaze flicks to mine, and for a moment, I think he might actually answer. But instead, he just gives me a small, knowing smile.

"You're good at this," he says.

"At what?"

"Making people want to tell you everything."

I laugh, sitting back in my chair. "Well, what can I say? It's a gift."

He chuckles quietly, and the silence stretches again, this time even more charged. The sound of the waves fills the space between us, and I glance toward the horizon, where the stars shimmer faintly above the dark ocean.

"You're easy to talk to," he says after a moment, his voice softer now.

"Good. That means I'm doing something right," I reply with a small smile, letting my gaze linger on him for just a second longer than necessary. I lean forward, resting my elbow on the armrest and propping my chin in my hand, studying him with an unabashed intensity.

"You know," I say, letting my voice dip into something softer, silkier, "you're not bad at this either."

"At what?" he asks, his brows lifting slightly in curiosity.

I tilt my head, my eyes sparkling with mischief. "Being intriguing. Quiet, but not boring. Observant, but not overbearing. It's a rare combination."

He exhales a soft laugh, looking away toward the dark ocean as if to compose himself, but I see the faintest pink tinting the tops of his ears. "I'm not sure that's something I work on."

I bite my bottom lip, just enough to make it obvious, then let it go with a teasing smile. "That's what makes it so dangerous. The best ones never realize the effect they have."

He turns back to me, his expression unreadable, but his eyes hold mine like he's trying to figure me out. "And what about you?" he asks. "Do you realize the effect you have?"

I lean back, letting out a soft, breathy laugh that cuts through the quiet night air. "Oh, I'm very aware." I cross my legs again, the deliberate movement drawing his attention for just a split second before he quickly looks back up at my face. "But it's more fun to let people think they're the ones in control."

His lips twitch into what could almost be a smirk, and I know I've caught him in the web, just a little.

"You're dangerous," he says finally, his tone low and even, but there's a glint in his eyes that betrays his amusement.

"Only if you let me be," I reply smoothly, letting my voice drop just enough to feel like a challenge.

He leans forward slightly, his elbows on his knees, his gaze steady and direct now. "And what if someone doesn't want to play along?"

I arch a brow, my lips curling into a confident smile. "Oh, Yoongjae." I pause, letting his name roll off my tongue like honey. "They always do."

His breath catches for just a moment—so subtle most people wouldn't notice, but I do. I see it. And it sends a thrill through me, like hitting the perfect note in a melody only I can hear.

"You're something else," he mutters, shaking his head slightly, but the corner of his mouth lifts into the faintest grin.

"I'll take that as a compliment," I say, my voice warm and teasing. "And, for the record, I think you're more dangerous than you let on."

"Why's that?"

"Because you make it easy," I admit, my tone softening as I rest my chin in my hand again. "To talk. To relax. To... let my guard down."

His eyes widen slightly, but he doesn't look away this time. Instead, he leans back in his chair, crossing his arms as if trying to guard himself from the weight of my words. "Is that a good thing?"

"For tonight?" I let the words hang in the air, the possibilities infinite. Then I smile, slow and deliberate. "Yeah, I think it is."

The silence between us stretches, thick and electric, until I finally stand, smoothing my dress and stepping closer to him—just close enough for him to catch the faint scent of my perfume.

"You should get some sleep," I say softly, my voice laced with a mix of care and playful command. "Big day tomorrow."

He stands too, towering over me, but there's something hesitant in his movements, like he's not quite ready for the moment to end.

"Goodnight, Yoori," he says, his voice quieter now, almost intimate.

"Goodnight, Yoongjae." I let my gaze linger on him one last time, my smile as warm as the summer breeze around us. Then I turn and walk away, knowing full well he's watching me go.

And if I hear the faintest sigh escape him as the distance grows, well, that's just confirmation that I've left my mark.

___________________________________

My English it's a little bit bad, so if you see any mistakes, please tell me.

SOOOOOOOO, yeah, this is Hong Yoori... and dare to say she will be better written than Daphnée's book, because I've got better in my writting! You will love Yoori and I will try to finish this book before starting the season 4 book.

Also, no comments from the panel. You are the Pannel, so act like it!

Sorry if it's not what you expected!

I wish you liked the first chapter. ♡.

(The book is not about Yoongjae, but she gotta have her options open you now...)

- sxfsoojin -