"Because from where I'm sitting, you're just another guy trying to play the field."

He laughed, a low, rich sound that sent heat crawling up my spine. "If that's what you think, then you're not paying attention."

"Enlighten me," I said, folding my arms across my chest.

He reached across the table, his hand brushing against mine, lingering for just a second longer than necessary. "I don't need to," he said, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You already feel it."

I hated how my pulse quickened at his words, how his touch left a trail of warmth on my skin. But I wasn't about to let him win this round.

"Feeling something doesn't mean it's real," I said, pulling my hand back and placing it firmly in my lap.

"You're right," he said, sitting back with a smirk. "But it also doesn't mean it's not."

I narrowed my eyes, my lips curving into a sly smile. "That's cute, Jinyoung. Really. But tell me, does that line work on every girl, or am I just lucky?"

He chuckled, the sound rich and unapologetically confident. "Lucky," he said, leaning forward again, his elbows resting on the table as his gaze locked onto mine. "But I think you already knew that."

I tilted my head, feigning indifference even as my pulse raced. "Oh, I'm lucky, alright. I mean, who wouldn't want to sit here and dissect your vague, flirty riddles?"

"You seem pretty invested for someone who doesn't care," he said smoothly, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement. His eyes flickered down to my lips for a fraction of a second before meeting my gaze again. "But I'll play along. How about you tell me what you think this is?"

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms as I studied him. "I think," I began, dragging the words out just enough to make him wait, "that you like the idea of keeping me guessing. Keeps things interesting for you, doesn't it?"

He smiled, slow and deliberate, like I'd just handed him exactly what he wanted. "You're half-right," he admitted. "But it's not about keeping you guessing—it's about keeping you."

My breath hitched, but I masked it with a scoff. "Bold words for someone who had a cozy little dinner date with Nadine last night."

His expression didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something possessive. "You seem awfully curious about that," he said, leaning closer. "Should I tell you what happened?"

I arched a brow, refusing to back down. "I'm all ears. Was it fireworks? Soulmates at first sight? Should I start planning the wedding?"

He laughed, low and deep, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "If you're fishing for details, I'll save you the trouble. She's great—smart, funny, gorgeous. But..." He trailed off, his gaze lingering on me. "She's not you."

The words hung in the air between us, heavy and unspoken until now. My chest tightened, but I refused to let him see how much they affected me. Instead, I tilted my head, a slow, deliberate smile playing on my lips.

"Flattering," I said lightly. "But if that's your way of trying to make me jealous, you'll have to try harder."

He smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Jealous? You?" He reached out, his fingers brushing against mine on the table. The touch was light, almost imperceptible, but it sent a spark through me. "You don't strike me as the type."

"I'm not," I said, my voice steady despite the butterflies wreaking havoc in my stomach. "But that doesn't mean I don't notice when someone's... distracted."

"Distracted?" he repeated, his voice dropping to a low murmur. He leaned in closer, his hand fully covering mine now, his thumb brushing slow circles against my skin. "The only distraction here is you."

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I held his gaze, refusing to let him see the effect he had on me. "Smooth," I said, my tone sharp but my voice softer than I intended. "But actions speak louder than words, Jinyoung. And from where I'm sitting, you seem to be all talk."

His eyes darkened, the playful glint replaced by something more intense. "Is that a challenge?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled, sweet but edged with steel. "It's an observation."

He leaned back slightly, his hand still lingering on mine. "You're good," he said, his lips quirking into that maddeningly cocky grin. "But you should know by now—I don't play games I can't win."

"Good thing this isn't a game," I said, pulling my hand away and standing up, brushing invisible sand off my dress. "Because if it were, I'd already be winning."

I turned to walk away, but his voice stopped me in my tracks. "Yoori."

I glanced over my shoulder, one brow arched in question.

His gaze was unwavering, his tone softer now, almost tender. "You can walk away all you want, but we both know you're going to keep coming back."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless. But I refused to let him have the last word. "We'll see about that," I said, my voice steady even as my heart betrayed me with its rapid pace.

As I walked away, I could feel his eyes on me, the tension between us crackling like static electricity. And as much as I hated to admit it, he was right—this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Inside the women's tent, the mood was light as we lounged together, chatting about nothing and everything. The sun seeped through the canvas, casting a warm glow over us as I sat cross-legged on one of the cushions, meticulously filing my nails.

The girls were caught up in their conversation, laughing and debating over who they thought might win today's game. I half-listened, the steady shh-shh of my nail file a rhythmic counterpoint to the lively chatter.

Then, the sharp tin, tin, tin of the speakers outside cut through the air, drawing our attention. All heads turned toward the sound—except mine. I didn't even flinch, continuing to smooth out the edge of my nail as if nothing had happened.

"The hottest inferno in the world, Single's Inferno," came the familiar voice of the host through the speakers, her tone light and playful.

The host continued, "Today, you will play another game to win an opportunity to go on a date to paradise."

Soeun let out an exaggerated gasp, clutching her chest with mock drama.

The tent erupted in laughter, and even I couldn't stop the small smirk that tugged at my lips.

"Participants, please come to the beach," the host announced, her voice ringing clear.

The girls stood, one by one, adjusting their dresses and fixing their hair. I set my nail file aside and slipped on my sunglasses, the black Miu Miu frames shielding me from the glare of the sun as we stepped out of the tent.

Seulki nudged me gently as we fell into line, walking toward the beach where the boys would soon arrive. I stood at the front of the group, my spot right by Seulki. The sun was relentless, but with my sunglasses in place, the world was tinted in cool, dark hues.

The boys made their entrance a few moments later, emerging from their tent like they were stepping onto a runway. They wore nothing but swim shorts, their bronzed skin gleaming in the sunlight as they approached. Their confident strides were deliberate, a little flex here, a casual smirk there.

"Here comes the peacocking," I muttered under my breath, loud enough for Seulki to hear. She stifled a laugh, elbowing me lightly.

Jinyoung, as usual, caught my eye—or at least he would have if I weren't wearing sunglasses. His face was stoic, but there was a flicker of amusement in his expression when his gaze met mine. He took the spot right beside me, his arm brushing mine briefly before he stepped into line.

"This is literally ride or die," I joked, my eyes drifting toward the pit in the middle of the sand. The water inside it was murky and uninviting, its surface rippling slightly with the breeze.

Jinyoung chuckled softly but didn't say anything, quickly shifting back to his usual poker face.

The host's voice rang out again, explaining the game. "Now, we will begin the male singles' game to win a chance to go on a date to paradise. Like yesterday, only the first, second, and third-place winners of the game can choose a female single they want to go on a date with in paradise."

She paused, letting the rules sink in before continuing, "Now, I'll explain today's game. All six men will enter the pit. At the sound of the whistle, they will attempt to push the others out. The second a contestant's legs are both outside the pit, he is eliminated. The last one remaining will be the first-place winner."

I tilted my head slightly, my lips curving into a smirk. "Woah, they really want a man war," I quipped, earning a soft laugh from Seulki.

"I don't think I'll be able to look," Seulki admitted, her voice tinged with nervous anticipation as she clasped her hands together.

Down by the pit, the boys stepped into the water, their movements measured as they adjusted to the chill. They began stretching, rolling their shoulders and flexing their arms while maintaining a steely focus.

Soeun sighed dramatically, her eyes fixed in the pit. "I think I'm more nervous than them," she said, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

The whistle blew, piercing through the tension in the air. Seulki clung to my arm, her head leaning onto my shoulder as if she couldn't bear to watch. I glanced at her briefly before turning my attention back to the pit, the chaos already beginning to unfold.

The boys stood motionless at first, their gazes locked on one another, assessing the battlefield like predators waiting for someone to slip. Their legs shifted cautiously in the murky water, the silence heavy as they waited for the first strike.

Jinyoung moved first, lunging toward Sejun with such force that all of us girls screamed in unison, startled by the sudden explosion of energy. Sejun fought back, using every ounce of strength to resist Jinyoung's relentless push. But Jinyoung was like a machine, his determination unyielding.

Hanbin and Dongwoo seized the moment, rushing toward Jinyoung to join the fray. The pit turned into a frenzy, limbs thrashing and water splashing everywhere. Out of nowhere, Dongwoo and Jongwoo clashed in a fierce skirmish, their battle so intense it was impossible to follow who had the upper hand. Everything happened so fast, like a scene from an action movie.

Sejun, ever the opportunist, caught Jinyoung off guard and managed to slam his face into the sand. My hand flew to my mouth in shock, and I found myself leaning forward instinctively. Jinyoung, however, was no easy target. He twisted his body and locked Sejun in a grip, attempting to drag him out of the pit.

Dongwoo saw his chance and grabbed Jinyoung's legs, trying to leverage his weight to force him out. It was a chaotic tangle of bodies, and yet Jinyoung managed to maintain his footing, his sheer determination leaving us all in awe.

"Guys, take a moment to breathe!" I called out, my voice edged with worry. It was starting to feel like the whole point of the game was to eliminate Jinyoung as fast as possible.

Sejun, catching his breath as Jinyoung stalked toward him with a mischievous grin, smirked. "Yoori said take a moment to breathe," he quipped, but his words were cut short as Jinyoung grabbed him. With a swift movement, Jinyoung sent Sejun sprawling into the water.

Sejun lay there dramatically, letting out a defeated groan. Dongwoo and Hanbin wasted no time hauling him out of the pit as Sejun waved his hand dismissively. "Damn. I give up," he said, his tone half-joking.

All the girls burst out laughing at his theatrics.

Soeun clutched her stomach, tears of laughter threatening to spill. "He's so funny," she managed to say between giggles.

The host's voice came over the speakers. "Kim Sejun is eliminated."

Sejun trudged back toward the sidelines, muttering, "I'm exhausted," with an exaggerated sigh. I couldn't help but laugh at his comment as well, shaking my head.

The whistle blew again, signalling the continuation of the battle. Dongwoo became the next target as the remaining four boys ganged up on him, their combined strength too much for him to resist. With a splash and a resigned groan, he was out.

"Shin Dongwoo is eliminated," the host announced.

Soeun leaned in closer to us, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Jinyoung seems really strong."

The pit was now down to four. The boys circled each other warily, their movements calculated. It wasn't long before Hanbin fell victim to the others' strategy, a coordinated effort forcing him out of the pit.

"Hanbin is eliminated," the host declared.

Only three remained: Jinyoung, Jongwoo, and Yoongjun. The tension reached its peak as they squared off, their bodies locked in a brutal dance of survival. At one point, all three of them collided in the middle of the pit, pushing, pulling, and grappling with primal intensity.

Then, in a flash, both Jongwoo and Jinyoung toppled out of the pit at the same time, landing hard on the sand.

"Choi Jongwoo and Kim Jinyoung are eliminated," the host confirmed.

My eyes widened as I saw Jinyoung walking back to our line, his chest heaving, his skin marked with scratches and red imprints from the sheer ferocity of the match. Despite his exhausted state, he carried himself with the same cool demeanour as always, though his poker face couldn't quite mask the glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

As he resumed his place beside me, I couldn't help but glance at him. The faintest hint of a smile played on his lips, but I said nothing, pretending to adjust my sunglasses instead. He stood there quietly, his presence commanding even in stillness.

"Now, to announce the final results. Here are the final rankings for the male participants' game, to win an opportunity for a date in paradise."

The host paused dramatically, letting the suspense build before revealing the names. "First place, Jo Yoongjae!"

Cheers erupted from all of us as Yoongjae stepped forward, offering a sheepish but proud smile, brushing the water off his arms as he gave a small bow.

"Second place, Choi Jongwoo!"

Jongwoo ran a hand through his damp hair, smirking as the applause grew louder. He didn't seem too disappointed, taking second place with the same laid-back confidence he carried everywhere.

"And third place, Kim Jinyoung!"

I clapped, glancing at Jinyoung as he casually wiped at the scratches on his arm. His face betrayed nothing, but I could see the faintest curl of pride tugging at the corners of his mouth. It wasn't first, but he didn't need first to command attention.

The host grinned. "Great job, everyone!"

We all cheered and clapped one last time, congratulating the boys for their efforts in the intense match. The atmosphere slowly shifted from tense excitement to light-hearted chatter as the guys dispersed from the pit, some splashing water playfully at each other while others just caught their breath.

___________________________________

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

SOOOOOOOO, hope you're dying with Jinyoung and Yoori relationship...

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

Leave a lot of love and comments! Love you!

Sorry if it's not what you expected!

I wish you liked the fifth chapter. ♡.

- sxfsoojin -