Morning sunlight streamed through the windows as the contestants gathered for breakfast. The atmosphere in the house felt different after the anonymous confession night—conversations were softer, glances lingered longer, and there was an unspoken awareness that time was running out.
Dahye sat quietly, stirring her coffee, replaying the balcony moment from last night—Yerin asking about the messages, the teasing, the way their conversation had drifted somewhere deeper without either of them admitting it.
Across the table, Yerin poured herself juice. Their eyes met briefly. Yerin smiled faintly. Dahye quickly looked down, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
Before anyone could speak, the voice of the show echoed.
"Good morning, contestants. Today marks Day 12 in the house. You now have two days remaining before the end of this experience. Today's activity will take place outside the house. Contestants will participate in a water adventure paddle game."
Excited murmurs spread.
"Pairs will be revealed randomly," the voice continued. "Your partners for this challenge will be determined by the color of the outfits you find in your bags."
Outside, several duffel bags waited on a table. Each had a name tag.
Jiyeon and Sohee exchanged glances, curious but not yet opening theirs.
Dahye slowly unzipped her bag and unfolded her outfit. Light blue.
Across the table, Yerin pulled hers out. Light blue. Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Dahye tilted her head. "Looks like we match."
Yerin smirked. "Lucky again."
Dahye tried to act casual. "Don't get used to it."
From the side, Jiyeon whispered to Sohee, nodding toward the blue shirts. "They're paired again. You can see it."
Sohee chuckled. "Yeah… but that doesn't mean we won't try. No regrets."
The contestants walked down to the lake, where paddle boats waited. Calm water reflected the sun. Flags marked the course for the challenge.
Dahye and Yerin carefully climbed into their boat. The small vessel rocked slightly as they settled across from each other.
Yerin placed her feet on the pedals. "Ready?"
Dahye nodded. "Let's go."
They started slowly, trying to coordinate their pedaling. After a few moments, silence settled.
Dahye glanced at Yerin. "What?"
"Just thinking," Yerin said softly.
"About?"
"Only two days left," Yerin said quietly.
Dahye's chest tightened. "Yeah."
The boat drifted past the first marker. Around them, other contestants paddled in pairs or alone, laughing and shouting.
After a few minutes, the conversation shifted.
"Did you mean what you wrote yesterday?" Yerin asked, glancing sideways.
Dahye blinked. "You're still thinking about that?"
Yerin nodded. "You said someone here makes this place feel comfortable."
Dahye leaned back slightly. "And you think that's about you?"
Yerin smiled. "I'm hoping."
Dahye looked down at the water. "Well… maybe it was."
Yerin's expression softened. The pedals slowed, letting their boat drift gently.
"I'm glad," Yerin said quietly.
Their eyes met. The world felt quieter, softer.
Suddenly—
"HEY!"
Jiyeon's voice echoed. "You two look suspiciously peaceful!"
Sohee laughed. "Yeah, don't get too comfortable!"
Dahye rolled her eyes playfully. "Focus on your own boats."
Dahye and Yerin drifted near the final marker.
"This is relaxing," Dahye said quietly.
"Yeah," Yerin agreed.
Yerin hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"
Dahye raised an eyebrow. "You're asking a lot of questions today."
"I know," Yerin laughed softly. "When we leave here… will we still talk?"
Dahye's heart skipped. "I think so."
"You're not just saying that?"
"No," Dahye said honestly.
A small smile spread across Yerin's face. "Good."
Their knees bumped accidentally. Neither moved away immediately. The boat rocked gently between them.
Finally, Dahye cleared her throat. "We should probably finish the course."
Yerin nodded, still smiling. "Yeah… probably."
They pedaled slowly toward the dock, but the warmth, closeness, and unspoken tension between them lingered.
Only two days remained, and suddenly that didn't feel like enough time.
Even from their separate boats, Jiyeon and Sohee watched carefully, each silently wondering if today might be their chance to make a move—without regret.