Sunlight filtered through the house in warm beams, but inside the air was heavy with anticipation. Today wasn't just another activity. Today was the final chance for one-on-one dates — a chance to be chosen by the person you liked most.
The familiar voice filled the room:
"Good morning, contestants. Today marks Day 13 — the last opportunity for private one-on-one dates. You may choose anyone in the house. If someone you choose also chooses you, your mutual date will take place today. If not, you will wait and watch the others' dates."
A quiet murmur rippled through the room—excitement, nerves, hope.
Dahye sipped her tea, trying to steady her heartbeat. Across the room, Yerin stood with her usual calm, scanning the group subtly. Their eyes met, and a spark passed between them—silent, electric, unspoken.
When the choices were revealed, everyone gathered:
Yerin and Dahye chose each other.
Jiyeon chose Yerin, hoping for a private moment.
Sohee chose Yerin as well.
Jiwon and Chaewon chose each other.
Minji and Yejin chose each other.
Jiyeon's shoulders sank. Sohee exhaled quietly. Neither had been chosen back, but both had gone for what they wanted — even if it left their hearts heavy.
Dahye's chest tightened as Yerin approached.
"Shall we go?" Yerin asked quietly.
Dahye nodded, trying to steady her trembling hands.
"Yes," she whispered.
They were led to a secluded cliffside café overlooking the ocean, a private terrace with a narrow path over the shimmering blue water below. A gentle breeze carried the scent of salt and warmth, but none of that compared to the heat in Dahye's chest.
Yerin pulled out Dahye's chair with effortless grace, a subtle gesture that made her heart skip.
"Thank you," Dahye murmured.
"You're welcome," Yerin replied softly, eyes still warm but neutral — giving nothing away.
They sat across from each other at a small table carved from weathered wood. The view was breathtaking, but it was the silence between them — full of unspoken words — that made Dahye's heart race.
After the waiter brought their drinks, Dahye found herself staring at Yerin, then finally spoke.
"Yerin… I just…" Dahye hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I like you. A lot. I've liked you since the start, and I can't keep it in anymore."
Her confession hung in the air, soft yet sharp.
Yerin blinked, not immediately responding. She looked at Dahye, then at the ocean, her expression unreadable. The quiet stretched, amplifying Dahye's racing heartbeat.
"I just… wanted you to know," Dahye continued, her voice quieter now, almost a whisper. "I had to say it before… the show ends."
Yerin's hands rested lightly on the table, her face calm, neutral. She gave no answer. Dahye's chest tightened, unsure if Yerin felt anything, or if her words had reached her at all.
The tension between them was electric, almost tangible. Every small gesture — the breeze through their hair, the sun glinting on the water, the way their knees brushed beneath the table — made Dahye's heart hammer harder.
They later walked along the cliffside path. Dahye's hand brushed against Yerin's shoulder accidentally, and her fingers lingered for just a moment longer. Yerin didn't pull away, but she didn't take her hand either.
Dahye's chest tightened with a mixture of hope and nerves.
"I… I had to tell you," Dahye whispered again, quieter this time. "I couldn't leave this unsaid. Even if… even if you don't feel the same."
Yerin looked at her, finally meeting her gaze. Calm, unreadable, a faint, small smile teasing at her lips, but giving nothing else away. Dahye swallowed, the mixture of fear and longing making her words catch in her throat.
The ocean stretched endlessly beneath them, waves crashing against the rocks, but all Dahye could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat.
Meanwhile, the other couples enjoyed their mutual dates:
Jiwon and Chaewon walked hand in hand through a flower-filled garden, laughing and teasing each other.
Minji and Yejin shared a small boat ride on a calm pond, stealing glances and sharing quiet conversation.
From a distance, Jiyeon and Sohee watched. Both had chosen Yerin but hadn't been picked back. Seeing Yerin with Dahye stirred a mix of jealousy and longing, but neither regretted their choice.
"She's… really with her," Sohee murmured softly.
Jiyeon nodded. "Yeah… but we had to try."
They watched silently as Dahye spoke her heart, aware that Yerin hadn't yet responded.
Back on the cliffside path, Dahye and Yerin stopped near the railing.
"I don't want today to end," Dahye whispered, her fingers curling nervously.
"Me neither," Yerin said softly, still calm, still unreadable.
Dahye took a careful step closer. "I just… needed to tell you how I feel. I couldn't leave without saying it."
Yerin didn't respond, only gave a faint, neutral smile. The silence between them hummed with tension, desire, and uncertainty.
Dahye's heart raced. Every second stretched, the distance between them filled with unspoken possibilities.
Even with only one day remaining, Dahye felt this moment was everything — confession made, emotions raw, and yet suspended in the uncertain space of Yerin's response.
Tomorrow would bring choices, decisions, and revelations — but tonight, the cliff, the sunset, and the electricity between them belonged only to Dahye and Yerin.