Yerin stepped into her apartment, dropping her bag by the door. The soft glow of the living room lights and the familiar warmth of her space made her exhale in relief. She had been buzzing with thoughts ever since leaving the dating show — the confessions, the final picks, and most of all… Dahye.
Before she could even settle onto the couch, a familiar voice called out.
"Yerin! There you are!"
Go Eunseo stood by the window, arms crossed and a teasing grin on her face. "I've been waiting for you to tell me everything. Don't try to dodge me."
Yerin laughed, a little sheepishly. "You're already here?"
"Of course I am! You think I'd let my best friend get away without spilling every detail of the show?" Eunseo said, waving a hand dramatically. "Come sit, spill it all. Now!"
Yerin sank onto the couch, patting the space next to her. Eunseo flopped down beside her, grinning mischievously. "Okay, start talking. How was it? Who picked who? Don't leave anything out!"
Yerin ran a hand through her hair, exhaling slowly. "Alright… so, the final day… Dahye picked me. Which is… crazy, because at the beginning, I was literally the last person on her list. Last. And somehow… I ended up being her final pick."
Eunseo's eyes widened in exaggerated shock. "Last? And she picked you in the end? Oh my god, Yerin, this is basically fate smacking you upside the head. I mean, c'mon, the universe has a sense of humor."
Yerin groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Stop calling it fate! This is my life, not a drama!"
Eunseo nudged her gently. "Oh, come on, it is dramatic. And you know what? Maybe that's exactly how it's supposed to be. Last becomes first, the underdog wins… you get the idea. Maybe she picked you for a reason."
Yerin peeked at her, uncertain. "I… I don't know. When we had our one-on-one, she confessed everything. How much she likes me, how she wants to see me outside the show… all of it. And I… I don't know how I feel yet. I mean, I like her, but I don't even know if this is love or… friendship. I don't even know if I'm into women yet."
Eunseo laughed softly, shaking her head. "Okay, first off, classic Yerin overthinking. Second, this is exactly why you need to explore it, not just sit here worrying. You can't figure it out in a vacuum. You need to spend time with her, see how it feels. Dates, conversations, little moments… that's how you'll know."
Yerin's chest tightened slightly. "I just… what if I realize I'm not into it? What if I ruin things by being unsure?"
Eunseo nudged her shoulder playfully. "Then you're human! And that's okay. That's why we do this slowly, step by step. But don't ignore the fact that she chose you, Yerin. Out of everyone, she picked you. Even from last on the list, you ended up first. That's not nothing."
Yerin smiled faintly, feeling her nerves calm a little. "I guess… I just need to be honest with myself too, huh? And with her."
"Exactly!" Eunseo said, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "Go on dates with her. Talk to her. See what happens. Don't waste time worrying about labels or timelines. Feel it. Experience it. And trust me, if she's worth it — and she clearly is — it'll work out."
Yerin laughed softly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the couch cushion. "You make it sound so simple."
"That's because it is simple," Eunseo said, smirking. "You like her. She likes you. The rest is just… life. And Yerin, let me tell you — being first after being last? That's destiny tapping you on the shoulder. You can't ignore that."
Yerin chuckled, shaking her head, but the warmth in her chest grew. "Okay… okay. I'll try. I'll try to figure it out and not overthink it. Step by step."
Eunseo nudged her again, grinning. "Good. And remember, I'm here for moral support, snacks, emotional screaming — whatever you need."
Yerin leaned back, smiling. "Thanks, Eunseo. I really needed this talk. I feel… lighter now."
Eunseo smirked. "Good. Now go, Yerin. Go see Dahye. Take your time. Explore this. And don't come back until you've made some memories together!"
Yerin laughed, feeling a mix of nervous excitement and anticipation. For the first time since leaving the show, she felt ready to step into the next chapter — with Dahye by her side, and Eunseo cheering her on.
The journey was far from over. But for the first time, Yerin was eager to see where it would lead.