Later the next morning, most of the contestants were still relaxing around the villa. Some were in the kitchen making drinks, others were chatting on the couch. The tension from the previous night had eased a little, but everyone knew the calm wouldn't last long.
Right on time, the familiar chime echoed through the house.
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
The recorded voice followed.
"Contestants, good afternoon."
They slowly gathered in the living room.
"Today there will be another date opportunity."
Several girls immediately leaned forward with interest.
"This time, the date will be decided by a color matching game."
A staff member brought out a large box and placed it on the table.
The voice continued.
"Inside this box are twelve cards. Each card has a color."
"Each color appears twice."
A small board was placed beside the box showing the six colors.
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Purple
Orange
"If two contestants pick the same color, they will be matched and go on a one-on-one date."
Murmurs of excitement spread through the room.
So this time, it was pure chance.
"Contestants will come forward one at a time and pick a color card from the box."
"Please do not show your color until everyone has chosen."
The girls exchanged curious looks.
This meant anyone could end up paired with anyone.
One by one, the contestants stepped forward.
Sora reached in first, pulling out a card and hiding it behind her back with a laugh.
Chaewon followed.
Then Jiyeon.
Then Dahye.
Then Sohee.
Finally, Yerin stepped forward and pulled out her card quietly before returning to her seat.
Once everyone had chosen, the voice spoke again.
"Please reveal your colors."
Cards flipped open across the room.
Reactions immediately followed.
Two girls laughed.
Another pair looked surprised.
Then someone gasped.
Sohee blinked when she looked at her card.
Blue.
She slowly looked up.
Across the room, Yerin was holding the same color.
Blue.
Their eyes met briefly.
Another unexpected match.
Across the room, Jiyeon looked down at her card.
Red.
She looked up.
Dahye was holding the exact same color.
Jiyeon laughed softly.
"Well… looks like fate is playing games again."
The remaining contestants also matched into pairs with the other colors.
Six pairs had been formed.
Sohee and Yerin's Date
Their destination was a beautiful lakeside park just outside the city.
The afternoon sun reflected softly across the water, and small paddle boats floated gently near the shore.
When they arrived, Sohee looked around with excitement.
"This place is amazing."
Yerin nodded quietly.
"It's peaceful."
They started with the paddle boats.
Sohee immediately grabbed the steering handle.
"I'll drive."
Yerin looked skeptical.
"You sound confident."
"I am confident."
Ten seconds later the boat drifted sideways instead of forward.
Yerin laughed.
"You said you were confident."
"I didn't say I was good at it," Sohee protested, laughing with her.
Once they moved out onto the lake, the atmosphere became calmer.
The water rippled quietly around them.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Sohee broke the silence.
"You seemed comfortable with Jiyeon yesterday."
Yerin glanced at her.
"She's easy to talk to."
Sohee looked down at the water.
"I wondered if you enjoyed that date more than ours."
Yerin tilted her head slightly.
"Why would you think that?"
Sohee shrugged.
"You two looked close at dinner."
Yerin thought about it for a moment.
Then she said quietly,
"I enjoyed our date too."
Sohee looked at her quickly.
The answer made a small smile appear on her face.
After the boat ride, they moved to a picnic area prepared near the lake.
There was a small painting activity waiting for them.
Sohee picked up a brush.
"I'm terrible at painting."
Yerin raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are you starting?"
"Because it's fun."
Sohee started painting random shapes.
Yerin watched for a moment before laughing softly.
"What is that supposed to be?"
Sohee looked at her painting proudly.
"It's abstract."
"That's one way to describe it."
They continued talking and joking while painting together.
The atmosphere felt light.
Comfortable.
For the first time since yesterday, Sohee felt the strange distance between them disappear.
Jiyeon and Dahye's Date
Meanwhile, Jiyeon and Dahye sat across from each other at a quiet café.
Their conversation quickly turned honest.
Jiyeon leaned back in her chair.
"Let's be real for a second."
Dahye looked at her calmly.
"About what?"
"About who we actually like."
Jiyeon smirked slightly.
"I'll go first."
She pointed at Dahye.
"You like Sohee."
Dahye didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Jiyeon laughed.
"I knew it."
Dahye took a sip of her drink.
"And you like Yerin."
Jiyeon shrugged.
"Obviously."
The honesty made the conversation strangely comfortable.
"Looks like we're both chasing someone else," Jiyeon said.
Dahye nodded slightly.
"Seems that way."
Jiyeon smiled.
"But that makes things interesting."
"How?" Dahye asked.
"Because the two people we like keep ending up together."
Dahye didn't answer.
But the thought had already crossed her mind.
If Yerin and Sohee started liking each other…
Both of them might lose.
Neither of them said that out loud.
But the possibility lingered quietly between them.
As evening approached, the contestants slowly returned to the villa again.
Another day.
Another set of shifting emotions.
And slowly…
The competition was becoming more complicated than anyone expected.