The afternoon sun hung high over the villa when everyone's phones suddenly vibrated at the same time.
The living room fell silent.
No one spoke as they reached for their phones.
A message appeared.
"Congratulations. You have successfully been matched with…"
The names followed.
Match 1
Park Sora and Yoo Chaewon
Match 2
Kim Sohee and Bae Dahye
Match 3
Ahn Yerin and Lim Jiyeon
Soft reactions filled the room.
Sora laughed in surprise while Chaewon clapped happily.
Across the room, Dahye read the message again.
Kim Sohee.
A small satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
Her direct confession earlier had worked.
Nearby, Sohee lowered her phone slowly.
She had chosen Dahye.
Not because she liked her the most.
But because of Yerin.
Yerin's hesitant response earlier kept replaying in her mind. She couldn't risk choosing someone who might not choose her back.
Dahye, on the other hand, had made her feelings clear.
Across the room, Yerin calmly read her own result.
Lim Jiyeon.
She wasn't surprised.
She had already gone on a date with Sohee before. While she did find Sohee interesting, the feeling wasn't strong yet.
Jiyeon had been straightforward about liking her.
And Yerin was curious about her.
Not everyone shared the excitement.
Several contestants received another message.
"You have failed to be matched for today's date."
Areum sighed quietly when she saw it.
Haerin looked disappointed but hid it well.
The atmosphere in the villa grew heavier.
The competition was becoming real.
Sohee and Dahye's Date
Their date took place at a quiet riverside café.
Soft jazz music played while the afternoon breeze moved gently across the water.
Sohee stirred her iced drink slowly.
Across from her, Dahye looked relaxed.
"You look confident," Sohee said.
Dahye smiled faintly.
"I was hoping you'd choose me."
Sohee lifted an eyebrow.
"You were that sure?"
"You said you like honesty," Dahye replied calmly. "So I decided to be honest."
Sohee laughed lightly.
"That's true."
A short silence followed before Dahye spoke again.
"I meant what I said earlier."
Her eyes were steady.
"I'm interested in you."
Sohee held her gaze.
"You're very direct."
"I don't like wasting time."
That made Sohee laugh again.
For the first time that day, she felt a little more relaxed.
Still…
A small thought lingered in the back of her mind.
Yerin.
She pushed it away.
Today wasn't about that.
Across the table, Dahye noticed the brief distraction in her eyes.
But instead of feeling discouraged, it made her more determined.
I can make her like me more.
Yerin and Jiyeon's Date
Their date was at a lively outdoor art market.
Small stalls lined the streets, filled with handmade jewelry, paintings, and colorful decorations. Street musicians played nearby while people wandered through the crowd.
Jiyeon stretched her arms as they walked.
"This place is nice."
Yerin nodded.
"It is."
Jiyeon glanced at her sideways.
"So… you chose me."
Yerin answered honestly.
"I was curious."
Jiyeon laughed.
"That's not very romantic."
"It's the truth."
That answer made Jiyeon grin.
They stopped at a stall selling handmade bracelets.
Jiyeon picked one up and turned it in her fingers.
"You know," she said, "you're hard to read."
Yerin tilted her head slightly.
"Am I?"
"Very."
Jiyeon looked directly at her now.
"You listen more than you talk. When people show interest in you, you don't reject them… but you also don't show much."
Yerin considered that quietly.
"Maybe."
Jiyeon crossed her arms lightly.
"So tell me something honestly."
Her tone softened.
"You already went on a date with Sohee."
Yerin looked at her.
"Did you choose me because you wanted to know me… or because you didn't want to pick her again?"
Yerin didn't answer immediately.
The silence was enough.
Instead of being upset, Jiyeon laughed softly.
"That's fine."
She placed the bracelet back on the stall.
"I like challenges."
Yerin looked at her.
"You're confident."
"I have to be."
Jiyeon smiled.
"Otherwise someone else might steal your attention."
Yerin didn't reply.
But for the first time during the date…
A faint smile appeared on her face.
Back at the villa, the contestants who hadn't gone on dates sat together quietly.
Everyone was thinking the same thing.
The first real matches had happened.
And from now on…
Every decision would matter more.