It Was Definitely Him

It was definitely Kwon Seokjun.

She could tell even from a distance. He was the only one who walked like that — tall as a model, with that perfectly straight posture.

Only moments ago the room had been warm with laughter, but the instant she looked out the window, the air turned cold and sharp.

Just then, Na Seonyoung tapped him on the shoulder and burst into giggles, as if they were sharing some delightful story. They'd known each other barely a day, yet her touch was remarkably natural.

When did they get so close?

Minju already knew Seonyoung had feelings for Seokjun. She hadn't been able to take her eyes off him from the moment he first appeared.

And Seokjun? Was he interested in Seonyoung too?

Minju didn't know much about Seonyoung's type, but one thing was certain — she was brimming with confidence, the kind of woman who drew attention wherever she went. Her striking features and glamorous presence pulled every gaze, regardless of gender.

Then, as if he'd sensed her stare, Seokjun turned his head. Their eyes met through the glass.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment, then slid to Han Sangho, seated across the table. One corner of his mouth tilted upward in a slanted smile.

Is it just my imagination, or does that expression look displeased?

"Is something going on outside?"

At Sangho's voice, Minju hastily turned her head away from the window.

"No, it's just... the weather's so nice."

She answered as if nothing were wrong, but Seokjun's gaze, still fixed on her, kept needling at her attention. She lifted her cup and took a sip of coffee, as if to dodge his interest. But the lukewarm brew did nothing except leave a bitter taste in her mouth.

After the café date ended, Sangho and Minju headed to the shared living room at the house. When she carefully opened the door and stepped inside, the gathered contestants greeted them warmly.

"Welcome back!"

"How was your first date?"

The contestants who hadn't been matched in the First Impression Selection asked with curious eyes. Under the weight of everyone's attention, Minju gave an awkward smile and sat down beside Baek Seolhee, who had arrived earlier.

Sangho answered for her with an easy grin.

"It was wonderful."

"Lucky you!"

"I'm so jealous!"

As the laughter never left Sangho's face, envy flickered across the others' gazes.

"How was the date?"

Seolhee, sitting beside her, lowered her voice to ask. When Minju gave a small nod and asked how hers had gone, Seolhee pouted.

"Mine was boring."

"Why? What happened?"

Worried he might have overheard, Minju glanced around in alarm and leaned in closer. The two of them spoke in hushed tones.

Until the date, Seolhee had been giddy with excitement about Choi Doyun, the man who'd chosen her.

"Well, he barely said a word — just sat there drinking his drink. Two drinks, mind you."

"Maybe he was nervous?"

"I don't know. Anyway, I had such high expectations, and I was disappointed." Seolhee shrugged and added, "So I'm going to scope out other guys."

"Already? Shouldn't you at least talk to him a bit more?"

"I like a man who takes the lead. A clueless one just isn't my type."

It struck Minju as a bit hasty, turning away after a single date, but she didn't press the point.

Just then, the Love Coach appeared in the shared living room.

"We must prepare dinner. Please choose one woman and one man to go grocery shopping."

Seolhee raised her hand. "But Kwon Seokjun and Na Seonyoung still aren't back. Is it okay for us to decide among ourselves?"

"Please choose from those who are here for now."

The Love Coach gave a helpless smile. A low murmur rippled through the female contestants.

"What is this — aren't those two hitting it off?"

"Right? They've been gone ages and still aren't back."

"The First Impression couples came back ages ago. Why are the ones who *weren't* picked later?"

"I know it's free time, but this is basically a date, isn't it?"

The voices of the women who hadn't been chosen were laced with jealousy and resentment. Listening quietly, Minju felt her nerves stand on edge for no reason.

She knew it had nothing to do with her whether those two hit it off or not — and yet, somehow, a corner of her chest felt tight and heavy.

It was decided the shoppers would be chosen by lottery, as the Love Coach suggested.

"Then I will announce the results."

The Love Coach drew two slips of paper from a round container and held them up.

"The grocery shopping team is... Choi Doyun and Baek Seolhee."

A ripple of light laughter spread through the living room. Doyun scratched the back of his head, embarrassed, while Seolhee's face stiffened slightly, her expression hard to read.

Leaving word that they would depart in thirty minutes, the Love Coach and the PD slipped out of the living room. The contestants gathered in a circle to settle on a dinner menu and drew up a shopping list.

Having been on the move since early morning, fatigue crashed over her all at once. Whether it was the cameras filming her every moment without pause, or being stuck with a crowd of people all day, she was utterly drained.

More than anything, she didn't want to watch Seokjun and Seonyoung walk in together.

Minju told Seolhee she'd rest for a bit, then quietly rose from her seat. She felt Sangho's gaze on her back, but she pretended not to notice and slipped out of the living room.

She walked down the corridor and pushed open the front door — just as Na Seonyoung was climbing the stairs. Her date with Seokjun seemed to have just ended.

The image of the two of them strolling side by side, looking so happy, surged up inside her, and an emotion she couldn't name rose in her throat. She stopped in her tracks, and Seonyoung, noticing her a beat late, approached with a smile.

"Where are you off to?"

"I'm tired. I was going to rest for a bit."

Minju gave a brief bow of her head and moved to pass her, but Seonyoung stopped her.

"Do you have feelings for Seokjun, by any chance?"

"...Why do you ask?"

"You were staring so hard at our date back at the café, I wondered if that might be it."

Minju froze at the unexpected words. Seonyoung slowly swept back her already flawless hair. The gesture itself was graceful, but the look in her eyes that followed was ice-cold.

Only then did Minju realize it. She'd been so fixated on Seokjun that she'd failed to notice Seonyoung watching her.

If Seonyoung was saying this to her face, it was likely others saw it that way too. Minju felt ridiculous and pathetic.

Seo Minju, what are you doing? You declared you'd walk out as a couple for everyone to see — and now you're hung up on Kwon Seokjun? Get it together.

Whoever Seokjun dated, it was none of her business. The only thing she needed to do right now was focus on herself.

Steadying her heart, Minju looked Seonyoung straight in the eye and spoke clearly.

"I have no interest in Kwon Seokjun."

"Well, that's a relief. Because I intend to see where things go with him."

The words were soft, but Seonyoung's eyes carried an unmistakable warning — as if to say, I've marked him, so don't you dare develop feelings for Kwon Seokjun.

Seonyoung's face looked lighter, as if she'd shed an unpleasant doubt, and she disappeared into the resort. Minju let out a long breath.

She'd answered calmly enough, but part of her felt strangely hollow and feverish all at once.

That's right. Well done. Don't let your emotions sway you.

She soothed herself, but an inexplicable bitterness lingered at the edge of her heart for a long while.

That evening, Minju headed to the parking lot for the grocery run. Seolhee had been the one scheduled to go, but a little while ago she'd come to Minju's room and carefully asked if she could take her place, saying she wasn't feeling well.

Minju could tell it was an excuse — she simply didn't want to go with Doyun — but she nodded and agreed. Relieved, Seolhee smiled and said, "I'll buy you a coffee sometime," and soon left the house.

Arriving at the parking lot, Minju waited for Doyun. She felt self-conscious, wondering if he'd be disappointed when she showed up instead of Seolhee. Awkwardly wondering what face to make, she had just lowered her head when footsteps sounded behind her.

At the approach from the direction of the house, she slowly turned — and to her surprise, the footsteps belonged not to Choi Doyun, but to Kwon Seokjun.

The person I'm waiting for doesn't show, and Kwon Seokjun appears instead?

Minju froze for a moment at the unforeseen encounter. She'd deliberately avoided the shared house to escape him, and now of all places she'd run right into him. And with the cameras rolling, she couldn't even pretend not to see him.

She gave an awkward nod of greeting. Seokjun strode over on his long legs and stopped in front of her.

You could just keep walking. Why stop... and make it awkward.

Minju swallowed the urge to turn away and reluctantly looked up at him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for someone."

Not wanting to prolong the conversation, Minju didn't bother to mention Doyun's name.

"I see."

Seokjun gave a short nod, then calmly slipped both hands into his pockets and turned his gaze toward the house.

What — why isn't he leaving?

Minju looked at him, puzzled.

"Weren't you on your way somewhere?"

"I'm waiting for someone too."

He said it evenly, his eyes never leaving the house.

Who? Na Seonyoung? No way — they just had a date, and they're meeting up again? Or... another female contestant?

She'd known he'd be popular, but she hadn't expected him to play along with the show's format to this degree. So different from her, who'd only gone through the motions with a stubborn, half-hearted heart.

Minju swallowed the jealousy churning inside her and waited for Doyun as if nothing were wrong. But five minutes passed, then ten, and he never appeared.

When exactly is he coming? Does he have no concept of time at all?

One glimpse tells you everything. Seeing his irresponsible attitude, she could vaguely understand why Seolhee had been avoiding him.

Fearing dinner would be late if she kept waiting, Minju cautiously approached a staff member.

"...Would it be all right if I went to the mart alone?"

"By yourself?"

"If I keep waiting for Choi Doyun, the mart will close."

Just then, Seokjun, who had been quietly listening to her exchange with the staff, spoke up.

"Were you waiting for Choi Doyun?"

"...Yes."

Minju looked at him, her eyes asking, Why do you want to know?