So clingy and gross

As soon as their fingers touched, the girl desperately grabbed his hand and pulled with surprising strength for someone her size.

Why is she going this far? How can someone risk their life for a complete stranger?

I'd met people who wanted me dead—but never someone who wanted to save me.

After that day, In-hyuk got into serious trouble, and he stopped bothering him so much. He gradually forgot about the intruder girl.

But on the day he turned eighteen, he suddenly remembered her, her name, her face, everything came rushing back.

It had been an especially hard and exhausting day.

"Don't show weakness. That'll only be used against you."

The words that had been drilled into hi head echoed again.

But maybe… just maybe, if it were that trespassing girl—maybe I could show weakness.

She risked her life to save a stranger. Maybe she'd say it was okay to be tired sometimes.

Maybe she'd stupidly cover for even the weakest parts of me, like it was no big deal.

After that day, I began thinking of her often. In my imagination, Hae-young was still that young girl from back then… or sometimes, she'd grown up and become someone my age.

Eventually, imagining Hae-young's present became a kind of personal game for me.

Would she have grown up just the same? Or had life worn her down and made her like everyone else?

Was she still so stupidly kind that people took advantage of her?

So when she suddenly dashed into traffic, I recognized her right away. And when she made that strange proposal, I was genuinely excited.

After all, how often does life bring you a moment like that?

When she assumed I was helping her because she'd saved my life, her relieved expression made it all even more fun.

It really was entertaining. I wanted to make her lower her guard even more.

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Scene: Mission Shopping

Hae-young read the mission card aloud. It was a task given before the WooYeon House group retreat.

"Why do I have to pick a gift for another guy, again?"

Yoon-hyuk raised an eyebrow in clear displeasure.

He had a cap pulled low over his face, looking more casual than usual.

"Isn't that what friends are for? Helping each other out in times like this."

This mission was only for the female contestants, so Yoon-hyuk had come along just to help Hae-young.

"Are the cameras rolling?"

Instead of answering, he took the handheld vlog camera from her and casually examined it.

Hae-young reached over and hit the power button. A red light came on.

"It's on."

Yoon-hyuk grinned under his cap.

Holding the camera in one hand, the two awkwardly entered the flea market, as directed by the production staff.

It looked like the area had been reserved for filming. The place was quiet, with only a few staff members browsing nearby, making the whole situation feel a little less awkward.

__________✧⁠⑅⁠˖⁠♡｡ﾟ∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°↝⁠^⁠.⁠_⁠.⁠^___________________

"So, who's the gift for?"

"Not sure yet."

She was planning to give it to Sung-joon, but she pretended otherwise on camera.

"How about this?"

Yoon-hyuk held something up. It took a second to figure out what it was.

"A razor...? Come on, don't joke around."

"Why not? It's practical. Okay, then how about this?"

"Put that down."

Hae-young firmly shut him down as he tried to hand her another odd item.

"You really should listen to me. I'm a guy—I know what guys like."

"Really? That's why you picked homemade duck jerky for pets?"

"Yup."

"Forget it. I'll pick something myself. What about this?"

She moved to a neighboring stall and picked out some candles and holders.

Yoon-hyuk raised a brow again.

"Not great."

"Why not? A lot of guys like scents."

"Then go with this."

He picked up a long candle lighter next to the candles.

"Just that?"

"Sure. Smokers might like it."

Why was he like this?

"Are you just trying to be difficult?"

"No, I'm serious. Don't like the lighter? Then how about this?"

He glanced around and grabbed another item—this time, something nicely packaged.

"What is it?"

Hae-young took the gift box from him.

"Deo...dorant?"

Yoon-hyuk couldn't hold back and burst out laughing as he walked away.

She pressed a hand to her forehead.

He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?

"Come on, just help me pick a scent. How about this one? It's my favorite."

She held a candle up to him. Yoon-hyuk bent down to sniff it, his long lashes casting shadows.

"It's nice. But don't buy it."

"Why?"

"I don't want your favorite scent showing up in another guy's room."

A short silence followed.

It was the kind of thing you'd say to a lover. It probably wasn't meant that way, but through the lens of the camera, it might be interpreted differently.

"R-right. Maybe it's too feminine. I'll just ask for a recommendation."

"Good thinking."

Yoon-hyuk smiled, looking entirely too pleased with himself. He was no help at all.

In the end, Hae-young bought a candle set with the most "neutral" scent, as suggested by the shop assistant.

A staff member asked them to record the vlog's ending.

Hae-young awkwardly held the camera.

"So, I bought this candle set. I wonder who'll get it? I'm already excited!"

In the background, Yoon-hyuk could be seen watching and giggling behind his hand. The day felt warmer.

"Since you helped me pick it, why don't you say something too?"

She turned the camera toward him, refusing to be the only one embarrassed.

To fit in the frame, Yoon-hyuk leaned in. Their faces were very close.

"I don't like it."

"What don't you like?"

"That I helped you pick out a gift, and you're giving it to another guy. It's insulting, don't you think?"

"You'll get something from one of the other girls."

Yoon-hyuk scrunched his nose, pretending to be offended.

"You should've gone with the razor. Whoever it is, tell him to shave properly."

"Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

Yoon-hyuk tilted his head and lightly bumped hers.

On screen, the two of them looked adorably close—just like real friends.

__________✧⁠⑅⁠˖⁠♡｡ﾟ∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°↝⁠^⁠.⁠_⁠.⁠^___________________

Meanwhile...

Min-ji sat with a tablet in one hand and her phone in the other. Episode 2 was about to drop. She kept refreshing the screen.

> "Can't wait for the date scenes! Looks like fun."

> "I usually find date scenes boring…"

> "Not in this show. Give us the juicy stuff!"

> "Do-jin x Hae-young ♡"

> "Can't wait to see what Sung-joon does this time, lol."

Min-ji scanned the comments for mentions of her name.

What few mentions there were either noted that Sung-joon didn't flirt with her because they were friends, or complained that she had too little screen time.

She angrily threw her pillow to the floor.

"What the hell kind of edit is this? Are they kidding?"

The only good moment from Episode 1 was her introduction.

> "Don't worry about screen time. You know you're Jae-won's pick, right?"

That's what the main PD, Lee Eun-hye, had told her. She even said Min-ji looked great on camera and didn't need much editing.

So what was with this edit?

At this point, she was almost jealous of Sung-joon for gaining attention—even if it was from stirring up drama.

The opening ended, and Episode 2 began, with Hae-young's face filling the screen.

A scene of her on a date with Sung-joon.

"You've gotta be kidding me!"

They're not going to push Hae-young again this episode… right?

Min-ji bit her lip anxiously.

> "Wow, Hae-young is so pretty!"

The panelists gushed.

What's so pretty about her? Are they blind, or just selling out for the paycheck?

Hae-young smiled brightly at Sung-joon during their date.

Min-ji thought her obsession with Sung-joon was disgusting. But the audience loved it.

> "She can't even hide how much she likes him, lol."

> "She's adorable!"

> "If Sung-joon plays it right, this is it. My stock is on her."

New posts flooded in—nearly all of them positive. Min-ji fumed.

> "I really enjoyed my date with Sung-joon. I hope we can talk more."

In the interview room, Hae-young smiled shyly in a white blouse. A cute baby-laugh sound effect and blush filter were added for extra effect.

Min-ji's fists trembled in rage. She wanted to turn it off, but she didn't know when she'd appear.

What made it worse was how much people liked Hae-young.

> "I love how honest she is."

> "I'm not into Sung-joon, but if she likes him, I guess..."

> "She could do so much better."

"They don't even know the truth. It's pathetic. Who goes on a show just to stalk their ex? It's so clingy and gross."

But the happy date didn't last long. The mood shifted the moment Hae-young brought up the viewer matchmaking.