Dinner eventually ended, but the tension around the villa did not fade.
The contestants slowly moved back into the living room, some chatting in small groups, others quietly observing. The atmosphere felt heavier than before. Earlier, everyone had been testing the waters, but now it was clear—people had started choosing who they wanted.
Yerin sat on the couch with a few of the girls, listening more than speaking. Jiyeon and Areum occasionally tried to pull her into the conversation, asking her random questions, clearly trying to keep her attention.
Across the room, Dahye leaned against the counter, her gaze drifting naturally to one person.
Sohee.
Sohee was laughing with two other contestants, but every now and then her eyes wandered toward Yerin. Not for long—just quick glances.
Dahye noticed every single one.
Her jaw tightened slightly before she looked away.
At that moment, the familiar electronic chime echoed through the villa.
Everyone immediately stopped talking.
Then the voice returned.
The calm, recorded tone filled the room through the speakers.
"Contestants, good evening."
A few girls straightened up instinctively.
"As part of the program, there will be a night game held every evening."
Murmurs spread through the room.
"The rules are simple. Each night, contestants will participate in a short game. Only one winner will be chosen."
Everyone leaned forward slightly.
"The winner will receive a special opportunity."
The voice paused for a moment.
"The winner may enter the Secret Box Room and check the ranking list of one contestant."
This time the room truly erupted.
"What?!"
"Seriously?"
"You can check someone's rankings?"
Some girls laughed nervously while others exchanged suspicious glances.
That kind of information could change everything.
The first night game was announced.
A quick reflex challenge.
Twelve buzzers were placed on a large table. The contestants stood around it in a circle.
The rules were simple.
A random question would appear on the screen above them. The first person to press the buzzer and answer correctly would earn a point. The contestant with the most points after ten questions would win.
Everyone took their positions.
Jiyeon stretched her fingers.
"Alright… I'm good at these," she said confidently.
Areum laughed.
"We'll see about that."
Sohee stood quietly, glancing once toward Yerin.
Yerin looked calm as usual.
Dahye simply crossed her arms slightly, watching the screen.
The first question flashed.
"What year did the first smartphone release?"
Buzz!
Jiyeon hit the buzzer first.
"2007!"
Correct.
Cheers and groans filled the room.
The questions continued quickly.
Buzzers slammed.
Voices shouted answers.
Points began to spread across the contestants.
But slowly, one person started pulling ahead.
Dahye.
She wasn't the fastest every time, but she rarely answered wrong. Calm, steady, precise.
By the final question, she had already secured the lead.
The screen flashed the results.
Winner: Bae Dahye
The room filled with applause and playful groans.
Jiyeon sighed dramatically.
"Ah… I was so close."
Areum laughed.
"Dahye is scary good."
Sohee clapped politely.
Meanwhile Yerin simply smiled slightly.
"Congratulations."
Dahye gave a small nod.
"Thanks."
But inside, her thoughts were already racing.
There was only one ranking list she wanted to see.
A staff member guided Dahye to a small hallway she hadn't noticed before.
At the end of it was a single door.
Above it read:
Secret Box Room
She stepped inside.
The room was quiet and dimly lit. Twelve locked boxes were arranged neatly along the wall, each labeled with a contestant's name.
Dahye walked straight to one box.
Kim Sohee
Her fingers paused briefly before opening it.
Inside was a sheet of paper.
Sohee's ranking list.
Dahye's eyes scanned the names carefully.
Number 1 — Ahn Yerin
Her expression froze for a brief second.
Sohee liked Yerin the most.
Her eyes moved down.
Number 2 — Bae Dahye
Dahye stared at the name for a moment.
Then slowly…
A small smile appeared.
Second place.
Not first.
But still close.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
So I still have a chance.
If she was already second, it meant Sohee had noticed her.
That meant things could still change.
She closed the box gently.
Her determination had quietly returned.
The next morning, the contestants gathered in the living room once again.
Sunlight filled the villa, but the atmosphere felt different now.
Everyone knew the games could reveal secrets.
The familiar chime sounded again.
The voice returned.
"Good morning, contestants."
Everyone looked toward the ceiling speakers.
"Today, there will be a date opportunity this afternoon."
Instant reactions spread across the room.
Some girls straightened immediately.
Others exchanged curious glances.
"In order to participate in the date, contestants must successfully choose each other."
Silence fell.
"You now have time for one-on-one conversations."
The voice continued calmly.
"If two contestants choose each other successfully, they will go on the afternoon date together."
Now the room exploded with reactions.
"What?!"
"Mutual choosing?"
"That's intense…"
Eyes began shifting around the room immediately.
People started realizing they needed to act.
Feelings needed to be explored.
Choices needed to be made.
And time was already ticking.