Chapter 35: The Amusement Park Dilemma

It was unexpected that Chaeyeon-woo came out before Kang Hae-il.

The snowball, which had just begun to roll with the film camera, paused momentarily as Chaeyeon-woo, his face alight with excitement, flopped onto the sofa.

“I’m so curious what everyone will say! Tomorrow, we’ll… oh, I shouldn’t say that.”

Nothing was more annoying than someone who started to speak only to trail off.

With a flushed face, he twisted his body, every word he uttered vague and devoid of substance.

Just as Dohwa’s patience began to wane, Woo Sori, seemingly deciding there was nothing more to hear, drew everyone’s attention elsewhere.

“Alright, enough. Won-ho brought the film camera; take a look at that.”

“Oh my god, a film camera? Take a picture of me!”

Thanks to this, the paused snowball began to roll once more.

Curious about what Chaeyeon-woo had been about to say before stopping, Dohwa quietly rose from his seat, knowing he would have to go there eventually anyway.

‘I don’t want to be trapped in the camera’s cycle again.’

He didn’t want to draw attention by announcing his departure, yet after reaching the door to the room, he was met with a voice.

“Why are you back?”

“…I forgot my iced tea.”

“Dohwa, are you going in?”

“Hurry back~”

Everyone’s attention focused on Dohwa, who had returned, having forgotten to grab his cup.

As those with unspoken questions on their faces offered a remark or two, Dohwa, with an embarrassed expression, quickly snatched his cup and swiftly reached the door.

He then glanced at the firmly closed door opposite him before opening his own.

Though it was only his second time entering this room, he instinctively sat on the same sofa as before and placed his cup on the table.

He reached out for the blanket draped over the adjacent sofa.

[Did you enjoy your meal?]

Startled by the sudden, unfamiliar voice, Dohwa’s body jolted, unable even to scream.

‘What is that? Who is that?’

He rose from his seat, backing away as if ready to flee at any moment, and scanned the room.

Then, the same voice as before emanated from the rabbit doll.

[How are you feeling today?]

For a moment, he hesitated, his eyes wide with confusion, unsure how to react, but then he recalled a clause in the terms of use: ‘Answer questions freely.’

He sat back on the sofa and cautiously opened his mouth.

“I’m good.”

Silence filled the room.

‘Is this how I’m supposed to do it?’

As Dohwa blinked, a few more simple questions followed, confirming his approach and gradually reducing his hesitation.

His tension eased as well, allowing him to return to his previous comfortable posture.

[It’s the second week now; is there anyone you’re interested in?]

He paused for a moment after hearing the question but answered without hesitation.

“Well, it’s only the second week, so I think I need more time to get to know everyone. They’re all good people, and I like them…”

It wasn’t a question that required much deliberation, after all.

However, for some unknown reason, his voice trailed off towards the end, as if making an excuse.

[What was the most memorable moment from the first week?]

Recalling the events of the previous week, Dohwa’s face flushed, and he spoke in a hushed, almost crawling voice.

“Watching the movie together… it was fun, but I didn’t realize it would be so sad.”

He didn’t usually watch movies like that.

The thought of it being broadcast later made him dizzy; he might just die of embarrassment.

“If you could just edit me out completely, I’d be truly, truly grateful, but if not, then there’s nothing to be done…”

Dohwa, hastily adding his fervent wish, buried his face in the blanket, erasing the imagined futures from his mind.

The next question came.

[Among the Alphas, who do you think is most similar to you?]

For a moment, the faces of three individuals flashed through his mind, bringing forth a multitude of thoughts.

‘I don’t think I’m similar to any of them.’

Each of them had such distinct personalities that he found himself unable to speak readily. He tilted his head, deep in thought.

If he had to choose just one, it would probably be…

“…Hae-il hyung?”

It felt awkward, as he had never addressed him by name with the honorific ‘hyung’ before.

Kang Hae-il was the only one who, like Dohwa, remained quiet when they were all together, rarely speaking.

He tried to recall any similarities with the other two, but finding none, he settled on Kang Hae-il.

Yet, no sooner had he uttered the name than the fact that Kang Hae-il was a director at Geumgang Group suddenly came to mind.

“We’re both quite quiet, and I think he, like me, prefers to just stay still.”

He added a supplementary explanation, watching for any sign of misunderstanding, even though he couldn’t find any other similarities beyond that point.

[Do you get along best with that person? Or is it someone else?]

“The one I get along with best… I think it’s Hae-il hyung.”

He immediately nodded, his answer flowing naturally in response to the continuous questions.

When they went out together, when they dated.

Despite having spent an overwhelmingly large amount of time moving around with Kang Hae-il, he had never once felt they were incompatible.

On the contrary, the more time passed, the more he felt as if he was discovering new things he hadn’t seen before.

‘Surely the next question won’t be about Kang Hae-il, will it?’

He stared intently at the rabbit doll’s eyes, a nervous shiver running through him, fearful of giving the wrong answer.

As he averted his gaze, a completely unexpected question emerged.

[Do you remember the relationship questionnaire you filled out before moving in?]

“Hmm…”

[You answered 20 questions, remember?]

“Ah, I know what you’re talking about.”

He vaguely recalled a file from several months ago, which the production team had repeatedly emphasized should be answered honestly and diligently.

He had procrastinated on it out of annoyance, finally staying up all night on the deadline day to complete and submit it.

“Why do you ask about that?”

As Dohwa tilted his head, the rabbit doll spoke in an even more excited voice than before.

[Tomorrow’s date partner is the person most similar to you!]

[Date matching will be based on the compatibility score from the relationship questionnaire!]

Last week, it was on Sunday.

He calmed his slightly surprised mind at the mention of a date happening tomorrow.

His memory of what he had written in it was hazy, so he scratched his head.

[Dress code: Blue!]

[The date partner is a secret, and the location must be known only to you!]

Of course, they wouldn’t just reveal everything readily.

He didn’t think he had brought any blue clothes this time, and he bit his lip nervously.

[Departure for the amusement park at 8 AM!]

“…This is ridiculous.”

Upon hearing the date location, he bit down so hard that his lip split, and he tasted the sharp tang of blood.

He searched for tissues nearby but found none, so he licked his tongue over his lip whenever blood welled up.

Dohwa, who couldn’t stand scary things or rides, had never been to an amusement park outside of elementary school field trips.

To make matters worse, they were departing at 8 AM.

‘What time do I even have to wake up?’

Still on his nocturnal schedule from the first day, Dohwa let out a deep sigh.

Moreover, there would be crowds of people, and he would need stamina to navigate them.

The more he thought about it, the more negative aspects lined up, and his expression grew increasingly gloomy.

Unaware of his inner turmoil, the rabbit doll once again asked a question in an excited voice.

[Do you think the person you’re expecting will show up?]

“…I don’t know.”

As he considered it deeply, his mind half-wandering, he simply couldn’t conceive of Kang Hae-il providing the same responses to those questions.

“Somehow, I don’t think he’ll be there.”

Although he had previously chosen him as the most similar person, he shook his head decisively.

No more questions came, so after sitting in a daze, he slowly picked up his cup and exited the room.

He immediately made eye contact with Jae-hyun, who was standing in the living room.

Unlike Jae-hyun, who wore a gentle smile, Dohwa’s complexion was dark.

“Your lip is bleeding.”

As they drew closer, Jae-hyun offered Dohwa a tissue, his voice tinged with concern.

“Thanks.”

He pressed the tissue carelessly against his lip and was about to sit on the sofa when he flinched, seeing Chaeyeon-woo across from him, his eyes gleaming brightly.

The sight of all five individuals gathered in the living room, not a single one missing, felt somewhat like déjà vu.

“It took you a long time to come out, so I guess the questions were difficult for you, Dohwa?”

“…They weren’t particularly difficult.”

Woo Sori, who hadn’t yet entered the room, narrowed his eyes and offered a deduction, prompting Dohwa to provide an explanation that wasn’t quite an explanation.

After all, the questions themselves weren’t hard.

“I’m curious what you said for the other questions too.”

Ma Won-ho’s seemingly sincere words, spoken while staring intently at Dohwa, sent a chill through his body.

He habitually tugged at the blanket draped over his shoulder.

‘…I brought it out again.’

As he realized he had once again brought a blanket out from the room, he noticed the very blanket he had taken out earlier lying on Chaeyeon-woo’s lap, who was sitting opposite him.

Thanks to his ‘acquisition,’ there were now a total of four blankets in the living room, including the existing ones.

He inadvertently glanced sideways and briefly met Chaeyeon-woo’s eyes.

“Jae-hyun hyung also went in while you were inside.”

“Oh, really?”

“He came out quickly, but you took your time. Suspicious, much?”

Chaeyeon-woo spoke to Dohwa again, his tone playful.

Dohwa hadn’t thought he’d taken long to come out.

He chuckled awkwardly and scanned his surroundings. Since Jae-hyun had also gone, only Ma Won-ho and Woo Sori remained.

‘Are all the questions the same?’

His question was fleeting.

Dohwa’s eyes clouded over as he once again remembered the fact that he had to go to an amusement park at 8 AM the next day.

He probably couldn’t change the location, could he?

Unconsciously, he bit his lip again, only to see blood and be scolded by the others.

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