Tooth Fairy

Heeseung strode down the staircase into the sun-drenched main lounge, his fitted black shirt emphasising his lean shoulders. He gave a slow, confident wave to the camera already positioned in his face. "I'm Heeseung, twenty-four, from Seoul. I'm a trainee at a top entertainment company." His pre-recorded intro video flashed on screen—shots of him in a dance studio, completely sweat-drenched and focused, followed by a clip of him in his campus’ library, black-rimmed glasses perched on his angular nose. "I'm competitive, and I sure do like to win. But I'm here because I want something real. Someone who can match my intensity." He chose a cream sofa, sitting down straight-backed.

Jake bounded down next, his smile wide and instantly infectious. "Hey! I'm Jake, twenty-three, originally from Brisbane!" His video was all of Australia’s golden-hour beaches, surfing fails turned into laughs, and playful rugby tackles with his mates. "I'm a people person. I'm after a best friend as much as a girlfriend, someone I can have a proper laugh with." He plopped down next to Heeseung, clapping him on the back.

Jay descended with a pose so similar to a model, his crisp white shirt unbuttoned one too many. "Jay. Twenty-three. I run my own boutique fashion line." His video showcased his minimalistic loft, multiple art gallery openings, and him leisurely sketching designs. "I have a refined taste, so I know what I like. I'm looking for a partner who has their own passion, someone who understands aesthetics." He took a single seat opposite the others, crossing his legs over.

Sunoo practically skipped into the lounge, his pastel pink shirt bright against the decor. "Hello, I'm Sunoo! I'm twenty-two!" His montage was a rush of him decorating cupcakes, doing silly videos with friends, and laughing until he cried. "I own my own bakery! I want to find someone who gets my energy and isn't afraid to be a little... extra with me." He perched on the arm of Jake's sofa. 

Sunghoon's entrance caused an audible gasp from the unseen crew. His beauty was almost unsettlingly perfect. "Sunghoon. Twenty-three. Former competitive figure skater, now a model." The video showed him gliding on ice, then transforming in front of a photographer's lens. "I'm used to being watched. But here, I want to be seen. Properly." He sat near Ni-ki, however, keeping a slight distance.

Ni-ki descended the staircase, the soft platinum streaks of his hair falling across his sharp features. At twenty, he was the youngest of the boys, but the intensity in his dark eyes held a maturity that contradicted his age. He offered the camera a small, almost shy smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm Ni-ki. I'm a dancer." His montage rolled. It was just him, alone in a vast, mirrored studio, his body bending and contorting to match the demands of the choreography. The final shot was a close-up of his face, completely still and focused, as a single bead of sweat traced the line of his jaw. He moved to the only remaining space, a low leather pouf near Sunghoon, folding his long limbs into it, his gaze sweeping the room, lingering on each of the other men

Jungwon was the last of the boys, calmly making his entrance into the villa. "Jungwon, twenty-two. Music production student." His clips featured him in a home studio, his headphones on, fingers adjusting dials with the utmost attention. "I pay attention to details, the little things people do. I'm here to find someone whose... frequency matches mine." He chose the seat next to Heeseung, offering a small, polite nod.

Based solely on first impressions…who has intrigued you the most?

"Now, let's turn up the heat! Islanders, please welcome your first bombshells!" The host's voice crackled with excitement.

The grand double doors swung open, and the villa was flooded with a wave of pastel chiffon, the crisp scent of citrus and vanilla, and a bright, chattering energy that instantly changed the room's atmosphere. Wonyoung entered first, her long, elegant legs carrying her to the main lounge. Her smile was a perfect, captivating crescent, her eyes scanning the room with a pleasant look "I'm Wonyoung," she said, her voice soft and clear. "Twenty-one. I'm a student, and I suppose an influencer." She offered a small, graceful wave.

Yujin followed, moving with the confident ease of someone used to commanding a court, her smile wide and genuine. "Hey everyone! Yujin, twenty-four. I work as a personal trainer and coach volleyball on the side." Behind them, the other four girls streamed in—Gaeul, whose shy smile contrasted with the bold ink swirling up her arm; Rei, who pushed her glasses up with a shy grin; Liz, whose speaking voice was already melodious; and Leeseo,  all energetic limbs and bright eyes, who announced she was a dance student.

The lounge erupted in a chorus of "hellos," cheek kisses, and exaggerated compliments. The boys stood, hands were shaken, seats were shuffled to accommodate. Sunoo immediately gravitated toward Leeseo, his hands sketching shapes in the air as he passionately described a performance he’d seen, his laughter a bright, infectious sound. Jake engaged Yujin, his posture open and eager as he asked detailed questions about training regimens. Jay, having subtly positioned himself on the arm of Wonyoung's chosen chair, leaned in slightly, his voice a low, intimate murmur as he admired the delicate stitching of her dress.

A tense, anticipatory beat of music thumped. "Islanders, one more surprise! A final bombshell is about to enter the villa! Get ready to turn those heads!"

All conversation ceased. The main doors swung open slowly. You walked in, the late afternoon sun gliding your silhouette. You offered a small, genuine smile, your eyes scanning the room of now-thirteen stunned faces. 

The silence held for a second too long before Sunoo broke it with an enthusiastic, "Wow, hello! Come in, come in!" He patted the empty cushion next to him on the now-crowded sofa. You accepted the spot, feeling the weight of multiple gazes. The initial round of introductions began again, names and ages repeated for your benefit. Heeseung’s handshake was firm and lingered for a second too long, his dark eyes holding yours as he said your name back to you, as if testing how it felt on his tongue. Jake’s was warm, his whole face beaming at you—Sunoo, who introduced himself again with a playful wiggle of his fingers. Jay’s touch was cool, his appraisal swift and thorough. Ni-ki offered a small, sharp nod from his spot, and Sunghoon gave a graceful, almost formal incline of his head. Jungwon’s gaze was the most disconcerting—it felt less like an assessment and more like he was absorbing details.

"Right, Islanders!" the host's voice echoed. "Time for your first challenge. This is 'The First Impression.' You'll be paired up at random for a little… proximity test." A screen lit up, displaying spinning names. The pairings flashed: Heeseung & Wonyoung. Jake & Yujin. Sunoo & Liz. Jay & Gaeul. Ni-ki & Rei. Sunghoon & Leeseo. Jungwon & Y/n.

Jungwon stood smoothly and walked over to you. "Looks like we're a pair," he said, his voice low, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. The challenge was simple but agonising: each pair had to lie side-by-side on a floating lounger in the pool, bodies pressed together from shoulder to ankle to keep balanced, while answering increasingly personal questions fed to them via an earpiece. The last pair to stay on without falling in won a date card.

The pool area became a spectacle of wobbling limbs and nervous laughter. Heeseung and Wonyoung looked like a magazine spread, their long limbs entangled. Jake and Yujin were chatting easily, clearly already friends. Sunoo and Liz were giggling uncontrollably, threatening to capsize with every shake. But on your lounger, with Jungwon’s side a solid line of heat against yours, the questions took a turn. "What is your biggest vulnerability?" his earpiece asked. He was silent for a moment, the only sound the slosh of water and the very faint sound of cicadas. "I'm afraid of being misunderstood," he said, not looking at you, staring at the villa lights reflecting on the water. "Of trying to say something important and it just… getting lost." His honesty was a stark contrast to the game-show atmosphere. Your question came: "What's something you pretend to like but actually hate?" You felt him tense slightly, waiting. "Small talk," you admitted, the words out before you could filter them. "I hate the dance of it. I'd rather sit in silence." At that, he turned his head, his nose almost brushing your temple. "Yeah," he murmured, just for you. "Me too."

A shriek of laughter erupted as Sunoo and Liz finally tumbled into the water, followed by Jay and Gaeul. Your lounger, through some miracle of balance and mutual stillness, remained upright. "Winners!" the host announced. "Jungwon and Y/n, you've won today's date card! You'll be whisked away for a private sunset dinner tonight."

The chaotic energy of the pool game dissipated as the host’s announcement settled over the group. A chorus of good-natured groans and congratulatory claps followed. Jungwon offered you a small smile as he helped you step off the precarious lounger and onto the solid pool deck.

The group began to drift inside, trailing water and laughter, to dry off and change before the evening’s free time. In the sprawling shared bedroom of the girls’ wing, the atmosphere shifted into something more intimate. Yujin immediately launched a damp towel at Leeseo, who shrieked and dove behind a bed. "Hey! Winner over here! Don't you have any respect for royalty?" you joked, pretending to adjust an imaginary crown.

Wonyoung, meticulously patting her face dry at the vanity, let out a snort. "Please, your 'throne' was a floating death trap. I saw it wobble. Jungwon was just too scared to move and tip you over." She turned, a smirk playing on her lips. "So, winner. Is he as quiet as he seems, or does he secretly have jokes?"

"Hard to tell over the sound of my heart trying to beat out of my chest from nearly drowning," you laughed, collapsing onto your bed. "But he gives good, solid 'hmm' responses. Very helpful."

Gaeul, wringing out her hair, grinned. "I'll take a profound 'hmm' over Jay's poetry any day. He literally called my swim suit a piece of art and asked if I knew about the stitching, I almost choked on the pool water. Bitch, my swimsuit is off sale rack at a sporting goods store! I can’t even afford the fancy shit he uses to clean his ass."

"He said my laugh was 'structured yet spontaneous, like free-form jazz,'" Liz chimed in, doing a perfect impression of Jay's low, serious tone before bursting into the very laugh in question. "I was literally just laughing at Sunoo for face-planting off the float!"

The room erupted in laughter. Leeseo popped up from behind the bed. "Sunoo asked if I thought a backflip into the pool would be memorable or something that the whole of Korea would clip and laugh at. I said it depended on the landing. He said 'bet,' and you all saw how that ended." She mimicked his dramatic, flailing splash, sending everyone into another fit of giggles. 

The laughter in the girls' cabin was cut short by the crackle of the villa’s intercom. “Islanders! A quick announcement before you depart for tonight's group dinner. As winners of today's pool challenge, Jungwon and Y/N, your prize is a private dining experience. The rest of you, please proceed to the shared dining area. Winners, your transport will arrive momentarily."

Leeseo shoved a jacket into your hands. "Go! Eat something fancy for me!" You were swept out into the hallway just as the guys' door opened, and Jungwon emerged, looking pleasantly surprised. 

Right on cue, the sleek black SUV slid silently up the gravel drive. The SUV glided through the coastal roads to a secluded cliffside platform that had been transformed. A single, absurdly long table for two was draped in white linen, set with more crystal and silverware than a royal wedding, and illuminated by what seemed like a hundred floating lanterns. A lone violinist stood off to the side, sawing away earnestly. "They really went all out for us, huh?," Jungwon murmured, pulling out your chair. He immediately knocked over a towering floral centrepiece with his elbow. A single orchid landed in your water glass. "Part of the show," he declared, not missing a beat as a staff member in a black apron scurried over to right it.

The food arrived on domed silver platters. Jungwon lifted his dome to reveal a tiny, sculpted tower of foam and microgreens with a single scallop hiding at the base. He stared at it, then at you. "Did they forget the rest of it?" he whispered loudly. He picked up the tiniest fork you'd ever seen. "Do you think if I wave this around, the violinist will play the Jaws theme?" You snorted, nearly inhaling your own decorative air. Under the table, his knee brushed against yours, and he didn't move it away. 

Jungwon had been quiet since the food had arrived. He traced a finger along the rim of his water glass, his gaze fixed on the dark horizon where the sea met the sky. The fairy lights reflected in his dark eyes, tiny points of gold in the stillness.

He finally spoke, his voice so low it was almost carried away by the breeze. "It's loud in the villa." It wasn't a complaint, just a simple observation. His eyes flicked to yours for a second before returning to the glass. "The laughter, the talking... it's constant." He paused, as if weighing each word. "This is... better." He didn't elaborate, letting the quiet affirmation hang between you. Under the table, the side of his shoe rested lightly against yours, a silent, steady point of contact.

You watched him, this initially quiet boy who had made you laugh until your stomach hurt now seeming to gather himself in the peace he'd craved. He took a slow sip of water, then set the glass down carefully, aligning it perfectly with the edge of his plate. He looked at you again, a little longer this time, a faint, unreadable something softening the line of his mouth before he turned his head back toward the ocean.

He shifted in his chair, the white leather creaking softly. The breeze picked up, sending a shiver through the fairy lights and teasing a strand of hair across his forehead. He didn't brush it away. "They keep asking me what my type is," he said, the words measured and deliberate. "For my introduction", He let out a small, breathy sound that wasn't quite a laugh. "I never know what to say." His thumb rubbed a slow circle on the condensation of his glass.

“Me too.” You murmured back.

The drive back was just as silent, but the quiet now was warmer. He didn't talk, just watched the darkened landscape slide past the window, his arm resting on the centre console, his fingers close to yours. When the SUV pulled up to the villa, the others were still out. He got out first, holding the door for you, his hand a brief, steadying presence at the small of your back as you stepped onto the gravel.

Inside, the empty villa felt different. He paused at the bottom of the staircase leading to the separate sleeping quarters, his hands in his pockets. He gave you a small, almost shy nod, then turned and walked down the hall to his own room without another word, the door clicking shut with a gentle finality behind him.

The quiet of the villa was broken only by the distant chime of a notification on your phone, left charging on the lounge sofa. It was the official alert, summoning each islander one by one to the confessionals for the nightly vote. 

You were called third. The small, soundproofed confessional booth was unnervingly quiet. The only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioning and the faint, rapid beat of your own heart. The red recording light on the wall-mounted camera glowed like an unblinking eye.

A digital screen built into the wall flickered to life, displaying the headshots of every islander in a neat grid. A smooth, neutral voice—the producer’s—came through a hidden speaker. "Please make your selections for today's Kiss, Kill, Marry."

Three empty slots appeared at the bottom of the screen, labelled in bold font: KISS MARRY KILL

"Remember," the voice continued, "your 'Kiss' is for the person you'd most like to build a deeper connection with. Your 'Marry' is for the person you feel the strongest spark with today. Your 'Kill' is for the person you feel threatened by.”

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