* * *
Lee Jiwoon squatted by the bed, quietly observing Seo Taecheon as he slept, then stood up with a soft grunt.
“Handsome, but annoyingly so. Last night’s popularity poll was dictated by my objective aesthetic judgment, not personal bias. No, definitely not.”
Despite no one asking, Lee Jiwoon rationalized to himself, then stealthily crossed the room, opened the door, and stepped outside.
Back in the room, while catching his breath, Jiwoon received a notification on his phone from the production team.
“Residents of Love Village, did you have a happy night?
There will be a group breakfast and an announcement of today’s filming schedule, so please come to the breakfast lounge on the first floor by 9 o’clock.”
“Phew… Can I say I had a happy night?”
He felt foolish for stumbling around due to the alcohol, remembered being lifted and tossed by Seo Taecheon for a photo, and recalled the face he had secretly watched at dawn.
For Jiwoon, last night was a blend of restlessness and embarrassment.
“It’s embarrassing to face him…”
The fact that he had shown his drunken state was one thing, but the more embarrassing part was writhing around on the bed. Still, he couldn’t miss breakfast at this luxury restaurant, nor could he skip the meeting with the production team.
“Sigh, no choice but to go down.”
After washing up and getting ready, Jiwoon headed down to the breakfast lounge. In the spacious restaurant, participants were scattered in groups at different tables. Jiwoon found an empty spot and sat down.
“Oh, good morning.”
“Good morning, Director.”
People stood up in unison to greet Seo Taecheon as he entered. As always, he was impeccably dressed in a high-end suit, looking perfectly composed.
“We’re all participants in this project, so no need to be too formal. Just think of me as Alpha 1.”
His casual remark to ease the atmosphere drew exclamations from the female Beta participants and Omegas.
“Is he serious? Here in Love Village, he’s just Alpha 1? I can approach him too!”
“Of course. I came prepared to make a move today.”
The confident tone of the participant next to him made Jiwoon frown.
Make a move? That person is married! He’s an old man!
Jiwoon grumbled internally.
While eating the buffet-style breakfast, the production team announced the day’s schedule.
“There was a first-impression popularity poll last night. We’ll be announcing the results shortly. The person who comes in first will receive a private date request right.”
Participants, engrossed in their meals, focused on the staff member explaining.
“As it says, you can request a one-on-one date with the person of your choice, and while you’re out with your partner, the remaining participants will have a recreation time.”
The mention of the popularity poll winner stirred quiet murmurs among the participants.
It was obvious, wasn’t it?
Who else but the Director?
Right, who else would win first place over the Director?
Already, people envied the person who would be asked out by the Director.
Jiwoon waited anxiously for the announcement, wondering if it could really be Seo Taecheon.
“We will now announce the winner. The first place in the popularity poll is Alpha 1!”
Applause and cheers erupted from all sides. An assistant director approached Seo Taecheon with a microphone.
“Alpha 1, could you share your thoughts?”
“I don’t have much to say, but thank you.”
“Then, who will you request for a date?”
“Um…”
Seo Taecheon paused.
The room buzzed lightly.
Male Betas and Alphas were anxious about losing their chosen partners, while female Betas and Omegas were filled with hopeful anticipation.
Jiwoon swallowed hard and clenched his fists.
Hey, old man. Who are you going to pick? Hurry up and say it.
Thirsty and nervous, Jiwoon gulped down cold water.
Then, Seo Taecheon looked straight at Jiwoon and spoke.
“I will use my date right on Omega 1.”
“Cough.”
Jiwoon, choking on the water, spat it out.
The room became a chaotic buzz.
Some people even stood up to get a look at Omega 1’s face.
“Wow, Omega 1 has been chosen. Now, it’s your turn to respond. Will you accept Alpha 1’s date request?”
“Ah… well.”
“You’re free to decline, of course. But if you do, Alpha 1 will have to choose another partner.”
Jiwoon, who had been hesitating, snapped back to reality.
Choose another partner?
How dare he…!
In a surge of emotion, Jiwoon raised his hand and shouted.
“Yes! I accept!”
“Wow, what a clear answer. Then the two of you will start separate filming now. The rest of you can continue with breakfast and proceed as planned.”
The assistant director clapped his hands in satisfaction.
While Jiwoon was still in a daze, he was fitted with a mic and had his hair fixed before being led out of the breakfast lounge.
Wait a minute.
It’s been over a month since we got married, and we’ve never even thought about dating.
That’s not what our relationship is about.
Yet here I am, unexpectedly participating in a matchmaking program in Jeju Island, chosen by Seo Taecheon.
What’s he thinking?
Does he have an ulterior motive?
Or… does he actually have feelings for me?!
Various questions flashed through Jiwoon’s mind.
“Calm down. Let’s just focus on the date.”
Jiwoon tried to organize his jumbled thoughts as he cautiously stepped out of the resort.
***
The filming took place at Aewol Beach. Except for a few vacationers enjoying the late summer, the beach was quiet on a weekday.
The weather was perfect, with the emerald sea glittering and the waves sparkling brightly—a perfect setting for a date.
“We’ll be filming from a distance, so don’t feel too pressured. Just talk naturally and move around as you like.”
The production team said they would stay far away and then moved away from Lee Jiwoon and Seo Taecheon.
They whispered among themselves about how a couple would be born as soon as the filming started, and how the alpha and omega imagery turned out fantastically, which they found satisfying.
As Lee Jiwoon stood there awkwardly like a wooden post, Seo Taecheon spoke first.
“Shall we walk a bit?”
“Oh, sure.”
Lee Jiwoon walked along the coast with Seo Taecheon. Although the heat had lessened, the sun in Jeju was still strong, and the temperature was quite high.
“Are you thirsty?”
“Oh, yes. A little.”
“There’s a café over there. How about a cup of coffee?”
Seo Taecheon pointed to a nice wooden house-style café.
The interior was designed to offer a view of the sea from the terrace.
“Oh, that sounds good.”
They walked a bit and reached the café.
As they opened the door and went inside, the cool air conditioning dried Lee Jiwoon’s sweat.
“It’s cool.”
“It can be tough staying outside all the time.”
“Thank you. I’ll have a… Hallabong ade.”
“A large ade, please, and I’ll have an iced Americano.”
After ordering, the two sat at a table with a sea view.
Soon, an employee brought out the colorful, sweet-looking ade and the dark coffee.
Lee Jiwoon took a sip of the Hallabong ade and couldn’t help but exclaim. (TL note: Hallabong is a type of orange grown in Jeju.)
“It’s so delicious.”
“Is it that good?”
“It tastes like a Hallabong orchard is right in front of me. It’s really the best.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Saying that, Seo Taecheon tried to drink his pitch-black Americano. Lee Jiwoon hesitated a bit before speaking.
“Do you want to try a sip?”
Jiwwon thought he might be reluctant since he had already drunk from it, but he wasn’t. Seo Taecheon nodded, took the cup, removed the lid, and drank the ade.
“Hmm. It’s sweet.”
It didn’t seem to be to his taste as a wrinkle appeared on Seo Taecheon’s brow.
He looks even more handsome when he frowns… what’s going on.
As Lee Jiwoon was admiring him inwardly, his phone suddenly rang. It wasn’t a regular call but a video call request. The caller was none other than the [Divorce Counselor].
“Oh no! It’s a surprise call.”
It was a trademark of the Divorce Contemplation Center. They would video call to check if you were with your spouse or spending sweet time with someone else.
So far, he had mostly received these calls at home, but this was the first time he got one outside.
“What’s going on?”
“Turn off your mic!”
“Mic?”
Seo Taecheon turned off his pinned mic. Lee Jiwoon quickly switched off his own pinned mic as well.
“The supervisor is video calling!”
* * *
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