❤︎ tags bonfire

@♡ blinded_tiger ˡᶦˢᵃ the night had progressed, some contestants faring their temporary goodbyes, retreating to the sharehouse or townhouse early. other contestants like him, were still present, socializing and conversing. it being later into the night, the beachfront was quieter, and the evening, sea-swept air a little bit chillier. such atmosphere made eunwoo want an alcoholic drink; specifically a crisp, cold beer.

walking up to the bar, he orders a beer from the bartender. handed a frosty, cold can, eunwoo thanks the worker and then opens it. the satisfying, clean sound of the action provokes his auditory nerves sublimely. bringing the can to his lips, he tilts his head back slightly, taking a few long gulps of the beer. refreshed by the coolness and taste, eunwoo lets out a small exhale of content, bringing the can back down and away from his lips.

he then turns away from the bar, facing and looking out at the rest of the contestants; glossing over mentally in his mind, which connections required further exploration and trials, versus which of them had considerable implications and limitations. as of yet, there was nothing significant that could be determined.

drinking more of his beer, he thinks to start heading towards the sharehouse as well, but the thought is interrupted. he notices someone; the female contestant that bat had been embracing earlier is now visible—her back no longer towards him. eunwoo nearly spits out his beer. he knows her. two known faces, in one day, both from his past, on the same show. the blinded team either has done an immense amount of background research on all of its subjects, or is subtly ominous. for a show based on the concept of double-blinded dating, eunwoo knowing two other contestants felt too coincidental.

it's lisa. the latter is the same, just as he remembers; outgoing, vibrant and carefree. it's not rocket science to understand how she's doted upon; the stuntwoman always has possessed a charming persona. one that eunwoo has already had the honor and privilege to experience. just then, their eyes meet. eunwoo lowers his can of beer. he smiles friendly, giving her a wave.

@♡ blinded_snakeᶠ as a drag performer, chungha was surrounded by fake personas that were created for the act of entertaining others and getting paid a good chunk of money—she knew what it was like to be directly talking with someone who put on a mask to face the world, but she had never met anybody quite like chaewon. it wasn't the easy to wash away facade of a drag queen, but the kind that people created so they could believe their own lies.

when chaewon tore off a piece of fabric, chungha wasn't *really* too mad—she had thrifted the shirt, preferring to keep her nice clothes for when she was performing versus a television show where she was going to be judged no matter what, and so it didn't really matter to her. what offended her, however, was the nonchalant way that chaewon was biting her lip to keep from letting out an unsavoury reaction, holding up the piece of fabric that had ripped from her shirt and remarking that she would buy her a new one.

"oh darling, no need." chungha simpered with a smile as sharp as a predator's, sure that her eyes conveyed the truth. chaewon was playing with a grenade, and chungha was about to explode in her face. "you're right, it's a cheap shirt. but...i've seen the same one you're wearing at goodwill before. it's okay, no need to be shy about it. not every actress can get her big break from messing up the big dance scene in her most recent movie, after all." she tittered quietly and then grabbed chaewon's wrist in one smooth motion, the smile wiped off of her face as she leaned closer, almost in chaewon's face.

"you know, little girls like you are the reason i do what i do." chungha's voice lowered just soft enough so neither of their microphones would pick it up—she hated internalised homophobia and the problems it created for people around them, but she wasn't so cruel as to out someone who refused to come to terms with attraction to the same gender. "i'm the type of drag queen who can and will beat up a for ing with my family. so try me, chaewon, because i promise you you're not going to like what i do next if you keep attempting to push me."

@♡ blinded_panda ᵐᵃʳᵏ "it's somewhere in here, lemme warm up!" chungha blurted out before laughing as she watched mark sink down onto one of the towels that had been laid out by the staff. she stared down at him for a moment before following his lead, settling on her knees and tucking her hair behind one ear. her eyes landed on the camera for just a moment before he asked about his looks, and she bit her lip.

truthfully, she hadn't attempted to dwell on what panda looked like on the other side of their pods—chungha had been too afraid to build up a specific vision of him in her head and then be disappointed. still, she hadn't expected him, hadn't expected *this*. mark was so handsome, with his warm brown eyes and sharp cheekbones and full lips that looked soft and kissable—no, it was too soon for that, probably. instead, she reached out and carefully took hold of mark's chin, turning his head this way and that before humming quietly, her own lips pursed in thought. "not at all. but you're so beautiful to look at, i'm the very opposite of disappointed."

@♡ blinded_mouseᵐ The evening had been filled with too much socialising for Mark's book, that he found it difficult to keep up with at times. He was already finding it difficult to place images of the people to the voices and personas from the pods in his head, he reckoned he needed a few minutes away. Downing a drink from the bar, he spun around on his heel, ready to head to one of the hammocks by the coconut trees to chill, when he accidentally knocked into a taller man's shoulder. "Oh crap, I'm sorry!" Great, another accidental crash for the night. With a sheepish little laugh, he glances up at the tall stranger, debating the sudden offer in his mind. "Oh.. sure! I'd love to." The squeeze to his shoulder had him smiling, starting to take steps to wherever the other man had in mind. For all Mark knew, he was going to dunk him in the water! "I'm Mark, by the way. Uh, Panda! Yes. Panda."

@♡ blinded_bat ᶜʰᵘⁿᵍʰᵃ "just you?" he muses out, albeit amused at how humble she was being. mark was never one to stare too long at a lady (it's rude to stare!), but after being behind opposite sides of the walls for too long, he couldn't help but fix his eyes on her for seconds too long. he's always had an eye for beautiful sights, that's why he's a photographer! however, he could sense the slight nerves from her, so with a playful smile, he switches his gaze towards the bonfire instead, the pretty flames lighting up the darkening skies.

"c'mon now, bat, where's the banter we had in the pods?" a little chuckle escapes him at her stammering, finding it all the more endearing. "if attention is what you want, attention is what I shall give!" honestly, mark was never a forward flirter, he would usually be the friendly type who you'd probably only mistaken as a friend. but this show had given him the confidence he needed more of. he took a seat on one of the prepared beach towels, patting the spot beside him before settling down the camera on his lap. "so, am I what you expected I would look like?"

@♡ blinded_koi ᵈᵒʰʸᵘⁿ so much had happened in what only felt like such a short amount of time, and eventually, it wouldn’t be long before lisa found herself wandering off for some refreshments. it had to do her girls some good— let alone herself after getting a handful of experiences so far, reeling the woman into an emotional rollercoaster ride of sorts. from catching a glimpse of her fiancé and what only felt like an encounter that brought about an indescribable sense of uneasiness, to accidental slip-ups with impending pressure, and.. more. “thank you, this should do!” she relayed to the bartender, opting to keep her spirits up nonetheless and set her thoughts on nothing but sheer enjoyment for the rest of the night. it was the only way to keep things going— there was no way she could succumb to any further negativity for the night, that is, if she could at least get a good grip on the drinks she had ordered. “oh no, i’ve got this i swear. and hey! it’s tigs to you, mr.. hyun?”

on a normal basis, that would have been followed by ‘honey’. only the sweetest of endearments accompanied with the most generous of affections that lisa once had for the man. her dearest ‘friend’ that now stood before her, a proper figment of the woman’s past that had somehow found her once more. surely, she had to be imagining things. but it was all too real. that voice of his, the all too familiar firmness of his arms she had to cautiously prod at for the sake of debunking her delirium upon releasing the drinks. he was here in the flesh, and all excuses to permit her way anywhere but here were now out the door from her end. “oh my god. h- hey! how have you been?” a smile quickly drags itself across her lips, recuperating as she slices a knife in the air at any traces whatsoever of awkwardness. maybe just maybe it was a good thing she was finally seeing him? or she would at least hope so. “this is so crazy, of all places we’re really reuniting here, huh? who would have thought!”

@♡ blinded_mouseᵐ "and i was going to tease you about it for sitting next to someone pretty." soojung playfully pokes her tongue out upon dropping the remark, settling comfortably beside her friend with her legs crossed. she was there: existing in the moment and embracing the present. once in a blue moon—the maiden was more woman than ghost in the eyes of someone who regarded her presence meaningful. such was orchestrated by the hands of fate that cut through the union of their spaces and meshed them back once more—right where they belong, she believed. he was like her, she had always held onto that—a faint yet secure reassurance that had she been destined to walk out of this show alone, joohyuk was always there for her to rely on. her kindred spirit. thus, once obsidian orbs met with the same pair so breathtaking, so pacifying, almost as if they were parts of the same whole—her heart almost falls. she, once again, has been the reason for another's misery. "joo..." rose-colored tiers part ever so slightly at his confession, the air of tranquility he carried tugged against her heartstrings, clouding her vision with streams of gratitude, amazement, and worry. she was dearly loved; she found it difficult to believe. "thank you." her genuine adoration for the beautiful soul overcame her reservations, scooting a little closer to wrap his bigger frame into a gentle hug—the plains of her cheeks glistening with tears. "thank you for being honest with me. it must have been scary... gathering all the courage to tell me this tonight. thank you, joo." a light squeeze, her dainty hand softly patting the small of his back as she whispers her promise. "meeting you has been one of my life's greatest blessings, and i know my days will never be the same without you in them. i hope you know that despite it all, you deserve love and light. the best, the most honest, the most beautiful, and the purest love in a person that will only make you smile and look forward to your tomorrows. i will always be here to cheer you on, remy. i promise to be happy, too. i swear it on the asters and daisies that made a home in you in the pods."

@♡ blinded_geoduck ᵐᶦⁿᵍʸᵘ careful steps sank themselves through the sand, the swaying of her body evident with every move made towards the bar to follow the taller male she found a brother in. the shells of her ears blossomed with a hue of rose, bleeding through the plains of her cheeks that stretched themselves in her fits of laughter bubbling from her petite figure. it was a night like no other—definitely one for the books, so she ordered another glass to satiate herself in, leaning her body forward to cradle the side of her face with her palm. "obviously she's into you! we're the ones tired with your..." she laughs once more, lightly tapping her free hand against mingyu's arm. ".... that's funny. i'm joking, by the way. goofy, i think i'm drunk. god, you both are perfect for each other. did i ever tell you that? well now you know. i'm sad, because you can't call her your goofriend..." the woman's endless spitfire was placed to a halt when she noticed mingyu's behavior shift, squinting her eyes at the sight not so far from them. not wanting to pry any further, soojung attempted to straighten herself before taking a sip of what may be her fifth drink for the night. she lost count; it did not matter at this point. "that's right." she stretched an arm out, tipping her toes to gently give him a pat on the head. "don't let your past ones hold you back, because lisa is your one true jagooya!" another cheeky grin, and she knows that she has been too comfortable now that she has loosened up far too much. "don't encourage violence! don't talk about his..." she pouts, patting her flushed cheeks to hide her embarrassment. "...balls. this is all your fault; now i have to unthink things! goofy!" with a playful shift of her body, she gently kicks his leg to get back at him before composing herself. "perhaps your luck was being saved for her, gyu. not to sound like a therapist which has been going on for like ten minutes. has it been ten minutes? whatever, i'm enjoying my time with you. anyway!" she clears . "there are things that we regret doing in the past, but we can always view them differently. how do you want to treat lisa? what do you both deserve? what are you willing to work on for your happiness and hers? you're only human, and she is too, goofy. i'm certain she feels the same way, and that means you're not alone, 'no?"

@♡ blinded_pantherᵐ a faint little wish hung in her heart about her companion not seeing the unmasked yearning in her gaze the moment their hands parted from one another. they're bigger than usual, she thinks to herself, letting a few seconds pass as she trails over the lines of his palm, the length of his fingers, and the incomparable warmth that came with them. when he finally helped himself beside her, it was as though the rest of the world was obsolete. in gayoung's vision, there were no cameras, no strangers, no made-up activities—this was the closest thing to a break that she could indulge herself in with her companion whom she adored deeper than she would allow herself to. perhaps if she stood by this delusion, then maybe, just maybe—the tides would turn to favor her just this once.

"okay, well in the spirit of loosening up a little," she shifts in her position slightly to face him, leaning in close just enough for him to recognize traces of vanilla, coconut, and ylang-ylang emitting from her being, "are you impressed?" one, two, three seconds—her honeyed almonds searched for answers in his, the erratic crackling of the flames drowning the burst of voices beyond their shared space. "don't answer that." now it all made sense that she chose a lamb, quickly retreating from the risk she took to hush the male with a finger safely distanced against his lips before he could speak, or rather . her heightened visage of humiliation hidden beneath her long, charcoal locks.

gayoung regards him with a meaningful look, her guarded senses slowly unarming themselves in his presence. she found his reassurance amusing, letting out a soft sigh at the other's cluelessness. if you only knew, she mused, bringing her hand back to her lap—her eyes not leaving his. "i already did. i'm looking right at it." her voice was gentle and stripped of all pretense, and at a moment's notice, she caught herself before another wave of abashment engulfed her. quickly pushing his head to the side, gayoung pointed straight to where people gathered—the grill. "food! i meant food. that's... my next target." she cleared , lightly pinching her earlobe out of habit whenever she was flustered. "i'm hungry, but the grill's too far."

@♡ blinded_elephantᶠ eunwoo knew, he could tell. sana was interested in him. perhaps not romantically, as it was still too early, but she was definitely curious—wanting to know more. and it wasn't just for the sake of formalities either. the nature of her inquisition was far too proactive. the answers lied within the words she had spoken; unforgetting their first interaction, references to the inside jokes, and the future tense used in thanking her parents. as well, the way in which she had mentioned their promised screaming match twice, back-to-back, served as a more substantial piece of evidence. it was also an observation that came off endearing and amusing. endearing, because the way she laughed and joked about it had shown off her pearly, radiant smile. amusing, as it gave off the notion that sana really just wanted to take the opportunity to yell at him, all in the name of friendly competition.

"you couldn't. that's why you still remember." he pointed out, matter-of-factly, before softening into another pair of eyesmiles. "deafened... first blinded, now defeaned. we're not giving ourselves much to work with, are we." eunwoo commented with a chuckle. then, at her bowing antics, he let out a soft laugh. "sana... i'm thankful that they raised such wonderful daughter with beautiful honey brown colored eyes, but i don't think i need to know that your parents reprodu—went on a 'join minatozaki venture' to lead to you..."

"blomma..." he scoffed amusingly, surprised that dove and her had kept the term for so long. "don't actually call her that in person, i don't know how she might react. coming from you though, she'd probably just find it cute." eunwoo gave another smile, glad that she wouldn't mind being called the shortened form of her animal alias. "speaking of everyone and names, do you want to go say hi to dove together?" he asked.

@♡ blinded_batᶠ chaewon's ears rang as she stared directly into chungha's eyes in shock—shock that this would be their initial encounter on the show. the actress hadn't decided if she wanted to deal with chungha yet, so this meeting caught her off guard no matter how much chaewon wanted to despise her. her faux innocent doe eyes fluttered when she was pulled in for a hug, her head shaking from side to side albeit too late. "nno no no- ahh-" a soft whine left her lips as she felt the dampness of chungha's shirt soak into her white attire, chilled by the sea's breezed. her lips stayed parted, muscles using every bit of their energy to keep from twisting in anger as an airy laugh left her. this .

chaewon smiled, forced, eyes forming small crescents sharp enough to cut. "oh my gosh, chungha!! it's been so long~!!! goodness, I'm //so// sorry, I'm such a mess as always." she pouted, pulling back from the forced, tight hug with a small grunt. her brows knitted apologetically as her eyes scanned chungha's visage and leaned forward, patting the woman's clothes in an attempt to dry it. "I'm so so so /sorry/," she apologized profusely just as her bracelet caught onto the choreographer's shirt and tore it from her shoulder to the hill of her chest.

"oh no... I'm sorry girlie... that was an accident," she bit her lip to keep from laughing, but to the outside eye, it would look like she was holding back tears. "what a cheaply made shirt... don't buy from this brand again, okay? don’t worry, i’ll work really hard and buy you a new shirt. once we get off the show, okay? okay? you know what they say about clothes... it can be a person's wings! but not with such poor quality as this. men, look away. we're having a minor wardrobe incident!" she called out and held the hanging strand of fabric up with one jab of her finger.

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ joohyuk closed his eyes, wondering how someone could be so effortlessly cute the way soojung was. she definitely caught him staring. he opened his eyes when he felt light swipes at his shoulder, his honeyed brown eyes dropping to her fingers and then his top. "ah- thank you-" he poked the inside of his cheek trying to repress the regret of reaching out to her. he didn't need to make things awkward between them; they were just fine as they were. as they approached the log, he removed his coat and laid it over the damp surface. "it's getting late so it's pretty wet. i don't want to feel like i soiled my pants after i get up," he laughed and motioned for her to sit after taking a seat, himself. there was a moment of silence that followed as joohyuk gathered his thoughts. it wasn't awkward or tense. being around soojung was like that, even in the pods. she always knew how to make everything okay. "i... when it came time to propose, no one came to mind but one person. just one." he paused, eyes glued to the receding waves. he remembered pacing in his room that night, waiting to lock in his answer, a million thoughts racing one another in his mind. a million thoughts that kept him up and a million thoughts that kept him from sending in his answer. "by the time i was about to send in my answer to the host, it was too late. my overthinking half screwed me over once again." he tilted his head back to the side to give soojung a lopsided smile. "the whole night, i asked myself if i regret it. not proposing, i mean. maybe. but seeing you so happy- i don't think i would have wanted it any other way."

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ when soojung offered her glass, the man lifted his empty one to clink against hers, his head turning to look for where he could get a refill. he let out a playful sigh, nodding, before thumbing the middle of her forehead away when she glared. "i know, i know. please do kick my if i make her cry. stop looking at me like that, I'm getting goosebumps," he laughed and motioned toward the bar. they continued their conversation as he waited for his second drink for the night. "yeah. look at us now. please, if you end up in court, I'll stand witness for you. the audacity of your face not being on the cover of this reality show. wait? she looks at me? how? like a... she's into me or she's tired of my kind of look?" he lowers his head towards the counter to get a better look at soojung's expression, curious. ughh i know. i don't know how i could have gotten so lucky. she's ing perfect, i mean look at her-" his eyes drifted off to where his fiance was and then to the man beside her, brows twitching on reflex. he straightened up and cleared his throat. it was probably nothing. "you're right. don't borrow grief from the future. i shouldn't let my past ones hold me back, either. thank you, dovey..." his gaze returned to hers and a smile formed, distant. "hey. now why would you be crying in the club? hit him where it hurts before he even thinks about hurting you. he has two balls, he can live with one." he couldn't imagine such a bright and cheerful person as soojung ever crying, let alone crying in the club. "and nothing's wrong. i just haven't had much luck in the love department. and... I'm not the best when it comes to talking... love... trust. what if i end up letting her down? it's just something I'm still working on. i'd rather get sand in my eyes before making her cry."

@♡ blinded_blobfish ᵉᵘⁿʷᵒᵒ She wasn’t blind to the effect she had on people, on the contrary, it was something she made sure to take note of. Tucking a strand of hair, flashing a seemingly shy smile, pretending to struggle with something just so that someone would help them out. They all had their benefits, when used correctly. Something that had been ingrained into her by her parents since young. What else would you expect from a pair of successful businessmen? There was always a way to get what you want, one way or another. As long as you had the right cards, anything was possible.

And yet, seeing color bloom across his cheeks at their sudden proximity. The flustered expression on his face, the way his eyes shook, all speechless and abashed. It pleased her.

Not in the same way she felt pleased when a business venture turned positive, or how she was satisfied when an experimental recipe turned out well, or even the exhilaration of arriving into countries and places, previously uncharted to her.

No. This time was different. And perhaps she is greedy. Greedy to keep that brief flustered expression to herself. But alas, what kind of show would it be if the cameramen missed out on such a momentous occasion?

But at least she promised to herself, a quiet vow, that she would do her best so that she may witness such a sight again in the future.

“That was our first interaction together, how could I forget? I’m still looking forward to seeing how misconstrued what we say will be taken once we finish the screaming match. At the point the show wouldn’t be called blinded anymore, I’ll be deafened instead.” She chuckles at her own joke, a little quip that most would brush off. But perhaps, just perhaps, he would appreciate it too. Their sense of humor always felt very similar.

“You’ll have to thank my amazing parents for that. It was a joint Minatozaki venture that brought upon one Minatozaki Sana that you see right before you. Thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all show.” She motions to herself before rising from her seat, bowing to the invisible audience. “But also, of course I would ask about your blomma, it would be rude not to when you so graciously introduced her to dove and me back then. Oh, and don’t worry about calling me elle, every now and then. I think it’ll take time for me to get used to calling everyone by their names too.”

@♡ blinded_lambᶠ “please.. misunderstandings? i don’t think anybody cares as much as you do, really.” he wanted to believe in his statement as much as anyone else, but with what cameras loitering about including the microphones that picked up their every word, absolutely anything that happened would be broadcasted for the world to see. so, in no time the prying public would be able to witness even the faintest of twinkles in juyeon’s eyes that cast over gayoung as if she were under a spotlight fit for her alone.

“anyways, loosen up a little even though i see you’ve managed to dress to impress (yet again).” she looked good, was what he meant to say. although she probably knew it herself, years of upkeep more than likely engraving itself within the woman’s core to look nothing less than perfection which juyeon had only ever been so lucky to witness for an ample amount of time since their agreed partnership. although he knew what he preferred. not the gayoung that most knew whilst barely scratching past the surface level, but the gayoung that was able to comfortably enjoy even the most mundane of simplicities.

at some point, he wondered if such a show was ever gonna give him more of a glimpse of said side of her just as he had remembered it, but only time would surely tell. “i’ll try not to,” juyeon added just as she accepted his helping hand, and he would help himself to a spot beside her where his gaze aligned with hers over the bristling bonfire that was just as warm as the company surrounding the two of them, partially fading into the faintest of white noise. “whenever that will be, at least. have you not caught sight of your next object of affection yet? and no, i’m not going to be scaring them off if that’s what you’re thinking.”

@♡ blinded_pantherᵐ "lee juyeon, could you please stop being ambiguous with your statements? i cannot deal with any more misunderstandings." one careful step, a brief hop, and then another—the universe was really out to test her. if it were that simple to call upon the guardians of the earth to swallow her whole, gayoung would have done so. her persistent companion—a lapdog as some would prefer to call him—was the last person she wanted to show her current situation to. frustration and exhaustion manifested in the way her eyebrows furrowed, the apples of her cheeks turning red while he supported her towards the nearest seat. gayoung despised mind games in as much as her whole being was shaped to play them, but if he was really here to seek someone to settle down with once and for all—who was she to stop that from happening? all they ever were can end with a shredding of the document that binds them—just like that.

hearing his own exclamations, the woman let out a heavy sigh, reaching a hand out to gently hold onto the exasperated male's chin—lifting his head to face her. "eyes on me, lee juyeon. don't draw unnecessary attention to my limping, please." what should be a few seconds or minutes of travel felt like hours, so when gayoung finally spotted a place to settle in—her natural sense to depend on him came about. gently removing his hold from her forearm, she softly placed her hand in his to grip lightly until she was able to rest on her chosen space. with her free hand, she taps the area next to her—her honeyed almonds glimmering against the faint fiery hues of the bonfire. "keep me company first before you decide to hunt another prey."

@♡ blinded_lambᶠ in juyeon’s eyes, gayoung looked.. stunned, the minute she saw him. partially confused. had it really been rather farfetched to expect his whereabouts to be anywhere but by her side? participating on the show, however, undoubtedly was a plausible enough reason to take absolutely anyone by surprise. but at some point, if there was any way to get his job done— and well, to supposedly find the one that could stir such enamoring feelings within him, then there truly was no other way whether she preferred his presence or not. juyeon was here to stay, and he would make sure of it too. distractions be damned.

“ouch. must you always hurt me like this? come on.. don’t be like that. i could choose to believe what you’re saying right now, but a lot of the time we’ve spent together so far only tells me otherwise, lil’ lamb.” he teasingly called out, the subtle simper etched across his lips contrasting with what enigmatic, yet simplistically feisty allure gayoung presented herself with at the moment. this was new, he wanted to think. but with every twist and turn he had faced in all this time of her accompaniment, juyeon was only taking the woman’s next move with bated breath as he partially stumbled back. and soon? automatically following suit as if they were two magnets pulling each other together in orbit, not once letting her out of his sight or close perimeters as he takes a hold of her forearm just for extra means of support. “i’ll accept that– good thing you’re at least finally deciding to spare yourself.” for if there was one thing he had to stop staring at, it was her sprain and, “that damn limp.. oh god.”

[post deleted by owner]

@♡ blinded_retrieverᶠ one conclusion reigns superior: the closer she was to jinsoul, the faster she would lose her cool. her plush tiers purse themselves into a fine line, attempting to hold herself back from adding to the woman's frustrations. her father's goons reminded her of gigantic cans—carrying nothing but senseless talk and a disgusting sense of pride. gayoung catches herself subtly smirking at her fond amusement for what was unfolding, pushing her to take another sip of her drink to keep her thoughts at bay. yet with someone as principled as jinsoul, she wonders why this woman was settling for such an undesirable situation when clearly—she had better places to be. "you should talk about them more. who knows, they might be suffering right now under your words." she casually responds, taking in the authenticity of her words that follow. "do you love your job because you've invested so much of yourself in it or do you love your job because you feel fulfilled from it?" a curious gaze pins itself from gayoung to jinsoul, a hum of acknowledgment trailing after her question. "that's a fresh take. the women around me would usually choose to be housewives." she scoffs at the thought of pretentious personalities leeching off of their partners' money for survival. "as for me, i'm here to move on from someone." and my life, she keeps the thought to herself. "settling down is a different story altogether. i'm not exactly the type who would settle."

@♡ blinded_hawk ᵐᶦⁿʰʸᵘᵏ "i mentioned to mingyu in passing that if you guys see me crying in the club, then you'd know why." she replies in jest, becoming immersed after a few seconds in her antic in front of her companion—playful, pretentious, and exaggerated crying while pumping her fist right through the air. unrestrained laughter follows suit after her little unwarranted demo, and she clasps her hands as though praying to the gods. "please don't tease me for that. it will cost you your feathers." endless fascination glazes through her orbs as she further indulges herself in everything that makes minhyuk who he is. his easy-going nature radiating immense comfort that she wonders how adorable it would be to see the man before her soften even more in the presence of someone he would look after in the future.

"would you still be disappointed in case i accidentally," she raises her hands to gesture air quotes upon saying the word, "write lee minhawk on the invitation?" soojung grins, knowing fairly well that the taller male would smack her head for making fun of his name—a mutual interaction that they have been engaging in since day one. her nosiness kicks in at his last statement, scooting a little closer to the male to give him light nudges with her elbow. "woah, woah! let me in! who is it?" mimicking the gaze of a hawk, soojung's eyes train themselves through the present crowd, making a mental note of the names she has learned prior to sitting with minhyuk. "is it dolphin? penguin? who else am i forgetting... uh, sparrow!" she pauses, searching her mind for a more familiar animal identity before having her own eureka moment. "aha! is it perhaps fox?"

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ "Cornering you in the chatroom, you make it sounds like I always bully you there. But then again, it is fun to tease you." He chuckled, failed to see her tear as he was having his eyes set back on the bonfire only return to look back at the female beside him when she admitted that she was scared. Commitment is indeed a scary thing even when you already know the person for years, and now you trusted your heart and life to someone you barely meet. Minhyuk knew it was not an easy thing to do, so at least by admitting it, Soojung had taken the first step to at least protecting her heart.

"It's understandable of you scared. It is a big step in your life after all. I would be more concerned if you are not scared. If he ever made you cry, tell me. I will whip him good. I have black belt 3rd Dan. I can give a good kick." With that, he made an exaggerating gesture of chopping with his hands while grinning "I'm neither of those, sadly. Lee Minhyuk is my full name. So don't you dare to invite Kim Minhyuk, Song Minhyuk or Hwang Minhyuk and called either one of them as Hawk. I'd be very disappointed in you." Playfully he squinted his eyes at her before bursting out laughing. "Just kidding. But yeah The group is nice. Though I have yet to talk to everyone. I'm more curious about someone who still haven't arrived yet. After that, we shall see."

@♡ blinded_tiger ˡᶦˢᵃ Dohyun shook his empty can of beer and made an announcement to the circle of men he had been conversing with, "I'm going to grab another drink, does anybody want another one?" He counted the men in the circle who raised their empty drinks, muttering loudly, "Alright, one, two,... five refills! Just any beer is fine, right?" He waved as he gave a little jog over to the bar, signaling with his fingers, "Six beers, please!" to the staff behind the counter.

As he stood at the bar, he didn't expect to run into one of the girls who had been tasked with the same job as him. He could only see her from behind, but he could tell her slim figure was just his type, based on historical evidence. He watched as she attempted to receive more drinks than she had hands and approached her, taking two of the drinks for her as he teased, "I didn't realize we had a blinded_gopher on roster."

He cocked his head to the side to flash her a friendly smile and offered his help, "Let me help you with these, where are you girls hanging out?" Before taking view of her visage, his eyes wandered across the beach in an attempt to spot the girls himself.

@♡ blinded_lambᶠ The mention of old men elicit laughter out of Jinsoul. Remembering how she complained about being stuck with old men almost everyday not to mention they were constantly getting on her nerves. "Oh definitely!" she said between the laughter "Beautiful beach, gorgeous people, delicious cocktails... I prefer this than being surrounded by stubborn old men who always look down on me because I'm young and well... a woman." Her nose scrunches in distaste. Gayoung's question about settling down made her shook her head then shrugging her shoulders lightly. "I don't think so... or at least I'm not sure. If I found someone I like enough to get wed to, it will be decided by his willingness to compromise. I love my job and I've worked so hard to get into my position right now. I... don't think I can quit working. If he's okay with me still working then why not? If he wants me to be just a housewife, I have to say no. Anyway, how about you? Are you ready to settle down like the other?"

[post deleted by owner]

@♡ blinded_elephantᶠ he hadn't been prepared—being caught off-guard, when she had leaned in. unpredicted and unexpected, he was flustered at their close proximity. whether it was the closeness or the series of words she had whispered, he couldn't tell—couldn't determine which of the two made his body betray his composure. his ears turned an obvious pink, giving way that she had some physiological effect over him. the aromas of her shampoo, body wash, perfume or all of the above, took over his olfactory nerve by storm, pleasantly intoxicating his sense of smell. it flooded his nostrils, but as she retreated, they too dissipated.

"i do, don't i..." he loosely stated, letting the words lazily stumble from his lips. at the sound of his mother's nickname, he straightened up. feeling her soft, small hand in his, he gave it a gentle, but sufficient shake. smiling happily, he looked back at her amicably. in a short amount of time, they only had the time to chat a few times here and there, but eunwoo felt the transparency between their shared messages and now. sana / elle / elephant, was all the same entity—bright and playful.

he let his hand naturally fall away from hers before he spoke again. "blomma is doing well, thanks for always asking." he then grinned cheekily at her use of his name. "nice to meet you, sana. if i sometimes call you elle, i apologize in advance. the nickname's kind of stuck with me." eunwoo stated fondly. "the 'ever disappearing elephant'." he repeated with a sigh, playfully feigning turmoil. "well, at least you've reappeared now. i thank the magician who pulled off that trick." eunwoo then looked right into her eyes once more. at first, he had thought that the latter had been wearing colored contact lenses, noticing that the color of her irises were lighter in nature. it wasn't the dominant dark brown that most people of asian ethnicities innately inheirited. however, upon a longer, careful study, he had realized that her irises were naturally lighter—honey brown.

@♡ blinded_geoduck ᵐᶦⁿᵍʸᵘ it was like a dream come true; mingyu walking towards her, putting his coat over her shoulders, whispering in her ear sweet nothings. it was the first they've talked in person; they hadn't seen each other for two years—since their breakup. two years; the time apart, spent no longer as lovers, but as strangers. everything was turned upside-down—broken and devastated. she thought she could be better, thought she could erase him. but even now, he was still deeply embedded—seeping back in, getting under her skin. the heart strings that once thrummed with delicate love songs, now pulled and tugged with force—plucking notes and striking chords of cacophony. opposed emotions ran rampant and wild. she didn't know what nor how to feel.

she wanted to run—away from him, from the show. she wanted to disappear, to be alone. she wanted to cry, to scream, to yell. why did he leave? why was he on this show? why couldn't they have talked; worked it out, made up, and be whole again... why did he have to have someone new... it wasn't fair.

there was a quiet to the storm in her mind. then, for a moment; clarity. mingyu was the same. he hadn't changed. it was evident; pointing out that she was late, brushing and dismissing her feelings, clueless to how she truly felt—had felt. feelings he thought could be smoothed over by countless hollow, passing compliments.

setting her basket of gifts and ukelele case down onto the sand momentarily, she freed up her hands. silently, with her gaze rooted to the sand beneath their feet, she took off his coat. handing it back to him against his chest, younjung only spoke a single word. "thank you." she said, emotionlessly. crouching back down to pick up the stuff she had brought with her, she moved on, walking away from him.

@♡ blinded_snakeᶠ chungha had spotted chaewon when she had walked in but hadn't pointed it out to anybody, not needing whatever drama came with that—she understood women who were closeted had a hard time with their attraction, but chaewon was on a *completely* different level, and it was both hilarious and depressing. for chaewon obviously, not chungha.

and maybe it was also because chungha was just...so *out* there, for a woman who didn't care what was in someone's pants. she was a drag performer, toeing the line of gender and throwing it all out the window for a little bit of entertainment (and a whole lot of cash). she was covered in tattoos, not quite as taboo in korea as it had been even five years prior but still made her a commodity. and chungha was—well, she was american at heart, and always ready for a fight.

so when chaewon tripped and spilled wine all over chungha, she hadn't panicked at first—no, she was wearing all black, it didn't matter that much. however, she couldn't tell if chaewon had been faking it or not, and she inwardly cursed the fact that the other woman was an actress for a living. plastering a smile on her face, chungha decided to go the slow and steady route, helping chaewon centre herself before pulling the girl into a tight hug, hoping that the wine hadn't been absorbed completely as she endeavoured to get her wet too. "kim chaewon, in the flesh. you know, if you wanted my attention so badly darling, you didn't have to make a mess of me. but i'm sure you'd like that, wouldn't you?"

never mind. she chose violence.

@♡ blinded_pantherᵐ the innocent query caught gayoung tongue-tied all the more, svelte fingers curling themselves to a fist to silence her bubbling honesty that would have her head in the battlefield. the lone lamb stood still in the eye of the storm violently tugging at her heartstrings as desperately searches for a reason to justify his presence—anything that would not surmise a future partner as the answer. what a hypocrite she was, keeping her skeletons in the closet from breaking free. if it were not for him, she would not be here. they say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, yet for this lamb—she was braving uncharted waters to wash away his name in her heart.

gayoung chose to stay silent, letting him bask in unwarranted curiosity that she hoped he would stop poking on. "you and i both remember things differently, and i'm certain i wouldn't choose to keep a space for you when i have better matters to ponder on, juyeon." like forgetting about you, she keeps to herself. soon after, her breath hitches, biting back her words—the wretched hands of fate crushing her chest at a moment's notice under his command. a predator calling upon its unwilling prey—where one was called upon the heavens and one built from sin. his voice slithers through every inch of her being, carefully unraveling the knots within her soul. the mystified woman takes a few steps closer to the male, latching her finger by his shirt's neckline to pull him closer, returning the favor with a whisper caressing the shell of his ear, "service denied." no one saw it coming, not even the lady herself. with her unharmed foot, she steps on his—thanking herself for choosing to wear flats or she would never know peace after such a hasty decision. a cloud of embarrassment follows her as she attempts to storm away from him, back turned in a slight limping posture in search for the closest spot to sit in.

@♡ blinded_mouseᵐ restless eyes revive themselves with newfound energy once her being was finally in contact with food, soojung dancing as carefree as a little bird in her place upon receiving her share from both participants who decided to step in for the staff. what reigns above her present glee was finally meeting mouse, her remy, and now joo, in the flesh. soojung had always pictured him as a serene overcast of the pleasant summer sky—carrying with him the smell of peach and honey in the air, and he lived to tell the tale. not one to revel in her own excitement, the animated woman steals a glance at her taller companion—her own pair of hazels catching his for a few seconds that gets her knocking her head to the side, offering a sweet smile at him. he couldn't be staring at me, right? the hint of curiosity was then interrupted by his offer, and soojung accepted his invitation, remembering their pleasant moment shared in the pods. "oh, joo, hold on," she takes a few steps forward, reaching a hand out to gently tap away at the smudge on his top, "there we go. okay, let's go! we have lots to catch up on." dainty fingers lightly hold onto his arm, dragging him to walk alongside her to the empty log.

@♡ blinded_geoduck ᵐᶦⁿᵍʸᵘ soojung offered her glass as a toast to the new lifetime friendship they have unlocked together, taking a generous sip of her drink before responding back. "the only time you'll be visiting the hospital is when i kick your after making lisa cry." a death glare makes it way towards the male, the sharpness in her eyes a mimicry of daggers piercing through his skin that she quickly cancels out with a fit of laughter. "i'm kidding! they could never make me hate you, goofy." outside of their bubble, the rest of the group was still on a mission to search for their destined partners. just a couple of weeks ago, soojung was one of them, yet now—she was embarking on a different journey she had not prepared herself for. she draws in a deep breath to compose herself, finding security in mingyu who was surely confined to the same whirlwind of emotions she felt. "remember when we were both talking about how unsure we were about everything? it's ironic we ended up being on the same spot. please, i've given everyone loads of content to use! if i don't end up trending after this, i'll see you in court." his following confession earns a look of amusement from her, eyeing the man from head to toe before she shrugs coolly at him. "i see you. i'm sure she does, too. not to fan your ego any further, but have you seen how she looks at you? you've won, brother. and hey..." she reaches out to give him another reassuring pat, making a mental note to give herself one as well after this. "don't borrow grief from the future, goofy. the present's fun to live in, what matters is she's here with you and everything's okay. when life gets in the way, i trust lisa's the first to hold your hand through anything. i know you'll do the same for her, too." soojung's words felt like an unsent letter to herself, knowing that she was also dreading the days to come together with jinhyeong after they have broken free from paradise, as she would call it. "not yet. when you see me crying in the club, you'll know. jokes aside, i'm not so good with confrontations, but if it's with the right person—then maybe they don't sound so bad? is there anything bothering you, goofy?"