Chapter 2

Min-joo stared at him, frozen in place.

The staff’s instructions gradually faded into the distance, and the only thing she could hear clearly was the sound of her own heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump.

Her fingertips turned cold, and her breathing quickened.

Why did it have to be now, here of all places…?

There had been times when she vaguely wondered if she might run into him again someday.

But she had never once imagined a reunion like this.

He lowered his head briefly and raised the corners of his lips.

It was too composed to be called a smile, yet too cold to be a greeting.

“Hello.”

His low, firm voice resonated in her chest as though scraping against an old wound.

At that moment, the memories from ten years ago—memories she had believed she had forgotten, or rather, had desperately tried to forget—came rushing back all at once.

The night she had rushed out after receiving his final text.

The door that had remained closed no matter how many times she knocked throughout the night.

The unanswered messages, even after she had sent him voice messages filled with tears.

The memory of being abandoned without even being given the chance to ask why came crashing over her like a wave.

Yet there was nothing of the man from back then in the man standing before her now.

His sharp jawline, deeply sunken gaze, and neatly combed-back hair.

Everything about him seemed like that of an entirely different person.

After greeting everyone, Kwon Seok-jun walked toward his seat.

Was it because of his model-like height, his confident stride, or perhaps the intimidating aura that made him difficult to approach?

The women’s eyes followed him as though hypnotized, while even the men secretly stole glances at him despite pretending not to care.

Seok-jun seemed completely unaware of those gazes and calmly sat down on the seat across from her.

While the other contestants sat upright with tense expressions, he leaned back comfortably against the sofa as though he were in his own home.

And yet, strangely enough, he didn’t look arrogant or rude.

Just then, Kwon Seok-jun lifted his head.

Their eyes met before she had any chance to avoid it.

Min-joo froze as though her breath had stopped.

Ten years had passed, but his eyes alone had not changed.

That cold, deep gaze seemed to pierce straight into her heart.

It was as though the cameras, lights, and murmurs of the people around them had all disappeared.

The air seemed to distort strangely, as though the vast space contained only the two of them.

Min-joo instinctively tried to avert her eyes, but she couldn’t move, as though she were bound by an invisible thread.

Unlike her, frozen like a plaster statue, he showed no particular change in expression.

He simply gazed steadily at her with unwavering eyes.

What is this? Why does he look so unaffected?

Could he have known that I was going to be here?

But that couldn’t be.

The only people who knew she was appearing on Love Camp were her family.

She hadn’t even told anyone at work.

When she took all the vacation days she had accumulated without using them, her coworkers had asked where she was going, but Min-joo had vaguely told them that she was simply going to stay home and rest.

Even without the writer’s request to keep her appearance a secret until the program aired, she hadn’t wanted rumors spreading before the show had even begun.

So there was no way he could have known in advance that she would be appearing here.

His expression probably means he doesn’t have any feelings for me anymore.

He was the man who got tired of me and left ten years ago. There’s no way he would still have feelings for me now.

Min-joo gave a bitter laugh inwardly, feeling ridiculous for allowing herself to harbor even the slightest expectation.

Then the love coach’s voice broke the silence.

“Now that all of our contestants have gathered…”

At those words, the gaze that had been fixed stubbornly on her slowly moved away.

Only then did Min-joo realize that she had been holding her breath the entire time.

It’s only because I haven’t seen him in so long. Get a grip, Seo Min-joo.

She slowly exhaled the breath she had been holding and finally returned to reality.

“Before we move to the accommodations, let’s start with a brief self-introduction.”

The love coach lightly raised the tablet he was holding.

“Today, just tell us your name. The emotions you feel from a first impression are actually revealed more accurately through your breathing and facial expressions than through words.”

After the love coach finished explaining, the first female contestant stood up.

“Hello. I’m Na Seon-young, and I came here to find my destined partner.”

Her glamorous wavy hair, vivid red lips, and confident expression were particularly striking.

After her brief introduction, she glanced at Seok-jun and gave him a slight smile with her eyes.

She wore an expression that seemed to say she knew exactly what her weapon was.

She wasn’t the only contestant who had been captivated by him.

It was obvious that the other female contestants were also trying to make an impression on him.

Some raised their voices a little, others laughed while brushing their hair back, and some deliberately held his gaze for a little longer than necessary.

As though they all wanted even a few seconds of his attention, a subtle current of competition flowed through the air.

Then the fifth contestant, the woman who had spoken to Min-joo earlier, placed a hand over her chest and stood up.

“It’s my first time doing something like this, so I’m really nervous. I’m from Incheon… Ah, right. We’re only supposed to say our names. L-let me start again.”

Her adorable mistake made both the contestants and the staff burst out laughing.

The awkward atmosphere immediately became much lighter.

When she was given the cue again, she properly introduced herself.

“I’m Baek Seol-hee. I hope we can make lots of good memories over the next ten days.”

After Seol-hee’s introduction, which had made everyone smile, it was Min-joo’s turn.

As Min-joo slowly stood, the eyes of all the male contestants across from her turned toward her.

Including Kwon Seok-jun’s.

To prevent the unfortunate possibility of making eye contact with him again, Min-joo slightly turned her head away.

Perhaps noticing that she was avoiding him, the corners of his lips rose subtly.

It could have been a mocking smile, or perhaps a meaningless one.

“Hello. I’m Seo Min-joo.”

Her long, straight hair was tied neatly at the nape of her neck.

She wore a simple beige shirt and black slacks, without anything excessive.

Among the other contestants, who were dressed up more extravagantly, Min-joo’s neat and understated appearance actually stood out.

A few of the male contestants exchanged glances.

After her introduction, the male contestants began introducing themselves.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Han Sang-ho.”

The third male contestant wore a neat shirt and had a gentle appearance. The slight wrinkles that formed around his eyes when he smiled were particularly charming.

“I look forward to getting along with everyone.”

When he lifted his head, his eyes met Min-joo’s.

For that brief moment, his gaze passed over her gently.

His reassuring smile eased her tension, and before she knew it, Min-joo smiled back.

Then a familiar voice cut through the air.

“I’m Kwon Seok-jun.”

Min-joo turned her head and came face-to-face with Kwon Seok-jun’s gaze.

As the tension rose again, the smile slowly disappeared from her face.

“I guess you never know when or where you’ll meet someone again.”

His tone was calm, but every word sounded strangely meaningful.

Perhaps interpreting Min-joo’s increasingly stiff expression as some kind of reaction, he gave her an unreadable smile.

“Since I’ve been given such a good opportunity, I won’t let it pass me by.”

The contestants applauded his confident attitude, but Min-joo’s heart was pounding anxiously.

His words didn’t feel like a simple greeting.

They felt as though they were directed at her.

Seo Min-joo, don’t misunderstand.

Things between you and Kwon Seok-jun are already over.

So stop reading meaning into everything.

The cold voice of reason gradually cleared her clouded mind.

Her turbulent emotions slowly settled down.

“All right. Now that the introductions are over, please vote for the person of the opposite sex who caught your attention.”

At the love coach’s words, Na Seon-young widened her eyes in surprise.

“Already? We haven’t even had a chance to talk yet.”

“As I mentioned, sometimes a person’s eyes say more than their words.”

The love coach smiled calmly before continuing.

“Write down the name of the person you feel most drawn to at this moment. And for the couples who choose each other, we’ll give them the opportunity to go on their first date today.”

At the words first date, anticipation and excitement spread among the contestants.

Just then, Seol-hee, sitting beside Min-joo, leaned toward her and whispered.

“Who are you going to choose, Min-joo?”

Min-joo had noticed it earlier as well, but the fact that Seol-hee naturally called her by name immediately after the introductions made her seem like the type who quickly became close to people.

“…I’m not sure.”

“I’m having such a hard time choosing because everyone seems nice.”

While Seol-hee seriously contemplated whom to choose, Min-joo’s feelings were complicated for an entirely different reason.

She carefully took the tablet in her hands and began scrolling through the contestants’ faces one by one.

Then her finger stopped on Kwon Seok-jun’s photo.

A relaxed smile.

Confident eyes.

His gaze seemed to be staring straight at her even through the photograph, making Min-joo feel strangely short of breath.

Uncomfortable, she quickly swiped to the next photo.

This time, Han Sang-ho’s picture appeared on the screen.

A warm smile and gentle eyes.

Even in the photograph, his calm and kind demeanor came through clearly, and Min-joo felt her tension ease without realizing it.

After hesitating for a moment, her fingertip slowly pressed down on the screen.