Two months passed.
Quietly.
Suspiciously.
Almost like the universe was… preparing something.
Ahn Yerin
It was a normal afternoon.
Too normal.
Which, in Yerin's life, usually meant something bad was about to happen.
Inside the apartment, the sound of running water filled the bathroom as Yerin hummed to herself, completely unaware of what was about to flip her life upside down.
Outside—
Go Eunseo was scrolling lazily through Yerin's phone.
"Why does she never reply to messages…" she muttered.
Then—
A notification popped up.
[HEART SYNC: LOVE IN THREE WORLDS]
Eunseo blinked.
"…Wait."
She opened it.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Then—
"YERIN—!"
She jumped to her feet.
"YERIN! YERIN! YERIN!!"
Inside the bathroom—
"What?!" Yerin shouted back. "I'm bathing! Is the house on fire?!"
"COME OUT RIGHT NOW!"
"CAN'T IT WAIT?!"
"NO!!"
There was a pause.
Then hurried movements.
A few seconds later—
The bathroom door flew open.
Yerin stepped out, hair dripping, wrapped in a towel, looking both annoyed and concerned.
"If this is not important, I swear—"
Eunseo shoved the phone into her face.
"READ."
Yerin blinked.
Then read.
Congratulations!
You have been selected as a contestant for
"HEART SYNC: LOVE IN THREE WORLDS."
You have one month to prepare.
Filming begins on July 15th.
Further details will be sent soon.
Silence.
Yerin stared at the screen.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then—
"…Wait."
She grabbed the phone.
"Wait."
Her eyes widened.
"WAIT—"
She looked up.
"I GOT PICKED?!"
Eunseo screamed.
"YOU GOT PICKED!!!"
Both of them started jumping.
"AHHHH!"
"I TOLD YOU TO APPLY!"
"I DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PICK ME!"
"This is crazy!"
"This is insane!"
"This is—"
Yerin suddenly stopped.
Her smile slowly faded.
Eunseo noticed immediately.
"…What?"
Yerin looked back at the message.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"…If I don't find love here…"
Eunseo stayed quiet.
Yerin tightened her grip on the phone.
"…Then I'm done."
Eunseo frowned.
"Yerin—"
"I mean it," she said softly. "This is my last try."
Her eyes were serious now.
No jokes.
No sarcasm.
Just… quiet determination.
"If it doesn't work here…"
She exhaled.
"…then I'll give up on love completely."
Bae Dahye
Across the city—
Another phone buzzed.
Bae Dahye glanced at it lazily, lying on her couch with zero expectations.
"…Probably spam."
She reached for it anyway.
Opened the message.
Read it.
Paused.
Then sat up.
"…What?"
She read it again.
Slower this time.
Congratulations!
You have been selected as a contestant for
"HEART SYNC: LOVE IN THREE WORLDS."
You have one month to prepare.
Filming begins on July 15th.
Dahye blinked.
"…I got picked?"
She looked genuinely confused.
Like the message had made a mistake.
From across the room—
"WHAT?!" Yuna rushed over. "Let me see!"
She grabbed the phone.
Then screamed.
"YOU GOT PICKED!!!"
Dahye leaned back slowly.
Still processing.
"…This is ridiculous."
"This is amazing!" Yuna said excitedly. "Do you know how many people applied?!"
"I didn't even apply," Dahye muttered.
"You did," a voice added calmly.
They both turned.
Kwon Nari stood there, completely relaxed.
"…Correction," she said. "I applied for you."
Yuna nodded quickly.
"Yes—technically."
Dahye stared at them.
Then looked back at the phone.
Then back at them.
"…I'm not going."
Silence.
Yuna blinked.
"…What?"
"I'm not going," Dahye repeated calmly, dropping the phone onto the couch. "I told you already. I'm done with love."
Nari raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"I don't want it."
"You might meet someone."
"I won't."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
Yuna stepped closer.
"Dahye—"
"I'm serious," she cut in. "I'm not going."
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it was firm.
Final.
"I've already made up my mind."
Silence filled the room.
While in another part of the city—
Someone was preparing for one last chance at love.
Here—
Someone had already decided to walk away from it.
And without knowing it…
Both of their lives had just been set on a collision course. 🔥