| 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 |

Chapter 16: How to Deal with Secret Admirers

I sighed, sinking deeper into the soft embrace of the mattress. My mind swirled with thoughts, each one heavier than the last. I wanted to confide in someone about the letters, but who could I trust? The way they were written made me almost certain the author was a boy.

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a series of knocks.

"Y/N, are you still asleep?" Kiara's voice filtered through the door. I pushed myself up and swung the door open to find her standing there, a concerned expression on her face.

"You good?" she asked, stepping inside and closing the door with a gentle click.

"No, I'm not!" I screeched, flopping back onto the pillow, my head buried deep in the fabric.

"Aww, kid, come here." Kiara opened her arms wide, a comforting smile spreading across her face.

She was two years older than me and often took on the role of the mother figure among all the female contestants. I jumped into her embrace, feeling the warmth radiate from her as she caressed my back.

"Oh wait—what are those?" Kiara's eyes suddenly narrowed, and I felt a jolt of panic as I shot to the drawer, slamming it shut.

"NOTHING!" I exclaimed, my heart racing as I hastily shoved the flowers out of sight.

She shot me a knowing glare, then burst into laughter. "My delulu self knows you received those from someone!"

I looked down, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"You actually did!?" she pressed, her tone shifting from playful to serious.

I nodded, the weight of my secret settling heavily in the air between us.

"How long have you been hiding this?" she asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

"Quite some time," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.

"And you didn't think to tell us? Is it that fellow Jimin?" Kiara's brows shot up, a teasing smile forming on her lips.

I sighed as I plopped down beside her on the bed, my shoulders slumping under the weight of my secret. "I don't know, Kiara. They're from an anonymous person who claims to like me a lot."

Her eyes widened with excitement. "Omg! What did those letters say?"

"Mostly admiring my style, my confidence, and everything that's happened in this show. Whoever it is, they're definitely here—not some crazy fan sneaking around," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"As creepy as this is, I have to admit, this guy has great taste in flowers... Wait, I hope it's a man." She leaned in closer, whispering the last part with a playful smirk.

"It definitely is. The writing style has a distinct man's vibe." I felt a strange mix of embarrassment and intrigue as I considered the sender's identity.

"So, are you on a mission to find the writer behind those letters?" Kiara asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement as I nodded.

"Let's narrow down your options," she continued, her tone turning analytical. "It can't be Ethan; that boy is head over heels for Lisa. I once had a conversation with Alex, and he mentioned that Ava is his high school crush, so he's out of the running too. Then there's Mingyu and Jiho—those two bicker so much, it's like watching a rom-com. The way Mingyu's eyes light up when he sees Jiho? It practically screams 'secret love.' Jake is a total jerk, so I hope it's not him. You definitely shouldn't settle for someone like that. And lastly, my brother can't be the sender. That lover boy is in love with Jennie, even if he's unsure about her feelings."