| 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 |

Chapter 18: How to ask for Re-Match

"Y/N!!!" Lisa's voice echoed as she came barreling toward me, eyes alight with excitement. She flung her arms around me, squeezing tight.

"Can you believe it?! I got a boyfriend!!!"

I laughed, hugging her back. "Lisa, that's amazing! I can't believe it either!"

"Neither can I! I'm so happy, I feel like I could burst!" She pulled back, her face glowing, and then her eyes widened. "Oh! I need to tell my mom! I have to go beg Jungkook to let me use my phone!"

She dashed off, practically bouncing with every step, leaving me standing there with a smile that slowly faded. I really hoped she'd made the right choice. There was something in my chest, a mixture of happiness for her and a thread of worry tugging underneath. Please, let it all work out for her.

"Tch. What a disaster, right?" Iseul muttered, sidling up to me with a smirk.

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Please," she said, passing me a glass of wine. "Getting engaged on this show is better than winning a golden buzzer on America's Got Talent. It's the end of us."

I nearly choked. "What? You think Lisa's going to automatically win just because she got engaged?!"

"Or Ethan," she replied, taking a slow, deliberate sip. "Depends on who the crowd falls for more."

"Come on, that's ridiculous. I'm not letting that happen."

"Oh, really?" Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "And how do you plan on stopping it?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you even telling me this? What are you hiding?"

"Absolutely nothing." She flashed an innocent smile. "As you know, I was on this show last year. If I lose this season, I want it to be to a worthy opponent... not to someone who coughed up their parents' money for a diamond ring."

I scoffed. "So, you're saying Lisa and Ethan aren't worthy opponents?"

"Of course not. Have you seen them?"

"They're two people in love. Why—"

"In love?" She laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Do you really think this is the first time people got engaged on Hallyuwood Matchmaker?"

"Uh, I think it happened a few years ago too?"

"And in the first season," she reminded me, raising an eyebrow. "Do you know what happened to those relationships as soon as the winners were announced? They dissolved faster than premium instant coffee."

I hesitated. "But I think Lisa's feelings for Ethan are real. She's not faking it."

"Maybe... but what about Ethan?" She rolled her eyes. "Lisa's disgustingly naive. She doesn't deserve to win this show... and I've met plenty of guys, both on and off this show. As soon as they had their hands on the prize money, they were gone. And their poor ex-fiancées? Left with nothing but a few gossip magazine headlines."

I opened my mouth to argue, but she hushed me as the announcement blared through the speakers.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have an announcement for you," Jungkook's voice boomed over the speakers. "Inspired by events from just an hour ago... I decided it wasn't fair to force you to stay with your randomized Matches. So here's some good news: Tonight, you'll get to choose a NEW Match to love and cherish until the end of the show... and maybe even beyond! More details on this later. See you all in an hour!"

"What the... THAT has never happened before," Iseul muttered, her eyes wide.

She recovered quickly, a sly grin spreading across her face. "What an interesting development."