*****
• Tonight, everyone's occupations and ages will be revealed.
"Finally!"
"Wow, now we don't have to use formal speech anymore!"
"Once their ages are out, we can roughly guess who might be friends…"
"That's not always the case, is it?"
"Yeah, not all friends are the same age. In Season 1, there were male and female cast members with up to a four-year age gap who still paired off as close friends."
Everyone seemed excited. But Gaeun nervously swallowed.
I'm probably the oldest, right? At least among the female cast… I don't think there's anyone else in their 30s besides me.
Even Sungjoon, whom things were going well with—he was definitely younger. A year or two wouldn't be a big deal, but what if it was more than that…?
She had casually brought it up once, just in case.
"Sungjoon, what's the age range you're okay with, older or younger?"
"If she's younger, I don't mind as long as we click. Older… maybe by a year? I've dated someone older before, but it wasn't a great experience. So now, I'd prefer to date someone younger."
Will things with Sungjoon fall apart once our ages are revealed?
It's not like I'm one of the more popular ones to begin with...
"Isn't it obvious that Minji's the youngest?"
Minji, who had been clinging to Gaeun's arm and resting her head on her shoulder, quickly sat up and waved her hands in surprise. With pink ribbons in her braided pigtails, she looked even younger than usual.
"Oh no, I'm older than I look! I actually think both Taeri and Gaeun are younger than me."
"Huh? M-me?"
Gaeun was startled. Minji looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.
No way.
Anyone could see Minji looks younger than me...
She looked younger— a lot younger. Not just by a year or two, but significantly.
Gaeun hadn't even tried to come across as the younger one, yet somehow the conversation had taken that turn. She suddenly felt so embarrassed, she wanted to run and hide.
"I'm sure of it! By this time tomorrow, Gaeun will be calling me unnie!"
"Minji… please, that's enough…"
"Why? I'm just saying what everyone's already thinking. Honestly, I'd guess Gaeun's in, hmm… her early twenties?"
If there had been a hole in the ground, Gaeun would've gladly crawled into it.
The others seated around the table smiled politely, unable to agree with Minji's comment—but also too awkward to contradict her.
See? Everyone's clearly uncomfortable. No one wants to be the one to say I look older—but they're not denying it either.
"There's absolutely no way that's true."
"No, seriously—everyone agrees with me, right? Here, look at us. Who looks older?"
Minji went so far as to press her face right next to Gaeun's. Gaeun tried to pull away, but Minji had her arm firmly linked with hers, making it impossible to move. Cold sweat started forming.
Why is she going this far? Does she not realize how uncomfortable this is? Or… is she doing it on purpose?
Gaeun suddenly remembered how Minji had seemed upset earlier when they were upstairs.
Could this be payback for that? No… she wouldn't be that petty. Would she?
"Right, Dojin? Who looks younger? Be honest!"
"Uh… well… if I had to say..."
Even Dojin, put on the spot by Minji's question, looked clearly uncomfortable.
And then, just at that moment ....
"Shall we stop here?"
A calm voice cut through the tension in the room.
Everyone turned their attention to Haeyoung, the one who had spoken. To Gaeun, it felt like someone had just thrown her a lifeline.
"There's really no need for us to rank each other by appearance or age."
Haeyoung gave a gentle smile. Her tone was soft and kind, making it sound less like a criticism and more like a thoughtful suggestion.
But the message underneath was clear and sharp: What you're doing, Woo Minji, is ranking people by looks, and it's rude and unnecessary.
Haeyoung had seen this pattern from Minji far too many times.
Overpraise the other person just enough to make it backhanded. And if the comparison ends up flattering herself more? Even better.
She got to be the one giving compliments, looking like a kind, considerate person, while subtly putting others down.
But guess what? I'm here now. That kind of thing doesn't work anymore—not in front of me.
"Oh my, Haeyoung… I wasn't trying to rank people by appearance. I was just saying Gaeun really looks young. It was meant as a compliment."
"A compliment? If Gaeun actually is younger than you, then it's not a compliment, it's just a fact. Or… are you saying you assumed she was older?"
Minji blinked, as if realizing she had slipped up.
"Then why were you being so persistent about it?"
Well? What now? Haeyoung smirked inwardly.
Outwardly, she tilted her head slightly, as if genuinely puzzled.
Minji opened her mouth a few times, as if trying to say something, but in the end, she pressed her lips shut.
Yeah, what could she even say? It's not like thinking it through is going to help. She's not exactly working with brilliance here.
Tears were already welling up in Minji's big eyes.
"I—I'm sorry!"
How dull.
She'd chosen the easiest way out—to defuse the situation by playing the victim.
"I really didn't mean anything bad by it. I swear. You know that, right, Gaeun?"
Minji clung to Gaeun, desperate.
She was doing it because she knew Gaeun had a soft heart. Because she knew Gaeun was the type who couldn't bring herself to say she was uncomfortable, even when she clearly was.
And truthfully, from what Haeyoung had seen on the show, that was exactly how it always went between them.
Minji constantly looked down on and used Gaeun, and Gaeun - though she doubted Minji's true intentions, kept giving her the benefit of the doubt and let herself be swayed until the very end.
Apparently, it was only after the show ended that she finally realized the truth and cut Minji off completely.
If they were going to break ties anyway; if Gaeun was going to realize she was being looked down on, wouldn't it be better for her to find out a little sooner?
"Ah, well, I mean…"
Gaeun stammered. She wasn't okay, but she would surely say she was.
Before she could, Haeyoung cut in.
"Of course. We all know you didn't mean anything by it, Minji. Gaeun knows, and I do too. After all, who would be dumb enough to pull such an obvious, outdated mean-girl trick these days? It's tacky and pathetic."
Minji's face went pale.
There was no mistaking it—Haeyoung had just insulted her.
Tacky and pathetic? Seriously? Am I really that stupid?
Minji had been openly insulted. But if she got angry now, it would be the same as admitting everything Haeyoung had said was true.
Her anger surged, and her fingertips trembled. She clenched her fists tightly, hiding her hands from view.
"You're right. I don't know any better. Anyway… if I upset you, I'm sorry, Gaeun."
Minji lowered her head. Gaeun, ever gentle, reassured her that it was okay—but it didn't make Minji feel any better.
"Come on, let's not be like this. How about a toast?"
"And let's not bring up age again."
"Agreed! We're all friends here anyway, right?"
With others chiming in to lighten the mood, the atmosphere quickly shifted back to something more cheerful.
Haeyoung quietly served some food onto Minji's plate, who was still silently holding her lips tightly shut.
"Eat plenty," she said kindly, offering a comforting smile. Under the table, Minji clenched her hands tightly.
*****
After that, no one dared to mention age anymore. Instead, the cast members began guessing each other's professions. The guesses ranged widely—from artists to engineers to rappers.
Finally, words appeared on the monitor instructing them to reveal their ages and jobs.
One by one, they introduced themselves in order of their seats.
In the end, Gaeun was 30 years old, the oldest female cast member. But because of what happened earlier, Minji only showed a slightly surprised expression and responded cautiously.
She knew that if she made any more mistakes here, the broadcast could come out looking really strange.
Haeyoung introduced herself as an interpreter/translator, Minji said she was a model, and Seongjun introduced himself as an actor. Yunhyuk said he worked at Baeho Motors.
Since it wasn't clear yet who was friends with whom, they all exchanged appropriate reactions and exaggerated compliments.
That wrapped up the filming schedule. Those who wanted to rest went back to their rooms, while others who wanted to keep hanging out gathered in small groups for drinks.
The way they spoke to each other shifted to casual speech. Now that their ages were revealed, everyone seemed more relaxed and happy.
Meanwhile, Haeyoung followed Gaeun as she climbed the stairs with a tired gait.
"Are you tired?"
"A little. I'm planning to go to bed early tonight."
Gaeun smiled weakly.
Her mind must be tangled right now, confused about whether Minji really had bad intentions or not.
Though suspicious, thinking back to Minji's tearful apology made it hard to believe she had any ill will.
"Um…"
Gaeun hesitated, then stopped and looked back at Haeyoung.
"You helped me earlier, right? Thank you."