Chapter Text
Time runs out for Renjun. Before he knows it he’s standing on the far side of a beach trying not to squint as the harsh winds blow his hair around his face.
It’s the last day, well, second to last day of their time on the show and Renjun bites his bottom lip anxiously listening to the producer explain just how they’ll be baking their decisions.
It’s almost a distant memory at that point. The two tireless weeks he spent on the island. Most days are having fun and getting to know others. While the more difficult and crushing days were spent stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Jeno’s suggestion weighs heavily on his mind. The simple words choose both lingered in the back of Renjun’s mind even after they returned from their two-day stay in paradise. It was a good thing they separated them. Good that they have the two teams time to think about their decision instead of mercilessly throwing them into the fire and having them burn.
Donghyuck and Mark are fan favorites according to the sheet they are given. Donghyuck stands calmly to his right easily nodding his head along with what the producer was telling them. His decision was made and unlike the rest of them who were still filled with uncertainty and doubt that their matches will be successful, Donghyuck knows Mark is going to pick him. It’s why Donghyuck can breathe easily right now, why Renjun is the only one who sees and tastes the metaphorical blood in the water.
Because if Renjun chooses Jeno he’ll have him. But if he chooses Jaemin he might lose them both.
They never got the chance to talk to Jaemin about their proposition. Immediately after arriving back on the island, the producer forbade any group contact, directing both groups to their respective tents and asking them to remain separate until the next day. It pained Renjun, not knowing how things would transpire after today. The brief four-second glance he gave Jaemin after they all landed just wasn’t enough to convey everything he wanted to say. And per rule, Jeno wasn’t allowed to mention anything about paradise. Now that he stopped to think about it, how would they have told him?
Renjun winces at the raw feeling of the inside of his bottom lip starting to bleed lightly. The metallic taste brought him back from the downward spiral that was in his mind.
“Are you okay?” Donghyuck asks. “I shouldn’t ask that. Of course, you’re not okay,” he adds quietly.
They’re just moments away from the big reveal. Renjun’s heart pounding as he hears the producer queue for Donghyuck to start.
They choose the most predictable couple first. Leaving the rest to shock the viewers. This was the time for the ratings to go up. For people to be glued to the edge of their seats waiting to see just who made it through the show.
Shotaro goes next.
If anyone’s changed since the beginning, it's Shotaro. He’s more confident now, head held high despite the nervous smile on his face. Renjun had hoped he wouldn’t end up alone. He also had a sneaking suspicion that Shotaro time spent with Sungchan made a huge difference in their relationship. Their rocky start transforms into a smoother finish. The kind of plot twist that viewers will love.
Taeyong follows slowly after. Still on the fence about his decision.
Jisung…well Renjun wasn’t too sure about who Jisung was planning on picking. The younger had grown quite fond of a few people during their game at Paradise. It could go either way for him. Renjun wouldn’t know until he watches the show for himself.
Jungwoo strides forward confidently.
Renjun isn’t surprised that he’s last. He’d read on the paper that the viewers loved the constant idea of this love triangle between him, Jeno, and Jaemin. All waiting to see who he picks.
When Renjun’s name is called he tries not to let his nerves get the best of him. They had a plan. It was reckless and a risk but a plan nonetheless and as he approached the sandy area of the beach Renjun only hopes that this doesn’t backfire completely in his face.
“So…you’re choosing me.”
Jaemin’s statement seems unsure but Renjun can never tell with how Jaemin handles himself. Guard all the way up until he needs to take it down. Renjun stands by his side wordlessly, heart pounding as he feels Jaemin’s hard stare burning into the side of his face.
“Are you?”
“I think,” Renjun starts clearing his throat. “I think we both are.”
Jaemins eyes narrow in confusion before a familiar sound of footprints reaches them.
“I honestly wasn’t sure this was going to work,” Jeno says upon arriving. “But if you want to choose someone else, feel free. No pressure.”
It takes a second for Jaemin to understand, to really understand just what was going on before he’s cracking a smile.
“This is the only possible ending for us.”
Or so they thought.
Bad news comes in the form of the producer. Not just the producer but the director, two of the writers, and a staff member anxiously flipping through the pages of what appeared to be a contract.
Shortly after all the matches were made the loudspeaker echoes cut across the island and instructed them all to return to the campfire. All except Renjun, Jeno, and Jaemin.
“You see we realize that this might be the ending most people were hoping for but unfortunately according to the predicted ratings if Renjun chooses both of you they’ll drop by sixty percent.”
Renjun frowns instantly. Eyes shifting from the producer to the director who looks like he has something to say as well.
“And,” Renjun prompts. The producer sighs, glancing at Jaemin before clearing his throat.
“And in the case that you pick them both and the ratings do drop we won’t have the approval for a fourth season.”
“You can still pick them both after the show,” the producer tells him. “What happens after is completely up to the three of you and we completely support your relationship. It’s just for the show we need Renjun to pick one person which is who he’ll be spending the last day and the final interview.”
Again it’s up to Renjun to make the final decision. The very situation he wanted to avoid came to be.
The director leaves. Not before telling Renjun once his choice was made to find a staff member so that they can reshoot the final pairing.
“Pick Jeno,” Jaemin says when the three of them are alone. “You wanted him first, it makes the most sense.”
“He wanted you first,” Jeno corrects. “I came after.”
Jaemin sighs and Renjun sees exactly when he pulls his wall back up. It’s a heartbroken look. One that Jeno immediately reacts to, shifting closer to him. “Don’t even,” Jeno warns. “He just has to pick either of us and then after the show is over we can work more us, the three of us.”
It doesn’t make the choice any easier. Even if it is just for the show his choice will affect all of them in some way.
Which is why he picks the only logical choice there is.
Jeno.
The show blows up bigger than Renjun had thought it would. The last episode received one of the highest records of viewers in all three seasons. Yet with everything that happened, there’s so much to do.
“Did you even watch it?” Donghyuck asks sitting on his couch. A plate of untouched donuts sits on his counter, no glass plate because Donghyuck’s going to be here a while.
“I didn’t have time to,” Renjun shrugs. After the show, Renjun threw himself into finishing his book. Between submitting the final transcripts and Jeno and Jaemin blowing up his phone with cute cat memes and date ideas, there really was no time for him to watch it. Did he even need to? After all, he was there.
Donghyuck goes quiet for a bit only the sound of light tapping on his phone could be heard from behind Renjun and it’s so suspiciously quiet he turns around.
“What are you doing?”
Donghyuck wordlessly turns his phone to show Renjun their group chat. The pros and cons of going on the show with Donghyuck were his friends became Donghyuck’s friends. Meaning, when Mark finally gathered the guts to ask Donghyuck out on their first real date Renjun immediately became the plus one in their relationship. The major con being Mark ended up becoming even better friends with Jaemin and Jeno and they all worked together against him. Like now.
“Mark says he hasn’t watched it either, and Jeno and Jaemin said they meant to but got busy with work and forgot.”
“No,” Renjun says immediately and hopes that this time it’ll work.
“Renjun-“
Renjun looks away from Donghyuck’s pleading eyes. “Absolutely not.”
“But you have the biggest tv.”
“It’s for decoration!” It’s pointless, Renjun’s phone pings and Jeno’s contact picture pops up no doubt letting him know he’s on his way.
Donghyuck frowns, sinking lower into the couch. “Everyone’s already on their way anyway.”
“The show better be worth it,” Renjun mumbles, reaching for the remote and tossing it to Donghyuck. The doorbell rings and Jaemin enters, sliding his copied key into the door and entering swiftly with bags of ingredients in his arms.
“Donghyuck said we’re making hotpot.”
“You’re too close to Donghyuck,” Renjun mumbles under his breath watching as the two head into the kitchen taking out pots and pans as if they live there.
Two long hours later Renjun’s sitting on the couch between Jeno and Jaemin, Mark and Donghyuck sitting on the opposite couch, and Jisung, who was dragged there by his best friend Doyoung to watch the show with the starring cast, is on the ground peacefully watching the beginning of episode one.
“Was my house always this packed?” Renjun mouths to Donghyuck.
Donghyuck shakes his head.
“Worth it, right?”
Renjun shrugs.
Totally worth it.