Ahn Yerin had one simple dream.
To fall in love.
Not dramatic love. Not movie-type love. Just… normal love. The kind where someone texts you "Have you eaten?" and actually means it.
Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.
Because Ahn Yerin had dated twenty men.
And not one of them made it past Day 1.
Not because she was rejected.
Not because she rejected them.
But because every single date turned into something that felt like a curse wrapped in embarrassment.
At this point, even her best friend had stopped saying "You'll find someone" and switched to:
"Maybe… you're a social experiment."
Yerin didn't believe that.
…At least not yet.
Date 1: The Family Package Deal
It was supposed to be a simple blind date.
Nice café. Soft music. Calm atmosphere.
Yerin even arrived early, fixing her hair and practicing her smile in her phone camera.
"Okay, Ahn Yerin," she whispered. "This time, act normal. Don't overthink. Don't panic. Just—"
"Yerin-ssi?"
She turned.
And froze.
Standing in front of her was her date.
…And two girls.
…And a woman.
…And a man.
…And a child holding a juice box.
Yerin blinked slowly.
"…Yes?"
The guy smiled brightly.
"Sorry I'm late! This is my family."
Silence.
Yerin waited.
He didn't continue.
"...Your family?" she repeated.
"Yes!" he said proudly. "My parents, my two sisters, and my nephew. I thought it would be nice for them to meet you early so we don't waste time later."
Her brain shut down.
His younger sister suddenly leaned forward across the table.
"Unnie, do you know how to cook?"
Yerin choked on air.
"I—what?"
The mother spoke next.
"My son likes women who wake up early. You don't sleep past 6 a.m., right?"
The father nodded seriously.
"And no drinking. Our family doesn't like that."
The little kid pointed at her.
"Auntie, are you rich?"
Yerin stared at the table.
She wanted to disappear into it.
Meanwhile, her date just sat there smiling like this was completely normal.
Two hours later, she left the café with a polite smile.
"Let's talk again," he said.
"Yes… let's…" she replied.
They never did.
Date 2: The Third Wheel… Was a Dog
Yerin told herself:
It can't get worse.
She was wrong.
The second date was at a park. Fresh air. Peaceful.
This time, the guy looked normal.
Clean. Polite. Smiling.
Hope sparked again.
Until—
"Come here, baby!"
Yerin turned.
And saw a fluffy white dog running toward them like it owned the earth.
"Oh," she smiled awkwardly. "Your dog is cute."
The guy's expression softened immediately.
"She's not just a dog."
Yerin nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
He picked the dog up gently and kissed its head.
"This is Haru. She's my daughter."
Yerin laughed.
He didn't.
"Oh," she stopped. "…you're joking."
"I'm not."
Silence.
He sat down, placing the dog carefully on the chair.
Then he looked at Yerin with complete seriousness.
"If we get married, I don't want children."
"…Okay?"
"Haru is enough."
The dog barked.
"She agrees."
Yerin blinked.
"I… see."
The entire date turned into him talking to the dog.
"Haru, do you like her?"
"Haru, say hi to mommy."
"Haru, should we bring her home?"
At one point, he tried to feed Yerin a snack, then immediately fed the same one to the dog.
Yerin stared at the half-eaten biscuit in her hand.
"…I think I need to go home."
"Already?" he asked. "Haru likes you."
The dog was chewing her napkin.
"...I'm honored."
They smiled.
They nodded.
They never contacted each other again.
Date 3: Public Hair-Pulling Championship
This one started perfectly.
Dinner at a nice restaurant.
Her date was handsome. Calm. Well-spoken.
Yerin actually thought:
This is it.
She smiled more. Talked more. Relaxed.
Until—
"YOU!"
A voice cut through the restaurant.
Yerin turned.
A woman was marching toward their table like a storm in heels.
Her date froze.
"…Oh no."
Yerin blinked.
"Do you know her?"
"Yes—no—I mean—"
Too late.
The woman reached them.
And grabbed Yerin's hair.
Hard.
"YOU'RE THE ONE HE'S CHEATING WITH?!"
"WHAT?!" Yerin screamed.
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU WERE A TRASH MAN!"
"I CAN EXPLAIN—" the guy stood up.
"SHUT UP!"
The woman yanked Yerin's hair again.
"I'M NOT EVEN DATING HIM!" Yerin cried, trying to escape. "THIS IS OUR FIRST DATE!"
"LIAR!"
"I JUST MET HIM AN HOUR AGO!"
"THAT'S EVEN WORSE!"
People started gathering.
Phones came out.
Someone whispered, "This is better than a drama."
The girlfriend dragged Yerin halfway across the restaurant before security finally separated them.
Yerin's hair was a disaster.
Her dignity? Gone.
Her date? Apologizing while getting slapped.
She walked home in silence.
Hair messy.
Makeup ruined.
Soul exhausted.
The next day?
No calls.
No texts.
Just peace.
Date 4: Buy One, Get One Free Boyfriend Deal
At this point, Yerin had no expectations.
None.
Zero.
So when her next date said:
"I'm bringing a friend, hope you don't mind."
She thought:
Okay. Normal. People do that sometimes.
She arrived at the café.
Sat down.
Waited.
Then—
Two men walked in.
Holding hands.
Yerin blinked.
Once.
Twice.
They sat down in front of her.
Her date smiled brightly.
"Hi, Yerin! This is my boyfriend."
"…Your what?"
"My boyfriend," he repeated casually. "We've been together for two years."
Silence.
Yerin processed.
Failed.
Restarted.
"…Then why are you here?"
"Oh!" he leaned forward excitedly. "I'm bisexual."
"…Okay?"
"So I can date both!"
The boyfriend nodded.
"We believe in sharing."
Yerin stared at them.
"…Sharing?"
"Yes," the boyfriend smiled warmly. "You'll be his girlfriend. I'm his boyfriend. We all support each other."
"Like a team," her date added.
Yerin stood up.
Slowly.
Carefully.
"…I think I'm not qualified for this position."
"Wait!" her date said. "We can discuss boundaries!"
"I don't have boundaries for this!"
They all smiled politely.
They all bowed.
And once again—
No one called the next day.
End of Chapter 1
That night, Yerin lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Twenty dates.
Twenty disasters.
She turned her head and looked at her phone.
No messages.
As usual.
She sighed.
"…Maybe love just isn't for me."
She paused.
Then added quietly—
"Or maybe… something is seriously wrong with my luck."
Little did she know…
This was only the beginning.