Their room was warm and elegant, plum-toned with soft golden accents. Purple immediately began unpacking neatly, placing her clothes in careful stacks. Deji, on the other hand, opened his suitcase and dumped half of it onto the bed without shame.
Purple paused mid-fold.
"Deji… why are you like this?"
"Relax," he waved her off. "I'll arrange it later."
"You said that during orientation."
"And I will arrange it… eventually."
She gave him the most unimpressed side eye ever.
"Ahn-ahn," he laughed. "Your side eye dey cut deep."
Purple blinked. "That's the point."
He grinned and flopped onto the bed like he owned the place.
"You were crazy today, though. That dance break? Madness."
Purple's shoulders stiffened. "Please don't remind me. Everyone was staring like— like I'm two different people."
"Well… you kind of are," he teased. "Stage you and Real you are like fire and marshmallow."
"Excuse me?" she gasped.
"In a good way," he corrected quickly. "Fire on stage. Marshmallow off it."
She sighed dramatically, but a shy smile tugged at her lips.
Deji sat up again, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Speaking of the others… what do you think of them so far?"
Purple folded another shirt before answering.
"Aria and Storm… they seem sweet. Really calm. I feel like they're the type who hug each other every five minutes."
"Yeah, those ones give 'gentle couple' energy," Deji nodded. "Even their performance looked like a soft poem."
Purple hummed. "They'll be strong competition."
"Not stronger than us, sha," he added quietly.
She nudged him with her foot. "Confidence."
"I've got enough for both of us."
Purple almost smiled again.
"And Nicholas and Theo?" Deji said, raising a brow.
Purple shook her head immediately. "Chaotic. Both of them. Especially Nicholas."
"That boy no get volume control," Deji chuckled. "Everything he says sounds like he's announcing election results."
Purple laughed a little, covering her mouth. "And he keeps teasing everyone."
"Well," Deji smirked, "you're basically his new favourite target."
Her face froze. "Don't remind me."
"You handled him well sha. That side eye almost killed him."
Purple rolled her eyes, but her cheeks warmed.
Then she spoke more softly.
"Do you… think they like me? The others?"
Deji looked at her for a moment.
"Purple," he said gently, "everybody is already talking about you. You scared them on stage, then shocked them off stage. That kind of duality? People remember it."
She fiddled with the zipper of her bag. "I just… don't want to be the weird one."
He reached over and pushed her shoulder lightly.
"Mo wa pelu e," he said — just once, soft, steady. I'm with you.
Her eyes lifted.
"And you're not weird," he added. "You're just… you."
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"Now," he said, clapping his hands, "help me fold before Storm comes in here crying about 'room aesthetics.'"
Purple gave him another side eye, but she moved to help.
"Deji," she muttered, "you're lucky I'm nice."
He smirked.
"I knew it from day one."
.
The House of Duos settled into its rhythm as the night deepened.
Laughter drifted down the hallways.
Pairs wandered in and out of rooms, carrying blankets, snacks, gossip, and nervous excitement.
Indigo and Thira sprawled across the rug in Aria and Storm's room, comparing first impressions of the duos.
Nicholas barged loudly into Jun and Solene's room, only to get shushed by Solene within five seconds.
Efua poked her head into Blaze and Jade's space, curious and nosy as ever — Zhihao trailing behind her with tired eyes.
Raye and Malik wandered from room to room like calm observers, taking everything in with quiet smiles.
Some friendships were already forming.
Some rivalries were already brewing.
Some duos were already whispering plans for the first theme week.
Purple and Deji sat huddled on the floor of their room, unpacking the last of their things while talking softly — their voices the warmest they had been all day.
Across the hall, Mira and Zayn were still recounting moments from the performances, reenacting moves in exaggerated slow motion until Lennox begged them to stop before they broke something.
Little echoes of laughter, footsteps, music, and murmured conversation filled the halls like the house itself was alive.
Then—
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
A soft chime spread through every room.
The lights in the hall dimmed automatically, switching from bright day mode into a calm midnight blue.
A calm automated voice echoed through the speakers:
"Lights out for the House of Duos."
Doors quietly slid shut.
Conversations faded.
Beds creaked as the duos settled in for their first official night under the same roof.
The chatter dimmed into whispers…The whispers faded into soft breaths…And for the first time since stepping into the house —the entire competition finally fell quiet. Tomorrow, the real game would begin. The sun hadn't even fully risen and the House of Duos already felt like a battlefield. The compulsory morning gym session was brutal. Raye lay flat on her back on the mat, arms spread dramatically. "I'm suing. I don't know who, but I'm suing someone." Aria clutched the water bottle like it was life support. "Why… did he make us run eight laps? For what purpose?"
Lennox hit the treadmill stop button with a melodramatic slap. "I'm not a runner. I dance. My legs were not designed for this oppression." Theo was wheezing in the corner. "I can't even feel my knees anymore." Nicholas slapped his back. "That means it's working."
"It means I'm dying," Theo corrected. Meanwhile, Zayn and Mira walked past looking like they'd just finished a warm-up. "Oh, this was light," Mira said casually, not even sweating.
Efua glared at them. "Must be nice to be built like Marvel characters." Blaze and Jade high-fived in perfect sync. "We crushed it," Blaze declared. Jun raised a brow. "You crushed my patience." Zhihao just sat on a bench staring at nothing, towel over his head. Deji jogged in place, somehow still energetic. "That was good! Right? Good start to the morning!" Everyone groaned in one collective, dying chorus.
Then Purple clapped her hands softly.
"Um… if everyone is tired… I can cook breakfast… like… for everyone." Every head snapped toward her. "Wait, you cook?" Malik asked, surprised. Purple blinked. "Yes. I love cooking." "Why didn't you say that yesterday?" Aria gasped, already revived by the news. "I didn't think it mattered…" Purple muttered shyly.
Deji nudged her shoulder. "She can cook like a whole auntie. You people don't understand the blessing coming."
"Okay, chef!" Nicholas cheered.
Thira immediately hopped up from the floor. "I'm helping! I refuse to let my queen suffer alone."
The kitchen filled with warmth, steam, and the smell of batter sizzling.
Purple flipped pancakes with smooth, precise motions — the same control she had onstage, but gentler.
Thira chopped strawberries and blueberries, occasionally sneaking pieces into her mouth.
Purple layered fruits into bowls of yogurt, drizzling honey with perfect swirls.
Deji leaned against the fridge, arms folded, watching her with a proud grin.
"Told you. She's dangerous in the kitchen too." Mira walked in, sniffing the air. "Oh wow… this smells official." Efua peered over Purple's shoulder. "You're making this for everyone?" Purple nodded shyly. "It's no problem." Blaze took a bite of a test pancake and froze.
"This is… this is emotional. I might cry." Jun blinked at his own plate. "Is this organic sweetness? How?
Theo looked offended by how good it tasted. "No because… why are you talented in everything? Leave some gifts for the rest of us." Nicholas lifted his plate toward her. "Chef Purple, Queen of Pancakes, Ruler of Breakfast."
The big screen above the living room flashed on without warning.
A sharp beep-beep echoed through the house.
James appeared, bright smile, perfect posture — way too energetic for this hour.
"Good morning, duos." Groans erupted instantly. Aria dragged herself toward the couch, ponytail messy, pancake half-eaten in her hand."I didn't even get to eat breakfast…" she complained dramatically. Storm followed behind her with his bowl of yogurt, muttering,
"She says that like she didn't already have three pancakes." Aria gasped.
"That's not the point!" Nicholas jogged in, plate still in hand. "Can we pause him? Or slow him down? I'm not done eating either!" Theo snatched the plate away.
"You're never done eating." "No one asked you," Nicholas whispered aggressively.
Efua plopped onto the couch and crossed her legs. "If this man says we're practicing again this morning, I'm flipping something." Zhihao nodded slowly, eyes half-open. "Preferably something light. Like a chair. Or Nicholas." "HEY—" Nicholas started, mouth full of pancake. Indigo and Thira rushed in last, breathless. "Did we miss anything?" Indigo asked.
"No," Lennox said, waving his fork. "He's still buffering." Jun stretched his back with a pained sigh.
"Let's just hope he's here for something good." Purple and Deji settled down quietly.
Purple murmured, "Why does he always appear right when everyone is finally relaxed?"
Deji chuckled. "That's his villain arc."
The room finally quieted as James lifted a single envelope onscreen. His smile grew.
"Duos… it's time for your first weekly theme."
Everyone froze. Mira whispered sharply, "Here we go." Malik exhaled.
"Ya Allah… I'm not ready—" Blaze leaned forward, excited.
"I am. Bring it." James held up the envelope dramatically, camera zooming in.
"Your theme for Week One is…