The walk back to the House of Duos was a blur of half-complaints, stretching muscles, and dramatic storytelling. The earlier chaos of the practice-room booking had scattered everyone into their smaller duos again, each drifting into their own corners of the house.
Inside, the atmosphere softened. A slow comfort seeped into the halls as people relaxed back into familiar routines—or tried to create new ones.
Thira, buzzing with leftover adrenaline, wandered into the backyard and spotted Raye practicing awkward wrist flicks in the air.
"You look like you're swatting invisible flies," Thira said.
Raye frowned, then grinned. "Badminton warm-up."
Thira's eyes lit up. "You play badminton?"
"Obsessively," Raye replied. "You?"
Thira lifted her chin like she had just been knighted. "I OWN badminton."
Within seconds, they were standing nose-to-nose in competitive energy, both speaking at the same time:
"Smash delivery?"
"Net drop?"
"Backhand serve?"
"Double-tap defense?"
They paused—then burst into matching manic laughter.
"We're playing tonight," Raye declared.
"We're playing NOW," Thira corrected, dragging her off.
In the kitchen, Purple wiped down the counter with the confidence of someone who had finally found her space. Her earlier nervousness melted away as she talked animatedly with Nicholas and Mira, her gestures sharp and expressive.
"So you're actually chaotic," Nicholas realized, watching Purple reenact their practice-room fiasco with dramatic detail.
Purple snorted. "You think confidence means shouting every minute? My confidence is silent. It attacks unexpectedly."
Mira choked on her water. "No, because this is a completely different Purple than yesterday."
Deji walked in, heard that, and nodded proudly.
"This is the original version," he said. "No update needed."
Purple shoved him playfully. "You talk too much."
"You push too much."
Their bickering dissolved into laughter that filled the entire kitchen.
In the living room, some of the others sprawled across the couches, exchanging stories like old roommates instead of rivals.
Noor sat cross-legged while Lennox stretched across two cushions beside him.
"I can't believe you used to teach kids dance," Noor said.
"They taught me patience," Lennox corrected with a sigh. "Mostly because they kicked me in the shin every five minutes."
Across from them, Aria talked shyly about working part-time at a bookstore, while Storm nodded along, only interrupting when necessary.
Jin and Solene sat at the window, sharing quiet anecdotes—his about long hours training, hers about dancing in small festivals in her hometown. Their voices were soft, almost melodic together.
Meanwhile, Indigo was trying to describe her photography hobby to Malik, who clearly had no idea what ISO was but nodded seriously anyway.
Efua ended up in the hallway with Blaze and Jade, who were asking her about the modeling gigs she'd done. Zhihao leaned against the wall quietly beside her, adding one dry comment every ten minutes that somehow made the entire group laugh.
"No, but actually," Blaze said, "you two look like you walked out of a magazine spread."
Efua tossed her braids and grinned. "I am the spread."
Zhihao mumbled, "I'm the footnote."
Efua smacked his arm. "STOP SAYING THAT."
Evening settled over the House of Duos like a soft blanket, but the energy inside refused to calm down. Everyone was still scattered across the living room, kitchen, and hallways—voices blending together in a warm, chaotic hum.
Nicholas suddenly popped up from behind the couch like a deranged meerkat.
"OKAY EVERYONE, LISTEN!" he yelled.
Half the house jumped.
Theo groaned. "Bro, why are you yelling like someone stole your kneecaps?"
Nicholas flung out his arms dramatically.
"I have a brilliant idea. A revolutionary idea. An idea so great it might become history."
Efua squinted. "Oh God."
Storm muttered, "This can't be good."
Purple whispered , "He looks too happy. I'm scared."
Malik nodded. "Fear is valid."
Nicholas climbed onto the couch—despite everyone telling him not to—and announced:
"WE ARE THROWING AN ALL-NIGHTER TO CELEBRATE OUR FIRST THEME!"
The room exploded.
Mira choked. "Tonight?!"
Lennox faceplanted into a pillow. "Why do you hate sleep?"
Indigo sighed. "We just had a gym session, Nicholas."
Jin looked like he was calculating the risk of staying awake vs. collapsing.
Meanwhile, Efua stood up, hands on hips.
"Actually… that sounds kind of fun."
Zhihao nodded once. "Acceptable chaos."
Blaze slapped Jade's shoulder. "SEE? It's destiny!"
Jade shrugged, grinning. "I'm in."
Aria lifted a hand weakly. "Only if someone keeps me from dying."
Storm instantly said, "I'll supervise you."
Raye and Thira burst through the back door mid-badminton dispute.
"What did we miss?" Raye asked.
"We're pulling an all-nighter," Malik told them.
Thira lit up like neon. "YESSS—wait, do we have snacks?"
Purple raised her hand quietly. "I can cook something."
Everyone froze like a movie on pause.
Storm blinked. "You cook again? You just fed us breakfast."
Purple shrugged. "I like cooking."
Theo leaned forward. "What are you making?"
Purple took a breath. "I was thinking… maybe… Nigerian meat pies and puff puff."
Silence.
Twenty blank stares.
Raye whispered, "What… is a puff puff? Is it… a cloud? A dessert? A Pokémon?"
Lennox frowned. "Did she say meat pie? Like… pie? But… meat?"
Blaze squinted dramatically. "Are you pranking us?"
Purple looked offended. "No! They're real!"
Deji burst out laughing. "You people don't know anything."
Purple stepped forward, suddenly more confident, hands moving animatedly. "Okay, okay—listen. Meat pies are savory pastries with minced beef, potatoes, carrots… flaky crust… warm and soft on the inside—trust me, it slaps."
Aria gasped. "Slaps?! It sounds elite already."
"And puff puff," Purple continued, now fully excited, "is like… small sweet fried dough balls. Crispy on the outside, soft inside. Add sugar, maybe cinnamon… it's heaven."
Mira placed a hand dramatically over her heart. "Why has no one introduced this to me sooner?!"
Thira squealed. "Fried dough?! COUNT ME IN!"
Jade pointed. "I want five."
Zhihao nodded solemnly. "I will have… unlimited."
Nicholas threw both hands up. "PURPLE, I LOVE YOU. I WILL WASH DISHES FOR THIS."
Theo's eyes widened. "Two nights worth."
Jun raised his hand. "Please make extra. For survival."
Purple blinked in surprise, suddenly flustered but smiling. "Um… okay. I'll make a lot."
The second Purple agreed to cook, everyone bolted toward the kitchen entrance like a stampede—until Zayn, laughing, lifted both hands.
"Hold up! Purple can't cook for twenty people alone. We need helpers."
Nicholas gasped dramatically. "YES. I volunteer—no, I insist to be—"
"NO," Aria cut in. "We need to be fair."
Theo nodded. "Rock, paper, scissors."
A collective ooooooh echoed through the house.
Storm grinned. "Twenty dancers… one kitchen… two helper spots… this is war."
Everyone huddled in a giant circle. Purple stood in the middle, overwhelmed, holding a bowl like a timid cooking goddess.
"Okay!" Blaze shouted. "First round—GO!"
Twenty hands shot into the air.
Chaos.
People screaming "NOOOO!"
Others celebrating.
A dramatic fall to the floor from Malik.
Raye yelling "WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE PAPER AGAIN?!"
One by one, they were eliminated—Aria, Mira, Thira, Theo, Noor, Lennox, Storm… until only three remained: Nicholas. Zhihao. And Jun.
Nicholas bounced excitedly. "I WAS BORN FOR THIS."
Jun cracked his knuckles. "I will not lose."
Zhihao just blinked, calm as a monk.
Blaze raised his arm like a referee. "FINAL ROUND!"
"ROCK—PAPER—SCISSORS—SHOOT!"
Then—
"NICHOLAS AND ZHIHAO LOST!" Lennox cackled.
Nicholas dropped to his knees. "NOOOOOO! Why didn't I choose rock?! My hands betrayed me!"
Zhihao stared at his fist, deeply betrayed by his own muscle memory. "I wasn't even trying to win," he muttered.
Jun threw his arms up. "HA! Enjoy the kitchen duty!"
Nicholas grabbed Purple dramatically. "I will serve with honor, chef! I will chop onions with bravery!"
Zhihao sighed and walked into the kitchen like a man approaching destiny.
Purple blinked. "Oh. Um… okay. Let's… start?"
Nicholas saluted. "YES CHEF."
Zhihao tied an apron with the expression of someone who had never worn one before.
Jun leaned into the doorway smirking. "Try not to burn the house down."
Purple rolled her eyes playfully. "We won't."
Nicholas whispered to Zhihao, "If she asks us to fry the puff puff… run."
Zhihao whispered back, "Noted."
The kitchen smelled like butter, spices, and the beginnings of something very good. Purple was rolling dough with quick, confident motions while Nicholas tried (and failed) to cut carrots evenly. Zhihao stood stiffly beside a bowl of flour, as if waiting for it to explode.
A few quiet minutes passed before Zhihao finally asked, in his usual blunt–robot voice:
"So… your real name. Is it actually Purple?"
Nicholas perked up instantly.
"RIGHT! I've been wondering that too."
Purple let out a tiny groan — the kind that came from deep, deep exhaustion.
"No," she said, pressing another dough circle flat. "It's Oluwapelumi."
Nicholas' jaw dropped.
"Olú—wa—what?"
Zhihao blinked like someone had spoken in Morse code.
"O-lu-wa…pe…l…uh?"
Purple dropped her rolling pin and pointed aggressively at the counter.
"THIS. This is why I go by Purple. I'm tired. I'm TIRED."
Nicholas slapped a hand to his chest.
"No. No, give me a chance. I can do this."
Zhihao straightened, nodding like he was accepting a mission.
"I am capable. Say it again."
Purple took a breath.
"O-loo-wah-peh-LOO-mee."
Both boys repeated it.
Horribly.
Nicholas: "Olu…wa…plummy?"
Zhihao: "Oh-loo…peh-lu-mayo?"
Purple stared at them like she was reconsidering her decision to feed these people.
"Oh my God," she muttered. "Please. Please stop before I change my name legally."
Nicholas held up a finger like he'd cracked a code.
"Okay — challenge accepted. By the end of this season, I will pronounce your name perfectly. Even if I need flashcards. Or divine intervention."
"You're going to need both," Purple said.
Zhihao added, "I will also learn it. Even if I must reboot several times."
"You reboot every hour," Purple shot back.
"Yes," he said simply.
She covered her face with both hands. "Help me with this dough before I scream."
Nicholas saluted with his carrot knife.
"Yes, chef Purple."
Zhihao saluted too.
"Yes, Chef Olu…pa… lumine—"
"NO," she snapped, half–laughing, "NOT IN MY KITCHEN."
The three of them kept working — making a mess, making meatpies, mispronouncing names — the chaos somehow blending into something warm, stupid, and almost… sweet.
Purple rolled another dough circle, and for the first time, didn't feel shy.
Just… comfortable.
With these two idiots.
The smell hit the living room before Purple even called them.
Warm spices. Buttery crust. Something soft and sweet frying in oil.
Raye literally sat up from the couch like an awakened corpse.
"WHAT IS THAT SMELL."
Aria sniffed the air dramatically.
"Is this… heaven?"
Nicholas poked his head out of the kitchen, covered in flour like he survived a bakery explosion.
"DINNER IS READY! COME GET YOUR MEATPIES AND PUFF PUFF!"
Everyone rushed in like they were escaping a natural disaster.
Purple stood by the kitchen island, wiping her hands on a towel, looking a little proud and a little overwhelmed as trays of golden meatpies and bowls of fresh puff puff cooled beside her.
Blaze grabbed a meatpie without permission.
One bite.
He froze.
"…bro."
Another bite.
"…BRO."
He spun toward Jade.
"Marry me."
Jade slapped his arm. "Control yourself!"
Theo took a puff puff, popped it into his mouth—
And immediately grabbed three more.
Nicholas puffed up beside Purple.
"Purple did most of the work, though. I was like emotional support. And Zhihao was… um…"
He looked at Zhihao.
Zhihao nodded stoically.
"I sifted flour."
"You sifted air," Purple corrected.
Storm took a meatpie, took a bite, then stared directly at Purple.
"Why are you just now telling us you can cook like this?"
Purple shrugged, suddenly shy again.
"I didn't think it was… special."
"Special?" Efua choked. "This is a spiritual experience."
Jun took two meatpies at once.
"If this is what Nigerians eat every day, I'm relocating."
Solene had puff puff dusted with sugar stuck to her lips.
"I can't even speak. This is… oh my God."
Indigo was tapping her foot, chewing dramatically.
"Okay, no, I NEED the recipe."
Thira nodded aggressively.
"Same. I can't go back to my old life."
Malik was on his knees.
"I am a changed man."
Raye, cheeks full of puff puff, mumbled,
"I'm not even ashamed."
Lennox lifted a puff puff like a trophy.
"I think I've ascended."
Noor tried to act calm, but his eyes were watery.
"This is emotional."
Zayn ate silently, then turned to Mira.
"She's competition."
Mira took a bite, blinked hard, then nodded once.
"Very serious competition."
Deji leaned on the counter, smirking.
"I told you guys, Pelumi can cook. You didn't listen."
Purple nearly choked.
"DEJI."
Everyone turned.
"Pelumi?"
"Oluwa-what?"
"She has a REAL name?"
"Oh we're SO hearing this story."
Purple covered her face with both hands.
"I regret everything."
Nicholas threw an arm around her.
"Too late. You cooked for us. We love you now."
Zhihao added, monotone,
"We are bonded for life."
Purple groaned.
"This house will finish me."
But she was smiling—
Really smiling—
For the first time since arriving.
Surrounded by noise, laughter, crumbs, questions, and chaos…
She felt like she belonged.