The night deepened, music hummed softly in the background, plates of crumbs were everywhere, and someone (probably Nicholas) had spilled puff-puff sugar on the carpet.
Blaze slapped a deck of UNO on the table.
"Alright. We've eaten. We've celebrated. Now…"
He smirked.
"Let's ruin friendships." Everyone cheered like barbarians.
They gathered around the giant living-room table:
Purple, Deji, Nicholas, Theo, Noor, Lennox, Mira, Zayn, Efua, Zhihao, Thira, Indigo, Aria, Storm, Raye, Malik, Jun, Solene, Jade, Blaze.
Twenty competitors. One deck of UNO. Immediate stupidity.
Purple shuffled nervously. "I don't like the way everyone is smiling."
Nicholas cracked his knuckles. "Oh, sweetheart. UNO is not a game. It's emotional warfare."
The first round started normal. Normal lasted sixty seconds. Five minutes later, the table was a minefield of +4s and revenge. Thira dropped a +4 on Lennox.
Lennox: "I THOUGHT WE LIKED THE SAME SPORTS??"
Thira: "Badminton alliances end at the table."
Nicholas stacked a +4 on top of the +4. Purple whispered, horrified, "You can STACK THOSE??"
Nicholas grinned. "In this house? Yes." The +4 moved around the circle, gaining power like a demon.
It finally landed on Zhihao. He blinked once. Expression unchanged. "…I draw twenty."
The yelling became unhinged. "Noor, WHY WOULD YOU PUT GREEN?? I HAVE NO GREEN!" "KEEP YOUR PAIN TO YOURSELF!" "Who shuffled this? This deck is evil!" Raye threw her hands up.
"STOP PUTTING +2 ON ME! I WILL CRY!"
Malik: "Cry then. Draw your cards."
Zayn and Mira played like assassins. Silent. Calculated. Deadly. Jun and Solene played like chaotic forest spirits. Their entire strategy was vibes.
Theo squealed every time he placed a Draw 2 …Nicholas hit the table so hard the cards bounced.
Indigo accused Zhihao of cheating because "he's too quiet."
Zhihao replied, "If I cheated, you would not survive."
Thirty minutes in, Purple was blinking slowly. Her pile of cards was… concerning.
She whispered to Lennox,
"I don't know what game this is anymore."
Lennox patted her head. "Just hold on, Purple." She did not hold on.
After another brutal +4 landed on her, Purple stood up, walked to the couch, wrapped herself in a blanket, and laid down face-down. "I am finished."
Nicholas yelled after her, "PURPLE COME BACK, WE'RE NOT DONE TRAUMATIZING YOU!"
She gave a weak thumbs-up from the couch, then went still.
It came down to: Jade, Blaze, Mira, and Zayn.
Deadly silence. Zayn placed a yellow 7. Mira placed a yellow 1. Blaze placed a +2.
Jade placed a +2. Blaze screeched, "JADE??"
Jade smiled sweetly. "We're equals, right?"
Mira placed a Reverse. Zayn placed a red 0.
UNO.
The room screamed. Blaze threw another +4. Zayn calmly placed his last card.
"Game."
The table exploded into noise.
"No. NO. NO HE DID NOT." "CHECK THE CARD. I WANT TO SEE THE CARD." "He rigged the deck." "He breathes like a winner. I hate it." "He didn't even blink. Disgusting."
Purple peeked from the couch, half-asleep. "…who won?"
Nicholas pointed dramatically at Zayn. "That man is a menace."
Purple mumbled, "Wake me when the violence stops…" And promptly fell asleep again.
…..
The moment the door of Practice Room 2 slid open, Zayn and Mira practically burst inside like they'd been launched.
The speakers hadn't even connected yet and Mira was already stretching her legs over her head.
Zayn dropped their water bottles on the floor and clapped sharply.
"Alright, partner. We're not getting sixth again."
"That was horrifying," Mira said dramatically as she flopped into a split. "My ancestors felt that ranking. I felt personally attacked."
"You were the one who insisted we add that jump-spin-backflip-thing—"
Mira pointed at him like he had insulted her entire bloodline.
"It would have worked if you didn't almost kick the judge."
Zayn blinked.
"I WAS THE ONE WHO ALMOST GOT KICKED!"
Mira paused.
"…okay fine. But still. We're redeeming ourselves today."
He shot her a look but couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips.
"Okay, idea," Mira said breathlessly. "We start back-to-back. Then BOOM—spin, drop, attack the beat."
"Attack the beat?" Zayn blinked. "What does that even mean?"
"Like— attack it! Pow-pow-pow!"
Zayn laughed. "Explain like I'm not psychic."
She huffed, grabbed his hands, and physically moved him into place.
"No—lean forward—more—YES. Okay now imagine you're fighting the beat with your entire soul."
"…so dance aggressively?"
"YES."
They tried it.
Zayn almost headbutted her on the spin. Mira stumbled and crashed into the mirror.
They both froze.
"Again," Mira said. "Again," Zayn echoed.
back in the house…
Purple walked into the kitchen, humming as she grabbed a cup, only to freeze.
The zinc was full. Water still running. Dishes half-soaked. A mess she definitely didn't make.
Before she could speak, Zhihao appeared behind her like a shadow.
"There you are," he said, arms crossed. "You left the water running again."
Purple turned slowly.
"…again?"
"Yes. You should be more careful. You waste water. It's irresponsible."
Something inside Purple snapped a little.
"I didn't leave it running," she said, voice controlled.
Zhihao gave a tiny shrug—the type that meant he didn't believe her.
"But you were the last one in the kitchen."
"No, I wasn't. Nicholas was making tea."
Nicholas, passing by with a biscuit, waved.
"Thanks for exposing me—wait, I turned the water OFF!"
Zhihao's tone sharpened.
"Well, someone left it on. And Purple, you're the only one who always rushes."
Purple's eye twitched.
"I said I didn't do it."
"You don't have to get defensive."
"YOU ARE ACCUSING ME!"
"I'm pointing out a pattern."
"What pattern?!" she barked, stepping closer.
Zhihao blinked, surprised at her volume.
"You're inconsistent. You forget things. Maybe you didn't notice—"
"STOP TALKING LIKE YOU KNOW ME!"
Her voice cracked like thunder.
The room fell silent.
One by one, duos peeked in.
Storm froze mid-stretch.
Efua's eyes widened.
Mira whispered, "Holy—she's LOUD?"
Purple wasn't done.
"You always think you're right!" she shouted, hands shaking. "You act like every tiny thing is an equation and everyone else is wrong!"
Zhihao opened his mouth—she cut him off.
"And don't EVER imply I'm careless! You don't know anything about me! Nothing!"
Silence.
Then Zhihao, still calm but clearly startled, said quietly,
"I didn't realize you'd react like this."
Purple's chest heaved. She looked around—the stunned faces, the confusion, the fear—and suddenly her anger turned into silence
Deji finally moved, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Purple, breathe," he murmured softly.
Some duos exchanged glances.
Theo whispered, "She's got a short fuse."
Aria nodded. "No wonder she tries so hard to stay calm."
Raye whispered, "She bottles everything."
Meanwhile, Zhihao stared at her, genuinely shaken. He had never seen her like this.
Purple wiped her face quickly—not crying, but about to…she hated this side of hers
"I didn't leave the water running," she said again, quieter now, but firm, steady. "Next time, ask before you blame me."
And she walked out.
Nicholas leaned toward Zhihao.
"Damn, man. You unlocked level two of Purple and almost died."
Zhihao didn't answer. He just stood there processing—quietly, intensely, almost guilty.
Purple had stormed out of the kitchen, furious, disappearing down the hallway before anyone could stop her. Zhihao stood there stiffly, equally irritated, Nicholas rubbing his temples like he just watched a bomb explode.
The house was frozen in awkward silence.
Then—
Raye came SPRINTING into the kitchen, sliding across the floor in socks like her life depended on it.
"GUYS—WAIT—STOP—STOP EVERYTHING!"
Nicholas jumped.
Theo almost dropped his mug.
Zhihao blinked like someone shook him awake.
Raye gasped out her words:
"EFUA LEFT—THE WATER—ON!"
Everyone stared.
Dead silence.
From the hallway, Efua's voice shot back:
"HUH?! I DID WHAT?!"
Raye pointed at the sink dramatically, as if revealing the murderer.
"You filled your bottle earlier with that tiny funnel thing—then Malik called you about your lip balm—AND YOU RAN OUT. You left the tap running!"
Malik popped in behind her, nodding.
"She did. I was there."
Efua appeared in the doorway, bonnet crooked, eyes wide.
"…oh."
"Oh?" Nicholas repeated. "OH?"
Efua lifted her hands in surrender.
"My bad. That was totally me."
Jun started laughing.
Lennox slapped the counter.
Storm wheezed, "Zhihao… you accused Purple???"
Zhihao stiffened, horror dawning in real time.
"I… accused the wrong person," he muttered.
"NO SH*T," Nicholas said.
Theo elbowed him.
"Bro. She's not even HERE to defend herself."
Raye nodded dramatically.
"Exactly! That's why I RAN. Purple was stomping down the hall like she was about to summon lightning."
Malik added gently,
"She looked… very, very angry."
Efua winced.
"Oh she's definitely mad at you, Zhihao."
Zhihao looked down, guilt hitting him late and hard.
"I have to apologize," he said stiffly.
Aria leaned forward.
"With FEELING. Or she'll never forget it."
Storm nodded.
"Yeah. Purple strikes me as the type to forgive but NEVER forget."
Nicholas:
"Bro's about to enter his villain arc."
Zhihao groaned, rubbing his face.
"Why is this house like this on DAY TWO."
Indigo and Thira exchanged a look as the noise in the kitchen died down.
"…should we go check on her?" Thira whispered.
Indigo sighed. "If we don't, Deji will, and he'll probably just hype her up into punching Zhihao."
"Good point."
They headed down the hallway, following the faint sound of footsteps—sharp, fast, back-and-forth—like someone burning a hole into the floor.
Thira gently knocked on Purple and Deji's door.
"Purple? Can we come in?"
No answer.
Just the pacing.
Indigo slowly pushed the door open.
Purple was in the middle of the room, moving like a metronome—five steps left, five steps right—muttering under her breath:
"One… two… three… four… five… breathe. One… two… three… four… five…"
Thira's heart actually squeezed.
"Purple…?" she said softly.
Purple froze, shoulders tense, braid whipping slightly as she turned. Her eyes were bright, frustrated, and too shiny for someone trying to look composed.
"I didn't leave the tap on," she said instantly, voice tight. "I know I didn't. I'm not— I don't do that. I check things. I always check things."
Indigo raised both hands. "We know. We know, babe. No one thinks you're messy."
Purple exhaled sharply through her nose like she was still trying very hard not to explode.
"I don't like shouting," she muttered. "I don't like getting angry. It makes… everything feel too loud."
She went back to pacing.
Thira stepped in front of her, placing gentle hands on Purple's arms to stop her.
"Hey. It wasn't your fault. Raye figured it out. Efua left it on."
Purple blinked.
Twice.
"…Efua?" she repeated.
"Yep."
Purple stared at them blankly… then groaned into her hands.
"Oh my God."
Indigo smiled softly. "Zhihao is feeling like the guiltiest human alive right now."
Thira laughed under her breath. "He looks like he's rehearsing a formal apology speech."
Purple lowered her hands slowly.
"…good."
Thira snorted.
"There she is."
Purple huffed, but her lips twitched—just a little.
Indigo wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Come on. We'll walk with you. You don't have to talk to him alone."
Purple nodded, taking one last grounding breath.
"One… two… three… okay."
She followed them out of the room—still quiet, still tense, but calmer.
And definitely ready to hear Zhihao apologize…
Zhihao was pacing in the living room like he was preparing for a United Nations address.
Hands behind his back, deep sighs, rehearsing lines under his breath.
Nicholas, sprawled across the couch eating leftover puff-puff, watched him with far too much amusement.
"Bro," he said, mouth full, "just say 'sorry.' Not 'distinguished Purple, I humbly—'"
"I want to be thorough," Zhihao snapped, smoothing his shirt even though it wasn't wrinkled. "She looked like she was about to fold me like laundry."
malik burst out laughing.
"She was. And honestly? You deserved it."
Before Zhihao could retort, the others turned at the sound of footsteps.
Indigo and Thira walked into the living room first.
Purple followed behind them—calm, but with that slow, controlled expression people only have when they're trying to stay zen.
Zhihao perked up like a guilty meerkat.
"Oh—Purple! I—uh—hello—good evening—well, it's not evening—sorry—"
Nicholas coughed violently trying not to laugh.
Purple raised one eyebrow. "Zhihao."
He straightened like he was facing a military inspection.
"I am deeply, sincerely, profoundly—"
"Bruh." Efua appeared out of nowhere, arms crossed. "If you don't get to the point—"
Zhihao glared at her. "I AM APOLOGIZING."
"Yeah, but you're apologizing like you're accepting a Grammy."
Zhihao swallowed hard.
"I'm sorry," he said finally. "I accused you without checking. I jumped to conclusions. And I shouldn't have. I was wrong."
Purple stared at him for a beat.
"…Thank you."
Nicholas clapped dramatically. "WELL DONE, EVERYONE. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!"
"Shut up," Zhihao muttered.
Efua shook her head.
"And for the record, I'm the one who left the tap running. I was rushing to take a phone call. My bad."
The room went silent.
Zhihao blinked at her slowly.
"You—WHAT?"
Efua shrugged unapologetically. "Oops?"
Nicholas howled.
"NAH. ZHIHAO YOU FOUGHT A WHOLE NIGERIAN GIRL OVER TAP WATER SHE DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH."
Purple snorted—actually snorted—then covered her mouth so she wouldn't laugh out loud.
Zhihao groaned into his palms. "I hate this house."
Indigo patted his back sympathetically.
"No you don't."
Thira nodded. "You love us."
Efua grinned. "And Purple didn't punch you, so today is a blessed day."
Purple threw a pillow at her.
The tension finally melted into laughter—and Zhihao, still mortified, slumped onto the couch beside Nicholas, who patted his head like a Golden Retriever that failed puppy training.