Right don't forget be writing your 'tweets' for the twitter challenge.

Up on the sundeck, Leah sat cross-legged with Serena, Nicole, and Alexandra, each of them nursing a drink, their makeup slightly faded, their laughter softer now.

Leah exhaled deeply, staring at the sky for a moment before glancing at the others. "Guys," she said, "I think I did too much."

Serena raised a brow, leaning back on her elbows. "Too much?"

"Like... overly too much." Leah's tone was half amused, half frustrated.

Alexandra tilted her head. "What happened?"

Leah covered her face with her hands for a second, groaning softly before letting it spill. "I made out with Ignacio. Like fully made out. Multiple times. And now we've agreed to share a bed tonight."

Alexandra widened her eyes. "Wait... you're sharing a bed?"

"I know!" Leah said, exasperated. "That's what I'm saying. I was part of the girls sleeping outside. I literally said it first! And now I'm betraying it like twelve hours in."

Serena raised her cup. "To broken promises and bad decisions."

COMFESSIONAL

"To be honest I think it's brave of Leah to be willing to explore other connections in Casa Amor, her and Miguel are still early so she's has the right to."

They all chuckled, but Leah's laugh quickly faded. "No, but seriously," she continued, her voice quieter now, "when we were kissing... I thought about Miguel the whole time."

Nicole sat up straighter, her expression shifting. "Oh. That might be a little bit fucked."

Leah groaned again. "I know. It's like... Ignacio's sweet. He's funny, he's charming, and he's been all about me since I walked into the villa. But the entire time we were kissing, all I could think about was Miguel. Like every time he'd touch me, it was like my brain just... filled with images of Miguel doing the same. It wasn't even intentional."

Alexandra looked at her gently. "So... you're not really over Miguel?"

Leah let out a breath. "That's the thing. I don't know. I didn't even realize I liked him that much until I got here. But now that I've actually, like, explored something with someone else, it's so clear how deep that connection with Miguel actually went."

Serena hummed. "You think this is like... regret?"

"Maybe. Or maybe just guilt. Or confusion." Leah shook her head. "I feel stupid as fuck, though. Because I really was trying to move on. I was hyping myself up new opportunities, fresh start, but the moment it got even a little serious, I was right back in my head with Miguel."

Nicole frowned. "Do you think Miguel's even being loyal over there?"

Leah shrugged, picking at the edge of the cushion. "I don't know. I told myself I'd be open, and then when I actually did it, I felt like I cheated on someone I've just coupled with, who's probably doing the same."

"You're not the only one who's torn up," Alexandra said, her voice soft. "It's like every time I laugh or flirt, I'm thinking about Louis. And I want to be present, but I keep replaying everything in my head. Every cuddly night. Every deep talk. Wondering if he's doing the same or if he's moved on already."

Serena sighed, leaning forward. "It's like we're all living in two places at once. Here, physically. But mentally? We're wondering if our guys are messing up or missing us."

COMFESSIONAL

"Me and my girls are dying in this villa not knowing anything, these men better be on their bestest behaviours right now."

Leah leaned her head on Serena's shoulder. "Do you think I messed things up too badly with Miguel?"

Nicole tilted her head. "I don't think anything's ruined yet. It's Casa Amor. It's meant to test you. But maybe it's not about the kiss or the bed-sharing. Maybe it's about why you did it. If your reason was to numb something or prove something to yourself... that's something you can still explain."

Leah looked at her. "You think he'd even want to hear that?"

"I don't know," Nicole admitted. "But if he does still care about you the way you clearly care about him... then yeah. He'd want to hear it."

Leah gave a faint smile. "Thanks, guys."

Louis was sat at the edge of one of the beds, arms folded, quietly observing. Rob and Kendall were already sprawled out on the mattresses, lazily chatting. Aaron stood nearby, bouncing a bottle of water between his hands.

Kordell walked in, rubbing the back of his neck, a long sigh escaping from him before he even reached the group. His face looked tense, like someone battling with his own thoughts. Kendall was the first to notice.

"Kordell," Kendall called out, sitting up a little straighter. "You good, man?"

Kordell let out another sigh, slower this time. "I'm fucked."

The guys all turned to face him, confusion etched across their faces.

"What do you mean 'fucked'?" Rob asked, eyes narrowing. "What happened?"

Kordell didn't answer right away. He just stood there for a moment, the weight of whatever he was holding clearly pressing on him. Then Kendall leaned forward with a sly grin.

"Don't tell me you made out with Daia."

Kordell dropped his head with a groan.

COMFESSIONAL

"Kordell......yeah he's pretty fucked I don't know what else to say."

Rob's jaw dropped. "You're serious?"

"I wasn't even trying to," Kordell said, pacing a few steps before plopping down beside the bed. "It just... happened. I literally asked her if she had chapstick."

Louis smiled, shaking his head. "That's a classic one."

COMFESSIONAL

"Im not sure who has more game Daia or Kordell....but shit get it I guess."

Kordell held his hands up defensively. "I swear, I actually needed it! My lips were dry as hell, I wasn't thinking anything of it. Then she starts talking all smooth, saying she can 'share her gloss.' Next thing I know, she's leaning in."

"And you leaned back?" Aaron asked, one brow raised.

"I thought it was gonna be a little peck, bro," Kordell groaned. "Next thing I know, we're full-on making out. Like, full-on. Hands, lips, the works. And the whole time I'm thinking, 'What the hell am I doing?'"

Kendall laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, don't come in here all upset and dragging your feet. You should be pumped. You're doing everything right, testing the waters, figuring things out."

COMFESSIONAL

"I'm starting to believe Kendall has ulterior motives here, why are you encouraging guys to explore other connections when you're not doing the same?"

Louis gave Kendall a sharp look. "You think kissing someone when your head's still with someone else is the right move?"

Kendall shrugged. "It's Casa, bro."

Louis didn't smile. "Yeah, but real feelings don't just disappear because we're in a different house."

Rob chimed in. "Exactly. This isn't just a game anymore for some of you."

Kordell nodded slowly, the grin fading from Kendall's face as the tone shifted.

"I don't even know why I let it happen," Kordell muttered. "It felt off the second it started. I swear, I thought about Serena the whole time. It didn't feel right."

Louis leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Then ask yourself this, how would you feel if Serena was over there doing the same thing? Kissing someone else, getting caught up in the moment, forgetting about you?"

Kordell didn't say anything at first. His fingers fidgeted with the ring on his finger, a small item Serena had given him.

"Would you be okay with it?" Louis pressed gently. "Would you just brush it off?"

Kordell shook his head. "No. I'd lose my mind. I'd be pissed."

"Then you have your answer," Louis said quietly. "You have something real with her. Don't mess it up because of a few wild nights."

Aaron stepped in, his voice more relaxed but serious. "I agree. Don't kiss her again tonight. Daia's cool, but this path only leads one way, and it's messy. You go in deeper, and you'll end up confusing the hell out of yourself."

Kordell sighed again, but this time it was less heavy. More like relief.

"I'm not kissing Daia tonight," he said firmly. "I don't want to. I just got caught up."

The sound of drawers opening, makeup bags being zipped shut, and skincare routines tapping against the mirrors filled the space. Leah sat in front of her vanity, half-heartedly patting moisturizer onto her cheeks, her leg bouncing restlessly. She looked up at her reflection, then glanced around at the other girls before finally speaking up.

"I'm literally getting anxiety just thinking about Miguel," she muttered.

The comment caught the attention of the room. Nicole gave her a sympathetic look while brushing through her hair, and Serena glanced at her through the mirror. But it was Alexandra who turned toward Leah fully, her face already clean of makeup, her bun sitting messily on top of her head.

"Lee," Alexandra said gently, "you've got to stop doing that to yourself. Just... breathe, okay?"

Leah let out a soft groan, dropping her head into her hands. "It's just like, I know what I did. I made out with Ignacio. I agreed to sleep in the bed with him. And it felt good, I won't lie. But every time I start to settle into it, Miguel pops into my head and I feel like shit."

"You're human," Alexandra said calmly, turning back to her vanity to finish tying her scarf. "You're allowed to feel something for someone else. But if you're stressing yourself out this much, maybe that's your answer."

Serena piped in, voice gentle but firm. "You can like someone and still be figuring out your feelings for someone else. You don't have to choose tonight."

Leah sighed again, slower this time. "But I feel like I should. Like, what if Miguel is staying loyal over there? What if he's sleeping outside, just like we agreed? And here I am acting like that meant nothing."

Alexandra stood up and walked over to Leah, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Look, you need to just do you. Go with the flow, but do it right. Don't do stuff just because you're scared or confused. Do it because it's what you want, because it feels right, not because you think you're supposed to."

Leah nodded, biting the inside of her cheek. "Yeah... yeah, you're right."

Across the room, Kaylor was quietly slipping on her hoodie, eyes a little puffy from earlier but her demeanor calmer. She hadn't said much since they left the sundeck, but she gave Leah a small nod of encouragement.

As the last of the girls finished their skincare and changed into their pajamas, the atmosphere softened. A few of them started heading toward the bedroom, but Alexandra, Serena, and Kaylor shared a glance, then silently grabbed their pillows and walked toward the sliding doors.

The cool night air hit them as they stepped outside, the villa glowing softly behind them. They made their way to the sunken lounge space, throwing down extra blankets and fluffing up the cushions. Kaylor settled into her corner first, curling up into a soft ball. Alexandra stretched out beside her, arms crossed under her head as she gazed up at the stars.

Serena stood for a moment before sitting down, her hands still fidgeting in her lap. Her thoughts were clearly somewhere else, probably with Kordell but she didn't say anything. She just sighed, letting the quiet settle over them like a weighted blanket.

"You good?" Alexandra asked her after a while.

Serena nodded slowly. "Yeah. I just... I don't want to think about what they're doing over there. I just want to trust him."

"Then trust him," Kaylor murmured from her spot. "Or at least trust yourself enough to know you'll figure it out."

Morning arrived slowly in the main villa, with sunlight trickling through the sheer curtains and birds chirping softly in the distance. In Soul Ties, the girls stirred under the woven blankets, each lost in their thoughts.

Alexandra was the first to fully wake, though she didn't move right away. She lay perfectly still, eyes locked on the sky above her, letting the weight of the past 24 hours settle in her chest. It had been a lot, too much, even.

COMFESSIONAL

"Now that I've gone to sleep and woken up it's when it actually hit me that Louis is in a whole other villa with a bunch of unknown girls. I don't know if I want him back or for him to just keep his ass there because right now my reaction depends on how I'm feeling."

Beside her, Kaylor groaned softly as she shifted in her blanket. "Aaron better have slept outside," she muttered, rubbing her eyes and sitting up slowly. "Because I don't know how I'm gonna react if he didn't."

Serena stretched and yawned, eyes puffy with sleep but her expression unreadable. No one said anything else right away, they all just sat in the early morning silence, listening to the stillness of the villa before it properly woke up.

Eventually, they got up and made their way toward the dressing room. The air inside was cooler, and the familiar scent of body mists, cleansers, and morning skincare filled the space.

Alexandra took her usual spot at the vanity, sitting between Leah and Jana. She clipped her hair back and started on her usual routine trying to keep her hands busy while her mind still wandered to Louis and the unknown of what he was doing right now.

"So," Jana began with a mischievous smirk, "Josiah was whispering to me all night."

Alexandra paused and looked at her through the mirror, eyes lighting up. "Not y'all two pillow talking already!"

Leah giggled, dabbing concealer under her eyes. "Girl, I looked over at one point and thought you were kissing."

Jana's eyes widened. "Kissing?! No! I had a pillow wall between us!"

Alexandra laughed. "That's the villa version of a chastity belt."

The girls continued their banter, voices filling the room with warmth and laughter that almost made them forget the stress and mind games swirling in the background.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the dressing room door. Everyone turned, curious, as it opened to reveal Jacobi, holding a breakfast tray with a little grin on his face. He walked over to Jana and set the tray down carefully in front of her.

"Morning," he said with a soft smile before walking out again.

The room burst into soft giggles and "awws."

As soon as the door shut behind him, Alexandra turned to Jana with a knowing smirk. "You're making up for the lack of romance you had before Kenny came, huh?"

Jana smiled, cheeks flushing slightly. "Jacobi's different. I don't know... it's like he's actually trying."

Leah nodded, curling her lashes. "He's sweet. Not like... performative sweet, just quietly intentional."

There was another knock, this one softer. The door opened and in walked Matheus, holding a plate of golden French toast and a glass of fresh orange juice. His eyes searched the room briefly before settling on Alexandra. Without a word, he walked over and handed the plate to her.

"Thank you," she said softly, smiling as she stood to give him a quick hug.

He hummed in acknowledgment, the quiet sound low and intimate. Then, in Portuguese, she added, "A gente conversa depois, tá?" (We'll talk later, okay?)

He nodded, gave her one last look, and exited the room just as calmly as he'd entered.

The moment hung in the air for a beat before Leah turned, narrowing her eyes. "Okay. Now what was that about?"

Alexandra smiled softly. "We just understand each other. I don't know what it is."

Leah raised a brow. "Mm-hmm. That man brought you French toast and orange juice. In this villa, that's marriage."

Alexandra laughed, picking up her fork. "Let me eat my breakfast in peace, please."

The energy shifted again as they all continued their routines. Leah, though, seemed a little more withdrawn.

"You okay?" Serena asked gently.

Leah sighed. "I definitely miss Miguel."

The girls all let out a collective "aww," but before they could drown her in sympathy, she raised a hand. "Don't. Please don't. I just know he's fucking me over right now. I feel it."

Nicole leaned forward, applying gloss. "Still... I think it's telling. Like, we all keep saying we don't care or that we're gonna do us, but somehow we all still miss the boys."

Liv, who had just entered with her robe draped lazily around her shoulders, chimed in as she reached for her hairbrush. "Even if the boys bring a girl back, it's not gonna last. You know why? Because it's shiny new girl syndrome. They're like magpies. Give them a sparkle and they'll lose all sense."

"Period," Nicole added.

Alexandra nodded slowly as she sliced into her French toast. "Temporary infatuation. Not the same as actual connection."

COMFESSIONAL

"Temporary or not we're not just gonna sit there and wait for the boys to realise their true feelings, so I hope they're spending their time wisely."

Leah still looked unsure, but she seemed to take some comfort in knowing the other girls weren't floating through this unbothered. "It just sucks," she said. "Like... I let someone in, and now I feel like I'm being punished for it."

"You're not," Kaylor said from across the room, adjusting her ponytail. "You're human. And if he's doing right by you, it'll all make sense when you see him again."

"If he's not," Alexandra added gently, "then you'll move on, because he'll have shown you who he is."

Leah nodded, letting those words sink in.

Nicole glanced at Kaylor through the mirror, watching as she slowly tied her hair back into a loose ponytail, her movements slower than usual, almost absentminded. The tension in her shoulders was obvious.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Nicole asked gently, her voice low enough that it felt like just the two of them despite the other girls chatting nearby.

Kaylor didn't answer immediately. She just stared at her reflection, lashes lowered, like she was debating whether to speak or swallow it all down. Eventually, she let out a tired sigh.

"I didn't wake up to Aaron," she said, her voice dry, not angry, just... flat. "So, not that good."

Nicole didn't press her, waiting patiently.

Kaylor leaned forward, adjusting the neckline of her top. "I don't know. It's like, all I keep thinking about is what he's doing. Is he sharing a bed with someone else? Is he... smiling at her the way he used to smile at me? Making her coffee and pancakes in the morning? Kissing her goodnight?"

She trailed off, biting the inside of her cheek.

Liv reached over, gently placing a hand on Kaylor's back. "It's okay to wonder. It means you cared."

Kaylor nodded slowly. "I feel more than just liking him. Way more. It wasn't supposed to be that deep, but it happened so quickly, and now I can't switch it off."

She reached for her mascara but held it mid-air, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

"And the worst part is, I know I have to be open to whatever happens," she said. "He chose to leave. He chose to see what else was out there. I have to respect that, even if it kills me a little bit."

Jana gave her a soft look. "Just because he chose to explore doesn't mean what you had didn't mean something."

"I know," Kaylor said. "But in here, everything feels so heightened. Like, if someone even breathes in your direction, you start questioning everything. And now that he's gone, it's like... I'm constantly on edge."

She rubbed her temples, clearly overwhelmed.

A few moments passed as Kaylor applied her mascara and moved on to her lip liner.

"I just... I keep picturing him waking up next to someone else," she said quietly. "Like, I know it's a game and all, but it hurts. Because I was all in. Even when he was being hot and cold, I still wanted him."

Alexandra leaned in a little. "And that's valid. Don't beat yourself up for loving hard."

Kaylor nodded, blinking back emotion. "I guess I just wish he had stayed. I wish I was enough."

Serena turned in her chair, facing her fully. "Hey. You are enough. Him leaving doesn't change that. And if he forgets that for even a second, then that's on him."

Kaylor looked at the, tears forming at the edges of her eyes but not falling. "Thanks, guys. Seriously."

As they finish getting ready, Alexandra, Leah, and Jana quietly make their way outside and head straight to the Soul Ties corner. The sun was already creeping higher in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the villa, but the air between them felt heavy. Silent. Intimate.

They sink into the cushions, exhausted in a way that had nothing to do with sleep. Alexandra stretches out and lays her head gently on Leah's lap, closing her eyes. Jana curls up beside them, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the little jewel in Alexandra's belly button. The silence lingers for a while, none of them in a rush to speak. It was the kind of quiet that spoke volumes.

Leah eventually breaks it. "How are you feeling without Louis?"

Alexandra doesn't answer right away. Her brows furrow slightly, and her lips press into a thin line. She's thinking, feeling, spiraling a little as the weight of the question settles over her. Finally, she opens her eyes and stares up at the sky.

"It's exhausting," she admits softly. "Every second of the day, I'm thinking about him. Wondering what he's doing. If he's with someone else. If he's sharing a bed with another girl. If he's... cuddling. Whispering things. Laughing the way he laughed with me."

Her voice starts to crack as she continues, "And it's not even just that. It's the thought of him doing all the things we did together... but with someone else. Someone he barely knows. Like none of it meant anything. Like I didn't mean anything."

Jana shakes her head gently. "I just don't think Louis would do that. Not after everything you two have built. He's not the type."

Alexandra lets out a quiet, tired laugh, but there's no humor in it. "It's easy for you guys to say that. Because it's all hope. It's wishful thinking. I've seen Louis when all he had to do was just not get intimate with someone, and even then, he slipped. I'm not saying he's a bad person, I just... I know him. I've seen what temptation does to him."

A silence follows her words, heavy and heart-wrenching. The kind of silence that comes when someone's trying to hold it together but doesn't know how much longer they can.

Her voice trembles now, eyes glistening as she turns her head into Leah's lap to hide the tears starting to pool. "I hate this. I hate that I can't see what he's doing. I hate that I'm not there to keep him in check or even just look at him and know he's still mine. And the worst part is... I keep thinking, what if he just thought, 'fuck it'? What if he decided to do everything he's been holding himself back from doing because I'm not there to watch him?"

COMFESSIONAL

"Being with Louis has always been so easy and something that happened in the moment that I never really thought of what it would be like to not be with him. But now I'm not with him and he's with a bunch of other girls that are here to enter the villa, it's just weird not knowing what he's doing."

Leah, now teary-eyed herself, reaches down to stroke Alexandra's hair. "Alex, listen to me. Louis has been tunnel vision for you since day one. He's not even looked in another girl's direction. He's never flirted, never crossed a line. He wouldn't just throw it all away in a few days. You know that."

Alexandra lets out a shaky breath. "But that was when I was there. That was when I was beside him every night. Now? I don't know what's going through his head. I don't know what people are telling him. I don't know if someone's trying to turn his head or make him feel like what we have is just part of the game."

Jana scoots closer, wrapping an arm around Alexandra's waist. "He's not stupid, Alex. He knows the difference between something real and something that's just... convenient. You're not a placeholder. You're the one he chose."

"Exactly," Leah adds. "And you saw the way he looked at you, how he treated you, he was in deep. That kind of connection doesn't go away just because you're not physically next to him."

Alexandra wipes her eyes but doesn't say anything for a moment. Her hands rest on her stomach, fingers tapping nervously.

"I want to believe that," she whispers. "I really, really do. But I'm so scared that I'm going to wake up one day, and he's going to come walking through that door with another girl's hand in his. Smiling. Laughing. Like I'm just a memory."

"No," Jana says firmly. "You need to stop letting fear write your story. You and Louis have something real. That doesn't just disappear. He wouldn't disrespect you like that."

Leah nods, her voice more grounded now. "And if he does, that says everything about him and nothing about you. You've done nothing wrong. You've been loyal, open, real."

Alexandra sniffs and nods slowly. "It's just hard. Hard to like someone so much and have no idea what's going on in their world."

They sit there for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, the morning breeze rustling softly around them. Despite the ache in their hearts, they find a strange sort of peace in that moment, three girls trying to survive something that feels so much bigger than just a game.

"Do you think they're missing us?" Alexandra finally asks.

Leah smiles sadly. "If they're not, they're stupid."

Jana laughs through her nose. "And if they are, they're suffering just as much as we are."

Alexandra chuckles, her body relaxing just a little more. "Good."

COMFESSIONAL

"I just hope the girls are right, it's  easy to just be like think positive but how can we think positive when we know nothing. I am however gonna try my best, whatever that means."

Later in the afternoon, the villa had slowed down into that quiet lull between conversations and confessions.

The sun deck was empty, kissed by soft golden light. By the fire pit, Matheus was chatting with George and Leah, his posture relaxed, one leg stretched across the bench.

Alexandra walked over, her eyes landing on him like muscle memory. "Hey," she said gently. "Wanna go talk?"

He looked up, immediately catching the shift in her tone. "Yeah, of course." He stood without hesitation, giving George a quick pat on the shoulder before falling into step beside her.

They didn't talk at first. They didn't have to.

The sound of the villa faded behind them, and the moment they reached the cushions, Alexandra dropped down with a sigh.

"You know," she said, pulling her knees to her chest, "your French toast this morning was actually fire."

Matheus settled beside her, leaning back on his palms. "Yeah? Thought it was a bit dry."

"Nope," she shook her head. "I think it's just been a while since I had something that felt... familiar."

He nodded once, eyes on the sky. "I'd make it more often, but I'm trying not to give you a sugar addiction."

She cracked a smile. "You should at least promise to make it on my birthday, if you're still here."

He didn't answer right away. Just gave a soft sound, a thoughtful little "mmm," that wasn't really a no, but also wasn't a yes. She didn't press. She knew him too well.

They sat quietly again, the breeze nudging their skin and the scent of salt clinging faintly in the air.

Then they looked at each other at the same time and both let out a small laugh, barely more than breath, but enough to make them break eye contact and smile to themselves.

"You good?" she asked after a beat.

He glanced sideways. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

She tilted her head. "I'm okay... I think."

Matheus gave her a knowing look. "Lex."

COMFESSIONAL

"If there's someone that knows me best in this villa it's Matheus, so I want to talk to him and get some advice as a friend and as a viewer of mine and Louis connection."

She sighed, the kind of sigh that carries too many thoughts. "It's just... weird, he's not here. Like, the space he left is everywhere. In the bed. At breakfast. Just walking around. I keep wondering what he's doing. If he's talking to another girl. If they're laughing. Sharing a bed."

She rubbed the back of her neck. "I know that's part of this whole thing. I know we signed up for it. But I can't stop my mind from going there."

Matheus was quiet for a moment, letting her have the space to let it out.

"I try to trust him," she continued. "And I want to. But it's so much harder now that I can't see what he's doing. Can't read his body language. Can't tell if he's pulling away or—" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "I'm scared that the moment I stopped being there, he just... let go."

Matheus shifted slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, voice low and calm. "You've always been good at protecting your heart. Even when you liked someone, it was always cautious. But with Louis, it was different. You let yourself feel it fully."

She nodded slowly. "I did. I didn't even realize how deep I was in until he wasn't next to me anymore."

Matheus looked at her, his voice gentle but sure. "Louis cares about you. I saw it every single day. He's not gonna throw that away just because there's less accountability."

"Maybe," she whispered. "But it's easier for everyone to say that because they want to believe the best. They're not the ones lying awake at night picturing someone else in my place."

He didn't argue. He didn't need to.

"The whole world has seen him slip before," she said quietly. "When it was easy to say no and he didn't. And now he's in a situation where temptation is practically encouraged."

Matheus looked at her, eyes soft. "I get it. I do. But I also think he's grown. And what you two had here? That wasn't surface level. It doesn't go away overnight."

She wrapped her arms around her knees. "I want to believe that."

"I think you already do," he said gently.

Matheus watched her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he were trying to read something behind her words. There was a silence that hung between them, not heavy, but thick with something unspoken. His gaze didn't move.

Then, in a voice lower than before, careful, he asked, "Lexa... você tá apaixonada por ele?"

Alexandra froze.

COMFESSIONAL

"Maybe he knows me a bit too much I'm kind of regretting this now."

Her hand stopped fussing with the strap of her sandal. Her shoulders stiffened, just enough for Matheus to catch. She didn't look at him.

He waited a beat. Two. But when she didn't answer, he just nodded slightly to himself, almost like he'd already expected her silence.

"I thought so," he murmured.

She finally looked over, eyes flickering with vulnerability.

"I wasn't gonna say it," she said softly.

COMFESSIONAL

" I feel like once you say it then it becomes real, and I don't know if I want this to be real yet."

Matheus offered a small shrug. "You didn't have to. I can see it all over you. It's in how you talk about him. How you look like someone took the air out of your lungs every time you bring up his name."

She gave a quiet laugh, almost sad. "Damn, don't psychoanalyze me, that's my job."

He smiled faintly. "I mean it, Lex. Louis likes you. A lot. Being away from you won't change that."

"But what if it does?" she asked, almost whispering.

Matheus turned slightly to face her more directly, one leg tucked under him. "You told him you believed he changed. That you trusted him. So why are you still holding his past over his head every time you're in doubt?"

Alexandra chewed on the inside of her cheek, eyes trained on a spot somewhere in the distance. She didn't answer right away.

"Eu sei," she muttered eventually. "I know I said that. And I meant it. I do trust him, but... it's just easier said than done."

"I get it," he said gently. "But you keep contradicting yourself. You say you trust him, and then say you're scared. And I'm not judging. That's normal. But you're scared of something deeper, Lex."

She finally turned to look at him again, eyebrows furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

Matheus gave a half-smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You're more scared of how much you feel for him than what he might be doing in Casa. That's what this really is."

Her throat bobbed with a swallow. "You think?"

"I know," he said, voice firmer now. "You hate not having control. And feelings like this? They're messy. Vulnerable. But that doesn't mean you made the wrong choice."

Alexandra lowered her head a bit, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face. "Do you think I trusted too early?" she asked quietly.

Matheus shook his head without hesitation. "No. I think you followed your gut. And the connection you two have? It's real. Too real for him to throw away over someone he just met for four days."

"Quatro dias," she repeated, almost like trying to convince herself. "That's not even a week."

"Exactly," he said. "Você acha que ele vai esquecer tudo isso por uma garota nova? Não vai acontecer, Lexa."

She closed her eyes for a moment. "I hope you're right."

He reached over and nudged her foot lightly with his. "I usually am."

She cracked a small smile. "You really haven't changed."

"Still wiser than you," he teased, just enough to make her laugh softly.

They lapsed into another pause, the kind that didn't need to be filled. The sun was lower now, casting long shadows across the deck. The sounds of the villa were distant background noise.

"I think what you're doing takes guts," he said suddenly. "Staying loyal in a place like this. It's easier to explore, to distract yourself. But you chose to be honest. And that says more than anything else."

Alexandra rested her chin on her knee. "I just don't want to look stupid. You know?"

"Você não é estúpida. You're brave."

"Brave would be not crying over a boy on national television," she muttered with a smirk.

"Nah," Matheus said, eyes warm. "Brave is letting yourself feel something real. Brave is trusting someone despite being scared. You're doing all of that."

She met his gaze again, this time longer.

"Thank you," she said. "For being here."

He smiled. "Always, Lexa. Sempre vou estar aqui pra você."

Her eyes shimmered a little, but she nodded. "I needed this more than I thought."

COMFESSIONAL

"Having a conversation with Matheus made me feel seen, he's someone that can tell how I'm feeling without me saying anything and I appreciate that I still have a friend in him with our history."

Later that evening, the girls were in full glam mode, scattered around the dressing room as they curled their lashes, touched up their makeup, and slipped into their outfits. Leah stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down her dress before turning slightly to look at the others. "I definitely miss Miguel," she admitted, her voice light but honest.

Jana, sitting cross-legged on the stool doing her eyeliner, looked up. "That's a good thing though."

Leah made a face, shaking her head dramatically. "It's a horrible thing. I've turned soft."

Alexandra burst out laughing from the other side of the room, where she was spritzing her perfume. "You've always been soft, babe. That's not new."

"I've been bamboozled by feelings," Leah muttered, making everyone giggle.

Once everyone was finished, the girls linked arms and made their way to the garden. The string lights twinkled above them, casting a golden glow over the grass. The boys were already gathered, lounging around the fire pit, looking up as the girls approached like they were arriving on a red carpet.

George stood up, clapping his hands together. "Alright, alright! Time for a toast!" he grinned, lifting his glass. "To good vibes, questionable decisions, and even worse dance moves. Let's make tonight memorable!"

They all raised their glasses with laughter and took a sip, the energy buzzing. Just as the chatter started to pick up, Alexandra's phone buzzed loudly against the table.

She picked it up, reading aloud as the message popped onto the screen. "'Islanders, tonight the villa and Casa Amor will go head to head in a game of Raunchy Races. #WhosOnTop #MovingQuickly.'"

The villa erupted in cheers, the energy shifting immediately.

"Oh it's on!" Kaylor shouted, already pulling off her heels.

"Bring your A-game, girls!" Leah added, tossing her hair dramatically.

Alexandra laughed, watching as the girls started stretching, slipping off their heels one by one. "Y'all are really acting like this is the Olympics," she said, amused, still very much in her heels.

Josiah jumped up from his seat and strode toward the center of the garden. "Okay, okay!" he called out. "I want you lot to be the fastest, freakiest, and the nastiest tonight! Let's win this!"

Cheers rang out again as everyone hyped each other up. Moments later, Garage's phone buzzed. He read the first task aloud: "Demonstrate your favourite sex position while kissing the shortest boy or girl of the opposite sex."

He sprinted toward Serena, surprising her by pulling her into a bent-over position, humping from the back as everyone screamed and hollered.

Alexandra gasped, covering her mouth with one hand. "Oh my god! I was not ready!" she laughed, shaking her head.

Moments later, a message popped up on someone's phone. "Casa won that round!"

"What?!" Villa voices chorused in confusion.

Next, Cane got a message: "Kiss an islander born in a foreign country." Without hesitation, he grabbed Liv by the waist and kissed her hard, dipping her backward like they were in a movie. The villa whooped and clapped.

A message chimed: "Villa won!"

Josiah was next "Bench press a blonde in the gym." He immediately grabbed Kaylor by the hand and rushed to the gym area, lifting her while she flexed dramatically.

"Casa won again!" the text read.

Groans erupted all around.

Then Leah's phone buzzed. She read it quickly: "Kiss the islander with the best tattoo."

"Oh, easy," she said confidently before jogging toward Josiah. She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around him as they kissed. Right before she kissed him, she said with a smirk, "Lay me down."

The way she said it had Alexandra bursting into laughter again. "Nah, not her being theatrical!"

They all laughed until another text announced: "Casa won!"

Alexandra's smile faded slightly, her thoughts drifting. Louis. He had the best tattoos in her opinion. Was he the one kissing someone else?

The game kept going but Alexandra was stuck in her head until her phone vibrated again. Her heart skipped when she saw her name and the next task: "Give a kiss to the two hottest islanders of your choice."

Gasps echoed around her.

"Oh, it's like that?" Matheus said, cocking an eyebrow at her.

She stood up slowly, smirking. "I mean... if they said it..."

With a dramatic flair, she walked over to Josiah first, placing her hands on his shoulders before climbing onto his lap. He gave her a surprised but playful look as she leaned in and kissed him passionately, the villa erupting into cheers.

"Okay then!" George shouted. "She didn't come to play!"

Alexandra stood back up, smoothing her dress and turning to Matheus. Without breaking eye contact, she walked over and gently lowered herself onto his lap, facing him. His hands instinctively went to her waist, their old familiarity kicking in effortlessly.

She gave him a softer, slower kiss, and his hand lightly brushed her back. For a second, it was like time paused, an echo of the past, of feelings unspoken but not forgotten. They pulled away, exchanging a quiet look, and Alexandra smiled before sliding off and returning to her seat.

The villa went wild, and another message popped up: "Casa won."

COMFESSIONAL

"That villa is overly freaked out. Louis....watch yourself."

"No way," Kaylor said in disbelief. "How?!"

Alexandra didn't say much. Her thoughts were still lingering on what just happened. The kiss with Josiah was fun, playful. But the kiss with Matheus... that one felt heavier. Maybe it was the history. Or maybe it was the quiet comfort of kissing someone who knew you in ways others didn't. Either way, she couldn't shake it.

The challenge had left the villa buzzing, laughter and whistles still echoing in the air as the girls made their way back into the dressing room.

They were all a little flushed from the excitement, their heels in hand, hair slightly windswept, and makeup smudged in various places. It was one of those post-adrenaline moments where energy lingered, but thoughts were beginning to settle.

Nicole flopped onto a stool, grabbing her setting spray. "Ugh, I'm a sore loser."

Leah snorted as she reached for her concealer. "Same. Especially after doing all that."

Alexandra sat down by the mirror, pulling out her lip gloss with a quiet sigh. "I don't even care that we lost, to be honest..." she murmured, twisting the cap slowly. "All I'm thinking about is... who did Louis kiss?"

The girls went quiet for a beat.

Kaylor, fixing her mascara with the steadiness of a pro, gave a light shrug. "I don't feel that bad, actually."

"Of course you don't," Serena laughed, rolling her eyes as she blotted her lipstick. "Cause every time you did something, we won."

Kaylor grinned unapologetically. "What can I say? I don't fold under pressure."

Jana, who was reapplying her blush, glanced up at the mirror. "I'm not gonna lie... us losing is what's making us second guess our couple."

There was a general murmur of agreement, no one said anything, but no one argued either.

Once they were all done, faces refreshed and spirits somewhat lifted, they made their way to the villa's upstairs balcony. The night was warm, with a soft breeze brushing against their skin. They settled into the large cushioned seats, the stars glittering faintly overhead. Jana stretched out first, laying her head on Alexandra's lap with a sigh.

Kaylor stood near the edge of the balcony, hands on the railing like she was about to deliver a TED Talk. "Alright, ladies. Enough with the sad vibes."

COMFESSIONAL

"Kaylor is giving us a motivational talk about this challenge....I repeat KAYLOR is giving us a motivational talk...."

Alexandra zoned out for a moment, letting the breeze kiss her cheek, her fingers absently playing with Jana's hair. Her thoughts drifted again to Louis. Was he laughing right now? Thinking of her? Or was he caught up in some other girl's smile?

Kaylor's voice slowly faded back into her awareness. "—we shouldn't even dwell on the boys like this," she was saying, confidently. "There's hot-ass men outside of this villa that would drop everything to talk to us. We're the prize!"

"Period," Serena said, clapping her hands together once.

Leah joined in, giving a slow clap. "We're really letting these boys give us wrinkles."

Alexandra chuckled half-heartedly, clapping along but still a little distracted.

Kaylor gave a dramatic curtsy before heading back downstairs, her motivational duties complete. That left the balcony quieter, more settled. Jana shifted slightly on Alexandra's lap, making herself more comfortable. The four of them stayed like that for a while, letting the silence stretch comfortably between them.

Eventually, Alexandra broke it. Her voice was soft, thoughtful. "How do you guys feel after the game?"

Serena sat up a little straighter. "I just wanna know what challenges Kordell did... and how hard he went when he did them."

The girls all nodded slowly in agreement.

Leah crossed her legs, her tone more serious now. "That's the thing, right? Like, it's not even about the fact that they did the challenge. Because we all did them too. We had to. But it's about how hard they went. The intention."

"Exactly," Alexandra said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Like, yeah, I kissed Josiah. I kissed Matheus. But it's not like I was kissing them with feelings. It was a challenge. It was fun."

"Yeah, but what if they didn't treat it like just a challenge?" Serena added.

Alexandra's brows furrowed a little. "That's what's messing with my head. Like... what if the girl Louis kissed wasn't random? What if it was someone he actually likes? Someone he's been connecting with?"

Leah sighed. "That's what's scary. We don't know what's happening over there. We're playing guessing games with our hearts on the line."

Jana hummed quietly. "It's the overthinking for me. I'm already imagining a whole storyline in my head and I have no proof."

The girls all laughed at that, the mood lightening again.

"But for real," Serena said, tucking her legs under her, "we all went into this thinking we'd stay loyal until we had a reason not to. But this challenge? It's messing with everyone's heads. Like... what's real and what's game?"

Alexandra rubbed her forehead. "I told Louis I trusted him. That I believed he changed. But now I'm here... thinking about every worst-case scenario."

COMFESSIONAL

"I'm starting to regret not hiding a camera in his eyes or on his hair, I need to do that asap."

Leah looked over gently. "You trusted him cause you felt something real. Don't let fear rewrite that."

"Yeah..." Alexandra trailed off. "But fear's loud, you know? Especially when there's silence from the other end."

They all fell into a thoughtful silence again.

Jana broke it with a groan. "We need snacks. This is too emotionally draining."

Alexandra smiled faintly. "And maybe tequila."

"Definitely tequila," Serena added.

Louis on the edge of the lounger near the pool, one foot tapping mindlessly against the tiles, the other planted firmly like he needed to ground himself. His jaw was tight, and his thoughts swam in circles, looping the same image over and over: Alexandra. Her laugh. The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled. Her nervous lip bite when she was thinking hard. And the way she looked at him before he left for Casa.

Amaia had been talking to him for the last five minutes. Her voice was sweet, even a little flirtatious, and she had been trying, really trying, to get him to open up. But Louis wasn't there. Not really. He offered nods, vague hums, a distracted "yeah" here and there, but his mind was far, far away from Casa Amor.

Eventually, she noticed.

Amaia tilted her head, studying his face with faint confusion. "Louis... are you even listening?"

He blinked. "Huh?"

"I asked if you thought the game tonight changed anything for you." She waited. "Between us?"

There was a pause.

Louis forced a polite smile, then looked down at his hands. "I... I'm sorry. I don't think I'm really in the right headspace right now."

COMFESSIONAL

"Amaia is a great girl but all I keep thinks about is lex and I'm not even in the slightest headspace to talk about anything else."

Amaia's lips pressed together in a thin line. "Right. Okay," she said, not unkindly but clearly disappointed. "I'll give you space." She got up, walking across the patio toward Destiny and Daniela, who were deep in conversation near the bar.

A beat of silence passed.

Then footsteps approached. Three pairs.

Miguel flopped down onto the lounger beside him with a drink in hand. "Bro," he said with a grin, "you looked like you were gonna combust during that challenge. What's going on with you?"

Kordell settled in on the arm of the chair. "Yeah, you've been mad quiet all night."

Kendall appeared a second later, standing behind the lounger with his usual confident smirk. "You were slick out there, though. Killed it in the challenge. The crowd went wild."

Louis didn't respond immediately. He glanced toward the fire pit, where some of the other boys were still joking about who had the best kiss or the dirtiest move. His stomach twisted.

"I'm fine," he said, voice low. "It's nothing."

Kendall clapped him on the shoulder. "Nah, man, don't do that. You were a beast tonight. Be proud. That's what the challenge is for, right?"

COMFESSIONAL

"Here goes Kendall again....talking about some be proud shit."

Louis looked at him with a sideways glance. "I'm not proud."

Kendall raised a brow. "You didn't even do anything that wild. You didn't break rules. It's just a game."

"That's the thing, though," Louis muttered. "It might be a game here, but it didn't feel like a game to me, and it might not feel like a game to Alexandra."

The boys exchanged looks.

He rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling hard. "The whole time during that challenge, I wasn't thinking about winning or losing. I wasn't thinking about Amaia. I was thinking about how Alexandra would feel watching it. Like, if she saw anything, even just me standing there laughing, would she start doubting me?"

Kordell spoke up, quieter now. "You think she kissed someone?"

Louis paused, then nodded once. "Of course. I mean... it was part of the challenge, right? But I just hope it didn't mean anything. Because it didn't mean anything for me. I didn't kiss anyone. I didn't touch anyone I didn't have to. I've barely even looked at the other girls. My head's not here."

Kendall crossed his arms, frowning slightly. "You're really in deep, huh?"

"I am," Louis said simply. "And I'm not gonna keep pretending I'm not."

He leaned back against the lounger, finally letting some of the frustration out. "I don't even want to keep talking to Amaia. She's nice, yeah. But there's no spark. No connection. Nothing compared to what I have with Alexandra. And I don't wanna lead her on, or make her think there's something here. That's not fair."

Miguel nodded. "So, what are you gonna do?"

"I'll talk to her in the morning," Louis said. "I'll be honest. I'm not here to mess about or create drama. I just want to go back and be with my girl. I want to walk back into that villa and prove that I was loyal. That I meant every word I said to her."

COMFESSIONAL

"I don't want to waste Amaia's time so it's best I let her know now so she can try build other connections."

There was a pause before Kendall gave him a nod. "Respect."

Kordell clapped him lightly on the chest. "Hope she stayed loyal too, bro."

Louis swallowed hard. "Even if she didn't... I just want to understand why. That's how much I care. I'm not here to play games. Not anymore."

Love Island S7 is taking it im sorry, im in love with Ace messy ass. And my BelledashA 💔 bless her. Get this Huda girl go my villa it's week one why you doing the most. Anyway how yall feeling about it.

Lowkey wanna write a book for the season 👀.....