The Game of Secret

C2: A Game of Distance

The soft rhythm of steady beathing filled the dimly lit room. Engfa stirred, her body warm beneath the covers, the weight of another presence beside her. For a split second, in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness, she forgot where she was. The world outside the game didn’t exist yet.

She blinked, her gaze adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. Lou was still curled up next to her, sleeping like a child, his face peaceful, mouth slightly open. His arm had somehow draped over his own chest in a dramatic fashion, as if he were a prince resting in an enchanted slumber.

Engfa exhaled, amused but mostly indifferent. 

Her eyes flickered across the room, to where Charlotte’s bed had been. Empty. Sheets slightly wrinkled but no longer occupied.

Where is she?

Slipping out of bed carefully so as not to wake Lou, she padded quietly toward the door and stepped into the hallway.

The scent of coffee hit her first, rich and familiar. Voices drifted from the kitchen, light and unhurried.

And then she saw her.

Charlotte sat at the kitchen counter, fully composed, dressed casually in a fitted T-shirt and joggers, her posture relaxed. She was deep in conversation with Alicia and Théo, a piece of toast in her hand as she listened intently to something Théo was saying.

Engfa, still half-asleep, let her body move on instinct.

She approached without thought, her legs carrying her toward Charlotte, the pull as natural as breathing. Before she even realized it, she was sliding into the seat next to her, comfortably close.

“Coffee,” she mumbled, voice still raspy with sleep.

For a moment, the table went quiet.

Charlotte, already sharp and alert, turned to Engfa with an unreadable expression. 

“I’m not your mom,” she said, her tone cold. “Serve yourself.”

Engfa, still in her foggy morning state, blinked in mild confusion. The words didn’t register immediately. Then, realization hit.

The game.

She was still waking up, but Charlotte was already in character . Already playing. Already pretending .

Engfa forced herself to recover, shifting in her seat as if nothing had happened. 

“Guess I’ll starve, then.”

Alicia chuckled, clearly entertained. “Oh, poor baby,” she cooed playfully. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” She stood, moving toward the coffee pot. “I’ll be your mommy this morning.”

Engfa snorted

Alicia smirked over her shoulder. 

Engfa stayed seated next to Charlotte, her body comfortable in its chosen place. Even as strangers , it wouldn’t have been weird to sit next to her, right? No one would question it.

But what did feel strange—what crawled under her skin—was the way Charlotte didn’t react to her presence at all.

No flicker of recognition. No subtle softness. Just smooth, unreadable composure.

Alicia returned, placing a cup of coffee in front of Engfa with a teasing flourish. “Here you go, babe,” she joked, shooting her a wink before sliding back into her seat.

Engfa played along, rolling her eyes. “Guess I’ll keep you around.”

Charlotte leaned back in her chair, watching them with amusement. Then, with the same ease, she smirked and gestured between them.

“You two make a cute couple,” she remarked, her voice light and casual.

Engfa’s stomach clenched.

She knew Charlotte was playing. Knew she was simply keeping up appearances. And yet, something about the way she said it made her insides twist uncomfortably.

Alicia, ever the flirt, took the comment and ran with it. “Oh? You approve?” she teased “Maybe I should really try my luck, then.”

Charlotte didn’t even hesitate. “I fully support it,” she said smoothly, lifting her coffee to her lips.

Engfa felt something tighten in her chest.

She didn’t know why it bothered her so much—Charlotte’s easy encouragement, her total lack of hesitation.

Was she really that good of a liar?

Engfa forced herself to laugh, shaking her head as she took a sip of coffee. “Well, I’m flattered,” she said, glancing at Alicia. “But I don’t think you could handle me.”

Alicia gasped dramatically. “Oh, If I can’t… who can ?”

Engfa smirked but barely processed the rest of the conversation. Her mind was elsewhere—on the girl beside her who sat so comfortably, so effortlessly detached.

And for the first time, Engfa realized just how dangerous Charlotte really was in this game.

C2 : Later this morning

Engfa stirred her coffee absentmindedly, barely listening to Alicia’s playful chatter. Across from her, on the couch Charlotte leaned slightly into Charles, laughing softly at something he whispered in her ear. His arm rested loosely on the back of the couch, fingers occasionally brushing her shoulder.

It was just a game. Engfa knew that. But seeing Charlotte play along so effortlessly made something coil tight in her stomach.

“That’s a new sight,” Lou muttered beside her, smirking. “Didn’t think I’d see Charles turning on the charm this early.”

Alicia, sitting between them, leaned in conspiratorially. “It’s obvious, right? You see the way she lets him be all over her?” She nodded toward Charlotte and Charles, then whispered, “I bet their secret is that they’re exes… or maybe even a couple.”

Engfa forced out a laugh. “What happened to their money-related secret ?”

Alicia arched a brow. “come on, it’s obvious they are into each other.”

She didn’t answer. Because if she did, she might say something stupid—like how she knew exactly how Charlotte looked when she was actually interested in someone. Or that, despite her impeccable performance, Charlotte’s eyes flickered just a little whenever Charles flirted too openly. Almost like she wanted to look at Engfa instead.

Instead of letting herself spiral, Engfa took another sip of coffee.

It’s just a game.

But was it really worth it?

C2 : The first game

Later that morning, the contestants were gathered in the main room as the first challenge was announced.

“A guessing game,” the host explained, grinning at their reactions. “One person will act, the other will guess. The team that gets the most correct answers wins a clue about a contestant of their choice.”

The teams were already set by the production:

• Engfa & Alicia
• Charlotte & Théo
• Lou & Charles
• ...
• ...

“Ready?” the host called.

It started off chaotic, as expected.

Engfa was up first to act while Alicia guessed. The moment she saw the word chicken on her card, she groaned.

“No way,” she mumbled.

“Yes way,” Alicia pressed her. “Come on !”

With a dramatic sigh, Engfa bent her arms like wings and started flapping, awkwardly hopping in place while making clucking noises.

The room exploded with laughter. Lou actually had to lean on Charles for support as he doubled over.

Alicia, breathless from laughing, finally managed, “Chicken?”

The timer buzzed, and Engfa straightened, huffing. “Never again.”

Other rounds followed, each funnier than the last.

Then it was Charlotte’s turn.

Engfa watched as Charlotte took the stage, her posture shifting, eyes sharpening. She was competitive—always had been. And the moment the game began, Engfa finally saw her again.

Charlotte wasn’t just acting anymore. She was in the zone, determined to win. She guessed Théo’s mimed actions with frightening accuracy, her quick thinking making the whole room gasp in admiration.

This was real. The Charlotte Engfa knew.

And for the first time since the show started, Engfa relaxed.

When the final scores were tallied, Engfa and Alicia had won by a single point.

“Alright, winners,” the host announced. “Which contestant do you want a clue about?”

Engfa already knew her answer. “Lou and Charles.”

But before she could speak, Alicia jumped in. “Charlotte and Théo.”

Engfa’s breath caught.

The room went quiet.

Alicia turned to her. “Right? They’re the most interesting duo.”

Engfa hesitated. If she protested, it would look weird . Suspicious.

So she forced a neutral nod, even as her chest tightened.

Alicia beamed. “Charlotte and Théo it is!”

The host gestured for them to follow. “Come. You’ll receive your clues in private.”

As they left the room, Engfa swallowed hard.

She had just agreed to uncover a piece of her own secret to Alicia. 

C2 : First clue revealed

Engfa followed the host into a separate room, Alicia right beside her. The excitement from the game still buzzed in the air, but now a new kind of tension settled between them.

The room was simple, with a small table where an envelope lay waiting. Cinematographic. The host handed it to them with a smirk. “Inside are two clues—one about Charlotte, one about Théo. Use them wisely.”

Engfa took the envelope, feeling her pulse quicken.

Alicia nudged her. “Go on, open it.”

Inside, there were two small cards.

• Charlotte’s clue:"A heart hidden in plain sight."
• Théo’s clue:"From the sky to the ground, fate chose only one."

“What the hell does that mean?” Alicia muttered. 

Engfa forced a casual shrug. “Could mean a lot of things.”

Alicia hummed, deep in thought. “Charlotte… maybe she’s secretly in love with someone in the villa?”

Engfa’s grip on the paper tightened. “That’s a stretch.”

“Is it?” Alicia grinned. “I mean, come on, Charles is all over her, and she lets him. Maybe that’s their secret—they really are a couple but play the strategy of a new little crush in the villa ?”

Engfa forced a chuckle. “Or maybe it’s something totally different. Maybe she’s just, like, a hopeless romantic that writes books… who knows” The tone of her voice lost confidence as she finished her sentence. 

Alicia hummed, unconvinced. “Could be. But I still think she’s in love with someone here.”

Engfa quickly redirected. “And what about Théo’s clue? ‘From the sky to the ground, fate chose only one’? That’s intense.”

Alicia’s eyes widened. “Oh! Maybe he’s, like, a former skydiver? Or… wait, no. A stunt pilot? Something dangerous?”

Engfa nodded quickly, pushing the idea. “Yeah, maybe he had some kind of accident.”

Alicia snapped her fingers. “Or maybe he survived something. A plane crash?”

“I mean… that’s a bit much, don’t you think?” Engfa tried to sound skeptical. “Could be something more symbolic.” but she had a feeling it could be Théo’s true secret.

Alicia tapped her chin. “You’re right. We need more clues.” 

She glanced at the Charlotte card again. “Interesting…”

Engfa kept her face neutral, even as her pulse raced.

If Alicia kept digging… she’d have to work even harder to keep their secret safe.

C2 : A Dangerous Game

Engfa left the clue room with Alicia, her mind still spinning. The air in the villa felt heavier now, every glance and every word, she had to be careful. 

And then there was Charlotte.

She found her sitting on the plush couch in the living room, Charles draped over the backrest, whispering something into her ear. Charlotte tilted her head slightly, amused, her lips curling into a smirk. They were playing a game with Lou and Maria, but clearly they weren’t that interested in that card game.

Engfa clenched her jaw. Is she even pretending anymore?

Alicia let out a whistle. “see?”

Engfa kept her voice casual. “Maybe their secret is that they’re exes.”

Alicia gasped. “Oh my god, imagine? That would be iconic.”

Engfa almost laughed. If only you knew.

But then, as if sensing her presence, Charlotte’s eyes flicked to hers. For just a second—barely a heartbeat—there was something there. Guilt? Apology?

Then it was gone, and she turned back to Charles.

She’s good at this. Too good to Engfa’s liking.

Dinner was lively, with everyone recounting the day’s events, discussing the latest game, and analyzing the first clue revealed—one that propelled the competition into a new dimension. Engfa sat next to Lou, who was still playing up their newfound friendship, casually throwing an arm around her as if they had known each other for years. Across the table, Charlotte sat beside Charles, laughing at something he said.

Engfa stabbed at her food, forcing herself to stay engaged in the conversation.

“So, Lou,” she said, “tell me—do you flirt this much with everyone, or am I just special?”

Lou grinned. “Oh, you’re special, Tic.”

“Tic?” Théo raised an eyebrow.

Lou shrugged. “Engfa and I are basically a duo now. Tic and Tac.”

“By the way, Tic… did you figure out Théo or Charlotte’s secret? How were the clues? Helpful?”

“I can’t tell you, Tac, but they weren’t that helpful… mostly confusing.”

“That’s not what Alicia said.”

Engfa stopped chewing and looked at Lou’s expression carefully.

“She said she’s onto Charlotte’s secret,” he whispered. “I hope we can figure it out before Alicia does—so we take her money.” He extended a hand toward Engfa, his expression sincere.

Engfa hesitated, her mind racing. Then, with a dramatic flourish, she took his hand and shook it. “Let’s do this, Tic.”

She needed someone to trust, someone who truly believed she was hunting for Charlotte’s secret like everyone else—even if it meant lying to Lou, her only real ally in the villa.

After dinner, Engfa and Lou slipped away to talk privately. She needed time to think, to build a new strategy based on what she had learned over dinner.

They settled onto the outdoor swing.

“So, the clue emphasized money,” Engfa said thoughtfully.

Lou looked surprised. “Alicia told me it was about love.”

Engfa knew this was a turning point.

“She lied.”

Lou’s eyes widened as he dramatically covered his mouth. “No way.”

“I’m as surprised as you,” Engfa continued smoothly. “I think she’s trying to protect Charles’ secret by misleading everyone else.”

Ironically, that was exactly what Engfa was doing—except her goal was to mislead Lou into trusting her over Alicia. And it was working.

“Now that you mention it,” Lou mused, “I’ve noticed Alicia watching Charles a lot when he’s with Charlotte. Like… jealousy.”

Engfa swallowed hard. Fortunately, Lou hadn’t been watching her , because if he had, he would’ve seen jealousy written all over her face every time the so-called Golden Boy spoke to Charlotte.

“Let’s keep this between us,” Engfa said. “Only we know she’s lying, so we have an advantage over the others—both for Charlotte and Alicia’s secrets.”

Lou winked at her in understanding, fully trusting her.

When they rejoined the others in the living room, Engfa smiled to herself, quietly proud of her performance.

C2 : A Late-Night Encounter

The villa had quieted down. Most contestants were in their rooms, winding down for the night. Unable to sleep, Engfa wandered outside to the pool, where the water glistened under the soft lights.

The sky was scattered with stars, peaceful. Engfa let herself relax as the cool water lapped at her feet.

Someone sat beside her in silence.

Charlotte.

“Can’t sleep?” Charlotte whispered.

Engfa hesitated. They weren’t supposed to be seen alone together—too suspicious. She glanced back at the villa, preoccupied. Deciding to keep up the act, she crossed her arms.

“Shouldn’t you be with Charles?”

Charlotte exhaled a quiet laugh. “Jealous?”

Engfa scoffed. “Please.” Then, in a hushed voice, she added, “It’s a good strategy. Alicia is onto you and Charles.”

Charlotte finally turned to look at her, her expression unreadable. “You’re good at this game.”

“Not as good as you,” Engfa muttered.

A beat of silence. The air between them was charged, crackling with everything unsaid.

Then, so softly it almost didn’t reach her ears—

“You looked beautiful tonight.”

Engfa’s breath hitched.

It was too much. The pretending, the secrets, the distance between them.

She reached out, barely brushing Charlotte’s wrist before pulling away.

Footsteps.

They jerked apart just as Lou appeared, yawning. “Oh, hey. You two up for a midnight swim?”

Charlotte was already standing. “No, I was just leaving.”

Lou watched her disappear inside before turning to Engfa with a smirk. “You two have some weird tension, you know that?”

Engfa let out a breath, forcing a smile. “You’re imagining things.”

Lou plopped down beside her. “You’re already trying to get more clues out of her?”

Engfa nodded.

“And?” he pressed.

“She said nothing useful. Nothing about some crazy wealth… I guess she’s being careful.”

In reality, Engfa was regretting not warning Charlotte about this new strategy. If Charlotte could play along with this false secret, maybe Lou and the others would fall for it.

Her mind raced with anxiety. She needed this strategy to work. She needed to win the money.

This game was going to kill her.