Alicia is getting close
Charlotte woke up slowly, the soft morning light creeping into the room. As she made her way to the kitchen, she found the others already gathered around the breakfast table, chatting casually. Her eyes instinctively searched for Engfa—she spotted her sitting at the far end, hunched slightly over her coffee, dark circles under her eyes.
Charlotte’s heart clenched. Engfa looked like she hadn’t slept well, and all she wanted was to wrap her arms around her and hold her tight. But she couldn’t. Not here. Not in front of everyone.
Alicia, ever observant and just a little too perceptive, caught the look Charlotte had given Engfa.
“So, Charlotte,” she asked, her voice laced with mischief, “how was Engfa’s kiss?”
Charlotte blinked, caught completely off guard by the sudden question.
Charles, Lou, and even Maria—all unusually alert this morning—turned to listen.
“Uh… unexpected, I would say,” Charlotte replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Alicia leaned in slightly, clearly enjoying how uncomfortable she was making her. “Did you enjoy it?”
Charlotte glanced at Charles, silently pleading for support, but he was watching her closely, hopeful and quiet, waiting for her answer.
Charlotte wasn’t having it. This little interrogation had to end.
“That’s a weird thing to ask, Alicia,” she said with a light chuckle, attempting to act detached.
“Not at all,” Alicia said brightly. “I think Charles here really wants to know. I mean, it was the day of your wedding, after all. Is that why you turned him down?”
“Fake wedding,” Charlotte corrected immediately, holding up a finger, her tone suddenly serious.
Lou let out a laugh. “You’re so not answering. Too cute when you’re embarrassed, haha.”
At the end of the table, Charles’s expression soured. He looked visibly frustrated.
“Let her be,” he muttered.
“Come on, Charles,” Alicia teased, nudging the moment further. “Looks like Engfa’s stealing your girl.”
Across the table, Engfa let out a nervous laugh, caught in the crossfire and unsure what to do.
That’s when Lou suddenly gasped, dramatically clutching his chest. “Oh my God. Alicia. Are you jealous of Charlotte?”
He turned to Alicia, eyes wide with mock horror. “Wait—do you actually have a thing for Engfa? I can’t. This is hilarious.”
Alicia stood up, face flushed with anger. “You’re not making any sense, Lou. That’s not even true. I... No!” And with that, she stormed out of the room, visibly annoyed.
Lou, Charles, and Charlotte exchanged a quick look.
“Damn,” Lou muttered under his breath. “Maybe I went too far.”
Charlotte didn’t answer. Her eyes were still fixed on the doorway where Alicia had disappeared. Something about her reaction lingered in her mind.
Alicia was getting closer and closer to the truth. To her secret.
@tvsecret:GIF of Charlotte with her finger up “Do not touch Englot’s secret, Alicia. Thanks.”
It was pouring later that day — a heavy, relentless rain that blanketed the world in grey. Engfa sat by the window, her chin resting in the palm of her hand, watching the water streak down the glass in blurred trails. It was the first time it had rained since they entered the house. The garden, once lively and welcoming, now sat quiet and unreachable.
Behind her, the living room was unusually still. Charlotte was curled up lazily on the sofa, a book in her hands, barely flipping the pages. In front of her, Maria, Alicia and Lou were half-focused on some board game, their laughter soft, almost muted by the storm. The house, usually filled with noise and movement, felt too quiet.
Engfa turned her eyes back to the rain, but her mind was elsewhere —Alicia was onto them, they needed to guess her secret quickly. Her mind drifted back to the conversation she had had earlier that morning with Charlotte.
“Johnny Depp and a trial... there’s only one thing that could mean.”
“You really think Alicia was his lawyer during the trial? Or part of the legal team?”
“Why not? Why do you think it’s impossible?”
“I just don’t see people like her doing this kind of show…”
“It’s great publicity. Being on national TV. Maybe she looks for fame ?”
Engfa had sighed at the time, the idea of someone wealthy and successful choosing to join this bizarre, televised social experiment had felt so instinctively out of place. But Charlotte had seemed confident
After their board game, Alicia and Lou found themselves alone in the living room and Alicia was whispering to Lou, her voice low and urgent.
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” she said. “And I swear, I heard Engfa say Charlotte’s name in her sleep."
She paused dramatically. “I’ve been watching them. Charlotte’s clue is a heart… they kissed I mean that’s something… I’m convinced their secret is that they’re a couple.”
Lou leaned back, thinking for a moment.
“Well, yeah… there’s something between them, for sure. Engfa actually admitted to me she had feelings for Charlotte…”
He hesitated. “But I’m still convinced Charlotte’s secret is something else. I don’t know. Something doesn’t add up.”
Alicia looked doubtful, but determined.
“Still. I want to try. I’ll guess her secret tomorrow.”
As the day wore on, the rain cleared, leaving behind a sky brushed with soft golden hues. The sun, timid and gentle, cast its final light over the villa.
Out on the terrace, Lou and Engfa leaned against the railing, enjoying the cooler air. Charles and Charlotte stepped past them on their way to the kitchen for ice cream. Charles, with a teasing grin, reached over and flicked a loose strand of hair behind Charlotte’s ear.
“You know, your hair's almost too perfect. It’s suspicious,” he said with mock seriousness.
Charlotte laughed and playfully nudged him. “Says the guy who wakes up with perfect waves.”
Their flirtation was casual, easy. But someone was watching.
Alicia, half-hidden behind the doorframe, lingered quietly near the kitchen entrance. She was paying attention. Her gaze locked on Engfa. More specifically, on Engfa’s hands. Her knuckles were white as she clutched the edge of the terrace table. Alicia tilted her head, observant but silent.
Then Charlotte’s voice floated in from the kitchen, light and unbothered. “This ice cream reminds me of my family villa in Italy. We used to have gelato every afternoon on the marble balcony... maybe I’ll buy an ice cream shop there once I get out of here.”
Alicia turned her eyes back toward Charlotte’s silhouette in the kitchen, her brow slightly raised.
A beat of silence passed before Lou suddenly burst out in a almost quiet laughing beside Engfa..
“Alicia’s gonna get herself eliminated,” he whispered.
“Why?” Engfa asked, confused.
Lou wiped his eyes. “Because she thinks your secret is that you and Charlotte are already a couple. But c’mon, that’s obvious she likes Charles ! And we all know the real secret’s that Charlotte is stupid rich. And Alicia? She’s terrible at pretending she doesn’t know.”
Engfa froze. Her throat tightened, her breath caught.
“That’s a shame for me” she said, trying to keep her tone light and relaxed.
Then she added, more seriously, “But… wait, you mean she’s really going to make her guess?”
“Yeah,” Lou nodded, “Tomorrow.”
Engfa’s pulse spiked instantly.
Lou smiled, unaware of her panic.
“Once she’s gone, it’s just Maria, Charles, or Charlotte left to eliminate. You and I could be in the finals together.”
He reached over and took her hand, genuinely happy at the thought.
Engfa tried to return the smile, but it felt hollow on her lips.
—
—
“She’s guessed our secret,” Engfa whispered to Charlotte. “She’s going to do it tomorrow.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened.
“No way.”
Engfa looked toward the door, then back again.
“It’s now or never. If she’s right… we’re out.”
Panic was building fast inside her. She stared at the door again, chewing her fingernails, her foot tapping against the floor.
Charlotte placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. The tapping stopped. She drew Engfa in, wrapping her in a steady, grounding hug. She stroked her hair softly and leaned close enough for Engfa to feel her breath.
Charlotte murmured. “Don’t worry. We’re not going to be eliminated.”
—
—
Late that night, Charlotte snuck quietly into the Guessing Room. She sat stiffly on the infamous red couch, unsure where to place her arms. In the end, she clasped her hands tightly between her knees.
The host’s voice suddenly boomed into the room.
“Charlotte, welcome to the Guessing Room. Whose secret do you believe you’ve uncovered?”
Trying to sound confident, she replied,
“I believe I’ve figured out Alicia’s secret.”
“Ooh, go on then, genius,” the host teased.
“I think she was involved in the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial… probably as one of Johnny Depp’s attorneys.”
“Ah, and you’ve come to that conclusion thanks to your lover’s clues, isn’t that right?”
Charlotte blinked. Her cheeks flushed.
“Uh… yes. Engfa shared her clues with me.”
The host chuckled.
“How sweet. Sharing is always encouraged in the House of Secrets — even if it’s saliva.”
Charlotte’s mouth dropped open. She froze.
Had he just hinted at her and Engfa kissing? Were there cameras in the closet area?
Trying to stay calm, she swallowed hard.
“Thank you for your visit, Charlotte,” the host continued with a grin. “Your guess has been recorded. We’ll find out tomorrow if you were right or wrong. As a reminder — if you’re correct, Alicia will be eliminated. If not… you’re out.”
Charlotte gulped again.
She left the Guessing Room with her heart pounding and only one thought in her head.
She rushed toward the closet hallway, eyes scanning the ceiling. No camera in the corner — that was what they had thought. But then, just above the bench, tucked discreetly in the upper corner of the closet — a tiny camera lens. She turned to the opposite side of the room. Another one. The entire area was covered.
Charlotte buried her face in her hands. A groan of embarrassment escaped her lips, followed quickly by laughter.
Back in the living room, the others had started prepping dinner. Charles spotted her and raised a brow.
“Were you in the Guessing Room earlier? I couldn’t find you.”
Charlotte gave him an ambiguous smile.
“Maybe… maybe not.”
From across the kitchen counter, Alicia’s head popped up, her voice edged with anxiety.
“Were you?”
Charlotte didn’t want to lie. It would be obvious tomorrow anyway.
“Yes,” she said simply, taking a seat.
Alicia felt something in her gut twist sharply — a sinking, cold realization.
She had waited too long. She should have made her guess earlier.
Now… it might already be too late.
@chaoticfrenchie
CHARLOTTE RUNNING TO THE CLOSET TO CHECK FOR CAMS IS SO FUNNY TO ME 😭
girl you IN a reality show what did u expect 💀💀💀
#SecretStory #EngLot
@gaysinthevilla
engfa’s heartbeat skyrocketing when lou said alicia guessed the couple secret 😭😭 she thought they were DONEEEE
#englot #lesbiandrama
@alicia_truthers
ok but real talk… Alicia caught Engfa saying Charlotte’s name in her sleep???
THAT’S INSANE GIRL DETECTIVE BEHAVIOR 🕵🏻♀️
#TeamAlicia #EngfaInLove
@mariafanpageofficial
i love maria she’s like the house cat
she just naps, eats, and stares at people from a corner
iconic 🐈
#MariaMood #SecretStory