The announcement hit us right after breakfast.
We were still gathered around the messy table, half-eaten eggs and unwashed mugs everywhere.
Kuya's voice boomed from the speakers:
"Housemates, your first official task begins today. You will compete in pairs."
Instantly, the room buzzed with noise.
"Oh my god, yes!" Mia squealed, bouncing on the bench.
Enzo slapped palms with Sofia.
I sat there, quietly slicing my toast into perfect squares, watching everyone's faces light up.
Because of course they were excited.
Tasks meant immunity.
Tasks meant screentime.
Tasks meant a chance to look good on national TV.
"Choose your partners now," Kuya continued.
The noise level doubled.
I pressed my knife and fork together neatly.
Waited.
Because i already knew.
People started calling each other immediately.
"Mia, ikaw na!"
"Sofia, tara?"
"Enzo, bro, game?"
Some laughed.
Some even hugged.
I watched them pair off, avoiding my eyes so obviously it made my stomach twist.
I set my cutlery down.
Held my breath.
Waited.
No one turned to me.
My heart was thudding so loudly i could barely hear Kuya when he spoke again:
"Joshua and Margaux, please come to the living room."
Heads turned.
Finally they looked at me.
Their faces had that frozen look people get when they realize they just messed up.
I glanced over at Joshua.
He was staring at the floor.
Of course.
He hadn't been picked either.
The "bad bet."
I swallowed.
Stood up carefully.
We both shuffled forward under all those eyes.
Kuya's voice was calm, neutral:
"You two will be partners."
I forced my lips into something that might have passed for a smile.
Joshua didn't even look at me.
They explained the task.
A ridiculous, over-the-top obstacle course in the backyard.
Water balloons, slippery tarps, a giant maze made of old mattresses and tarps.
It sounded stupid.
It also sounded hard.
And we had to work together.
Because if you didn't finish in the top two pairs?
Automatic nomination.
I tied my hair back, glancing sideways at Joshua.
He was stretching his arms.
Still hadn't spoken to me.
Finally i muttered, "We need a plan."
He sighed.
"Yeah."
Long pause.
I bit my lip.
"Look, I know you didn't want this."
His eyes flicked to mine.
He didn't deny it.
Didn't say sorry.
Just shrugged.
"It's fine," he said flatly. "Let's just win."
My chest tightened.
I nodded.
"Yeah," I echoed. "Let's just win."
And somehow...
We did.
We started out slow.
The others laughed at us slipping on the tarp.
I went down so hard i almost twisted my ankle.
Joshua actually cursed.
But he offered his hand.
I grabbed it without thinking.
We got up.
Didn't let go.
We didn't talk much.
Just focused.
Found a rhythm.
We actually communicated.
When he pushed the mattress up, I ducked under.
When i held the tarp out, he slid.
By the time we hit the water balloon stage, we were soaked, panting, grinning.
We had a system.
He aimed.
I reloaded.
We knocked every target down.
Beat the buzzer.
Second fastest overall.
Good enough to win.
When Kuya announced it, the backyard erupted in cheers.
Some polite.
Some real.
I laughed.
Wiped water from my eyes.
Joshua actually cracked a smile.
For a second, it felt...normal.
But back in the living room, when everyone was congratulating us, I could see it.
The calculation in their eyes.
Like they were rethinking things.
Rethinking me.
I smiled anyway.
Accepted the high-fives.
Because at least today?
I wasn't going home.
It was later, when the adrenaline was gone, that Kuya called me.
"Margaux, please go to the Confession Room."
I walked slowly.
Hands twisting in my damp shirt.
I sat down in the chair, cold leather under my thighs.
Tried to breathe.
The room was quiet except for the hum of the cameras.
"Margaux," Kuya's voice said gently. "Kamusta ka?"
I let out a breath i didn't realize i was holding.
"Okay," I lied softly.
He didn't say anything.
Just waited.
Because he always waits.
I closed my eyes.
Rested my head against the back of the chair.
Finally i whispered, "Medyo masakit."
Silence.
Except for my own voice, thin and wobbly in the room.
"Honestly? It hurt."
I swallowed hard.
Licked my dry lips.
"Seeing no one...pick me."
I let out a humorless laugh.
"They didn't even look at me. Like they didn't want to risk it. Because, you know...even outside? People think i'm...bad luck."
I rubbed at my chest, trying to get rid of the tightness there.
"Bakit mo nasabi yun?" Kuya asked gently.
I laughed again, bitter.
"I used to be everyone's first choice, Kuya. I used to be favorite actress of the year. I couldn't even walk in a mall without getting mobbed. People said they loved me."
My voice cracked.
"But now?"
I shook my head.
"I don't even expect it anymore. I'm...kind of numb. Like...why hope someone will pick you when you know they won't?"
I blinked hard.
A tear slipped free anyway.
I wiped it away with the heel of my hand.
"Masakit yun, Margaux."
I let out a breath.
"Yeah," I whispered. "It is."
Silence again.
But the warm kind.
The kind where you know someone's listening.
I sniffed.
Straightened.
"But it's okay," I added softly. "I'm still here, right? I'm not giving up."
Another pause.
"Thank you for being honest," Kuya said.
I closed my eyes.
Nodded.
Because that's all i had left to give.
When i left the Confession Room, the living room was quiet.
Joshua caught my eye.
He didn't say anything.
Just gave a tiny, awkward nod.
I nodded back.
We weren't friends.
But maybe...
We were teammates.
For now, that was enough.
That night, I lay on my bunk bed staring at the ceiling.
Listening to the muffled laughter from the others.
Someone's snoring.
The creak of the floorboards.
I closed my eyes.
Tried not to think about how no one had picked me.
How they'd avoided my gaze.
How quiet it got when my name was the last left.
But then i remembered the win.
The water balloon fight.
Joshua's grin.
Mia's cautious clap.
And i let myself smile.
Because for one day, for one task, I wasn't the villain.
I was the winner.
And tomorrow?
I'd try again.