It started early.
Too early.
A buzzer rattled the whole house at six in the morning, harsh and insistent.
I jerked awake, tangled in the thin blanket.
For a second i forgot where i was.
The girls' room.
Cameras in every corner.
No curtains on the tiny frosted window.
Just hard light sneaking in.
Someone groaned beside me.
Mia.
"Why so early, Kuya?" she mumbled, her voice hoarse.
We shuffled out of bed, hair sticking out, faces unwashed.
No one was pretending to be glam today.
We all knew there was a task.
The second one.
And this time?
We'd heard it was solo.
No partners.
No one to save you if you messed up.
When we got to the living room, Joshua was already there.
Arms crossed over his chest, hair damp from the sink.
He shot me a look.
A question.
I shrugged.
We were all on edge.
Kuya's voice boomed from the speaker.
"Good morning, housemates."
A forced chorus of:
"Good morning, Kuya."
"Today is your second task. This will determine who among you will have immunity from this week's nomination."
Everyone straightened.
Paolo sucked in a breath.
Enzo actually adjusted his shirt.
Mia twisted her fingers in her lap.
Kuya continued.
"This task is solo. There will be no partners. No teams."
Silence.
"You will each face a challenge designed to test your focus, memory, and composure under pressure."
My palms went clammy.
One by one, we were called outside to the activity area.
It had been transformed overnight.
Tables.
Buzzers.
Timers.
Cameras everywhere, zoomed in close on our faces.
I was near the end of the rotation.
So i watched them go first.
Paolo came back in sweaty, pale, muttering, "That was f*cking hard."
Mia wiped her eyes when she sat down, like she'd almost cried.
Enzo slammed his fist on the couch once, teeth gritted.
Joshua didn't say much.
Just sat with his head back, staring at the ceiling.
Breathing slow.
My turn.
"Margaux, please proceed."
I stood up.
My knees actually wobbled.
I smoothed my pants down.
Forced myself to lift my chin.
You wanted this, I reminded myself.
You signed up for this.
Outside it was hot under the studio lights.
I could hear birds outside the walls, faintly.
But in here it was all buzzing electronics and silence.
A production assistant pointed me to my place.
I stood behind a tall, white podium.
Hands flat on the surface to keep them from shaking.
Across from me was a giant screen.
Letters.
Numbers.
Shapes.
They blinked in patterns i had to memorize.
Kuya's voice filled the space.
"Margaux. Are you ready?"
I swallowed.
"Ready, Kuya."
It started.
Flash.
Blue circle.
Red triangle.
Seven.
Flash.
Yellow square.
Four.
Blue circle.
My head spun.
I mouthed the sequence.
Bit my lip so hard i tasted blood.
When the buzzer sounded i slammed the button.
"Input your answer."
My fingers trembled.
I tapped in the sequence.
Held my breath.
Silence.
A green light blinked.
"Correct."
My knees nearly buckled.
It wasn't over.
Another round.
Faster.
Longer.
Symbols layered over symbols.
Numbers that shifted colors.
Shapes inside shapes.
I felt sweat drip down my spine.
My chest squeezed.
But i remembered.
Another green light.
And again.
The final round nearly broke me.
Fifteen steps.
Fifteen.
I said them under my breath.
Heard the cameras zoom in on my face.
But i did it.
When the green light blinked, I actually let out an embarrassing laugh-sob.
Kuya's voice crackled.
"Task complete. Please return to the living room."
I stumbled inside.
Everyone stared.
Joshua's eyes flicked up.
He raised his eyebrows in question.
I just shook my head, breathless.
Sat down hard on the couch.
Tried to keep the grin off my face.
Because i knew.
I knew i did well.
When the last person went, Kuya called us all together.
"Housemates. The task is now complete."
We held our collective breath.
"The housemate with the highest score, and therefore immunity from this week's nomination, is... Margaux."
Silence.
For a second i thought i'd misheard.
Then Mia squeaked.
"Oh my God!"
She hugged me so hard i lost my breath.
Joshua clapped, even gave a low whistle.
Paolo actually nodded, tight-lipped but respectful.
Enzo didn't clap.
Just sat back.
Arms crossed.
But he didn't say anything.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Smiled.
Managed to say, "Thank you."
But Kuya wasn't finished.
"Margaux, as the winner, you are safe from nomination. No one can vote you out this week."
I nodded, biting my lip.
"Additionally," Kuya continued, voice dropping lower, weightier, "you have earned a special power."
My heart stopped.
"You may choose to immediately eliminate any one housemate of your choice."
The room exploded.
Paolo cursed.
Enzo actually sat forward for the first time.
Mia went pale.
Joshua's eyes cut to me, steady but worried.
Kuya's voice cut through.
"Margaux, please make your decision now. If you choose to use your power, the housemate you choose will leave immediately."
I looked around.
At all of them.
Mia with her tear-streaked face.
Joshua and Kath leaning forward, elbows on knees.
Paolo scowling but silent.
Enzo waiting.
All of them watching me like a hawk.
My hands shook.
I pressed them together in my lap.
I heard my voice come out small at first.
But i made myself say it louder.
"Kuya... I don't want to use it."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kuya didn't sound surprised.
But he pushed.
"Why not, Margaux? This is your reward. Your advantage."
I let out a breath.
Licked my dry lips.
Swallowed.
"I know," I said quietly.
"But... we're all here because we have dreams."
I forced myself to look at them.
At their real, raw faces.
Not rivals.
Not enemies.
Just... people.
Scared.
Tired.
Hurt.
"I don't want to be the reason someone gives up," I added.
"I can't do that. Not when i know what it's like to have everything ripped away."
Joshua let out a low exhale.
Mia covered her mouth, tears welling.
Kath looked away, jaw tight.
Enzo didn't move.
But his eyes flickered.
Just for a second.
Kuya's voice was softer.
"So you are sure. You will not use your power."
I nodded.
"Yes, Kuya. I'm sure."
Silence again.
Longer this time.
"Very well," he said.
"Margaux has chosen not to use her power. The remaining housemates will proceed to nomination."
Relief and tension rippled through the group.
Some sighed.
Some wiped their eyes.
Joshua actually reached over, squeezed my wrist.
"Good call," he said, voice low so only i could hear.
Mia sniffed.
"You're not as scary as they said you were."
I laughed wetly.
"Don't tell anyone."
But the mood didn't stay light.
Because they still had to nominate each other.
We sat there while they cast votes.
No one could vote for me.
But i watched them vote for each other.
Heard the tension in their voices.
Saw the tremble in Mia's hand as she dropped her vote.
Joshua stayed stone-faced, but his fingers tapped an anxious rhythm on his knee.
Paolo's lip curled when he spoke.
Enzo's voice was too calm, too measured.
I felt sick.
When it was over, the results would come later.
But the damage was done.
Little cracks in friendships.
In alliances.
We all drifted away after that.
Quiet.
No one really talking.
I ended up in the kitchen.
Washing dishes i hadn't even used.
Because my hands needed something to do.
Joshua appeared beside me eventually.
He took the towel.
Started drying.
Didn't say anything at first.
Finally he nudged me.
"Could've used that power, you know."
I shrugged.
"Didn't want to."
He nodded.
Respectful.
Didn't push.
Later, when i went to bed, I lay staring at the ceiling for hours.
Replay of today looping in my head.
My heart felt raw.
But weirdly...
I felt lighter.
Because for the first time in a long time...
I'd had a choice.
And i chose not to hurt anyone.
Even if no one believed it.
Even if they thought i was fake.
At least tonight...
I knew i wasn't.