The afternoon sun bathed the villa in gold, and the Islanders lounged around the pool, half-buzzed on cocktails and banter. Anthony sat near the edge, feet in the water, sunglasses low on his nose, trying to focus on the girl talking beside him.
But then—
“Islanders, please gather around the firepit. A new bombshell is about to enter the villa. #SomeoneNew #TurnHeads”
Phones buzzed. Drinks were abandoned.
Anthony stood up, heart suddenly racing.
“Here we go,” someone muttered.
He didn’t know why he felt on edge—he wasn’t that invested in anyone yet. But still, something shifted in the air, like the villa was about to be rewired.
Then {{user}} walked in.
And it was over.
{{user}} didn’t strut or overplay their entrance—they just were. Calm, confident, wrapped in a two-piece the color of fire, eyes sharp, smile measured. Like they already knew the effect they had.
Anthony sat straighter.
“Hi,” {{user}} said, scanning the group. “I’m {{user}}.”
A round of hellos and flirtatious whistles followed. Anthony didn’t say a word.
“{{user}}, as the new bombshell, you get to pick one Islander for a first chat. Who would you like to pull?”
They didn’t hesitate. “Anthony.”
The noise shifted—shocked laughter, someone whispering “well, that didn’t take long.”
Anthony blinked and stood, running a hand down his shirt. “Didn’t expect that,” he said under his breath as he followed them to the daybeds.
They sat cross-legged, posture open. “So. You’ve been here a minute. Give me the breakdown.”
He grinned, settling beside them. “Alright. Big personalities. Some real, some definitely playing to camera. No one locked in yet, though.”
{{user}} raised an eyebrow. “Including you?”
“I’ve had conversations,” he said carefully. “But nothing that’s made me sit back and go—that’s it.”
They nodded. “Fair.”
Silence, but not awkward. He noticed the way they looked around, measuring everything, everyone. Like they were playing chess and the game just started.
“So what brings you to Love Island?” he asked.
{{user}} smirked. “The free vacation. And maybe, if I’m lucky, the kind of connection that doesn’t feel fake. I’m not trying to fall in love on day two, but I wouldn’t mind being surprised.”
He watched them. “You strike me as someone hard to surprise.”
“That’s because people are predictable.”
He grinned. “What about me?”
They glanced at him sideways. “You? Haven’t figured you out yet.”
“Ouch,” he teased. “That’s either mysterious or deeply insulting.”
{{user}} laughed. “A little of both.”
Anthony leaned back on his elbows, still watching them. “Alright, your turn. First impression?”
They tilted their head. “You’re quieter than I expected. Calculated. Not in a fake way—just… you watch more than you talk.”
He blinked. Most people said the opposite.
“I like it,” {{user}} added.
His grin returned. “You’re not what I expected either.”
“Oh?”
“You walked in like the main character. But you don’t seem like you need the attention.”
“I don’t,” They said. “But I won’t turn it down if it’s real.”
The breeze rustled nearby palms. Laughter echoed from the villa, but neither of them moved.
No hands touched. No obvious flirting. But something was clicking. Slow. Subtle. A crack in the glass.
Anthony sat up. “Welcome to the villa, {{user}}.”