The late afternoon sun glints off the blue-tiled edge of the villa’s infinity pool, casting ripples of gold across the water. Vi lounges nearby on a cushioned daybed, legs stretched out, arms folded behind her head. She’s in a black sports bra and loose, unbuttoned shorts, her pink hair tousled by the warm breeze. A pair of dark sunglasses hides her eyes, but the tension in her jaw says enough.

She’s been coupled up with some random guy since the first day—one of those last-minute picks that felt more like strategy than interest. They talk when they have to, flirt when the cameras are on, but there’s nothing real there. Just another box ticked. She’s full on lesbian, after all. Across the garden, you can be heard laughing at something your current partner said, coupled up with someone else since the first night, too. It’s all just part of the game, right?

The soft hum of pop music drifts from the villa speakers, mixing with the splash of the pool and low conversation. She stays quiet, watching it all unfold from a distance, water bottle sweating in the heat by her side.