#and soaring cost of living costs
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
lyinginbedmon · 2 years ago
Text
In the UK we have a system called Universal Credit, which can be thought of as unemployment benefit, though it’s meant to encompass a variety of different benefits all rolled into one (including for disabilities).
If you are single, the most you can expect to receive from it is £368.74 per month. That works out to roughly £92 per week.
If you are living with your partner, it’s much higher, at up to £578.82 each. That works out to roughly £144.70 per week.
In the UK we also have a thing called the National Living Wage, which is defined as the minimum salary necessary for an adult to live comfortably. Not bare bones, not lavishly, just comfortably. As of 2023 it is measured at £10.42 per hour.
Assuming you work a standard 40-hour work week, that comes out to £416.80 per week, or £1667.20 per month.
So assuming that you live with your partner and pool your UC together, you still make just under 70% of the money that is expected to allow one person to live comfortably each week.
93 notes · View notes
belliesandburps · 21 days ago
Text
Interactive - Favorite Burp Scenario
I need something to take my mind off the fact that we are home to the dumbest, most bigoted fucking assholes on this planet, and I feel like a lot of you probably feel the same way right now. So, how about another interactive game? Send me character requests via my askbox here and I will respond with my favorite burp scenario to imagine for them. (Note, ideally, keep it to characters I know or that you think I may know)
#interactive post#community game#burping#burp kink#belly kink#i think back on all the movies where the president hides a horrible crime they committed years back#and how they carry out these horrid conspiracies to cover up the truth of their misdeeds#oh how fucking quaint that all feels right now#here in america?#you can incite an insurrection and get your freakass cult to storm the capitol on live television while erecting (lol) a gallows#the whole world can watch in horror#you can get indicted on 88 felony charges#convicted on 34 of them#your generals came come out and admit that you like hitler#and in a few years the people will just happily send you back#don't worry the media will treat you like a completely normal candidate and sane wash whatever crazy bullshit you say too!#because gat dammit groceries are just way too expensive#sure your own party and awful policies CAUSED prices to soar but it's not like the media will ever point that out when they conduct polls#also the same fucking idiots crowing about grocery prices hear trump's tariffs will cost them thousands more yearly and they're fine with i#im so fucking tired and i know you are too#just look out for your lgbtqia+ friends right now#they're gonna be hurting right now especially if they don't live in cali#and even cali's not some liberal fucking haven either#we just voted NOT to end slavery in this state!#like what the actual fuck?!#no seriously...what the actual fuck?#anyway look out for each other and try to keep your own corner of the world safe from maga's stink#and don't tune out either because they want to exhaust and beat you
32 notes · View notes
dailymore-news · 4 months ago
Text
Hundreds protest across Nigeria over soaring cost of living, fuel prices
Nigerian troops and police have tightened security in Lagos and the capital, Abuja, as nationwide protests over the rising cost of living kicked off and are expected to continue for 10 days.
Nigerian troops and police have tightened security in Lagos and the capital, Abuja, as nationwide protests over the rising cost of living kicked off and are expected to continue for 10 days. Africa’s most populous country is struggling with soaring inflation and a sharply devalued naira currency after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu introduced reforms a year ago aimed at reviving the…
13 notes · View notes
rahabs · 8 months ago
Text
I have given up entirely on my birthday this year after today.
3 notes · View notes
falesten-iw · 14 days ago
Text
Tumblr media
Survival in Gaza is a fight for everyone and everything, not just humans. Every living thing is caught up in this nightmare, from the smallest creatures to the strongest among us. Take this little cat, for instance. She’s from Jabalia refugee camp, Al-Tarens neighborhood, house number 96, sixth street. Yeah, I know her address. She’s one of us, a Palestinian too, sitting alone in the rubble, her fur matted and dusty, with a raw, swollen eye that speaks of all she’s been through. She’s lost her hearing; explosions shake her tiny frame, but she doesn’t even react anymore. And yet, her will to survive? Unbroken.
In so many ways, she’s Gaza in a nutshell. Life here is a brutal, endless test of endurance. The genocide, the bitter cold, the soaring prices that turn basic needs like food, shelter, medicine into unattainable luxuries. These are things my family and countless others can only dream of.
For families in Gaza, survival itself has become a privilege. Nonprofits that once helped have pulled out, forced away by the very forces that keep us oppressed. And the few who stayed? Acting as middlemen, diverting the aid that’s supposed to be for us. Some prioritize their own networks in distributing aid; others resell what little is sent. Some even claim that half of donations get eaten up by "logistics costs." And then there’s aid that supposedly just "never arrives." So, families like mine are left to fend for ourselves, stripped of even the basic dignity that comes with having our needs met.
I look at this little cat, and I’m struck by the fragility of life here. My family’s hanging by a thread, surviving day to day in a world that seems indifferent to everything we’re going through. And yet, like her, we just keep going. Not because we’re strong or resilient, but because, honestly, what other choice do we have?
If this hits home for you, if this little cat’s fight feels like something you understand, please consider helping. Every donation, no matter the amount, goes directly to where it’s needed most. It can mean a bit of warmth, a moment of safety, maybe even a sliver of hope in these times that feel darker than anything.
From a heart that’s been broken too many times, thank you for standing with us.
Vetted and shared by @90-ghost: Link.
Verified and shared by @el-shab-hussein: Link
Listed as number 282 in "The Vetted Gaza Evacuation Fundraiser Spreadsheet" compiled by @el-shab-hussein and @nabulsi : Link
Listed on the Butterfly Effect Project, number 957: Link
Additionally, Al Jazeera News has documented apart of my family's case: Link
If, for some reason, you couldn't donate via GoFundMe, you can donate via PayPal instead.
Please keep the conversion rates in mind when donating through GoFundMe. Every 250 SEK is equivalent to 25 dollars, and 506 SEK equals 50 dollars and so on.
Note: There’s even a raffle for a handmade Palestinian thob if you want to participate : Link
@timetravellingkitty @deathlonging @briarhips @mazzikah @mahoushojoe
@sar-soor @rhubarbspring @pcktknife @thatdiabolicalfeminist @turtletoria
@sawasawako @feluka @appsa @anneemay @commissions4aid-international
@wellwaterhysteria @mangocheesecakes @kyra45-helping-others @7bitter @tortiefrancis
@watermotif @stuckinapril @mavigator @lacecap @determinate-negation
@socalgal @chilewithcarnage @ghelgheli @sayruq @elbiotipo
@el-shab-hussein @heritageposts @communistkenobi @deepspaceboytoy @molsno
@mesetacadre @forevergulag @gazafunds @northgazaupdates2 @freepalestinneee
@komsomolka @muppet-sex @nabulsi @fading-event-608 @buttercuparry
@prierepaiienne @interact-if @unified-multiversal-theory @inkstay
@socialjusticekitten-blog @socialgoodmoms @nowthisnews @socialgoofy @fightforhumanity-rpg-blog
@fightforhumanity-rp @queerandpresentdanger @90-ghost @timogsilangan @punkitt-is-here
@fox-guardian @hiveswap @valtsv @helppeople @ibtisams
@annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @vakarians-babe @plomegranate @queerstudiesnatural @tamamita
@apollos-boyfriend @akajustmerry @marnosc @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides
@belleandsaintsebastian @ear-motif @brutaliakent @raelyn-dreams @troythecatfish
@4ft10tvlandfangirl @communistchilchuck @fairuz @sarazucker @fairuzfan
@a-nautilus-as-pixel-art @13eyond13 @stil-lindigo @baby-indie-blog
@marnota @vivisection-gf @brutaliakhoa @the-bastard-king @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness
@neptunerings @malcriada @turian @girlinafairytale @abnormalicacid
@sylvianritual @mothblossoms @autisticmudkip @lesbianmaxevans
@nabulsi27 @palestinegenocide @orblesbian @palebluebutler @pallasisme
@riding-with-the-wild-hunt @baby-girl-aaron-dessner @morallyrainyday @jame7t @el-shab-hussein
@jonpertwee @flipton @bell-bones @ragingbullmode @envytherose
@rodent178 @tangledinourstrings @kraigerzz-blog @frogbrainedfool @the-ending-of-dramamine
@redsavesquare @uninvited-eon @glenbot @ultimateumbreon33 @pitbolshevik
@disastersim @airsigh @cowboy-queer @lapastelr0sa @sharingresourcesforpalestine
@rebel-girl-queen-of-my-world @kropotkindersurprise @cruzwalters @la7ma-mafrooma @rosyish
@bookskittychad @streakoflavender @miraclemaya @devilofthepit @paper-mario-wiki
@gay-yosuke @cometcrystal @nb-marceline @cicadaland @charlott2n
@manletwizard @2blushie @antiauteur @acnologia-is-best-dragon @bitchmael
@penelopiaad @hashiramashonkers @laughtracklesbian @legallymean @b0nkcreat
@crapscicle @uwu-pinata @syntheticspades @momxijinping @longlivepalestina
@saberboi-1 @martinmynster @nako-funky @trans-leek-cookie @vaticinatrix
@moomoobug @narwa @twilightobservationtower @estrellasrojas @knxfesck
@lakeeffectbitch @fatbitchneedsfoodbadly @no-thats-absurd @humanmorph
@sandiwchirlinreal @tcda @misspiggyforvogueitalia @gamb0fficial @vincentspork
@gemstonedraws @frankendykes-monster @mizoguchi @kos-mos @ryoki-ph
@blackwoolncrown @nightwussy @freehologramreview @melancholy-hummingborb
@sister-lucifer @nonbinarymerbabe @raventhecoolestpersonever @ebenrosetaylor @wellwaterhysteria
@inkbomber @collectoroflovelythings @k00ldino @sundung @extrabitterbrain
@names-hard @killaltrock @thatdarngreenpixie-blog @angelsarecomputers @to00fu
@secretgoths @cauli-flawa @faraliniste @adrowninggrip @thesavagesnakeplant
@g-l-a-s-s-h-e-a-r-t-s-s @illuminated-runas @silverstone-gp @saintverse @whalefill
@emathyst9 @trasno-personal @turtles-on-turts @dendrosystem
@readingsquotes @bellybuttonblue2 @bees-fart-too @andiv3r-reblogging @sillyseer
@cloudedcari @tachycardial @evileyeamulet @pompompotato @shamemp3
@jihaad @italofobia @stealthjet @pinnyy @sivavakkiyar
@chronicowboy @bi-worm @ydic74the @amorosebeing @golvio
@dailyquests @punkitt-is-here @opencommunion @postanagramgenerator @a-scary-lack-of-common-sense
@paper-mario-wiki @prisonhannibal @a-shade-of-blue @ramshackledtrickster
4K notes · View notes
transmutationisms · 1 month ago
Text
TIME SENSITIVE! 
HELP SAMAH TAKE CARE OF HER 6 MONTH OLD BABY
Hey everyone i want to draw your attention to @samah-h, a young palestinian mother who wants to raise funds to take care of her family, including her baby who is only 6 months old.
you might have seen Samah's story around, but recently she has had to create a new GFM campaign. so, please make sure to support her now, and donate at the new link below.
Tumblr media
Born amidst the bombing and destruction, Samah's infant son does not have access to infant formula, diapers, and basic healthcare. As these products grow more and more scarce due to the israeli blockade, market prices for them have been soaring at alarming levels. Living in tents under the constant threat of eviction due to war and disease, the situation is dire. They need these funds as soon as possible.
Right now samah is looking to raise the first $5k so that she and her family can cover:
the high cost of living and basic survival needs in gaza 
Travel coordination and securing safe evacuation 
Essential healthcare for the baby 
Infant formula and diapers
 Warm clothes and supplies to protect him from the cold
In her own words: “Living in tents is exhausting and filled with daily challenges; we have no clean water, electricity, or proper medical care. Every day we struggle to survive amidst constant bombings and the dangers surrounding us. Your support gives us hope that we can provide a better life for our child.”
This gfm was vetted by @bilal-salah0 so please dont hesitate to lend a hand. Please share and donate any amount you can, this family needs to raise this amount ASAP so that their baby can be taken care of the way he needs.
$10 / $5,000
3K notes · View notes
northgazaupdates · 4 months ago
Text
I want to share with you all a message from our friend Ola, who writes to us from the heart of besieged north Gaza.
Ola is a graduate student from the faculty of science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. She is a dedicated and passionate student, striving to become a good researcher and teacher.
Before October 7th, her days were filled with attending lectures, working, and volunteering. She completed her bachelor's degree in Mathematics with a GPA 96.01% and a grade of distinction with first class honors.
Tumblr media
Unexpectedly, her life took a drastic turn with the commencement of the cruel war on Gaza, transforming her from a passionate student to a person struggling for survival.
As you read this post, Ola, her mother, father, three sisters, and little brother are fighting death in northern Gaza. They are suffering under bombing, displacement, instability, starvation, thirst, and poverty. They are facing a harsh famine due to the IOF blockade of north Gaza, which has led to prices soaring. Ola herself was recently hospitalized for malnutrition due to the famine.
Yet through all of this, Ola is keeping her hope alive that she may go back to her career as an educator, and pursue her passion of teaching the next generation of Gazan children.
Ola is raising funds in order to be able to pay the rising cost of basic necessities in north Gaza. Her family is large and the cost of survival in north Gaza is astronomical, so she is going to need a lot of help with her campaign. If you have anything you can spare, I implore you to support Ola and her family. From where you are right now, you personally can help save lives in north Gaza.
Please reblog this post, follow Ola at @olagaza and boost her posts, and repost the link to her campaign across all your social media
Thank you❤️
Ola’s case has been verified by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi, she is #205 on their spreadsheet of vetted campaigns
Tumblr media
2K notes · View notes
tiredguyswag · 17 days ago
Text
It's my birthday today, and I am lucky to be able to celebrate it in the comfort of my home! Some, however are not so lucky.
It would mean the world to me if you could give at least a small donation of $5 to the fundraiser I've linked below. Please reblog as well after donating, or even if you can't donate, so that it may reach others who are capable of donating.
I can vouch for the legibility of this fundraiser! Here's a post by @gothhabiba explaining the same. He is the brother-in-law of @ma7moudgaza2, so you can rest assured that the money is going to a good cause.
Ahmed (@ilovelifetbh) has two small children. One is three years old while the other, Anas, is only one. He was born in the beginning of the days of the genocide and has known nothing but death and destruction his whole life! Can you imagine! Please put yourself in his shoes for a second, and be compassionate. As fellow human beings, help restore hope to him and his wife after the tragedy of the destruction of his house. The money will help him rebuild his house and provide for his children.
It is not an exaggeration to say your contribution could save lives! Ahmed currently only has $226 on his fundraiser! That's extremely low, it's not even enough to cover costs of the absolute basic necessities of life in Gaza, what with the soaring prices!
I am willing to make you a fully coloured drawing of anything you'd like for the first five people who make a donation of more than $50. Just reply to this post and I will reach out to you with details on what I can do (provided you have proof of donation).
The first ten donations of more than $10 will get smaller doodles depending on the amount donated (again, provided you have proof of donation)
Here are some examples of my art:
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Apologies for the tag:
@victoriawhimsey @jewishdainix @timetravellingkitty @jackie-shitposts
 @oorevitcejda @yellowwperil @sandersgrey @ofide @rukafais
@officialpenisenvy @theonpilled @fleurrice @tetrafelino @think-queer
@timothylawrence @roakkaliha @lostacelonnie @huzni @laurajameskinney
@gamb0fficial @vincentspork @teabisexual @officialscud @evilponds
@dinodamage @yurischolar @lune-tic @lipid @newporters
@witticismz @dovv @capricornpropaganda @charlott2n @determinate-negation
@parsleyrosemarybotch @tadpoledyke @userpeggycarter @thedigitalbard @melon-colli
@demilypyro @lesbocrocker @kahin @chososhairbuns
@zamanassad @wayneradiotv @jihaad @evillesbianvillain 
@stuckinapril @goldenspirits @scarletlich @rongzhi @marxistcomedy
1K notes · View notes
probablyasocialecologist · 2 years ago
Link
Shoplifters who spoke to Novara Media said the cost of living crisis had pushed them to steal more of life’s essentials. “A couple of times I’ve been on the verge of crying when I go to buy Sainsbury’s Basics apple and blackcurrant squash and realise the price has doubled in the past three months,” said John.
Lara, a culture worker from London, has started shoplifting groceries more frequently; she said it has become more socially acceptable in her circles. “I know that other people do it, and I’ve seen how other people do it, and that really helped,” she said. Previously, she avoided stealing because her upbringing and wider moralism had convinced her it was “a shameful thing” to do.
“Before, I would have described stealing as this really anti-Islamic thing to do,” she said. Shoplifting is also especially frowned-upon by “parents who come from a working-class or lower middle-class background,” she said, because of how classist ‘scrounger’ stereotypes “trickle down to how we surveil and shame each other.”
Nowadays however, Lara sees shoplifting as “one of the few guerrilla tactics we have available to us.”
Alan, a construction worker from London, who, like John and Anna, has been shoplifting around half his groceries in recent months, has “no moral qualms” about stealing from supermarkets. “I just think that the stuff in the world is ours, all of ours,” he said, “and that we’ve invented a really stupid system for the distribution of resources which doesn’t treat them as ours, and treats them as things that can be used for capitalists to make profit.”
He wouldn’t steal things if it meant that “someone’s labour went unrewarded”, he said, but all shoplifting affects is “the profits of shareholders” he said. “[I have] no concerns about that at all.”
[...]
While, for many, shoplifting feels like a form of resistance to untenable living conditions, no one who spoke to Novara Media was sure how to build solidarity between shoplifters. Alan shoplifts food for rough sleepers, but wishes there were more organised approaches to shoplifting – like the mass stealing and redistribution of food that occurred in Greece following the 2008 financial crisis.
Lara believes shoplifting could be “revolutionary” if it could be “more of an organised operation” that involved “getting workers on side”.
“I think it would be really radical if there would be a widespread recognition and acceptance of stealing as a necessary mechanism for resistance,” she says. “If you can’t afford the things that you have to buy, then the logic should be that you just take them.”
14K notes · View notes
dynamitegun · 3 months ago
Text
Can we acknowledge the fact that Commander Shepard memorized the names of the eight Alliance warships lost during the Battle of the Citadel?
Shepard: "The turians lost twenty cruisers, figure each had a crew of around 300. The Ascension, the asari dreadnought we saved, had a crew of nearly 10,000."
Khalisah: "But surely the human cost—"
Shepard: "The Alliance lost eight cruisers: Shen Yang, Emden, Jakarta, Cairo, Seoul, Cape Town, Warsaw, Madrid and yes, I remember them all. Everyone in the Fifth Fleet is a hero. The Alliance owes them all medals, the Council owes them a lot more than that. And so do you."
Tumblr media
If you make the Paragon choice, ordering the Fifth Fleet in to save the Destiny Ascension it costs the Alliance dearly both in ships and lives, and Shepard never forgets this. They enshrine the names of the lost ships, the number of crew, as a reminder. That when called upon the System's Alliance was willing to go into harms way damn the costs.
A high cost it was.
...
O hear us when we seek thy grace
For those who soar through outer space
967 notes · View notes
hazem-khalil · 2 months ago
Text
Hello everyone
First, I want to thank each and every one of you for your incredible support so far. Together, we’ve already reached €50,000, and I’m beyond grateful for your generosity.
As we continue this campaign, my hope is to reach €60,000 by the end of this week. The situation in North Gaza is becoming more dire every day. Prices for basic necessities like food, water, and shelter have soared to 300% above the normal cost. My family, along with so many others, is facing unimaginable hardship. With the Rafah border still closed and no clear date for when it will open, it’s becoming harder and harder to get them the help they desperately need.
The conditions in North Gaza are extremely difficult. My family is struggling to access even the most basic essentials. The ongoing conflict has caused widespread destruction, and every day is a fight for survival. The stress of trying to secure food, clean water, and shelter is overwhelming. With no income and limited resources, the burden is heavy.
This is why your support means so much. Reaching €60,000 would allow me to continue providing for their daily needs while we await a safe opportunity for them to leave Gaza. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to ensuring my family has the support they need during this crisis.
Thank you once again for your kindness and support. Let’s push forward and try to reach this new goal by the end of the week. Together, we can make a real difference in their lives.
€57,857 raised of €70,000 goal
235 notes · View notes
votevotevotevotevote · 1 month ago
Text
Why young people need to vote
By request, here's the text from the screenshot I shared previously. Still a good thing to show to every young person you know!
Why things won't truly change until young people vote like old people:
The government is, to put in bluntly, anti-youth — the needs and desires of young people are given the lowest priority. Social security is considered an untouchable “third rail” for politicians, yet those same politicians pay little price for ignoring climate change or paying nothing but lip service to confronting it. The US does little to address soaring education and housing costs, which disproportionately affect young people, despite being willing to spend nearly a trillion dollars annually on its military. In a particularly egregious affront, the country runs huge budget deficits — thereby offloading part of the cost of running the government onto future generations — while subsidizing fossil fuels, which means that young people are being forced to pay for their own destruction.
The reason behind all of this is simple: Old people vote at much higher rates than young people, so elected officials are incentivized to fight for them. Politicians do more to address energy prices than the future of the planet because slightly higher gas prices cause them to be punished at the polls, and young people aren’t there to back them up with their own votes.
The good news, of course, is that this can change. The beauty of democracy is that we get to choose who’s in the government, and young people exist in large enough numbers to be the driving force behind that decision. Millennials and Generation Z combine for (depending on the specific definition of the millennial generation you use) about 45% of eligible voters, but low voting rates mean that we don’t get much of a seat at the table in determining public policy. Younger generations can make up 45% of the electorate by voting at the same rates as older generations, but that’s not all — if young people can get each other to vote at higher rates than old people, we can make up a majority of the electorate and thus gain a controlling stake in the government, forcing it to finally work for us.
Tired of being screwed over by your own government? Angry at being forced to pay for your own destruction? Register to vote, and get all of your friends to do so as well. Let’s beat the boomers at their own game.
Note that (if you live in a state other than North Dakota) you have to register to vote before actually voting, and most states have registration deadlines that fall before election day — some as soon as October 6 or 7. Check your state’s deadline here, and make sure to register in time!
(source: outvote-the-boomers.blogspot.com)
128 notes · View notes
seospicybin · 1 year ago
Text
TOO HOT TO HANDLE.
Tumblr media
PART II
Han x reader. (s)
Too Hot To Handle masterlist
Synopsis: You and Han become contestants in a reality dating show, Too Hot To Handle. (12,7k words)
Author's note: I had so much fun writing Han's season idk why so I hope you enjoy this one too! x
The party is in full swing.
Everyone is dancing and getting friction off each other, having the time of our lives by forgetting that everyone here is locked in this sexless retreat.
Han has his hand around your waist and you look over your shoulder at him, your eyes meet in an intense gaze. Your eyes drop to his teeth faintly biting his lower lips, getting curious of what it would be like to kiss those lips.
You drop your head against his shoulder and he leans in...
The music abruptly stops and the chime comes in. Everyone knows where to go whenever they hear it and off to the cabana we go.
All the fun and euphoria of the party seem to have evaporated once you are seated on the sofa and waiting for the boss lady to come.
The chime comes in again with her cone body flickering in purple-hued lights.
"I've gathered you all to remind you that this retreat is for finding deeper connections, not just physical ones. This information is not getting through to some guests."
As always, you can sit this one out because you haven't broken any rules yet but Lana sounds so mad and that puts you on edge.
"There has been a breach of the rules."
There's a dark cloud casting over everyone's head and you prepare yourself for what's coming, it's most certainly going to get ugly.
Asher reclines in his seat and glances at Gwen next to her, it's obvious that he did it.
"I don't want to say I lost you guys more money but..." Asher is stalling only to prolong the pain.
"Did you guys kiss or not?" Finn simplifies it for them.
Asher and Gwen exchange a look, then after a minute, Asher finally answers, "Yes."
"I thought we're here for the experience—" Gwen's words get cut off by Finn's loud scoff.
Gwen is only here for a day so it's not a surprise that she still has that mindset, that it's okay to break rules and have fun. She hasn't felt the consequences of her actions like the rest of the group.
"This kiss has cost the group $6,000."
"Mmh... brilliant," Sawyer lowly mutters.
"The prize fund now stands at $149,000," Lana announces the current amount of money in the pot.
"That is not all," Lana is not letting anyone breathe yet.
"What?" Nya gasps.
"Last night, there was another breach of the rules."
Last night, everyone behaved nicely but maybe that's just what it seemed to you. Again, you can't control everyone in here because the only one with that power here is Lana.
Mikaela is looking uncomfortable that she keeps playing with her earrings even though nothing is wrong with them. You dare to ask them, "Rio, Mikaela, did you guys kiss?"
Rio is quick to shake his head to deny it while Mikaela keeps quiet next to him.
"I'd rather speak up," Han lets his suggestion hang in the air for anyone to get the meaning of it.
"I mean..." Mikaela breaks out of her silence.
"It was an accident. We were showering together and I kind of touched," she pauses to avoid continuing her sentence.
Your jaw drops in surprise because that's just a stupid thing to do. They're struggling to take their hands off each other yet they had a shower together, it would be impossible for something to not happen in there.
"We thought it wouldn't be a rule break," Mikaela adds, in what is supposed to be her words of defense.
"It doesn't matter," Finn remarks with an annoyed look on his face.
You doubt that that's the only infraction they did in there and everyone seems to think so. You remind yourself to keep your tone calm to not upset her, "Mikaela, honey, is that it? Is that the only thing?"
Your question sends the tension soaring high but it's either they tell them the truth or face everyone's wrath. You hope they choose the former.
"We uh... we kissed," Mikaela meekly admits.
Indeed, they were aware of what they were doing and the repercussions of their actions.
"Rio and Mikaela, what you did goes against the rules of the retreat," Lana sternly remarks.
You just can't believe that they choose to act selfishly like this but you refrain yourself from talking, afraid that you'd say things you didn't mean.
"These rule breaks have cost the group $10,000."
Even Avery who's been Mikaela's supportive friend is looking just as disappointed as everyone. She has nothing to say to defend her and can only try to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, you guys," Mikaela apologizes with an exasperated sigh.
"The prize fund now stands at $139,000."
-
YOU: What are they thinking? Really? Lana is not stupid. If she said it's a rule break, it is a rule break.
-
When you think Lana is going to end this agonizing meeting, Lana continues to speak still not letting everyone catch a breath.
"Rio and Mikaela, you have broken the most rules since arriving at the retreat and have repeatedly broken the trust of your fellow guests."
You lean back on the sofa and reluctantly listen to everything, exhausted from the roller coaster of emotions Lana puts you in.
"You must now prove to them that your connection is more than just physical. You will face the ultimate test of chastity."
"Sorry?" Sawyer asks, afraid that she misheard what Lana just said.
"Rio and Mikaela, you must spend the night alone in the private suite."
Finn sarcastically laughs at that, "We're done. We're done for."
Nya looks at Mikaela and asks, "Are you going to do anything?"
That seems to trigger her that Mikaela starts to ramble, "I feel like getting negative energy, right now. We're being pointed and like... I don't understand."
Well, after what they did, it only makes sense that everyone doubts they'll pass this test.
"Please make your way to the suite," Lana orders.
And Rio couldn't take Mikaela faster to the private suite.
-
YOU: [shrugs] I think we're finished.
-
Han can't wait to sleep on it but he senses something as Lana is not letting everyone go even after Rio and Mikaela leave for the private suite.
This is supposed to be a good night for him, he told you about his feelings and it was well-received, then the party was fun.
It was great until he sees Lana's cone-shaped body. He puts his arm around to seek comfort from you and you rest your head on his shoulder right away.
"Forming meaningful relationships with people always starts with trust. My question is how much do you trust Rio and Mikaela?"
That is the hardest yet the easiest question to answer. Hard because Han trusts Rio so much, he's the closest to him amongst everyone else here but it's also easy because of what they did when they're together.
Han trusts Rio but he doesn't trust him when he's with Mikaela.
"Jeez..." Asher hisses.
"All they're doing is losing money," Finn says with a snide smile.
"If you decide to trust them and they pass the test, the $40,000 that has been lost so far will be returned to the prize fund."
Some are gasping and a few others are sighing in pessimism. Sure, $40,000 is a lot but everyone's concern is on whether Rio and Mikaela will pass the test or not.
"But if you decide to trust them and they fail the test, the prize fund will drop by a further $40,000."
"Nah, no way," Asher immediately responds with a head shake.
As much as Han wants to back Rio, he has as little faith as everyone that they'll pass the test. However, it's not just about their friendship, it's about money and the group as a whole.
"They got so much shit tonight, they're not going to do it," Gwen says.
But coming from someone who's only been in the retreat for a day, everyone dismisses her right away.
"They know they'll lose money if they do anything," Finn surprisingly takes Rio's side but Han believes it's because he wants the money back.
"Guys," Avery is taking her turn to speak now, "This is a real test. Watch them actually pass it."
Now that it's coming from Mikaela's close friend, everyone listens to her, and their minds slightly change.
"This is their chance of redemption," Avery concludes.
A moment passes as everyone tries to mull things over, deciding whether to trust that they'll pass the test or not for a chance to get a lot of money back.
In the end, it's being decided by voting.
"If you think that we should trust them, hands up right now!" Finn says.
Hands are rising to the air in favor of trusting Rio and Mikaela to not break any rules in the private suite. Han also raises his hand, going with the majority.
He then turns his head to see that you're not raising your hand along with Sawyer sitting on the other side of him, he respects that.
"Thank you. I have noted your decision. Goodbye," Lana ends the session with a grim closing.
-
HAN: I trust my boy, Rio so I'll ride with the majority
-
They're making a big mistake.
Yes, there's a chance to gain some money but they forget that they also risk losing more money for doing it. Anyway, you voted no and if things didn't go as they wanted, you wouldn't be a part of it.
You groan as Han puts his whole body on top of you, propping his hands on each side of your head with his face hovering only inches away from yours.
He flashes you that gummy smile, then leans in to whisper, "I feel like we're getting closer."
You put your legs around his waist and your arms around his neck, pulling him close against your body.
"And we're getting a lot closer now," you playfully say back.
He buries his head in your neck and you can feel his warm breath fanning the sensitive skin, making you tingling inside.
You still feel the slight shock from the sudden confession he told you earlier in the bathroom and you feel the need to ask him if he was just saying it because he feels like it or...
"'I like you,' huh? Where did that come from?" You ask him with your hand on the back of his hair, ruffling it between your fingers.
Han pulls away to hover above you, he props his elbow against the mattress to support his head, "I like the fact that you're a bit silly like me," he says.
You scrunch your nose at that, "You're a whole lot of silly," you disagree with him.
"You're fun to be with, you're not taking things seriously, I... I'm enjoying getting to know you," he answers.
Han then leans in and presses his nose to your cheek, "How about you? How do you feel?"
You look away and pretend to think, "Uhm... you're alright, I guess," you add a shrug to tease him.
He drops his head into your neck as he breaks into laughter and tries to muffle it as everyone else is trying to sleep in the room.
"Well, that's what I like about you, you're so chill..." he compliments.
He looks at you as he continues talking with his hand playing with the strand of hair on the side of your head, "I've been pushing my feelings away but now, I gave in," he sincerely tells you.
You place your hand on his arm and feel his warm skin as you intently listen to him speaking his heart out.
"I admitted to how I feel and honestly, don't regret it," he finishes and brushes your hair away from covering your face.
It's heartwarming to hear everything he said and know that underneath that goofy layer of his, there's a part of him that is so pure and earnest, proving to you that he's not this cool guy he disguised himself him when it comes to someone he likes.
"I don't know what you want to do with it..." You try to articulate your thoughts into words but also avoid giving him the wrong idea.
"I think it would be cool to get to know each other and see what happens, see if something comes out of it," you tell him.
You're not trying to play his game plan back to him but you want to play it cool.
"Okay," he agrees with a sweet smile.
"You blew my mind, really," you tell him how surprised you are by his sudden confession.
"Well, I kind of want to blow you elsewhere but..."
You gently slap him on the arm and pull him, holding him close to wish him goodnight.
"Goodnight," he wishes back with a soft kiss on your cheek.
-
YOU: I do like Han but also, he did tell me that he liked Avery so... I don't want to get hurt. I can only hope that he's telling the truth.
-
Lana chimes the second the lights are on.
You groan as you force your eyes to open and squint to see the cone blinking in the middle of the room. You pull the duvet to your chest, waiting to hear what Lana has to say early in the morning.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Mmh... morning," You're slurring your words as you yawn at the end of your sentence.
"Are you feeling optimistic?" Lana asks, reminding everyone of the big gamble they did last night.
"I think we'll get the money back," Avery says, standing firm on her ground.
"Given Rio and Mikaela's history, you might be, as humans say, screwed."
Is Lana hinting that they didn't pass the test? You thought by voting no, you would be excluded from feeling guilty about it but you feel it nonetheless.
"I feel broke already," Asher groans as he tries to sit on the bed.
"I think they've got it," Avery says while twirling her hair in her fingers, looking not convinced by her own words.
You don't want to think about it but here we are, talking about it the moment you woke up and now you can't stop thinking about it.
You turn on the bed and put half of your body to overlap Han's, cuddling him as usual before starting the day. You look at his face and see that his eyes are closed, even with his face is slightly swollen and his hair is disheveled, he looks adorable to you.
You poke the tiny mole he has on his cheek, "Morning, goober."
He takes your hand away to kiss your plan then puts it across his chest, "Let's sleep for another five minutes," he mutters with eyes closed.
Feeling playful, you put your mouth close to his ear and whisper, "Okay."
-
YOU: But honestly, if Rio and Mikaela cost us any more money, I'll be fuming.
-
When Lana calls you, you drop everything and go.
You're not done with your makeup yet when she calls everyone to the cabana. You drag yourself to get there with Avery linking her arm with yours.
With the two of you as the last ones to get there, you decide to sit at the end of the sofa.
Everyone is looking nervous as they wait for anyone to come in, either Rio and Mikaela or Lana.
After a while, it turns out to be the former. Rio and Mikaela look happy and you know looking happy doesn't mean they did something but it makes you nervous seeing the smiles on their faces.
Lana chimes not long after, saving them from being drilled with questions by everyone.
"Hello, everyone."
"Hi, Lana," you weakly reply.
"Rio and Mikaela, how was your night at the suite?" Lana asks the most spending couple.
"Oh, yeah? What happened?" Finn asks with faint enthusiasm.
Mikaela looks at Rio before answering, "It was romantic."
"How romantic?" Nya asks.
"Bubble bath, champagne, rose petals... it was beautiful," Mikaela answers with a smile on her face.
You look at the ones who voted to trust them and see if anyone shows regrets.
"Rio and Mikaela's stay in the suite was the ultimate test of restraint to further their connection without surrendering to physical desires."
You half-heartedly listen to Lana as you start to get a bad feeling about everything and prepare yourself for the worst outcome.
"However, this was also a test of trust."
From the looks on their faces, Rio and Mikaela seem to not expect that Lana is brewing something behind them.
"Rio and Mikaela, when you left the suite, I asked the group whether they would put their fate on you as a couple."
Mikaela's jaw drops at the information and her face dims as if someone has turned off the lights.
"If they trusted you not to break the rules, I would reimburse the $40,000 you both lost so far."
Rio rubs his hands together and licks his thick lips, having nothing to say but you can't quite tell if it's a good or a bad quiet.
"However, if you broke any rules in the private suite, an additional $40,000 would be deducted from the prize fund."
"That's how much faith we had in both of you," Avery says and intentionally, makes it sound like a warning to them.
You take another look around and can see that most of everyone regrets their decisions already.
"I can reveal that Rio and Mikaela did break the rules," Lana announces.
-
YOU: Don't say I didn't warn you.
-
To say that he's disappointed would be an understatement.
Han can't believe that someone he thinks that's like a brother to him would do such stupid things. He knows that he should not do it, they should take this test as a way to earn everyone's trust but they wasted it away.
Not to mention, wasted some more money too.
"What did you do?" Nya asks.
"We maybe uhm... kissed," Mikaela answers.
"Again?" Asher gasps in shock.
"Did you think for a second that maybe it's not a good idea? That you knew you had to resist it?" Avery says, gritting her teeth as she speaks to Mikaela.
To everyone's surprise, Mikaela doesn't look like she's feeling guilty or shows even the slightest of remorse on her pretty face.
"And because you kissed twice, you have been fined an additional $12,000."
Han thinks that's already the worst of it but Lana doesn't stop there.
"That means your night at the suite has cost the group a total of $52,000."
"I'm sorry I failed you all," Rio finally speaks up for the first time today.
"We-we don't know you bet all of that money on us," Mikaela defends but that's so out of touch.
"But we— You were put to the ultimate test," Avery pressed the focus on the matter and that she shouldn't blame everyone when they're the ones who shit the bed.
"I know," Mikaela says, defeated but still not looking sorry for what she did.
"The prize fund now stands at $87,000. Goodbye."
-
HAN: $52,000 for two kisses? [Shakes head] It's not even funny anymore.
-
You walk back to the dressing room to finish getting ready for the day even though you don't feel like doing it anymore after losing more than half of the prize money when it's not even halfway of the retreat.
You take a long sip of water from your tumbler then sit on your usual spot on the vanity table.
Nya, Gwen, and Sawyer are there too, probably can't find anywhere else to vent but here. The room is loud with their rant and frustrated groans.
Unfortunately, Mikaela steps into the dressing room and everyone gets quiet as she takes a seat on the chair. She looks at everyone but none of them is looking at her.
"I feel like I need to come here and talk to everyone," she says.
You pick up your eyebrow pencil and carefully fill in your eyebrows with it while looking into the mirror.
"You guys shouldn't put your trust in us," Mikaela says.
Instead of sincerely apologizing, Mikaela flips it back to everyone and hopes that it'll make everyone feel better. Nya scoffs at that while the others keep on ignoring her.
"I feel guilty. I feel so bad right now," Mikaela says in the hope that's enough to assure everyone that she's sorry.
Sawyer puts down her hairbrush and starts talking, "I don't think you're sorry for doing it."
You look to the side and see that Sawyer is speaking up for everybody here.
"I think you just feel bad at how bad we're reacting," Sawyer points out.
And she's right. Mikaela only feels bad because no one is taking her side and not because she feels bad for what she did.
"I mean, is it like what? Seven times? You're obviously not sorry for what you're doing," Nya also can't help herself from adding to it.
It's clear that everyone is not pleased with Mikaela and her behavior, especially without Avery on her side to help her.
-
YOU: Mikaela, [holds up hand] please!
-
"I'm genuinely sorry from the bottom of my heart," Rio begins with a heartfelt apology as the boys gather in the bedroom.
Han is not sure an apology would ail this sense of betrayal he feels but at the same time, he doesn't know what Rio can do to make it go away.
"If you were smart, you should have slept away from each other," Finn rants.
Meanwhile, Asher is sitting still on his bed, scratching at his head with a blank expression on his face.
"I put everything on you, man..." Peyton says with a low sigh.
Han still doesn't know what to say but he guesses that Rio can see the disappointment on his face as he presses his lips together into a thin line.
"I'm genuinely sorry," Rio apologizes again.
He leans forward with his hands clasped in front of him, "Over time, you'll see that," he finishes.
If only his apology brought back the money they'd lost, Han wouldn't be this mad and so would anyone, but well...
-
HAN: Obviously, they had no idea we risked that much money on them and I do feel sorry but they should have known it's called the ultimate test for a reason.
-
"Looking like a handsome sausage!"
Han breaks into laughter as you watch him getting ready in the bathroom, then continues combing his dark hair while looking into the mirror.
"We got called to the cabana," you inform, leaning your body against the doorframe of the bathroom.
"Bleugh!" Han reacts with a groan and takes a can of hairspray for his hair.
"I know," you agree with him.
Han is indeed looking good in his red shirt and dark slacks but oftentimes, he wonders why he is impeccably dressed up just to get anxious over a talking cone.
"My belly is turning," you whisper to him.
Unluckily, Han can't give you the comfort you need when he feels the same way. He puts a hand on yours and intertwines it, resting it on your thigh.
The cone chimes and everyone gets tensed at the sound of it.
"From the date I've gathered during your stay in retreat so far," Lana skips the usual greeting and that only means she's angry.
"I must inform you that some of you have not demonstrated the capacity to make deeper, emotional connections."
Is it what Han thinks it is?
"Oh, my days..." Nya weakly gasps.
He holds your hand tighter, afraid that his thought manifested into reality.
"There are two guests that have not committed to the retreat or show signs of progress."
It's becoming real now that his heart is pounding out of his chest. At this point, he can't tell who these two people are because Lana is the only one who can objectively see everyone's progress in this retreat.
"And I must bring their time here to an end."
He can't believe what he heard but as you press your head into his shoulder, he knows he heard it right. Lana is sending two people home, right now.
-
HAN: I am freaking out. I want to get to know her and see where that might go so... I don't want to go home.
-
The possibility that this might be his last night in the retreat is there. Han puts his arm around you, pulling you close and putting his head close to you, catching that natural scent of your body as he breathes you in.
"The first person who has to leave the retreat tonight is..."
Everybody is nervous and the tension is rising, everyone is uncomfortable in their seats. Han is stressed, thinking that it would be him.
"Sawyer."
Nya, the one sitting next to her, throws her hands around her while Fabian who sits on the other side, gently squeezes her shoulder.
"Sawyer, you have failed to commit to the process or make any emotional connections. I have calculated that you have the lowest possibility of forming meaningful relationships," Lana lays out the reasons why she's being sent out of the retreat.
Sawyer sadly smiles and looks at everyone, "It's okay, you guys," she says but her eyes are glossy with tears.
Nya rests her head on her shoulder and holds her hand, snuggling up to her as if she's the one who needs the comfort not the other way around.
"The second person leaving the retreat tonight is..."
Han feels like someone is squeezing his heart dry and his throat is closing up, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Peyton."
Han is unconsciously gripping your shoulder and you end up holding him, providing him the comfort he seeks by placing rubs on his back.
"Peyton, you have continued to display behavior from your player past and you have shown no remorse or signs of change."
Peyton puts on a smile and coyly says, "I don't say much but all of you are like family to me."
Avery sniffs with her eyes wet with tears while Nya looks like she knows it's coming for him.
"Sawyer and Peyton, please leave the retreat."
It feels like he's letting them down even though Han is not the one with the decision to cut them off the show. He feels sorry for them as he hugs them and bids them farewell.
"See you again, everyone!" Sawyer says for the last time before leaving the villa.
Everyone is just as gutted as he is, sitting on the sofa waiting for Lana to finish speaking.
"I hope the rest of you take this as a lesson to take this process more seriously."
When bedtime comes, it feels not right to see one bed empty.
He feels bad for them but he's also relieved that it's not him and you, he's not ready to go home yet. Moreover, he is determined to make progress in this retreat.
He dives into your arms and lets you hold him, keeping him in your warm embrace.
As if you know he needs your comfort, you gently rub the back of his neck, "I'm still here," you whisper with a soft laugh.
He smiles hearing that and places a kiss on your cheek, "I know."
-
HAN: We've just started getting to know each other so I'm glad that we're staying.
-
It's another day in the retreat and another day of spending hours to get ready for the day.
You understand that you should look presentable because you're in a TV show but doing it for almost two weeks now, you're getting tired of it now.
"You look cute in that bikini, babe," Avery compliments you as you put on a black pair of bikini.
You take a step back to see the whole look in the mirror, "Mmh, yeah, I look good," you agree with her.
One thing you learn in this retreat other than making emotional connections is that you like hanging out with girls.
Instead of rivalry, the girls are very supportive of each other, you can see that from compliments being thrown around the dressing room every five minutes.
The only girl that isn't vibing with you is Lana.
After a very intense day yesterday, you feel like turning the other way instead of going to the cabana. It's like you can't go on with your day without seeing her cone-shaped body.
"Come, baby cake," Han holds his hand out at you.
You take his hand only to let him pull you hard until you topple onto his lap, making you laugh as he puts his hands around you.
"It's kind of suspicious to me that there are presents for us," Asher says.
You wouldn't notice the small boxes on the table if Asher didn't say anything, not sure if it's a present but it looks like it from how the lid is wrapped with a pretty bow.
"Hello, everyone," Lana greets as soon as she comes online.
You get off Han's lap to sit on the sofa since it's not a good time to get cuddly.
"I have a gift for each of you."
Lana confirms your guess but you get nervous instead of excited for it. It's never just a gift, there must be something else in there.
"What it is, Lana?" Finn asks.
"The gifts will serve as a reward for those couples who show me that they're taking the right steps toward deeper connections. They will be given the chance to take those connections further."
Everyone is intently listening, probably wondering if there's a catch behind this sudden gift-giving.
"Can we open it?" Nya asks with eagerness.
With the cue given by the staff, everyone takes one box from the table and discovers a smartwatch inside.
"For free?" Han innocently asks you.
You're cackling as you put the watch around his wrist and let him do the same with yours.
"When I observe two people forming a genuine connection, they will be given a green light like this..."
Lana demonstrates it by turning the watches green along with a melodic chime of hers and everyone is cheering in reaction.
"... where the rules do not apply for a little amount of time."
Han leans in to whisper into your ear to relay Lana's message, "Green light means we can fuck."
You burst into laughter and gently push his head away, stopping him from saying another silly thing. That doesn't stop him from resting his chin on your shoulder.
"I would like to remind you that those who do not receive a green light are not displaying enough progress."
You see that everyone is excited about these watches, well, the idea of getting a pass to rule break is nice but knowing Lana, earning a green light wouldn't be easy.
"Thank you, Lana!" You thank her nonetheless.
-
YOU: With this [shows watches] I think I'm ready to deepen my connection with Han.
-
Motivated by the promise of a green light, you pull Han aside, walking to the beach together to get some privacy to talk with him.
You both sit on rocks facing the beach with the surface of the water reflecting the afternoon sun at you. You've been meaning to talk to him about your feelings and you don't like talking about your feelings so it's going to be hard to open up.
However, you know he gave you a lot and you've only given him so little.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about us," you begin.
"Okay," Han says with a nod.
"I know I've been holding myself back a little," you admit to him with a thin smile.
"A little?"
You smile at that and corrected it, "I keep my guard up."
"I think the Avery situation plays on the back of your head, huh?" He correctly guesses.
Well, that's one of the reasons so you nod, "Yeah, it does."
Han gazes into your eyes even though he has to squint under the bright sun to do that, "I barely spoke two words with Avery, I didn’t vibe with her. It was purely physical attraction," he says.
He pulls his legs and puts his hands on his knees, "But spending time with you, getting to know you, it all feels natural, you know?"
You nod in agreement because it does feel natural like you've known him for years instead of days.
"I feel like now... if anyone else came in, I'd still stick with you no matter what," he earnestly says to you.
It feels like discovering a new side of him and this talk feels intimate because it feels like you're talking to his heart from how open and sincere he is with his words.
"It's not just that," you confess.
It's been so long that you haven't been this open to anyone that you forgot how and it scares you so much. You keep retreating even though you keep reminding yourself to lower your guard down even just a little.
"The last time I opened up to someone, I got badly hurt and it makes me scared of commitment," your heart aches as the truth escapes your mouth.
"That's my problem," you say with a nervous laugh.
Somehow, letting those hurt out sets you free from the burdening past and you feel so much lighter and better. As you gaze into his eyes, you feel like you can tell him anything now.
"Yesterday made a massive difference."
"What do you mean?" He asks with an eyebrow raised.
"I didn't want to lose you," you sincerely tell him.
Han leans forward, trying to get as close to you until his knees bump with yours. He takes your hands and holds them while keep looking into your eyes.
"I knew that you were the only one I connected with since day one," you confess and you hope it's enough to tell him how you really feel.
He smiles at you, the silly one that makes you can't help but smile back to him.
"I want to kiss you now," he says to you.
"We can't. Unless this turns green," you remind him while showing him the watch on your wrist.
He then looks at the vast sea behind you and comes up with an absurd idea, "Do you think Lana's rules still applies on international water?"
This is why you like him, he's not only tugging at your heartstrings but he also shakes it, teases it, and twirls it around his little finger.
-
YOU: To be honest, I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else but him [smiles]
-
sThe boys are off to do a workshop in the front yard and the girls are hanging out by the beach, talking about, well... boys.
"It's so hard to keep my hands off of him," Gwen shares.
Recently, a few people have been doing bed swaps. Since the night Asher kissed her, Gwen now shares the bed with him while Avery is now sharing the bed with Nya.
"How do you feel about him?" You ask out of curiosity.
Gwen brushes her hair to the side, "I like that he's so fun to be with and not afraid to make a fool out of himself," she answers.
"Do you see any possibility that it could be more than that?" You ask.
The question seems to take her aback that she takes a minute to think, "Yeah, I think so but let's see," she vaguely answers.
"It'd be amazing to have more people in here," Avery says.
Nya turns her head around to look at Avery, "And more of my type," she adds.
"Someone with confidence, masculinity..." Avery lists all of the things she wants from a man.
"And big hands!" Nya continues her sentence which sends everyone into laughter.
"We just need more meat in here!" Nya desperately wishes her heart out and hopes that it's loud enough for Lana to hear.
It's like Lana hears their prayers, someone steps into the villa but unfortunately, it's not one she wishes for.
Avery lets out a shriek and covers her mouth too late to muffle it, "Oh, my God!"
"Is that a new girl?" Mikaela asks, looking suddenly intimidated but doing a great job masking it with excitement.
The new girl waves her hands, looking at everyone with a bright smile on her face, "Hello, hi, babes!"
You hear a British accent and that explains the distinct charms she has. When she introduces herself, she holds strong eye contact with you, "I'm Portia."
You exchange a quick hug and kiss both cheeks, "You're gorgeous," you tell her in admiration.
"No, you're gorgeous," she flips the compliment back at you with a sweet smile that showcases her dimples.
The girls look fine sharing the attention with the new girl but you can see the sheer disappointment drawn on Nya and Avery's faces.
But guess what? Another guest walks into the retreat and finally, it's one they're looking for.
It's a whole lot of meat in one man, Nya will have her desired feast. He's tall, has stunning brown skin, and a charming smile, you spot a few tattoos on his body too.
"I'm Ed," he introduces himself around.
He looks pleased being the only man in the villa at the moment, "You're all so beautiful," he says with a grin.
Avery is smitten already, she can't take her eyes off of Ed. You're afraid that she has to share him with Nya and you notice that his eyes are on you.
"So, what is your type, Ed?" You ask, being the one to start the conversation so the available girls would know which one he's more into.
"I don't really have a type, just someone I vibe with," he coyly answers.
Avery laughs even though there's nothing funny with what he said. On the other hand, Mikaela seems to be worried that the new girl is going to steal Rio away from her when clearly, she hasn't even met him yet.
"What about you? Do you have a type?" Mikaela asks her.
"Tall, gorgeous, nice smile..." Portia answers with a giggle.
You almost choked on air hearing it, "That's Rio," you blurt out.
"Well, Rio and I, we've been together since day one so..." Mikaela indirectly tells the new girl to not touch his man. She may as well piss on Rio to mark her territory.
You exclude yourself from their chat and decide to join the other group of girls talking to the new guy.
"That's some sick tattoos you got there," Ed says as he looks at the tattoos on your arm.
"Thank you. You got some uh... impressive ones," you say, but it's hard looking at them when his toned abs keep distracting you.
He lightly touches your inner arm to show you which one he likes, "This. I like this."
You shudder at the contact like you've been zapped by electricity and at the same time, you see the boys are returning from the workshop.
-
YOU: New guests mean more rule breaks [laughs] I just hope that they catch up on our progress fast [laughs]
-
What is happening? Han comes back from the workshop to find that there are two new guests in the villa.
One is a beautiful brunette and the other one is a tattoed guy with tousled hair that makes him look like he's just rolled out of the bed looking attractive like that.
If Lana's plan is trying to intimidate him, no, it's not working. However, if the plan is to try to make him jealous then yes, she's succeeded at it.
The new guy touching your arm in an excuse to see your tattoo and as a player himself, he knows that it's just one of his tricks.
Everyone is going around introducing each other and he can see that Finn and Fabian have their eyes on the new girl, surprisingly, Rio too. He looks over to Mikaela and she has the right to drill a hole on her head with her laser eyes.
"Portia, what do you think about the boys? Do you like what you see?" Asher asks, representing the curious singles in the villa.
"Yeah," she shortly answers.
"I'm excited to have fun and get to know everyone," she says with her eyes daringly glancing in Rio's direction.
"Are you planning on breaking rules or what?" Finn asks straight to the point, still has his priorities right as the sex police.
Portia giggles at that and then lightly shakes her head, "I can't promise anything."
This new girl looks cute, with freckles dusted her cheeks and a dimpled smile but he senses that she's going to stir things up in this retreat.
With the two new guests, the dressing room is a lot more crowded than usual. Han dresses up in a black shirt and jeans, styling his hair with Asher putting his long hair into a bun next to him.
"What do you think?" Asher asks him for his opinion.
He looks at him, up and down to know if the whole look complements each other, "Great, man," he says.
Seeing the new guy able to land his hand on you merely a few minutes after he stepped into the villa, Han feels like he needs reassurance that you're still doing it with him, getting to know each other and making deeper connections.
It's so easy to play cool and confident but you've seen everything in him, he knows that you'll see right through him.
No one ever told him that liking someone makes him more insecure about himself.
While everyone else is hanging around the new guests at the firepit, he pulls you aside to talk on the small sofa where you both squeeze yourselves into.
Han slouches with his head resting against the sofa, looking up at you while you're propping a hand under your head and one leg draping between his legs.
You look so beautiful in that tight black dress, you smell so good and those lips tantalize him more than usual tonight.
With his arm around you, he aimlessly runs his fingers on the small of your back, "What do you think of the new guy?"
You peer down at his face and ask back, "Ed?"
He's only been here for hours and you already addressed him with his name. Again, no one ever told him that liking someone makes him think irrationally.
"Do you think he's good-looking?"
You think for a second then nod, "Yeah."
"Handsome?"
"Mmh," you nod again.
"And I'm not handsome?" He asks with a grin but genuinely curious what you think of him physically.
You crack a laugh and think again for a while, "Yeah."
"'Yeah I'm not handsome' or 'Yeah I'm handsome'?"
You're laughing instead of answering and his hand stops moving on your back, waiting for you to answer.
"Is that why you don't want to kiss me?" He asks, turning serious all of a sudden, then looks away to not let you see how embarrassed he is asking you this.
You stop propping your head with your hand and put your hand on his chest, "First of all, you're not handsome," you tell him.
"I'm super handsome, I know," he entertains himself.
"You're cute," you say with a gentle pinch on his chin, "And I like cute guys.
That makes him look back at you with a smile that blooms on his face, "How cute?"
You lean in close to tease him, leaving only a few inches of space between your lips and his, "Very cute."
Han is already dizzy with your warm, sweet breath brushing his cheek as you speak. His eyes drop to your lips as they tantalize him more and more.
"Kiss me then, I'm cute," he teases back by putting his hand on the nape of your neck, not letting you back away.
"How about Lana? The money, mmh?" You softly rub the tip of your nose against his cheek.
"I don't think they'd mind us breaking a rule," Han reckons since none of you have broken any rules yet it's more likely that everyone will let it pass.
You cup his jaw and softly swipe his lips with your thumb, "You think so?"
From the way you're looking at his lips, he knows that this is also what you want.
"Yeah..." he breathlessly says, his throat getting dry the more he craves your lips.
"Mmh..." you answer with a sultry hum.
Han can't take it anymore. He slowly pulls your head close until your lips collide in an explosive kiss, a kiss that obliterates his senses and stirs chaos inside his head.
His tongue pries open your mouth and you eventually cave in, letting him invade you, tasting more of you. He's so deep in it, drowning himself in it that breathing doesn't feel necessary anymore to him.
Oh, he loves your low moans that slip out against his lips and the hand that lingers on his neck. He also feels your leg slowly rubbing his inner thigh, inviting the other part of him to come and join.
He almost pouts when you pull away from the kiss, and you console him with a quick peck on the lips, "That's enough for tonight," you say.
He doesn't want to stop but he looks at the bright side of things, there's always another night.
"We should wipe that lipstick mark..." you sigh as you clean his lips with your thumb.
His hand flies to your lips, helping you to fix your smudged lipstick so as to not leave any evidence for everyone to see. However, touching your lips only makes him want to kiss you again.
As if you're reading his mind, you immediately retract yourself from him to get a space, you take the chance to fix your hair and then your dress.
He helps by pulling down the hem of your dress to cover your exposed thighs. He leans to your side and whispers, "That was a good kiss."
That doesn't enough for him, he then throws himself at you, putting his arms around you as he pinned you down on the sofa, "Fuck, that was so good," he sighs again into the crook of your neck.
Wrapping your arms around him, you bring your mouth close to his ear and murmur, "Don't get used to it."
-
HAN: It feels like I kissed a girl for the first time all over again [smiles]
-
Lana seems to let him go for the night and Han can't tell if he should feel lucky or what.
Eventually, Lana will tell everyone and everyone will know that they kissed, he is very well aware of that.
But God! That kiss was so good and it was worth every penny of that $6,000 he spent on it. He didn't even think of the money because he was kissing you and you're such a good kisser.
It wouldn't be like every other night, it would be hard for him to sleep next to you tonight and not try to kiss you. He licks his lips to get any taste of you that lingers in his and his head is spinning, a little lightheaded thinking of the kiss.
Most of everyone is already on their beds and he's been waiting for you long enough he starts to get antsy. Truthfully, he just can't wait to see you so he walks to the dressing room, he finds you sitting and applying something to your face.
"Baby," he calls you from the doorway.
"Yeah?" You answer without looking away from the mirror.
"When are you coming to bed?" he asks, half whining.
"In a few minutes," you reply, carefully dabbing the skin around your eyes with your finger.
"Come to bed..." he grumbles as he walks up to you only to realize that someone else is there.
The new girl, Portia, is brushing her hair on the other side of the vanity table. Han immediately gets embarrassed for acting like a toddler to you, not knowing there's someone else there.
"You guys are very cute," She shortly comments with a smile.
Han can only wait until Portia leaves the room to start talking with you, even though he's not sure if it's a good idea to be alone with you.
He watches as you dab your lips with lip balm and smack them together, inviting him to touch and feel the softness of your lips.
"Put some on me too," he says.
You hand him the lip balm to put it on himself but he refuses, shaking his head at you. You reluctantly put it on for him, and slowly glides the lip balm on his lips.
"Okay, now we're ready to kiss," he says after smacking his lips together.
You gently push him away and swivel your chair to the other way, "Told you not to get used to it," you say, getting up from the chair.
He puts his arms around you, hugging you from the back while you're putting your things back into your make-up bag. You smell so good that he can't help but plant his nose in your neck, getting himself drunk in your scent.
You start walking in the direction of the door, dragging him to you with your hands on his, "Let's go to bed."
"One more kiss," he whispers with a soft kiss on the sensitive skin behind your ear.
You look at him through the reflection in the mirror with his head buried in your neck, "We can't rule break again," you tell him.
He starts whining like a baby, humming against your skin with his arms tightening around you.
"You're just a baby, mmh?" You gently nudge his chin with your shoulder.
"It's better to get scolded for two kisses than one," he offers his idea to you.
You softly laugh at him and you seem to be more worried about anyone finding the two of you here alone from the way you keep looking at the doorway.
"I know you want it too," he teases you, then playfully bites at your ear shell.
You take his hands away from you but instead of walking away, you push him until he's pinned against the Asher's close on the other side of the dressing room to prevent anyone from walking in on you unnoticed.
"You won't stop until we do it, mmh?" You murmur, putting your body against him and dropping your hands on his shoulders.
He looks into your eyes as they sparkle and he can see that you want it too. But you get ahead of him, crashing your lips against him and knocking the air out of him.
Somehow this kiss is better than the first one and he gets even hungrier for you, opening his mouth to take more of you.
He twirls your tongue with yours and mischievously, you gently tug it between your teeth as he tries to pull away, giggling when you finally let go.
The temperature in the room seems to have raised a few degrees, making him feel hot all over yet he pulls you incredibly closer, leaving not even an inch between your bodies. He has one hand on the arch of your back and the other on the nape of your neck so he can angle your head as he pleases
With your body pressed against him, he can feel it starts to mold to his body and he wants to feel every curve of your body with his hand.
You immediately drag his hand back as he attempts to touch your rear, clicking your tongue at him as you pull away from the kiss.
"That's enough rule breaks!"
You leave him with his mouth hanging open and his lips wet from the kisses, it's cruel that you leave him wanting more.
"We can't enter the bedroom together so..."
You take steps back from him and walk in the direction of the door, "Wait for a few minutes then you can come to the bedroom," you instruct him.
He manages to catch your hand before you walk away, "One more kiss."
"No!" You refuse but with a sly smirk on your face, hinting that you're not completely opposed to the idea.
"I know you like it," he says, standing in the middle of the room, defeated.
You stop by the doorway and look over your shoulder, "I meant it, wait for a few minutes!" You remind him.
You know what? They'll eventually know so he doesn't why you bother to avoid everyone's suspicion.
-
HAN: I started paying attention to the little things she does. How she purrs in her sleep like a kitten or scrunches her nose before smiling [shyly laughs] everything about her is adorable except the kisses... her kisses are out of this world!
-
Is this how everyone feels when they know they're about to get exposed by Lana?
Surely, you can't calm down like usual since you blatantly broke the rules twice last night. You didn't even think about the money at that time and the guilt only hit you right now, fast and hard.
Well, it's not like you commit a murder or something, it's just a kiss, well... two kisses and they cost $12,000. You gulp air thinking of the money you spent on those two kisses but in your defense, it was worth every cent of it.
You glance at Han and he flashes a knowing smile at you, there's no way out of this but through.
When the chime comes, your heart drops to your stomach and you inhale air to calm yourself.
"Hello, everyone," Lana starts the session as usual with a lukewarm greeting.
"Hey, Lana," you reply with a weak smile.
Han takes your hand so you can stop playing with the frayed hem of his sleeveless top and takes your other hand, pinning your hands by the wrists on his lap to make you stop fiddling altogether.
"I must now inform you that yesterday, further rulebreaks occurred."
You turn your head at him and he's looking calm, he even winks his eyes at you which you respond with a scoff.
Avery points her finger at Mikaela and Rio, the biggest spender in the villa.
"Not us," Mikaela immediately denies.
You look at Han, giving him the signals to start talking before the tension rises. He gets the cue right away, letting go of your hands to hold it instead.
"It's us," he coyly says.
Rio says something in Portuguese while Asher claps his hands, both impressed at him. You see that the response is not as horrifying as you thought it would be.
"Did you kiss or did anything else?" Finn asks, wanting to know how much you did so he can calculate the damage.
"We kissed. Twice," Han answers.
You get so embarrassed at how proud he is at admitting the rule breaks that you start laughing next to him. You suppress another wave of laughter to apologize.
"We're sorry, guys, everyone," you sincerely tell them.
-
YOU: Everyone is taking it well and I think it's because they know we have a genuine connection here.
-
"These rule breaks have cost the group $12,000," Lana informs.
However, you know it's not going to stay this calm when the bills turn up.
"The prize fund now stands at $75,000."
Now everyone's faces dim at the amount of money left in the prize fun and it's not much. You are sorry for breaking the rules but it's not right to put the whole blame on you.
Avery crosses her hands together and warns everyone, "No more rule breaks!"
It's so easy to say for her to say now. It was easy for you to refrain from anything sexual but now that you have a partner and you try to build a connection with him, it's so hard because physical affection helps you to achieve this connection you're having with him now.
"Is that all, Lana?" Finn asks.
"As you know, I encourage genuine romantic connections so I have planned dates for our latest guests," Lana comes with an announcement instead.
That gets the new guests, Portia and Ed excited hearing it. Only Mikaela looks like she's plotting a murder plan in her head.
"Ed, please select someone from the group to take on a date," Lana orders.
Feeling like he needs to show ownership over you, Han puts his arm around you as Ed is looking at the girls to take on a date.
Ed's eyes land at you for a second before it shift to Nya, "Are you up for anything later, Nya?"
Nya smiles so brightly and pretends to not care, "I don't know. I'll have to go check my schedule," she jokingly says.
You look at Avery and she looks a bit disappointed with it. She is pretty and all but maybe Nya fits his vibe more.
"Portia, please select someone from the group to take on a date."
Han leans into your ear and whispers, "I'd be worried if I were you."
You snort at that and you're not saying that there's zero possibility for it, it's just that you know Portia has her eyes on Rio. Not sure if she's gutsy enough to take someone's man on a date.
"Uhm... I would like to try and get to know someone," Portia says and she happens to sit next to Rio.
"I'd like to take..." she stalls with her eyes secretly glancing at Rio.
"Rio on a date," she finally says.
There's no one here that is not surprised by her daring move. Portia may look adorable with her freckles and blonde hair tied into pigtails but damn, she is ballsy.
"Sorry, Mikaela," she says to her but you don't hear any guilt in that apology.
Mikaela only nods and forces herself to smile, "Here we go," she sighs.
This only reminds you that you're indeed in a TV show and you believe the viewers would enjoy this drama so much because you're secretly enjoying it too.
"Thank you very much for the date," Rio says which only takes the drama further and sets Mikaela on fire.
Gosh, you feel incredibly good for not being a part of that drama. You put your hand across Han's chest and are just grateful that what you have with him is genuine.
-
YOU: If Rio kisses Portia on their date [shakes head] all hell will break loose on this retreat.
-
Mikaela is pacing around in the dressing room while the girls are getting ready for the night, except the ones that are on their dates.
"You have every right to feel like this. It's so shitty, I know," Avery says, validating her emotion while doing her make-up.
You see that Mikaela is on the verge of crying as she holds the back of her chair and grips at it, "it's been hard for me to build a genuine connection with Rio," she says.
Avery pauses doing her make-up to give her a gentle squeeze on her arm, "I know, I know," she comforts her.
Putting the drama aside, you feel bad for her because as wild as you can be you refrain from stealing someone's man. It's girls code and you're not a fan of anyone that has no respect for that.
"Mikaela, sit down, honey," you tell her because she's looking like she's about to faint.
She obeys you, taking a seat next to Avery and rubbing her temple in distress, "If he goes in and his head turns, just know that he's making poor decisions," she stutters her words trying to hold in her tears.
You're bad at comforting people so the least you can do is listen to her and make sure she feels heard.
"He's entertaining this, he-he's..." Mikaela can't keep it anymore so she bursts into tears.
In a second, Avery comes to her aid, holding her as she's crying. You reach for her shoulder to place tender rubs on it to comfort her.
"It's just that... I haven't been vulnerable to one person in so long," she says with a quivering voice.
You can relate to that more than ever and you'd feel the same way if it happened to you.
-
YOU: That's just what happens when you get too close to someone, they'll gain the power to control your emotions.
-
Consider him lucky that Mikaela-Rio-Portia drama diverted everyone's attention away from his $12,000 worth of rule break.
But here's a new problem: Han craves it more than before.
He blames you for having such addictive kisses that he can't wait to have more of it. However, he craves for something more than just kisses now.
Yes, he's aware of how dangerous it sounds but how can he can stop thinking about sexual things when you're always looking so damn sexy.
Just like tonight, you look so gorgeous in that black silk dress with thin straps and it showcases your beautiful neck that he wants to tear it off of you.
You drain your wine before sitting on his lap, "Hi, crawdaddy," you greet him with a giggle.
He sees you licking the drop of wine trying to escape the corner of your mouth and he wishes he could do it for you.
"You look so hot," he praises you with his hands on each side of your waist.
"Mmh?" You squint at him.
"What do the kids say now?" He thinks for a moment before continuing, "Fire!"
You laugh at his choice of compliments and put your hands on his muscular chest.
"You're fire!" He says again with a sly grin.
The night is lovely with the full moon hanging in the sky and the winds blowing so softly, brushing his skin with salty, warm air.
But all he can feel is the touch of your fingertips on his neck as you look into his eyes, "What are you thinking?"
Should he tell you what is inside his head right now? Not sure if it's a good idea though.
Han tucks the strands of hair escaping your ponytail behind your ear and keeps his hand there, holding one side of your head with such love.
"We have so much sexual chemistry going on, don't you think?"
"Mm-mmh," you nod in agreement.
"And I think we can have sex," he says.
Before you get it wrong, he quickly adds, "Only if you want to have sex."
You nod again and scratch the tip of your nose with your knuckle.
He puts your hand away and leans in close, "What do you think?"
You seem to hesitate to answer him, "Hmm..."
He leans in closer and places a soft kiss on your neck, you keep a safe distance with your hand firmly resting against his chest.
"I think we should stick to the rules," you tell him.
Then you put your hand on his neck and look at him as you continue talking, "I just don't want us to have sex and suddenly things change, I don't want things to change between us."
He pulls you close and locks his arms around you, "Things are not going to change between us," he assures you.
"I know," you say, "I'm just scared that it would happen."
He completely understands what you're saying that you're afraid that sex would change things between you and him.
"I know what you mean," he tells you.
To console himself, Han places another soft kiss on your cheek and looks at you as you endearingly brush his hair to the back.
"Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have sex with you," you bluntly say with a sly smirk.
"But..." You don't even get to finish your words as you pull him into a hug but that proves you're just as sexually frustrated as he is.
You pull away to look down at his crotch, patting his thigh as you say, "Down, boy!"
Han laughs, embarrassed that you know he's having a boner when you're only sitting on his lap. He wants you so much but at the same time, he wants to prove that it's just more than physical attraction.
With or without sex, he's a happy man to be with you.
-
HAN: I've been horny as it is... [sucks air through teeth] Hopefully I can hold out.
-
Another drama unfolds during bedtime.
You're joining Avery in chatting on Asher's bed, the three of you are chatting when Mikaela suddenly comes. She looks unhappy, duh, you'll be too when your man is on a date with another girl.
"Portia has disrespected me, she said some things on the date so I will be having some conversations with her," she says.
The three of you automatically look at each other and notice that Mikaela is having a meltdown. There's a concerning thing going on in the room so you walk back to your bed and so is Avery.
Mikaela is impatiently waiting for Portia to come into the bedroom while Rio is comfortably snuggling close to her on the bed.
You don't wait to share it with Han once he gets onto the bed, telling him everything he missed while he's away in the dressing room.
"Things can get ugly and I'm worried," you tell him.
Mikaela is an intelligent person, but when it comes to her emotions, she can be intense and almost volatile. You're right to never try to mess with her.
Han offers his arm as your pillow so he can cuddle you as it gets intense in the bedroom, you can see that from how everyone is looking tense on their beds.
The wind sends the door shut and Han gets startled, thinking that it's Portia as his head snaps in the direction of the door.
"What a fucking stress!" He sighs as he snuggles to you while you're lowly chuckling at his reaction.
The drama has to end in an unsatisfying way because Portia doesn't get on the bed yet even after the lights are out.
-
YOU: Mikaela has this fiery attitude so I... [laughs] I was really afraid that there'd be a fight but thank God for Portia's long bedtime routine.
-
There's already tension between Mikaela and Portia this morning and you can only hope that the workshop will help to sort things out.
There's an instructor already waiting in the front yard and a small bonfire in the middle, you wonder why they set a fire during the day.
"Hello, I'm Amy, a relationship expert," she introduces herself.
Everyone is sitting in a circle around the small bonfire and intently listening to Amy talking.
"Today's workshop is about letting go of the past so that we can be present. Let's talk about any issues in trust that we have with men."
She looks around as she asks, "Who wants to share first?"
No one seems to want to talk about their feelings, including you. You feel uncomfortable letting yourself bare and be vulnerable, especially in front of everyone.
After a few minutes passed in silence, Gwen decides to be the first to share her emotional baggage, a shocking one about how her friend cheated with her boyfriend.
Everyone starts to share their story and when it comes to your turn, you're shriveling a little but you remind yourself that you're in a safe space.
"My thing is when I fall in love, I tend to throw it all out there and end up getting hurt for it so... I kind of become numb because I don't want to get hurt," you honestly share.
"And do you find someone here you want to open to?" Amy asks.
"Yeah," you shyly answer.
You suddenly feel like a schoolgirl falling in love for the first time all over again but isn't it what love does to people? Making you a bit loopy.
"I found someone here that I like and I'm slowly opening up to him, and I'll continue to share more of me with him," you make a promise to yourself.
"That's good. That's great!" Amy praises you.
When you look back, you feel good knowing that you're slowly changing as a person, you came in as someone who's against relationships and now, you're sharing an emotional journey with someone, together.
The workshop started as a heartfelt talk between the girls until Mikaela's turn. You get the feeling that she'll use this as a chance to confront Portia.
"I met Rio here and he's just a really special guy, I've never met anyone like him."
Mikaela is looking at Amy then as she continues talking, she looks at Portia, "Last night, I had to sit through and watch Portia take Rio on a date, and obviously, I feel uncomfortable with it," she tells her right to her face.
You and the rest are watching Mikaela calmly handle her emotions and talk it out in a mature way with Portia.
"I don't want to feel like it has to be a competition or territorial. I want us girls to be on good terms but I think you break a boundary here," Mikaela concludes, throwing the ball at her court.
Portia gets quiet and she takes it all in really well, she smiles at her before speaking, "I respect you for speaking out and I'm sorry," she sincerely says.
A smile finally rises on Mikaela's face, "Thank you so much, Portia, that means a lot," she responds.
Like a parent, you feel proud watching them solving their issues in such a grown-up way and you hope it continues to stay good like this.
Amy then hands out a piece of paper and pens to everyone and comes with a new instruction, "You're going to write the things that have happened with your life that you're ready to let go of and forgive."
It feels good to be able to share things with everyone but it takes everything in you to write things down without getting emotional.
On your paper, you write, 'Good enough, perfect, comparison.'
Amy wants you to share the reason why you wrote those things down. You take a deep breath before explaining it.
"I never feel good about myself but the girls are..." You pause to look at everyone as they smile at you.
"They're all beautiful and kind, they help me learn my differences and things I love about me."
They're all cooing at you and you know how cringe it is but you don't feel embarrassed about it at all. It feels nice to let them know that.
After everyone shares what they wrote on their papers, Amy instructs everyone to take that paper and ball it up before throwing it into the bonfire.
"Just feel like you're putting it all behind you, right?" Amy says.
She gathers everyone into a circle before ending the workshop with a group hug to let go of all the bad and take the good with you.
These girls may seem superficial but you can feel that you and them are in this together and it's a really nice feeling. Despite that you're all different, you feel this sense of belonging toward each other, a sisterhood.
-
YOU: I still have some way to go but I know that I'm learning and Lana is starting to knock down my wall [smiles]
-
Going back to the villa, you go straight to the dressing room to dress up for a party Lana suspiciously throwing tonight.
You put your bad thoughts aside and focus on dressing up for the party as it has a Black and White theme.
Han comes up behind you and playfully bites you on the shoulder.
"Ouch!" You yelp in pain.
You continue fixing your make-up in front of the sink since everyone else is crowding the dressing room, "Why did you do that?"
He puts an arm around your waist, "Because you're edible," he answers with a foolish grin.
You glance back at him and sense that he's chipper than usual. You get it that it's getting hard to stay away from each other with sexual attraction getting more unbearable every day.
Gosh! There's not a day when you don't think of ripping his clothes off and having hot, filthy sex with him.
"That's not how I want you to eat me," you joke back.
He plants a long kiss on your neck, "How do you want me to eat you then?"
You chuckle and look at him, "Want you to eat me well, that is."
He puts his other arm around you and draws you closer, "I can do that."
"Yeah?"
He breathes you in and looks at you through the reflection in the mirror, "I can show you," he says.
Before it gets dangerous, you put an end to this conversation and playfully elbow his stomach.
"Ouch!" He yelps in pain this time.
You pull him into a hug for an apology and kiss his cheek, "Let's go, hubba hubba!"
A party is necessary so everyone can blow some steam off for being locked up in this sexless retreat but it also means that Lana plans to throw everyone off.
That doesn't stop you from enjoying the night and the company you're with. You're dancing to the music with your hands draping around Han's shoulders as he slowly sways your body together to the fast-paced music.
After the workshop, you feel much lighter and better, more importantly, you feel confident about how you feel. You look at Han and you feel like you can share anything with him, you can see a relationship with him.
So you hold on to him, tighter and closer but Lana, being the ultimate cockblock she is, chimes in and stops the party.
-
YOU: I have no idea what's about to come next but I know it's not going to be good.
-
It's like the fun has evaporated and been replaced by anxiety once everyone is seated in the cabana waiting for Lana to come online.
"I am very disappointed to report there were several breaches of the rules."
When Lana skips the formality and goes straight to the rule breaks, it means that she's pissed off. You feel good for not breaking the rules with Han after the last time so you don't have anything to worry about. You can freely guess who did it this time.
"We kissed on the date," Ed is kind enough to own up to it fast.
"I think it was okay, yeah," Nya adds to it.
Everyone seems to let them get away with it, maybe because it's one kiss and Ed and Nya are a potential couple. You don't know but you sense that they wouldn't like what they hear next.
"Ed and Nya, your rule break has cost the group $6,000."
Avery is rubbing her temple while Finn seems to have had enough of people selfishly spending the prize money.
"There was another breach of the rules," Lana informs.
Everyone is tense once again, looking around to catch any guilty faces and you bet the biggest spender has anything to do with it.
Han looks over his shoulder at you, covering his eyes he says, "I may have broken the rules in the shower," he meekly says.
Surprised, you spit out, "You did what?"
Han can't be doing another rule break with anyone else, you know that for sure and that leaves with one possibility. You cover your eyes this time as he admits it to everyone.
"I did a little... uh self-gratification," he blurts out at once, aware of how embarrassing it is.
Everyone bursts into laughter at his confession as he hides his head in your neck. You can't do much about it since he didn't tell you about it
"Han, your act of self-gratification has cost the group $4,000."
-
YOU: I'm actually quite offended. Did he not want my help?
-
Support my blog by kindly reblog, comment or tip me on my ko-fi!
taglist: @svintsandghosts @abiaswreck @septicrebel @cursed-mars-bars @ppiri-bahng @drhsthl @bluenights1899 @elizalabs3 @avyskai @is2cb97 @simeonswhore @marvelous-llama @linovely @jisungsleftcheek @hanjisbeloved @luvsskzs @knowleeknow @army-stay-noel @bigsobs4skz @toplinehyunjin @channies-luv @foxinnie8 @biribarabiribbaem @dalamjisung @moasworld @sherryblossom @fawnpeaks @lukeys-giggle @obeythemasters @primoppang @devilsmatches @skz-streamer @freckleboilix @idkluvutellme @laylasbunbunny @cutiespaghetti @yourmercibeaucoupsblog @hanjisunginc @shinedreamsmile07 @whyisaah
658 notes · View notes
deadtired-highkeyenergetic · 2 months ago
Text
Destiny
Sorry all, megop angst has just been filling my head and I can't get it out. I promise more Astarion will be coming, more fluff Astarion but I need to get this angst out of the way first. I blame Transformers One for this brainrot.
Tumblr media
Megatron rested his servo on the window, looking out at the sprawling landscape that was his domain. He watched as his army prepared for their next strike, the sound of engines revving and jets soaring through the sky filled his audials and bit back a sigh.
Why do you do this to me, Orion?
He unsheathed his blade, staring at the blade as his own reflection stared back. It wouldn't be the first time his blade would be stained with Energon, and it wouldn't be the last, but it would be the first time his blade would be stained with the Energon of one he loved so dearly.
Back in the gladiator pits, when he was Megatronus, he never allowed himself to get close to anyone, fearing that one day he might have to face them in the arena. Then the brightest star he'd ever seen in his life ducked into his quarters, calling himself Orion Pax. He'd kept the mech at bay initially, wary of anyone who was from the higher castes but the light the star gave off was far too alluring, and Megatron found himself opening up more and more, until he fell into the deep chasm called love.
He started to look forward to their meetings, started to look forward to seeing the shining pale blue optics, started to look forward to hearing the excited chatter as Orion talked about the bright future he envisioned for Cybertron, a future he wanted the gladiator to help bring to fruition. He wanted that future, but more importantly he wanted to spend that future alongside a certain bright star that had illuminated his life.
And then everything changed.
Orion had stood before the Council, the very same Council that had rejected him, and had been granted the title of a Prime. The mech had the audacity to accept the title, continue to uphold the very structure they were to tear down, and worst of all, had betrayed him.
As he left the building, Orion hadn't even bothered to call out to him. Instead, the mech had stood there, basking in the glory of his new title, leaving the one he considered more than a brother in the darkness, all alone.
Megatron ignored the pang in his spark, gritting his denta. Orion was gone now, replaced by the false Prime. The bright optimistic young data clerk had died the day Optimus Prime was born, and with him all hope for a future together. He powered up his fusion cannon, relishing in its low hum and stepped out the door, all trace of Megatronus left back in the privacy of his quarters. He'd have to kill his past young and naive self someday, or that weakness would be his downfall, and he would not be defeated, not by anyone. If Primus didn't want to give him the destiny he desired, then he would grab it with his own two servos and not let go. He didn't need anyone's aid to grasp what was his, he'd always been at it alone and this time would be no different.
The sound of engines roaring and weapons charging up sent his spark thrumming in anticipation. He could feel it in the air, his Decepticons were raring to go, eager to reclaim what was rightfully theirs, and who was he to deny them that? The Autobots would fall before them and know the wrath of the oppressed, they would know the cost of the lies they had been living in. They would be dragged from their towers, their positions of comfort and be forced to face the harsh reality of life — that they were no different from those they had looked down upon their whole lives. His Decepticons would rebuild Cybertron anew, usher it into a true Golden Age where there would be no false Primes, no caste system, no weak-minded fools deciding the fate of the whole population.
A Cybtertron where no one would ever be unwillingly made into entertainment for the masses. A Cybertron where only those who were truly strong would rule. A Decepticon Cybtertron.
Optimus Prime looked at his newly added weapons arsenal, anxiety gnawing away at him. He never wanted it to come to this, come to a war, but Megatron had been the one to declare it, and he could do nothing to stop the Decepticon leader's destruction except to fight him. Or so his officers said. He hated fighting, hated the sound of the battlefield where the groans of the dying mingled with the sound of weapons being fired, hated the smell of Energon that permeated the air. He hated watching as life faded from blue and red optics alike, hated the screams of pain that would sound all around him as he fought for his life. Most of all, he hated feeling powerless, a feeling that threatened to overwhelm him with each and every Autobot death.
He was their Prime, their leader. They looked up to him, looked to him for hope, and yet more of them died as the war raged on, their wishes going unfulfilled. He may not have killed them directly, but they were dead because he had pulled them into his war. Their Energon might as well be on his servos, no matter what the others told him.
He placed a servo on the window to his quarters, heaving a tired sigh. He wanted nothing more than to end this war, but he also knew he couldn't simply roll over and let Megatron have his way. The mech he once called more than a brother would stop at nothing to tear Cybertron apart, bend what remained of the planet to his will, his rule. He had to fight against such tyranny, it went against everything he stood for, everything he once thought Megatronus stood for. Maybe it had been, before Megatron cruelly killed him, burying the revolutionary gladiator beneath red optics.
His spark ached for the bygone days, the soft tender moments where it had just been Megatronus and Orion Pax, two forbidden lovers pining after each other. He missed the tender touches, the small laughs as they hid away from the world, nestled in each other's embrace. Now the same servos crushed all who stood in his way, the lips that once often quirked into a smile now twisted into a scowl of hate.
He knew the mech he faced on the battlefield was Megatron, not Megatronus, but every time his gaze met the red optics burning with fury, he couldn't help but see Megatronus, the mech he had fallen so hard for. He could never bring himself to pull the trigger, emotions overwhelming him every time he tried. The others chastised him for it, telling him that Megatronus was dead, but he couldn't shake the sight from his processor. Deep down, he yearned for them to be together again, even as destiny tore them apart with each step.
A quiet sob tore itself from his throat as the alarm was raised, shouts filling the base as his Autobots readied themselves for a fight they may not survive. Megatron had been sighted, the scouts reported, and Optimus knew he had to face his fears once more. Running a digit one over a piece of carved metal one last time, he snapped his battle mask into place, hiding the pain and sorrow behind a stoic facade and strode out of his quarters.
Had Megatron thrown out his piece already? Optimus found himself wondering. He couldn't bear to throw it away, not when it held such precious memories, and a small part of him hoped that Megatron still kept his. It would give him the sliver of hope he needed, a sign that the mech he had fallen for was still in there somewhere, but he doubted Megatron would ever tell him if he had kept his piece. For now, he had a battle to win, a war to fight for the future of a Cybertron he envisioned.
A Cybertron where all were treated fairly and justly. A Cybertron where all were equal. An Autobot Cybertron.
Megatron felt something prick his arm and frowned. A piece of carved metal, one he thought he had long lost. He stared at it for a moment, feeling buried emotions flare to life but quickly reburied them. He had no time to dig up the past, the only thing that awaited him was the future he was going to build.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the piece of metal flying into the wasteland, and never looked back.
89 notes · View notes
growingstories · 1 year ago
Text
Truck driver
Once upon a time in the beautiful Midwestern city of Springfield, there lived a handsome young man named Jack. Jack was the epitome of Midwestern charm with his friendly smile and muscular physique. He was a star college athlete, playing as a quarterback for his university's football team.
Tumblr media
One fateful day, after a heated argument with his coach over game strategy, Jack's anger got the best of him. In the heat of the moment, he threw a punch at his coach, an act that not only cost him his college career but also left him feeling lost and disheartened. With dreams shattered and a tarnished reputation, Jack was forced to forge a new path for himself.
With limited options, Jack found solace in the open road. He landed a job as a truck driver, which took him on a journey through every state. The long days of driving and the monotony of the road began to take a toll on him. To cope with the loneliness, Jack turned to food as a source of comfort.
Tumblr media
As he feasted on trucker meals at rest stops and indulged in greasy fast food, his once defined six-pack abs slowly disappeared under layers of fat. The lack of time and opportunity for exercise meant his physique suffered.
Tumblr media
One sunny afternoon, at a gas station in a small town in Nebraska, Jack's eyes met those of a petite, beautiful girl named Lily. She worked at the shop and had a radiant smile that captivated him instantly Jack and. Lily's encounters became frequent, and enough soon, a connection blossomed between them.
Tumblr media
Lily noticed Jack's growing waistline and decided to join his journey. Whenever he made a stop at the gas station, she would lovingly pack him her homemade nutritious lunches, replacing the trucker's meals he had grown accustomed to. The hearty meals nourished Jack's body and soul, providing him with both sustenance and the love he craved.
As time passed, Jack's newfound love for Lily and her cooking combined with his old love for indulgent trucker meals led to a significant weight gain. His once-toned physique had transformed into a big, round gut that almost struggled to fit into his truck's seat. To Jack's surprise, Lily loved his bigger frame and encouraged him to embrace his new size.
Tumblr media
Eventually, a career opportunity closer to home opened up for Jack. With the new position, he was able to spend more nights at his own bed, near Lily. The gas shop girl, now his girlfriend, continued to shower him with affection and meals. The convenience of being at home allowed Jack to truly embrace his newfound love for food, and he happily indulged in Lily's delicious cooking.
Tumblr media
Days turned into months, and Jack's appetite continued to grow. The combination of Lily's tasty meals and his love for craft beers at motels led to him expanding further. His large gut now overtook his entire abdomen, making everyday activities a bit more challenging than before.
Tumblr media
Despite the physical toll it took on him, Jack was content with his life. He cherished the love he shared with Lily and reveled in the joy of good food and good company. He had found happiness amidst the open road and the delicious meals that awaited him along the journey.
Tumblr media
And so, Jack continued to drive his truck through the beautiful landscapes of the Midwest. His once fit and muscular physique may have faded away, but his spirits soared as he embraced his larger, fuller self alongside the woman who loved him for who he was. After, all his love for food and companionship were what truly filled his heart.
Tumblr media
556 notes · View notes
woso-dreamzzz · 2 months ago
Note
Tontos HC:
Tontos is the Bruce Wayne of the Woso world. Like she is the richest footballer (even more than Messi and Ronaldo). Like the company she inherits is something she can live off comfortably.
But the thing is, Tontos doesn’t want to be rich. She dumps a lot of funding into her parents company for the workers but increased salaries and more benefits equals increased productivity and retention, so the company is making more money. She gives full benefits to all employees (including part time and contractors) but this back fires as it becomes the #1 worker friendly company. When she sees she is gaining more money from this she begins converting her parents buildings into green buildings with a full plan that is successful to try and get rid of her money. This turns into a branched off business arm that is all for converting other companies’ buildings into green buildings, sparing no expense. It turns out to be so successful in an effective and cost efficient way that she is gaining more profit.
Tontos then goes as to so far as to slash her own salary in the company and invests it into the company but its just so successful she’s gaining profit at an alarming rate. Like she has more money than she knows what to do with. And of course this catches the attention of the media meaning more profits for her company.
Tontos next thought is to invest in her hometown and Barcelona. She makes sure all the buildings are up to date and funds schools, hospitals, charities, clinics, sets up trusts for every one of them, anything to get rid of her money, but by god she is failing at it. Miserably. Like somehow, some way, this is just feeding back into her company and giving her more profits. Like she is just becoming richer against her will.
Because of all this positive PR, people invest into Tontos company. Tontos practically begs for them to stop, only for her cries to land on deaf ears. Tontos then sets up a foundation to pay for everyone’s college tuition in her home town and Barcelona and it begins to work until the public realises what she is doing and also invests in the foundation and everyone’s college begins to be free. She gets so annoyed because she can’t even give her money to her own foundation.
So Tontos tries to invest in football. She funds all of Barca’s trips, gets them the best hotels and training facilities. The healthiest food, the best medical care, anything she can think of. She even goes so far as to fund the team and allowance so they can give their jerseys to children without it docking their pay. All of this just increases play and health among the team that they begin to win more and by a larger margin that their profits soar meaning so does Tontos money. The next step is to invest in other leagues like the NWSL and the WSL but the same effect happens. She even funds a majority of Project ACL but even with all this spending it barely makes a mark in Tontos wealth.
But Tontos lives with Mapi and Ingrid and all their teens and kids. Surely she can distribute some wealth amongst them. Mapi and Ingrid are as stubborn as the day is long and refuse to take any money from Tontos but Tontos secretly pays for everything thing like utilities and groceries. She tries to fund Dirtbag to go to art school but Dirtbag has come up with a mysterious way to give it back to Tontos and it frustrates her to no end. She tries to give some to Sol but Sol teams uo with Dirtbag and just gives it back to her. She’s put away a sizable college fund for all five of Ingrid and Mapi’s children so they can go to college debt free wherever they want and does this for Nena too.
At this point Tontos is just so frustated with trying to get rid of her money but can’t seem to find a way to spend it all. Like after a meeting with her accountants, Ingrid and Mapi just come home to Tontos lying on the ground with Toast in her chest just staring at the ceiling. When Mapi and Ingrid walk over to her to make sure she’s okay, all they get is “I have too much money.”
Okay so I actually love this and have more thoughts:
There's no board overseeing the company and no shareholders so the sole profits are going to Tontos so all of her profits are just being invested back and raising salaries and supporting local charities and Tontos takes the bare minimum because she's already getting paid by Barcelona and Norway to play football
She's trying everything she can to try and limit the amount of money she's getting but all she's doing is getting a very good reputation and people flock to her companies because she gives such good benefits and such good standards for management
She's paid off all of Barcelona's debt and is secretly funnelling money into Mapi and Ingrid's accounts even though they insist she shouldn't pay rent
She's paid for Dirtbag (and Sol's @girlgenius1111 ) uni tuition but they insist on paying her back someday but she tries to tell them that she doesn't want that
She pays for Teeny's art school and all of Sunshine's cameras and Skatt's terrarium and uni and Cub's cafe and Bebita's motorbikes.
She even spoils Toast to the max but no matter how much she spends and donates, it just finds its way back to her and she has no idea what she should do to get rid of it all
49 notes · View notes