Chapter 39 - The Fifth Day

As the sunrise of the fifth day broke, Talon found himself seated by the swimming pool, his suitcase packed and ready. He strummed his guitar, creating a new melody for a song he was working on.

It was a song, the lyrics of which were inspired by a conversation between him and Maya last night. It was about someone who had unknowingly occupied his thoughts, someone he yearned to spend more time with.

Talon poured his emotions into the music, determined to capture the essence of this newfound realization in his song.

As he strummed his guitar, Talon decided to check his social media accounts. He was pleasantly surprised to see a significant increase in his followers - IG: 15,300, Youtube: 9,500, TikTok: 12,400. However, he was still far from the 50 thousand follower mark he aimed for. This journey of gaining followers was proving to be more challenging than he had anticipated.

If Talon hadn't joined the reality show, he might not have had the opportunity to complete the quest at all. So far, he had pushed himself to accomplish many new things, driven by the quest from the system, which indirectly encourages him to do more.

"Good morning…" Maya's voice broke through his thoughts. Carrying her suitcase, she approached Talon with a bright smile.

Talon turned to greet her, returning her smile. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm ready to part ways with the beautiful illusion we created last night," Maya replied playfully, her laughter ringing through the air.

"Maybe we can experience it again in the future," Talon suggested.

Maya gracefully took a seat beside him, her shoulder brushing against his. "Just don't make promises you won't keep," she cautioned, her voice gentle and soothing.

Talon's mind wandered as he considered her words. "But if we're paired up again, there's a possibility for us to have another moment like this, right?" he pondered aloud.

"I know," Maya responded, her gaze meeting Talon's. "But I also know you probably want to spend such a night with someone else. So, I won't expect to be paired with you again."

Standing up, Maya prompted Talon to move. "Come on, I'm sure the others are waiting for us."

Talon nodded in agreement, understanding the unspoken sentiments behind Maya's words.

As the helicopter lifted off, leaving behind the small island that had been their haven for the night, Talon and Maya sat in a contemplative silence. The usual chatter that filled their interactions was noticeably absent, replaced by a quiet introspection.

Talon glanced at Maya, sensing a change in her usual lively demeanor.

Maya playfully turned to him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "What's on your mind? Are you thinking about falling for me?" she teased.

Talon remained silent for a moment.

"What about you, Maya?"

"What?"

"Do you have someone on your mind?" he asked, redirecting the question back to her. "You know what this reality show entails. It's not just about singing. It's about finding a potential romantic partner."

Maya playfully nudged Talon with her shoulder. "Why are you throwing my question back at me?"

"It's only fair," Talon replied with a small smile.

"You didn't answer mine, so I don't owe you an answer either," Maya retorted a hint of mischief in her tone.

"Hey, Talon, look out there," Maya suddenly exclaimed, pointing outside the helicopter. Down below, the other contestants could be seen waving at them, a distant but heartwarming sight.

Maya moved closer to Talon and excitedly waved her hand at the helicopter window. They both knew that the other contestants probably couldn't see them, but it didn't stop them from trying.

As Talon's attention was momentarily diverted, he felt something soft brush against his cheek. Startled, he turned back to Maya, who was now looking in the opposite direction, pretending to be oblivious.

Checking his watch, Talon realized there were only five minutes left to complete the quest given to him by the system. Just then, a notification appeared.

[Congratulations, host, you have successfully completed the quest. You now have access to the profiles of all the contestants.]

Maya had indeed kissed him on the cheek.

Maya turned to him again in confusion. "What?" She exclaimed. "I didn't do anything, okay?" She confirmed.

Talon nodded slowly, his expression serious. "I understand," he said, his voice low.

"You have to forget that," Maya insisted. "Only I can remember it."

Talon furrowed his brow, "Why?"

Maya's eyes softened, and she reached out to touch Talon's cheek. "No more questions," she whispered.

Talon gazed into Maya's eyes, hoping to read the thoughts behind her sudden kiss on his cheek. But despite his efforts, he could not discern her intentions. He simply nodded in response. "Okay."

Maya then leaned in and pressed her index finger to his lips. "Consider it a small gift from me."

When that happened, Maya had made sure that the camera was off, so only the two of them knew what had happened.

***

The atmosphere among the contestants of 'Passionate Beats' was thick with anticipation as they gathered to hear the results of the viewer voting for the second challenge. Talon and Maya, fresh from their short break, joined the others, all wondering what the new pairings would be.

There had been a surge of viewer comments and opinions on social media, each expressing their preferred pairings for the upcoming challenge.

"I couldn't help but wonder about the impact of Talon and Maya's recent time together, which had not been aired yet. Their moments together could potentially sway more votes in their favor."

"It's time to show our support for Talon and Emily. Emily's sincerity towards him is undeniable."

"The chemistry between Derek and Claire is palpable. They are meant to be together."

"Between Talon and Maya or Talon and Emily was a tough decision to make. Both pairings have their own charm. But perhaps Talon and Maya share a deeper connection?"

"It was clear that Emily was affected by Talon's departure with Maya. There's definitely something there between them."

"Does Maya truly have genuine feelings for Talon, or is it just one-sided?"

"I have a feeling that Talon and Maya, their moments together, might win them more votes."

"Did anyone else notice how Talon was looking at Claire? Do you think there could be some unspoken interest there?"

The judges eagerly anticipate the announcement of the voting results from the viewers.

"Alright, alright… we're in for another exciting turn of events on this reality show," said Oscar, addressing the judges. "According to the feedback we've received, this season has been filled with incredible talent and intense competition for love among the contestants."

He then turned to the panel of judges. "Now, please share your thoughts with us."

Sofia was the first to speak. "The anticipation is killing me," she exclaimed. "Through this vote, we'll finally discover who has captured the hearts of the viewers. This is a crucial moment, as one couple will be eliminated in this round. Everyone is eager to find their perfect match."

Heejin chimed in, "I have my own predictions about the potential pairings, but I'm anxious to see the final outcome. I simply cannot wait any longer!"

Oscar chuckled and clapped his hands. "Well said, Heejin. Now, let's give Xander the honor of revealing the highly-anticipated results."

At last, the long-awaited moment had arrived. Xander, with a confident stride, stepped forward. "Hi, everyone; it is with great pleasure that I announce the results of the voting for the pairing in the second challenge," he declared.

Xander took a deep breath before continuing, "I understand that the voting results were quite diverse. However, our team has made every effort to ensure fairness in the selection process."

The contestants were on edge, anxiously anticipating the results of the vote. This outcome would ultimately determine their fate in the upcoming second challenge.

"Without further ado, let us reveal the chosen pair," Xander announced, gesturing towards the large screen behind him.

As the screen lit up, a photo of Leo appeared, followed by photos of Maya and Emily.

"According to the voting, Leo received significantly high scores, paired with Maya and Emily. But the question is, who among the two ladies received the highest number of votes?"

As Xander spoke, the photos of Maya and Emily began to flash on the screen, alternating between the two until finally coming to a stop on one photo. The room held its breath in anticipation, waiting for the final result to be revealed.