Paradise on earth

First Kiss

As the fire pit conversation wound down and the excitement of the night still buzzed in the air, Connor and Heckime glanced at each other, eager to start making their own impressions. They had only just arrived, but it was clear they were keen to figure out the villa's existing dynamics and see where they might fit in.

With a quick look around, Connor stood up and walked toward the girls, his casual confidence showing. "Hey, would you mind if we had a quick chat?" he asked, his voice friendly but direct. "We're still getting the lay of the land here, and it'd be great to know who's paired up with who."

Heckime, following close behind, added with a smile, "Yeah, we're just getting to know everyone. Might as well start with the basics, right?"

Liv and Ophial exchanged a glance before nodding and following them over to the couches. The other girls, Leah, JaNa, Kaloyr, Serian, and Hannah, had all gathered around and were chatting in small groups. The guys were still at the fire pit, but the energy had shifted, everyone now eager to see what the newcomers would do next.

The girls took a seat on the plush, cushioned couches, and the two new arrivals sat down in front of them, ready to dive into conversation.

"So, tell us, who's with who?" Connor asked, leaning forward slightly. "We've only just arrived, so we need a bit of a rundown on who's got someone and who's still flying solo."

Liv was the first to speak, her tone casual but confident. "Okay, so... I was with Rob, but I stole him from Leah, so now I'm single." She paused for a moment, glancing at Leah, who shot her a playful, mock-annoyed look. "And I'm fine with that—no hard feelings."

Heckime nodded, raising an eyebrow as if impressed by the honesty. "I see, you made a move, huh? I like it."

Liv smiled, feeling the attention shift to her. "Yeah, well, I'm not here to play games. I'm here to find someone I can actually connect with. Rob seemed like a good fit, but now... I guess we'll see what happens next."

Next to speak was JaNa, who leaned back slightly on the couch, her expression easygoing. "I'm with Ckoy," she said simply. "He's cool. We've had a good connection so far, so I'm happy where I'm at."

Kaloyr chimed in next, her voice warm but matter-of-fact. "I'm with Aaron. We've had some great conversations, and I like where things are going with him. He's a solid guy."

Heckime nodded, looking at the girls as they spoke, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, so that's Leah, JaNa, and Kaloyr... and you guys are all pretty much settled, huh?"

Ophial nodded with a smile. "Yeah, pretty much." She glanced around at the others before continuing. "Serian is with Kordell. They've been close from the start, so they're another solid couple."

Connor glanced over to where Kordell and Serian were sitting, their closeness evident. "Got it. So it's really just Leah and Liv who are currently single, right?"

Liv smiled slightly at Connor's assessment. "Looks like it. And, of course, I'm here for something real, so if the right person comes along, I'm open. But I'm not here to settle for anything less than that."

"And what about you, Ophial?" Heckime asked, shifting his gaze to her. "You seem to have some good energy. Who are you paired up with?"

Ophial paused, glancing briefly at Rafe, who was chatting with the other guys at the fire pit. "I'm with Rafe," she said with a soft smile. "We've had some good talks, and I really like how easy he is to be around. He's a good guy."

Connor gave a small nod, impressed by the connections forming. "Well, it sounds like most of the islanders have found someone to vibe with. But there's always room for new connections, right?"