Part One – Flashback

Nickel’s POV

I woke up to the sound of an enhanced digital nightmare — that familiar voice echoing through the halls of Hotel OJ. MePhone could be such a pest sometimes, and by sometimes, I mean very often.

I turned to my right to find the hideous pink specimen sleeping oh-so-soundly through all the chaos.
How in the hell is he still asleep?

I pondered for a second before shrugging it off and pulling the blanket off my legs. I regretted it immediately as the cold ventilation brushed across my skin. A shiver ran down my spine while I resisted the urge to crawl back into bed and skip the first challenge. I couldn’t do that — I’d look like a total wimp sleeping in all day.

Eventually, I forced myself out of bed and into the restroom to freshen up for the day. When I came back, the creature was still passed out, nearly rolling off the mattress. I sighed deeply, debating whether to wake him up before he hurt himself.

But then another thought crept in — maybe this could be an advantage. Maybe I should just let him sleep and face the consequences. It was strange, though. Why was I even considering doing him a favor? That was so out of character for me.

Deciding to ignore the thought, I left the room and headed down the stairs, hopping each step until I reached the lobby.

The place was packed with competitors — everyone seemed to be here except for the pink demon, of course. Honestly, I didn’t mind his absence one bit… or so I thought.

The guilt of sabotage began to gnaw at me, though I couldn’t quite understand why. If it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t care. That liar deserved punishment for last season’s antics.

So why couldn’t I just leave?

I stood there for a moment, caught between irritation and guilt. Finally, after thinking it through, I sighed and decided to head back upstairs.

Maybe I’d regret it, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I marched back to the room and shook the pink thing awake.

Balloon’s POV

I sat in a field of lilies, their delicate scent filling the cool morning air. I plucked a few and began weaving them into a bouquet. Around me stood a ring of willow trees, their long branches swaying gently. In the center of the field was a single tree — strong and wide — with a tire swing dangling from one of its sturdy branches.

I walked over, stepping carefully around the patches of flowers, not wanting to crush them. Sitting inside the tire, I rocked myself back and forth — the gentle motion soothing, almost maternal.

This field was my sanctuary, a place I could escape to when I needed peace or to let go of all my baggage. I created it in my mind one night when I’d reached the edge of despair. Since then, I’d found myself returning here in my dreams — a beautiful haven shaped by my own heart.

In the distance, I could hear my roommate stirring in the waking world. Normally, that sound meant it was time to leave this dream. But today, I wanted to stay a little longer.

Or so I thought.

A pair of hands suddenly grabbed my shoulders, shaking me violently out of my peaceful slumber. My eyes shot open, and I found myself face-to-face with Nickel. I glared at him instinctively.

“Don’t give me that look,” Nickel huffed. “I was waking you before you missed the first challenge of the season. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Damn, I forgot that was today. Thanks, I guess,” I muttered, my glare softening.

“Yeah, whatever,” he scoffed, turning toward the door. But he stopped mid-step. “No tricks this season, right?”

“I know you won’t trust my response,” I replied dryly, “so why ask?”

“Less of a question, more of a warning.” He turned back and locked eyes with me. “Best of luck to you, Loonie.”

His tone was sarcastic — a clear reminder that he didn’t mean a word of it.

“Same to you, Nick,” I said with a smirk.

His expression soured immediately. The nickname Nick clearly annoyed him — which only encouraged me to use it more often.

Rivalry and Revelation

That bickering became the rhythm of our season — constant back-and-forths, sarcastic quips, and quiet resentment. Yet, in some twisted way, like a moth drawn to a flame, I grew to enjoy his heartless comments.

Still, as the weeks went by, I started to believe some of the things he said. The self-doubt crept in. Slowly, the happiness I’d fought to protect began to fade, and my sanctuary — the lily garden — started to vanish from my dreams.

That’s when I realized: these toxic exchanges had gone too far. Something had to change before I lost myself completely.

When Nickel and I, along with a few others, were sent to a new island for the third season, I made a promise to myself — to leave the tension behind and redeem my image. Thankfully, I managed to do just that.

Not only did I find peace again, but I found a friend.

Since then, Nickel and I have grown closer than ever. There are nights when his bed stays untouched because we end up falling asleep mid-conversation. Our connection, strange as it may be, has become something solid — something I never thought possible.

Now that I know how good things between us can be, I only hope it stays that way forever.

End of Part One – Flashback

Would you like me to format this into a visual story layout for SpeakOX, with chapter title banners, soft background dividers, and stylized dialogue (for web or magazine publication)? It would make the story more immersive and readable online.