“Welcome to the long-awaited finale of our show!” the host shouted into her mic, her lips curled in a satisfied grin as the public loudly roared around her. “It is the very last night that we will spend here together, and with our two finalists of course!” She pointed at the two shadowed figures standing behind her.
Everyone went mum for a second, until the lights on the set suddenly sparkled over the heads of the two contestants, finally revealing their faces.
It was the first time that they were seen outside of the villa, and by the public as well. So it was no surprise that everyone around them started to hurl at the sight of the two women they voted for.
“Everything will come down to the two of them,” the host announced, clutching her script in her free hand. “And I know you’re all waiting for the results! Who will win the prize? The glorious 175 million won?”
The crowd loudly yelled, the names of the two finalists echoing in between their shouts. The host looked at them with bright eyes, seemingly feeling just as excited as they were.
“But before I reveal who won this season, let’s first dive back a little into each of their adventures in the villa.”
Two months ago
“Welcome to this new season of Secret Story! I am your host, Park Jihyo.”
The public roared as the host announced herself. They had all been burning with excitement ever since this new season had been announced. So to see it finally unfolding, after months of waiting for it, was like a dream coming true.
“I know you’re all impatient to meet our new contestants!” Jihyo loudly giggled, followed by the crowd’s giddy shouts. “I know, me too! But before we finally dive in this new season, I need to introduce you all to someone.”
The people in the crowd all looked at each other, some looking lost while others jumped in their seats with anticipation, knowing exactly what was coming.
“For those of you who are familiar with the show, you definitely know him. But for the new viewers, let me introduce you to…” Jihyo’s eyes darted from left to right, as if gauging the public’s excitement. “Our iconic Judge! He will be the one in constant contact with our contestants, and also the one to explain the rules of our show!”
The crowd hurled as a blue eye appeared on the big screen behind the host.
“Here is the Judge.” Countless shouts could be heard throughout the set as the manly voice continued. “It is time for the House of Mysteries to open its doors once again. A house in which each contestant must protect their secret, and investigate to unveil the others’.” The voice marked a small pause, before resuming. “And I am the one to direct this game.”
The screen suddenly switched from the picture of the blue eye to a live recording from the villa the contestants would be staying in during the show.
“And as the game is about to start, I will tell you one thing.” The voice stopped as the crowd’s yells grew louder. And just as the voice was about to resume, a door opened on the live recording of the villa.
“Beware of appearances.”
***
Jimin slowly pushed the door open, unaware of the countless eyes already watching her. While the contestants had already been warned that their every move would be seen by the viewers, she still wasn’t quite used to the idea of it.
And the sights awaiting behind the doors were too distracting for her already overwhelmed mind to focus on anything else anyway.
The production team had made her enter through the only room that was connected to the official set of the show: the Red Room. From what they told her, it would be the place they would enter from, but also the place where eliminations would take place in.
So if possible, she would like to avoid it at all costs now.
But behind this Red Room, stood a pristine villa; one that really caught Jimin’s breath. It looked as modern as Jimin had imagined it to be, and it was accompanied by a huge swimming pool, surrounded by a bunch of deckchairs. However, she didn’t spend too much time outside, as what interested her the most stood behind the house’s doors.
Jimin quickly stepped a foot inside before carefully roaming around the villa, her eyes scrutinizing every single detail she could potentially find there.
At first glance, the house looked perfectly normal, although its interior design was quite eccentric. There were two bedrooms, a bathroom as spacious as one that could be found in a dorm, and a classy kitchen. The rest of the rooms seemed to be various common spaces such as a living room and several game and trivial rooms.
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