In a colorful room, full of warm-colored furniture and very different architecture, Theo was half lying down and half sitting on a sofa, holding his guitar and strumming a few melodies with his eyes closed.
Since he arrived here, no one has come to talk to him.
The groups of the other nine contestants were already half-formed, so after three weeks of showing a talentless side with little social savvy, Theo was rejected by all the groups and became a loner.
Just like every week, the program began with the participants in a studio house, with several rooms, outdoor environments, gardens, kitchens with any kind of ready-made food, all so that they could get the most out of their creativity.
This was the place where the participants stayed during the day, interacting with each other, creating the narratives that the program director needed to turn this into entertainment, and where they took part in the main tests.
The part recorded during the day would be edited as quickly as possible, being ready while the show was live for viewers, until when this recap ended, the participants would have a live presentation to decide who would be saved for next week or would have to take part in the elimination race.
Last week, Theo came last in the main competition during the day, and had to take part in the elimination competition with Miguel.
'This time I'm not going to the elimination competition...' Theo thought confidently, excited to see what the competition would be like for him.
Having never taken part in any reality show in the other world, this was an experience that even he, who had been striving for the world of showbiz for so long, was excited about.
"So Miguel really lost... what an idiot, I told him not to risk singing something he couldn't master..." A female voice said dismissively, close to where Theo was strumming his guitar.
Then another voice answered, this time a male one. "I know, right? I also thought that singing a happy song would suit him much better, he had such a beautiful smile... what a waste of an opportunity he made."
With his eyes still closed, Theo recognized the owners of those voices from his memories of the show.
The female voice was Sofia Ramirez, a very hot 20-year-old Latina with golden skin and long, wavy dark brown hair, wearing vibrant clothes and with a black whip around her waist, who knew her visual appeal and sang sensual songs mixing Spanish and English.
She was a strong competitor, taking second place in the first competition of the show, but fell off a bit in the next few episodes.
In front of her was Tyler Kim, a former music producer who discovered he had a Seed at the age of 28 and decided to invest in this area, having discovered the talent later, Tyler is the oldest participant in the competition, with straight dark brown hair, thin gold rimmed glasses, somewhat tight casual clothes and two delicate daggers at his waist, he made it clear that he was a gay man, and he knew very well how to use this to his advantage on the show.
Each participant in the house had a unique characteristic that they knew had to be exploited to the maximum to keep competing, only Theo had never encountered anything like it.
His choice of clothes was just a visual issue that he felt made him look good, so much so that although he wore a more bad-boy style, when he opened his mouth he showed the personality of a shy lost boy.
Having taken on this body, Theo decided to just embrace this more mature and slightly jaded style, which was the closest thing to him in the other world, and stick with it until the end of the show.
Perhaps after the reality show he would change to something else, but for now it was best to remain consistent.
Knowing that he was being filmed, and that any interesting interaction would be chosen by the show's director to be part of the final cut that would go out to the public, Theo decided to take advantage of this opportunity.
"When I try to sing something that has nothing to do with me, I also feel that the song doesn't come out right. I think he went through that." Theo nodded without opening his eyes, still strumming his guitar and letting his fingers get calluses so that it would be easier to play in the future.
Hearing Theo's reply, Sofia and Tyler looked at each other in surprise.
"That's not exactly what they're saying about you on the internet... right?" Sofia replied without thinking, not expecting his comment. "That you're the one who wasn't singing a song you made, that you changed the song at the last minute and created a big mess..."
Tyler just stood next to Sofia, looking at Theo with interest.
Theo nodded and opened his eyes, laughing. "Yep, but didn't last week's performance already show that the one who didn't seem to be singing a song he didn't write was him?"
Hearing this, Tyler and Sofia's eyes widened. "You're implying..."
But Theo corrected them. "I'm not implying anything, I'm just stating the facts that I felt last Sunday. I was singing a song that I wrote at the last minute, portraying exactly the problems I was going through, both on the show and in my personal life, which is why the song sounded so sincere, but Miguel didn't seem to feel any of it, right? If he didn't, how could he write a song like that?"
This shocked both of them.
Sofia raised an eyebrow, biting her lower lip with a half-smile. "So... you're saying that the perfect Mr. Miguelzito just put on a little show? Interesting... I never thought of you as someone who would notice that kind of detail."
Tyler let out a short, "pfft" laugh and tilted his head sideways, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses with a raised pinky finger. "Honey... do you really think you're giving facts right now? Please. You came here out of the blue, barely survived last week, and now you want to play musical philosopher? Cute. Real cute."
He crossed his arms, letting his voice trail off on purpose, as if savoring every word. "But let me tell you something: singing with emotion but without technique is just like the karaoke my family sings drunk. And, honestly, even Miguel, with his fake smile, still seemed more of an artist than you so far."
Theo lifted his eyes from the guitar, unhurriedly, and faced Tyler with a relaxed half-smile. "You're right about one thing, Tyler. I don't have your technique or your experience as a producer. If it comes down to it, I'll probably lose badly to you."
He shrugged, going back to strumming a few notes, but his voice became firmer. "But music was never just about technique. If it were, anyone well-trained with a Seed could become an S Rank Idol. What connects people is when they believe that you're really talking to them. And that... I know how to do."
Tyler looked at Theo even more surprised, not knowing how to react for a moment.
Even Sofia had to look Theo up and down again, reassessing how this boy had changed so much in just one week!
"Chico, you finally got your act together for the show, huh?" Sofia commented with a half-smile.
Before Tyler could respond to what Theo said, the television in the room came on and Marcus McBride appeared on the screen, smiling at the trio.
"Hi guys... does it look like I'm interrupting something?" He commented, looking at the three of them with a smile, clearly having heard everything that had just happened.
But not wanting to hear their response just yet, Marcus continued. "If you could please call the rest of the staff, today's exam has been decided."
Nodding their heads, the three of them got up and went around the house to call the rest of the participants. In less than two minutes all nine of them had gathered in the living room, scattered between some sitting on the sofa, others on puffs, some sitting directly on the carpet in front of the sofa.
Theo was sitting in the corner of the sofa, not particularly close to anyone.
Looking at the young people, Marcus talked to the most talked-about participants on the internet to give the reaction the public wanted when this aired.
Looking at Jordan, who was eating a packet of crisps, he commented. "So, Mr. Rockstar, have you prepared your humility speech for when you lose today?"
Jordan laughed out loud, raising his hands as if he didn't care. "Please, Marcus, like I'm going to need one of these sometime on the show."
The whole group burst into laughter, and Marcus took advantage of the mood to look at other people.
Although some were more successful than others, each participant was having something commented on the internet that Marcus could use at these times.
Finally he looked at Theo and jokingly commented. "And you, Theo Black, from the kid no one believed in, to winning your first elimination game, are you confident for tonight's elimination game?"
Hearing that, the other contestants laughed too, not doubting that Theo really was going to play the elimination game again tonight, but Theo wasn't.
Confident, Theo shrugged. "I think that instead of finding a single participant for today's race, you're going to have to find two, Marcus, for today I'm planning something like... victory? The advantage for next week's race sounds pretty nice."
His answer made the other participants look at him a little surprised, but almost all of them rolled their eyes, not believing what he had said at all.
Noticing this, Marcus commented. "Theo, it seems that your competitors didn't quite believe those words..."
But Theo maintained the persona he had decided to use and leaned back even more confidently on the sofa, even though he knew that this might displease some people, it would attract others even more. "Didn't I already answer that on Monday, Marcus? I'm going to let my result change your perception of me."
"What confidence, that's what people like!" Marcus commented excitedly. "Alright, idols, time to get serious." He adjusted his colorful blazer and stopped joking around. "Today's challenge is called Duet of Destiny."
He paused dramatically, looking at each of them.
"You're going to work in pairs. Each duo will write and prepare a song based on a chosen theme. And don't think you'll be able to choose the partner or the style... because fate has already chosen for you."
Behind him, the television lit up showing nine white doors lined up in a corridor.
"Each of you will enter one of these doors alone. On the other side, you'll find your partner and the theme song you'll have to compose. You'll have the rest of the day to create the music and in the evening you'll perform it live."
Marcus smiled teasingly. "Who knows, maybe you'll discover that this unexpected partnership is exactly what you needed to shine."
"But Marcus, there are nine of us. What will happen to the person who's left?" Avery Chen, the girl of Chinese descent asked in confusion.
And Marcus smiled at that. "Great question, Avery, and this relates to the advantage of last week's winner. As an advantage for this competition, Jordan, you'll be able to choose whether you want to make the song completely alone, or join a random duo and add another genius mind to the thought process. Which would you prefer?"
Jordan didn't even think twice and quickly swallowing the chips in his mouth, he answered disinterestedly. "Obviously, I'll go alone."
Nodding his head, Marcus asked. "Do you have any more questions?"
With no one raising their hand, Marcus smiled and spoke. "All right Idols, show us your talent!"