Duncan was reminded once again that everything you do on camera stays on camera. While making his way down the halls of the Playa de Losers villa, he found himself in a "masculinity match." His bag bumped into some random's shoulder, and they didn't take it easily.
"Watch where you're going, dude!" Duncan then realized he passed by Tyler and Lindsay on their way to the pool. He assumed Tyler was trying yet again to make himself appear tougher for the sake of Lindsay's attraction to him.
"Didn't see you, don't care." He furthered the blow to his ego with another reminder of his lack of courage. "Don't think I forgot why we voted you off, chicken."
Tyler shot back, adding emphasis to a certain name. "Oh yeah? Well, don't you have more or Courtney's heads to carve!?" While Duncan's eye's widened at the idea of everyone here seeing another side of him, Tyler walked away laughing while he was still satisfied with his quips. Duncan brushed it off and picked up his bag from the floor to continue walking, but when he turned around she was peering her head out of her door. His heart jumped out of his chest at the sight of her excited, round eyes locked with his. Duncan, still stuck in his vulnerable state, inched slowly to her door.
"So, I'm guessing you heard all that…" Courtney replied with her hands still on the doorway, peeking at his form in the hall. She couldn't help but smile and remember the moment the episode aired; the rest of the "losers" surrounded by the TV, and the oohs and awws she heard from multiple contestants at the sight of the heart he carved into her wooden head.
"I did… I saw it, too." Duncan was too busy looking down to notice her small, pleased expression and instead opted for a statement that would take back the softness everyone witnessed.
"I'm sorry you had to see that-" Courtney cut him off quickly in hopes of encouraging that gentle side she loved to see so much.
"Don't be sorry… It was kind of cute actually." He looked up at her this time, speechless at her flattery and acceptance. She continued, gesturing into her room.
"Why don't you come inside?"