#Hwang in Ho x oc

[bekkarific]

Playing with Fire

Chapter Nine: Ablaze

Chapter Masterlist

Pairing: Frontman/in Ho x fem oc

Ji Ah woke to the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the suffocating stillness of her quarters. The silk sheets beneath her felt damp, clinging to her skin as though trying to anchor her in place. Her body ached faintly, and her head throbbed with a dull, persistent pulse.

She groaned, turning her head slightly. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused, before settling on the ceiling above her. The events of the night before bled into her mind like ink spilled on paper, blurring the edges of memory and reality.

The room swayed for a moment as she sat up, her silk tank top clinging to her damp skin. Her fingers brushed against her arm, and for a fleeting second, she swore she could feel it again—the firm grip of his leather glove, the heat of his hand beneath the cold, unyielding surface.

Ji Ah shivered, her hands instinctively moving to her face, where the faintest trace of pressure seemed to linger. Her breathing quickened as fragments of memory returned, flashing in disjointed bursts.

The sound of gunfire. The weight of his presence as he loomed next to her. His voice—calm, unyielding, dripping with authority—whispering in her ear, "I did warn you about tests."

And then, the fall.

Her mind reeled, struggling to piece together the moments that followed. She remembered collapsing, her legs refusing to hold her weight. The world had spun violently before fading to black. But there was something else—a sensation that made her stomach twist.

Someone caught me.

Her lips parted as the faintest flicker of a memory surfaced: the feel of strong arms beneath her, cradling her. The sharp scent of leather mingled with the warmth of his presence, steady and unwavering.

Her pulse quickened. Him.

Ji Ah swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor. Her gaze wandered to the door—locked. She clenched her fists, frustration and confusion warring within her. Why had he brought her back here? Why hadn’t he left her to wake in the hallway like a discarded piece of furniture, as she might have expected? Or worse executed her?

Her eyes narrowed, the weight of the Frontman’s actions pressing down on her. He had pulled the trigger without hesitation, executed Number 4 as though she were no more than a pawn in his twisted game. Yet, he had carried Ji Ah back here himself, his touch somehow both impersonal and uncomfortably intimate.

She ran her hands down her arms, trying to shake the phantom sensation of his gloves on her skin. It clung to her like a second layer, a memory she couldn’t scrub away no matter how hard she tried.

Why? Why was he doing this?

Ji Ah rose to her feet, her legs shaky but determined. She paced the small space, her mind racing. He had said she was being tested, but what kind of test left her with this storm of conflicting emotions?

Her fingers curled into fists. If he thinks I’ll break, he’s wrong. Yet even as she thought it, her resolve wavered, the weight of his actions and her own uncertainty threatening to crush her. She turned to the mirror on the wall, catching her reflection—disheveled, vulnerable, and haunted.

But there, through the mask’s narrow eyeholes, her gaze burned with something new: a determination to understand, to survive, and to unmask the man who held her fate in his hands.

—————————————

She dressed without incident, the ache in her head settling down to a dull throb. Glancing at the options, she was limited. Each dress designed to show off an indecent amount of skin, for her it was deciding what pound of flesh to sacrifice.

Settling on a black velvet number that covered her front her neck to mid thigh in the front, but had a large swooping back that ended just above her bottom, exposing her spine. The sleeves covered down to her wrists, but did little to disguise the discomfort she felt.

Scooping her hair into a simple ponytail, Ji Ah secured her mask and set about adding her lipstick, a reminder of her place.

Slipping her heels Ji Ah sat and waited. Whilst no clock was offered in this cold, steel prison, she was sure it would not be long now till she was summoned.

Taking a deep breath, rolling her shoulders to lessen the tension Ji Ah let her mind drift back over the events of the last few days. She was not sure when it happened, how she became so complicit, she needed to fight back, to escape and find Jun Ho.

Gi Hun’s face flashed before her, guilt rising in her throat. What she be condemning him to if she left?

The banging on the steel door pulled her from her thoughts, “number 13, prepare yourself” he ordered shoving a tray of food through the hatch, “your duties will begin shortly”

Ji Ah stared at the food, no appetite, her gut twisting at the thought of what laid ahead.

———————————————

The cacophony of laughter grated against Ji Ah’s nerves as she entered the VIP lounge, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The air was thick with smoke and the pungent aroma of expensive liquor, their opulence a grotesque contrast to the grim spectacle unfolding below.

Her mask felt stifling, the velvet dress an unwanted reminder of her role in this charade. She moved with practiced grace, her chin held high, but her every step felt like a calculated risk.

The Frontman stood at the far end of the room, his imposing figure framed by the massive viewing window. His posture was rigid, hands clasped behind his back, the black leather of his gloves catching the light. For a moment, Ji Ah dared to hope he wouldn’t notice her presence, but that hope evaporated as his masked head turned ever so slightly in her direction.

“Gentleman, we apologise for the minor disturbance last night. It has been addressed” he started, looking straight ahead “your money for any bets placed on player 111 will be refunded”

Ji Ah felt sick, is that all that man’s life was worth, the cost of a bet?

“The games will continue on time, in line with the schedule” he continued, the happy murmurs of the VIP’s filled the room.

“Allow me to introduce the next game” he flicked a switch and the screen behind him opened, displaying a small area designed to look like an old town.

“The game will be marbles, each player be asked to form pairs, those pairs will be given 10 marbles each. Which ever member of the pair had collected all 20 marbles from the opponent within the timeframe will be the winner” he explained simply, like he was talking about the weather.

The loud Texan spoke up “oh wee that is a sweet game, those sorry bastards have will more than likely pair up with someone they trust. Only to be stabbed in the back!” He ended laughing, the room full of VIP’s joining in on the sick joke.

Ji Ah tried to keep her eyes forward, not letting any weakness show. She would not break.

The VIPs began placing their bets, their animated discussions punctuated with crude laughter. Ji Ah glanced briefly at the Frontman who was milling around the room, pretending she wasn’t there. She was not sure if that was a good or bad thing.

“Gentlemen,” his voice cut through the noise like a blade, commanding instant silence. “The next game is about to begin”

Ji Ah’s stomach churned as VIPs drew their attention the large screen, revealing players being herded into the arena. The sight of the bags of marbles in their hands made her blood run cold.

Pairs. Trust. Betrayal.

The words reverberated in her mind, unbidden, as she watched the players exchange uneasy glances as the game was announced to them. Her chest tightened at the memory of Gi Hun’s face, the desperation she knew he would feel in this moment.

Ji Ah stood silently at her assigned post, trying to keep her breathing steady, her eyes transfixed on the screen.

And then, she felt it.

A ghosting touch, so faint it might have been imagined, brushing against the exposed curve of her spine. Ji Ah stiffened, her breath hitching as the warmth of his gloved hand hovered just above her skin.

He didn’t speak, didn’t even look her way, but the message was clear: I see you.

Ji Ah forced herself to remain still, her heart pounding in her chest. She could almost feel his amusement, as though he were testing her resolve in plain sight of the oblivious VIPs.

Below, a contestant dropped to their knees, pleading with their partner for mercy. The first marble clattered against the floor, a sound that reverberated through Ji Ah’s very soul.

The Frontman’s voice cut through the tension once more. “This game will reveal the true nature of human bonds. Will loyalty prevail? Or will desperation triumph?” He still lingered, making sure Ji Ah could see him.

Ji Ah bit the inside of her cheek, the phantom sensation of his touch lingering like. Her mind raced with questions she couldn’t afford to ask, not here, not now.

She swallowed hard, her hands curling into fists at her sides. If he was trying to break her, to make her falter in this sick game of control, he would have to try harder.

But as the screams and sobs from below echoed in the room, Ji Ah wasn’t sure who was truly winning this battle of wills—or if she could afford to lose.

—————————————-

As the marble game wrapped up, there were only 17 players remaining. The number seared into Ji Ah’s soul, she failed them.

Ji Ah was rooted to her spot, watching as the number of players slowly ticked down during the course of the game, a game she was powerless to stop. ‘Is that how they felt?’ She wondered ‘the players’. The images of the surviving players being shown on screen, Gi Hun’s smiling face staring back at her.

Lost in her own world she nearly missed the call of “number 13” and the clinking of ice against glass. Following the sound Ji Ah saw the glittering mask of the Texan staring back at her. Drink held up in the air.

Ji Ah quickly rushed over, all too aware of the eyes on her. The Texan’s booming laughter cut through the lounge like an unwelcome melody as Ji Ah moved quietly along the edge of the room.

“Ah, there she is,” he drawled, gesturing toward Ji Ah with his cigar. “Our little goddess of fortune, lucky number 13. Come, sit with me, sweetheart.” He finished, tapping the seat next to him.

Ji Ah’s stomach turned at the saccharine tone he used, hesitating only a moment before making her way over. Refusal wasn’t an option—not in this place.

As she perched carefully on the edge of the luxurious leather couch, his hand was on her before she had a chance to settle. Thick fingers wrapped around her arm, pulling her closer, his breath reeking of whiskey as he leaned in.

“Don’t be shy now,” he cooed, his fingers grazing the exposed curve of her back. “You’re my little good luck charm. What’s the secret, huh?”

Ji Ah stiffened, her spine rigid under his touch. She forced a polite smile behind her mask, carefully disentangling her arm from his grip. “I’m just here to ensure you’re all well taken care of.”

“Taken care of, huh?” The Texan chuckled darkly, his hand now brushing her thigh. “Well, I can think of a few ways you could—”

“Number 13.”

The Frontman’s voice, cold and precise, cut through the Texan’s lewd comment. Ji Ah’s head snapped toward him, her heart racing as she stood abruptly, almost knocking over the drink table in her haste to escape the Texan’s grasp.

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the Frontman’s authority pressing down on everyone present. Even the Texan, for all his bravado, withdrew his hand, though not without a muttered curse under his breath.

“Yes, sir?” Ji Ah answered, keeping her voice steady as she approached him.

He didn’t look at her, his attention fixed on the monitors displaying the game stats. “There’s an issue with the observation reports. Retrieve them and bring them to me immediately. You will find them in my lounge”

Ji Ah blinked, confused. Observation reports? She’d never been asked to handle anything of the sort before. Still, she nodded. “Understood.”

As the door hissed shut behind her, the Frontman allowed himself a moment to glance toward the Texan.

Though his mask betrayed no emotion, his stance was unyielding, his jaw tightened, and his hands curled tightening on the controls.

[the-devils-widow]

Hwang In-ho / Front Man x Female OC

Summary: As an exchange student in Seoul, Emma’s focus is far from love—particularly when it comes to a mysterious, wealthy man who seems to be keeping secrets.

Notes: I just finished watching the new season of Squid Game, and a certain Front Man inspired me to write...

[saphy-sapphic]

"and bumblebee!" ahh oc 😭

[toxictoaster]

「 ✦ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝗼 ✦ 」

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

—

Finally, Nashmia reached home. The air was as stifling as always, despite the old fan that had been whirring day after day for years by now. Not wanting to linger a moment more, she quickly made a beeline to the bathroom and headed into the shower.

The water quickly washed away the stickiness that covered every inch of her body. Exhaling slowly, she felt the water wash away the tension in her muscles almost immediately. Her stinging red cheek, a result of the ddakji game, also seemed to calm down a little at the feel of the warm water. Standing like that, letting the water beat down on her back, she felt almost at peace.

Almost.

After what felt like hours of standing under the shower, she reluctantly shut off the water, and quickly got out. She dried her body and put on fresh clothes, before she went to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. The kitchen was just as stuffy as the entire flat, and as she stood in front of the counter — waiting for the leftovers to finish heating — she felt the tiredness in her limbs come back again.

The microwave made its signature ding! Signaling that the food was ready. She sat down to eat, scrolling through her phone to pass time. The food was barely warm and was bland, no different than any other meal she'd had alone in the past few weeks. As usual, her uncle was nowhere to be seen. Probably out doing this shady business with his gangster friends— though that was a guess. Nashmia truly had no idea where he had gone off to, or when he'd come back. Maybe it was for the better she thought, as she finished chewing her last bit of food. He'd just end up getting in her way anyways. The silence was deafening, the loneliness almost tangible. Feeling more depressed by the minute, she finished her food in record time and headed to her room.

Once in her room, she shut the door behind her, almost as if to keep the rest of the world out. The only light came from the lone barely open window by her bedside, casting the set in a dim yellow glow. It wasn't a big room, it was barely even large enough for two people to stay in. A bed, a table and a few shelves were all the furnishings it had. Despite the cramped space, however, it was her corner of the world. She laid down on the bed, and let her body fully sink into the soft sheets. As tired as she was, sleep, like her uncle, refused to come. Tossing and turning on the bed, she tried to get comfortable, but her mind was abuzz with thoughts. Thoughts about the future, thoughts about the present...thoughts about the past. They raced through her mind like a raging storm, and the more she tried to shut them down, the more they seemed to come. With a sigh, she sat up on the bed and rubbed her temples, trying to soothe the growing headache. The silence in her room didn't do anything to help. It was so thick now that it almost seemed to suffocate her. She could almost hear the blood rushing through her veins, and the sound of her breathing seemed to echo in the small space.

Finally, she couldn't sit still any longer, even with how tired she felt. Getting off the bed, she walked around the room, trying to find something — anything — to do. The room, however, was as devoid of entertainment as the house itself. Wandering around, she suddenly recalled the ddakji game she played early on, and how she didn't have any time to count the money or analyse the business card due to how busy she was back then. She went to her coat and searched the pockets, easily finding the money and the business card, both untouched. Checking the money first, she began to count it. Her hands delicately flipped through each won, counting them and adding them up to see if the salesman was truthful about his words. After she finished counting, Nashmia realised that the man really wasn't lying. He did give her a hundred-thousand won, just as he had promised if she achieved victory.

The dark brunette set down the money and picked up the card, finally getting a good look on it. As she had seen earlier, there was a logo at the front — containing a circle, triangle, and square. She flipped it over, and was greeted with the sight of a number — 8650-4006. Nashmia stared at the number for a while, looking at it like it was a math equation rather than a phone number. Her mind drifted off to what the salesman had said earlier;

"If you're ever in the mood to win more money, give this number a call."

Shivers went down her spine as she remembered that one last creepy smile he gave, before disappearing. Nashmia knew that he was probably telling the truth when instructing her to call this number — the ddakji game money wasn't bluff so why would this be any different? Many thoughts ran through her mind as she looked at the number combination. There certainly had to be a catch for her to win money by simply calling a phone number. Deals were never simple and needed consolation one way or another, and her earlier encounter with the salesman proved it.

The opposite then came into her mind as she thought about how much she was suffering with her uncle's debts and her student loans. The voices of the loan sharks threatening her and her uncle's lives still haunted her dreams and thoughts occasionally, and just the thought of them made her put the game into another perspective. She could call the number, and see what they wanted. The salesman didn't mention anything about losing money, only that she would be earning money. Maybe instead of one slap to the face, she'd receive two. A few degrading slaps to the face would be nothing compared to what the loan sharks would do to her if she couldn't pay them back in time.

After a few minutes of thinking, and taking occasional deep breaths — Nashmia finally came to a decision. She picked up her phone from her desk, and began to dial the number. For every number she pressed, a beep sound would be made. As soon as she finished dialing the number and was about to call it, her phone suddenly started ringing and indicated that someone was calling her.

Groaning, she looked at who the caller ID was — only to see that it was her mother. If it were anyone else, she would've put her phone on silent and continued on what she was doing — but this was her mother. She couldn't bring herself to avoid her own mom, especially since they hadn't talked in so long. She sighed and picked up the call, bringing her phone over to her ear.

"Hello, ammu."

Nashmia greeted listlessly, a slight hint of exhaustion in her voice. The call was silent for a few seconds, before her mother, Khadija Huda, replied, her voice coming through the phone in a slightly static way.

"Nashmia, you sound tired, and sad. Everything okay?"

Khadija's voice was worried, and just hearing it made any excuses die in Nashmia's throat.

"I'm fine ammu, I just...had a long day at medical school. You should probably know how hard it is, considering that you were in my shoes many years back.

She tried to make herself sound more cheerful than she really felt, even adding in a small chuckle to help her case, but even she knew it was a pretty lousy attempt.

"Are you sure you're okay? I know medical school's hard, but you don't usually sound like this."

Khadija's voice was still worried, and she clearly wasn't believing Nashmia's weak attempt at appearing cheerful.

"I'm fine, really..."

It was hard to lie to her mother. The woman had a sixth sense when it came to her only child and daughter. It had always been like that since Nashmia was young. Even when she'd try to hide the fact that she had a sore throat or had broken some priceless antique in the house, her mother always found out.

"What about your chachu, Jahangir? How's he these days?"

There was a hint of disdain in her mom's voice whenever she spoke about her brother-in-law, Nashmia's uncle. The relationship between her and her in-laws had always been strained, and over the years it only seemed to get worse. After the question was asked, Nashmia remained silent for a couple of seconds. Her parents didn't know about the crippling amount of debt Jahangir was in, nor did they know about the loan sharks that threatened his and Nashmia's lives. Jahangir always told her to never tell her parents, as they would get mad and not allow her to stay with him anymore — instead moving her to her university's dormitory. Living in the same room with someone sounded like a nightmare to Nashmia, so she listened to her uncle and never told her parents' the real situation — letting them blindly send money to her and believe that she was spending it on various luxuries rather than another man's debt. The dark brunette let out a sigh, breaking the short lived silence, before replying.

"He's fine. The usual."

If there was one thing she was good at, it was lying. It didn't matter if it was a minor thing like hiding what grade she had got during a particularly difficult test, or something bigger like hiding the amount of debt her uncle was in. Nashmia had long ago figured out how to make her lies believable. Even her uncle approved of her skills, calling her 'A fine actress' whenever she was lying to their debt collectors, helping him buy more time.

A scoff came from the other end of the phone, her mother clearly having her doubts on her uncle's wellbeing.

"He's fine huh?"

She said, her voice flat.

"Your chachu's never been fine in his life, so I doubt that's still not the same."

Nashmia said nothing, knowing that her mother had a point. Jahangir had never been the most responsible person in the family, and over the years he had gotten into numerous, progressively worse, financial mishaps. The most recent one, which led to Nashmia's current living situation, was probably the worst of his mistakes.

"Well then, I'll let you get some rest dear. Don't study too late."

Her mother's voice was firm yet still with concern.

"Don't push yourself too hard, okay? And remember,"

She added seriously, her voice now a mixture of worry and slight annoyance.

"You need to call more often, okay? I know you're a busy university student now, but you're still my daughter and I want to hear about how you're doing from you, not the gossiping aunties on the street."

Nashmia almost let out a genuine chuckle. Her mother had always hated the aunties of their city, and the feeling was often mutual. Not caring to point that out, however, she simply promised her mother that she'd call more often from now on, before saying her goodbyes. The phone was replaced in its receiver and she let out a weary sigh. Talking to her mother always left her feeling both relaxed and exhausted at the same time, like she'd just walked for miles on end.

"Right, where was I again?"

Her mind quickly switched back to the card, and she looked down at the already dialed number on her phone. It was now or never. Nashmia pressed on the caller button, bringing the phone over to her ear once again.

"If you wish to participate, please state your name and birthdate...“

—

A few days passed after Nashmia called the sketchy number. It was October thirty-first — the day she was scheduled to be picked up. She had received instructions to meet in an alleyway near her uncle's flat; the same one she was currently standing at as she watched the sun slowly set into the horizon. This was a stupid idea, and she knew it. Agreeing to meet with a stranger you're unfamiliar with sounded like something that would be discouraged in an internet safety video — but Nashmia was doing this for the money.

She waited for a couple more minutes, and was about to second guess herself — until she saw a strange looking van pulling up in front of her. It stopped and the driver — who was wearing a weird looking circle mask and a pink safety suit — opened the back door, revealing many people who were fast asleep.

Nashmia frowned to herself as she stared at them, feeling envious of how much trust they managed to put in a couple of strangers they barely knew anything about — managing to even fall asleep in their van. She hopped in and sat down on one of the seats, making herself comfortable.

She was about to ask something, but was cut off by a gassy cloud that began to fill up the vehicle. It blurred her vision and made her feel lightheaded, slowly knocking her unconscious.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

(Word count: 2211)

[senekosmorturary]

‘ He Looked at Me ! ‘

Yumeship with In-ho because i love him so much! Circle guard’s name is Kim Ha-jin and admires In-ho dearly secret admirer >_<

THIS WAS SUPER RUSHED I DIDNT WANT TO DRAW HIS MASK.

[wqnsho]

crossroads | hwang in-ho x fem! reader

*.✧ synopsis: after losing his wife, hwang in-ho buried his emotions. but when he meets you, a player in his deadly games, his carefully guarded walls begin to crumble, forcing him to confront feelings he thought he’d left behind. *.✧ word count: 20.3k (i'm deadass) *.✧ warnings: squidgame season 2 spoilers, violence, death, mentions of exploitation and abduction, implied suicide, additional character (player 143 - hanni) , usage korean words and suffixes, angst, fluff. reader has no canon age but has a kid. backstory is inspired by acrobatic silky from dandadan. your number will be 132. *.✧ note: requests are open! (please). I wrote this to the entirety of squidgame season 2, so it's gonna be long. (from the second game till the end). i wanted to add an oc decided to add my baby hanni instead so i hope it doesn't come off as cringe. part 2 will be posted once season 3 comes out :D i love in-ho so much he's so yummy. masterlist | request here

As everyone shuffled into the area for the second game, Hwang In-ho smirked beneath his mask, his dark eyes scanning the crowd. Among the players, Gi-hun stood out, his gaze darting around the unfamiliar room. Instead of the playground with shapes on the walls that promised, the players were met with two gigantic circles on the floor. Discontent quickly erupted as the crowd realized they’d been tricked. Voices rose in anger, some calling him a fraud, others voicing their disappointment. Most dispersed in frustration, but In-ho, ever the calculated observer, comforted his "friend" with feigned concern. Inside, however, he was ecstatic.

In-ho, operating undercover as "Young-il," watched Gi-hun carefully. He observed the way his mind worked, his expressions shifting as he processed the situation. Every movement and every decision captivated him. This “hero” was an enigma In-ho couldn’t stop studying.

The guards began dictating the rules of the second game. Instead of the anticipated Dalgona candy challenge, players were introduced to the Six-Legged Pentathlon. Teams of five would have their legs tied together and had to complete a pentathlon on a circular path within five minutes. Failure meant elimination.

The scramble to form teams began. In-ho found himself grouped with Gi-hun and two others, players 388 and 390. They needed one more member, and player 388 eagerly volunteered to recruit. Soon, he returned with player 096. Before they could finalize, a loud yet nervous voice interrupted them.

"Excuse me, can she join your group?"

All eyes turned to you and another woman, player 222. Your determined gaze contrasted with 222’s startled expression.

In-ho’s eyes scanned you, noting the [hair characteristic] [hair color] hair framing your tired but kind [eye color] eyes. Your presence radiated something unusual for this cutthroat environment. As 222 tugged at your arm, whispering protests, you stood firm, making it clear your decision was final.

"I'm sorry, but we're already—" In-ho began, only to be cut off.

"Please," you pleaded, your voice steady. "She's pregnant."

The words hung in the air, silencing any objections. Reluctantly, they agreed, replacing 096 with 222. You bowed deeply in gratitude, offering an apologetic smile to 096 before turning to leave.

"I'm really sorry about that," you said earnestly. "But if you'd like, can you team up with me? I'm very skilled at gonggi. I promise! Cross my heart!"

Player 096 hesitated before nodding, following you to form a new team. As you and 096 walked away, two pairs of eyes lingered on you—In-ho’s, as he silently praised your selflessness, and 222’s, her expression a mix of guilt, gratitude, and betrayal.

In-ho couldn’t shake his fascination. Your kindness, despite in a setting like this, reminded him of someone dear, slowly stirring feelings he thought long buried.

Luck favored In-ho’s team; they were the last to compete. This allowed ample time to strategize as they observed the others. Your team’s turn came, and In-ho found himself unexpectedly invested. You and your teammates executed the challenges flawlessly, clearing the first four games in under three minutes. As your team moved on to the final station, In-ho couldn’t suppress a small sigh of relief. But that relief quickly turned to tension when the last player started messing up.

In-ho’s gaze never wavered from you. He knew your team was skilled, but with only 30 seconds left, the stakes were higher now. His heart raced, the pressure mounting as the seconds ticked down. Would they pull it off? The jegi soared into the air, and In-ho held his breath, watching with bated anticipation. The first kick, then the second, the third… each landing perfectly, and still, there was no room for error. It was the final kick that would determine everything. His pulse quickened as your teammate sent the jegi flying, and with one flawless strike after another, they nailed the fifth and final kick.

The crowd erupted into cheers, but all In-ho could hear was the pounding of his own heart. The relief that washed over him felt far too intense. He paused. Why was he cheering so loudly? Why was he worried? His eyes lingered on you as your team crossed the finish line, your victory adding warmth to his chest that he couldn’t explain.

His mind raced, trying to shake off the strange emotions. But then—[eye color] clashed with his black ones, and the world around him seemed to stop for a brief, breathless moment. There was no game, no betrayals, no stakes. It was just the two of you, alone in your own world. You gave him a small wave, and his chest tightened. He waved back, but the gesture felt like a lifetime of unspoken words.

As you were escorted away, the warmth lingered, and In-ho stood there, rooted to the spot, wondering why his chest felt so heavy and yet so alive.

Back in the main area, you found yourself bonding with a cheerful teen, Player 143. Since the first game, you, 143, and 222 had found a quiet camaraderie. You found 143 comforting 222 at the corner at the finish line and decided that you’ll protect those two with all your might. 143 had a bubbly energy that reminded you of home. Her lighthearted teasing about your "crush" on 001 made you laugh, despite the grim circumstances.

"Sure, sure, whatever you say, you little rascal," you replied, ruffling her hair. Her youthful spirit was a balm in this harsh environment, offering a welcome distraction from the tension of the games.

The conversation shifted as she shared bits of her past. Hanni, as she revealed, told you that her debt stemmed from an exploitative contract with her peers, which promised fame and opportunities but left her and her friends in the dark about everything. Despite the weight of her story, she kept her optimism, her dreams still burning brightly. You couldn't help but wonder how someone so young had ended up in such a terrible game, but something was inspiring about her ability to hold onto hope in such a hopeless place.

When she asked about you, you hesitated for a moment but then decided to share. "My name’s [Name]," you began. "I’m a fashion designer and a part-time preschool teacher. I also… have a talent for guns."

Hanni’s eyes widened in surprise. "Guns? How does that fit into designing clothes and teaching kids?"

You chuckled softly. "It’s a long story. Let’s just say I’ve always been drawn to shooting ranges. It started as a hobby, and somehow, it turned into something I’m pretty good at."

You paused, feeling the weight of the conversation shift. The topic of your debt hung in the air. You faltered, not sure whether to open up, but the teen’s unassuming curiosity made you want to share more.

However, before you could speak, the last group of players returned, signifying the end of the game. Hanni immediately perked up, her attention shifting to Player 001 and their group as they found a place to sit together, which was conveniently located just a few steps from your bed. She gave you a sly grin before playfully pointing toward him with her eyebrows.

"Hey, hey, unnie! Look, it’s your man!" she whispered-yelled, clearly enjoying playing matchmaker.

You chuckled before waving her off with a signal to be quiet. The last thing you needed was for word to get out about your little crush, especially in the middle of a deadly game.

As you shushed Hanni, she had other plans. With rapid hand gestures, she invited Player 222 over to your small corner. The unsuspecting woman gave the two of you a confused look before excusing herself from her group of men and heading your way.

When she reached you, you both greeted her gently, concern evident in your voices.

“Welcome back unnie! Congrats on finishing the game, I knew you could do it!”

"How are you feeling? Is the baby alright? Are you in any pain?"

Player 222, shook her head and waived off your concerns, giving a small smile. "I’m alright. Thank you for asking."

Hanni, the chatterbox, didn’t waste a moment. "By the way, unnie, can we know your name? I really don’t know what to call you other than 222. You don’t have to tell us if you’re not comfortable, though!"

Player 222 chuckled softly at the teen's eagerness. "Well, I suppose I could introduce myself." She smiled and then shared her name—Kim Jun-hee. She explained how she had been scammed, abandoned by her boyfriend, and now found herself here, in this deadly game, pregnant and alone.

You offered her your sympathy, relating to her pain. You’d been in similar situations, dealing with your own painful experiences with men over the years. "Unfortunately, we all have our stories," you said, your voice steady but tinged with sadness. "We just have to keep going, don’t we?"

The three of you sat there for a while, chatting about your pasts, your dreams, and your shared longing for a life outside of this twisted game.

"When I get out and get justice, I’ll become a popular idol with my friends!" Hanni declared excitedly, her eyes shining with ambition.

You and Jun-hee exchanged surprised glances, both of you impressed by her optimism despite everything. "You’ll definitely make it, Hanni. You have the spirit for it," Jun-hee encouraged her with a smile.

"Of course we will! And when you’re on TV, you better send us some VIP tickets for your show!" you added, making Hanni beam.

"You better pose cutely for those photocards, okay?" Jun-hee teased.

Hanni shot her a playful look. "Of course! Will this pose be enough?" She asked as she gave a dramatic pose, and you all laughed.

"Hey!" Hanni looked at the two of you with an exaggerated pout. "You’re not doubting me, right?"

You laughed, shaking your head. "No, no, I’m sure you’ll make it. Just don’t forget us when you're famous, alright?"

As Hanni and Jun-hee bickered over the finer details of idol life, you couldn’t help but smile with a bittersweet feeling in your chest. These two didn’t deserve the cards they’d been dealt, and they certainly didn’t belong in this twisted game. But at least for a brief moment, you all found comfort in each other’s company.

You silently prayed for them—no, for all of you. For everyone here who didn’t deserve to be part of this nightmare. You hoped you could all make it out alive and live better lives. But deep down, you knew the path ahead would be treacherous, and the price of survival would be steep.

The conversation ended when the pink guards entered the room. Everyone watched in anticipation as the guards displayed the updated prize pool: 20.1 billion won, or 78,823,530 won per person, with 255 players still alive. The room was suddenly filled with murmurs. Most were in disbelief that the money per person was still under 100 million, some even demanded a recount. The guards paid no attention to the chatter and continued speaking.

"We always keep the door open for you to pursue new opportunities. Therefore, you will take a vote to decide whether to continue the games or not. Whether to continue the games for a bigger prize or to stop here, please feel free to exercise your right to choose in a democratic manner."

Once the guard finished speaking, Jun-hee ushered the two of you to join their group. Hanni nodded with a smirk before standing up. You rolled your eyes, hoping she won't cause a scene once she made her way down. "The two of you go first. I'll follow you shortly," you said, making hand gestures for them to go ahead. Thankfully, the two of them followed without question, although you were sure Hanni whispered something to Jun-hee as they walked down the stairs.

With the girls out of sight, your gaze drifted back to the piggy bank hanging from the ceiling. ‘78 Million won...’ The number flashed in your mind, but instead of the excitement you’d hoped for, a deep sense of emptiness settled within you. Your hand unconsciously rubbed your stomach as memories of what was lost surged into your thoughts.

A pained expression flickered across your face as you stared at the money. It wasn’t enough. It could never be enough to make up for everything you had sacrificed, everything you had lost.

“Just one more game...” You whispered to no one in particular.

The moment you made your way down to the others, the group welcomed you warmly. You offered a polite smile and greeted them back. As was customary, you bowed to the familiar men you had met earlier.

"Thank you again for accepting Jun-hee into your group earlier. I’m glad you all got out safely," you said, your voice sincere.

"Ah! No, no, don’t worry about that, it’s all fine!" Player 390 immediately replied, his voice light and reassuring. He waved his hand dismissively. "If anything, we should thank you! That girl quickly finished her game, gave us much more room to breathe."

You smiled at his words, feeling a small spark of warmth. "Really? Well, I’m glad. Before we found you, she kept boasting about her skills in ddjaki and how she won multiple times with the salesman. Glad to know she wasn’t lying."

Jun-hee rolled her eyes at your comment before giving you a playful shove. You laughed, brushing it off before turning your attention back to the group.

"My name’s [Name] by the way. [Last name], [Name]. I’d rather you call me that rather than this stupid number," you said with a teasing grin.

The rest of the group followed suit, introducing themselves in turn. Player 456 was Gi-hun, Player 390 was Jung-bae, Player 388 was Dae-ho, and last but not least, Player 001 was Young-Il—whose name, when revealed, earned an unexpected pinch from Hanni. You tried not to show any discomfort at the gesture, but you couldn’t help but feel a little awkward. Who were you to ruin a teenager’s fun, though?

As everyone continued to chat, the conversation quickly fell into a comfortable rhythm. It was just nice to talk with someone, anyone, who wasn’t a threat to your survival.

“Woah, ex-marines, huh? I don’t tell this to anyone, but I have a collection of guns at home…” you mentioned, trying to make light of the situation.

“That so?” Jung-bae remarked, his tone casual, as if discussing firearms was just another part of his day.

“Woah, that’s so cool! When did you start collecting?” Dae-ho chimed in with enthusiasm, genuinely interested.

“Let’s see... maybe when I was 19? That’s when I got introduced to shooting ranges, and that’s where my addiction started,” you replied with a nostalgic smile. The conversation felt like a brief escape from the madness of the games.

But then, just as quickly as it began, the conversation slowed. You couldn’t help but notice that, in the midst of it all, everyone was still acutely aware of the situation—life or death hung over every word. You looked up once more at the piggy bank. The money glinted in the low light, but it didn’t comfort you. It only served as a reminder of how far you had come and how much you had lost.

You stared at it for a while, lost in thought. The weight of everything—the game, the choices, the people who would never make it out—pressed down on you, and it was hard to escape the ache in your chest. Your mind wandered, consumed by memories and questions, as you stood frozen in place. Too engrossed in your own thoughts, you didn’t notice familiar black eyes fixed on you. In-ho watched your every move intently, shamelessly staring as you absentmindedly stared into oblivion. His gaze was steady, silently studying you from where he stood. But you were too lost in your thoughts to feel it. There was something about you, something he couldn’t quite place, yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away. It wasn’t the same as before—his cold indifference slowly shifting into something else he didn’t know how to name.

Maybe it was the way you carried yourself despite everything. Or maybe it was the faint sadness he saw in your eyes, something that mirrored his own. But as he continued to watch, something unfamiliar stirred inside him—an unsettling warmth that didn’t make sense, something that he thought he stopped feeling a long time ago. He quickly turned his attention away, pretending to focus on the group.

But that warmth lingered, an ache in his chest that refused to fade. What was it about you?

Hanni gave you a playful shove, snapping you out of your trance. Her bright smile flickered for a moment, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. You could feel her gaze linger on you, a slight shift in her expression that suggested she noticed something was off. You returned a hesitant smile, one that you hoped would mask the swirl of thoughts in your mind.

As the group huddled up, you quickly placed your hand on top of the pile, trying to shake off the discomfort despite the underlying tension. Hanni’s smile faded as she watched you, her eyes narrowing just slightly. Something in her seemed to pause, a flicker of doubt creeping into her gaze as if she was starting to see through the facade you were putting up.

It was as if she could tell that there was more to looks, something that wasn’t quite aligned with what you let on. But, instead of pressing, Hanni gave a soft shrug, her playful demeanor returning. Yet, the doubt lingered in her eyes, like she wasn’t fully convinced of the person she found comfort in.

"In one, two, three... Victory at all costs!" Hanni and Dae-ho shouted, their voice full of energy despite the dark atmosphere.

"Victory at all costs!"

"This time, the vote will begin with Player 001. Player 001, please cast your vote."

Young-il's gaze swept over the six of you, his eyes calm, but with an unwavering trust and determination in them. He nodded subtly at Gi-hun, as he began to move forward without hesitation. As he stepped up to cast his vote, you exchanged a brief, fleeting moment of eye contact with Young-il. The intensity in his eyes made your heart race, but there was something else there too. You couldn't quite place it, but it made your chest tighten. The moment passed quickly, and you looked away, focusing on the task at hand.

When it was finally your time to vote, you felt the weight of everyone's eyes on you, but you didn’t allow yourself to meet anyone’s gaze. You couldn’t stomach the judgment, the disappointment that would be there. Instead, you stepped forward, heart pounding, and pressed the "O" button, committing to the choice you knew you had to make. A cold knot formed in your stomach as you did, but your mind remained focused. You weren’t about to back down now, no matter what the others thought.

As you turned and walked back to your side, you kept your head low, trying to hide the turmoil brewing inside. You heard some murmurs around you, a mix of disbelief and anger from your teammates, but you couldn’t bring yourself to listen. The guilt gnawed at you but so did the hope that this one last game would be enough. You glanced at the piggy bank hanging overhead, feeling the weight of the prize pool, but also the weight of your decision.

The voting ended with 140 votes for “O” and 117 for “X,” meaning the third game would proceed tomorrow. Some players cheered, relieved that they could move forward, while others were disappointed, worried for their survival. You stood frozen as the room around you buzzed with varying reactions. You could feel the stares of your team members who clearly weren’t happy with your decision. You couldn’t meet their eyes, couldn’t bear to see the betrayal there.

Jung-bae’s hand suddenly clapped on your shoulder, pulling you out of your reverie. You looked at him, searching his face for some sign of judgment. Your eyes went down and stared at the "O" patch on his tracksuit. His gaze was full of understanding, a silent comfort that you couldn’t quite put into words. He gave you a quick nod before turning his back, signaling the two of you to move forward, away from the team.

You ignored the whispers, and the betrayed looks from Dae-ho and Hanni. You couldn’t let it matter now. Call it selfish, call it greed, but 78 million won was not enough. Just one more game, and then maybe, just maybe you could end this.

Once the guard handed you your food, you took it mechanically, your hands numb as you walked back to your bed. You couldn’t face anyone—not Hanni, not Jun-hee, and especially not the ones who still believed in you. The weight of their disappointment was more than you could bear. Before you could even sit down, a loud voice called out for you.

"Hey! [Name]ya!" The sudden intrusion startled you. You turned, your heart racing in your chest, and saw Jun-hee and Hanni behind you. The former’s concern was written clearly across her face.

“Why?” she asked softly, her voice trembling.

You avoided her gaze, not trusting yourself to speak. “I... I have my reasons,” you said, your voice cracking just a little, even though you tried to sound convincing.

Hanni, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, muttered under her breath, "I hope it’s worth it." Her words were heavy with something you couldn’t quite define—was it disappointment? Concern? Either way, it cut deeper than you expected. You wanted to say something, anything, to make her understand, but you couldn’t. Not now. Not when everything felt so fragile.

Before you could open your mouth, two sets of hands grabbed each of your arms, forcing you to stand up. With a startled yelp, you asked, "What are you doing?" in a nervous tone. The two remained silent, their grip firm as they dragged you toward where the group was sitting. You quickly noticed that Jung-bae was also being pulled along by Dae-ho, confusion and tension radiating from him. It wasn’t until you reached the group that the weight of everyone’s gaze settled on you. You couldn’t escape the questioning looks from your teammates.

You and Jung-bae exchanged guilty glances before finally looking your teammates in the eye. “I… I’m very sorry, Dae-ho, Gi-hun, Young-il,” you started. Jung-bae hesitated for a moment before following your lead, offering a quick bow. “I’m sorry too, Hanni, Jun-hee, Young-il… Gi-hun, I’m sorry.”

When nobody acknowledged your apologies, Jung-bae went on to explain his reasoning, his voice faltering slightly. “You see, I borrowed some emergency cash, and the creditors are harassing my ex-wife and kid. If I play one more game, I think I’ll be able to settle my debt. So—”

“Jung-bae.” Young-il cut him off sharply. His tone was cold, his expression unreadable, as if disappointment weighed heavy on his words. “You of all people shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t righteous, not twice, not even once.”

The words stung more than Jung-bae expected, and the silence between them grew thick. Without waiting for Jung-bae to respond, Young-il turned to you, his gaze steady and searching. “And you,” he began, his voice quieter but no less firm, “You’ve made your own choice,” He continued, his voice measured, “but don’t try to justify it as something you had no control over.”

You looked at him one more time before looking down, the weight of his words sinking deep into your chest, tightening your throat. Your mind raced, but there was no way to explain it—not to them, not to yourself.

“I know…” you whispered, the guilt rising like a tide, swallowing your words. “And I’m truly sorry…”

The sincerity in your apology felt hollow. You had made the decision. No one had forced you, but the pull of the money, of the chance to end it all, had made it feel like a necessity. And yet, as you stood there, with their disappointed gazes burning into you, it felt more like a betrayal than a choice.

“But looking at the results, even if you two voted against it, we would still have been outvoted,” Young-il said, his voice calm, like he had already made peace with it.

“Right? So it’s not really our fault,” Jung-bae added quickly, trying to make light of the situation.

Dae-ho, who had been quietly observing, scratched his head and gave Jung-bae a comforting pat on the shoulder. “Honestly, I get why you did it. Even for me, ¥78 million isn’t enough. So when I went to vote, I really thought about going for ‘O’ too.”

Hanni and Jun-hee didn’t say much. They nodded, agreeing in silence but not wanting to add anything more. Everyone was feeling the pressure. The reality of it all was sinking in too fast.

Jung-bae, still holding on to hope, added, “Next game, I promise. I’ll—”

“Next game?” Gi-hun’s voice cut through the air, sharp and honest. “Next game, we might have to kill each other.”

The room went still at his words. Everyone seemed to freeze. Gi-hun was right, and his words hit harder than anyone expected. No one spoke right away; the thought of what might happen in the next game was too much to face. The quiet grew heavy as the reality of what they were really up against settled in.

You opened your mouth to say something but stopped when Young-il spoke up. “Gi-hun, that’s a bit much. We all know there’s nothing we can do about it now. Let’s just stay focused. We need to eat, get ourselves together, and prepare for the next round.”

With that, he handed his milk carton to Jun-hee, saying he didn’t drink plain milk. Jung-bae did the same, offering his bread to Hanni, saying he didn’t deserve to eat. Everyone’s gestures, though small, felt like they were all trying to comfort each other in their own way, but it only made the situation more real.

Dae-ho, trying to lighten the mood, asked for Jung-bae's milk carton, but when the male shot him a glare, he stayed quiet, not wanting to argue.

A soft laugh slipped out of you, and without thinking, you handed your milk to Dae-ho. He immediately accepted it with a soft, grateful smile and mumbled a quiet thanks. 

You found yourself sitting next to Young-il, feeling more tired than you’d ever felt before, the mental and physical exhaustion had settled into your bones, dragging you down. The male was silent beside you, his presence heavy yet comforting in a way you hadn’t expected. He didn’t say anything at first, but you could feel his gaze on you. It wasn’t intrusive, just there—steady, unyielding, like a silent support.

After a long silence, he spoke, his voice low and steady. “You did what you had to do.”

You blinked at him, not sure whether to be relieved or uncomfortable. “Did I?” you asked softly. “I voted to keep going. I went against you all. I wanted to believe it would be worth it, but I’m not sure anymore.”

“You can’t change it now,” he said, his tone gentle, almost comforting. “We all made our choices. It’s over. What matters now is what we do next.”

For a moment, you felt a knot in your chest loosen. He turned to you, his gaze unwavering, “You made a choice,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “And no one else can tell you whether it was right or wrong.”

The simplicity of his words hung in the air. You couldn’t fix what had been done, but hearing those words from him somehow made it feel a little less like you were alone in your decision. The guilt that had gnawed at you seemed to quiet, even if just for a brief moment.

“Thanks,” you said, your voice softer than you intended. There was a quiet sincerity in it, more than you realized. It was the kind of reassurance you hadn’t known you were craving.

He nodded once, acknowledging your thanks with a slight tilt of his head. “Don’t mind what Gi-hun and I said earlier,” he murmured, his voice steady but softer now. “In a place like this, it’s hard not to be on edge. Everyone’s just trying to survive.”

You nodded slowly, letting his words sink in. “Yeah… I get it. It’s just hard to not feel like the bad guy sometimes.”

“You’re not,” he said simply, his gaze meeting yours for a moment before shifting away. “We all made our choices. Doesn’t make anyone better or worse. Just… human.”

A small smile tugged at your lips, and before you knew it, the two of you had slipped into an easy conversation. It wasn’t much, shared observations about the others, light teasing about Dae-ho being comparable to a golden retriever, favorite movies and hobbies, but it felt like a break from the weight pressing down on you both.

At one point, you let out a genuine laugh, surprising even yourself. Young-il turned his head, his gaze curious as he asked, “What’s so funny?”

You shook your head, a small smile still lingering on your lips. “I don’t know,” you admitted, brushing a hand over your face as if to hide the slight flush there. “Maybe it’s just everything… or nothing. Maybe I just needed to.”

He tilted his head, his expression softening slightly, though he still didn’t smile. “Laughing over nothing, huh? Guess there’s worse ways to handle this mess.”

“You should try it,” you said lightly, teasing just enough to test the waters.

He huffed, not quite a laugh but close, the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes. “Maybe one day.”

For a little while, it was just the two of you, sharing quiet moments and fleeting bits of lightness in the shadow of everything else. The sound of quiet conversations and muted movements surrounded you, but it all felt distant, like you and Young-il existed in a world apart from everyone else. Eventually, the men began excusing themselves to head toward the bathroom. Young-il stayed seated a moment longer, his reluctance obvious in the way he lingered.

“You’re stalling,” you teased softly, a smile tugging at your lips.

He huffed, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe I am.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Go. They’re waiting for you, and if you stay any longer Dae-ho might wet the floor.”

He chuckled. For a moment, he didn’t move, his gaze meeting yours. “Fine,” he said, shaking his head as he stood slowly, there was a flicker of something—playful or thoughtful, you couldn’t quite tell. As he walked away, you watched him join the others, the soft smile still lingering on your face.

Once the coast was clear, Hanni slid over almost immediately, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Jun-hee joined her just as quickly, both of them zeroing in on you like a pair of mischievous siblings ready to pounce. “You’re smiling,” Hanni said, a teasing tone lacing her words.

Jun-hee, tilted her head, her expression somewhere between amused and curious. “We’ve been with you since the first game and that’s not like you. Care to explain?”

You blinked, immediately feeling awkward. “Really? Now? In a place like this?”

Hanni leaned closer, her expression turning more playful. “C’mon, we’re not gonna bite. Just curious.”

With a chuckle, you let out a dramatic sigh before rubbing your temples. “This isn’t the time for that. We’re stuck in a death game, not a dating show.”

“So, what you’re saying is if we are in a dating show you would totally go for him?”

You raised an eyebrow at Hanni, a smirk tugging at your lips. "I never said that," you replied, shaking your head in disbelief.

Jun-hee joined in, her voice teasing but not unkind. “Come on, don’t play coy with us. You have to admit, something’s up.”

You let out a sigh, but this time it was more amused than anything. “You two are unbelievable.” You leaned back, trying to shift the mood. “Look, it’s not like that. We’re just… having a conversation. It's not that deep.”

But they didn’t back off. Hanni gave you a knowing look, her eyes twinkling. “Having a conversation my ass! You’re out here giggling like a highschooler!”

“I do not!”

“Do too!”

You crossed your arms, trying to hide the smile creeping onto your face. “I’m not giggling, I’m just—” you paused, trying to find the right words, “I’m just… enjoying the conversation, alright?”

Jun-hee leaned in, her eyes narrowed with playful suspicion. “Uh-huh. Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help yourself from laughing again. “Just so you know, we’re stuck in a life-and-death situation, and I’m way past the age of having crushes and all that nonsense.”

Hanni leaned back with a satisfied grin, clearly enjoying the teasing. “Sure, whatever you say! We’ll let you off the hook for now, but don’t think we’ve forgotten.”

“You’re impossible,” you muttered under your breath, shaking your head. Despite the playful banter, the weight in your chest lightened. The tension between you all had shifted, and for the first time in a while, things didn’t feel so heavy. The teasing was light, comforting, and in the middle of everything that was going on, it was exactly what you needed.

You gave her a half-smile. “You’re not gonna let me live this down, are you?”

Jun-hee joined in with a gentle laugh. “Probably not. But it’s good to see you smile for once, even if we’re making fun of you.”

“You two are such troublemakers, you know that?”

Hanni shrugged innocently. “What can we say unnie? We just like seeing you flustered!”

You rolled your eyes, but the smile stayed on your face. “Yeah, well, enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Lights out in ten minutes. Please prepare for bedtime.”

Currently, you and the group were passing out mattresses, following Gi-hun’s insistence that all of you sleep on the floor together, huddled under one of the bed frames with someone keeping watch. While the rest of you questioned whether such precautions were necessary, none dared to speak up, not wanting to provoke Gi-hun’s temper.

As you handed a mattress to Dae-ho, who passed it to Jung-bae, the latter decided to voice what everyone else was thinking. “Hey, is this really necessary? I don’t like sleeping under there.”

Gi-hun didn’t look up as he smoothed a blanket onto the floor. “Once the lights go out, someone might attack us.”

That caught everyone’s attention. Kneeling down to sort through pillows and blankets, You, Dae-ho, Jun-hee and Hanni paused, curiosity piqued. “Why would anyone do that?” Dae-ho asked cautiously.

Gi-hun let out a humorless chuckle. “The prize money goes up every time someone dies. It’s part of the game they designed.”

You frowned, giving his words some thought. At first, his claim seemed far-fetched, but the more you considered the desperation you’d seen in yourself and in others—the way some eyes lingered too long on the prize board—it started to make an unsettling kind of sense.

“That’s insane,” Jung-bae muttered, shaking his head. “Nobody’s that cold. Nobody’s gonna—”

“Nope, Gi-hun is right. You shouldn’t be so sure,” you cut in, your tone sharper than usual. All eyes turned to you. “We’re lucky to have each other, but outside of this group? Desperation changes people. If someone thinks they have a better chance alone, or if they’re blinded by that kind of money, they won’t hesitate.”

Young-il narrowed his eyes at you, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. “You’re saying we should expect someone to try and kill us tonight?”

You shrugged, your expression grim. “I’m saying we’d be stupid not to prepare for it.”

The weight of your words settled over the group like a heavy blanket. Even Hanni and Jun-hee, who usually tried to keep things light, exchanged uneasy glances. Gi-hun nodded as if your words confirmed everything he’d been thinking.

“Well,” Dae-ho said after a moment, his voice forced and upbeat, “at least we have each other, right?”

“Exactly,” Gi-hun said, setting down the last mattress. “We stick together, we’ll make it through. Now, everyone settle in. And keep your eyes open.”

Reluctantly, the group followed his lead, arranging themselves in a tight circle under the frame. You caught Young-il’s eye as he sat down across from you, his expression unreadable but his gaze steady.

Morning arrived faster than you expected, and soon, the guards were leading you to the next game.

The circular room you entered was unsettling. Bright, white walls surrounded a massive platform in the center, and atop it stood three eerie carousel horses, their painted eyes glossy and cold. Around the perimeter of the room were several doors, painted with plain colors.

You stared in quiet dread, trying to piece together what this setup might mean. The atmosphere was heavy, the air almost suffocating.

A light shove jolted you back to reality.

“You okay?”

Young-il stood beside you, his hand brushing your arm. His face, though calm, held a trace of worry as he took in your frozen stance.

“Stay close to me,” he said firmly. “And don’t freeze up now. I know it’s hard, but mistakes…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Just don’t make any. Not here.”

You nodded, swallowing hard, and forced your legs to move as the guards directed everyone to the platform.

The rules were announced in the same monotone voice you’d grown to fear. This game wasn’t just a test of strength or skill—it was a race against time. Mingle. A game where players had to form groups according to the number that appeared and enter a room within 30 seconds. Failure to do so meant death.

The tension in the room became unbearable as the platform filled with nervous shuffling.

Hanni, standing beside you, clutched at your jacket with trembling hands. Her grip was tight and desperate, her pale face mirrored the fear you felt but tried to bury.

You placed a steadying hand over hers. “Stay close to us okay?” you murmured, glancing at her wide, frightened eyes. “We’ll figure this out.”

The platform began to spin, the movement disorienting as the room blurred around you. An eerie, childlike song played from unseen speakers, the melody jarring in its mockery of innocence.

Just as nausea began to creep in, the platform screeched to a halt.

12

Panic erupted immediately. Players screamed and shoved, desperate to find others to form a group.

“We need two more!”

“Who has five?”

Gi-hun moved quickly, scanning the chaos. He approached a nearby cluster of players, tapping one on the shoulder. “How many are you?”

“Four,” Player 120 replied.

“That makes us eleven,” Jung-bae said, pulling the rest of you closer into a huddle.

Before you could fully regroup, others swarmed around, shouting over one another in frantic bids for survival.

“Join us! We’re five!”

“No, come with us! We’re seven!”

The crowd was chaos. People were being pulled apart and dragged into groups as the countdown loomed. Hanni clung tighter to you, her breathing uneven. Suddenly, Player 120 ran off and dragged a woman toward your group. Her face was pale, and her steps stumbled as if she could barely keep up with the force pulling her forward.

“Here! This makes twelve!” Player 120 shouted, shoving the woman into your group before anyone could react.

“Come on,” you urged, grabbing Jun-hee and Hanni by the arms. “Let’s go. Stick close to me.”

Gi-hun directed your group to room 44. One by one, you made sure everyone got through the door, your eyes scanning for anyone falling behind. Once inside, Young-il slammed the door shut.

The locks clicked as the timer hit zero.

A chilling silence followed before the sound of gunfire tore through the room. Cries of desperation from players left behind filled the air, only to be abruptly silenced.

Hanni trembled violently, her hands covering her ears. You knelt beside her, brushing her hair back in an attempt to soothe her. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” you said, though your own hands weren’t quite steady.

The tense quiet was broken by a sudden, sharp voice.

“You are all alive thanks to me!”

The outburst came from the woman 120 dragged, her wild eyes scanning the group. She began to approach Jun-hee with a strange intensity, her smile twisted and unsettling.

You immediately stepped in front of the girl, blocking her from view. Your movements were calm, but your heart pounded as the woman’s gaze landed on you instead.

She tilted her head, her smile widening. “There’s a reason you’ve lived this long,” she said, her tone cryptic. “A reason you were brought here.”

Her words hung heavy in the air as she looked past you, her focus shifting to Gi-hun.

Before she could say more, the announcer’s voice crackled through the speakers, listing the eliminated players. The doors unlocked. Everyone returned to the platform.

Another round began.

4

All seven of you froze, exchanging frantic glances. The tension in the room was suffocating, everyone hyper-aware of the seconds slipping away.

"I'll find one more," you said abruptly, already moving before anyone could protest.

Gi-hun called after you, his voice strained with alarm, but you were already lost in the chaos.

"Wait—!" Hanni started to follow, but Gi-hun grabbed her arm.

"No!" she yelled, pulling against him. "You go! I’ll wait for [Name]-nim!"

"But—"

Young-il stepped in, placing a firm hand on Gi-hun’s shoulder. "Go, Gi-hun. She won’t move unless [Name] is back. I’ll stay with her."

Gi-hun hesitated, his jaw clenched. He looked between them and the dwindling time before nodding sharply. "Take care of them."

Without another word, he ushered Dae-ho, Jun-hee, and Jung-bae into a room. Once inside, Gi-hun hesitated to shut the room, opting to keep it open for a bit as he watched over your group.

Meanwhile, Young-il stayed by Hanni's side, his sharp gaze darting through the chaos, searching for any sign of you. The noise of panicked shouts and pounding footsteps filled the air, but he barely noticed. Instead, his attention was fixed on the spinning platform and the frenzied crowd.

Hanni clung to his arm, her small frame trembling against his. Her breaths came in short, uneven gasps, her grip tightening with each second that passed. Young-il glanced down at her, his usually stern expression softening for a moment.

"You’ll be okay," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the storm around them. He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder, giving her a firm yet gentle pat.

Hanni didn’t seem to hear him. Her lips moved in a near-silent mantra, repeating over and over, "Please come back. Please come back."

Her words hung heavy in the air, a fragile plea against the backdrop of chaos. Young-il’s jaw tightened as he turned his focus back to the crowd. He had to believe you would return, not just for Hanni's sake—but for all of theirs.

Inside the room, Dae-ho’s voice broke the silence. "Will they make it?" he asked, his tone trembling. Gi-hun didn’t respond, his gaze fixed outside, searching for any sign of you. With ten seconds left, hope began to waver—until a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Hey! I found someone! Let’s go!"

Bursting into sight, you ran towards an empty room with Player 256 in tow. Without hesitation, you grabbed Young-il’s outstretched hand, pulling everyone toward the door. The locks clicked shut just as the timer hit zero.

Inside, your legs gave out, but before you hit the ground, you felt a strong pair of arms catch you. Young-il steadied you, his worried face inches from yours.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low but urgent.

You nodded quickly, pulling yourself upright. "Thanks," you said, flashing a weak smile before turning to Player 256, who looked pale and shaken.

"Are you alright? Sorry for dragging you like that. I just saw you on the floor and didn’t think twice."

The young man gave you a pained smile, his breaths still uneven. "I’m fine. Thank you—really. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead."

You patted his shoulder gently, suppressing a sigh. "What’s with young people getting into so much debt these days?"

Before you could say more, a small figure collided with you, wrapping their arms tightly around your waist.

"Don’t ever leave me again, unnie." Hanni sobbed, her voice muffled against your shirt. Warm tears soaked through the fabric as she clung to you.

Your heart twisted at her desperation. "I can’t promise you that, Hanni. But Jun-hee’s always there when I’m not okay?" you murmured, gently running your hand through her hair, trying to soothe her.

Her grip on you loosened a little, but her wide eyes stayed locked on you. “I know… but I still need you two with me,” she whispered, her voice shaky but full of that same hope she always had.

You gave her a soft smile, brushing away a tear that had fallen down her cheek. “We’re not going anywhere,” you said, holding her just a little tighter.

The announcer’s voice suddenly boomed through the speakers, listing the names of the eliminated players. The stark reminder of the game’s stakes sent a chill through the room.

As the list ended, you glanced toward Young-il. His eyes betrayed the fear he had been holding back, relief washing over his face as he met your gaze. For a brief moment, it felt like the world had paused, the chaos outside fading into the background.

"Thank you," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

He gave a small nod, his lips pressed into a thin line.

The sound of the doors unlocking snapped you both back to reality. Player 256 bowed deeply to you before sprinting off, murmuring another hurried "thank you" as he disappeared into the crowd.

Taking Hanni’s hand, you and Young-il moved quickly to find the rest of your group. Voices called your names, and you followed the sound until you spotted them.

"There they are!" Jung-bae shouted, relief evident in his tone.

Young-il barely had time to react before Jung-bae threw his arms around him in a tight hug. Meanwhile, Jun-hee rushed toward you and Hanni.

The three of you broke into a tangle of hugs, clutching each other tightly, the fear and relief of survival intertwining in an unspoken bond.

“I knew you were gonna be okay!” Jung-bae exclaimed in relief, pulling Young-il into a tight hug. Jun-hee did the same with you, and you returned the hug, pressing a few affectionate forehead kisses on her before patting her head gently. Gi-hun looked at you and Young-il, his face breaking into a relieved smile. “I was so worried. I’m glad you all made it.”

“Luckily, [Name] found someone in time. If she stayed with us a little longer, she might’ve had a hard time,” Young-il chuckled, praising you.

You laughed, shaking your head. “If anything, I was lucky. I found the guy on the ground. I hope he’s okay.”

The two of you then turned to Jun-hee, asking if she was alright. She reassured you, telling you how glad she was that the three of you came back safely.

“Wait a minute.” Young-il’s voice cut through the conversation. Suddenly, all eyes were on him. “If the next number is eighth, then we won’t need anyone else, right?”

Everyone looked at him with confused expressions. “Why?” Dae-ho asked, genuinely curious. Young-il didn’t respond immediately; instead, he just nodded, thinking.

Jung-bae snapped his fingers, pointing at Jun-hee’s stomach. “Ah, it’s in her tummy.”

A sudden realization spread across Dae-ho’s face as he finally understood. “Ohh, that’s right. That makes eight.” The group shared a lighthearted laugh, while Hanni rolled her eyes, quietly laughing to herself. She muttered something about how corny the joke was. You couldn’t help but laugh, pinching her cheek and telling her to just go with the flow.

“What if it’s twins? Triplets?” you joked.

Amid the laughter, a pair of lingering eyes belonging to Player 333 was watching the group with an unreadable look on his face.

The atmosphere shifted slightly before you were all instructed to return to the platform. The tension in the air was palpable. Another round started.

3

“You three, go–” Gi-hun began, but Young-il cut him off.

“No. I’ll go. You stay with them.”

You all looked at him in surprise, not wanting to leave him behind. However, there was no time to waste. With a determined nod, you immediately grabbed Jun-hee and Hanni before running toward the nearest room. Gi-hun, Jung-bae, and Dae-ho followed closely behind, while Young-il ran off to find two other players.

You three finally approached the only vacant room near you. As you opened it, your blood ran cold. A figure was curled up in a ball in the corner of the room, its stillness unnerving— as if they had already given up already. You glanced at the timer—20 seconds. Your heart raced. Grabbing Jun-hee and Hanni’s arms, you yelled for the curled up figure.

"Hey!" you shouted. The person stirred and looked up at you, confusion in their eyes. You raised the arms you were holding, signaling clearly. The person understood, standing up and moving toward the door. You pushed Jun-hee and Hanni toward the player, making sure they would be safe with her. Once inside, Player 380 quickly closed the door. As you ran away, you heard their voices calling out to you.

“Hey unnie! Come back!”

“[Name]nim!”

You cursed your heart for being soft and getting attached, you cursed your mind for wanting to be a hero. With 13 seconds left, you turned and ran as fast as you could, hoping to find a room, or maybe even Young-il.

10 seconds.

You frantically scanned the area, but there was almost nothing. No sign of Young-il. No sign of anyone else making their way to a room. No group of two finding their last member.

8 seconds.

Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed your arm. You were shocked but didn’t hesitate. You had no time for hesitation now. You kept your pace, determined to survive.

6 seconds.

You spotted someone standing idly, diagonally to you. Wasting no time, you shouted to them. Together, you ran toward the person, desperate to find the last empty room.

4 seconds.

The two of you reached her and grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her toward the nearest open door.

2 seconds.

The three of you rushed inside.

1 second.

The doors slammed shut behind you.

The timer rang. 0 seconds.

Back in room 27, Hanni and Jun-hee peeked anxiously through the window, watching the chaos unfold outside. As the announcer listed the eliminated players, they held their breath, waiting. The second your number wasn’t called, they exhaled in relief.

Inside your room, you collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. This was the consequence of playing the hero. You were too old for this, yet here you were again, caught in the madness. Once your breath steadied, you looked at the player you had dragged in. You froze in shock. It was Player 149—the mother of Player 007. The two were peas in a pod, but you hoped nothing bad would happen now that they were separated.

Deciding not to disturb her, you let her have some space and turned to the person who had saved you. Standing up, you immediately bowed in their direction. When they didn’t make a sound or movement, you slowly lifted your head.

To your shock, you were met with Young-il���s face.

Your shocked face clashed with his angry one, but before you could process it, you leapt at him and wrapped him in a tight, warm hug. His initial surprise faded as he returned the embrace, his anger melting away. As he gently patted your hair, he quietly asked, “What happened?”

“The room we entered was already filled with someone. I wanted to stay with Jun-hee and Hanni, but there were no more rooms nearby. I couldn’t let Jun-hee run anymore, so I left them there and ran,” you explained, your voice muffled against his shirt.

He patted your head again before slightly pushing you away to look at your face. Still holding you, the two of you locked eyes. “You’re lucky I was there to save you like a superhero.”

“Yeah,” you chuckled, “Thanks, superhero.”

You gave him a sweet smile before pulling away and knelt in front of the older woman. “Ma’am, are you okay?”

She snapped out of her thoughts and bowed, immediately responding, “Yes, yes. I am. Thank you so much for saving me.”

“Where’s your son?”

“Sorry?”

“Weren’t you with him?” Young-il asked, his concern growing for their safety. You watched her closely, hoping nothing bad had happened. Her eyes bounced between you and Young-il as she tried to formulate an answer. “Oh, well, I lost him. He told me to wait while he brought one more person, but in all the chaos, I lost him.”

“He didn’t come back?” Young-il’s question made her stand up abruptly.

“My son isn’t that kind of person!” she said, standing defensively. “We may be poor, but he has a good heart. He’d rather be bullied than hurt another person. He’ll never harm anyone, so watch what you say about him!”

You stood up quickly and gently placed your hands on her shoulders, trying to ease the tension. “Ah, it’s nothing like that, ma’am. It’s just that the two of you have been together from the start, so we were worried when we saw you alone. We didn’t mean to upset you.”

She looked at you for a moment before averting her gaze, calming down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” Young-il added, apologizing as well.

The doors opened then, signaling it was time to move on. With a bow, you grabbed Young-il’s hand, pulling him toward Jun-hee and Hanni’s room. When you saw the two of them, your eyes met, and without hesitation, you let go of Young-il’s hand and hugged them both tightly. You whispered your apologies as they cried into your neck. Young-il watched the scene with a bittersweet smile, the sight of you and the others reminding him painfully of his late wife. It felt like a love he could never return to, yet he couldn't look away.

Once they stopped crying, you gently pulled away and pointed them toward Young-il. Without hesitation, they ran to him, wrapping their arms around him and thanking him.

The four of you then returned to the platform, where you met the rest of your group. A silent understanding passed between your team and player 120’s team, as you all stood next to each other, ready for the next round. The music started. The platform began to rotate. 

6

“Three women and three men, go!” Gi-hun shouted. Luckily, you all had enough members so only finding the room was the problem, Jun-hee and Hanni stuck close to you as you followed Young-il, Gi-hun, and Jung-bae to a room. 

When you returned to the platform, you immediately noticed the lonely figure of player 120, with player 095 nowhere near, you assumed the worst. Standing close next to her, you offer comfort by rubbing her back. “It’s gonna be hard but please stay strong, she now lives through you.” She gives you a pained nod as you placed yourself between Hanni and Young-il. 

“What do you think will be the next number?” Jung-bae asked you all.

It was quiet for a moment as everyone contemplated the answer. Without hesitation, Hanni spoke up. "Two."

Gi-hun looked at her, silently asking her to explain her answer. Instead of her, Young-il’s voice broke through the tension. "Yeah, she's correct. It's two. There are 50 rooms, and 156 people are still alive. Everyone will have a pair, but there won't be enough rooms. That's how they conduct these games."

Everyone else looked at him, some expressions confused, others with a hint of surprise, as if they hadn’t expected him to be the one explaining. And they were right.

2

The group stood in silence for a second, each person wondering who would pair with whom. The fear of the rooms being occupied quickly spread so without a second thought, Young-il grabbed your hand and hurried you away. Hanni called your name, and the others followed suit. Dae-ho grabbed Hanni, Jung-bae grabbed Gi-hun, and Player 333 grabbed Jun-hee as they all ran to secure an empty room.

You and Young-il reached the open door of an empty room, but before you could step inside, another player tackled you to the ground. As Young-il rushed to help you up, the player bolted for the room you had been eyeing. Without hesitation, Young-il grabbed the man, yanking him away and throwing him outside with unexpected force.

"Go in!" Young-il shouted at you, as he held the player in his grip.

Your heart was racing, adrenaline flooding your system. You scrambled to recover and quickly glanced around, making sure the coast was clear. With urgency, you rushed inside, positioning yourself near the door, ready to barricade it in case someone tried to steal the room from you. You signaled for Young-il to come in, and as he rushed in after you, you slammed the door behind him, using your body to hold it shut while the player left outside shouted curses at you.

Suddenly, Young-il pulled you into his arms, his hands gentle but firm, as he placed your head against his shoulder. You melted into him, the brief respite giving you both a moment of peace. But that moment quickly shattered when your eyes caught a figure in the corner of the room.

Your breath hitched. In a panic, you pushed away from Young-il and shouted at the figure, your voice trembling, "Leave! Get out!"

The timer was ticking down, and every second felt like an eternity. Panic surged within you as you watched the figure not move—your heart raced. The seconds were slipping away.

12 seconds.

"No way, we got here first," the man argued, his voice laced with defiance.

“Well your partner is not here isn’t he?! Get out!”  you demanded, your voice firm despite the tension.

11 seconds.

“Shut your tramp whore! We got here first! Make yourself useful and get out of the room!” he spat back, growing angrier.

10 seconds.

Without a word, Young-il lunged at the man, grabbing him by the throat and forcing him toward the door, his strength overpowering the man’s resistance. You watched in horror, your eyes flickering between the timer and the brutal scene unfolding before you. With only three seconds left and the man still struggling. Young-il didn’t hesitate. His actions were swift and decisive, final and cold. With one swift move, the room fell silent, and the door locked.

0 seconds.

Young-il stood over the lifeless man, his face distant, his expression hollow. It was a look that didn’t belong on him. In the short time you’d known him, he’d always had this warm, protective energy, this quiet tenderness that made you feel safe. But now, his usual caring nature seemed clouded by something else.

Without thinking, you crossed the room to him, gently taking his hands in yours. You could feel his tension, his unwillingness to meet your gaze. Your heart ached to see him like this, and you whispered softly, “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry,” his voice barely above a whisper, as though he was apologizing for something you hadn’t even asked him to do.

“What for?” you asked, trying to meet his gaze. He avoided it, looking down at the body in the room, his face shadowed with regret.

“You did what you had to do, Young-il. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be here. We’d be dead. So, thank you.” You squeezed his hands, trying to convey the depth of your gratitude, even if the words felt too small.

“But—” he started, voice faltering.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” You could feel his fear—fear that you might look at him differently now. You could see it in his eyes, that vulnerability he tried to hide. You slowly reached up, your hand finding his cheek, your touch gentle and comforting. His eyes closed as he leaned into it, the tension melting from his body for just a moment. "Murder is something I’m used to, Young-il. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine… as long as you’re here."

The air between you thickened, charged with unspoken words. The closeness, the way your fingers lingered on his skin, the way your breaths synced together—it felt like everything was leading to this moment. Slowly, instinctively, you both leaned in, drawn to each other like magnets.

But just as your lips were about to meet, the loud sound of the doors unlocking shattered the moment. You both froze, hearts pounding in your chests, reality crashing back in. You pulled away quickly, your face flushing with embarrassment.

You stepped back, flustered, and gave a quick bow, mumbling, “I—I should check on Hanni and Jun-hee.” You turned to leave, nearly tripping over your shoes in the rush. That shared moment lingered in the air, and even as you fled, your heart still raced with what almost happened, you could feel the warmth of his gaze lingering on your back, the connection between you stronger than ever.

After the third game, you found yourself back in the fort Gi-hun had organized. The group was scattered, tending to their own thoughts or conversations. Across the room, Jun-hee was deep in conversation with Player 333, the man you now knew was her ex-fiancé—the one who’d abandoned her. Hanni stood by your side, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern as the two exchanged words that seemed both loaded and cautious.

Meanwhile, Gi-hun instructed the others to count the remaining players and determine how many wanted to continue playing.

“There are 55 players who voted in favor of continuing,” Jung-bae reported as he returned.

“Are you sure?” Gi-hun asked, his voice tense.

“I counted twice.”

Dae-ho pointed to the “O” patch on Jung-bae’s uniform. “Did you count yourself?”

Jung-bae glanced at the “O” patch on his chest, pausing before muttering, “Fifty-six.”

“Fifty-seven,” you added, raising your hand while still keeping an eye on Jun-hee and her conversation.

Dae-ho exhaled heavily, frustration evident. “We have forty-five on our side. We’re outnumbered by twelve.”

The weight of the statement settled over the group like a cloud of despair.

Young-il stood up, breaking the silence. “It may seem like a big gap, but if six of them change their minds, it’s tied. Seven, and we win.”

“But what if some of the X votes switch to O?” Dae-ho countered.

“They likely won’t,” Young-il replied evenly. “Those who voted X wanted out even when the prize was smaller. Now they can leave with even more money. Why risk their lives again?”

You joined in. “Me, and Jung-bae will definitely vote X. That’s two already. If four more switch sides, it’s a tie. Five more, and we win.”

Gi-hun nodded decisively. “Then let’s go try to convince them.” 

“No,” Young-il said firmly. “That’s too risky. Most of them want to continue playing. If we start making moves, they won’t sit back and let us sway their votes.”

Gi-hun’s frustration boiled over. “So we just stand here and pray they change their minds? What if we lose again? Are we supposed to march into another game like sheep?”

Hanni hesitated before speaking, her voice soft but steady. “Gi-hunnim, I don’t think it’s wise to provoke them. They might do the same to us, and they have the upper hand. People are here for money. If we start something, it could lead to a fight before we even vote.”

Her words calmed the rising tension, and the group fell into silence as guards entered the room, signaling the start of the next vote.

After the third game, only 100 players remained. The prize money now totaled 35.6 billion won, meaning each player will earn 356 million won if they would go home now. Jung-bae approached Gi-hun, his face grim yet determined. “With that kind of money,” he began, his voice low but certain, “some might change their minds. If we can convince six more people to vote X, we’ll tie. Seven, and we win.” His words hung in the air, filling the room with a fragile sense of hope.

The guards soon interrupted, announcing that the voting would proceed in reverse order of player numbers. The tension thickened as Gi-hun approached the booth, the echo of his footsteps amplifying the silence. “Player 456, please cast your vote,” one guard intoned, his monotone voice chilling in its detachment.

One by one, players approached the booth, many clinging to their original decisions. The scoreboard slowly reflected the changes. When it was Jung-bae’s turn, he strode forward with purpose, slamming his hand on the X button. As he returned to Gi-hun’s side, he showed off his X patch and declared, “Seven more to win,” his voice carrying the first flicker of confidence the group had heard in hours.

Player 380 voted X. Relief swept through your group—six more to go.

Player 185. X. Five more.

Your turn came, and you didn’t hesitate. X. Four more.

Player 125. X. Three.

Player 120 followed, then Player 015. Each X vote brought you closer to the tie. When Player 007 slammed the X button, he shouted, “Let’s go home!” and tore off his O patch triumphantly.

“That’s seven!” Jung-bae yelled, grinning in excitement. “We did it!”

The celebration was short-lived. The next player, an elderly woman, calmly voted O. The room fell silent as her choice appeared on the scoreboard: 49 for X, 50 for O.

Everyone turned toward the last player, Player 001. The atmosphere shifted, the tension nearly suffocating. The air felt heavy with anticipation as he slowly made his way to the booth. Young-il’s slow steps toward the voting booth felt endless. Every step seemed deliberate, as though he were savoring the weight of the moment.

Hanni, looking at Young-il, quietly gripped Jun-hee’s arm, her face pale. “What’s wrong?” Jun-hee asked quietly, her voice tinged with concern.

Hanni hesitated before speaking, her words barely audible. “Young-ilnim... he scares me sometimes.”

Jun-hee frowned. “Why? Did something happen?”

“When we were waiting for [Name]nim during the third game, I thought I saw him making eye contact with the guards,” Hanni murmured. “It was like... like they knew him. I don’t know, maybe I imagined it, but it didn’t feel right.”

Jun-hee’s brows furrowed, her protective instincts kicking in. “We should tell [Name]nim.”

“No!” Hanni shook her head rapidly. “I don’t want to ruin what they have. [Name]nim deserves to be happy. If I’m wrong, I don’t want to mess things up.”

Jun-hee looked at her with a mix of worry and understanding, her hand coming to rest on Hanni’s shoulder. Before either could say more, the sharp sound of Player 001’s vote echoed through the room.

X.

A stunned silence followed before the scoreboard updated, displaying an even 50 for X and 50 for O. Young-il turned to the group, a smile on his face as he raised his hand in an okay sign. Your side erupted into quiet cheers, exchanging looks of disbelief and relief.

“It’s a tie. We did it!” Dae-ho exclaimed, grabbing your shoulders in excitement. You couldn’t help but laugh, shaking him back as a rush of emotion coursed through you.

Relief swept through the room, but a palpable tension lingered as everyone waited to hear the outcome of the tie.

"Wait, since it’s a tie, what does it mean?" Player 100 asked.

The guard responded flatly, "Clause Three: If the voting ends in a tie, players will vote again. To give you time to think, the vote will be conducted tomorrow." He glanced around the room, his gaze cold and impassive. "Until then, please consider your future carefully."

As dinner commenced, your team welcomed new members—Players 120, 149, 007, and 246. The mood was a bit lighter, though tinged with underlying anxiety. Small talk carried the group through the meal, with some making half-hearted jokes to distract from the harsh reality of their situation.

“I’m surprised by the food today,” Hanni remarked, biting eagerly into her roll of gimbap. “I thought it would be bread and milk until the end.” You gently nudged her to slow down, worried she might choke.

Jun-hee, chewing thoughtfully, leaned closer to Hanni. “I was so scared earlier, especially with Young-ilnim. I thought for sure he’d vote O like the first time.” She hesitated, then whispered, “Hey, we really should tell her—”

“Tell me what?” you interjected, raising a brow.

“N-nothing!” Hanni stammered, her cheeks coloring as she avoided your gaze.

“Hmm, I’m watching you two,” you teased, making a gesture before turning your attention to Dae-ho, who was animatedly chatting with Jung-bae.

“I really thought you were going to vote O, like on day one,” Dae-ho admitted, glancing at Young-il. Jung-bae, clearly done with the male's rambling, stuffed a piece of gimbap into his mouth before addressing Young-il directly. “Thank you, Young-il. You gave us another chance.”

Young-il shook his head slightly, his expression neutral. “I just want to stay alive. The money’s enough now, so I need to get out of here. Alive.” His eyes flickered briefly to Gi-hun as he emphasized the last word, the intensity of his gaze sending a chill through the group.

The moment was interrupted by Player 246, who spoke up, his voice laced with apprehension. “Do you think we’ll be able to win the second vote?”

Reality hit like a blow, extinguishing the fragile flicker of hope that had momentarily lit the group. A somber silence followed until Young-il broke it. “We’ll have to go for broke,” he said, his tone measured but firm. “Like Gi-hun said earlier, we should try to convince some of them to change their minds before the second vote.”

“Will they, though?” Player 007 asked, his skepticism clear. “Most of them are blinded by the money now.”

“My son,” his mother chimed in with an oddly cheerful tone, “When you’re hungry, you start to miss home. All we have is this good roll of gimbap, and everyone will feel the pangs of hunger tomorrow.” Her logic was far-fetched, but no one dared contradict her.

007 stood and tried to address the opposing team, using the oll of gimbap as leverage. However, instead of having the result he expected to get, he got the total opposite. The men shouted over each other, their voices rising to a chaotic crescendo. Gi-hun, visibly conflicted, stared at his gimbap before unrolling it. Inside was a fork, its sharp prongs gleaming ominously. A weapon.

Unbeknownst to most, a fight had broken out in the bathroom. The announcement of eliminated players startled everyone into silence. Gasps and murmurs filled the room as the piggy bank suddenly rang. With 95 players remaining, the prize money now stood at 36.1 billion won, increasing each player’s worth to 380 million won.

“What’s happening?” Jung-bae whispered, his voice trembling with unease. His question hung unanswered as the bathroom doors opened. Players emerged, bloodied and bruised, their faces marked by fear and rage.

Player 124 from Team O stumbled into the middle of the room, his voice shaking with anger. “Listen, Team O!” he shouted. “When we were in the bathroom, these X bastards tried to kill us! They killed some of us, including my friend—”

“Bullshit!” Player 047 from Team X shouted back, cutting him off. “You’re the ones who started it!” He gestured toward where Team X sat, his voice rising with fury. “They threatened one of our people! They attacked us to win the second vote!”

The room erupted in chaos. People were shouting, pointing fingers, and some even started pushing and shoving. The tension in the air was thick, and it felt like everyone was on edge, afraid of what might happen next. You could feel the anxiety creeping in as everyone seemed to turn on each other.

In the midst of the chaos, Player 100 quickly rounded up the O team, ordering a headcount. Player 047 did the same with the X team, trying to keep control. The numbers were close, with 47 players on the O team and 48 on the X team. The X team now had the advantage in the voting.

“Two people died on our side,” Player 047 said, sitting down. “That means we lost three, and now they have the upper hand.” A player on their team pointed out, “We still have a better chance. We’re one vote ahead now.”

Jung-bae, trying to stay positive, spoke up. “As long as we don’t change our minds, we’ll win by one vote tomorrow.” The room quieted down as everyone whispered amongst themselves, the weight of the upcoming vote heavy on their minds.

Suddenly, the announcement broke the silence. “Attention, please. Lights out in 30 minutes. All players, please return to your beds and prepare for bedtime.”

Player 047 stood up, trying to rally his team. “Listen, no one can change their mind, okay? We’ll win tomorrow. Stay strong, we’ll make it through.” His words were filled with determination, and the room filled with a low hum of agreement from his team.

Once everyone started to settle down, Dae-ho leaned in, speaking in a low voice to your group. “Those guys are acting really suspicious. They’re planning something, I can feel it.”

Jung-bae, not paying much attention to the others, just waved him off. “Whatever. Once we win tomorrow’s vote, it’ll all be over.” He sounded confident, but you could tell he was just trying to keep the morale up.

You turned your gaze to Gi-hun, his face unreadable. You knew he was thinking about the situation carefully. After everything that had happened, you weren’t sure what he was planning. But something about the way the O team had been looking at you all, with a certain malice in their eyes, told you that there was more to this than just a vote.

Finally, Gi-hun spoke, his voice calm but filled with tension. “Once the lights go out, they’ll attack us.” The group went silent at his words, the weight of his statement sinking in. 007’s eyes widened in disbelief as he asked, “Are you serious?”

“Yeah.” You replied this time, everyone looked at you waiting for your explanation. “These people, they didn’t vote O because they wanted to play. They voted O to get more money. And now that they know killing increases the prize, they’ll do whatever it takes to do it.” 

Young-il, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. “Then we should attack first. We need to take them by surprise.” His suggestion was met with agreement from Player 047, who nodded, adding, “We have the women and elderly on our side. If they attack first, we’ll be at a huge disadvantage.”

But Gi-hun wasn’t on board with the idea. “No. We can’t start a fight like that.” Everyone looked at him, confused. “We need to stay calm. If we kill each other, that’s exactly what they want.”

Jung-bae frowned, clearly not understanding. “Who are they? Who are you talking about?”

“The makers of the game,” Gi-hun said bitterly, his eyes burning with anger. “They’re the ones who want us to kill each other. They’re watching us right now.”

The room fell silent as the others absorbed this revelation. You felt a chill run down your spine. “Where are they?” Dae-ho asked, his voice tight. You could hear the fear in his words, even if he was trying to hide it.

Gi-hun didn’t flinch. He simply looked up at the ceiling, his gaze steady. “Up there,” He murmured, his voice barely audible but filled with conviction. Slowly, everyone looked up at the ceiling, following his gaze. Gi-hun’s eyes were fixed on the higher levels. “The control rooms are above us. Their leader wears a black mask. If we capture him, we’ll have leverage.”

Young-il’s skepticism was evident. “How are you going to fight them? They’ve got guns.”

“We’ll take their guns,” Gi-hun answered plainly, locking eyes with Young-il. His words weren’t a suggestion—they were a plan.

“From the masked men?” Player 246 asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Gi-hun nodded resolutely. “Yes. We’ll catch them off guard. They won’t expect it.”

“That’s too dangerous,” Young-il said, shaking his head. “Even if we manage to steal their guns, we’ll be outnumbered.”

Gi-hun’s eyes hardened. “What’s your plan, then? Sit around and wait to die? Watch as they pick us off, one by one? Is that your idea of survival?” His voice was harsh, the desperation in his words cutting through the tension.

The silence that followed was thick, as everyone contemplated the harsh reality they faced.

120 spoke up, her voice uncertain but full of fear. “Do we even stand a chance?”

“We do,” Gi-hun said, his voice unwavering. “If we strike first, we catch them off guard. They’ll never see it coming. The people running this game think we’re powerless, but we have the upper hand now. This is our last chance to end these games once and for all.”

“How do you plan to take their guns?” Young-il asked again, his skepticism still evident.

Gi-hun didn’t hesitate, as if he had already thought it through.  “Once the lights go out, we’ll have our chance.”

Lights out in 5 minutes.

As everyone made their way to their beds, Jun-hee excused herself, telling you she needed to talk to someone. You offered to go with her, but she waved you off, saying she’d be quick.

You turned to Hanni, who had a distant, absent look in her eyes. She wasn’t fully there, trapped in her own thoughts. You rubbed her back gently to snap her out of it. Poor Hanni. She was so young, and she didn’t deserve any of this. She shouldn’t have been thrown into this nightmare.

She deserved a future, a chance to grow and live, not this. It pained you to see her face filled with confusion and fear. There was so much darkness surrounding her, and she was so small, so vulnerable. It made your heart heavy.

“Stick close to me, okay?” you whispered, your voice soft but firm as you brushed her hair behind her ear. “If you can’t find me, go to Jun-hee, okay?”

Hanni nodded, but her expression didn’t fully match her words. You could see the uncertainty in her eyes. You gave her a hug, pressing a kiss to her forehead, trying to offer what little comfort you could. Rocking her gently, you tucked her in, smoothing the blanket around her, and gave her one last kiss before heading to your own bed.

Lights out in 10.

The countdown echoed. You lay down, staring up at the ceiling, your thoughts racing. The seconds felt like hours.

9. What if this is the night? The thought couldn’t help but cross your mind, but you pushed it aside. You couldn’t afford to think that way now. You had to stay focused.

8.

7. The sound of your heartbeat in your ears was almost deafening, the pressure of the countdown like a vice around your chest.

6.

5. Keep it together. You told yourself. Focus. You had to be ready.

4. You thought about Hanni, about Jun-hee. What would happen to them if you didn’t make it? The thought alone made your chest tighten.

3. You forcefully removed them from your thoughts. This was not the time to think about them, they'll be fine, they'll be safe. They'll get out of here alive.

2. The darkness was getting closer. The room was quiet, but you could feel the tension, the electricity in the air. Everyone was waiting, bracing themselves.

1.

The lights flickered and then went off, plunging the room into darkness. Your mind immediately went to Gi-hun’s words: Once the lights go out, get under the bottom beds quickly. You must not get caught by those planning to attack us.

It was quiet.

Then it was loud.

The sounds of screams and footsteps filling the air as people were attacked and killed left and right. You could hear the unmistakable sounds of struggles, the sickening thud of bodies hitting the ground. Panic rippled through the room. You prayed silently, hoping that Young-il, Hanni, Jun-hee, and everyone else would make it through the night. You clung to the hope that you would survive, that you wouldn’t be one of the unlucky ones who wouldn’t make it to the morning.

After minutes of waiting, the sound of doors opening signaled the end of the wait. You immediately crawled out from under the bottom bed following phase 2 of Gi-hun's plan.

Playing dead, you stayed as still as possible, listening for the guard’s footsteps. When you heard one approach, you tensed. As the guard scanned your ID, you reached out and grabbed them, pulling them into a headlock. They struggled, fighting to break free, but you tightened your grip, whispering a soft apology. With one swift movement, you snapped their neck. The familiar crack echoed in your ears. Without hesitation, you grabbed their gun, firing at nearby guards, taking them down one by one.

Quickly, you crawled under another bed, planning your next move. The guards on the upper beds were your next target. You fired a shot at an unsuspecting guard, laughing quietly as they looked around, confused. Before they could react, you shot again, taking them out.

From bed to bed, you moved stealthily, inching closer to the stage. Hidden in the shadows, you waited, watching the guards’ every move. You knew patience was key—waiting until they were close enough. When the retreat announcement echoed through the room, you sprang into action. Leaping from your hiding spot, you unleashed a spray of bullets, taking down the remaining guards one by one. Even as they tried to retreat into the gate, you kept firing, not giving them a chance to escape.

But just as the last guard made it to the gate, you pulled the trigger, only to hear a click. You were out of bullets. Panic surged through you. You needed to reload, but before you could, you heard Gi-hun shout, "Hold fire!" You stopped, nodding as you obeyed his command.

Jung-bae and Player 246 rushed forward and forced the last guard to his knees, making him raise his hands in surrender. Slinging your empty gun over your shoulder, you quickly ran to the back, where Hanni and Jun-hee were waiting for you.

“Unnie!” Hanni whispered-yelled as you came into view, her eyes lighting up in relief. Jun-hee was right behind her, giving you a big smile and waving you over with an expression full of warmth. You didn’t hesitate, pulling both of them into a tight hug. The moment felt comforting, but the danger still lingered in the air. You held their faces gently, searching for any signs of injury.

“Are you both hurt?” you asked, voice steady but filled with concern.

In the background, you could hear Gi-hun telling everyone to come out, reassuring them that you wouldn’t hurt them. His voice was low but commanding, a sense of authority settling over the group.

Jun-hee and Hanni shook their heads before telling you they were okay. You exhaled softly, a sigh of relief escaping you as the weight in your chest lifted slightly. You gave them a small smile.

“When you mentioned collecting guns and gunmanship, I really thought you meant some online FPS game,” Hanni said, trying to lighten the mood, a playful glint in her eyes. You chuckled, shaking your head.

“Really now? Well, I might be old, but not that old. I’m still strong enough to do these things,” you said, flexing your arms with an exaggerated grunt. Your muscles were hardly impressive, but the action was enough to make the three of you laugh. It felt good—too good for the situation you were all in.

You continued to smile as the laughter settled, but your thoughts flickered back to the reality. “Alright, you two, go ahead. I’ll catch up with you soon. I need to collect the guns and ammo from the guards first,” you said, your tone firm but affectionate. You ushered them toward the center before you set about your task.

As you moved toward the fallen guards, your hands quickly went to work, collecting the weapons and ammo. You moved with precision, and were so in the zone that you barely noticed a figure following you.

“Are you alright?”

A sharp breath caught in your throat as you jerked your head toward the sound. In an instant, your fingers gripped the handle of your gun, and you pointed it at the source of the voice. When you saw who it was, your tension loosened, but only slightly. Your breath came out in a shaky exhale as you lowered the gun.

“Young-il, you scared me!” you said, pressing a hand to your chest, heart still racing from the sudden scare.

“Ah? That so?” he replied, a small, teasing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I’m very sorry then.”

“Oh, shut up. That’s not the look of someone who’s sorry,” you shot back, though a smile tugged at your own lips.

The two of you shared a brief laugh before the tension in your bodies dissipated enough for you to focus on the task at hand again. “Help me out with these, will you?” you asked, gesturing to the weapons scattered on the ground. He didn’t hesitate, moving to gather the magazines and guns.

The two of you worked in relative silence, the only sounds the shifting of metal and the occasional clink of ammunition being loaded. Despite everything, the atmosphere between you felt strangely light. It was as if, for a moment, the world outside was forgotten and it was just the two of you working together. You didn’t know why, but it was oddly comforting.

“May I ask how you’re so familiar with guns?” he asked, genuinely curious now. He hadn’t expected you to be the type, but he wasn’t in a position to judge anymore.

You hesitated for a moment before replying, your voice softening. “Well, I used to have an aunt who was really into guns. She married a fellow gun enthusiast, and together they opened up a shooting range near our home. At first, I wasn’t that interested. Guns weren’t my thing, really.” You paused, remembering the past. “But then I started noticing someone—someone I had a crush on. He was always reading about guns, and I thought maybe I could get him to teach me. I thought it’d be a way to connect, you know?”

Young-il nodded as he stayed quiet, finding comfort in your voice as you talked him away. You took a deep breath before continuing, the words spilling out freely.

“When I asked him about it, he just brushed me off. Told me that girls like me should stick to cooking and cleaning and that guns were for ‘big boys’ like him. Some bullshit like that.” You scoffed, shaking your head. “I didn’t take it well. It pissed me off, actually. And from that day on, I got serious about guns—just to prove I could be as good as any guy.” You let out a bitter chuckle. “Now, I’ve got a collection at home.”

The air around you seemed to shift. The lightheartedness had drained from the conversation, and you felt the past creeping up on you. Young-il must’ve noticed the change in your mood, because he didn’t speak right away. Instead, he gave you space, knowing you needed it.

A few moments passed before you spoke again, your voice distant. “A few years after we met again, things just... happened. One thing led to another, and I ended up having a beautiful baby girl.” You smiled softly, but it quickly faded. “You should meet her. I think she’d like you.”

Young-il’s face softened for a moment, but he didn’t say anything. You felt the smile fade completely as you continued. “I’m happy to have her, I really am... But it wasn’t supposed to happen that way. The guy... he wasn’t in it for the right reasons. He just wanted to drain me dry and disappear. He never told me about his debt. And the collectors...”

You trailed off, the heaviness of the past taking over. Young-il stayed quiet, giving you the space you needed to process everything.

“You don’t have to continue if you don’t want to,” Young-il said gently, his voice softer than before.

You shook your head, offering him a reassuring smile. “No, no… it’s okay. You deserve to know.” A brief silence passed between you two before you started explaining, the weight of your words settling heavily in the air.

“When the collectors came to my house, I found out that he had put my name and address down as the guarantor. In their eyes, I owed them around 1 billion won, but that was far from the truth. They told me that since I was their ‘favorite’ debtee, they struck up a deal. They’d lower the debt to 800 million... and another form of payment to cover the remaining 200 million…” You paused, your breath catching in your throat. “In return... they’d keep my kid hostage until I paid them every last cent.”

Young-il looked at you, his eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and sympathy. He didn’t know what to say, but his expression was enough. He opened his mouth as if to speak but closed it, opting for silence. After a while, he let his mouth open. “Thank you for sharing that with me. It must’ve taken a lot of courage to tell me, especially to someone you’ve only just met.”

Grabbing the last available gun, you smiled back at him, but it was a smile tinged with sadness. “It’s alright, Young-il,” you said, your voice steady despite the heaviness in your heart. “I know this is not the right time for these things, but you’re definitely more than just someone I’ve only just met.”

Young-il froze, your words sinking into him like a knife he hadn’t seen coming. He kept his face neutral, but inside, a storm raged. He had tried to suppress it—whatever it was that made his chest tighten whenever you spoke to him, that made his thoughts drift to you in moments of quiet. But now, hearing you say those words, the feelings he had buried clawed their way to the surface.

His gaze flickered to you, trying to gauge if you understood what you had just done. But your eyes met his with a casual earnestness, as if you hadn’t realized the impact of your words. Of course, you didn’t. You couldn’t.

You didn’t know that every small interaction with you chipped away at the walls he had built around himself. That every glance, every word, every fleeting moment made it harder for him to maintain the facade of indifference he had perfected over the years.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, his jaw tightening. What was he supposed to say? That you were right? That you were more than just someone he’d met in the chaos of the games? That you had become something he didn’t know how to handle?

No. He couldn’t say any of that. Not now. Not ever.

So instead, he said nothing.

“Are you ready?” you asked, tilting your head slightly, completely unaware of the turmoil brewing inside him.

He nodded once, stiffly, as if the motion required more effort than it should. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice low and even.

As you turned away, he lingered for a moment, watching you. His chest ached with a mix of emotions he didn’t want to name—ones he thought he had locked away when he lost the love of his life. He had told himself there was no room for them, especially not now, especially not with you.

And yet, here they were, threatening to unravel him.

He shook his head, forcing himself to follow after you, his steps heavy with the weight of everything left unsaid. He couldn’t afford to let himself feel—not here, not in this place where feelings were a liability.

But as much as he tried to bury it, he knew it was too late. He had already let you in, even if you didn’t know it.

You stood beside Young-il, both of you observing the remaining players, the silent anticipation thick in the air. The guns and ammo laid before you, the weight of the upcoming mission pressing down on everyone. Gi-hun, at the front of the group, finally broke the silence, his voice steady yet resolute.

“We will capture those who captured us, putting an end to this game, and making them pay.”

The weight of his words hit hard, but there was no turning back now. Everyone knew what was at stake. Beside Jun-hee, Hanni's gaze lingered on Young-il, watching him carefully. There was something off about him, something she couldn’t quite place, but she was determined to figure it out. She was always one to notice the little things.

Gi-hun’s voice rang out again, more direct this time. “Anyone who knows how to use a gun and wishes to join us, please step forward.”

For a long moment, no one moved. Fear was a suffocating blanket that kept them frozen in place. Then, Jung-bae stepped forward, his presence almost a defiance against the tension in the room.

“I know you’re scared,” he said, his voice firm, though tinged with his own nervousness. “We’re scared too. But this might be our last chance to make it out of here alive.” A beat of silence followed, heavy and thick. Then, with a quiet resolve, Jung-bae continued, “Fight with us, so we can go home together.”

One by one, four men stepped up, their faces a mix of fear and determination. They grabbed their guns and ammo, preparing for the fight ahead. Gi-hun began instructing everyone to check their ammo, his eyes scanning the group for any sign of hesitation. Jung-bae handed out radios, the weight of their importance not lost on anyone.

“We’ll be using channel 7, the lucky number,” he announced. Everyone nodded in unison, following his instructions.

Gi-hun turned to Young-il, who was checking his ammo with meticulous care. “Thank you for earlier,” He said, his voice quieter than usual. Young-il didn’t look up, his focus still on the gun in his hands. “You can buy me soju when we get out,” he muttered, his voice gruff but carrying a faint hint of amusement.

You overheard their exchange and couldn’t resist the urge to tease. “What about me? Where’s my thanks?” You pushed the ammo back into its place, a smirk playing at your lips as both men glanced at you in surprise. Your chuckle filled the tense air, lightening the mood for a brief moment. “I’m just messing with you. Good luck out there, Captain. Get us out of here.”

Gi-hun smiled back at you, nodding before turning to check the rest of the team.

Meanwhile, Player 120, noticing Player 246 struggling with his ammo, stepped forward without hesitation. She called for everyone’s attention, and the group grew silent as she began to demonstrate how to operate the gun in her hands.

“This is the MP5, a submachine gun,” she said with a confident grin, her hands moving smoothly as she demonstrated how to load, unload, and switch the mode of the weapon.

You couldn’t help but watch her, fascinated by the fluidity of her movements. There was something almost hypnotic about the way she handled the weapon, and you felt a rush of excitement. You exchanged a glance with Young-il, catching his teasing look. Your eyes narrowed playfully in return.

“What?” you said, your voice light, but with a hint of a challenge. “It’s not every day you find another girl with the same interest as me.”

“Well, I didn’t say anything,” Young-il replied, his tone nonchalant, but there was a subtle spark of amusement in his eyes as he glanced at you. His lips quirked slightly, as if he was trying to suppress a smile but failing just a little.

You shot him a playful glare, your eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. "Just saying, it's rare to find someone who gets it." You crossed your arms, leaning back slightly as you met his gaze, your voice teasing but with a quiet warmth.

Young-il raised an eyebrow, his smirk lingering. "I get it, trust me," he said, his voice a lot softer.

As player 120 returned to her spot, You and Player 246, who seemed just as curious as you, looked at her in astonishment. “Where did you learn so much about guns?” 246 asked, his tone a mix of awe and genuine interest. You were itching to ask the same thing, and when Player 120 answered, you couldn’t help but grin.

“Ah, I was a sergeant first class in the ROK Special Forces,” she said, her tone casual but proud.

You practically beamed at her answer. “Wow,” you muttered, feeling a newfound respect for the woman who had so confidently shared her experience. You turned to the male beside you, ready to share your thoughts, but as your gaze flickered over to Young-il, you noticed something you hadn’t seen before—a distance in his expression, something off. The familiarity of his stoic face was still there, but there was a coldness behind it now that you couldn’t place. You felt your chest tighten, and for a moment, your confidence faltered. The words you wanted to say got stuck in your throat. Was there something bothering him?

You hesitated for a second before turning your attention back to Player 120, deciding not to press. You wanted to focus on the task ahead, but that nagging feeling in your chest refused to subside.

Gi-hun’s voice broke through the quiet, cutting through your thoughts. He pointed a revolver at the guard on the ground, demanding that he remove his mask. You felt your stomach turn as the young guard’s face was revealed. He looked no older than 25, his eyes wide with fear. Jung-bae’s reaction mirrored your own—he was visibly disturbed by the sight. He approached the guard, his voice filled with genuine concern. “Do your parents know what you’re doing?”

Before the guard could answer, Gi-hun cocked the revolver, silencing the room in an instant. The tension in the air was almost unbearable, and you couldn’t tear your eyes away. 

His voice was low, almost a growl, but it carried with an unyielding edge. “Take us to your captain.” His words hung in the air, final and unwavering.

You followed the group, positioning yourself toward the back of the line just in front of Player 120. Before stepping through the door, you cast a glance back and saw Hanni and Jun-hee's worried faces. You offered them a warm, comforting smile, trying to reassure them, even if you weren’t sure how much comfort you could offer in that moment.

As you stepped through, you seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the other woman in the group.

“Hey, uh… my name’s [Lastname] [Name]. I just wanted to say, I really admire how fearless and knowledgeable you are with guns, especially for a girl. Not that it means much, I’m a girl too. It's just... the only other woman I knew who was into guns was my aunt,” you said, trying to keep the tone casual despite the nerves gnawing at you.

Player 120, Cho Hyun-ju, gave you a surprised but warm smile. “Nice to meet you, [Name]. I didn’t expect you to be so open, especially with how tense everything is.”

Before you could respond, the sound of Gi-hun’s revolver firing cut through the air. The loud shot echoed, silencing the recorded announcement urging everyone to return to their beds. “Down!” Gi-hun barked. Your eyes snapped up, spotting the movement of pink guards approaching from the corner.

"At one o'clock!" Gi-hun yelled, his voice urgent. You quickly ducked, instinctively reaching for your weapon. Hyun-ju, without hesitation, took cover and began firing.

“Cover me!” she shouted as she moved, using the new position to get a better shot. You returned fire, covering her as she positioned herself to pick off the guards. Every few moments, you switched between ducking for cover and popping up to fire. The rhythm became second nature, the cacophony of gunfire almost drowning out your thoughts. Bang, cover. Bang, cover.

“Cease fire!” Gi-hun ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos. You dropped behind cover, a sharp breath escaping you as the last of the guards fell. Gi-hun quickly checked in with everyone. You gave him a thumbs-up, signaling you were good.

"Alright, we move up," he said, his voice steady as always. You nodded, scanning your surroundings. Your eyes flicked to the CCTV camera near you. With a quick movement, you raised your gun and fired, taking out the lens. You saw Hyun-ju doing the same on her end. The two of you exchanged a brief nod, silently acknowledging the trust that had formed in the chaos.

Gi-hun led the group forward, signaling everyone to check corners as you moved.

Suddenly, you all halted as Gi-hun interrogated a guard. Gun to his face, the guard meekly pointed ahead. “The entrance to the management area is around the corner. The control room is right above it,” he said, fear evident in his voice.

“Move it then,” Gi-hun ordered, pushing the guard forward.

The guard hesitated, then started to reach for his mask.

“What are you doing?” Gi-hun demanded.

“I need to get my mask to bypass security,” the guard replied quickly. Gi-hun hesitated but allowed the guard to move, sensing no immediate threat.

But then, the unexpected happened. The guard froze, staring blankly ahead, paralyzed. Before you could react, a bullet pierced his skull, sending him crumpling to the ground. Chaos erupted immediately as the sound of rapid gunfire filled the air. Guards flooded in, and you scrambled for cover, adrenaline pumping through your veins.

The gunfire was relentless. You moved, ducking and shooting, ducking and shooting, covering every angle as you fought for your life. The intensity of the moment was blinding, but you couldn't afford to lose focus.

“I’ll go for the management area!” Gi-hun yelled, his voice cutting through the noise.

“Will you be able to find it? Should I come with you?” Young-il called after him, a note of concern in his voice.

“No,” Gi-hun responded sharply. “I’ll go with Jung-bae. You need to buy us some time.”

Young-il nodded, his gaze sharp. Gi-hun and Jung-bae moved off in one direction, leaving the rest of you to handle the remaining guards.

Noticing two of your friends had bolted, you immediately motioned for cover, weaving between Young-il and Dae-ho. You glanced at Young-il, asking where they were going and what their instructions were. Young-il quickly relayed their plan, his voice steady despite the urgency.

With a firm nod, you raised your gun, ready to provide the cover fire needed. The next few moments were a blur of bullets and evasive maneuvers as you helped keep the guards at bay. You could only hope that Gi-hun and Jung-bae would find what they needed before it was too late.

As you continued to fight off the guards, you noticed Dae-ho's frantic movements. He was wasting bullets, shooting wildly without even aiming. The gunfire echoed around you, but his shots were going wide, not hitting anyone. You could tell he was struggling.

When he ran out of ammo, you placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to steady him. “You good there, Dae-ho? Do you have some extra ammo?”

His eyes were wide, panicked, and full of fear. You could see the signs of someone who had experienced more than they should have, someone who had been pushed to the edge. His reaction was familiar to you—too familiar. He was struggling with some kind of trauma, possibly PTSD. Despite his fear of gunshots, he had still volunteered to fight, a true marine in spirit, but the weight of it was starting to break him.

Young-il noticed the exchange, his gaze shifting between you and Dae-ho. You handed Dae-ho some of your extra ammo, keeping your voice calm as you tried to keep him grounded. “You have to be resourceful. It’s okay to take a breather. I’m here to cover you.”

Dae-ho gulped, nodding shakily as he began to reload. You took the moment to shoot a few guards, hiding behind cover to keep your position steady.

“This isn’t getting us anywhere!” Player 047 shouted, his frustration evident. “Let’s follow them up to the upper level!”

You immediately shook your head, disagreeing with the idea. “We might get surrounded if you don’t have a plan! We need to wait for Gi-hun and Jung-bae’s signal!”

Young-il nodded, agreeing with your assessment. “Let’s wait until they find the control room.”

You were about to reposition when a bullet grazed your cheek, the sharp sting making you flinch. Blood seeped out, but thankfully it wasn’t anything fatal. Still, the pain was enough to remind you of how dangerous the situation was. You cursed under your breath as you pressed a hand to your face, trying to stop the bleeding.

Young-il noticed immediately. Without hesitation, he shot the guard who had fired at you, his sharp eyes never leaving your form as he checked on you. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah… thanks, ah shit, that hurts!” you winced, but you quickly resumed your position, peeking out to shoot, then ducking back into cover. Peak, shoot, hide. Peak, shoot, hide.

But then came the dreaded sound of an empty magazine clicking. Shit, you were out of ammo. You reached for your pockets, frantically searching for spare magazines when Hyun-ju’s voice rang through the hall. “Everyone, check your magazines!”

The tension in the air grew as you all checked your remaining rounds. It was bad for everyone—almost all of you were running on fumes, ammo running dangerously low. Even Young-il was out.

Just as you were about to panic, the radio crackled to life.

“Young-il, Dae-ho, [Name], can you hear me?” Jung-bae’s voice came through, sounding strained.

Young-il looked at you, signaling for you to cover while he responded. You nodded, raising your gun to keep the guards in check.

“Yeah, we hear you. What’s the status?” Young-il replied, his voice steady despite the chaos around you.

Jung-bae’s voice came back quickly. “I think we’re below the control room now! But we need backup and more ammo!”

“We’re running low on ammo too!” Young-il yelled.

“There should be spare magazines in the soldier’s pockets in our quarters. Go get them!” Gi-hun ordered.

“Got it!” Young-il responded immediately, turning to the group. “Did you hear that? They need backup! Four of us will go, and the rest will stay here. Join us once you’ve gotten more magazines.”

“Who wants to go with me?” Young-il asked, looking around. Without hesitation, you raised your hand, determination in your eyes. “I’ll go!”

Young-il looked at you with a troubled expression, about to argue, but before he could stop you, two other voices spoke up in agreement. Player 047 and Player 015 both volunteered to join, and Young-il, after a final look at your determined face, gave a resigned nod. “Alright, follow me.”

The four of you moved cautiously, alert as you made your way toward the stairs. The hallways were dimly lit, bathed in an eerie purple hue that made everything seem surreal, almost as though you were walking through some twisted version of reality. The stairs seemed endless, twisting upward in the haze of the purple glow.

Young-il gave the order for you three to go ahead of him, signaling you to take the lead. Without hesitation, you followed. What you didn’t notice however, was Young-il making eye contact with the CCTV camera, and silently ordering the guards—through hand signals—not to shoot you.

As you turned the corner, your eyes immediately locked onto Gi-hun and Jung-bae. Relief surged through you for a second before you remembered the danger. “Did you find the control room?” you asked, your voice a mix of urgency and hope.

“I think it's right up there, but we can’t go this way,” Gi-hun said, his voice tense. “I want you to find another way.”

“I did a scan of the layout here,” Young-il said, sounding calm, but there was a quiet determination in his voice. “I’m sure there’s a way to go around them.” He turned to you, his gaze steady but full of unspoken concern. “You stay here with Jung-bae and Gi-hun. You still have more ammo, so guard them, okay?”

You blinked, feeling your heart tighten in your chest. “What?” you asked, surprise creeping into your voice. “Are you sure about that?”

Before you could press further, Young-il’s voice softened but carried an edge of finality. “I want you guys to keep their focus on you. We’ll hit them from behind.” He paused, his gaze meeting yours for a long moment, his eyes betraying just how much this weighed on him. There was tenderness there in his look, desipte that, there was no room for argument.

You saw the worry in his eyes, but also something else—a protective instinct that almost made your heart skip a beat. You knew there was no way to change his mind so you just nodded, pushing down the tightness in your chest and grabbed your last magazine. “Take this, Young-il, and be safe.”

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingering on you. “You sure?”

You nodded firmly, despite the fear gnawing at your insides. “Dae-ho will be back with more.”

His hand brushed yours as he took the magazine from you, and for a split second, it felt like time slowed down. The touch, however brief, left a lingering warmth in your palm, and when his gaze lingered on you, there was an almost imperceptible softness in his expression that made your heart flutter, even if only for a moment.

With a final, decisive nod, Young-il, 047, and 015 ran as you peeked out from the wall, your pulse racing as you provided cover for him and his team. The tension in the air was palpable, and you could feel the familiar sting of adrenaline coursing through your veins.

After a while you heard Young-il’s voice crackle over the radio: “We found it. Start attacking and draw their attention. Then we will hit them from behind.” Gi-hun’s voice followed shortly after, giving you the go signal. There was no turning back now.

Your grip on the gun tightened, and as you moved into position, you didn’t hesitate. With one last glance at Gi-hun and Jung-bae, you stepped out from your cover and opened fire, the rapid succession of shots echoing off the walls. You kept your aim steady, focusing on their movements, keeping them distracted. Each shot rang out, but the weight of the situation pressed heavily on you—your mind was focused, but there was a constant undercurrent of worry, the feeling that you were too far from where you needed to be.

It had been a few minutes since you saw Young-il. The soldiers were still there, and a tightness formed in your chest. Something wasn’t right. You pushed the thought away, staying focused on the fight at hand, but you couldn’t ignore the nagging worry. Every time the radio buzzed, your heart skipped a beat, hoping to hear something from him.

And then, your prayers were answered. Hope rushed through as your radio buzzed to life. However, everything came crashing down when heard his voice. Weak. “Gi-hun… Jung-bae… [Name]… I’m sorry…”

Your stomach dropped. You could barely breathe as the world seemed to slow around you. You grabbed for your radio with shaking hands, putting it up to your mouth as your heart raced. “S-stay where you are, Young-il. I’m coming.” The words barely left your mouth before you were already running, ignoring the shouts from Gi-hun and Jung-bae as you pushed forward.

Your feet pounded against the ground as you ran, the urgency flooding your veins. You couldn’t think. Your focus was a single thought—get to him, and get to him now. The radio fell silent as it slipped off your hands, and you were left with nothing but the sound of your breathing and your footsteps echoing in the halls.

You didn’t want to believe it. You didn’t want to accept it. But as the minutes passed, and the distance between you and your goal seemed endless, something inside you shifted. Desperation took hold of you, and with each step, it felt like you were running out of time. Tears blurred your vision, and you wiped your eyes, but the fear that gripped you didn’t let up.

You stumbled, tripping over your own feet, the exhaustion starting to catch up with you. Your mind screamed at you to keep going, but your body couldn’t take it. You hit the ground, scraping your palms. But you didn’t stop. You couldn’t. You needed to find him.

And then, you saw it. A flash of white. A shoe, just barely visible around the corner. Your heart skipped a beat. Ignoring the pain, you propped yourself up, the desperation pushing you forward.

You ran toward it, praying, hoping—maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance. But as you turned the corner, everything seemed to stop. A sudden thud behind you—the sound of heavy footsteps, too close. You spun around just in time to see a black-clad guard standing before you.

Instinct kicked in. You raised your gun, fingers wrapped tightly around the grip, your eyes locking on the target. You squeezed the trigger, but instead of the sharp report of a shot, the only sound was the click of an empty chamber. Panic surged in your chest. You were out of ammo.

Before you could react, the guard lunged forward, and with brutal precision, he slammed the barrel of his gun into your face. The impact was jarring, sending you stumbling back, your vision spinning and your body fighting to stay upright. Blood poured from your nose, warm and thick, but you had no strength left to retaliate. The world blurred as your knees gave way beneath you, and you collapsed to the floor, the darkness swallowing you whole.

The last thing you heard was the guard’s voice, distant and cold, as he spoke into his radio: “I have Player 132.”

And then, the world went silent.

“Good.” In-ho’s voice replied, “bring her to where I am.”

As Jung-bae and Gi-hun knelt with their arms behind their heads, In-ho, wearing his uniform, walked down to greet them.

“Player 456,” he said, voice masked. “Did you have fun playing hero?”

Gi-hun looked up at the familiar voice, anger flashing across his face. Before he could respond, he watched as his enemy gestured to the black-clad guard to step forward. As the guard approached, both Jung-bae and Gi-hun’s eyes went wide. In the guard's hands was you, battered and bruised, unconscious and lifeless. Blood soaked your clothes, and your head hung limply. The guard dropped you unceremoniously to the ground. Your body hit the floor with a sickening thud, and they couldn’t look any longer, their hearts shattering at the sight. Despite only meeting each other for a short period of time, you had felt like a little sister to them, someone who had always been there, and now you were being discarded as though you meant nothing.

In-ho, unfazed, pulled out his Deagle and aimed it at your motionless body. A surge of anger flooded Gi-hun, but he was too late to stop what was happening. He had helped you through so much, and now, despite everything, he couldn’t even protect you.

“Look closely,” In-ho’s voice cut through the silence, “at the consequences of your little hero game.” Before turning the gun towards Jung-bae.

Jung-bae, his face pale with fear, barely managed to speak, his voice trembling, “Gi-hun—”

A loud bang echoed through the room, and Jung-bae’s body crumpled to the floor, lifeless, blood pooling around him.

“No!” Gi-hun screamed, unable to contain his grief. He scrambled over to Jung-bae’s body, pulling him close. His eyes then flicked to yours, and he rushed to hold you too, calling out your name in agony. “No, please...”

He tried to charge toward the masked man, his anger and desperation overpowering him, but the guards quickly tackled him, pinning him down. The sound of his cries filled the room, but none of the guards moved to stop it. He wept for both you and Jung-bae, unable to process the loss.

In-ho stood watching with cold indifference, finding satisfaction in Gi-hun’s torment. With a simple gesture of his hand, he commanded the guards to knock Gi-hun out. As the guards subdued him, In-ho turned his attention to the aftermath.

“Clean up this mess,” he ordered. The guards began clearing away the bodies, but when they reached for you, In-ho stopped them. “Leave her be.”

Once the area was cleared, In-ho instructed everyone to leave, and the guards filed out. Alone in hallway, he looked down at your peaceful face, his expression softening for a moment. He removed his glove and gently wiped the blood from your cheek.

The action seemed to rouse something in you, as your eyes fluttered open. Disoriented, you blinked, taking in the unfamiliar sight of black shoes in front of you. Your senses kicked in immediately, and with quick reflexes, you grabbed the revolver hidden beneath your shirt and aimed it at the figure in front of you.

Your finger squeezed the trigger, but instead of the expected thud of a body dropping, you heard the sharp crack of shattering glass. The CCTV camera behind the masked figure had been destroyed. The sound echoed, and for a brief moment, everything paused.

In-ho didn’t flinch. His gaze never left you, cold and unwavering. You, on the other hand, stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. The gun in your hand felt foreign, heavy. The glass that scattered across the floor seemed to mock you—your aim had been off. You hadn’t meant to miss. But what had you really aimed for? The camera? Or something else?

His posture remained unchanged. Silent. Watching. Calculating. He didn’t seem angry or pleased. He was just... waiting.

The silence pressed down on you, suffocating. Your heart pounded in your chest as you looked between the broken camera and him. You weren’t sure what you expected—more movement, an immediate response, or maybe... nothing at all. The question lingered in the air, but you couldn’t bring yourself to ask it. You were waiting, too. Waiting for the next move.

Your body tensed. Was this the end? After all this was the enemy Gi-hun told you about. Every thought in your head felt like it was colliding, spinning in a storm. Taking a step back, your body reacts before your mind could catch up. What was he going to do? Was he still going to kill you?

Suddenly, the words you hadn’t even realized you were thinking slipped out, barely a whisper. “W-what do you want?” The sound of your voice startled you, hoarse and raw from everything leading up to this point.

“Answer me!”

He didn’t answer, he simply extended his arm, his palm open. A gesture. A question. It felt like he was waiting for something more than just your answer—maybe a reaction, maybe a choice. But you didn’t know if there was even one left to make.

The silence stretched out, thick and heavy. Your pulse thudded in your ears, drowning out everything else. And then, for the briefest of moments, everything cleared. A strange, unsettling calm swept over you. The fear, the anxiety—it all faded, replaced by something deeper, darker. You were done running. Done fighting. It was all too much.

Without thinking, your hand lowered, the revolver slipping from the aim you had kept steady for so long. Slowly, almost in slow motion, you brought the gun to your temple. Your breath hitched, shallow and ragged, but the world around you felt distant, quieter.

It wasn’t a decision. It was a release. A way to escape all of it.

But just as you gathered the strength to pull the trigger, you heard a slight sound. The faintest of movements. The sound of unclasping. You blinked, dazed, as something shifted in the air.

His hand lowered.

And then, with slow, deliberate motion, he removed his mask.

Your heart stopped.

For a moment, everything else ceased to exist. The room, the tension, the gun still pressed against your temple—everything blurred. The world shifted.

You stared at him, unable to process what you were seeing. The face that had once been a stranger now felt... familiar. But it wasn’t supposed to be him. It couldn’t be. The man standing in front of you wasn’t the same one who had fought beside you, who had once shared your vision, your cause. No, this wasn’t him.

And yet... it was.

"...Young-il?"

The name escaped your lips like a memory you weren’t sure you wanted to reclaim. He didn’t answer. He just raised his hand again, his gesture the same, his eyes locked on yours.

It wasn’t just a question—it was an invitation.

You stared at his outstretched hand, the choice heavy in the air. The revolver trembled in your grip.

This time, the decision was yours to make.

[melodyanqel]

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐄 ── ★ h.jh. (prologue)

love at first sight happens between the police officer and a bright, innocent woman. they shared a deep connection that meant they needed each other more than anything, even when they experienced the same nightmare.

⤷ pairing: hwang jun-ho x fem!oc

⤷ genre/tags: fluff, angst, thriller, psychological drama, established relationship, team bonding, financial issues, games, action, betrayal, foreigner!soft!oc, protective!junho

⤷ wc: 400+ words

⤷ note: enjoy my friends! it's a sweet prologue

⤷ language key: korean, english

❰ 2022, SOUTH KOREA. ❱

Summer days open as the letter of a lover, warm words of light radiating onto welcoming skin.

It all happened when a twenty-one-year-old woman visited South Korea for a family vacation. Despite wanting a fun summer break, the language barrier was a challenge. She did her best to communicate with locals in her poor Korean. But there was a moment when she tried buying crepes, and a gentleman approached her. 

“Okay, mama. I’ll meet all of you at the park.” 

A petite beauty named Lilymae Reed or Lily hangs up and finds a cute bakery she wants to try. One of the workers behind the country greets Lily and she greets back. She is in a different country so she must know some Korean language and culture. Lily was born and raised in the States, so there is a major difference. Here comes the hard part. She isn’t sure she can do it herself. 

Unknowingly, the American woman didn’t notice someone came up to her.

“Do you need help, miss?” His deep voice erupts her concentrated yet anxious thoughts. Lily jolts a little and turns to her left. She expected to be some other man, but this man was super handsome. He has warm brown eyes like he could put her into a trance, a tall stature, onyx hair set over his forehead, perfect facial structure, and dressed in casual clothes. He looks like a model, but he is a regular person. 

Lily stutters, “O-Oh, um! I don’t know Korean.” She gestures with her mouth and ears and uses her index fingers to create an X. Good thing, the stranger understood what Lily meant. He picked up quicker than a tiger. 

The Korean man apologizes, “My bad. I can speak some English but not fluently.” He changes languages which surprises the foreigner. His heart fluttered when he saw her cute expression, which never happened to him before. The stranger kindly tells Lily, “I can help you order.” 

She responds, “Of course! Thank you so much!” The petite girl has him join the line. Soon enough, they reach the register and the Korean man orders Lily’s four crepes. The worker gives the total amount and when she is about to pay, he stops her. “I can do it. If that's good with you.” He offers his help. Lily’s eyes bulge in shock. How is someone so handsome can be this loyal? She nods her head to let him do it. 

Once the gentleman takes the sweet treats and gives them to Lily, they leave the bakery. 

“Thank you again. I’m Lily, by the way.” She appreciates him and says her name. Lily offers her hand for a handshake. The charming man brings a smile to his face. “You’re welcome. I’m Jun-ho. Nice to meet you.” He gently takes her hand into his grasp. 

From that very precious moment, their love story began. 

series masterlist | one

[mysticmourge]

꒰ SQUID GAME ROLEPLAY AD! ꒱

𐔌 ࣪ 𓈒𐙚 ⠀ྀི ㅤׂ ABOUT ME : Hello! You can call me Powder. I recently turned 25 years old, so, I ask that this considering me as their next potential long term writing partner please be 21 or older. This is a major rule and there will be no exceptions. Please do respect this.

I’m aware I heavily slacked last year with my replies due to personal matters, but that will be fixed since everything is back in place. I am not currently working so my replies will be quite often …. so long as I have the muse for it. Usually, my muse burns brightest when writing with someone who matches my energy. So if you might consider yourself dry, I will not be interested in development.

I’d say my writing style is literate with multiple paragraphs. I can also match length …. And word vomit because I love painting a picture for my writing partners.

I have never created / warped my oc into Squid Game before, so they still need to be fleshed out. However that doesn’t mean I won’t be trying to whip up her backstory and such asap. My muse is thriving with these SG edits. My original character is a female by the way.

𐔌 ࣪ 𓈒𐙚 ⠀ྀི ㅤׂ WHAT I OFFER : Quick replies as long as our energy is flowing. My timezone is est but my sleep schedule is atrocious so, catch me at every hour damn near.

Double ups. I am also willing to play any canon character you desire. Or I can even create one if you wanted ( for your side of the double up I mean, my oc is still going to be for my part. ) Pick your poison. Though warning, I’m currently not interested in cc x cc. Though that doesn’t mean you should hesitate to ask. I might, MIGHT, consider it. Yes the recruiter / salesman counts, I would love to write that fine piece of insane man.

I can write fxf, mxm, fxm or even if your character is nonbinary they are just as welcome! All members of our beloved alphabet soup are welcome! Please please note this absolutely includes transgender characters!!! Hand them over!! <3

I will gush over your characters and ships, we can create playlists, find sounds that remind us of whatever the fuck, create headcanons galore, spam edits of characters we adore, WHATEVER WE WANT. I’ll feed your delulu like it’s my life’s mission. Trust, the demons will be fed well.

𐔌 ࣪ 𓈒𐙚 ⠀ྀི ㅤׂ WHAT I AM SEEKING : Id like someone to be able to write … Hwang In-ho aka the front man. CAN YOU BLAME ME? Im down. Down bad. Down horrendous. The stories we can cook up are DIVINE. Plus the angst, the tension, the trauma, THE DRAMA. It can have it all. If you know, you know. If you don’t … I am not the one. Trust. Also since I’d like him there is an age gap, nothing insane. But my characters are normally my age or a bit older. Because I can portray the headspace more comfortably.

Someone who has watched both season one and two.

For us to actually write our characters playing the games. WOULDN’T THAT BE FUN??? The chaos, the fear. The drama. Some good food right there! also? Our characters can be in the games, TOGETHER, WITH WHOEVER THEY ARE SHIPPING WITH. CHAOS.

Someone who can match my freak. I’d love if we can actually be friends. Not just a transactional thing. But a friendship where we are actually comfortable, having fun, and enjoy speaking to each other if we vibe! Me doing this ad is literally to also find friends who like to roleplay AND enjoy SG.

Someone who is comfortable with writing darker themes. Which should be obvious considering what the fuck squid game is, violence, gore, smut ( but I do not want the entire thing focused on it. )

Giving both my character’s reply and yours equal effort. I don’t enjoy feeling used and my character tossed aside when I work hard to make sure my reply while please you. I’d literally just ghost as soon as I notice it happening. OH and I write on discord but the way.

Like what you see? Message me with what you down to do, your name + age, and let me know what’s up!! I’ll see you then. <3 You can also like this post and I MIGHT reach out, but probably not because that makes me nervous.

[espe0ns]

squid game rp search!

hello! i'm cloud, 21, she/her pronouns, asian. the brainrot is real which is why i'm looking for anyone interested in writing in squid game, specifically cc x my oc! i'm down for doubling and writing anyone you want me to within the series.

18+ only. i write in 3rd person, usually 2-3 paragraphs or more, but matching length isn't really required. i'm looking for partners who would be up for plotting and maybe talking a bit ooc just to gush about our ships and characters! any sexualities or genders is ok with me. i'm a big fan of mostly fxf and mxf!

searching for: cho sang-woo primarily, hwang jun-ho and kang sae-byeok

i only write on discord (1v1 servers for us), so you can add me here if you want: dra1ningk1ss. please give this a like or hit me up in dms if you're interested!

[freakynote]

ABOUT ME ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

eighteen years old | she her hers | intj-t

THINGS I WRITE

( favs are also written in purple )

female oc x male character

female oc x female character ( depends on the request )

different types of headcanons

oneshots

fanfictions

how characters would react to

nsfw alphabet

sfw alphabet

—> request are open!

FANDOMS / CHARACTERS I WRITE FOR

I also write for other fandoms and characters, just send a request <3 My favorite fandoms are written in purple!

death note — l lawliet ,light yagami ,near ,mihael keehl ( mello ) ,teru mikami ,mail jeevas ( matt ) ,misa amane

alice in borderland — shuntarõ chishiya ,ryõhei arisu ,suguru niragi ,daikichi karube ,morizono aguni ,õki yaba ,sunato banda

game of thrones — jon snow ,jaime lannister ,robb stark ,viserys targaryen ,oberyn martell ,tyrion lannister ,podrick payne ,eddard stark ,bronn ,petyr baelish ,ramsay bolton ,daenerys targaryen ,sansa stark

house of the dragon — daemon targaryen ,aegon targaryen ,aemond targaryen ,jacaerys velaryon ,cregan stark ,lucerys velaryon ,benjicot blackwood

vikings — ragnar lothbrok ,bjorn lothbrok ,ivar the boneless ,ubbe ,rollo ,harald finehair ,hvitserk

the last kingdom — uhtred ,sigtryggr ,aethelstan ,edward ,aethelred ,finan ,sihtric

gladiator I & gladiator II — commodus ,maximus ,lucius ,acacius ,emperor geta ,emperor caracalla

cobra kai — miguel diaz ,robby keene ,eli moskowitz ( hawk ) ,anthony larusso ,kenny payne ,kwon jae-sung ,axel kovačević ,sensei wolf

karate kid — daniel larusso ,johnny lawrence ,terry silver

the walking dead — daryl dixon ,rick grimes ,negan smith ,carl grimes

lord of the rings — aragorn ,legolas ,boromir ,faramir

the hobbit — thorin oakenshield ,bard ,thranduil ,legolas ,kili ,bilbo

the boys — homelander ,the deep ,soldier boy ,billy butcher

troy — achilles ,hector ,paris

true beauty — han seo-jun ,lee su-ho

squid game — thanos ( player 230 ) ,salesman ,hwang in-ho ( front man | player 001 ) ,lee myeong-gi ( player 333 ) ,hwang jun-ho ( policeman )

RULES

Do not copy ,translate or modify my content without my permission! All rights ( except for the original characters and plots ) belong to me. Everyone who does one of the things above will be reported and blocked!

I have the right to deny or ignore requests I am not comfortable writing

I won’t write specific kinks or themes and nsfw content ( for some characters ). It depends on the request. If I am not comfortable with your request ,I‘ll decline so you don’t need to wait unnecessarily <3

Do not interact with me if you spread hate and disrespect towards me or any other creator / user, or you will be blocked!

If I accept your request ,give me time. I am still going to school and don’t have much free time. I am just writing for fun ,so please respect that

English isn’t my first language ,so you might find some spelling or grammatical mistakes. You have been warned

MASTERLIST

[inklore]

— 𝐅𝐀𝐐 ⋆ ˚｡

this blog is strictly multifandom, but that does not mean that i don’t play favorites for certain fandoms/characters. so there will most definitely be more writings for certain characters and fandoms.

requests: are closed, but thots are always welcome!

in no way shape or form should minors be interacting with anything on or posted to this blog. this is an 18+ space. anon hate and celebrity discourse also has no place here, so please respect that. if you are racist, homophobic, bigoted, zionist, islamphobic, judgmental to what people enjoy writing/reading, can’t depict fiction from real life, you will be blocked.

𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞…

rpf, necrophilia, incest, pregnancy, daddy/little play, age play, spitting, kitten, bimbo!reader, foot fetish, animal play, race play, watersports, underage scenarios, alpha/omega, domestic violence, kid fics, male!character x male!oc, i hate the word ‘doll’ as a pet name so i avoid it like the plague.

𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞…

smut (refer to the above list when it comes to this), fluff, age gaps, poly/threesome+, reverse harem, dubcon, noncon, yandere, toy play, cheating (to a certain degree), blood play, knife play, some bdsm, breath play, violence, gore, capture x captive, hunter/prey, praise and degradation, power imbalance, step siblings, supernatural, villainary, choking, mommy/daddy kink (to an extent).

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒.

marvel ↷

miguel o’hara, hobie brown, marc spector, thor odinson, loki laufeyson, peter parker (all variants), yelena belova, joaquin torres, doctor strange, wade wilson, carol danvers, eddie brock, scott lang, hope van dyne, kate bishop, hela, pietro maximoff, logan howlett, wanda maximoff, steve rogers, kraven, cable, druig, makkari, thena, blade

dc universe ↷

dinah lance/black canary, diana prince, clark kent, pamela isley/poison ivy, arthur curry/aquaman, harley quinn, adrian chase, pattinson!bruce wayne, edward nashton/the riddler

top gun: maverick ↷

jake 'hangman' seresin, bradley 'rooster' bradshaw, javy 'coyote' machado, mickey 'fanboy' garcia, natasha 'phoenix' trace, beau 'cyclone' simpson, reuben 'payback' fitch

star wars ↷

poe dameron, finn, kylo ren/ben solo, bo-katan kryze, din djarin, young!han solo

scream ↷

ethan landry, stu macher, billy loomis, chad meeks-martin, mindy meeks-martin, amber freeman, tara carpenter

bridgerton ↷

anthony bridgerton, colin bridgerton, benedict bridgerton, kate sharma, simon basset, phillip crane

house of the dragon ↷

ser harwin strong, daemon targaryen, aemond targaryen, rhaenyra targaryen

american horror story ↷

cordelia goode, tristan duffy, michael langdon, harry gardner, madison montgomery, kit walker, xavier plympton, ally mayfair-richards

etc shows ↷

villanelle, lip gallagher, tommy miller, carmy berzatto, luca (the bear), kate parks, daisy jones, billy dunne, warren rhodes, geralt of rivia, love quinn, max wolfe, olivia benson, roman godfrey, dream the endless, lucifer (sandman), jonathan pine, mira phillips, the salesman (squid game), hwang jun ho (squid game), kim geon-woo (bloodhounds)

movies ↷

john wick, finnick odair, peeta mellark, johanna mason, han lue, cipher, walter de ville, tangerine, dave lizewski, thomas sharpe, james conrad, neil (tenet), edward cullen, millie / molotovgirl, dante reyes, thrandull, steve kemp, charlie swan, marquis vincent de gramont, keys (free guy), akira (john wick), beverly marsh (it two), ben hanscom (it two), keith (barbarian), frank (don't worry darling)

adam driver ↷

kylo ren/ben solo, adam sackler, flip zimmerman, phillip altman, charlie barber, henry mchenry, commander mills, rick smolan, officer ronnie peterson, matt the radar technician, clyde logan, paterson, jude

oscar isaac ↷

santiago garcia, poe dameron, nathan bateman, jonathan levy, william tell, blue jones, rydel keener

pedro pascal ↷

din djarin, javier peña, frankie morales, javi gutierrez, joel miller, dieter bravo

chris evans ↷

ransom drysdale, lloyd hansen, andy barber, ari levinson, frank adler, steve rogers, jake wyler

[bekkarific]

Playing With Fire

Chapter Ten: Scorch

Chapter Masterlist

Pairings: Frontman/inho x Fem Oc

Ji Ah had no idea what these observations reports looked like she panicked as her heels clicked hurriedly across the marble floor. She had never been asked to fetch them before why now? Was he saving her? Her stomach did an uncomfortable flip at that and not for reasons she would like to admit.

Approaching the familiar site of the black steel doors let her pace slow, not in a rush to return to those people and their lecherous hands.

Entering the room she was met the quiet hallway she has come to know. Heading down past the several black doors toward the living area, with its large black screen.

She was struck with an unusual sight, one of the doors was open. Every time she had been here those doors have been shut, now one was open.

The open door stood like a dark invitation, daring her to cross the threshold. A thousand scenarios raced through her mind—each one worse than the last. What if this was a trap? Another test? She hesitated, her breath shallow, before stepping forward with a determination she didn’t quite feel. She slowly made her way toward the door, heart racing.

She felt vulnerable with no weapon or backup, taking a calming breath she slowly reached for the handle.

As she pulled it back she was met by the sight of a gun pointed squarely at her head, she froze for a beat taking in the sight of her would be attacker.

“Jun Ho” she breathed, taking in his determined face, not recognising her beneath the mask.

“Ji Ah” he exclaimed in relief at hearing her voice, immediately scooping her into a hug.

The warmth of his arms wrapped around her, so familiar yet almost forgotten, melted the icy fear that had clung to her since she'd arrived here. A sob caught in her throat, and for a moment, she allowed herself to feel safe, the world outside forgotten. Both squeezed each other in a firm grip, a single thought shared between them ‘I thought I lost you’

Jun Ho pulled back but did not let her go, his eyes running over her partially masked face.

“Are you okay?” He asked seeing the tears in her eyes.

She nodded not feeling brave enough to say the words. Swallowing she smiled sadly unsure she would ever be able to give him the full truth of it.

“In Ho” she asked, the reason they where in this dreadful place “did you find him?” Looking it Jun Ho’s sad face.

“No” he said simply “but there is something I must tell you, In Ho - “

He was cut off mid sentence by the sound of footsteps, someone was approaching the door, they both froze for a moment before Ji Ah sprung into action.

“Go” she said pushing him back “you must hide” she added closing to door on his worried face.

Her mind raced. She had seconds—no, less than that—to come up with a plan. The reports caught her eye, pristine and orderly on the desk. Without thinking, she swept them to the floor and dropped to her knees, kicking one of her heels off, feigning a clumsy scramble at the click of the door and the heavy sound of footsteps neared.

The gleaming black leather of his shoes entered her field vision first, the polished leather gleaming in the over head lights. Her gaze traveled upward, over his long legs encased in perfectly tailored charcoal slacks, to the familiar lines of his suit jacket, fitted to his broad frame.

And then, the mask.

The Frontman’s cold, unreadable mask loomed above her, its dark, reflective surface concealing his expression. Yet Ji Ah felt the weight of his stare, piercing through her as though he could see every thought racing through her mind. She swallowed hard, willing herself to maintain the act, her hands fumbling with the papers.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Ji Ah stammered, her voice breathless with a carefully crafted mix of fear and fluster. She nodded toward her discarded shoe. “My heel slipped on the marble floor, and I came down with it.”

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. She dared to glance up, her eyes meeting the hollow eyeholes of his mask. He said nothing, only watching her.

Her pulse quickened. Was he doubting her story? Did he suspect her?

After what felt like an eternity, the Frontman crouched before her, his gloved hands moving with deliberate precision. Ji Ah’s breath caught in her throat as he reached for her shoe, lifting it from where it lay.

“You should be more careful,” he said, his voice low and measured, the words carrying an edge she couldn’t quite decipher.

She couldn’t respond, her throat too dry, her heart thundering. She watched as he turned the shoe over in his hands, inspecting it as though it were a crucial piece in one of his games.

Then, to her surprise, he extended his hand, palm open, wordlessly gesturing for her foot.

Ji Ah hesitated, her mind racing. There was no graceful way out of this. Slowly, she stood and lifted her foot, placing it lightly against his palm. His grip was firm, steady, as he guided the shoe back onto her foot with ease.

The moment his gloved hand touched against her ankle, her skin seemed to burn. She felt a shiver run up her spine, the contact both unsettling and disarmingly gentle.

Ji Ah’s breath hitched as his fingers moved upward and brushed against her calf, lingering for a fraction too long to be entirely professional. Her gaze snapped to his mask, searching for any sign of his intentions, but the dark surface revealed nothing.

Her skin prickled beneath the weight of his touch, her instincts screaming to pull away even as something kept her rooted.

“Better?” he asked, his voice smooth and even, as though this act of intimacy were nothing out of the ordinary.

“Yes,” Ji Ah managed to whisper, though her throat felt tight. “Thank you.”

He rose slowly, his towering presence casting a shadow over her. The papers in her hands felt flimsy, inconsequential compared to the intensity radiating from him.

Then a chime came over his radio, breaking the spell.

The frontman turned away speaking quietly into his radio, shoulders tense. Ji Ah took the opportunity to step backwards her hands braced against the small drinks table, pretending to sort the papers whilst calming the beat of her heart. It wasn’t fear alone that made her pulse race—it was something darker, something she refused to name.

“I must attend to business” the frontman stated simply, like the charged moment never happened. “I will escort you back to the VIP lounge” he stated, leaving no room for argument.

Ji ah hesitated, her gaze briefly flicking the door that housed Jun Ho. She couldn’t let her gaze linger there—not even for a second. Any slip could doom them both. Instead, she tightened her grip on the papers, holding them like a shield against his scrutiny.

She tried to think of an excuse but none came. At least if the Frontman came with her Jun Ho would be free to escape.

Clearing her throat, she simply replied “Of course sir” scooping up the rest of the papers from the desk, trying to seem surer than the felt.

She jumped slightly when she felt his hand take her elbow, turning to look at him in an accusing manner.

“Wouldn’t want you to have another accident” was all he offered in response, smooth as silk but heavy with implication. His grip tightening slightly as he lead her away.

Away from Jun Ho.

It took all that was in her not to look back.

——————————————

The night seemed to drag on since Ji Ah returned to the opulent VIP lounge, the air thick with the scent of expensive cigars and the murmur of indulgent laughter. The guests, draped in luxury, reveled in their evening's entertainment, their eyes gleaming with a predatory delight that made her skin crawl.

She performed her duties with practiced grace, refilling glasses and offering trays of delicacies, all the while her mind a tempest of conflicting thoughts. The Frontman's absence since their charged encounter left her both relieved and disquieted. His touch, his inscrutable gaze and the lingering heat of his hand against her skin, haunted her more than she cared to admit.

Her thoughts shifted to Jun Ho, hidden away, his safety precarious. The fear of his discovery tightened her chest, each passing moment amplifying the dread that he might be caught, punished, or worse. She had to find a way to protect him, but under the ever-watchful eyes of the VIPs and the omnipresent surveillance, any misstep could be fatal.

A burst of raucous laughter jolted her from her reverie. One of the VIPs, a portly man with a flushed face, beckoned her over, his eyes roaming over her with unabashed lechery. Suppressing a shudder, Ji Ah forced a polite smile and approached, the mask of servitude firmly in place.

As she leaned in to pour his drink, his hand brushed against her thigh. Her stomach churned, but she maintained her composure, retreating smoothly once the glass was filled. The man's attention was fleeting, already shifting back to his companions and their sordid tales.

Ji Ah's mind wandered back to the Frontman. Despite his absence, his presence loomed large, an enigmatic force that both threatened and intrigued her. She couldn't afford distractions, not with so much at stake, yet the memory of his touch, the mystery of his intentions, lingered like a phantom, refusing to be exorcised.

She moved through the room, a silent observer to the decadence around her, her thoughts a labyrinth of fear, desire, and determination. The games were far from over, and the most dangerous moves were yet to be played.

In the midst of the revelry, Ji Ah resolved to stay vigilant, to protect Jun Ho, and to uncover the truth behind the Frontman's actions. But as the night wore on, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was a pawn in a game far more complex than she had ever imagined.

And the Frontman, whether ally or adversary, held the key to her next move.

As the evening progressed, the VIPs' indulgences grew more extravagant, their demands more insistent. Ji Ah's role as their attendant became increasingly taxing, each forced smile and compliant gesture chipping away at her resolve. Yet, amidst the clamor and excess, her mind remained sharply focused on her dual concerns: Jun Ho's safety and the enigma of the Frontman's intentions.

She couldn't afford to falter now. Every interaction, every movement had to be carefully measured, her true thoughts and fears concealed beneath a veneer of servitude. The stakes were too high, the consequences of any misstep too dire.

She was determined to navigate this treacherous landscape, to protect those she cared about, and to unravel the mysteries that bound her to this place. No matter the cost.

And in the shadows of her mind, the Frontman's presence lingered, a constant reminder of the complexities and dangers that lay ahead.

But Ji Ah was resolute. She would not be a mere pawn. She would find a way to turn the game to her advantage, no matter how deep she had to delve into the darkness.

[dean-samw67]

Masterlist

Fluff-🌻

Smut-😈

Angst-💔

Headcanons- ⚫

Request Rules

Resident Evil

Carlos Oliveira

Hot and Heated - 😈 I Think It's A Start- 🌻😈 Is It Okay? - 🌻 Don't Play Dumb- 😈 Carlos at the Beach with Reader - 🌻⚫ Carlos Oliveira with a Reserved/Serious Reader-🌻⚫ Carlos Oliveira's Love Languages - 🌻⚫ Carlos with a Fixation for Your Breasts - 😈

Leon Kennedy

Hot and Heated - 😈 Trauma Bonded- 😈

Jill Valentine

Scandal- 😈 Jill Valentine with Reader who Loves Baking- 🌻⚫

Squid Game

Love & Loss (Gi-hun x oc x Sang-woo)

Squid game OC

Chapter 1 - 💔

Chapter 2 - 💔

Chapter 3 - 😈

Chapter 4 -😈💔

Chapter 5 -💔

Chapter 6

Seong Gi-hun💓

Gut Feelings pt1?

Just For The Night - 😈

Cho Sang-woo🧡

Not Fair - 💔

Finally Home - 💔🌻

SO with a ED - ⚫💔🌻

Front Man/ Hwang In-ho🖤

Keep Quiet - 😈

Fly Me To The Moon - 😈

Late Night Talks - ⚫🌻

Kang Sae-Byeok💚

Watch You Sleep - 💔🌻

Fairy Tail

Gray Fullbuster❄️

Cold Intolerance- 💔🌻

Rogue Cheney 🌑

Interrupted - 💔🌻

Gajeel Redfox🔩

Gajeel Redfox NSFW Alphabet -😈⚫

Pirates Of The Caribbean

William Turner ❣️

He Doesn't Have To Know -💔🌻

William Turner NSFW Alphabet -😈⚫

The Walking Dead

This Is Hell (Daryl Dixon x OC)

Masterlist

[shiningstar-byulxx]

𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁-𝙱𝚈𝚄𝙻𝚇𝚇 𝙼𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃

Rules Moots

𝙵𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏 ~ ♡ / 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 ~ ★ / 𝚁𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝙰𝚞 ~ ♢ / 𝙽𝚘𝚗-𝙸𝚍𝚘𝚕 ~ ☼ / 𝚅𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ ☹ / 𝙳𝚊𝚍 𝙰𝚞 ~ ⟡

𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒊 𝒀𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒋𝒖𝒏

MEETING WITH YOU AT 5:53PM ♡★♢☼

𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒊 𝑺𝒐𝒐𝒃𝒊𝒏

𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒊 𝑩𝒆𝒐𝒎𝒈𝒚𝒖

𝑲𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒂𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏

𝑯𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒂𝒊

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 - 𝙾𝚃5

𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒊 𝑺𝒆𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒍

𝒀𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝑱𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒖𝒂 / 𝑱𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒐

𝑾𝒆𝒏 𝑱𝒖𝒏 / 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒖𝒊

𝑲𝒘𝒐𝒏 𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒊 / 𝑺𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈

NEW BEGINNINGS OF LIFE - ♡⟡

𝑱𝒆𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒐𝒏𝑾𝒐𝒐

𝑳𝒆𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒛𝒊 / 𝑱𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏

𝑳𝒆𝒆 𝑫𝑲 / 𝑺𝒆𝒐𝒌𝒎𝒊𝒏

𝑲𝒊𝒎 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒚𝒖

𝑻𝒉𝒆8 / 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒐

𝑩𝒐𝒐 𝑺𝒆𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒘𝒂𝒏

𝑪𝒉𝒘𝒆 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒏 / 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒍

𝑳𝒆𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒏𝒐 / 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔:

𝑯𝒊𝒑𝑯𝒐𝒑 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕

𝑽𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕

𝑯𝒊𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒑 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕

𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

HWANG JUN HO X FEMALE READER ♡

UNFAITHFULLY YOURS, LOVE - KIM HONGJOONG X FEMALE READER FT FEMALE OC AND SONG MINGI ♡★☼

WITH LOVE, TILL ETERNITY - BTOB LEE MINHYUK X FEMALE READER ★☹☼

©shiningstar-byulxx; all my work is made by me, please don't copy, translate, repost and steal my work! Thank you!

[18plusroleplayseeker]

Fandom 1x1 Discord Search!

       ◆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Preferred 21+ [18+ is fine too, I won't discriminate as you're legal age!]

I'm 31 years old / Female / She/Her 

NSFW/Dark Themes/Indulgent friendly!

Stardew Valley / Dead By Daylight / Squid Game

F x M is my preferred go to, but will definitely indulge in f// and m// for you! I like to double, after all! 

◞ Stardew Valley

Who I Play: Pretty much anyone you want!

Who I Want: Elliott x My OC

◞ Dead By Daylight

Who I Play: Legion [All], Trapper, Deathslinger, Pig, Nurse, Spirit, Feng Min, David King, Steve Harrington, Felix Richter, Yun-Jin Lee, Kate Denson, Jake Park, Yui Kimura, Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Laurie Strode

Who I Want: Trickster, Ghost Face or Executioner x My OC

◞ Squid Game

Who I Play: Seong Gi-hun, Hwang Jun-ho, Cho Sang-woo, Jang Deok-su, Kang Sae-byeok

Who I Want: The Front Man x My OC

1x1 - Doubling preferred

Wouldn't mind mixing Stardew Valley w/Pokemon! I think it'd be fun / cute!

Plots and limits will be discussed via Discord

Preferred to RP over Discord

Add me if you're interested - Ashe#2457

If the above doesn't work, send a message to my tumblr!

◆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[roleplayfinder]

18+ - Discord - 1x1

       ◆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Preferred 21+ [18+ is fine too, I won't discriminate as you're legal age! I do enjoy NSFW/Dark Themes just as a heads up!]

Stardew Valley / Dead By Daylight / Squid Game

F x M is my preferred go to, but will definitely indulge in f// and m// for you! I like to double, after all!  ◞ Stardew Valley Who I Play: Pretty much anyone you want! Who I Want: Elliott x My OC ◞ Dead By Daylight Who I Play: Legion [All], Trapper, Deathslinger, Pig, Nurse, Spirit, Feng Min, David King, Steve Harrington, Felix Richter, Yun-Jin Lee, Kate Denson, Jake Park, Yui Kimura, Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Laurie Strode Who I Want: Trickster, Ghost Face or Executioner x My OC ◞ Squid Game Who I Play: Seong Gi-hun, Hwang Jun-ho, Cho Sang-woo, Jang Deok-su, Kang Sae-byeok Who I Want: The Front Man x My OC

1x1

Plots and limits will be discussed via Discord

Preferred to RP over Discord

Add me if you're interested - Ashe#2457

If the above doesn't work, send a message to my tumblr! ◆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━