#gi-hung seong

[frost-queen]

🅼🅸🅽🅶🅻🅴 // part 5 (Reader x Young-il / player 001)

Forever tag:@missmelodramatic, @floatlosers, @alex–awesome–22  @merlieve, @glimmering-darling-dolly , @denkisclown, @wildiefleur , @meyocoko , @subjecta13-thefangirl , @m-rae23 , @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @panhoeofmanyfandoms , @venomsvl , @the-uncoordinated-house-cat , @rosecentury , @evilcr0ne , @vviolynn , @niktwazny303 , @erikasurfer , @slythetic  , @eliscannotdance, @p0nycurtis, @anjautembear, @noiyaaa, @filmedbyharkness , @uniquecutie-puffs, @r3va-dwme, @annasnape7, @starkeyszn, @bonelessghoul, @carrotjuicepdf, @imenekiki, @gay4hotmilfs, @yummycement, @sooyasya, @nerdytif, @hollxe1, @venavanup, @love-zami, @formula1love, @coruja12345, @ingstadstarlight, @samanthadegaro, @sweetheartlizzie07, @enhasrii, @lokiscure, @esposadomd, @hanta-seros-wifey, @verouys , @p1ckld3r, @thelastemzy , @Iglily

Summary: Round and round you go. Mingling in the games to reach the doors in time with the right number. Will you make it out or will this be where you will draw your last breath? [series]

You groaned loud when the emotionless woman’s voice announced to wake up. If you ever had a gun, you would shoot the speakers down to never hear her annoying voice ever again. You waited for Jun-hee to wake up before crawling over her bed to the stairs in between the beds constructions. Jung-Bae stretched himself out with loud squeals. Dae-ho warming his arms and legs up.

From across the room, you saw the O voters getting up in a more cheerful way. Relieved to play another game for the prize money. It made you scoff their way. After last night’s vote, you had lost all hope in decency within them. They were here for one thing and one thing only. To claim that big piggy bank as there’s.

Not caring how many more people died. The more the better for them. You turned your head when the doors opened. Circle pink suits marching out. A few of them carrying tables to settle down. Breakfast. With a sigh, you followed the others down the stairs to get your food.

Shuffling in line, stomach already growling. You accepted your food and milk with a bow, stepping aside. – “Y/n wait.” – you heard, making you slow down. Hyun-ju placed a hand on your shoulder to catch up. – “Will… will you be alright for today?” – she asked. She was the only one that had seen your breakdown last night.

Having comforted you and not judged you. You hummed loud at her, following her back to the beds. – “Don’t worry about me.” – you told her. So you believed it. Last night when you were laying down in bed. You couldn’t find your sleep yet.

Mind spiralling over the fact that you had to play another game. The hope you had of ever getting to leave by the votes had faded quickly. You couldn’t simply trust the votes anymore. If you wanted to get out, you needed to survive. Survive to see your parents again.

Fight for your survival or die trying. If they wanted you to play by their games, so you would. Not letting them take you down without a fight. Hyun-ju blinked surprised back at you. Something she had not foreseen so quickly in you. She wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer to her. Her chin resting on top of your head, squeezing her eyes shut with a comforting tug at your body.

She let go of you, joining the others. – “Jun-hee.” – Young-il said, holding his milk out to her. She stared blankly back at him. – “Take it.” – he gestured the milk demandingly at her to take. – “Thank you.” – Jun-hee said softly with a bow of her head. Young-il looked up when you had arrived. Moving aside to make room for you. Leaning into Gi-hun.

“What are you doing?” – Gi-hun asked confused as to why Young-il was leaning in so closely to him. Young-il ignored him, gesturing with his hand for you to sit. You stepped over a sitting Dae-ho to join Young-il. He removed himself from Gi-hun, shuffling closer to you.

You smiled shyly back at him. Young-il curling up a smile as well. Once he noticed how hard he was smiling, he dropped it. Clearing his throat and turn slightly away from you. Noticing Gi-hun was still staring confused at him. Young-il slightly shook his head for him to drop it. – “If we stay together, I’m sure we can…” – Jung-bae started. – “stay alive?” – you filled in, silencing the group.

Everyone swallowing nervously. Gi-hun began to speak to change the vibe settling between the group. – “Y/n.” – Young-il said leaning in closer to you. His head nearly touching yours as his hand found a way on your knee. – “Stay close and I’ll protect you.” – he said staring back at you. His gaze drifting down to your lips where they remained.

You stared down at his hand on your knee. Young-il flashed his gaze back up to your eyes, seeing they were focused on something else than him. – “Ah…” – he said on a long tone, slowly lifting his hand up from your knee. – “Sorry.” – he bowed his head to apologize.

Finishing up breakfast all of you retreated to the restrooms before the next game. You splashed some water in your face to shake yourself awake. Grabbing the sink with both hands, looking back at your own reflection. – “One more game.” – you whispered. Leaving the restroom with Jun-hee to join the others. The pink suits already stationed up front.

Forming a line, you all followed them. Met up with the classical music that led you to a presuming death. Each step felt heavier. Like reaching a top that made it harder for you to breath. Hyun-ju was walking behind you. You reached your hand out to her behind you. She took it firmly, needing a little comfort for herself. Higher and higher you went as the endless maze of stairs led you to another room.

Curtains opening as the first line of triangle pink suits walked in. – “Welcome to your third game.” – the emotionless woman said over the intercom. The pink suits parting ways to reveal more of the room. You gasped loud seeing the giant spinning platform. Carrousel horses stationed on a pedestal. – “The game you will be playing is Mingle.” – she explained over the speakers.

Swallowing nervously as you entered more. Seeing the circular room with colourful doors all around. Each having a number above them. – “Hey, we’ll be mingling together!” – you heard Thanos’s voice not far from you. Watching him jump happily up and down. – “Doesn’t that sound like so much fun.” – he added, being the only one this cheerful.

“You must form groups in that number, go into the rooms within 30 seconds.” – She continued to introduce over the speaker. All of you gathered near the spinning platform to strategize. Gi-hun looked concerned around him. – “If the number is higher than six, we’ll get the additional people we need.” – he spoke.

Dae-ho came leaning in closer with concern. – “What… what if the number is lower than six?” – he asked. Making Jun-hee and you look at each other with slight shock. – “We’ll figure it out as we go.” - Hyun-ju pitched in. Dae-ho moved his hand forwards. Jung-bae and Jun-hee joining in.

You took a deep breath, letting your hand join on theirs. Young-il’s warm hand going over yours. Gi-hun stared down at the joined hands, not sure about this round. It would take a lot for him to make sure everyone is save. With a deep exhale, he placed his hand with it. Parting ways to get onto the spinning platform.

“Let the games begin.” – the voice announced. Music blasted out of the speakers as the platform got in motion. The first movement nearly knocking you out of balance as it came so sudden. Gi-hun had grabbed you by your shoulder, allowing you to find sturdy ground first.

The platform slowly spinning as the music continued. Then the lights blacked out, making you gasp loud. – “Don’t be scared.” – you heard a voice say. Trying to steady your breathing, you held your hands together. The lights flashed on once more. Dunggeulge dunggeulge. Dunggeulge dunggeulge. You felt a shivering hand slip in yours. Looking over your shoulder to see it was Jun-hee.

Trembling to the bone. Binggeulbinggeul doragamyeo chumeul chupsida. The children’s song playing in the backround. Sonppyeogeul chimyeonseo, noraereul bureumyeo. Knowing it would soon come to an end and you would need to run for your lives. Looking around the platform, you saw Dae-ho standing not far from you. Seeing him focus hard.

Ready himself for when he needed to run. Rallallalla jeulgeoupge chumchuja. Gi-hun and Jung-Bae standing just in front of you. Ringgaringgaringga ringgaringgaring. Ringgaringgaringga ringgaringgaring. The sweet melody echoed through the room. If you might not be in this dangerous situation, you would’ve actually paid attention to the childhood memories tugging at your heartstrings.

Sone soneul japgo modu da hamkke. Jeulgeoupge ttwieo bopsida. The song ended as the platform came to a sudden stop. Making Jun-hee bump against you. – “Ten.” – The first number got announced. The timer counting down the moment she had announced the number. You grabbed Jun-hee’s hand firm as the lights had dimmed once more. Gi-hun and Jung-Bae overlooking everything.

“We need a few more!” – Gi-hun shouted loud. – “We have to hurry!” – Young-il said, coming closer. – “There’s no time, Gi-hun!” – he let out, tugging firm at his arm. Gi-hun nodded starting to run with the people he knew and those he knew barely that joined him. All of you got off the platform, running for a door. Holding on tight to Jun-hee’s hand, you practically squeezed it to death.

“Hurry!” – Jung-Bae shouted. – “Room 44, mom!” – Yong-sik called out, holding his mother’s hand firm. The lights flickered above your head. Panting loud as you followed the others to room 44. Feeling suddenly a hard tug on your hand, followed by a scream. Stopping you looked back at a man trying to take Jun-hee from you. – “Ya!” – you screamed out, kicking your foot at him. Punching your fist at him to let go of her arm. Jun-hee panting in fear.

“Y/n!” – Dae-ho’s voice came through. Having run back to punch the guy square in the face. He let go of Jun-hee as she nearly knocked you over. – “Hurry!” – Gi-hun shouted loud, watching the timer. Ten seconds. Dae-ho grabbed both you and Jun-hee’s shoulder, shoving you forwards. Hurrying over to room 44 as he pushed you inside.

You stumbled inside, tripping over your own feet. You yelped loud, thinking you would fall flat forwards if it weren’t for those sturdy arms to catch you. Shuddering out a breath, you looked up to Young-il. – “Are you alright?” – he asked with a deep stare. You could only hum, not able to utter out a word. The timer beeped, locking the door automatically.

Young-il helped you stand up straight. Gi-hun moving Jung-bae aside to look through the small gap in the door. Gun shots firing through the room as it made you cover up your ears. Knowing those who didn’t make it got slaughtered. Gi-hun lowered his head, knowing those people couldn’t be saved.

More pink suits entered to collect the dead. Bringing in black caskets with a pink ribbon. They cleared out the room as the doors unlocked once more. All of you stepping out carefully. The floors now smeared with blood. Young-il who was walking in front of you, gestured at a pool of blood, letting you know to be careful. You stepped over it, making sure you wouldn’t slip over the blood.

Returning to the spinning platform. Once again the song began, setting the platform in motion. Dunggeulge dunggeulge, dunggeulge dunggeulge. Looking over your shoulder, you saw Thanos and Nam-Gyu. Arms locked as they danced. It made you scoff at how unserious they were taking this. Ringgaringgaringga ringgaringgaring. Ringgaringgaringga ringgaringgaring. Dunggeulge dunggeulge.

The platform stopping all the sudden. Nearly knocking half of your friends off balance. – “Four.” – got called out over the speakers. You gasped, looking in shock back at your friends. What were you going to do now. The timer already counting down. – “You four go!” – Gi-hun called out, gesturing at you, Jung-bae, Dae-ho and Young-il.

“Wait!” – Young-il called out. – “No, you go!” – he let out, gesturing for you to get a move on. – “You guys, leave.” -  He took his leave, shouting that he needed three more people. – “Young-il!” – you screamed out, not wanting him to part. Gi-hun wrapped his arms around you, pulling you off the platform.

“Let’s go!” – he panted out. You needed to accept it and hope that he would be save. Turning around to run with Gi-hun to a room. The four of you entered. Fourteen seconds on the clock. Gi-hun staid by the door, looking outside to see people fight for their lives to find people to join. The timer beeped, locking the door once more.

Gi-hun exhaled loud as you sank to the floor. – “Y/n!” – Jung-bae called out in concern. – “Are… are you alright…” – he asked coming to kneel beside you. You blinked rapidly to keep your tears at bay. Suddenly not so sure anymore that everyone would make it out alive. Gi-hun moved closer to you, placing a hand on your knee.

“It will be alright Y/n. They will be okay.” – he reassured you. – “I know, I know.” – you breathed out, recollecting yourself. You had told yourself you wouldn’t be weak anymore, yet it was so hard for you to obtain that image. The doors opened once more as you all carefully stepped out. Your gaze settling on the number of players. 168. You desperately looked around for the others. Specially Young-il.

You knew he could handle himself, still you couldn’t help but worry. – “Y/n!” – you heard loud, making you look back. – “Brother Young-il!” – Jung-bae shouted loud as he came running over. Jung-bae ran up to him, throwing his arms around him. Young-il smiled, gently removing his hands from around him.

Young-il came closer, still with a smile on his lips. – “I knew it. You’re not just anybody.” – Jung-bae spoke praising Young-il. – “Ya! Mi-Chin-Nom!” – you called out, shoving Dae-ho aside to reach Young-il. Young-il got startled by your loud voice, eyes briefly widening as you came slapping his shoulder.

“Michossoyo? For leaving like that. For making me fear the worst!” – you shouted loud stopping your punching as you barely had any strength left. Panting loud.- “Mianhae.” – Young-il answered swallowing hard. You crossed your arms, not wanting to look at him. He had made you fear the worst. Young-il lowered his head a bit, reaching out to you to turn you back to him. – “Mianhae Y/n.”- he repeated in a soft tone.

Sighing loud, you wanted to remain mad at him, but you couldn’t deny being overjoyed to see him alive. You teared up, pushing his arms out of the way to hug him. Young-il’s arms hovering in the air as he got caught off guard. – “Ba bo.”– you whispered out, letting your forehead rub against his chest.

“All players, please step onto the centre platform.” – the woman’s voice cut through, making you pull away from him. All of you joined on the platform once more. Dunggeulge dunggeulge. Dunggeulge dunggeulge. Round and round the platform went. Smudges of blood all over the room. Even on the platform. You tried not to look at it. Jeulgeoupge ttwieo bopsida.

The platform stopping as it made you bump against Dae-ho. – “Three.” – boomed over the speakers, timer going in. Panic erupted between you all. They were taunting you and you knew the number would keep going down. – “The three of you go!” – Gi-hun called out to Dae-ho, Jun-hee and you. You looked back at Young-il. – “Go!” – he shouted out. You panted loud when Dae-ho grabbed you firm by your shoulders.

Dragging you to one of the rooms. The door closed as you shoved Dae-ho aside. Needing to see what was going on. Needing to see if you recognized anyone. – “Don’t look.” – Dae-ho panted out, covering up your eyes with his hand. The timer beeped, locking the door once more.

The gun shots coming in seconds later. Your body flinched at the sounds. Jumping out of your skin each time. Waiting for the shots to die out. Doors unlocked once more, making you walk out. Stepping over the pools of blood that had become endless. – “Y/n!” – you heard loud. Turning your head to see Hyun-ju run over.

Wrapping her arms tight around you. Relieved she exhaled, tightening her arms around you. Taking her hand, you walked back to the platform. A routine now as you had been doing the same thing over and over again. The music began once more, platform shifting. The song barely in the middle as the platform stopped.

Lights shutting out, only to flicker. – “Six.” – the number got announced. Gi-hun looked back at you all. Knowing what to do, you followed them running over to a door. Dae-ho reached the door first, opening it. Shuddering out a breath as the room was already full.

“Ya! Get out!” – a player called out, shoving Dae-ho back. – “What do we do now?” – Jun-hee asked with shaking knees. Hyun-ju tapped you on the shoulder, pointing at another door. All of you started running. The timer only at a few seconds. You screamed it out to push yourself to the limit. To keep up with Hyun-ju to reach the door. She shoved the door open as you all stumbled inside.

She remained at the door till someone slipped in, closing the door. It went to the lock a second later. – “Young-mi?” - Hyun-ju called out. Rushing towards the door, trying to open it but it was already locked. – “Young-mi.” – Geum-ja cried out seeing Young-mi stand just outside the door. Crying as Hyun-ju banged on the door, wanting it to open. Hyun-ju jumped back when the shot got fired.

Watching as Young-mi’s eyes got dull. Her body falling to the side, lifeless. – “Young-mi!” - Hyun-ju screamed in terror at the door. The doors opened again once the room had been cleared of bodies. You stepped out, looking for the others. Young-il turned his head, letting his gaze settle on you.

All of you returned to the platform. 126 players left. – “Stay close.” – Young-il told you as you nodded. Platform spinning as the music echoed through the room. – “What do you think it will be this time?” – Jung-bae asked Gi-hun. – “Two.” – Young-il answered firm.

His gaze firm on the doors. – “To thin out as much players and with the number of rooms available. The next number will be two. The rest will be killed.” – he ended. He reached back for you, taking your hand firm. Stretching his fingers before tightening them firmly around yours.

You swallowed nervously, knowing it was game-on. The last run for survival. The platform rumbled, coming to a stop. – “Two.” – the woman announced. Lights flashing as chaos erupted amongst the players.

Young-il jumped off the platform, running with you towards a door. His attention briefly to the timer. Players were running in every direction needing to manoeuvre to not get knocked back. Young-il let go of your hand. A player grabbing a door. Young-il pressed his hands deep onto the man’s shoulders, pulling him back. Tossing him aside.

Taking the door, he turned around, holding his hand out. – “Come!” – he panted out. You started to run suddenly grabbed. A man had grabbed you by your jacket, pulling you down. You stumbled back to the ground. The man jumping over you as he forced his way into the room. Young-il needing to back up.

“Ya!” – he called out kicking the man back, the door opening with a slam. The man stumbled back as Young-il kicked him once more. He tripped over your foot that you had extended. Young-il gasped loud seeing the timer. Seven seconds. You still laid on the ground. He knew helping you up would take too much time. Five seconds. Young-il’s jaw tensed as he bend down, grabbing your ankle.

“Young-il!” – you called out when he dragged you over the floor into the room. Two seconds. He jumped over you, closing the door with a pant. Locked. His breathing shallow, forehead resting against the door. He slightly turned as his feet gave away under him. Sending him down. – “Young-il!” – you called out, crawling over to him.

He needed to catch his breath, having worn himself out. He managed to breath out a laugh at the sight of you. Moving his hand up. Palm touching your cheek. – “Y/n.” – he breathed out. The strength in his hand faltering as you grabbed a hold of his wrist. Supporting his hand to remain against your cheek. Tears swelling up in your eyes.

The firing of bullets in the background. Your body shuddered as you tried to withhold your sobs. Young-il wiping a tear away with his thumb. You made room, pressing your head against his chest. Arms wrapping around him. Young-il moved one arm of his around your body. The other one joining in really quickly as he pulled his knees closer to his chest. Cradling you tighter in his embrace. – “Mianhae Y/n.”

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Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!

[luxerians]

The Last Mask (09)

Hwang In-ho/Oh Young-il/Player 001 x Reader

Chapter 09 - Purpose

Story Masterlist

NEXT : Chapter 10

PREV : Chapter 08

For a moment, you felt yourself drifting, caught between sleep and wakefulness. Or maybe you were already asleep. But then, after what felt like twenty minutes, you heard movement. Someone stepped cautiously on your mattress, careful not to touch you, and Jun-hee’s voice broke the quiet.

“Mr. Seong, I need to use the bathroom.”

“It’s too dangerous to go by yourself,” Gi-hun replied immediately.

You stirred, sitting up slowly with groggy eyes. “I’ll go with you.”

“It’s okay, big sis,” Jun-hee replied, sounding a little guilty for waking you.

Shaking off your drowsiness, you carefully got up from the mattress.

“I needed to go to the restroom too, actually,” you said which was a lie. You just wanted to accompany the pregnant Jun-hee.

Jun-hee hesitated for a moment before nodding. With that, Gi-hun stepped aside, giving you both room to pass as you headed toward the door to the ladies’ restroom.

“Oh, we can go together,” a voice chimed in.

You and Jun-hee turned to see player 149 – the mother – walking over with a wide grin. She moved toward you two with a relaxed stride through the open area of the dormitory. Both you and Jun-hee bowed your heads politely as she joined you.

The three of you reached the restroom door, and Jun-hee knocked softly. When there was no immediate response, she knocked again, a little louder this time. Finally, the circular window on the door slid open, revealing a triangle-masked guard who peered out at you all in silence.

“We need to use the bathroom,” stated Jun-hee.

“No,” the guard answered solemnly. “Entry and exit are restricted at this time.”

Jun-hee added, “Please. I’m not feeling very well.”

The guard repeated, “No. Entry and exit are restricted at this time.”

Player 149 rushed to move in front of Jun-hee, deciding to talk to the guard herself. “Look. Mr. Triangle, even though you’re wearing a weird mask, you’re still human, aren’t you? In the outside world, you might have a sister like them and a mom like me. When ladies say they need to use the bathroom, it’s for reasons they can’t tell you.”

You and Jun-hee rapidly nodded your head.

“If you can’t understand that, you shouldn’t even call yourself human,” said the mother. “You really shouldn’t.”

Suddenly, the guard closed the window without a word, shutting the three of you out.

The mother’s voice broke the silence, frail and filled with emotion. “Listen. Ever since I entered my 60s, I’ve had bladder control issues. I can’t go out without wearing a diaper, but I couldn’t bring any of the things I need here. Do you really have to make me wet myself?

“Imagine if I was your mother, Mr. Triangle. You wouldn’t do that to your mother. I came here because of my son’s debt. I should at least get to pee when I want, shouldn’t I?”

Her voice rose as she cried out, “What did I do in my previous life to deserve—”

Before she could finish, the door swung open, revealing a triangle-masked guard holding their weapon. The mother’s face lit up with gratitude as she grinned appreciatively.

As the three of you stepped past the door, another presence approached from behind. You turned to see player 120.

“Can I come too?” she asked the guard directly.

Jun-hee gave her a long stare but the mother quickly spoke up. “Oh, that’s okay. She’s a woman. Her name is Hyun-ju.”

She’s the one I was hiding behind during Red Light, Green Light. So her name is Hyun-ju, you thought.

The four of you were guided by another triangle guard to the ladies’ restroom. Along the way, the mother walked close to Jun-hee, gently asking about her family and if her parents might be worried about her.

Jun-hee’s reply was distant. “I don’t have any. I have no parents.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and uncomfortable. The mother’s concern didn’t waver. Once inside the restroom, she turned to Jun-hee again. “If you need help with anything, just let me know.”

Jun-hee hesitated before she said, “It’s okay.”

She turned and entered the cubicle. You couldn’t help but notice that Jun-hee seemed comfortable with you but kept a distance from player 149. Her earlier words played in your mind, and you figured she’d never experienced a mother’s love. Having someone act so caringly toward her must have felt strange, maybe even overwhelming. It was no surprise she’d pull away.

“Is she sick or something?” Hyun-ju asked lowly, glancing between you and the mother.

The mother stepped closer to her and whispered, “She’s pregnant.”

Hyun-ju’s jaw dropped, her gaze snapping to Jun-hee’s cubicle. The mother added, “I think she’s almost due.”

She then turned her attention to you. “Did you know?”

You nodded. “She told me and the others. We took her in instantly.”

The mother sighed, a look of relief crossing her face. “I’m glad. I can see you and the other guys have been taking good care of her.”

Her tone shifted, growing more urgent. “If you notice anything wrong with her, like she’s sick, unwell, or if her water breaks, please let me know. I’ve handled childbirths a few times in the past.”

You smiled warmly and nodded. “I will.”

The mother returned your smile, hers even warmer, before she headed into a nearby cubicle. You glanced at Hyun-ju, who was still staring at Jun-hee’s cubicle. Her expression was hard to read, but you couldn’t help but think she looked a little shocked, maybe even guilty. Perhaps the thought of voting for O, knowing there was a pregnant girl among the players, was weighing on her.

After finishing your business, you stepped out of the cubicle and noticed Hyun-ju at the sink, washing her hands and face. You joined her, standing side by side as you began to wash up as well.

The silence between you felt heavy, even though you were only inches apart. You wondered if she was distant because of her recent experiences after transitioning. It seemed like she only trusted the teammates she’d worked with during the Seven Legs Hexathlon. Maybe she was wary of you too.

Player 149 emerged from her cubicle and went to wash her hands. As she finished, her gaze shifted toward Jun-hee’s cubicle.

“Is she still in there?” she asked.

You and Hyun-ju both nodded. “Yeah.”

That’s when you realized Jun-hee had been in there for quite a while. Concern began to settle in. Stepping away from the sink, you watched as the mother approached the door and knocked gently.

“Miss? Are you alright?” she called. When there was no response, she knocked again, her tone growing more worried. “Are you okay in there? Is something wrong?”

You moved closer, your concern deepening. The mother pressed her ear against the door, listening carefully. Then you heard it. Faint sobs and quiet whimpers.

The mother slowly pushed the door open. From where you stood, you couldn’t see Jun-hee clearly, but the sound of her crying was unmistakable now that the door was ajar.

Player 149 hurried inside, her voice full of concern. “Oh dear. What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Is your belly hurting?”

You stepped forward until you were standing just outside the door. Jun-hee sat on the toilet, her posture slumped. It seemed like she’d finished her business long ago but had stayed in the cubicle. Her quiet sobs tugged at your heart, and you frowned, deeply worried for her.

“Oh, no. Your baby must be coming,” the mother assumed, crouching in front of Jun-hee. She gently placed a hand on her belly while rubbing her shoulder comfortingly. “Listen, tell me where and how it hurts.”

Jun-hee kept her gaze fixed downward, her tears falling freely. Her pale face was flushed from crying, and she didn’t look up at the mother. Her voice came out in a broken whimper. “I’m scared…”

Your chest tightened at her words. You could tell this wasn’t about labor. She wasn’t due to give birth. She was terrified. For herself, for her unborn baby. The fear of dying in this game while carrying her child finally exploded the moment she got a moment of privacy.

The mother leaned forward, wrapping Jun-hee in a full embrace. Finally, Jun-hee gave in, leaning into her comfort, her sobs muffled against the mother’s shoulder. The older woman began consoling her softly. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”

Your heart warmed at the sight of Jun-hee finally giving in to the mother’s affection. You didn’t dare to intervene because she needed this. She needed a mother figure to soothe her fears and worries. Jun-hee might have never experienced a mother’s love before, but now she finally had it.

Aside from that, watching Jun-hee cry so openly, held tightly in the mother’s arms, stirred something deep within you. Your eyes began to brim with tears. The scene made you miss your own mother terribly. The longing to see your parents, to embrace them, overwhelmed you. The thought of being so close to never seeing them again, to never telling them everything you’d always wanted to say, hit you like a wave. And then there was Ji-yoo. Small and fragile, so much like Jun-hee.

If you die in this game, who will take care of Ji-yoo and your parents?

A tear slid down your cheek before you even noticed. You quickly wiped it away, hoping no one saw. From the corner of your eye, you caught Hyun-ju walking closer. She stopped a few steps away, her expression one of quiet astonishment as she watched the mother and Jun-hee.

Once Jun-hee had calmed down, her face still red and streaked with dried tears, she and the mother stepped out of the cubicle. Without hesitation, you pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close to your chest. Her pregnant belly pressed gently against your abdomen.

Jun-hee accepted your embrace and began sobbing again, her quiet sniffles muffled against your shoulder. Beside you, the mother reached out, patting Jun-hee’s back and your shoulder in a soothing gesture.

“Everything will be okay,” you murmured softly, brushing Jun-hee’s hair with your fingers. “We’ll prioritize you no matter what. You have a mother here who’s so worried about you. You have me. And you have a bunch of caring uncles. We’ll protect you and your baby.”

Jun-hee sniffled, nodding slightly into your shoulder, her grip on you tightening as if to draw strength from your words.

The four of you exited the restroom together. You kept one arm around Jun-hee’s shoulders as you made your way back into the darkened dormitory. The mother walked alongside you while Hyun-ju lingered awkwardly behind. Her concern was evident but she was hesitant. She seemed unsure whether Jun-hee would accept comfort from her.

Gi-hun, still on watch, noticed you immediately. His wide, bewildered eyes followed your small group as he got up from his seat on the floor.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.

The mother rested a gentle hand on your back, helping guide you and Jun-hee toward your sleeping spot.

“It’s nothing,” she reassured him, her tone calm but firm. “The little lady here was just overwhelmed. But I’m sure you and the others will take good care of her.”

The mother stopped beside Gi-hun, her gaze following his as he watched Jun-hee. You helped Jun-hee lie down on her mattress, pulling her blanket up to her chest as she gently rested her hands on her belly. In a soothing voice, you told her, “Go to sleep, Jun-hee. Let’s do our best tomorrow.”

Jun-hee’s teary eyes met yours, and she nodded without speaking. Turning to her side, she closed her eyes, her breathing gradually evening out.

The mother nodded approvingly, placing a reassuring hand on Gi-hun’s back. She then said softly, “In that case, I’ll head back to bed now.”

She turned to you, her tone serious. “If anything happens to her, tell me immediately.”

You stood up from beside Jun-hee and stepped closer to the mother. Offering her a warm smile, you replied, “Yes, I will. Thank you for everything.”

“It’s nothing,” she said with a light wave of her hand. “Good night, then.”

You and Gi-hun nodded as she turned and walked toward her bed. Hyun-ju followed behind, likely because her spot was near the mother’s.

Gi-hun turned to you before he nodded to your spot and said calmly. “Go back to sleep. I’m still keeping watch.”

You nodded and settled onto your mattress, watching as Gi-hun returned to his spot, blocking the only path leading into your group's sleeping area. He sat with his back hunched a bit, his eyes focused on the darkened dormitory.

You were about to lie down when your gaze lingered on his back. Questions churned in your mind, ones you’d been wanting to ask but never found the right moment. His solemn, brooding demeanor had always made you hesitate.

But now, with the dormitory quiet and the others asleep, it felt like the perfect time to finally ask.

“Gi-hun,” you called softly, making sure to use his ssi honorific. He turned his head, glancing at you over his shoulder with a look of mild surprise, likely wondering why you weren’t asleep. Crawling off your mattress, you settled next to him, crossing your legs as you spoke. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

His solemn expression softened slightly as he nodded. “Yeah, what is it?”

You hugged your knees to your chest, hesitating before continuing. “I’m sorry if this brings up bad memories, but… what was your last time here like?”

Gi-hun’s eyes widened, and he stared at you, unblinking. He seemed caught off guard, as though the question had taken him somewhere he didn’t want to return to.

Trying to explain yourself, you added, “I want to know because… you seem very distant. Like you don’t want to be close to anyone here. But at the same time, you’re always trying to save everyone.”

He looked away, his gaze dropping to the floor. His face took on a somber look that made your chest tighten. For a moment, you regretted asking. Quickly, you tried to backtrack. “Or… you don’t have to tell me. I’m just curious. Maybe you could just tell me what games you played here?”

Gi-hun stayed silent, and you couldn’t tell if he was sad or simply unwilling to answer. The weight of his unresponsiveness made you frown slightly, a pang of disappointment settling in your chest. Perhaps the bond you thought was forming wasn’t as strong as you’d hoped. Despite his offer to help with your debt, his walls were clearly still up.

Forcing a small smile, you turned your gaze forward and tried to lighten the mood. “It’s fine. I shouldn’t have asked. Good night, Gi-hun.”

“I had a few friends here,” he said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. You turned to look at him, surprised he’d decided to speak. His gaze remained fixed on the floor as he continued, “When I was here last time, I made friends. We were a group. We ate dinner together. We got to know each other’s names. We tried to survive as a group.”

His voice grew quieter. “But in the end, it didn’t matter. This place makes you choose between yourself and everyone else. And no matter how much you want to protect someone, it’s never enough.”

He paused, taking a deep breath, as though trying to steady himself. “We played Red Light, Green Light first. Then Dalgona. After that, Tug of War, Marbles…”

His voice faltered, and his hands twitched slightly.

You waited, sensing there was more he wasn’t saying. Finally, he added, “By the end, it was just me and one other person. He… he was my best friend. But the last game…”

Gi-hun trailed off, his gaze fixed on the floor as if the memories were playing out there in front of him. You waited, giving him the space to continue. After about ten seconds, he finally spoke again. “This place turns everyone into something they’re not. It doesn’t matter how strong your friendship is. The games are designed to break it.”

“You said everyone here died except you as the winner,” you pointed out cautiously. “But I thought you could leave with a share of the prize if the majority votes for X.”

“In my time playing here, there was no such thing as a voting process after each game,” Gi-hun explained, his tone steady but heavy. “We had the same Clause Three in the consent form, but if we left, we got nothing.”

Your eyes widened in disbelief. “What? You wouldn’t get a share if you left?”

Gi-hun turned to you, his expression serious as he nodded. “Yeah. After Red Light, Green Light, a lot of us voted to leave, and we did. But we got nothing. I was desperate, so I came back. Turned out, everyone else came back too.”

“So…” you stared off into space, processing his words. “They updated this game’s rules. Leaving with a share of the prize money is actually a new thing.”

Gi-hun nodded solemnly. “Yeah. And I have a feeling why the overseer of this game made that change.”

You leaned in slightly, curiosity burning in your chest. “Why?”

Gi-hun’s eyes flicked to the large TV screen above the double doors. “He wanted to prove to me that it’s not the games’ fault that the players die. It’s the players themselves. They’re the ones who choose to stay in this game, no matter how much they earn or how high the stakes get.”

Silence fell between you as his words sank in. The weight of his statements settled heavily in your mind, stirring even more questions. But you held them back, not wanting to push him further.

“Who is… the overseer of this game?” you asked carefully, your voice barely above a whisper.

Gi-hun kept his gaze fixed ahead, his expression unreadable. “The one who controls this game. I’m sure the guards call him Captain.”

“Gi-hun,” you pressed, staring at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. “How do you know so much?”

He turned to you, his solemn eyes meeting yours. “I came back here for a reason. I will do whatever it takes to prove to this ‘Captain’… that the world has changed.”

You blinked at him, taken aback by the weight of his words. “Have you met this Captain?”

“Not directly,” he replied, his voice growling with restrained fury. “But he saw us like horses. Trashes, he said. We are just mere trashes to him.”

You turned your gaze away, your stomach churning at the thought. That’s all you are to them? Trash? The word made you feel small and insignificant. But then you caught the faintest sigh from Gi-hun, and when you glanced back, he was already staring at you.

“What?” you asked curiously.

His features softened slightly, and you felt a faint warmth radiate from his expression. It was like watching a heavy storm give way to the first rays of sunlight, momentary but impactful. You tilted your head to the side and blinked your eyes innocently.

“You know,” he began, his tone less severe now, “you remind me of someone.”

Your curiosity piqued. “Who?”

He leaned back slightly, his gaze distant as if recalling a memory. “A friend I met in my previous game. His name was Ali. He was kind, selfless, smiling. And strong. I almost died on my first Red Light, Green Light.”

He stretched his right arm out, forming a fist as he demonstrated. “I tripped on a corpse and stumbled, but he held me up by my collar. We froze like that. If it weren’t for him, I would have died.”

You watched him silently, noticing how his face softened at the memory. There was a quiet warmth in his expression, a rare glimpse of something lighter amidst the darkness. He retracted his arm and rested his forearms back on his raised knees.

“He must have been a kind guy,” you said softly.

“One of the kindest I’ve ever met,” Gi-hun replied. “He trusted too easily, though.”

You tilted your head slightly in innocent curiosity. “Is that why I reminded you of him? Because I trust too easily?”

Gi-hun turned to look at you, a faint smile forming at the corners of his lips. “No. It’s because you’re all smiles and helpful, even in this dark place.”

He paused, his smile fading slightly as he added, “He didn’t make it. But he showed me that even in the darkest times, there’s room for kindness.”

His words struck a chord, and a smile naturally formed on your lips. His own smile widened. What you didn’t realize was how much you reminded him of himself – back when he was bright, optimistic, and full of hope. In you, he saw a glimpse of the person he used to be.

Unbeknownst to the two of you, another presence loomed in the shadows. From his sleeping spot under the bed, Young-il lay awake. He had heard every word as he remained utterly still. The soft hum of the dormitory masked his presence, leaving you and Gi-hun oblivious to the silent observer just a few spaces away.

“Now go to sleep,” Gi-hun urged, his smile fading slightly. “If you want to keep watch later, you’d better get enough rest beforehand.”

“Yes, sir,” you replied playfully as you turned and crawled back to your mattress. “Good night.”

Gi-hun let out a soft sigh, the kind that hinted at exhaustion or maybe a bit of awkwardness from acting friendly after being so solemn for so long. Still, he muttered, “Night.”

Settling onto your mattress, you pulled the blanket snugly to your chest. Out of habit, your gaze drifted to your left where Young-il lay. The small, single-bed-sized mattresses meant everyone was fairly close, but his presence felt especially near.

Young-il was lying straight on his back, his forearms resting on his abdomen, his eyes closed. Even in sleep, there was something about his posture that made him seem oddly alert. It was like he was always ready for something.

You quickly looked away, turning to lie on your side, your back now facing him. Shutting your eyes, you tried to quiet your thoughts and focus on falling asleep.

A gentle shake stirred you from your sleep. A large hand rested lightly on your shoulder, nudging you awake. Then came a voice, calm and steady, calling your name:

“Sorry to disturb you, but if you’re too tired, it’s fine. I can cover your shift.”

You stirred, groaning softly as the sting of sleepiness hit you. Reluctantly, you opened your eyes, blinking against the dim light. Turning your head, you saw Young-il kneeling beside your mattress, his hand still resting gently on your shoulder. His gaze was calm but insistent, waiting for your response.

The fog of sleep clung to you, making it feel as though you’d been dragged out of a deep, comforting slumber. Your first thought was to tell him you were too exhausted to stay up. But then you remembered why you’d volunteered in the first place. What kind of person would you be if you backed out now?

Forcing yourself upright, you groggily rubbed your eyes, still struggling to shake off the weight of sleep. Young-il leaned back slightly, giving you space as your blanket slipped down to your thighs. You glanced around, trying to orient yourself. You then noticed Gi-hun already sleeping under the bed on your right side.

“Go back to sleep,” he said softly, patting your shoulder. Before you could respond, he grabbed your blanket and pulled it back up over your chest with an ease that felt strangely natural.

“I’ll handle your shift,” he continued. “And I’ll tell the others I didn’t wake you up on purpose.”

You shook your head groggily, your words coming out slow and slurred. “No… I want to keep watch.”

Young-il’s lips curved into a faint smile, but he didn’t argue immediately, simply watching as you fought against your sleepiness to fully wake up. He stepped back slightly and nodded. “Alright. You should wash your face first. That’ll help wake you up.”

You crawled off your mattress, moving to the spot where you had sat beside Gi-hun earlier. As you did, Young-il stood up to follow.

“It’s fine,” you said, rubbing your face to will yourself awake. “The triangle guard won’t let me into the bathroom.”

“I’m sure they will,” Young-il said, his tone calm but confident. You glanced at him, curious about his certainty. Had he been to the men’s restroom at night without any trouble? The last time you went with Jun-hee, the mother, and Hyun-ju, the guard only let you pass because of the mother’s relentless cries.

Massaging your face, you muttered, “I already went earlier with Jun-hee. The guard won’t let me pass twice.”

“They will,” Young-il said again. “Come with me.”

Before you could protest, he straightened and walked toward the middle of the dormitory’s clear area. You watched him, confused, before finally pushing yourself to follow.

“I said it’s fine,” you drawled, catching up to him. “I don’t want to deal with the guard again.”

Young-il didn’t respond. He continued toward the door to the women’s restroom, stopping in front of it and waiting for you to join him. When you finally reached his side, you sighed and said, making sure to use his ssi honorific, “Young-il, if the guard denies us, let’s just go back.”

He knocked firmly on the door. At first, there was no response, just like the last time with Jun-hee. He knocked again. After a moment, the circular window slid open, revealing the expressionless mask of a triangle guard.

“She needs to use the restroom,” Young-il said evenly. “Let her in.”

The triangle guard didn’t respond right away. Instead, he stared at you both, the silence stretching uncomfortably in the dim dormitory.

A few seconds later, the triangle guard slid the window shut without a word. Young-il turned to you and gave a small nod, a silent gesture to wait. You couldn’t hide your confusion. Why didn’t the guard deny you outright like before? You thought.

A few seconds passed, feeling much longer in the tense quiet, before the door creaked open. The triangle guard stood there, flanked by two more guards holding their guns. Young-il glanced at you, his expression calm but firm.

“Go,” he said simply. “I’ll keep watch for you.”

You hesitated for a moment, then nodded and stepped inside. As you moved past the guards, just before heading further in, Young-il’s voice came again and this time, it sounded commanding. “Guard her.”

You turned to look over your shoulder, catching the way he stared intently at the two triangle guards stationed near you. His tone carried weight, as though he wasn’t just making a request but giving an order. You furrowed your brows in mild confusion, unsure why he did that out of the blue.

One of the guards turned without a word and started walking ahead, motioning for you to follow. The second guard remained behind you, positioning themselves to ensure you were completely covered on both sides.

Perplexed, you trailed the lead guard. The door shut firmly behind you, leaving Young-il outside as the two guards guided you deeper into the women’s restroom.

After finishing your business and splashing cold water on your face at the sink, you exited the bathroom. As before, the two triangle guards flanked you, one leading and the other following closely behind. Their silent presence felt heavy, yet you felt the most protected person in this place. When you reached the dormitory, the same guard who had let you in earlier opened the door for you, stepping aside as you walked back in alone. The door clicked shut behind you, and the faint hum of the dormitory’s dim atmosphere returned.

You made your way back, spotting Young-il sitting in the only path to your group’s sleeping spot. His gaze was already fixed on you. You lowered yourself onto the spot beside him, pulling your knees up and wrapping your arms around them to make yourself comfortable.

“If I’d known the guards wouldn’t deny you bathroom access earlier, I would have woken you up,” you said, glancing at Young-il. “When Jun-hee, the mother, Hyun-ju, and I went earlier, the guards denied us entry. Twice.”

Young-il’s gaze stayed fixed on you, his expression attentive as you continued, lowering your voice, “The mother had to yell, ‘What did I do in my previous life?’ to finally make them let us in.”

A soft laugh escaped Young-il, his shoulders shaking slightly at your recount.

“At least it worked in the end,” he replied, his tone light. “But if you or the others ever need to go at times like this, wake me up. I’ll handle it.”

You offered him a small, sincere smile. “I will. Thank you.”

But then your smile faltered, and you averted your gaze. “Hopefully, this morning will be the last game. I don’t want to stay here any longer.”

Young-il nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful as he looked away. “You’re right. Let’s stay together, win again, and hope the majority votes to leave next time.”

You nodded in agreement. “I hope so too.”

The conversation tapered off, leaving a stillness between you. The air seemed thick with things unsaid between you two. It felt as though any words spoken now would either break the tension or make it worse.

You exhaled softly, stealing a glance at him. His profile was illuminated faintly by the golden glow of the piggy bank above, highlighting his composed expression. You turned your gaze back to the floor, trying to quiet your mind as the dormitory settled into its uneasy rhythm.

Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed him glance at you. Your gaze shifted toward him, and your eyes met. He gave you a small smile, but then his eyes briefly dropped to your lips before he quickly looked away, fixing his focus on the floor.

The silence between you stretched for a moment before he spoke. “You must be surprised.”

You raised your eyebrows. “What?”

He lifted his gaze to meet yours again. The close proximity made the exchange feel heavier, almost intimate.

“About what Gi-hun said. About my wife,” he clarified. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

Oh, this topic.

You forced a smile and shook your head lightly. “Oh, it’s fine. I kind of assumed you were married already. You’re kind and mature, so it made sense. Turns out I was right.”

Young-il’s gaze dropped to the floor, his expression unreadable. You kept your eyes on him, watching closely. His reaction told you everything you needed to know. So it was true. He has a wife waiting for him at the hospital, you thought. The confirmation solidified your earlier decision: distancing yourself from him was the right choice. It was for the best.

“She was sick,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice was calm but carried a weight that made you hold your breath. His eyes stayed fixed on the ground as he continued, “Acute cirrhosis. She needed a liver transplant, but we found out she was pregnant.”

Your eyes widened, and your face fell as his words sank in. He kept going, his tone growing heavier. “When the doctor suggested terminating the pregnancy, she refused. She was stubborn… She wanted to have the baby, even if it meant risking her life.”

You stayed silent, letting his words wash over you, as he went on. “When her condition worsened and no donor appeared, I borrowed as much money as I could to find a solution. But it was not enough.”

You turned your gaze away, unsure what to say. His voice softened but didn’t lose its seriousness. “I was desperate. A criminal heard about my situation and offered me money. I borrowed from him. But my work found out and saw it as a bribe. They fired me. I’d devoted my whole life to that job. It was one of the few things I truly loved.”

You frowned deeply, feeling an ache in your chest for him.

“Then I was invited to a program,” he said, his voice dropping even lower. “It promised money, so I joined. I was gone for a few days. By the time I won… by the time I came back with billions, my wife was already dead.”

Your eyes widened in shock as you turned to him, struggling to process his words. That’s when you noticed his eyes, glistening with unshed tears. They never fell, but the weight of them was undeniable.

“I have no purpose in life after the death of my wife,” he continued, his voice low but steady. “I disappeared from everything I once knew. There were so many times I became angry. Angry at the world. Angry at the people who fired me. Angry at those who didn’t step up to donate a liver. Angry at myself for leaving her when she needed me the most. Angry at everything.”

The room felt heavier with every word he spoke. You listened intently, unable to look away as he continued.

“There were times I wanted to end it all,” he admitted, his tone raw with emotion. “But I knew… I knew if I did, she’d hate me for it. She’d drag me to hell herself if it meant making me pay for giving up. So I lived. Barely. I was just a husk of a man, wearing a human skin that didn’t fit anymore.”

He exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Eventually, I made a choice. I decided to go back to the program that gave me those useless billions. The place where I last had purpose in life.”

The realization hit you like a crashing wave. Everything he had said suddenly clicked in your mind. You stared at him, your voice barely above a whisper. “Correct me if I’m wrong… but is that program… this game?”

Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet yours. The tears in his eyes caught the dim light, making them shimmer as he gave a single, solemn nod.

You gawked at him, thunderstruck. The implications swirled in your head, one question louder than the rest: So he was a previous winner? Just like Gi-hun? A winner who came back to play again?

“I was a winner of this game in the year 2015,” he said, as if reading your thoughts. His voice was steady but carried a note of vulnerability. “I didn’t tell Gi-hun. I never told anyone this. I don't want to be seen as the winner or a hero. All I want is to do these games and… find the slightest bit of purpose in life.”

You swallowed hard, your chest tightening. In a soft tone, you murmured, “I’m sorry for what you’ve gone through.”

He glanced at you, his expression unreadable. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault. Life has a way of… pushing you into corners you didn’t even know existed.”

You hesitated, searching for the right words. “Still, what you’ve endured… it’s more than anyone should bear.”

His lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “And yet… in these games, I found something.”

You tilted your head slightly, curiosity building in your chest. You did not have to say anything. Your need to know was palpable on your face.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to you, his dark eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that made your breath catch.

“A purpose,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Your heart thudded against your ribs as he continued, “I thought it was impossible. That after everything I’ve been through, after losing my wife, I’d never feel it again. But now…”

He paused, and for a moment, you were certain the air between you had shifted. “I’ve found something worth protecting in this world.”

He didn’t elaborate, but the way he stared at you said more than words ever could. His gaze lingered, carrying an unspoken weight that sent warmth creeping up your neck. You opened your mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. The realization struck you like a soft wave.

He meant you.

But then, you looked away. You didn’t want to misinterpret his kind gestures or sweet words as something deeper. If he truly meant more, you wanted him to say it outright.

“Young-il,” you began softly, your voice barely above a whisper. “If you… if you mean what I think you mean, you’d have to tell me. I can’t just assume.”

He shifted closer, his voice low but steady. “I want to take care of you… not just as a friend, but as something more.”

Your breath hitched, and you dared to meet his gaze. There was no hesitation in his eyes, only gentleness that made you turn vulnerable.

“I know,” he continued, “that this place is hell. It’s not the kind of place anyone should be finding hope. But you… you’ve brought hope. Hope that the world has given me a gift.”

You didn’t know what to say, the weight of his words settling over you like a heavy blanket. “Young-il…”

“I’m not asking for anything you’re not ready to give,” he interrupted softly. “But let me protect you. Not because we’re stuck in this place, but because… I care about you.”

His confession lingered between you, sounding heavy and raw. A part of you wanted to push him away, to insist that the circumstances were too dire for anything like this. But another part of you, the one that had felt the flutter in your chest every time he spoke to you or looked your way, wanted to believe him.

“It’s sad,” you murmured, your voice trembling slightly, “that we met in a place like this.”

His lips curved into a faint smile. “It is. But if it weren’t for this place, I would have never met you.”

You smiled, a faint blush creeping to your cheeks. “I suppose that’s one good thing about all this.”

His gaze lingered on you for a moment longer before he looked away. You couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of happiness. In this moment, you were glad. Glad that he had trusted you enough to let his guard down. Glad that he had let you see the side of him he kept hidden from everyone else. Glad that he had taken off his last mask… right?

He turned his eyes back to you, holding your gaze with an intensity that made your breath hitch. You didn’t look away, meeting his stare head-on, feeling the weight of unspoken words between you. His eyes flickered down briefly, landing on your lips. Without thinking, your gaze followed suit, lingering on his for a moment too long.

The air felt charged, the space between you shrinking without either of you moving too much. Slowly, he leaned in. You did the same, your heart pounding louder with each inch you crossed.

“Please, don’t.”

Both of you flinched, the trance broken by a muffled voice. Turning quickly, you spotted Jung-bae sprawled out on his mattress, muttering in his sleep.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll stop betting on horses,” he mumbled, his face scrunched in a dream-induced grimace.

The sheer absurdity of the interruption had you stifling a laugh. Your shoulders shook with quiet amusement as you looked away.

Unbeknownst to you, Young-il’s expression darkened as he glared at the sleeping man, a mix of annoyance and disbelief flashing across his face.

Then your laughter reached his ears, breaking the tension in the most unexpected way. Young-il turned back to you, his features relaxing as a chuckle bubbled out of him.

“Talk about timing,” he said, shaking his head, his voice tinged with humor.

“Impeccable,” you replied, your grin widening as you stole another glance at Jung-bae, who remained oblivious, lost in his dreams.

The near-kiss moment replayed in your mind, your cheeks growing warmer each time the memory surfaced. You looked away, staring anywhere except Young-il. You couldn’t bring yourself to look directly at him, afraid he might notice the blush creeping up your face. The more you thought about it, the more embarrassed you became.

Without realizing it, you yawned softly, breaking your train of thought. The sleepiness hit you suddenly, but you tried to brush it off. Young-il, however, noticed immediately.

“You should go to sleep,” he said gently.

You glanced at him, flustered, and shook your head. “What? I’m not tired.”

Young-il tilted his head slightly, giving you a knowing look. “You’re not fooling anyone. You should rest. There’s no point in keeping watch if you’re barely awake.”

“I’m fine, really,” you insisted, trying to sound convincing. “I already washed my face.”

But Young-il wasn’t buying it. “Washing your face doesn’t mean you are not tired. Go rest. I’ll do it.”

You opened your mouth to argue again, but his steady gaze and calm persistence left you struggling for words.

“But… I don’t want you to cover my shift,” you murmured.

“I actually don’t want you to keep watch,” he admitted softly. “I woke you up so I could explain about my late wife. We don’t have much privacy so I thought keeping watch with you will be the perfect time to tell you.”

Before you could ask anything, Young-il reached out with his left hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers brushing against your cheek. The simple gesture sent your heart racing, and your blush deepened. The touch was fleeting, but it left you momentarily speechless.

Feeling your resolve crumble under his gaze, you nodded shyly and crawled back to your mattress. As you pulled the blanket over yourself, you could still feel the lingering warmth of his touch. You couldn’t help but smile in delight, though you tried to hide it from him.

As soon as your head hit the pillow, a wave of exhaustion swept over you. Slowly, your eyes began to close, and the world around you blurred. This time, though, there was a warmth in your chest. A small smile formed on your lips as sleep claimed you, wrapping you in its gentle embrace.

NEXT : Chapter 10

PREV : Chapter 08

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Please feel free to leave comments and feedback about my story, the characters, the "you", and practically anything! I love reading your comments, especially long ones! What do you think about you consoling Jun-hee, your talk with Gi-hun, the fact that Young-il was listening the whole time, then Young-il helped you go to the restroom. Next it was his turn to talk with you, and also about Jung-bae's impeccable timing. What do you think about these?

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[fablesuntold]

Requested starter for — Seong Gi-hun to @s4lesman ✨

Two years of his life wasted in despair. Two whole years spent searching for the bastard who’d gotten him submerged into those nightmarish games that had left him feeling hollow inside.

Maybe if he’d gotten on that plane and sought out the help he needed to heal himself, Gi-hun wouldn’t be as caught up on the past as he was now. But the idea of finding him and staring him in the face again, finally able to ask him why.. Gi-hun was so hung up on the idea that it had completely consumed his entire life. The money he’d won didn’t matter, he’d barely touched it as a matter of fact. It was all blood money, anyway. The only use it had so far was helping that of Sang-woo’s mother and Sae-byeok’s brother. The rest? He intended to use as a means to track down the people who’d made his life a living hell.

Wouldn’t it be ironic if the cash they’d handed him was the reason for their downfall? Oh how Gi-hun would laugh if that were the case. But no such luck as of yet.. not even with the help of Kim Jeong-rae and his band of merry men on the hunt. Time to take matters into his own hands. It wasn’t like he could sleep much nowadays anyway.. not with so much regret weighing on his mind, the faces of those who’d played in the games with him flashing into his memory every time he closed his eyes.

Arming himself with nothing more than a combat knife, Gi-hun made his way down to the nearest train station. With how late it was, he wasn’t expecting to find much at this hour. It was more a walk to clear his mind than another fruitless attempt at finding the suited culprit.

But to his surprise.. there he stood. It took a second to register at first, a double-take needed to confirm. But there was no denying it. It was impossible to mistake that face, and Gi-hun felt his blood practically run colder the second their eyes met. “You again..” Frozen in place, his fingers itched to pull out the knife from his back pocket, jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached. “You’re here to recruit more people into those games, aren’t you? You’re here to.. to start it all up again.” He couldn’t let that happen. Not again. Without warning, Gi-hun made a quick stride forward until he was close enough to grab the suited man by his neatly pressed jacket, using the momentum to slam him into the nearest wall. “Start talking!” He barked at him, just them and the barren station to bear witness to whatever transpired between them next.

[nomi-c]

Happy New Year

Word count: 1,7k

Genre: fluff, best friends to lovers

{Seong-Hwa x Reader}

Today is the day, New Year's Eve, the last day of the year. Usually you spend it with your 8 Best Friends Hong-Joong, Woo-young, San, Yun-ho, Jong-ho, Yeo-sang, Min-Gi and Seong-Hwa but this Year it all came different, most of them got Girlfriends so they wanted to spend the day with them, and on top of it you caught a cold so you couldn't meet them Tonight.

You were bummed about that, because you got a beautiful black glittery dress that looked just perfect on you, and you already searched Pinterest for inspirations on hairstyles and make up looks. You were bored and there wasn't anything interesting on the tv either, so you decided to glam yourself up anyways, even if no one would see you like this.

After taking a quick shower, you put on the dress, styled your hair into soft waves, that flowed down your waist, and decided on a dark Smokey eyes look, because why not? your favorite necklace that your longtime crush Seong-Hwa gave you as present on your birthday, it was a beautiful rose necklace and when he gave it to you, you shed some tears. Going all black you even put on black lipstick. Just when you were about to take a seat on your couch your phone rang, and you ran to pick it up.

"Hello love, how are you feeling?" Hwa said in a worried voice. Always the mom.

A little laugh escaped your lips. "I'm okay, bored but okay. What about you?" You said happy about his unexpected call.

"Oh, uhm I'm okay. I was gonna ask you if you'd like to come to my house today? I told the boys that I want to spend it with you. You don't need to do anything or bring anything." He sounded a little shy.

You started jumping like a little kid, happy about his invitation, and completely forgot about hwa, who waited for your answer.

"Y/n? Are you still there? If you're not well-" he started saying but you cut him off.

"I'll be there in 30 minutes! I just got my makeup and hair done and I even wear the new dress!" You told him all excited.

He started laughing "You did all that even though you were gonna stay at home alone?"

"Of course! I was gonna take some pictures and post them on my social media." You told him, and he laughed even more.

"Okay love, I'll see you in 30." He ended the call and suddenly you got nervous.

You never spend the New Year's Eve alone with someone, let alone your crush but you didn't have time to freakout now. You ran to your bathroom and put on your favorite fragrance, grabbed your matching black glitter high heels and your car keys, and left your small apartment.

Soon enough you stood nervously in front of Seong-Hwa's apartment door. After taking a deep breath, you rang the door bell, and soon enough the door was opened and your best friend stood before you.

His blonde hair was still damp from taking a shower, and pieces of it fell in his face, he held a towel in his right hand and ruffled it trough his hair to dry them. His suit shirt had a few buttons undone, his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and around his neck was a undone tie that hung down loosely. The shirt was tucked in, and he was wearing black suit pants.

Seeing him like this made your heart skip a few beats, only to beat faster afterwards.

Seong-Hwa looked at you admiringly. "You look breathtaking love. Please come on in, I'll be ready in 5 minutes." He gave you a shy smile, and leaded you on his spacious living room, candles lit up the room on a soft light, and a relaxing music was on low volume.

Before you could reply, he was already gone. You didn't feel like sitting down just yet, so you Walked over to the big windows, that overlooked Seoul effortlessly. To many people the big cities were frightening, but to you all those big buildings and lights from other apartments were calming.

Your gaze was focused on the Han river and the party boats that were making their way trough the night, when you felt a hand on your shoulder. You turned around and noticed that his hair was still damp, but Styled to perfection. He decided to ditch the tie and the buttons were still undone, now the same necklace you had was placed around his neck.

He got it when he got your present and he wore it everyday, even though everyone made fun of him for it, but he didn't care.

You gave him a soft smile. "Thank you for inviting me over Hwa."

There was a content silence between you, both of you taking in the beautiful view before you. After a while he started speaking again.

"I have to admit, when you would have said no, I would have dropped by your place." He was smiling a little, and his cheeks got a little rosy.

You turned him towards you and embraced him in a hug. "I'm happy you called me Hwa."

He nuzzled his head in your neck and hugged you a little tighter. Once you let go of each other, he hands you a glass of champagne.

You hadn't noticed before, because you were too focused on the view outside.

"Actually, I have a surprise for you." He told you smiling.

You stared at him with big eyes. "For me?"

He rolled his eyes. "No for the person next to you." You hit his shoulder. And he laughed.

"What is it? Show me!" You said all excited.

He walked over to his dining table and took the tie that was hanging over the chair, when he was right in front of you he had a cocky smile on his lips.

"I'd say close your eyes, but I know you won't play fair. So I'll have to blindfold you." He said as he started to put the tie over your eyes.

"Hey! I'm not a cheater!" You exclaimed, as he proceeded to blindfold you.

"Sure, love." He said with a sarcastic hint.

Once he was done, he took you by the hands and leaded you somewhere. After a little while he made you stop and carried you close to his chest.

"I'm sorry, but I don‘t want you to fall." He said shyly.

After a few seconds, he set you down and took a stand behind you, holding your shoulders softly.

"Are you ready?" He asked softly.

You could feel the light breeze on your face.

"I'm ready."

When he slowly removed the blindfold, you were in awe. He decorated the whole top terrace with cute lights, a outdoor couch and even a Beamer. Little Snacks were placed on a little table next to the outstretched couch and candles decorated the floor. At the sight you felt your eyes tear up.

"Hwa.... This is breathtaking! I can't believe you did all this!" You turned around and he looked at you softly with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you, but this isn't all." He told you and you couldn't believe it.

He revealed his hidden arm, and you saw six red roses.

Tears started flowing freely now. He wiped them away softly. "Take a Seat, Y/n."

You did as you were told, he took a seat right next to you, and pressed a button for the Beamer.

And in front of you, you saw videos Seong-Hwa took of him talking about plans you had, what you did as group this year, videos he made of you laughing with the boys all good moments of this year. You knew he said he had to edit videos, but you thought for the band.

Right when the video was about to end, Seong-Wha's face appeared on screen.

Hi Y/n, I hope you enjoyed this little flashback of 2021. before this year ends, I want to do something I was always to shy for.

He seemed so shy and adorable on the video that your smile grew big though the tears.

You always loved the necklace, so I decided to give you real roses now too.... do you know the meaning of roses?

Your head snapped in his direction. And he looked at you shyly.

I can't believe I'm really going trough with this.

Seong-Hwa stared deep into your eyes without saying a word. Your free hand was now holding your necklace, and your heart was racing.

maybe you already know the meaning of a Single Rose... it stands for love at first sight, and that's what it was for me the moment I first saw you. I couldn't tell you, because you're my best friend...

Your jaw dropped at this, and you couldn't believe what you just heard.

I couldn't tell you how much I like you, but I was hoping that maybe, just maybe you would know the meaning behind this. I got myself one too, because you know what two roses mean?

He softly held your cheek and grazed his thumb softly over your face.

"Deep love." His voice was raspy.

It means Deep Love Y/n. I was a coward over all this years, but I wanted to be brave this year. There's no better day than today to fulfill my biggest New Years solution... Do you happen to know what 6 roses mean?

His gaze got serious. "Do you?"

You shook your head slowly, and he laughed softly. "Of course you don‘t."

They mean 'I want to be yours.'

He gave you a big smile, and cupped your cheeks softly. "I love you Y/n, I always did. Would you allow me to be your boyfriend?"

Your heart stopped beating at his confession. You couldn't speak and tears still flowed down your face, your smile grew big, and you nodded yes.

The New year is about Start. Let's count! 3...2...1...

Before you could realize what happened, his lips connected with yours in a soft and sweet kiss.

Once you parted, both of you had a big smile plastered on your face. "Happy New Year, love."

--

Authors note: Happy New Years guys! I wish you a good start to the new year, and much luck and health and joy! 🥂💗

[squidgamesmut]

Seong Gi-hun | As the world caves in

Prompt: It is the night before the finale and despite your shared grief, Gi-hun asks you a very important question. You offer all you can give, and share a passionate night of uncertainty whilst you still can.

Pairing: Seong Gi-hun X Female Reader

Word count: 3.8K

Tags: Graphic depictions of death, lots of angst

Spoilers: Episode 1-8

Note: Once again, I have not proofread what I wrote because I'm very tired right now. Go easy on me when you find spelling errors, I'll correct them later when I find the time to do so :)

MINORS DNI

There was a steady tapping of Sang-woo’s foot against the tiles that echoed through the room and caused annoyance to grow inside your chest. Slumped against her bed sat Sae-byeok, unwell, sweat beading on her forehead, her lips sickly pale and chapped.

You dabbed a wet piece of toilet paper against her face, the thin material falling apart under your touch, but it was all you could work with right now. All you could do was make her as comfortable as possible, the crimson stain that seeped into the mattress only growing larger.

Looking up, your gaze met Gi-hun’s, who looked at your mutual friend with concern, grief already tugging at your heart even though she was still here. He gave you a wry smile, tight-lipped, hair messily sticking in the air. It gave him a boyish look, and you smiled back, a shaky sigh leaving your lips.

“(Y/n),” Sae-byeok croaked, a weak hand wrapping around your wrist, her blood smearing all over it. You didn’t mind it, for you were soaked in it anyways, and leaned forward so that you could hear her properly. “(Y/n), don’t go.”

Tears blurred your vision and you shook your head, giving her a reassuring smile. “I am not going anywhere.”

She, however, was. You had seen people die before, especially in the past weeks, but those deaths had been sudden and with little time to see the process. Your friend was slipping away slowly, her life drained from her once lively eyes gradually, a painful wheeze in her lungs making for an unpleasant sound. This was different from seeing all the others go - this was gut-wrenching.

Her fingers tightened for a few moments, her gaze containing fear, hurt, and a sliver of hope. “Thank you,” she muttered, making you swallow away the lump in your throat, “Thank you for being my friend through this all.”

For a second, you gazed over your shoulder to beckon over Gi-hun, who had been meekly watching the scene unfold in front of him, unsure of how to help out. It was a done deal, anyways, you had whispered in his ear upon finding Sae-byeok fatally wounded in the bathroom earlier. The scent of death already hung in the air, and it stood behind the thick metal doors, patiently awaiting the very moment Sae-byeok would exhale for the final time.

“Mister,” she told Gi-hun, voice feeble and almost too quiet to be heard. “You better look after your lady, you hear me?”

Gi-hun let out a pained noise, but could not find the right words. “Promise me you’ll look after (Y/n). Get her out of here, like you had been planning for.”

Your eyes shot towards your lover, whose gaze was fixated upon your dying friend. “I wish I had been here to see it.” Sae-byeok said with a tease of a smile, “Oh, it hurts. My goodness, it hurts.”

You took a deep breath, blinking at her. “See what?” you quizzed, “Wishing to see what?”

Sae-byeok seemed to beam for a second, a genuine smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “You’ll find out, (Y/n).” Tears suddenly spilled from her eyes and slid over her damaged cheeks. You couldn't keep your face dry, either, a dry sob leaving your throat.

Pressing your trembling lips against her clammy forehead, your shoulders began to shake. “Sae-byeok, no…”

Gi-hun’s hands rested on your back in an attempt to comfort you, but the woman’s grip on you soon faded. “(Y/n), it’s okay.”

You shook your head, wrapping your arms around Sae-byeok’s body as the final life slipped from her. “No, it’s not okay!”

“Player 67, eliminated.” The voice echoed through the room, and Sang-woo’s tapping halted momentarily. The cry that left your lips chilled Gi-hun to the bone, and the obnoxious chime of more won being added to the piggy bank in the ceiling caused your throat to screw shut with anguish. Wailing against her chest, you ignored Gi-hun’s hand on your shoulder which was attempting to pull you off.

“(Y/n), please, I don’t want to see you hurt, either.”

With bloodshot eyes, you looked up upon roughly being yanked away from Sae-byeok, a masked guard appearing in your field of view. Your first instinct was to throw a punch into his gut, but you knew it would only lead to more trouble, and so, you let yourself be pulled against Gi-hun’s familiar chest, burying your face against it.

They lifted her up, carrying her to the black coffin before putting her inside, closing it off with one of those disgustingly mocking lids, as if the pink bow on top was supposed to ease the pain.

You were inconsolable.

Gi-hun gave Sang-woo a look of worry, but the man in question did not share the concern.

“Come on, (Y/n),” Gi-hun whispered into your hair, “Let’s clean you up a bit.”

The guards, at least, did not give you any problems in allowing you into the bathroom together. The sickly pastel walls made your eyes sting.

You snapped out of your daze once you heard the tap running, cold water hitting your wrists, washing off what little keepsake you owned of Sae-byeok. Perhaps the blood under your nails should remain where it was as a reminder of how her death should not be in vain.

Looking up, you found your own reflection in the mirror. Dark circles had appeared under your sullen eyes, and Gi-hun caught your gaze, his eyes softening in worry.

“(Y/n), come on, let’s get this off of you.” He slipped a warm and familiar hand under your bloodstained dress shirt and helped you take it off, the damp fabric clinging to your skin upon the removal.

Gi-hun had seen you naked before, and so you found no embarrassment in his efforts to wash you. He was gentle, his touch bringing a sense of serenity to you, amongst the painful dread of your impending doom breathing down your neck.

“Gi-hun.” you whispered, causing him to look up at you. Your lips trembled before you responded. “Sae-byeok mentioned something to me. What was she talking about?”

You didn’t have long anymore, and you needed to know. This night was going to be the last one together either way.

Something akin to a blush appeared on his cheeks regardless of how grief-stricken his face was, and he gave you a small smile, tucking some hair behind your ear to get a better look of your eyes.

“Let’s get you into something clean first.”

You stared at the blood washing away into the sink. Even the little bit beneath your nails disappeared.

“Gi-hun.” you said his name again, blinking slowly. “Gi-hun, speak to me. I don’t want to lose you, too.”

His gaze snapped up to yours, and his eyes widened, lips parting in dismay. “Oh, I… Uh… (Y/n), I need…” he swallowed thickly, stumbling over his words, “I need you to know something.”

He reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and took out something - a keychain. No, something that once resembled it. It was taken apart and forced to appear smaller, only the metal ring remaining.

“I found this on the floor.” he said, almost too shy to look up at you, “I tried to make it look more like a ring… I know it’s not what you deserve. I know that I am not half the man you deserve, but I wanted to give it to you regardless.”

The ring that sat once on the keychain laid in his palm, and it was jagged around the edges, like it had been forced around a small cylinder-shaped object, perhaps one of the lead pipes in the bathrooms. “Sae-byeok helped me make it. Reckoned she knew better on how large your finger was, I uh…” He paused, looking up to you, “It’s not a real ring, but… I wanted… Want you to marry me.”

Tears sprung into your vision once more, your knees feeling weak. “Oh, Gi-hun, I’m… I don’t know what to say!”

He swallowed, looking like a young puppy that had been scolded by its owner. “So you don’t like it, then? I can understand, I’d also--”

You lunged yourself forward, shutting him up with a firm yet chaste kiss. “Gi-hun,” you muttered upon pulling back after a few seconds of liplock. “It’s beautiful. It’s perfect. Yes, I want to marry you too.”

A sheepish grin spread over his features and he exhaled shakily in relief, as if he couldn’t believe his own ears. “Really?” he breathed, to which you nodded.

“Yes,” you whispered, “Oh, Gi-hun, I’m scared and I’m heartbroken, but I love you.”

The words had left your lips before you could even comprehend it.

Gi-hun stared at you, jaw agape, star-struck by the way you were beaming at him right after you had said those three words he had been longing to hear. “I love you too.” he muttered, stepping closer, hastily shoving the jagged key ring around your finger. It barely fit and scraped your skin, but you couldn’t care less.

It looked beautiful on you, Gi-hun noted, and tucked some hair away from your face, looking at you with a smile that said a thousand words. His eyes were watery, as were yours, and you blinked away the tears that began to build.

“I love you, Gi-hun.”

Kissing him deeply, you snaked your tongue into his mouth with no time to waste, pouring all the emotion you felt into it. There was an edge of desperation in the action, your hands coming to rest on his waist, pulling him into you.

He let out a sound between a whimper and a sigh, afraid that you would slip through his fingers once he released you. You pushed his suit jacket on the floor, the once crisp white shirt stained with blood. Your vigour calmed, grief screwing your throat shut.

Gi-hun rapidly took it off, but your sadness did not fade. “Where will we be at this same time, tomorrow?” you whispered, “If this is our final night together…”

He cupped your face, thumbs caressing your cheeks. His eyes roamed over your face, searching for the right things to say. What was there to say? There was nothing that could make it better, no promises to whisper against your temple, no dream of a future together.

“(Y/n), look at me.” Gi-hun sighed, voice trembling, “If this is our final night together, then I want to spend every second of it with you.”

You swallowed thickly, watching him with widened eyes. One of your hands went to cover his still on your cheek, and he closed the gap between you, claiming your mouth as his.

Gi-hun dared to slip his tongue past your lips, tasting you deeply, relishing in the flavour of you. He felt the misery in your movements. Your hands went to his bare chest, palms clammy and inexplicably cold. He wondered what you were thinking.

Pinning you against the sink, Gi-hun allowed you to loll your face to the side, pressing his teeth against your neck instead. He sucked firmly, not caring if he’d leave any marks. A whimper left your throat, your fingers tangling into his hair, coaxing at the back of his head. Your lover - now fiancé - pulled one leg over his hip, pressing his pelvis against you.

The familiar swell was there, and you palmed him through his slacks, feeling him twitch with want. He smiled, letting out a sound against your skin, sending vibrations of pleasure down your spine, shooting straight to your core.

Tonight, you needed each other more than ever. Every touch, every flutter of fingers on skin, every time your gaze crossed his, there was a hint of sorrow. The bags under your eyes, the injury on his cheekbone which you had so lovingly kissed earlier right before dinner, the telltale signs of exhaustion that seeped through your veins.

When his tongue slid over your throat towards the spot between your breasts, you threw back your head and bit your bottom lip lest you let your anguish get the better of you. His warmth was intimately welcome, and so you let him slip off your bra, nipples hardening in the cool air of the restroom.

“Gi-hun,” you breathed when his mouth roamed over one of the sensitive buds, dark eyes looking up at you with lust-blown pupils. He licked it gently, your breathing becoming ragged against him, and you inhaled sharply at the feel. Gi-hun switched sides, nipple becoming slick with his saliva, and you wished for this sight to never leave your mind ever again. “Please, I need you.”

His eyes fluttered albeit for a second, tears brimming when he heard your despair. “I need you so bad.” you repeated, which he took as the sign to sink down on his knees. He pressed his face against your thigh, pulling aside your knickers, exposing your wet pussy to his loving eye. You wanted to be seen by nobody else ever again.

Mouthing at your folds, he sucked them against his tongue - slowly, gently - and you felt your chest tighten with pleasure. You put your hand over your mouth to prevent your moan from spilling, but what would it matter if it did? The guards knew what was going on in here, otherwise they would have knocked on the door already.

“Never in my decades on this Earth,” Gi-hun mused against your soaked flesh, lapping at your slit like a starving man, “Have I ever tasted anything as exquisite as your arousal, (Y/n).”

You could not suppress the smile at his cheesy remark, and you chewed your bottom lip when he tongued your clit, sucking gently on the swollen bundle of nerves. “Oh, Gi-hun,” you murmured, “Gi-hun…”

His name was all you knew, and you shivered, goosebumps appearing on your skin. “Gi-hun, please…”

He stood, sensing your orgasm creeping up on you. The whimper got stuck in your throat, for you knew that he wasn’t done with you yet. Gi-hun kissed you deeply, making you taste yourself, and you moaned into his mouth, undoing his trousers with practised ease. His length was fully erect, the slit wet with precum, your hand closing around his cock to jerk him off a few times.

Gi-hun sighed against your lips, eyes opening slightly to watch your face. The sight of you kissing him alongside the feeling of your fingers caressing his cock made him grunt in pleasure. In turn, the sound caused you to move towards him out of instinct. Right away, you dropped onto the floor, pressing open mouthed kisses over his base.

He gritted his teeth, throwing back his head in pleasure. With a shivering exhale, he laced one hand through your hair, letting you lick and suck all over his glistening erection. He tasted wonderful, and you took your time to suckle on his testicles, enjoying the sounds that left his lungs. Gi-hun was never quiet when it came to sex, and in the heat of this very moment, he let out a delicious moan.

You felt your stomach clench, pure need coursing through you. Humming around him, you closed your eyes, sucking him against your tongue. You released his cock from your grip, allowing it to rest against your face, feeling the weight of it twitch whilst you mouthed at his testicles.

“Oh, shit, (Y/n),” Gi-hun moaned, “You’re so beautiful.”

You blinked away the sudden tears blurring your vision, letting him go, rising to your feet but not before pressing a lingering kiss against the head of his cock, tasting him on your lips.

“I want you inside of me.” you whispered when his hands came to rest on your bare waist, and he pushed you backwards against the sink. You bumped into it, his body taking the spot in between your legs, porcelain of the sink dangerously creaking.

“Against the wall, baby, against the wall.” you told him, but he didn’t seem to hear you, too occupied with pressing his face against your neck. His mop of dark hair tickled you and you sighed, biting the inside of your cheek, gasping when you felt his heat press against your entrance.

He bottomed out swiftly, groaning at the familiar feel of your walls clenching around him. His erection swelled inside you and you sighed deeply, bracing yourself against his chest whilst he stretched you. No matter how often you had sex before, he felt closer than ever, stars already speckling your vision as well as the burn of unshed tears.

Gi-hun felt marvellous inside of you. Almost too good. It was unfair. He leaned in, kissing you, his tongue finding yours in an all-consuming kiss.

His hips moved, slow thrusts landing against your pelvis. Pleasure. Salt.

In the sweetness of the kiss, a few tears disrupted the flavour. Gi-hun pulled back in puzzlement, his heart clenching in his chest upon witnessing your wet cheeks.

“My dear (Y/n), oh, my honey bun.”

Under any other circumstances, you would have beamed at the nickname. Now, it only made your heartache worse. You cupped his chin, holding it tightly between your hands.

He was beautiful.

“Look at me while you take me.” you whispered, “Please, don’t look away.”

His brow furrowed, albeit for a moment. “Of course.” he said, slowly moving in and out of you, your slick causing him to speed up eventually.

You completed him, he realised, taking one of your hands into his, bringing it to his lips to kiss it. His other rested on your waist, making sure you were secure against the sink. The light didn’t make it for a romantic environment, but it didn’t matter. You and him were the only people left in this universe, now.

Tears damaged your cheeks as your eyes grew red. A mixture of pleasure and sorrow made for a bittersweet knot in your stomach. You weren’t far off, but you didn’t want this moment to end.

Being one with Gi-hun was what made you long for him even more. The world would be different in hours to come, and you just wanted to close your eyes and never wake up again.

You’d go through anything if it meant not losing him. In this very moment, you realised how deep your love for him ran. It was expressed through salty tears and a trembling lip. You didn’t dare to look away, afraid that he might fade in front of your very eyes.

“(Y/n)?” Gi-hun quizzed, still fucking into you, unsure if what he was doing was right. You began to nod, pressing your forehead to his.

“Yes, Gi-hun. I’m here. I’m yours.”

“Forever and always.” he whispered, and you let out a hum that sounded more like a cry, a pained sound that shook your lover to the bone.

“I need you so bad.” you muttered, feeling yourself clench around him. It was difficult to fight against your own high, and something you had never expected yourself to do so. He was perfect, fit inside of you like you were made for each other, and the sight of his adoring gaze was enough to pull you over that edge.

You cried when you came, but no sound left your lips. Your toes and fingers felt funny at the sensation, your walls clenching around his length, instinctively claiming him to stay inside. It was intense and heart-shattering.

Suddenly, Gi-hun was crying too.

You were the most ethereal being on Earth. He had already died and you were an angel. He cupped your face and kissed you, open-eyed, an almost awkward exchange of love. He could not afford to look away, not even when his orgasm washed over him, pulses of sperm shooting inside of you, deeply planting itself near your cervix.

He panted, sweat leaking down his chest and torso. Staring at each other, you remained like that for minutes, eventually catching your breath, and his once erect cock began to shrink inside of you, causing you to flinch upon removal. The spot between your legs grew cold rapidly, and what remained of his cum leaked down your thighs soon enough.

“Oh, Gi-hun.” you muttered with trembling lips, your legs feeling weak in a negative way for once, “Gi-hun, I love you so much.”

His eyes fluttered shut, tears spilling from the corners when the cold of the bathroom surrounded him. “I love you too, my (Y/n)...” he whispered gently, followed by minutes of silence. You stood in each other’s presence, vulnerable and naked in one another’s arms, your eyes staring at each other’s souls.

The makeshift ring sat uncomfortably around your finger when you brought your hand to rest on his cheek, but you felt closer to Gi-hun than ever before.

“We’re with only three people left,” said he all of a sudden, breaking the silence. “We could vote to quit these damned Games.”

You slowly blinked, tears still leaking over your face. “Oh, Gi-hun, and what about their deaths? The old man, Sae-byeok, Ali? Should they be in vain for the sake of our love? If we quit now, nothing will have changed. Their deaths would have been for nothing. Are we truly that selfish?”

The little hope in his eyes saddened upon their mention, and he blinked slowly, his brow furrowing deeply. “Who says that there can be only one winner?” he muttered, “What if we can win together?”

You shook your head in disbelief, stroking his cheeks, fingers lingering at the small wound on his cheekbone. “Oh, Gi-hun, what I wouldn’t give for that to be possible.”

His hands came to rest on your elbows, and your bodies were growing cold in the afterglow of your intimacy. “We can always hope. We will not know until tomorrow. And before that time comes…”

You stepped into his arms, allowing him to embrace you tightly. Skin upon skin, you pretended that everything was alright, that you’d return home tomorrow, together.

“Before that time comes,” he clarified, “I want to be one with you.”

The guards had been respectful tonight, you noticed. Perhaps you had had enough grief for one day, though you had almost forgotten about your late friends passing on.

Gi-hun held you close, nearer than ever. You loved him more than life itself.

Home, you realised, was not the place where you would return to if tomorrow turned out to be in your favour.

Home would not be the place where you would return to if you chose to quit the Games.

Home, you felt more than ever before, was right here in front of you, surrounding you like a blanket of warmth and love, and no one in this world would ever be able to take him from you, no matter what tomorrow would bring.

[rubydolly]

I FINISHED SQUID GAME LAST NIGHT

And I have some questions and theories of my own that I would like to share.

WARNING SPOILER ALERT - I will be discussing the whole show from start to end so if you have not watched the whole series yet I don’t recommend reading this.

WHO ARE THE STAFF

There are as many staff members as players, possibly more so but the question I have is how did these people end up working on the game? how were they recruited?

MY THEORY

This is not actually my theory, I saw it on Twitter but it makes sense to me. When the sales man approaches Seong Gi Hun and offers to play a game of ddakji with him he presents two cards to him, a red card and a blue card, Seong Gi Hun picks the blue. Seong Gi Hun wakes up among the 456 other players, him and all the other players wear a blue suit while the staff members wear a red suit. The colour of the card the person picks during the game of ddakji is what determines wether they will be a player or a staff member, this would make sense considering that one of the staff members is revealed to be no older than a college student and the fact that the staff are under just as strict rules as the players. Now why did all of these staff members not object? I think it is quite likely they just like the players are in dire financial states and were each offered a large sum of money themselves.

WHY DID IN HO BECOME THE FRONT MAN

In Ho participated in and won the Squid Games back in 2015, however in 2020 he mysteriously vanished according to his brother Jun Ho, a policeman who works at the station where Seong Gi Hun made a report about the Squid Games. It is later revealed that In Ho is actually the front man, my question is why would In Ho go back to the games to work as the front man?

MY THEORY

Il Nam speaks often of his wife and son but we never see either of them in the show, or do we? I think you can see where I am going here, In Ho is Il Nam’s Son, which would explain why during the riot when Il Nam yelled “I’m so scared stop it” In Ho who takes orders from no one had the lights turned back on. Jun Ho never mentions either of his parents in the show so this makes this theory entirely possible in my mind. Now why would Il Nam only involve one son and not the other and why did he only ever talk about one? Jun Ho being a cop is probably the reason for that, being a cop means going against criminals aka his own Father so most likely his Father disowned him and cut him out of his will. In Ho on the other hand clearly doesn’t mind getting involved in criminal activity and his Father probably left every thing in his will to In Ho on the condition that he continues to work on the games.

WHO IS RUNNING THE GAME NOW THAT IL NAM IS DEAD?

We see Il Nam die in the second last episode, however in the last episode Seong Ji Hun sees the same man who recruited him attempting to recruit another player with the same game of ddakji that he used to recruit him so clearly the games are still going on but who is running the games now that Il Nam is dead?

MY THEORY

This theory overlaps with my previous theory but I believe In Ho is the one running the games. With his Father dead, In Ho has moved into his Father’s position as the host.

HAVE THE POLICE RECEIVED REPORTS OF THIS OPERATION OTHER THAN SEONG GI HUN

When Seong Gi Hun and the other players first leave the game, Seong Gi Hung goes to the police and reports the Squid Games however due to the fact that he is unable to produce any physical evidence or even describe the location of the games or the appearance of the staff the police do not believe him and dismiss him as basically being crazy. These games have been running for 30 years with at least 456 players participating each year it is hard to imagine that in 30 years with 456 people mysteriously vanishing that not one person had ever been reported missing, how would the police by this stage not have gotten on to this?

MY THEORY

The police have received many reports over the years and are well aware of the games, however they have all been paid very well to keep quiet and do nothing.

[solplparty]

[MV] 베리코이버니 (verycoybunny) - I don’t care / Official Music Video https://youtu.be/izAj_kE1nBw 베리코이버니 (verycoybunny) - I don’t care / Official Music Video Artist 베리코이버니 (verycoybunny) [Friends in the music video] verycoybunny (베리코이버니) Kim Hung Won (김형원) Kim Min Kyu (김민규) Kang One Woo (강원우) Gwon Se Young (권세영) Lee Seung Soo (이승수) Jang Ccoma (장꼬마) Ji Hyun Jeong (지현정) Choi Hyun Jong (최현종) Styling 베리코이버니 (verycoybunny) H&M Park Yu Yeon (박주연) Film Production ROUGHPAGE (러프페이지) Director Yang Ji Yeon, Kim Pyeong Jae (양지연, 김평재) DOP Jang Sung Gi (장승기) Camera Team Jeong Jeong Won (정정원) Art Director Lee Ye Seong (이예성) Producer Kim Yu Jin (김유진) DI Yang Ji Yeon, Kim Pyeong Jae (양지연, 김평재) Melon ▶ https://bit.ly/3xPzXQS Genie ▶ https://bit.ly/3Bld2zc Bugs ▶ https://bit.ly/3xQC6Me FLO ▶ https://bit.ly/3ewX9M0 VIBE ▶ https://bit.ly/36Lr3b6 Apple Music ▶ https://apple.co/3BbxxhD Spotify ▶ https://spoti.fi/3BlebXw YT Music ▶ https://bit.ly/3riM5Y4 | Artist Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/verycoybunny/ | POCLANOS Website : http://poclanos.com | POCLANOS Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/poclanos | POCLANOS Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/poclanos #베리코이버니 #verycoybunny #I_don’t_care POCLANOS

[squidgamesmut]

The Guardian Angel | 1 - Genesis

Seong Gi-hun X Female Reader

Chapter 1/14 : Genesis

Minors DNI Contains heavy spoilers The Guardian Angel navigation post

The click of your heels echoed through the halls, heralding your approach to your subordinates, who rushed to their stations to appear busy. A waft of expensive perfume hung around you like an aura of both luxury and impending doom, the golden bejeweled mask heavy on your face. Your appearance screamed wealth and power in all ways, and a few pink-clad guards bowed slightly at your fleeting presence.

“I trust that everything is in order?” you queried one of the square-masked men, who nodded in agreement.

“Yes, ma’am. Everything is in order. The preparations are going through splendidly.”

Your crimson lips quirked upwards in a smile. “I will let the Game Maker know. I am certain that he will be delighted to hear the news. Keep it up, gentlemen. We don’t take failure lightly.”

Despite you being unable to see his face, you could see the sudden tension in the guard’s shoulders, and he thickly swallowed. “Of course, ma’am. Consider it done, ma’am.”

With a soft hum, you turned on your heel to head back to the lounge upstairs, allowing the camera to scan your mask so that you would be granted access to the upper floors, solely meant for a handful of people.

A soft ding alongside the sound of the lift doors sliding open indicated your arrival, alerting him of your presence. You walked into the room, reaching for your face to take off your mask. You sighed upon removal, happy to feel some fresh air on your face. After all, the material was heavy and uncomfortable.

At the end of the hallway, an elderly man was sitting on a sofa, his owl mask resting on the side table. He stared at the screen to inspect the working guards, but looked over his shoulder upon noticing your proximity.

“My dear (Y/n).” spoke he, voice raspy and short of breath. You immediately wondered if he was in pain.

“Grandfather.” you spoke with a gentle bow, placing your mask next to his. He reached for your hand and squeezed it gently, causing you to smile.

“I trust you are bringing me good news?” he quizzed at your relaxed features, to which you nodded.

“Of course, grandfather. All is in order, and I trust that we will be able to start the games soon, just as planned.”

You released his bony hand and sat down in the chair opposite of him, adjusting your dress.

“That’s good to hear. That gives an old man some rest, hm?” he responded, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly with his smile. Still, there was discomfort behind his irises, a firm squeeze of his fingers on the armrests of the chair betraying something distressing.

“Grandfather,” you spoke softly, leaning towards him a little. “Have you taken your medication?”

The tumour in his head only grew each passing day, you knew, and it was only a matter of months before you would find him dead in his bed one morning. Your grandfather bit his bottom lip in thought, inhaling deeply through his nose.

“You know that taking too much medication can be harmful to your body, right?”

You leaned back in your chair and sighed. “Yes,” you responded, “But with all due respect, grandfather, in your case, it is like choosing between two evils. One that brings you agony, the other that brings you the illusion of relief.”

A dry chuckle left his throat as he peered at you with curious eyes, his mind obviously running wild with thoughts. You wondered what he was thinking about and stood up to head for the medicine cabinet, grabbing the bottle of pills that was prescribed to the ill man.

“Here you go,” you told your grandfather as you put the right amount of pills into his hand, “I will grab you some water.”

He gave you a thankful smile and you went to take a glass in order to fill it with water, but upon your return, you found that he already had taken his pills, the glass of whisky that had been standing next to him emptier than before.

You sighed and shook your head slightly, even at his attempt to calm you down by putting his hand on yours. “Calm down, my dear. It isn’t too bad.”

“You know what the doctor said,” you sighed, concern lacing your voice. “Not too much alcohol. Especially in combination with your medication. It messes with your head more than the tumour already is.”

Oh Il-nam let out a sound and shrugged, rubbing his chin in thought whilst you gave him the glass of water regardless. “Drink this then, at least.”

He took it reluctantly and drank half of it before placing it down next to the whisky, and you sank back down in the chair with your hands resting on your knees, thumbs fiddling in worry.

“You know that I am very proud of you, (Y/n),” said he, “And you’re a very quick learner. I’ve taught you everything I can about running the Squid Game, and I trust you with everything I’ve built up so far.”

Your vision momentarily blurred with tears and you shook your head. “Oh, grandfather… Don’t say such things right now, the Game is in a few weeks already, I am sure you’ll be here to see it!”

He smiled a little, a certain sparkle behind his eye that made you curious. “That is certain, my dear. Don’t you worry now, I just need to tell you something important.”

Your heart started to drum in your chest and you blinked at him in confusion. “Yes?” you queried, shifting towards him. The lift dinged behind you and you looked to the side to see the Front Man approach, taking off his mask in the process.

“Hey there, In-ho.” you greeted him softly, and he gave you a small nod.

“Greetings, Miss (L/n).”

You showed him a small smile, unable to give him more over the severity of your sudden nerves over what your grandfather was about to announce. “How often do I have to tell you that you can just call me (Y/n)? You’re the only person in this very facility besides my grandfather who knows my name and face. I think we can drop the formalities when it comes to names.”

In-ho hummed, a small smile tugging at his lip. “Of course, Miss… (Y/n). I just keep forgetting, that is.” He halted to stand near your grandfather, putting his hands on his back, patiently awaiting what was going to be asked of him. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

“Yes,” your grandfather began, “I am happy that you’re both here to hear it. (Y/n), this year, I want you to lead the Squid Game. You are able enough to overlook it, to host the guests properly, for you know the very ins and outs of how it works. Mr Hwang In-ho, you’re in charge of stepping in, should things go wrong, which I deem highly unlikely.”

You narrowed your eyes, sudden emotion screwing your throat shut. What was your grandfather talking about? Was he feeling his illness creep up on him faster than expected, and was this a means of saying goodbye before slipping into his endless slumber quietly?

“May I ask why?” you quizzed, swallowing away your upcoming tears. Even though it had been over a year since your grandfather had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, you weren’t quite ready to say goodbye to him yet, especially at the very start of the annual Squid Game.

He gave you a reassuring smile that was the most sincere one you had seen in months.

“Please, tell me you are alright, grandfather. You’re giving me quite the fright here.” you muttered, In-ho walking over to put a hand on your shoulder in order to comfort you. You gave him a watery smile and put your hand on his.

Oh Il-nam displayed a toothy grin, reaching over to put his hand on your knee.

“You know that I love you, my dear. You make an old man proud, and you’re all I’ve got left of our family. I will bequeath this all to you once I’m gone, but since I feel like this is my last year of being able to actively follow the Game, I want to do something that has been on my mind for quite a while. I want to have fun one more time, in the way I did when I was a child. Thus, I have decided that I’m going to join the Squid Game this year. After all, there is no way that watching it can be more exciting than actually participating.”

Your jaw fell slack and for a moment you were afraid that you were going to cry, but you blinked away your tears when you saw how determined Il-nam was to go through with this. Who were you to keep him from fulfilling his last wish? If anything, you should encourage it, no matter how fearful you were about it all.

“Of course, the Game is in a few weeks, but I did not want to quietly slip away without you knowing about my plan. It would be thoroughly unfair towards you if I would throw you into the deep end by doing something like that. Mr Hwang will help you out if needed, but I trust that you know what to do at all times.”

Your lips quivered as a grin broke out on your face, albeit at the verge of crying. “If that is your last wish, grandfather,” you said, “Then I will do everything it takes to make sure that everything will go in your favour.”

Oh Il-nam patted your hand with his, bringing it up to his lips to kiss the back of it. “My dear, you should know this very important thing: by all means, do not force the Game in such a way that I will come out as victorious. There is no fun in making your way to the top through cheating and further deceit. If I knew that I’d be winning from the very start, it would ultimately go against the very reason why I’ve decided to go there in the first place.”

You gave him a small nod, understanding his decision.

“Grandfather, I will do all it takes to fulfil your last wish,” you whispered, “But I can not promise that I will stand idly by whilst you’re sent to your death.”

“I do trust your judgement, (Y/n),” said he, squeezing your hand, “And whatever you decide during the game, goes. Do you understand?” He turned to the Front Man now, who gave a nod.

“Of course, sir. Miss (L/n)’s word is law during this year’s Game.”

“And the years after it.” your grandfather stated with a hint of humour. He sighed and looked at you with a gentle look on his face, tears welling up at the corners of his eyes.

You reached over to cup his soft cheek, rubbing at the wrinkles that were so precious to you.

“Well then,” your grandfather breathed after deeply inhaling, “Shall we continue with our preparations, then? The guards will not know of my participation. Only the pair of you know about this and so it shall remain. Now, (Y/n), I need you to send out our recruiters and have them get more Players on board.”

You took your mask, fingering at a few of the jewels that were embedded into the gold before slipping it over your face. Adjusting your dress, you intertwined your fingers in front of you, straightening your back, shifting into your strict and professional persona.

“Yes, grandfather. Consider it done.”

~*~*~

“Gentlemen,” Your voice rang loud and clear through the room, and you gave a soft smile. A few men in crisp suits redirected their focus from their impeccable briefcases to your form at the head of the table, paying attention to everything you would be saying.

“We have gathered the names and locations of the people who we consider eligible to participate in this year’s Squid Game. They are divided into different areas all throughout Seoul. Each and every one of you shall receive a few dozens of people to recruit for this opportunity. But what if they refuse to participate?”

You gestured towards one of the recruiters, who cleared his throat before responding. “We tell them we know about their debt, ma’am.”

“Good start, but there is something you should not forget to mention.”

Another salesman raised his hand and you nodded at him. “We should also clarify that we aren’t debt collectors, but that we offer them a possibility of gaining money to pay off their debts.”

You clapped your hands together with a smile. “Excellent, mister. Also, if they keep refusing to participate, you can go onto the next person on the list. It is wholly voluntary, and the list contains more people than necessary since we’re keeping in mind that not everyone will get in touch. Also, there will be more people added as you go, for the list is incomplete and we can not let this go through if there are too few participants. Is that clear to all of you?”

All the men in the room nodded in acknowledgement, “Yes ma’am,” a few said out loud.

You gestured towards their briefcases and they opened them, aware of what you wanted. They rose from their chairs and stepped away whilst you took a small chest with money, slipping it into the assigned slots in the containers, checking if every briefcase was provided with a pair of ddakji tiles, one red and one blue. You finished distributing the money and put down the small chest on the table, beckoning for the men to grab their cases.

“Please check if there is enough won in them. You know the rules, and if you play by them, you will be richly rewarded for your work. Failure to keep the principle of correct behaviour, like embezzlement, bribery and alerting of the law, will result in severe consequences for you and your families. Don’t give me those worried faces, gentlemen. You voluntarily signed the contracts yourselves.”

You smiled and folded your hands on your back. “Now, if there are no more questions, I will hand out the lists and send you on your way. Keep an eye on your devices for we will be sending new files per e-mail soon.”

The room was silent, and you took it as your sign to begin dividing the papers. In no time, the men were on their way to enrol new Players. The Front Man approached you and cleared his throat, successfully grabbing your attention.

“Ma’am, the Game Maker has requested your presence. There have been some new documents that he wants to go over.”

In-ho was as formal as ever, for the current situation called for nothing but distance, no matter how deep your friendship had started to run. After his victory and promotion to become Front Man of the Game, you went along quite well. In this situation, where the walls had ears, you had to remain careful and pretend to be indifferent.

“Of course, Front Man.” you stated, “I’ll head there at once.”

You returned to your grandfather’s retreat, sighing upon taking off the golden mask and heading to sit with him at a large table, several files already spread out, telling of people that the company had set their sights on. Dozens of documents informed about heavily indebted people, how they lost their money and how much they owed. Every single participant had to be handpicked by Oh Il-nam and you, so you had plenty to do in order to reach the deadline. You sat down opposite of your grandfather, watching him fiddle with some papers for a while.

“Here, have a look at these people.” He slid a stack of files your way and you took them, starting to flip through the pages to read into them.

“Han Mi-nyeo. Fraud. Five accounts? Hm. Not too good at hiding said fraud, I reckon.” You put her name on the side of possible participants, and went through a few more files, most of them ending up on the rejection pile.

“So, my dear, can you tell me one more time what you have to look at when selecting potential Players?” You put the documents of a married couple on top of the suitable papers and looked at your grandfather.

“Not only do I look at their debt, I also look at their age… Their backstory and how they got into trouble. Once I think they are deserving, they will be able to join in.”

Oh Il-nam hummed in amusement. “What made you decide to put a fraudulent woman on the team of Players?” You pushed aside some documents so you could look upon Han Mi-nyeo’s file again, biting your lip.

“If you’re caught for fraud on several occasions and still decide to try it once again, you’re truly desperate for money. Someone who just wants it for personal gain and nothing else would not go that far.”

Your grandfather peered at you through narrowed eyes. “Greed is an unfathomable thing, (Y/n). People will risk it all to get what we have. And where do we stand? We have what they desire, and where has it brought us?”

You were silent, knowing that he did not expect an answer. Instead, you put the file back where you had originally placed it and continued sifting through the rest of the documents.

“Cho Sang-woo,” you said, “You’ve got quite the debt, don’t you? Using money from others and… Oh my, your mother’s belongings as collateral? Naughty boy. Should’ve known better, especially since you studied. But then, I’m not a monster and should let you through for the sake of your poor, poor mother.”

Il-nam let out a light laugh and you locked eyes with him, smiling. “Despite not having one anymore, you still desire to protect the mother of a complete stranger.”

You sighed, letting your gaze fall to the table.

“You look like her,” your grandfather said, grief flickering in his eyes. “I miss my daughter every day.”

“I miss her, too.” you whispered, “But she would never have allowed all this. I take at least a bit of comfort in that, if I may be frank.”

Il-nam gave you a small nod. “Yes, that’s right. But who else do we have left? Your uncle went to America. Your father is long gone and your siblings want nothing to do with me. I’m blessed to have you still, my dear.”

“Of course, grandfather. It would break my heart to see you completely alone.”

He took a deep breath, as if relieved, and turned back to sorting out files.

“Here, how about this one?” your grandfather said, showing you a file, “Kang Sae-byeok. Fled from North-Korea, indebted to several companies that are said to help out immigrants with finding their families and-- Hey!”

You took the file from your grandfather’s hand and immediately put it on the pile of eligible Players. “Those companies are often fraudulent, grandfather. She deserves the chance for that reason already. I don’t need to know more about her.”

A few pages passed, the pile of rejection way larger than the documents you deemed fitting for the Squid Game. In a few hours time, you had gone through all of them, carefully selecting the people who were worthy to take part.

Right after tidying the two stacks of paper, you rubbed your tired eyes.

“Final one of the year, my dear.” your grandfather announced, “Let’s look at it together.”

You shifted closer to him by leaning over the table, reading what the file said.

“Seong Gi-hun from Ssangmun-dong. Divorced, gambling addiction, massive debt.” Il-nam read out loud, and you scanned the page for details. Your eyes went to the photograph of a middle-aged man with messy black hair under a worn-down baseball cap, stubble upon his cheeks. You wondered how old the picture was and noticed how ruggedly handsome he seemed.

“Let’s give him a chance. After all, I’ve not picked that many potential Players today, so why not?”

Oh Il-nam leaned back in his chair and nodded at you, smiling a bit. “You’ve got a keen eye, (Y/n). I like that about selecting Players together. Two pairs of eyes can see more than one.”

A bittersweet feeling overcame you and you grabbed his hand over the table, once again feeling emotions grip at your throat. “Grandfather, I can’t believe that this was our final time selecting the Players together.”

He laughed lightly and patted the back of your hand. “I keep saying it, but I am so proud of you. You’ve come so far and have garnered quite the name for yourself around here. You could not have made me happier.”

You deeply inhaled through your nose and blinked away your tears. “Thank you, grandfather. I will call over In-ho to come get the files, so that they can be distributed accordingly.”

Your grandfather nodded and stood up to make himself comfortable on the couch whilst you tidied up the place. The remainder of the files were given to the Front Man and you were left with a painful feeling in your chest as you were left to the silence, staring at your grandfather pouring himself another glass of whisky.

“I am going to get some rest,” you announced, to which your grandfather looked over his shoulder and nodded.

“Sure thing, my dear. You’ve been working hard and you deserve some relaxation.”

You went to your private room and kicked off your heels, unzipping your dress before slipping into something more comfortable. You sat down at your desk, reaching for the drawer whilst letting your hair down, dragging your hands through it, sighing at the relief.

Lifting the bottom of the middle drawer, you took a small key that was hidden in the corner. Soon standing, you pushed aside your bedside table to reach for your safe, punching in the code in combination with turning the key. Revealed was a small leather booklet, and you took it, bringing it back to your desk where you could write in the usually safeguarded notebook.

Taking your pen, you began to take notes of what you had been doing today, and pondered about all the things that had been going on. You jotted down something about your grandfather joining the game, how you had sent out the salesmen, and you mentioned the Players that had stood out from the others. For a moment, your thoughts lingered on the last one - Seong Gi-hun, you believed his name was, and then decided his name was probably not worth mentioning.

Signing the page with your initials and the date, you went to tuck it away into the safe again, exhaustion creeping up on you.

With heavy eyes, you put away the key, closed the drawer and laid down on the soft duvet of the king-sized bed, comforted by the feel of the familiar soft pillows. All the fear and confusion that you had been hit with throughout the day suddenly washed over you like a wave, tears streaming down your face with no way of stopping them.

Quietly sobbing, you pressed your face into a pillow, your shoulders shaking as if it was a prelude of the grief that you knew to catch up to you in a matter of weeks.

~

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