#kang ha neul x you

[hearts4johnwick]

SUMMARY. 𝜗𝜚 your husband has been missing for almost two months now, yearning for him is making you relive some of your best memories.

CW. 𝜗𝜚 mentions of od’ing, fluff & angst (whose page are you in??? ofc it’s angst 👅) bold = flashbacks

A/N. 𝜗𝜚 umm i know absolutely nothing!!!about south korea or their schools, so this is purely based off of american schools bc my latina ass is not cultured on this, if yall wanna correct me or help me in some stuff, pls do! just know i’m writing this for fun tho <3

the voice of your teacher announcing a new student catches your attention, a boy with slightly longer hair stands beside her, holding onto his backpack. “this is kang dae-ho, he is transferring from seoul, and as your new classmate, you shall treat him with respect.” your eyes analyze dae-ho, he’s cute, you think. you glance over to your friend and she raises her eyebrow in a flirty manner, you smile.

“find a seat, dear.” there were plenty of seats available, but the seat beside you was the one he was eyeing the most, and you did not mind at all if he sat next to you.

the two of you make eye contact and you watch his eyebrows raise slightly, he quickly makes his way to the seat beside you. you give him a soft smile and he returns it, a soft hint of redness grows on his face.

“of course.” your friend playfully rolls her eyes and you chuckle before the teacher begins the class.

once the class finished, you head to your lockers to put away your books, in the distance you see dae-ho and your friend speaks. “you should go and talk to him, maybe we can go to the bakery after school.” you look at her and nod.

“that’s a good idea.” you walk away from your locker, your hand holding your other over your legs as you make your way toward him. dae-ho turns and his heart begins to race as if your beauty leaves him speechless, or you coming up to him caught him off guard. “dae-ho, was it?” he nods. “nice to meet you, I’m y/n.”

he smiles widely. “cute name for a cute girl.” you smile, his confidence taking you aback for a slight moment.

“thank you.” you feel your face heat up, but you brush it off. “my friend and i were wondering if you’d like to join us at the bakery right across the street after school? we usually go there for some lunch, since the lunch here is not too good.” you make a disgusted noise and scrunch your nose, he laughs and you smile.

“I’d like that,” he says and you smile.

“great. see you there. what’s your next class?” you ask him, and he tells you that it’s math, you exclaim when you look at his schedule and realize you have every single class together.

after classes finish, the three of you do as you agreed and head to the bakery. you get to know a lot about dae-ho, and you find out you have much more in common than you ever thought. he’s energetic and kind, and you admire that.

“so, do you have any plans after graduation?” you ask him, breaking the silence your friend left you both in after her mother came to pick her up.

he hums, taking his time thinking what to say. “joining the marines is a good idea.” you raise an eyebrow. “but, apart from that—i’d love to marry a pretty girl, maybe start a family with her, maybe move back to the city, or move to costa rica, i’ve seen pictures and i think it’s the most beautiful place i’ve ever seen.” you can’t help but smile at his plans, they’re quite nice. “and you?” he asks you your question.

“i want to become a veterinarian. i love animals so much, i’ve rescued some! dogs and cats!”

“what do you do after? do you keep them?” he questions.

“oh no no! i’m allergic to cats, i just send them to a shelter or put them up for adoption. when animals stay in shelters too long they sometimes kill them, and i hate that. i wish i could keep every animal i rescue, but ive only kept two dogs, two german shepherds.”

dae-ho laughs. “remind me not to mess with you, then.” you laugh at his joke.

“yeah, don’t.” you suck on your bottom lip and look at him. “but, apart from becoming a veterinarian, I’d also like to marry a handsome guy, and maybe start a family, although, I’m alright with dogs—how many kids do you want?”

“i want 4.” your breath hitches, and you grimace, you’re acting as if you’re gonna be the mother, but, you couldn’t help it.

“your poor wife.” you place your lips into a thin line. you two share a short laugh and continue to get to know each other.

you and dae-ho grew fond of each other in only 3 months, he was even walking you to your house, no matter the fact that his house was nearly 20 minutes from yours.

one night, you and dae-ho stand in your front steps, before you say goodbye, he grabs your hand and caresses it softly. “y/n.” he begins, he has all of your attention. “why don’t we… take a break from the bakery and go to an actual restaurant…maybe tomorrow?” he pauses between his words, thinking thoroughly about what he’s saying. when he sees your expression soften, he knows it’s going great.

“i’d love to.” you smile widely and place a hand on his cheek gently. the two of you share a sweet moment, he said he’ll text you the details, and you dismiss him with a kiss on the cheek and the blood rushing to his cheek makes your heart flutter.

one date led to another, and then another, after that, another one, until it became a weekly thing. when the two of you graduated, he quickly went off to the marines, and you were proud of him for that, he could do what he wished for, but you were terrified at the same time, terrified that one day he might not come home, and the thought of that destroyed you.

him coming back home permanently meant everything to you, you thought that maybe you could start a family now, you were at a fine age, you were married and financially stable, your job was paying you very well, and so was, dae-ho’s, but now that he’s back—forever now, that might change—and, it did.

you turn sideways on your bed, your hand brushes the cold spot next to you, it’s empty, you don’t like that feeling at all, it makes you feel empty. you remember the moments when dae-ho kept you warm, the times after intimate moments when you would just lay in his chest, staring into his eyes, or simply when you would fall asleep in each other’s arms.

you check the time, and it’s 2:34 am, you sigh and stare at your ceiling, and you start to feel tears pooling in your eyes. you stand from your bed and head over to the closet. there, you take one of dae-ho’s jackets and hug it, as if he was wearing it as if you were hugging him. his scent made your heart ache, this was the closest you’d been to him in almost two months.

you sob your heart out as you slide down the wall, softly murmuring his name like a prayer, hoping he’ll hear you.

your finger softly curls dae-ho’s hair, and the two of you admire each other in the spotlight, his hand on your hip and yours on his shoulder, sharing the prom king and queen dance.

“prom king, huh?” you raise an eyebrow.

“no thanks to you, prom queen.” he chuckles and you roll your eyes.

“what’s a king without his queen?” dae-ho raises his eyebrows and nods. “this is so embarrassing, i hope they’re not looking—or looking at you.” you chuckle.

“no, trust me. they’re looking at you.” your eyes light up, and your face gets hot, but you don’t know if it’s because of embarrassment or his compliment. “you look unbelievable tonight, y/n. i can’t imagine you on our wedding day.” he says, your mouth opens and your heart flutters, god, you cannot wait to marry him, he’s all you’ve ever wished for, you don’t care that he’s your first love, you think he’s the love of your life—you know he is, and that’s what matters, not what people think.

“i love you.” your confession catches him off guard, he’s said it before, but you never said it back, only ‘me too’ but the words ‘I love you’ have never come out of your mouth, and even though you’ve been wanting to say it ever since the moment you laid eyes on him, something has been stopping you, but you knew it was about time.

“i love you more,” he says back, and you smile widely. you embrace each other, but continue your dance until it concludes.

shortly after graduation, the two of you decided that after dae-ho serves his time in the marines, you’d get married—and so you did. your wedding was beautiful, it was intimate, with only two or three family members from dae-ho’s side, for obvious reasons, and almost your whole family tree.

your family loved dae-ho as if he was their own, and that made you feel very grateful, dae-ho had a rough childhood, and seeing him get the love he never had growing up was better than anything you could ever ask for.

the day of your marriage was truly the happiest day you’ve ever been, and let’s not even talk about the night. from then on, you appreciated every single moment with dae-ho, you always have, but you’re treasuring them even more now. the two of you began to travel, you started with costa rica, of course, and so on—you went to some places such as japan, tennessee, bali, dominican republic, and all of europe, you’d hope that between this year and next, you can finish traveling the caribbean because dae-ho loves the caribbean and the beaches.

you had planned for the bahamas on your next trip, but this is around the time when your husband was struggling, and when he turned up missing.

dae-ho has been missing for almost two months, he just vanished into thin air, he didn’t leave you a note, or a text message, he just… left. and you missed him dearly, you thought these months as an eternity, and you couldn’t take it anymore.

the orange bottle of full pills was tempting you—you wanted to end this pain, you wanted to end it now. he could end it, if he would just show up on the doorstep, just him, you don’t even want flowers or a gift, you just need him, or the other reason to end it is to just not keep living.

why would you need to keep living? the reason you are hasn’t been here with you these days—you have no reason to keep living, so why not just finish it?

your brother found you, he took you in his arms, sobbing and calling out your name. the bright hospital light was bothering you, your vision was blurry and your heartbeat was steady, slower than usual, but it was still beating, and that was the important thing.

the cold, dry air of the hospital made you feel sicker as if you were actually dead. you had your eyes closed when you felt a familiar, warm touch in your hand. you try your best to open your eyes, but your vision is still blurry.

“dae-ho?” you croak, a drop of wetness rolling down your cheek in pain. you hear no answer, so you don’t know if you’re hallucinating, or dreaming, but you cry.

you had thought that maybe—maybe he’d been back, oh, god you wish he’d been back, just so that you could spend the time you have left with him—but one thing is for sure, and it’s that you’ll soon be seeing him, whether that would be in the flesh, or the after life, is still to be decided.

❛ i wish i could live without you

but you’re a part of me. ❜

[voguelfoyy]

I NEED MORE HUSBAND!KANG DAE-HO FICS LIKE I NEED AIR FOR MY LUNGS

the one thing that i always headcannon kang dae-ho to be is that he is sooo husband material. he is such a perfect husband for you (that's what at least he's trying to be, he wants only the best just for you and his future child *wink wink*)

he is the kind of person to always look out for you, always be there when you needed him, loves the idea to spend the rest of his life to be with you. growing with four sisters makes him easier to do all the house chores and also understands you more. for example, when you had your period, he knows EXACTLY the pads you use and what size, knows all the cravings that you usually get, and would always comfort you by hugging you when you had your period cramps because he is that warm (he's a big spoon)

(not to mention that he is sooo girl dad code)

UUGHHH I LOVE THIS MAN SO MUCH, we need to protect him at all cost!

[justauthoring]

Sleepless Nights Aided by You.

Summary: It's hard to sleep when surrounded by the threat of death. But Dae-ho makes it bearable, even if only a little.

Pairing: Kang Dae-ho x F!Reader

Word Count: 1,529

A/N: LOL, hey guys, I did not think I'd be posting this but I've been obsessed with Squid Game and specifically Dae-ho. I thought I'd break my own writing haitus to give you guys this little fluff piece. I'll post a little update about the status of my Tumblr soon, but for now, enjoy this :P

(Also, to everyone who sent me a message after my update post, thank you <3 Know that I did see them and read them and I appreciate all of you!)

It's been nights of this and the sleeping never gets easier.

You'd have thought that despite everything, the exhaustion would override the racing thoughts. Surely, forced to participate in gruelling and sometimes physically challenging games with the constant threat of death weighing over you and being underfed that the sleep would come naturally.

But you've always been a lousy sleeper; before all this, before the games, you'd spend nights staring up at the ceiling of your worn down, small apartment stuck in your thoughts. Even as a little girl with the carelessness and naivety that came with being young, sleep wasn't something that came easy to you.

So, really, you shouldn't be surprised that in that suffocating and prison-like room, you wouldn't be able to sleep now either. It was beyond just the games itself - with each passing day, it became abundantly clear that there were more people you couldn't trust than those you could.

The blue 'X' patch on your sweater was enough of a reason to make you a target to some. Being a woman was another. The large piggy bank that carried the sum of those already dead was of course probably the biggest reason. Among the many other things you'd come to learn about the people you'd been trapped with.

You were lucky enough to have found yourself a group of people that took you in and it wasn't that you necessarily didn't trust him. Befriending a previous winner of the games had been something you'd been unsure of before, but Gi-hun had really only shown the best intentions of trying to help as many people survive as he could.

It wasn't just him. Seeing a group of men so willingly take in a pregnant woman and doing the utmost to protect her had been enough of a reason for you to trust them.

Everything else that had ocurred was beyond what you could've imagined in a place like this. In the midst of the games and the constant disappointment of voting, they'd made you realize that there was still reason to fight and most importantly, smile when you could.

(And most of all, a certain someone had made all of this just that bit more bearable.)

You did trust them. Gi-hun's plan to set up a barrier around where you all slept was smart and having people take turns watching had proven to only be further effective.

It still didn't mean that it made it any easier to sleep.

Letting out a huff, you rub at your eyes, frustrated with your inability to even sleep for a little bit. You were getting to your wits-end with exhaustion and it was certainly going to start impacting how you performed in the games. Being sloppy and tired wouldn't just mean losing, it would mean death.

You roll over to your side, facing towards your group and the direction that allowed you to see who was keeping watch currently.

When you saw the familiar numbers of '388', your decision was made.

Figuring that tossing and turning in bed wasn't doing you any good regardless, you crawled out of bed. Careful of Jun-hee who was beside you and tip-toeing your way around Young-il, you step in behind Dae-ho. Alert as he is, he jumps faintly at the sound of you, easing the second he realizes it's just you.

His lips curve into a soft smile but the confusion is plain in his eyes as you take a seat next to him.

"Are you okay?" He asks, voice soft so as not to wake up the others.

You nod with a tired smile. "Yes," you assure with a light bow. "I couldn't sleep. I saw it was you keeping watch so I thought I'd come and keep you company."

Dae-ho's face falls with understanding. "Oh," he mumbles, "I heard you tossing and turning."

Flushing faintly, you bite your lip. You hadn't realized you'd been so obvious in your struggle. "I'm sorry if it was distracting... Hopefully I didn't wake anyone up." You glance back the sleeping bodies of your friends, frowning.

"No, no," Dae-ho shakes his head, waving his hands at you. "I was more worried. It doesn't seem like you've been sleeping well since we got here."

Blinking, you turn to him. You didn't realize he'd been paying attention enough to notice. But really, you shouldn't be surprised - over the course of the games, Dae-ho had proven time and time again that he was at the very least paying attention. From reassuring you with jokes and smiles to encouraging you during the games, it was clear Dae-ho cared enough to pay attention.

"A little," you admit with a small shrug. "I know I should sleep but I can't get rid of this... nervous feeling. It's something about this place. I never feel safe."

Shoulders falling, you glance down at your lap, fiddling with your fingers. It was impossible to deny how terrified you were. It wasn't hard to see everyone was terrified, but you couldn't shake the constant nagging weight on your shoulders that every breath might be your last.

It was driving you crazy.

A hand falls on your shoulder, soft and gentle, and you turn to Dae-ho in surprise.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

It's such a simple thing, really. The words themselves hold little weight, but the way Dae-ho looks at you tells you he really means it. There's a determined glint to his eyes and though his face remains warm, the usual goofy smile he keeps on for the sake of trying to stay positive is replaced with certainty.

In a place like this, you didn't make a promise like that without meaning it.

Not to mention, over the few short days you've gotten to know Dae-ho, you know he isn't the type of person to lie about something like this. The concern on his face is genuine and it warms your heart in a way you thought impossible in a place like this.

The you who had thought it foolish to trust people at the beginning was long gone and you could no longer ignore the way something like that coming from Dae-ho made you feel.

"Thank you," you whisper, biting your lip as you look up at him. As he lets his face ease into a warm smile, you shake your head. "I have no idea how you do it, Dae-ho."

Raising a brow, he pauses; "hm?"

"Stay so positive," you explain. "I feel like I'm falling apart at the seams but you still seem so strong. I know you're scared, how could you not be... But you don't let it bring you down."

This time it's his turn to be shocked. Lips parting, he meets your eyes. "I am scared," he admits, nodding. "But I want to be strong... for-for everyone. For... you."

You're struck once again by his words, finding his words endearing and heart-warming all the same. You trusted all your friends, but it was foolish to say that Dae-ho wasn't the one you'd felt most safe around. From the first moment you'd met him, he'd made sure to help you survive. From simple encouragement to physically making sure no one bothered you.

It's why you chose to sit with him when you saw he was keeping watch. You find yourself naturally gravitating towards his presence and warmth and maybe it's selfish, but he doesn't seem to mind you relying on him all that much.

Swallowing thickly, you shift closer to him, moving so you're pressed against his side. His face shifts at the action, surprised, cheeks warming lightly as he moves to make space for you. The arm that had been pressed against his side moves to rest behind you, tucking you into his side.

"I do feel safe with you," you assure, nodding at him. "You make it easier to be here, even if only a little. When I'm with you... I feel like I can breathe."

A moment of silence passes, the two of you enamoured with one another before Dae-ho speaks up. "You... You can sleep here; if-if you want. I have watch until morning, I won't go anywhere."

Meeting his eyes, you notice then the way your eyelids have grown heavy. You'd been exhuasted before but in that moment it does feel as if you'd actually be able to close your eyes and fall asleep.

The nagging feeling eating away at your chest with the overwhelming threat of death wasn't gone, but it had... subdued since sitting with Dae-ho.

"You don't mind?" You ask him.

He shakes his head. "Of course not."

"Okay," you agree, turning so you're facing forward. With only the briefest moment of hesitancy, you let your head fall against his shoulder, leaning into him and letting some of your weight fall onto him. Dae-ho's arm moves to wrap around your waist instead of resting behind you, helping keeping you supported.

"Wake me if you get uncomfortable," you whisper, already feeling the sleep set in.

Dae-ho nods, but you both know he'd never do that. Not if it meant you could get some rest and stay by his side.

[atomicfoxx]

👹 shouldn’t have messed with my gang 👹

[meadowfics]

my pain, your gain

kang dae-ho x f!reader

your missing boyfriend reappears after ten days, suddenly becoming a millionaire

you went to work, a busy cafe, just like any other normal day

the 14:00-22:00 shifts are the ones you hate the most. the type of shift where you feel like there is no business, validating your reasoning as to why you shouldn't be here.

however, when you remember the amount of expenses you have to pay for. rent, groceries, cleaniness, hygiene, etc... you suddenly have a good work ethic.

before you left for your shift, you kissed your boyfriend dae-ho goodbye.

it was normal for you, except you did not notice the tense pulling on his eyebrow and his clenched jaw. you did not notice the debate shown on his face.

when you got home, around midnight due to public transport chaos, throwing your cafe apron by the washer for later.. you called out for dae ho.

the apartment was quiet.. too quiet. as if you lived alone.

"baby?"

"dae?"

"honey, are you home?"

when you checked your bedroom to see that he was gone, you assumed that he visited one of his sisters outside of the city while you worked. fine, at least he could have told you.

the sleep you had was normal, yet cold, due to the absence of dae-ho.

you woke up, feeling at ease until you reach over, your hand hitting the cold soft sheets instead of the body of your lover.

hours turn into a day, and you're broken.

you can’t stop replaying your last conversation with dae ho before you left for work, over and over, trying to find clues about why he left.

the tired body of yours can barely function at work, forgetting orders, zoning out, and apologizing when your boss points it out. your coworkers look worried, but you wave it off, saying you’re just stressed.

sleep is a distant memory. you lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, imagining him walking back through the door like nothing happened.

each day goes by, and when you’re home, you sit on the couch or the floor, staring at the tv, not even watching what’s on.

your mind is stuck on dae-ho..where he is, if he’s okay, or if he really just left you behind.

some nights, you stand by the window, hoping to see him walking back into your life. you tell yourself it’s pointless, but you can’t help it.

you try calling his friends, even people you barely know, asking if anyone has seen him. no one has any answers, and a few of them suggest maybe he left you on purpose. it breaks something in you every time you hear it.

not your dae-ho, he would have told you if there was a problem in your relationship.

sometimes you sit in his favorite chair, holding onto one of his hoodies, and crying silently.

its day 10.. when you get home from your late shift two weeks later, it’s the same routine.

you drop onto the floor in your apron, zoning out in front of the glowing tv.

just an hour after your deadly routine, you hear the sound of your door clicking.

your heart stops, and for a moment, your eyes snap towards the door, you think you’re imagining it.

then you see him... your dae ho.

he looks older, more worn, like the world has weighed him down in the ten days he’s been gone.

your stomach twists when he steps closer, his eyes meeting yours, and you instinctively back away.

“you’re alive?”

you watch as he flinches, his hand pausing mid-reach.

“i can explain,”

he says, his voice desperate, and you motion for him to go on.

dae ho pulls a thick wad of cash from his jogger pocket, placing it in your hands. you feel the weight of it, flipping through the stack with trembling fingers.

“how much is this? where did you get it?” your voice cracks, and your chest tightens as he hesitates.

“it’s 25 million won,” he says, and you gasp, the money slipping from your hands onto the floor.

“where did you get this kind of money? is this… blood money?”

he pauses, his expression guilty but honest.

“kind of,” he admits.

"I earned it though from playing games.. I did not hurt anyone I swear!"

“games? what do you mean?”

deep down, you know dae ho never lies. why would he start now?

he promises to explain everything, but he says, “not tonight. i’ll tell you everything, i swear. but tomorrow, when the sun comes up, i’ll pay off my debt. i’ll pay off yours. we’ll leave this place, and i’ll give you the life you deserve..."

he takes you to the atm up the street. when the screen shows 15,199,998,733 won, your knees almost give out.

he holds onto your arm, steadying you as your heart pounds.

“it’s real,” he says softly. “and it’s ours.”

"me along with four other people won the game. their names are gi hun, hyun ju, myung-gi, and jun-hee. I'll introduce you to them next week. gi hun says if we ever need anything then we can call him at anytime.

you trust him because you always have, that does not stop the unease that settles in your stomach.

you ask him again about the games.

again, “not tonight.”

as you both walk back to the apartment, the weight of the money in your life is overwhelming. you hold onto him tightly, glad he’s back, but the mystery of what he went through lingers.

even as you fall asleep beside him that night, you can’t stop thinking about the games he mentioned. they’ll haunt you, just like the ten days he was gone.

I hope you liked :)

[dae-ho-talkz]

dae-ho, Ino and Daisuke all have the same character dynamic.

young men who look up to and admire a older men and have a older brother-younger brother/ father-son relationship with said older men.

wishes to impress the older man, solely wishes his approval.

[voxslays]

RED LIGHTS - PLAYER 230

TLDR >>> Thanos, being the person he is pushes people during red light, green light—killing them. He decides to chase after you, likely trying to the same, until you trip…does he catch you? Does he watch you die? WARNINGS >>> Death/Murder (it is squid games after all.)

Red. Green. Red. Green. Red. You heard the doll call out the ‘red light’ and ‘green light’ commands as you skillfully and quickly run towards the red line, trying your absolute best to avoid tripping and falling. Next to you stood a tall man with purple hair and many silver rings adorned on his tattooed hands—Player 230, as his track suit said.

You catch his gaze for a moment, before he sticks his hand out to the person in front of you, pushing them over right before the light turned red. They were shot no less than five seconds later, spraying their red hot blood all over you. “What the hell!?” You shout at him as the light turns green.

He grins mischievously, his purple hair falling in his eyes as he purposefully trips the person in front of him, causing them to be eliminated. He then looks back at you, his silver rings glinting menacingly in the harsh game lights.

You move the side as much as you can, trying to form a gap between you and Player 230 so you don’t end up like the dozens of lifeless corpses lying on the ground—but it doesn’t help. The purple-haired man just keeps following you.

He continues to mimic your movements, staying right on your heels as you try to distance yourself from him. His eyes never leave your form, a strange fascinated glint in their depths. As the light turns red once more, he leans in close, his breath ghosting over your ear. You visibly tense at the feeling, forcing yourself not to flinch away.

He chuckles lowly as he notices your unease, finding your reaction amusing. Keeping his tone teasing yet oddly threatening, he murmurs, "What's wrong, Senorita? Nervous?" He stick his tongue out playfully. “Leave me alone.” You run as fast as you possibly can as soon as the red light turns green. Still, it looks like there will be one more light before you can reach the finish line. You unknowingly step on a small pebble, causing you to trip—right as the giant doll calls ‘red light’.

As you trip, the world seems to slow down. Thanos sees his chance and takes it, lunging forward to grab you by the collar and pull you back, ensuring you don't cross the red line. “It would be a shame to see a pretty face like yours not make it to the next round.” Player 230 says as he holds you by your track suit collar. When the light turns green, he pulls you to your feet and lets go.

Once the two of you cross the red line and make it to the opposite side of the doll, Player 230 walks over to you. “I’m Thanos, what’s your name, Senorita?” This might just be the start of an unlikely friendship and alliance.

[takuma-talkz]

Hiiii!!! I'd like to hear you out on this question,,

Do you think Daisuke, Ino and Dae-ho prefer to date an older or younger person?

THATS A GOOD QUESTION!!

personally, Dae-ho prefers slightly younger or the same age

but daisuke and Ino prefer same age or older <3

JUST PREFERENCES YALL!!

[influencermagazineuk]

The second season of Squid Game has made its much-anticipated debut, but early reactions from viewers on X suggest a mixed reception. While the first season set a high bar as Netflix’s most-watched series in 2021, the sequel seems to have fallen short of expectations for many. Plot and Characters Hwang Dong-hyuk returns as the director and writer, bringing back Lee Jung-Jae as Seong Gi-hun, who re-enters the deadly games to dismantle the shadowy organization behind them. Familiar faces like Hwang Jun-Ho, Lee Byung-hun (The Front Man), and Gong Yoo (The Recruiter) reprise their roles, while new cast members Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, and Park Sung-hoon bring fresh dynamics to the series. Viewer Reactions Fans who have binged all seven episodes shared their thoughts online, and the reactions are divided. A vocal portion of viewers expressed dissatisfaction with the season’s emphasis on drama over the high-stakes games that defined the original. One X user lamented, "We waited 3 years to get an interesting game... Too much story and drama. Greetings, Season 2, you wasted your budget on promotion, not production." Another user remarked, "Well #SquidGame2 felt like a good plate of leftovers but nothing special." Others were more forgiving, appreciating the series' attempt to deepen its narrative. Positive feedback highlighted the evolving plot and character development. A viewer noted, "Even though it’s a step back, there’s new players and interesting circumstances... Still enjoyed it." Another added, "Squid Game Season 2 is a bloodier, more expansive, and engaging sequel that captivates with its storytelling and performances." What Works and What Doesn’t While some praised the show's effort to expand its universe and explore the stories behind the contestants, the lack of intense and innovative games was a common criticism. Pacing issues and distractions from the main premise seemed to dampen the excitement for many fans who were hoping for more of the adrenaline-pumping tension from the first season. Looking Ahead Season 2 concludes on a cliffhanger, leaving fans speculating about the third and final season, expected in 2025. Whether the makers will refine the balance between narrative depth and the gripping action that defined the series remains to be seen. Final Verdict For fans of the original, Season 2 is a mixed bag. It’s ambitious and offers more layers to the story but struggles to recapture the sheer thrill and innovation of its predecessor. Whether it lives up to its legacy or not, it still holds its ground as a unique addition to Netflix's lineup. Read the full article

[dangermousie]

Fair warning, as you may have figured out, this is about to become a Turkish show heavy zone. I have half a dozen on my list, including a bunch of airing ones.

I go through periods where I watch none and where I binge and here we are on the latter. The cycle of (show watching) life.

Chinese dramas have seemingly decided to permanently join the modern world and I don’t do modern cdramas, Japan has Silent which is nice but since when has 45min a week been able to tide me over? Korea has mainly being doing romcoms, serial killers, lawyers and doctors and I’d rather read a treatise on metallurgy than watch any of that. I like Under the Queen Umbrella but it’s not a type of drama for me to obsess over (plus I might be pausing it because I like my misery more gonzo and less raw.) Maybe Ha Ji Won X Kang Ha Neul “My Girl but let’s make it serious” drama will win me over but I know so little about it.

Anyway, in Turkish shows the actors are gorgeous and plots deliciously melo so what more does one need in life?

[noona-clock]

Hey B! I'm new here so I don't know what the rules are and the ones I see won't open so here's my request: KANG HA NEUL X READER where they went into labor prematurely and lost twins.. But they to make it throught the grief without being ungrateful for their 2 year old that's their sole source of comfort.. Idk if you feel like it I'd be happy!

hi anon! i am no longer taking requests, i'm sorry! and i will see if there's any of my links i need to fix 💜 thank you for the message!

[igotanna]

𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐠

Thank you sweetheart @purplepsycho03 for tagging me - sorry to say but I don't have 10 biases but I'm going to work with who I have😂

Minho (Shinee)

Kyungsoo (EXO)

Jinyoung (GOT7)

Yugyeom (GOT7)

Choa (former AOA, now awesome youtuber and singer)

Kang Ha-Neul (actor)

Amber Liu (f(x) and also solo)

𝟏. 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟏&𝟒 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬?

Minho ~ I feel like he'd be a good kisser for some reason

just look at his lips

2. 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟓&7 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞?

Choa ~ without question the best female voice in kpop.

(wanna a proof?  here it is)

3. 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 6&3 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞?

Jinyoung ~ I preffer the bad boys and Ha-neul is prototype of soft boy.

4. 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 4&7 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫?

Yugyeom ~ talking about the king of dance guys-

5. 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 1&6 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤?

Kang Ha-neul~ he'd be soooo soft and grateful and cute and romantic and aww

6. 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟐&𝟑 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞?

Jinyoung ~  I'm in love with his smile

7. 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟔&4 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡?

Yugyeom ~ I know I'd have all the responsibility and that's what I like. Also he'd be the funny partner that keeps you in the trouble and takes everything with ease.

[voguelfoyy]

Having a Small Talk with Kang Dae-Ho (HC)

kang dae-ho x fem!reader

a/n: I love making headcannons based off of him so much I might aswell started writing a whole fanfic, but unfortunately i'm not really good at that so take this instead!!

warning: just poor english, fluff, not proofread yet, MY OPINION so im sorry if it’s a little ooc for you

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

• even though dae-ho has 4 older sisters, his communication skills with other women (other than his sisters) is very bad LIKE BAD BAD.

• he is aware of that and when getting into that kind of occasion, he would always be careful with his words so it doesn't come out as weird.

• so when dae-ho met you in the game for the first time... AWKWARD AS HELL. dae-ho would stutter his introduction so hard, you will be like "umm is this dude okay?". (how can he be okay when there's a pretty girl like you standing in front of him)

• after you both had your first introduction, you two didn't have many conversations after that, but it didn't last long bcz as time goes by, dae-ho would be the one who always opened up a small talks with you. He enjoyed talking to you so much bcz he thinks you’re the only one who doesn’t think he’s weird or annoying for talking too much out of nervousness, he of course had a soft spot for you since then.

• dae-ho's small talks can be either normal, OR it looks like he's trying so hard to get to know you where it can lead to awkward moments. I can see him straight up blurting something to you, like

"I didn't realize that your eye color is so pretty. Do you use contact lenses?"

(after the mingle game) "Hey... are you okay? Wait, no, of course you do- we don't. Sorry about that I was just checking on you!" *facepalms himself*

OR

"I- I had a pet hamster once when I was little" (I CAN SEE DAE-HO SAY SOMETHING LIKE BCZ HE LOVES TALKING TO YOU SO MUCH!!!)

• you thought it was cute and sweet, seeing dae-ho tried to get to know you by always making small talks even though sometimes he would get his words twisted and probably stutter too hard he starts walking away in embarrassment, but it don't matter to you bcz he's trying his best!!!

• the moment you're the one who starts the conversation or small talks is the moment he will die BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY HOW HE REACTS WHEN YOU DO THAT. dude's like, "Omg.. is this a dream?"

• when you're the one who starts the conversation, you can see dae-ho gets flustered. he didn't know what to say to you and he's kinda lost in his own confusion, so you had to snap him back to reality, "dae-ho, are you listening? did I say something wrong?"

dae-ho's finally stopped daydreaming, "oh no no no, I was just thinking about something else." while doing the 'no no' both hand motion (idk what's it called). and started blushing like crazyyyyy

and in that very exact moment you two become very close ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

[purplepandagalore]

EXO members solo acts

KEY: ♬ music || ✦ movie || ✧ drama || ❀ tv show || ✭ musical 

Suho || Kim Jun Myeon ;; 22.05.1991

♬ [’Saving Santa’ OST] Suho X (Apink) Eunji “Saving Santa” ;; 07.12.2013

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “Beautiful” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

✭ ‘School OZ’ as Hans ;; 14.01.2015

✦ ‘One Way Trip’ as Sang Woo ;; 24.03.2016

♬ [STATION - n° 21] Leeteuk X Suho X Kassy X Co Young Soo “My Hero” ;; 01.07.2016

✧ ‘Star of the Universe’ as Woo Joo “Universe” ;; 23.01-10.02.2017

♬ [STATION - n° 52] Suho X Song Young Joo “Curtain” ;; 03.02.2017

♬ [’The Universe’s Star’ OST] Suho X Remi “Starlight” ;; 09.02.2017

♬ [’Beautiful Accident’ OST] Suho X Chen “Beautiful Accident” ;; 30.05.2017

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] +  [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage “Playboy” ;; 24.11.2017-11.08.2018

✭ ‘The Last Kiss’ as Crown Prince Rudolf ;; 14.12.2017-11.03.2018

♬ [LISTEN 020] Suho X Jane Jang “Do You Have a Moment” ;; 09.03.2018

♬ [STATION 2 - n° 48] Suho X Jane Jang “Dinner” ;; 10.03.2018

✧ ‘Rich Man’ as Lee Yoo Chan ;; 09.05-28.06.2018

✦ ‘Student A’ as Jae Hee ;; 20.06.2018

✭ ‘The Man Who Laughs’ as Gwynplaine ;; 10.07-26.08.2018 / 10.01-19.01.2020

♬ [EXO Planet #5 - EXplOration] solo stage “Been Through” ;; 19.07.2019-???

✦ ‘Gift’ as Ha Neul ;; 28.10.2019

♬ [STATION X 4 LOVEs for Winter Part.1] BoA X J-Min X Siwon X Sunny X Wendy X Taemin X Doyoung X Suho “This is Your Day (for every child, UNICEF)” ;; 20.11.2019

✧ ‘How Are You Bread’ as Han Do Woo ;; 17.01-15.02.2020

♬ [1st Mini Album] ‘Self-Portrait’ ;; 30.03.2020 ⟹ “Let’s Love” *title track

❀ ‘Sim For You 3’ ;; 28.04-16.06.2020 

Xiumin ||Kim Min Seok ;; 26.03.1990 currently enlisted

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “Breakin’ Machine” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

✭ ‘School OZ’ as Aquila ;; 14.01.2015

✧ ‘Falling for Challenge’ as Na Do Jeon ;; 26.10-30.10.2015

♬ [’Falling for Challenge’ OST] “You Are The One” ;; 03.11.2015

♬ [Jimin’s solo project #OOTD 1st outfit] (AOA) Jimin ft. Xiumin of EXO “Call You Bae” ;; 03.03.2016

✦ ‘Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River’ as Gyeon ;; 06.06.2016

♬ [’Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ OST] Chen X Baekhyun X Xiumin “For You” ;; 24.08.2016

♬ [STATION 2 - n° 15] Xiumin X (NCT) Mark “Young & Free” ;; 07.07.2017

❀ ‘Life Bar’ ep.62

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] Battle Scene with Baekhyun ;; 24.11.2017-07.07.2018

♬ [EXO-CBX “Magical Circus Tour”] solo “Shake” ;; 11.05-08.06.2018 / 16.04-29.04.2019

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage BEATBURGER PROJECT X XIUMIN “Beyond” ;; 24.11.2017-11.08.2018

❀ ‘Sim For You’ ;; 25.03-03.05.2019

♬ [STATION 3 - n° 11] “You” ;; 09.05.2019

Lay || Zhang Yixing ;; 07.10.1991

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “I’m Lay” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

✦ 'Ex Files 2: The Back Up Strikes Back’ as Li Xiang He ;; 06.11.2015

✦ 'Oh My God!’ as Le Yi ;; 04.12.2015

✦ 'Royal Treasure’ as Himself ;; 15.01.2016

♬ [STATION - n° 16] “Monodrama” ;; 27.05.2016

✧ 'To Be A Better Man’ as Xiao Cai/Cai Ming Jun ;; 31.05-22.06.2016

✧ ‘The Mystic Nine’ as Er Yue Hong ;; 04.07.12.09.2016

♬ “what U need?” ;; 07.10.2016

✦ ‘The Mystic Nine Side Story: Flowers Bloom in February’ as Er Yue Hong ;; 20.10.2016

♬ [1st Mini Album] ‘Lose Control’ ;; 28.10.2016 ⟹ “Lose Control” *title track

✦ ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ as Xiao Guang ;; 28.01.2017

✧ ‘Operation Love’ as Yan Xiao Lai ;; 24.04-06.06.2017

✦ ‘The Founding of an Army’  as Lu De Ming ;; 27.07.2017

♬ “I Need U” ;; 24.09.2017

♬ [1st Studio Album] ‘Lay 02 Sheep’ ;; 07.10.2017 ⟹ “Sheep” *title track

♬ [1st Special Album] ‘Winter Special Gift’ ;; 22.12.2017 ⟹ “Goodbye Christmas” *title track

✦ ‘The Island’ as Xiao Xing ;; 10.08.2018

♬ “Sheep” (Alan Walker Relift) ;; 31.08.2018

✧ ‘Tomb of the Sea’ as Jie Yu Chen ;; 20.07-15.09.2018

♬ [1st English digital single] “Give Me a Chance” *pre-release ;; 05.10.2018

♬ [1st International Studio Album] ‘Namanana’ ;; 19.10.2018 ⟹ “Namanana” *title track

♬ [Digital Single] “When It’s Christmas” ;; 24.12.2018

♬ Jason Derulo, Lay, NCT 127 “Let’s Shut Up & Dance” ;; 22.02.2019

✧ ‘The Golden Eyes’ as Zhuang Rui ;; 26.02-01.04.2019

♬ [2nd Special Album] ‘Honey’ ;; 14.06.2019 ⟹ “Honey” *title track

✧ ‘Ming Dinasty’ as Zhu Qi Zhen ;; 17.12.2019-23.01.2020

✦ ‘Unexpected Love’ as Han Bin ;; TBA

✧ ‘Unknown Crime’ as Xia Mu ;; TBA

Baekhyun || Byun Baek Hyun ;; 06.05.1992           YouTube channel 

♬ [’EXO Next Door’ OST] “Beautiful” ;; 22.04.2015

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “My Turn To Cry” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

✭ ‘Singing in the Rain’ as Don Lockwood ;; 05.06-03.08.2014

✧ ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ as Wang Eun -10th Prince- ;; date

♬ Suzy X Baekhyun “Dream” ;; 06.01.2016

♬ [STATION - n° 14] K.Will X Baekhyun “The Day” ;; 12.05.2016

♬ [’Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ OST] Chen X Baekhyun X Xiumin “For You” ;; 24.08.2016

♬ Soyou X Baekhyun “Rain” ;; 13.02.2017

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] Battle Scene with Xiumin ;; 24.11.2017-07.07.2018

♬ [EXO-CBX “Magical Circus Tour”] solo “Ringa Ringa Ring” ;; 11.05-08.06.2018 / 16.04-29.04.2019

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage “Psycho” ;; 13.07-11.08.2018

♬ [STATION X 0 - n° 2] Baekhyun X Loco “Young” ;; 31.08.2018

♬ [Debut Mini Album] ‘City Lights’ ;; 10.07.2019 ⟹ “UN Village” *title track

♬ [EXO Planet #5 - EXplOration] solo stage “UN Village” ;; 19.07.2019-???

♬ [SuperM - We Are the Future Live] solo “Betcha + UN Village” ;; 11.11.2019-???

♬ [’Dr. Romantic 2′ OST Part. 1] “My Love” ;; 07.01.2020

♬ [’Hyena′ OST Part. 2] “On The Road” ;; 29.02.2020

Chen || Kim Jong Dae ;; 21.09.1992                                 YouTube channel

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “Uprising” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

♬ [’It’s Okay That’s Love’ OST Part 1] “The Greatest Luck” ;; 23.07.2014

✭ ‘In the Heights’ as Benny ;; 04.09-22.11.2015

♬ [’Descendants of the Sun’ OST Part 2] Chen X Punch “Everytime” ;; 25.02.2016

♬ [STATION - n° 9] Vibe X Chen X Heize “Lil’ Something” ;; 08.04.2016

♬ [’Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ OST] Chen X Baekhyun X Xiumin “For You” ;; 24.08.2016

♬ [STATION - n° 35] Alesso X Chen “Years” ;; 07.10.2016

♬ Dynamic Duo X Chen “Nosedive” ;; 23.01.2017

♬ [’Missing 9’ OST Part 2] “Can’t Say Goodbye (I’m Not Okay)” ;; 16.02.2017

♬ [’Beautiful Accident’ OST] Suho X Chen “Beautiful Accident” ;; 30.05.2017

♬ [STATION 2 - n° 31] 10cm X Chen “Bye Babe” ;; 03.11.2017

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] solo stage “Heaven” ;; 24.11.2017-11.08.2018

♬ [EXO-CBX “Magical Circus Tour”] solo “Watch Out” ;; 11.05-08.06.2018 / 16.04-29.04.2019

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage “Years” ;; 13.07-11.08.2018

♬ [’100 Days My Prince’ OST Part 3] “Cherry Blossom Love Song” ;; 16.10.2018

♬ [Debut Mini Album] ‘April, and a Flower’ ;; 01.04.2019 ⟹ “Beautiful Goodbye” *title track

♬ [EXO Planet #5 - EXplOration] solo stage “Lights Out” ;; 19.07.2019-???

♬ [2nd Mini Album] ‘Dear My Dear’ ;; 01.10.2019 ⟹ “Shall We” *title track

❀ ‘Sim For You 2’ ;; 28.10-29.11.2019

♬ [’Hear 4 U’ S02 OST] “Beautiful” ;; 18.12.2019

♬ Dynamic Duo X Chen “You” ;; 23.01.2020

Chanyeol || Park Chan Yeol ;; 27.11.1992                 YouTube channel

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “Delight” ;; 23.05-21.09.2014

♬ [Zhoumi mini album ‘Rewind’] Zhoumi feat. Chanyeol “Rewind” ;; 31.10.2014

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet in Japan] solo “Rocket Dive” ;; 11.11-24.12.2014

✦ ‘Salut D’Amour’ as Min Sung ;; 09.04.2015

♬ [’Law of the Jungle’ OST] “Last Hunter” ;; 28.08.2015

♬ [’Unpretty Rapstar 2′ Semi Final] Heize feat. Park Chanyeol “Don’t Make Money” ;; 06.11.2015

♬ [Yesung mini album ‘Here I Am’] (Leeteuk) Yesung ft. Chanyeol of EXO “Confession” ;; 19.04.2016

♬ [Far East Movement album ‘Freal Luv’] Far East Movement x Marshmello ft. Chanyeol & Tinashe “Freal Luv” ;; 14.10.2016

✦ ‘So I Married an Anti-Fan’ as Hou Zhun/Ho Jun ;; 30.06.2016

♬ [’So I Married an Anti-Fan’ OST] Chanyeol X Yuan Shanshan “I Hate You” ;; 30.06.2016

♬ [’Goblin’ OST Part 1] Chanyeol X Punch “Stay With Me” ;; 03.12.2016

✧ ‘Missing 9′ as Lee Yeol ;; 18.01-09.03.2017

♬ [digital single] Junggigo X Chanyeol “Let Me Love You” ;; 23.02.2017

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] + [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage “Hands” ;; 24.11.2017-11.08.2018

❀ ‘Salty Tour’ ep.25-30 ;; 26.05-09.06.2018

✧ ‘Secret Queen Makers’ ;; 04.06-19.06.2018

♬ [STATION X 0 - n° 3] Chanyeol X Sehun “We Young” ;; 14.09.2018

✧ ‘Memories of the Alhambra’ as Jung Sae Joo ;; 19.11.2018-08.01.2019

♬ [STATION 3 - n° 10] “SSFW”;; 25.04.2019

♬ [’Dr. Romantic 2′ OST Part 3] Chanyeol X Punch “Go Away Go Away” ;; 20.01.2020

D.O. || Do Kyung Soo ;; 12.01.1993 currently enlisted

♬ [f(x) studio album ‘Pink Tape’] f(x) ft. D.O. of EXO “Goodbye Summer” ;; 09.07.2013

✧ ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’ as Han Kang Woo ;; 23.07-11.09.2014

♬ [’Cart’ OST] “Crying out” ;; 4.11.2014

✦ ‘Cart’ as Tae Yeong ;; 13.11.2014

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “Tell Me What Is Love” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

✧ ‘Hello Monster’ as Lee Jun Yeong ;; 22.06-11.08.2015

♬ [STATION - n° 2] Yoo Young Jin X D.O. “Tell Me (What Is Love)” Epilogue - Prologue ;; 19.02.2016

✦ ‘Unforgettable’ as Beom Shil ;; 24.02.2016

✧ ‘Positive Physique’ as Kim Hwan Dong ;; 31.10-04.11.2016

✦ ‘My Annoying Brother’ as Ko Doo Yeong ;; 23.11.2016

♬ [’My Annoying Brother’ OST] Cho Jung Seok & D.O. “Don’t Worry” ;; 23.11.2016

✦ ‘Room 7′ as Tae Jung ;; 15.11.2017

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] + [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage “For Life (Eng ver)” ;; 24.11.2017-11.08.2018

✦ ‘Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds’ as Won Il Byung ;; 20.12.2017

✦ ‘Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days’ as Won Il Byung ;; 01.08.2018

✧ ‘100 Days My Prince’ as Crown Prince Lee Yool ;; 20.09-30.10.2018

✦ ‘Swing Kids’ as Ro Gi Soo ;; 19.12.2018

♬ [STATION 3 - n° 15] “That’s Okay” ;; 01.07.2019

Kai || Kim Jong In ;; 14.01.1994

♬ [Taemin mini album ‘ACE’] Taemin ft. Kai of EXO “Pretty Boy” ;; 18.08.2014

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “Deep Breathe” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

✧ ‘Choco Bank’ as Kim Eun Haeng ;; 15.02-19.02.2016

✧ ‘7 First Kisses’ as Himself ep.4-5 ;; 05.12.2016-05.01.2017

✧ ‘Andante’ as Lee Shi Kyung ;; 24.09.2017-07.01.2018

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] + [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage “I See You” ;; 24.11.2017-11.08.2018

✧ ‘Haru ga Kita’ as Lee Ji Won ;; 13.01-10.02.2018

✧ ‘Miracle That We Met’ as Ato ;; 02.04-29.05.2018

♬ [EXO Planet #5 - EXplOration] solo stage “Confession” ;; 19.07.2019-???

♬ [SuperM - We Are the Future Live] solo “Confession” ;; 11.11.2019-???

Sehun || Oh Se Hun ;; 12.04.1994

♬ [Exo from Exoplanet #1 - The Lost Planet] solo “Exorient” ;; 23.05-24.12.2014

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn] solo stage “GO” ;; 24.11.2017-07.07.2018

♬ [EXO Planet #4 - The EℓyXiOn [dot]] solo stage “JMT” ;; 13.07-11.08.2018

❀ ‘Busted!’ ;; 04.05-01.06.2018

✧ ‘Secret Queen Makers’ ;; 04.06-19.06.2018

✦ ‘Dokgo Rewind’ as Kang Hoo & Kang Hyuk ;; 07.09.2018

♬ [STATION X 0 - n° 3] Chanyeol X Sehun “We Young” ;; 14.09.2018

❀ ‘Busted! 2′ ;; 08.11.2019

✧ ‘Dear Archimedes’ as Yan Su ;; 30.11.2019

✦ ‘Catman’ as Liang Qu ;; TBA

[staytheb]

Sunflower

Pairing: SF9′s Taeyang x OC [Haneul] Genre: college!au, friendstolovers!au, slice of life, slight fluff Word Count: 3,847 Summary: Haneul has been receiving sunflowers from Taeyang since they were childhood friends. Although they’re not your typical best of friends, the two have stayed in contact with one another. It’s not until recently when they’re both in their final year of college that Haneul actually learns the meaning of what the sunflower represents. She also comes to realize that Taeyang may be something more than a friend.

Warning: partially proofread. my bad. one or two swear words. it’s not your typical childhood friends to lovers plot. so, read at your own discretion. lol

anyways, this was requested by a lovely anon and it’s my first SF9 fic ever and i’m quite happy i actually wrote it out. even better when it wasn’t that long ago it was requested. lol so good for me and to the requester that wanted this! anyways, i hope it’s okay. i tried. i like it though hahaha, but yeah, if y’all don’t know this Taeyang means Sun and Haneul means Sky, so it plays well into the whole Sunflower thing. if you don’t get it, then you’ll just have to read. alright, happy reading and kthxbai, Admin Lia~

Haneul was casually sitting and talking at a table on campus grounds with her three friends, Haeyoon, Yuju, and Mirae. The quartet were hanging out once their classes were done for the day. Haneul suddenly heard her name being called from behind her by a male school mate. She's seen him before, but she couldn't recall ever having a class with him.

"Yong Haneul, correct?" The younger male asked while holding a sunflower in his right hand.

"Yes." Haneul confirmed with a curious gaze. "And you are?"

"Kang Chani and I'm here to deliver this to you."

Chani smiled at her while extending his arm forward to present the sunflower.

"Um, thank you."

Haneul took the flower although she was wondering why this random person was handing her the plant. Before she could ask what she was thinking, the male scurry away to his group of friends. Haneul's eyes trail after the male and realized that in Chani's group of friends was a familiar face. Her childhood friend, Yoo Taeyang. Once their eyes connected did Taeyang smiled warmly at her while lifting an arm to wave at her. Out of habit, Haneul did the same with a small smile before turning her attention back onto her friends. She caught their teasing gazes.

"What?" She asked like nothing just happened.

"What do you mean what?" Haeyoon asked with a pointed look. "Who was that and why did he give you that?"

"Please tell me it's an admirer. That would be so cute." Yuju cooed playfully while leaning closer to Haneul. "Do you think he's cute?"

"Girls," Mirae interjected, "She doesn't know him since she asked for his name."

Haneul shot her friend a relieved look.

"Thank you, Mirae."

"You're welcome, but who's the guy that you waved at and smiled at you? He looked familiar, but I couldn't really see him since one of his friend blocked my view."

Haneul scrunched up her face in hopes that she wouldn't have to answer that.

"Do you have a boyfriend and never told us about him?!" Yuju exclaimed before making a pouty face. "Haneul, you're so cruel."

"I don't have a boyfriend, Yuju. He's just a friend."

"Define 'friend', Haneul." Haeyoon clarified. "I would like for you to elaborate since it's Yellow and Rose Day and only couples do such a thing and you just claimed that you don't have a boyfriend. Hmm?"

"Yeah. Explain that." The other two chimed.

Haneul rolled her eyes while tucking the sunflower gently into her book-bag.

"There's nothing really to explain. Also, I forgot today was Yellow Day and or Rose Day since he also gives me sunflowers when it's my birthday. Anyways, he's just a childhood friend and has always given me a sunflower on the fourteenth of May and the first of March."

Yuju let out a loud gasped causing the other three to look at her questioningly.

"He's the one that's been giving you sunflowers since high school!"

"No. He's been giving me them since primary school. It's just he attended a different high school than I did."

"But I first met you in high school, Haneul, so it's been high school since for me. I couldn't figure out which guy it was that was giving you the flowers and now it's because he didn't even go to high school with us." Yuju explained.

Mirae interjected with her own curiosity. "Why aren't you guys dating since he likes you a lot and are now in your final year of university?"

"Um, well there's a few reasons for that."

Mirae interrupted her before Haneul could actually explain those reasons.

"Which are?"

"Well, I was gonna tell you, but since you interrupted me, I don't feel like saying anything now."

"Oh, c'mon, Haneul. Don't be mean. I'm sorry." Mirae apologized with a big pout. "Please continue speaking."

Haneul cast each of them a look before sighing in defeat.

"Fine."

"Yay!" The trio cheered happily as Haneul rolled her eyes, but continued with her reasoning.

"Well, first of all, it's because he already has a girlfriend."

The girls let out a loud gasp, but didn't interrupt their friend. Haneul continued giving them an amused look.

"Anyways, second of all, we're not as close as we used to be since we don't hang out as often as we used to like we did in middle school. And I don't really see him like that so I never thought about dating him."

"But have you dated anyone though?" Haeyoon questioned nonchalantly.

"She has." Yuju answered for Haneul.

"Okay, but how about an actual boyfriend then?" Haeyoon prodded.

"Oh yeah. Her first and last boyfriend was in our second year of high school." Yuju confirmed. "But they broke up some time in our first year of university."

"Oh why?!" Mirae exclaimed with widened eyes. "How come I didn't know?"

"Because we weren't openly affectionate about our relationship and also the fact that he cheated on me while we attended different colleges." Haneul explained with a shrug. "It's nothing now since I don't have to bother with him ever again and there was no need to bring up my past relationship."

"Alright then. Let's talk about your current relationship status." Mirae grinned.

"Single as fuck." Haeyoon inputted with a laugh before side-eyeing her mischievously. "Or so she tells us."

"I am single, Haeyoon." Haneul stated firmly. "I'm not hiding anything."

"Yeah you are." Yuju disagreed with a shake of her head while indiscreetly pointing in the direction of where Taeyang and his group of friends were some distance away. "That guy who's been giving you sunflowers since y'all were kids."

"Don't point. It's not nice."

Haneul swatted at her friend's hand.

"Ugh. Fine."

Yuju crossed her arms over her chest in a sulking manner.

"You're such a child." Mirae commented, but Yuju stuck her tongue out at her in a playful manner.

"Then can you at least give us a name?"

Yuju then turned to shoot Haneul her puppy eyes.

"Eww. Stop doing that."

"If I stop, then will you give us a name?"

"No."

Haneul shot them an amused look.

"Why are y'all so curious about my love life and even about who I was childhood friends with?"

"Because the meaning of a sunflower is quite deep, Haneul." Haeyoon reasoned while reading something off of her phone. "Do you even know what the sunflower symbolizes and mean?"

"Not really. I never thought about looking it up."

"Okay, well then let me informed you about them."

Haeyoon grinned at her before casting her eyes back onto her mobile device.

"Sunflowers symbolizes adoration, loyalty, and longevity."

Haeyoon began with a giddy smile as the other two girls let out contented sighs with a dreamy expression upon hearing the meaning. Haneul rolled her eyes at their behavior, but let Haeyoon continued.

"They are also known for being 'happy' flowers. They're the perfect gift to bring joy to someone's or your day."

Haeyoon finished with an even giddier smile as she directed it at Haneul.

"Are you sure you still think of him as a friend, Haneul? Because I think he thinks of you as more than that."

Haneul scoffed. "Please. No one's like that nowadays. Hardly anyone makes romantic or sweet subtle hints like those."

Haneul then stood up while gathering up her things. Her friends noticed how delicate she was when she put her things into her bag as to not crush the sunflower and when she settled the bag onto her shoulder in a gentle manner.

"Anyways, ladies, I have other things to do so I'll see you three tomorrow."

"Fine. If you won't tell us, then we'll just ask him when he gets here." Yuju remarked with a smug look.

Haneul's eyes furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean when he ge-"

"Neul."

Haneul quickly turned around upon hearing the familiar nickname she hasn't heard since childhood from her childhood friend while her facial expression turned to one of puzzlement.

"Taeyang?"

"THE Yoo Taeyang?!" The trio chorused at once upon recognizing the male.

"Haneul. You know The Yoo Taeyang of Sigma Phi Nu?" Mirae questioned with an awe tone followed by Haeyoon who was also in awe.

"And the main dancer of the school's dance team, Knights of the Sun."

"He's also like the Fashionista King of Neoz University." Yuju exclaimed excitedly. "Omo, Yoo Taeyang, I'm such a huge fan of yours!"

Taeyang smiled at Haneul's friends in a calm manner while nodding his head at them.

"Thank you." He thanked them before gesturing towards Haneul. "Would you mind if I borrowed Haneul from you for the rest of the day?"

Just as Haneul was about to declined his offer, her friends accepted his words and Haeyoon who was the closes to Haneul pushed her towards Taeyang causing her to stumbled into him. Taeyang caught a hold of Haneul and helped her to steady herself. Haneul was a flustered mess, but she calmly held her own and would throttle her friends when he or anyone else was around.

"Are you okay?" Taeyang asked with a worried tone while trying to catch her eyes.

Haneul avoided his gaze while answering him with a forced smile.

"Peachy."

She cast a dark look towards her friends who abruptly stated that they had somewhere else to be while avoiding eye-contact with Haneul. The trio bid the pair a goodbye soon afterwards. A laugh sounded from beside her and her dark gaze softened when she turned her her eyes towards Taeyang questioningly.

"What's so funny?"

Taeyang's laughter died down, but the amused smile was still on his face.

"I see that you're dark gaze still holds up to this day."

"You remember that?"

"How could I not? You would give them to me whenever I shoved a bug into your face before chasing me after doing so."

"You were such a jerk. You even put a frog in my bag in the fifth grade and now I can't stand them or insects to this day."

Taeyang let out another heartily laugh upon the memory.

"Ahh, those were the days. I missed them. I missed you, too."

He casually admitted while giving Haneul a thoughtful look.

"How's your day been?"

Haneul was caught off guard by his admission of missing her and then the sudden question like they were casually catching up with one another. Haneul recalled that the both of them haven't really had a serious face to face conversation after middle school ended. Then again, Haneul recalled all the small conversations they quickly had in-between classes these past four years and the text messages when they went to separate high schools. Could she really say that they were catching up when they never really lost contact with one another in the first place.

"I, well, it's going well. I just need to run some errands before heading home. Other than that, nothing really new. Um, how about you? How's your day going" She asked the same question back automatically before remembering something. "I see that you're well known around campus, Mr. Popular. I wasn't aware of that."

"Ah, yeah."

Taeyang rubbed his neck in bashful manner.

"Something like that."

His eyes then caught sight of the sunflower tucked away into her book-bag. He smiled upon seeing it.

"How do you like the sunflowers? Sorry about having Chani give them to you earlier. He was just curious to see the person I got it for and wouldn't stop bugging me about it."

"They're pretty as ever, Yang." Haneul said with a smile while also using the nickname she referred to him by when they were younger. "Thanks and it's okay about your friends. I should mainly apologize for my friends who were gushing over you not that long ago."

"It's fine. I'm kinda used to it."

"Well, not really. You shouldn't be used to something."

"I know, but it's also something I'm familiar with since you haven't noticed anything to this day either."

"What do you mean?"

Haneul wondered what Taeyang was talking about until Haeyoon's voiced popped into her head a second later about the meaning of the sunflower. Haneul then caught the movement of Taeyang's left arm reaching out and slowly plucking the sunflower from out of her bag. He calmly twirled the bright flower within his hand while staring at it thoughtfully. His eyes soon flickered onto her and Haneul suddenly felt a jolt within her body upon catching his gaze. Her thoughts immediately ran while with all the questions her friends kept asking her earlier and she was weirdly questioning if he was more than a friend all of a sudden. Haneul let out a loud gasped before clamping a hand over her mouth to restrained any further sounds to come out of it.

"Are you alright?" Taeyang asked with a raised brow.

Haneul didn't trust her voice and nodded instead while removing her hand from her mouth and back to her side.

"Are you sure?" He inquired further not believing her.

Haneul nodded again still not trusting herself to speak. Taeyang slowly cast her a charming smile that reached his eyes and Haneul inwardly asked herself when did his smile become so charismatic. She closed her eyes upon realizing what was happening to her and she now wondered if it was her friends doing by constantly asking so much questions or just something that was fated to happen some day. Like today. Or maybe both. Haneul opened her eyes slowly one at a time in hopes that maybe Taeyang wasn't standing before her and it was just her mind messing with her.

"Yong Haneul, are you sure you're okay?" Taeyang firmly asked although his twinkling eyes stated otherwise.

She frowned knowing that he was enjoying her quiet demeanor. He only ever used her full name when he wanted to tease her. Taeyang always found it amusing whenever Haneul got tongue tied or stayed silent when they were children. It was because she would finally realized something and didn't want to admit it at first.

"Yes, I'm fine, Yoo Taeyang." Haneul replied with a forced smile.

Taeyang's smiled wider upon knowing that she only used his full name when she wasn't fine or to get him to back off. Seeing his smile, Haneul knew that he knew and decided to escape the situation and brush it off like nothing had happened.

"Um, I gotta go. Bye." Haneul hastily bid him a goodbye while turning away.

Before she could dash off, Taeyang's right arm quickly reached out and caught a hold of her left arm, and brought her around to face him.

"I know it's been like several years since we actually had a personal conversation and for this long, but I think it's time."

"Time for what exactly?"

Haneul cautious looked at him as Taeyang cast her a reassuring smile while moving his right hand to grasp her left hand instead. She glanced at their held hands as her eyes also noticed the sunflower still within his left grasp before shooting him an anxious look. Haneul wasn't sure what to exactly feel as she was still trying to figure out her sudden feelings towards her former childhood friend who may now be more than what she had original thought of him to be. To which she now knew that Taeyang had always known his feelings for her despite never actually saying it.

"Well, Neul, if it wasn't obvious for the past fifteen years, but I like you. I still do." Taeyang confessed.

"But you have a girlfriend already." Haneul reminded him as she tried to rationalized her thoughts and feelings as quickly as possible. "You can like me all you want, Yang, but that won't change the fact that you're still in a committed relationship with  someone else right now."

"I'm not."

"Yeah you were since I last checked like a week ago."

"Oh? So you've been keeping tabs on me?"

"Tch. It's not even like that. Your mom showed me a picture of you and your girlfriend at some party."

"That's not my girlfriend."

"Oh, yeah, sure it isn't. Likely story."

Taeyang laughed at Haneul's misunderstanding. Haneul slightly shoved him with her free hand at his reaction towards her.

"This isn't a laughing matter, Taeyang. This is quite serious."

"I know and that's why it's funny. That's my mother's god-niece. So technically, my cousin."

"Oh, well, if that's the case then I didn't want to be mean and say she got plastic surgery or something." Haneul said in a flustered tone while avoiding eye-contact with Taeyang while still speaking. "Since she didn't look like the girl in your last photo update where the two of you went to New York City last summer."

"Ah, her. Yeah, well, she was, but we broke up that same summer due to a falling out and differences within our relationship." Taeyang clarified.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She lamely apologized although she didn't know why she needed to say that.

"It's okay. It's not your fault. I'm sorry about you and your ex, too."

"Wait. How do you even know about that?"

"Let's just say that the girl he cheated on you with was also at the time the girlfriend of one of my friends."

"Soccer Star Kim Rowoon is your friend?"

"Yes." Taeyang proudly confirmed.

"Tell him thank you for me." Haneul smiled at him upon learning of that fact. "A big thank you for kicking the soccer balls at my ex when he constantly denied cheating on me despite the physical evidence on him that wasn't my doing and was also about to get dangerously physical with me that day."

"Well, then it should be me that you should thanking."

"Why?"

"I was the one that told Rowoon to do that."

"But why? I mean I can understand since you and I were friends, but you weren't really involved in that affair."

"Not directly, but he indirectly hurt you and that hurt me seeing you hurt."

Haneul was going to reply, but nothing came out. She closed her mouth and remind silent.

"I know you feel that small spark between us, but I won't pressure you into anything. If you don't want to, then that's your choice. I just wanted to let you know my feelings before I never get another chance to let you know about them."

"But why? Why now? Why not before? Why?" Haneul suddenly questioned since she just couldn't understand why it was suddenly happening now.

"To be completely honest, I was going to confess to you back in high school during our second year when I mustered the courage to do so." Taeyang admitted. "Then you told me you had a boyfriend and I backed off, but still gave you sunflowers diligently."

The former childhood friends just stared at one another as the words spoken between them mingled in the air. Their hands were still within the other's grasp with no thoughts of letting go. Taeyang watched Haneul calmly as Haneul contemplated what to actually do our their current state. It wasn't like they could just go back to being friends when Taeyang basically confessed. Also, Haneul now knew that she couldn't view Taeyang as simply as just a friend like she declared earlier to her friends. She then recalled reading something about friends turning into lovers and that it was worth the risk if there was a little spark between the two. For her, it just took a little longer to realized that.

"Alright. I lied about running errands. I really didn't have anything to do today and just wanted to ditch my friends from questioning about my love life and about you, too." Haneul admitted to Taeyang with a soft sigh. "So what did you want to borrow me for?"

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Taeyang asked with a concern look. "I mean, it would be great, but I want to make sure that it's something that you wanna move forward with, Haneul. There's no turning back."

"I know, Taeyang, and I really do. Honestly. " Haneul assured him with a shy smile. "I mean, after all of these years of receiving sunflowers from you, I didn't think it was your way of cheering me up all of this time."

Now it was Taeyang's turn to cast her a shy smile.

"I did tell you when I was seven that I wanted to be a florist."

"I'm pretty sure you used the term 'plant grower' back then."

"Whatever, but the real truth of why I chose the sunflower after learning it's meaning was because of you."

"Me? Why?"

"Well, because your name means 'sky' and my name means 'sun'. The sunflower can't grow without the sun and the sun can't exist without the sky. We were fated for one another since we met the first time at the nursery."

Haneul restrained herself from cringing at Taeyang's words. He laughed knowing that it was cringe-worthy, but he had no regrets in saying them to her.

"If I recall or my mom telling me about my first day at the nursery, you kicked me during nap time because you thought it was my fault we had to take naps."

"In my defense, I was only like three years old. The staff at the time said it was the sky causing the sun to be swallowed up so that we had to take naps. I feared for my life believing you were going to eat me if I fell asleep. It took my mom about a few months to convince me otherwise."

Upon hearing his side of the story for that, Haneul couldn't help but let out a loud laugh.

"That's cute." She commented after her laughing ceased.

"Anyways," Taeyang interjected while bringing up the reason he wanted to borrow her earlier from her friends, "I wanted to take you to this cafe called Fantasy 9. They just released a new flavor containing sunflower petals today and I know how much studying lately has been stressing this past week. Also can't forget that we'll be graduating in less than a month from now, too."

"Oh, so you wanted to go on an unofficial date after who knows how long since we actually hung out physically. Then during our chit-chat you would probably confessed to me and all that other stuff that happens like in the movies and books."

"Um, something along those lines, yes."

"Well, then let's just call it an official date and see where we go from there." Haneul suggested with a bright smile.

"Alright, then, let's go." Taeyang agreed as he mirrored her smile while handing her back the sunflower. "For you."

"Thank you."

Haneul beamed at him as she happily took the flower back with her free hand. Taeyang readjusted their other hands to comfortably fit with one another while leading her in the direction of Fantasy 9. On the way there the pair converse freely like that of friends, but the connection with one another was more than that.

[meadowfics]

cryptic

kang dae-ho x f!reader

one of the scariest things happens to you after leaving the games

warnings: cryptic pregnancy, near death, at the time I am writing this season 3 is not out yet, angst, comfort at the end

when you entered the squid games, the last person you expected to see was dae-ho.

your heart nearly stopped when you spotted him in the crowd for the six-legged pentathlon.

you had to take a double take before starting the race with your group..

yup, there he was...broad shoulders, haunted eyes, and that same furrow in his brow you used to know so well.

he froze when he saw you up there ready to play with your own group, his lips parting in disbelief, but the guards didn’t give either of you time to process it.

the game began, and survival instincts took over.

you had the fastest group, luckily.

you completed the jegi game and ran to the finish line as everyone cheered for your group.

however, your ears tuned out everyone except for dae-ho, who made sure that you witnessed his support.

waiting for his group to come back to the dorms was torture for you.

its been nearly six-months since the last time you saw your ex-boyfriend.. however, you still loved him.

he broke up with you, and you had an idea as to why.

he felt like you deserved better, in terms of finding someone who had a bit more masculinity.

you never wanted that, or anyone else.. you always wanted your dae-ho.

a glimpse of relief was caught in your eyes when his group, the last group, entered the dorms.

he spotted you and gave you a light smile, before he turned away, retreating back to his group.

you wanted to talk to him, but what could you possibly say?

throughout the night, the exhaustion that settled over you wasn’t just from the constant fear of death but from the hunger you couldn’t shake away.

those pitiful trays of food barely sustained you, and your body craved more.

you kept with your group you had in the six-legged pentathlon..

when someone in your group couldn’t stomach their meal, you always took it, masking your desperation with a lighthearted

“don’t want it to go to waste.”

deep down, you hated that you were lying, but survival had its price.

dae-ho was always watching you, even when you weren’t aware of it.

he kept his distance, knowing how complicated things were between you two, but his protective instincts never faltered.

when you almost stumbled into danger during one of the nightly fights that broke out.. he was the one who grabbed your arm.

he pulled you to safety underneath his bunk before you could get hurt.

dae-ho didn’t say much, just a light, “stay alert, don't play any heroics,” before disappearing again.

the rebellion with the guards was a turning point.

the chaos had triggered dae-ho’s ptsd, and he was trembling, muttering under his breath about orders and mistakes.

when you witnessed him dropping the jacket full of gun magazines, you jumped up from your bunk bed to jog over to him.

007 nearly did too, but you stopped him.

"I got it.. ju- just stay with your mother."

approaching dae-ho, it broke your heart to see him like that because it reminded you why he left you in the first place.

the reason for the breakup is because he thought his brokenness from the marines would be too much for you to handle.

he pushed you away before you even knew how to help.

this time, you refused to let him spiral alone.

“dae-ho, look at me,” you said softly.

you tapped on his knee while rubbing his elbow softly, some physical reassurance while his ears were blocked by his strong hands.

“you’re not in the marines right now. you’re here, on this bed.. with me..."

you mumbled...

the man flinched hearing you, which caused you to nearly flinch as well.

did he think that you were going to hit him??

"we’re going to get through this, but you need to come back to me, okay?”

it took a long moment, even after hyun-ju came back, but your voice reached him.

after a while, his breathing steadied.

the next games were brutal. human chess left you rattled, knowing how easily a single wrong move would’ve ended you.

during the monkey bars game, you thought you were done for. every muscle in your body screamed, and it felt like your arms were going to give out at any second.

as a teenager, you had superior upper body strength.. whats so different now?

your arms were shaking for those last few bars, but at least you are alive.

when you collapsed on the other side, you were still shaking.

dae-ho was there in an instant, crouching beside you and muttering something you barely caught.

“its okay, you're okay, you made it. I'm here,"

it was a miracle that both you and dae-ho made it to the end.

his group—jun-hee, myung-gi, hyun-ju, and gi-hun—were all battered but alive.

you were the sole survivor from your group, most of them dying during dongdaemun.. and the weight of that loss lingered heavy in your chest.

when the games finally ended, and the guards began preparing to release you, dae-ho pulled you aside. his hands were rough but gentle as they grasped yours, his voice low and urgent.

“i didn’t think i’d survive this, let alone see you again. but we did, and i… i want to fix things. if you’ll let me.”

his words hit you like a wave, and you knew there was no denying the truth anymore. despite everything, you still loved him. you missed him. you wanted him back in your life.

“okay, we can fix this--”

you said softly, your voice cracking.

"but dae-ho.... why did you leave?"

you nearly cried, thinking about the last time you saw dae-ho before now.

the way he left your apartment, the way you could not eat for days, you wanted to make sure that something like that did not occur again with him.

"it was not you, like I said-- I thought you deserved better than me.. someone who was stronger than me."

the man frowned.

you placed your hand on his strong bicep, just on top of his marine tattoo.. your other hand went to his face.

"dae-ho, you're the strongest man I know. even if that wasn't the case, I do not want anyone else.. ever! I just want you."

you say.

at this point, the guards start taking everyone away to go back home.

“meet me at our cafe spot in seoul on november 16th!!!"

the last thing you remembered was the sound of his voice before the guards released the gas that knocked you out.

the impact of hitting the pavement still lingered in your body as you woke up, tied up, and blindfolded.

the cold concrete under you only added to the disorientation, and your heart pounded as you tried to make sense of what was happening.

all you could see is black.

then, a voice...soft and filled with concern...called out.

“oh my god, are you okay? hold on, let me help you.”

the blindfold was pulled away, and you blinked against the sudden light.

the woman in front of you had a kind face, her brows furrowed in worry as she quickly untied the ropes around your wrists.

“who did this to you?”

“i…” you paused, swallowing the lump in your throat.

“thank you. i don’t even know.”

"do you want me to call the police for you?"

"oh no, its okay do not worry about that!"

she helped you sit up, her hands hovering as if afraid you might collapse again.

“what’s your name?”

your mind raced, but you dodged the question.

“what’s today’s date?”

her expression shifted to confusion.

“it’s november 7th.”

november 7th. you exhaled deeply, relief and anxiety warring within you. nine days until november 16th.

nine days until you’d see dae-ho again. far too long, but at least you knew where to be.

time in the games had been meaningless, stretched and warped in the absence of phones and clocks.

as you stood up, you glanced down at yourself.

your old clothes were back...a black windbreaker jacket, green cargo pants, a black shirt, and your worn out adidas sambas.

it was strange to be out of the green tracksuit you had grown accustomed to, the one that labeled you as player 399.

instinctively, you reached into your pockets and felt something solid.

pulling it out, you saw a golden debit card. you stared at it, baffled, knowing it hadn’t been yours before the games. with shaking hands, you excused yourself.

“okay.. well i’m fine, really. thank you for helping me. i just… i need a moment.”

the woman hesitated, clearly unsure about leaving you alone.

“are you sure? you don’t look fine.”

“i’ll be okay,” you insisted, forcing a smile.

“thank you again.”

only six steps away, an atm caught your eye. you slid the card into the machine, your hands trembling.

the screen loaded, and when the balance appeared, your breath hitched. 11,398,890,025.33 won.

its the money you won in the games, split between the survivors..

before you could process the shock, a sharp pain shot through your stomach.

it felt like a punch, but there was no one there.

the pain grew worse, twisting and radiating until you doubled over.

“ahhh!” you yelped, clutching your stomach as the cramps intensified.

your knees buckled, and you collapsed, gasping for air while clenching your teeth.

the woman hadn’t gone far and came running back at the sound of your cries.

“hey! what’s wrong? oh my god, are you okay?!”

she knelt beside you, her panic rising as she saw the state you were in.

“i don’t know,” you choked out, tears welling up as the pain overwhelmed you.

“it hurts—my stomach—”

“okay, okay, stay with me. breathe! i’m calling an ambulance.” she pulled out her phone, her voice trembling as she gave the dispatcher your location.

“hang in there, okay? help is on the way.”

the pain was unbearable, and your vision blurred, the edges going dark as you struggled to stay conscious.

the faint sound of the woman’s voice and the distant wail of approaching sirens were the last things you heard before everything went black.

waking up, you felt a strange tightness around your stomach and a dull ache in your body.

the beeping of machines surrounded you, and cords were attached to your belly. you blinked, your heart racing as you noticed an iv in your arm.

panic set in when you realized your clothes were gone.

sitting up too fast, you scanned the room. relief washed over you when you spotted your jacket draped over a chair.

the golden debit card was still tucked in its pocket. you exhaled shakily, clutching the fabric for reassurance.

the door creaked open, and a doctor entered..a woman with a kind face and a soft smile.

“hello! I love to see that you’re awake. that’s good,” she said gently.

“please, lay back down. you need to rest.”

reluctantly, you complied, your mind still racing.

“what happened? why am i here?”

the doctor grabbed a clipboard, jotting something down before meeting your eyes.

“i need to ask you a few questions first by obligation... how have you been feeling lately? any nausea, fatigue, or changes in appetite?”

you frowned, her questions making no sense.

“i don’t know… i thought it was just stress. why are you asking me this?”

her expression softened, and she set the clipboard aside.

“miss. l/n… you’re in labor.”

the words hit you like a freight train.

“what?!” you gasped, sitting up again, ignoring the ache in your body.

your hands instinctively flew to your stomach.

“that’s not possible. i didn’t even know i was… i mean… i can’t be pregnant!”

the doctor gave you a reassuring look.

“your bloodwork confirms it, and you’re already in active labor. you didn’t notice the signs?”

you stared at her, your mind spiraling. sure, you had a small bump, but you chalked it up to overeating during the games.

you never connected it to something like this.

“you’re 36 weeks along,” she continued gently.

“it’s a bit early, but your baby seems strong. we’ll monitor you both closely since you haven’t had prenatal care. it’s a girl, by the way.”

the revelation stole the air from your lungs. a girl. you were carrying a child...a child you hadn’t even known existed.

your heart pounded as reality crashed down on you.

“oh my god,” you whispered, tears welling up.

the doctor reached out, her tone soothing.

“is the baby’s father here? do you want us to call him?”

you shook your head, panic rising.

“i don’t know how to contact him. i don’t even have a phone.”

“that’s okay,” she said softly.

“we’ll make sure you have support. we can arrange for a doula to be with you during delivery.”

the next few hours blurred together. the contractions came faster and harder, and you clung to the voices of the doula and two doctors, their encouragement keeping you grounded.

after two hours of pushing..

“here she is,” the doctor said, placing the tiny, squirming bundle on your chest.

you stared down at your daughter, your breath catching. she was beautiful, with the softest features... dae-ho’s nose, his eyes, his face in miniature. but her lashes and lips were yours.

“hi, baby,” you whispered, tears slipping down your cheeks.

she was quiet and calm, looking up at you with wide eyes. after the chaos of the past week, her presence felt like the first peaceful thing in your life.

the doctor explained that your stress likely triggered your early labor, but at 36 weeks, your daughter was healthy enough.

as the hours passed, you couldn’t take your eyes off her. she was perfect, even though the circumstances were far from it.

the looming question hung heavy in your mind...how were you going to tell dae-ho?

he was the only man you’d ever been with, the only person who could be her father.

without a phone or any way to contact him, the thought of reuniting with him felt impossible.

clutching your daughter close, you whispered a silent promise.

no matter how hard it would be, you’d find a way to tell him. he deserved to know, and your daughter deserved her father.

november 16th felt surreal as you approached the cozy cafe where you and dae-ho had agreed to meet.

your daughter was bundled up snugly in soft layers, her tiny face peeking out from the ivory blanket that kept her warm against the autumn chill.

the weight of her in your arms felt grounding, a reminder of how much had changed in such a short amount of time.

stepping inside, the familiar aroma of coffee and pastries filled the air, pulling you back to the times you had spent here with dae-ho before everything fell apart.

your eyes scanned the room until they landed on him.

he sat at a table in the corner, wearing one of the casual outfits you remembered so well...a simple black jacket over a gray hoodie and dark joggers.

it was such a stark contrast to the green tracksuit you had last seen him in during the games.

when his eyes lifted and met yours, they softened, lighting up with a mix of surprise, relief, and joy.

then, his gaze dropped to the baby in your arms, and his expression froze, his eyes widening in shock.

he stood as you approached, his movements hesitant but filled with emotion.

“hey,” he greeted, his voice quiet but trembling slightly.

“hey,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper as you stopped in front of him. you glanced down at your daughter, then back at him.

“she’s yours.”

dae-ho’s breath hitched as his eyes locked onto the tiny bundle in your arms.

“mine?” he asked, his voice cracking.

he reached out cautiously, his large hands trembling as they hovered near her, afraid to touch but desperate to hold.

you nodded, gently placing your daughter in his arms.

“yeah. she’s our daughter, dae-ho. eight days old.”

the moment he held her, his composure shattered. his hands cradled her so delicately, as though she were made of the most fragile glass.

a tear escaped the corner of his eye as he looked down at her, his lips parting in awe.

“you were pregnant?” he finally managed to ask, his voice thick with emotion.

you nodded again, swallowing hard.

“i didn’t know. not at any point throughout the nine months.. not until after the games, when they dropped me off. i thought the cramps were just stress, but then… i went into labor. the doctors said I had a cryptic pregnancy, their first ever in their careers actually.”

dae-ho looked at her tiny face, taking in every feature—the little nose, the faint dimple in her cheek.

“she looks just like…” he trailed off, blinking rapidly.

“she looks like my second oldest sister.”

“she does,” you agreed softly, watching the way your daughter gazed up at him with pure love in her sleepy eyes.

his voice cracked as he whispered,

“i should’ve been there. i should’ve…” he paused, guilt flickering across his face.

“i wish i had known. i’m sorry i wasn’t there for you.”

you shook your head, reaching out to touch his arm.

“dae-ho, none of this is your fault. the circumstances… none of it was in our control. you’re here now, you have us.. and that’s what matters.”

he looked up at you, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.

“i promise you,” he said, his voice firm but filled with emotion, “i’m going to be here for both of you. no more running, no more excuses. we’ll be a family, and we’ll put everything from the games behind us.”

you nodded, tears streaming down your face as you watched him hold your daughter like she was the most precious thing in the world.

her tiny fingers curled around his thumb, and his heart seemed to melt at the sight.

the three of you will make it this work. you’d leave the trauma of the past behind and move forward

together.

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