Abril (just Abi)

That night, like every other, the silence was unsettling. Darkness enveloped the place, and the distant murmurs of the other players were the only thing breaking the stillness. Dae-ho woke up from a restless sleep, his stomach twisting from the nightmares that haunted him every time he closed his eyes.

He sat up, feeling the weight of his tired body, and walked toward the bathroom. Though fear constantly accompanied him, something felt different this time. What was happening to him? Why did he need her close? Maybe she was the only person who, when looking at him, didn’t see a monster. Maybe, for once, he could feel… alive. Not just a survivor, but someone capable of loving or being loved.

He returned to his bunk, his mind still unsettled. He didn’t expect to see her awake at that hour, but when he arrived at the dormitory, he saw her standing beside his bed. Her slender figure, wrapped in a blanket hanging from her hands like a small child, looked so vulnerable—so different from the girl he was used to seeing. Her eyes, slightly dull from exhaustion, met his with a softness he couldn’t ignore.

"Can I sleep with you?" she asked, her voice barely trembling. "I’m afraid someone might decide to start a midnight massacre."

Dae-ho let out a small laugh, though the situation was far from funny. It wasn’t the first time fear had taken hold of them in the darkness, but seeing her there, so unprotected, awakened his protective instinct with full force. He didn’t think twice—he simply lay down, making space for her beside him.

"Of course," he responded without hesitation, his tone soft but firm. "I’m not going to say no to that."

She climbed onto the bunk with slight clumsiness, as if unsure whether she was doing the right thing. She curled up close to him, and Dae-ho wrapped his arms around her, feeling her small body against his.

The scent of her hair, still fresh though slightly messy, filled his lungs, and for a moment, the memories of the past faded. The echoes of screams and orders that had haunted him for years went silent for a while, replaced by the soft sound of her breathing, deep and calm. He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth she unknowingly provided.

She, in turn, felt completely safe in his arms. The fear that had gripped her all day disappeared the moment she felt him by her side. There was no need to say anything. She was okay. Everything was okay. Everything that had happened—all the deaths and the games that had consumed them—didn’t matter at that moment.

"Thank you," she whispered, as if she couldn’t stop being grateful for his presence.

Dae-ho didn’t respond immediately, but he let out a deep sigh, pulling her a little closer. He didn’t know if they would make it out of there, if they would survive, if fate would leave them alone, but for now, in that instant, all that mattered was that they were together.

(...)

Dae-ho woke up first, still feeling a warm, small presence curled up against his chest. Gently, he lowered his gaze to find her relaxed face, her eyelashes fluttering slightly as she breathed evenly. He couldn’t help but think about how peaceful she looked, completely unaware of everything.

She started to stir. Her eyes slowly opened, and before she could even focus on him properly, she seemed to realize her morning appearance. Instinctively, she brought her hands to her face, covering it as if that could hide her completely.

"Don’t look…" she murmured, her voice still hoarse from sleep.

Dae-ho raised an eyebrow, amused by her reaction. He propped himself up on one elbow and, with no effort at all, gently pulled her hands away from her face, holding them between his own.

"Why are you hiding?" he asked, a sly smile playing on his lips.

She tried to look away, but he didn’t let her.

"You still look just as beautiful as the first day," he said sincerely, his eyes tracing her features. His tone carried no teasing, no joke. It was simply a fact.

She felt her heart race at his words. She hadn’t expected him to remember that moment… much less mention it so naturally. Without knowing how to respond, she acted without thinking.

She leaned slightly toward him and, quickly, pressed a fleeting kiss to his lips.

The warmth of his lips barely registered before she pulled away immediately, her eyes wide with shock at what she had just done.

Dae-ho froze completely.

Feeling the heat rush to her ears, she clumsily scrambled out of bed and climbed down the bunk ladder with impressive speed. He didn’t even have time to react before he saw her disappear, running straight toward the women’s bathroom, where she locked herself without a second thought.

Dae-ho, still bewildered, brought a hand to his lips, where the ghost of her touch still burned.

(...)

For the rest of the morning, she avoided Dae-ho at all costs.

During breakfast, instead of sitting with the others, she chose to eat alone on her bunk, head down and tray resting on her lap. Every time Dae-ho tried to approach, she pretended to be too focused on her food or simply looked away.

The other group members noticed the tension in the air.

"And what’s up with your girlfriend now?" Jung-bae joked, chewing on a piece of bread.

Dae-ho shot him a glare.

"She’s not my girlfriend."

"But she looks at you like she is," Gi-hun added with a teasing smile.

Dae-ho sighed, running a hand over his neck as if trying to shake off the awkwardness.

"She kissed me," he admitted bluntly.

The other three men went silent for a second before Young-il let out a suppressed laugh.

"What?!"

"Yeah. This morning. She kissed me and then ran off like she’d committed a crime."

"Well, technically, it is," Jung-bae quipped. "In this place, having feelings for someone is a risk."

Dae-ho didn’t respond. He knew that all too well. But it was already too late.

"And what did you do?" Young-il asked.

The ex-marine shrugged.

"Nothing. I didn’t have time to react. By the time I realized what had happened, she was already running to the bathroom."

The other three exchanged looks before bursting into synchronized laughter.

"Poor girl, she must be dying of embarrassment," Gi-hun said.

"And you’re not helping by just sitting here instead of talking to her," Jung-bae pointed out.

Dae-ho frowned at them.

"And what do you expect me to do? Corner her and say, ‘Hey, about the kiss… no worries, okay? You can do it whenever you want’?"

"You could at least make her feel less awkward," Gi-hun said. "Clearly, she likes you, and if she keeps avoiding you, it’s going to be weird for everyone."

Dae-ho sighed again, setting his tray aside. He didn’t need them to tell him. He already knew he had to do something.

The hard part was figuring out the right way to do it.

(...)

The music echoed throughout the room with the rotating platform, a repetitive melody that had become unbearable for all the players. Around them, doors of different colors waited to be opened, but until a number was announced, no one could move. Several rounds had passed, ranging from easy numbers to form groups to smaller ones that made it more difficult.

She had returned to the group for the third game, but her attitude toward Dae-ho hadn’t changed. Though she was with them, she didn’t speak a word to him. She stayed close to Jun-hee, talking with her or pretending that Dae-ho’s presence beside her didn’t affect her in the slightest.

But of course, it did.

And he noticed.

What he didn’t notice—at least not immediately—was someone else watching her.

Thanos.

That bastard had gotten too close to Y/N, though keeping just far enough away for her not to notice. But Dae-ho did notice. And his jaw clenched at the sight.

The music stopped abruptly.

"Two" announced the voice over the speakers.

In the blink of an eye, Thanos lunged at Y/N, grabbing her wrist and pulling her forcefully toward one of the rooms.

"Come on, Y/N!" he said with a smile that was meant to be charming but only managed to churn her stomach.

She struggled, but her size and strength weren't enough.

Dae-ho reacted without thinking.

A precise punch, delivered with all his strength, landed on Thanos's face, sending them both straight to the ground.

"I warned you" Dae-ho growled, glaring at him with pure contempt. "If you touch her again, I won't show any mercy."

Y/N, still on the floor, looked up at him with wide eyes. The way he stood in front of her and how he protected her without hesitation made her chest feel strangely... warm.

But there was no time to stay there.

Without any effort, Dae-ho scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing and sprinted toward one of the empty rooms. He crossed the door just before the timer hit zero, and it slammed shut behind them with a loud bang.

He set her down gently, but as soon as he did, all the anger, fear, and frustration he had been holding back exploded at once.

"Why have you been ignoring me all morning?" Dae-ho asked, his voice filled with emotions he couldn't even name.

Y/N bit her lip, lowering her gaze.

"because I was very embarrassed..." she admitted softly. "For kissing you like that... without thinking."

Dae-ho stared at her in disbelief.

"Embarrassed?"

She nodded, feeling even more foolish at hearing the disbelief in his tone.

He shook his head, stepping closer.

"You shouldn't have run away."

Y/N lifted her gaze just in time to see him move even closer, until their faces were dangerously near.

"Because the only thing I've wanted since I first saw you was for you to kiss me."

She barely had time to react before he closed the distance and kissed her.

This time, there was no embarrassment.

Their lips met with desperate intensity; after all, they had been waiting for this all along. She clung to his neck, losing herself in the friction of their bodies, while he held her by the waist, pulling her even closer-if that was even possible.

There was no one else in that moment.

Just the two of them.

And oh, they were going to enjoy it...

(+18)

The nearest wall witnessed absolutely everything. Dae-ho cornered her and let his hands run over her curves—respectfully—carefully. He really touched her as if she was going to break. As if she were just a porcelain doll in his hands.

"How much time do we have?" He parted slightly from her lips to speak and at the same time regain the air he was missing.

She looked over Dae-ho's shoulder and saw that the guards were just beginning to pick up the bodies from the ground, and this time there were many.

"Enough." She said while smiling with her breathing heavily.

Dae-ho didn't hesitate for a second and attacked her lips again with hunger, with desire, with something that not even he knew what it was, but he needed her right there.

His hands slipped under her clothes and he moved away from her lips only to look into her eyes, asking her permission to continue. Once he saw that she nodded her head quickly, he allowed himself to get to know her more. He unzipped her jacket and she did the same with his. A few seconds later both were already on the ground. They were definitely not necessary.

Dae-ho put his hands under her shirt and felt her hot skin calling out to him. It ran down her waist slowly as it climbed a little higher, reaching the sides of her breasts. His eyes again met hers, seeking approval.

"Just do it." She said, laughing with desperation in her tone.

He laughed lightly, but his attention was really elsewhere. He took off her shirt and dropped it on the floor along with the other clothes.

His sight unconsciously slowed down on her breasts, but out of mere respect he pretended not to have delighted you to attack his neck with wet kisses. His hands cradled both breasts carefully, giving them a small squeeze. They were big, they didn't fit into his hands, and that drove him crazy, he wanted to take her completely.

He left kisses and marks all over her neck while she just let out sighs with the occasional moan, running her nails down his neck and pulling slightly at the hair that fell from the back of his neck.

Y/N's bra ended up along with the rest of the clothes. Dae-ho began massaging one breast as he slowly lowered his kisses down to the other, running all over her warm skin and reaching her already prominent nipple, taking it in his mouth and biting it lightly. She no longer held back, she simply moaned without any shame.

He switched to the other breast while massaging the previous one, and a few seconds later it went back up to her neck, passing through her jaw and reaching her mouth again.

Their lips met again in despair and they both made sure that their bodies were completely together.

Dae-ho quickly pulled away to hear a loud groan from her. He looked at her confused and she, with her red cheeks, looked down. He followed her gaze and understood the reason for her sound.

He had felt a pressure in his pants but he didn't think it was so noticeable. Before he could say anything, she kissed him again, grabbing his neck with one hand and the other down from her chest to his stomach, and slowly moving closer down.

He shyly brushed the hem of Dae-ho's pants, feeling the heat his body emanated.

She lowered her hand further and ran the tip of his finger along the length of his cock that was already too marked through the fabric. Dae-ho stifled a moan shyly as he hid his face in her neck.

"I want to hear you... Don't hold back." She said as she ran her free hand through his hair, tugging slightly from time to time.

She took his cock completely. It was thick and quite long compared to the ones she had already —tasted.—

She began to use the palm of her hand to massage it from top to bottom, making a constant friction.

It was then that she felt the fabric get slightly moist that she realized that she could now go down.

Slowly she knelt in front of him, never taking her eyes off his eyes, tucking her hair behind her ears. Dae-ho noticed it and quickly untied the ponytail he had and used it to hold her hair in a messy bun that made her look sexier than she already was.

With just one look he understood her and began to pull down his pants along with his boxers. His cock, already completely hard, was present in front of her face, who did not take long to notice every vein, every mole he had.

She began by kissing Dae-ho's pelvis and then reached the base of his penis, looking up to delight in the expressions of pleasure he made.

She left kisses all the way, reaching the tip already moistened with pre-cum, which she did not hesitate to lick.

Y/N began to kiss the tip of the cock while slowly taking more and more in her mouth until she reached a point where she already had it completely inside her. That's when she began to move her head slowly from front to back, sucking faster and faster.

Dae-ho didn't care about anything anymore, he simply moaned while he held her hair, urging her to make her movements faster. He quickly moved his hips from front to back intensifying the blowjob, while her eyes became watery from the overwhelming sensation of having him completely in her mouth, without letting her breathe. Damn, she loved that feeling, it was something she could get used to.

She choked a few times but it was just a matter of pulling her mouth away from him, catching her breath while jerking him off with her hand and then spitting on the length of his cock and then taking it back completely with her mouth.

Dae-ho's hard cock began to tremble slightly as his muscles contracted, and in a guttural moan he snatched his cock out of her mouth and ended up on her face.

"Damn, I'm sorry. Come here." He said as he took her by the shoulders so that she would stand up and after pulling up his pants, he bent down to look for a disposable tissue that he had in his jacket, carefully cleaning any trace of his —you know— that had fallen on her delicate face.

She only laughed while her hand was attached to his wrist.

"Players, you can go out now." It was heard over the loudspeaker.

THIS IS PART 2, READ PART 1 IN MY PROFILE

It was time to vote. The players stepped forward one by one to press the buttons that would decide their fate: a circle to continue the game, or an X to stop it and leave.

Y/n and Dae-ho stood at the back of the crowd, silently watching as the others made their choices. Both had already voted to stop the games, though their reasons were different. Y/n, weighed down by the deaths they had just witnessed, couldn’t fathom facing such horrors again. Dae-ho, on the other hand, had his own reasoning, though he didn’t voice it—it was mostly about her.

With his arm firmly around her shoulders, Dae-ho noticed how she kept biting her nails, her eyes fixed on the players heading toward the buttons.

"If we make it out of here, I’m taking you out to dinner. I promise it’ll be the best restaurant you’ve ever been to." Dae-ho murmured, leaning closer to her.

She glanced at him, amused, slowly lowering her hand from her mouth. "Oh, really? And who’s paying? Because I’m broke."

He smirked. "Of course I’m paying. Just don’t order the most expensive thing on the menu, okay?"

They both chuckled softly, the tension in the air easing a little. But then the final player stepped forward—a serious—looking man wearing the number 001.

Y/n pressed her lips together, glancing at Dae-ho, who froze as they watched the man approach the button. For a moment, everything felt suspended in the air until Player 001 finally pressed the circle.

The result was clear. The games would continue.

(...)

Back in the dormitory, Y/n and Dae-ho sat on a bunk bed, the highest one in their row. She knelt behind him, carefully tying his long hair into a ponytail. It was an intimate gesture, one that seemed small but carried weight for both of them.

"You should comb it a little more." she said softly, tying the elastic around his hair. "You’d look more... polished."

Dae-ho scoffed, turning his head slightly to look at her. "‘Polished’? What are you trying to say? That I look like a mess right now?"

She laughed, her freckles lighting up with the motion. "No, no. I just mean you’d look more... put-together. Though, I think I like it the way it is, honestly."

He didn’t reply, but a faint smile crept onto his lips, one she didn’t catch. As the silence settled between them, Dae-ho glanced down at a group of players that had caught his attention. Among them was the man who had led the first game, alongside two others: a friendly-looking, slightly chubby man and the serious player who had broken the voting tie.

"Stay here. I’ll be right back," Dae-ho said suddenly, getting to his feet.

She looked at him, confused, as he climbed down the bunk and walked toward the group. Unsure of what he was planning, she decided to follow him, carefully descending the bunk. By the time she reached the floor, Dae-ho was already speaking with them more relaxed than usual.

At first, she stayed back, not paying much attention to the conversation. But everything shifted when Dae-ho casually wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, and this is Y/n." he said, gesturing to her. "We’ve been together since the beginning of the games."

"Is she your girlfriend?" the chubby man asked curiously, while the man from the first game let out a quiet laugh.

Dae-ho stiffened, his face going slightly rigid. "No, she’s not my girlfriend." he replied quickly, though his nervous tone betrayed him.

She felt her cheeks flush with warmth but pretended not to hear anything, focusing instead on how they interacted. She made a mental note of their names: Gi-hun, who seemed to know more than he let on; Jung-bae, the friendly-looking man with a kind expression; and Young-il, the serious man who carried an air of mystery.

Jung-bae’s attention suddenly shifted to Dae-ho, and he stepped closer, pulling up Dae-ho’s sleeve.

"You were in the marines? class number?" Jung-bae asked, narrowing his eyes.

Dae-ho didn’t seem to take the question seriously, letting out a small, incredulous laugh. That’s when Jung-bae rolled up his own sleeve, revealing the exact same tattoo.

Dae-ho immediately straightened up, standing at attention and offering a salute of respect.

"Victory all cost! I was in class 1140 sir!"

(...)

The second game was the Six-Legged Pentathlon.

When all the players entered the gym, the tension was palpable. Flags from different countries hung on the walls, and on the floor, two large circles with rainbow-colored stripes stood out against the brown sand. A voice broke the silence, informing them they needed to form groups of five.

For them, that wasn’t a problem—they were already five. Gi-hun, Jung-bae, and Young-il immediately started discussing strategies, exchanging quick ideas as they tried to figure out what awaited them. Meanwhile, Dae-ho stayed close to Y/n. Without saying much, he took her hand.

It was a simple gesture but full of meaning. Both looked down at their interlocked fingers before meeting each other’s gaze.

Before either of them could say a word, a short girl with dark hair tipped with dyed ends came up to them. Her voice trembled as she said: "Excuse me... do you think I can join you guys?"

Jung-bae was the first to respond, calm but firm. "Sorry, we got our fifth player a second ago."

"Please, help me." she insisted, placing a hand on her belly. "I’m pregnant."

All their attention instinctively dropped to her stomach. An uncomfortable silence fell over the group as the girl continued pleading with her eyes.

Dae-ho was the first to move. He stepped forward, opening his mouth to volunteer to leave the group, but the blonde girl beat him to it. She stepped forward before he could say anything, raising her hand.

"It’s fine. I’ll find another group."

Dae-ho turned to her, frowning. "What? No. Absolutely not."

"It’s the best option, Dae-ho." She said calmly, but he wasn’t willing to listen.

"I’m not letting you go alone. It’s too dangerous."

"And what do you want me to do? Leave her without a team?" She shot back, crossing her arms.

"No, but you can stay here, and I’ll find another team." he replied, not caring if his answer came off as selfish.

Their argument grew, whispered but intense.

"I don’t want to lose you, okay? I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you," Dae-ho blurted out, seeming to regret the words the moment they left his mouth.

She blinked, surprised, and for a moment, all her anger disappeared. She took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Nothing’s going to happen to me. Trust me, okay? I’ll be fine."

Dae-ho closed his eyes, clearly frustrated, but finally nodded. Without another word, she stepped away from the group and began searching for a new team, disappearing into the crowd.

(...)

The game ended, and the players began returning to the dormitory in small groups, exhausted but grateful to have survived.

Dae-ho was on the edge of desperation. He stood near the door, watching every face that entered, hoping to see her. Each time the door opened, his heart leapt, only to sink again when she wasn’t there.

When she finally appeared, her blonde hair disheveled and her face pale but unharmed, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Without a second thought, Dae-ho ran down to intercept her. When he reached her side, he hugged her for the first time since they’d arrived. It was desperate, as if he needed to make sure she was really there, alive and safe.

She, though surprised at first, closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. She listened to the rapid, strong beats of his heart, and for a moment, she felt safe—even in this place filled with death and despair.

"Don’t ever do that again." he murmured, his voice rough, holding her tightly.

From the moment he saw her smile and pose for the photo they were taking at the start, Dae-ho couldn’t help but notice her. Not because he wanted to, but because something about her presence seemed to draw attention effortlessly. She was the blonde girl with long hair, the kind of golden tone that caught the soft light in the room, making it appear gentler than anyone in a place like this had a right to be. And those freckles... damn, they were like tiny specks of art scattered across her face, framing eyes that shone with a mix of calmness and determination.

Not that Dae-ho cared, of course. He wasn’t there to admire anyone’s beauty. He was there to win. But somehow, his gaze kept drifting back to her, no matter how hard he tried to resist. It was absurd how his mind insisted on taking in every detail—from the way she tucked her hair behind her ear to how she seemed to analyze the situation with a precision that intrigued him.

“She’s nothing special,” he told himself in an attempt to cut off those thoughts. But almost immediately, he corrected himself: “Well, yeah, she’s cute, I guess.” That simple admission made him frown at himself. This wasn’t the time or place to be thinking about things like that, and he knew it.

When the first game began, "Red Light, Green Light," she caught his attention again—this time because of the way she stepped slightly away from the crowd. It was a smart move, albeit risky. Most people stuck to the center, as if being surrounded offered some false sense of security. But not her. She stayed near the edge, choosing an open space where no one could sabotage her. That’s when Dae-ho realized something else about her: she wasn’t just cute—she was clever.

Her decision paid off. Soon enough, some players started pushing each other for no reason, and gunshots rang out as the cameras detected even the smallest movements. The chaos that erupted only confirmed what he already suspected: the girl knew how to think strategically.

For his part, Dae-ho decided that sticking close to her wasn’t a bad idea. Not because she was cute, of course, but because she seemed to know what she was doing. At least, that’s what he told himself as he carefully advanced.

Step by step, syncing his movements with the game, he eventually positioned himself behind her. Just when he thought he had everything under control, something unexpected happened: she stumbled. It was a small movement, almost imperceptible, but enough to make her lurch forward. Before she could hit the ground and risk her life, Dae-ho acted purely on instinct. He lunged forward and grabbed her by the waist, his hands finding a firm hold to steady her.

The contact was brief but intense. Gently yet firmly, he helped her stand upright, making sure she didn’t move more than necessary. She turned slightly to look at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and gratitude, while he tried to keep his composure as if it were no big deal.

“Be careful,” he muttered quietly, his tone more commanding than he intended. But inside, his heart was pounding, and it had nothing to do with the stress of the game.

Dae-ho didn’t think twice before stepping forward and placing himself in front of her, shielding her with his broad frame. It was as if some protective instinct had taken over—a reflex he couldn’t explain. If that doll detected any movement, he’d rather it be his than hers.

“Stay behind me and don’t move,” he whispered firmly, without looking back at her. He knew that even the slightest distraction could cost them their lives.

She obeyed, but couldn’t help whispering back, her voice so soft it almost blended with the wind:

“Thank you… that was really brave of you.”

Dae-ho didn’t respond right away. His jaw was tight, his eyes locked on the path ahead. Talking during the game was risky, but he couldn’t deny that a small part of him was affected by her words. Even so, he forced himself to stay focused, blocking out any emotions that could betray him.

“Just focus on moving forward,” he replied, curt but not cold. It was his way of protecting her, of keeping her from letting her guard down too soon.

Long seconds passed that felt like hours. Each pause in the doll’s song brought a brief sense of relief, but every time the music stopped, the danger pulsed in the air again. Dae-ho moved with precise steps, ensuring his body remained a shield between her and that fucking doll.

When they were close to the finish line, the tension in his body was almost suffocating. He could feel the pressure behind him, as if she were holding her breath, waiting for his next move. That’s when he made a decision: he subtly reached his hand back, his fingers searching for hers until he found them.

“When the music starts again, run with me, okay?” he murmured, his tone more of a command than a suggestion.

She didn’t reply, but her hand gripped his firmly—a silent confirmation that she was ready. The song resumed, and without a second thought, Dae-ho pulled her forward with him, sprinting full speed toward the finish line. His heart pounded, not just from the physical exertion but because he knew one wrong move could doom them both.

When they finally crossed to the other side, relief hit them like a wave. She dropped to her knees, gasping for air, while Dae-ho bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. There were no victory cries or triumphant smiles—just the sound of their breathing, mingling with the screams of those still struggling to survive.

When they’d both calmed down a little, their eyes met at last. It was a strange moment, charged with something neither of them could put into words.

“Y/n…” she said finally, breaking the silence as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “My name’s Y/n.”

Dae-ho straightened, still not looking away from her. His voice, when he replied, was softer than usual, as if saying her name was a privilege.

“Kang Dae-ho.”

“Thank you, Dae-ho,” she whispered, her gaze filled with a mix of gratitude and something else—something he wasn’t ready to figure out.

(...)

The massive room, packed with bunk beds stacked to dizzying heights, was enveloped in an eerie silence, broken only by scattered murmurs and the muffled sobs of a few players. The cold lights cast long shadows, making the space feel even more oppressive. Dae-ho, sitting on his bunk, couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was on the highest bed of one of the rows across the dorm, sitting cross-legged with her gaze fixed somewhere on the floor. Her blonde hair fell messily over her shoulders, though it was clear she didn’t care. There was something different about her now, a glow that was no longer there.

Without thinking too much about it, Dae-ho stood up and began climbing the bunks toward her. He didn’t care about the curious glances from the others. He just knew he had to get closer. When he reached her bed, he leaned in carefully so as not to startle her.

“Can I sit here?” he asked, his voice low but gentle.

She looked up, visibly surprised to see him there. She hesitated for a moment but finally nodded, scooting over slightly to make room for him.

Dae-ho sat next to her, observing her quietly. He could see how she nervously fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, twisting and untwisting it, as if she needed something tangible to occupy her restless mind.

“What’s wrong?” he finally asked, his tone direct but tinged with concern.

She sighed, keeping her gaze down, avoiding his.

“I didn’t expect… this,” she murmured, gesturing vaguely at the emptiness around them, as if trying to encompass everything that had happened. “The deaths, the blood… I didn’t think it would be like this.”

Dae-ho waited silently, giving her space to continue.

“I thought they’d just be kids’ games. Harder, sure, but not so… inhuman,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I can’t believe how many people died out there… and I… I just want to leave.”

Her confession hung in the air. Dae-ho watched her in silence, seeing how her strong, determined facade was crumbling. It was hard to process, but he understood exactly how she felt.

“Listen,” he said firmly, turning slightly to face her. “None of us thought it would be like this. We’re all scared, but you survived, okay? You made it through that game. It’s not easy, but if you want to make it out of here alive, you have to keep going.”

She looked at him, her brown eyes glistening with tears she didn’t dare let fall.

“What if I can’t?”

“You can.” he said without hesitation. “And I’ll make sure you do.”

She let out a nervous, almost incredulous laugh.

“Why do you care so much? You barely know me.”

Dae-ho shrugged, though his gaze was intense.

“Why do you trust me so much? You barely know me.” he countered with the same logic.

“I don’t know… something tells me I should,” She said, shrugging as a shy smile crept onto her face.

“Exactly. Something tells us to.” he replied, his tone unwavering.

For a moment, she studied him in silence. Eventually, a small, tired smile formed on her lips.

“Thanks, Dae-ho.” she whispered, her voice softer now.

He nodded and, almost instinctively, placed his large hand over her delicate one, giving it a gentle squeeze of encouragement.