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SEVENTEEN | THOSE WERE THE DAYS

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THE WOMAN KEPT her eyes fixed on Deok-Su's group to observe them. She was determined in finding out whoever had inside information. Currently, there were only two people he always went to whenever he needed something. It was the glasses guy and the stout man, players 111 and 278, respectively.

"Players, your bedtime will begin in 30 minutes. Please return to your assigned beds and prepare for lights-out."

"Another fight could break out like last night. We should make a plan." Sang-Woo asserted.

"What can we do, huh? We’ve got three girls and old man and us. Our team is the weakest one in here."

This time, the man who ardently prayed earlier, then suggested, "We should choose a weak team and go after them first."

"For a resident priest, you sure are bloodthirsty."

And Soo-Jin couldn't agree more with the female newcomer. She pointed her finger to her and nodded. 

"I mean, everybody’s hands are bloody. We’re all sinners, but we’re still here, aren’t we?"

"Attacking is our best option. So, I think that’s our plan." Player 196 claimed. The brunette was about to challenge his statement when Sae-Byeok beat her to it.

"During the fight last night, the man in the bed in front of me got killed. And the person he thought was on his side broke his neck." she narrated, glaring at the two men. "Do you trust me then? I don’t trust one person here."

By this, Gi-Hun stood up, affirming his position as the leader of the group. Even though it was unofficial, Soo-Jin felt like he was mostly the one who made the decisions and that was his greatest strength. To lead. "All right. I think let’s still do something. Before the lights go out, let’s create a barricade. It might be good to make sure that we have cover."

Ali nodded. "Let's do that."

And so they collected metal and rearranged their beds to serve as protection from attacks. Although yes, it wasn't enough, at least they would immediately know if someone would enter since Soo-Jin set up traps that would alert them using the metal bars. She and Gi-Hun worked together to prepare them and the activity evoked some of her memories with him.

"Are you really sure you can make this car work?" inquired the young brunette, crossing her arms. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I believe in your skills, but this car... it's like dead, already."

Gi-Hun raised his wrench, his optimistic smile almost blinding her. "Yes! Of course! I have to. The customer will pay me big if I can make this baby of his work."

Soo-Jin was already in her junior year. She couldn't believe that a year from now, she will enter Law School and be a lawyer. She returned to her hometown since she heard her parents adopted a year-old baby girl named Hana and wanted to personally meet the toddler.

Her new sister was very adorable and Soo-Jin's heart was instantly captured when Hana gave her a bright smile. She knew then and there she would protect her with all of her life. Actually, upon seeing the baby, she immediately told her boyfriend her desire to start a family with him intensified. It was all planned, already... mostly by their parents. They'll get married in Jeju Island in the summer of 2000.

She took another glimpse at her anniversary ring. It was a temporary engagement ring since well, they were still students and obviously, couldn't afford one yet. But, Soo-Jin didn't care for any of that nonsense. What mattered to her more was that she get married to the man she loved.

"Aish, Soo-Jin," tsked Gi-Hun, smiling playfully. "Keep your eyes off your ring. It won't disappear."

"I just... well, I -- "

"Don't explain anymore. I know. You're in love." he teased, elbowing her side. "I still wish though I was the one who gave you that." he then mumbled.

"Gi-Hun..."

"Ya, I understand. You told me about it before. You can't dictate your heart. It's okay." He shrugged. "Ya, you told me you fancied me before. What happened to that?"

Soo-Jin actually gathered enough courage and confidmece to admit that she once had feelings for him, but it died down. She hadn't told him why though... until now.

She was about to speak up when he lifted his tool and uttered, "Be honest with me, Soo-Jin."

"When am I not?" She shot back, crossing her arms. "You want the truth? Well, I just... I didn't find what I'm looking for in you. Our personalities clash a lot and honestly speaking, if we ask our parents about that, they'll blame it on our blood type, zodiac sign, time of birth, and etc."

She then handed him a screwdriver. "But, honestly, you are the bestfriend I'm looking for, Seong Gi-Hun." She vocalized. "You are kind, goofy at times, sweet and really thoughtful. You make me forget my problems, you make every situation we are in feel light, you are optimistic, hopeful..."

Gi-Hun set aside his wrench and turned to listen to her.

"You are my voice of reason why I get too vicious in my aim of getting what I want. You bring out the best in me, Gi-Hun. We don't need to be lovers to be soulmates."

He genuinely smiled and enveloped his arms around her. "Then, I am glad to be your bestfriend, Soo-Jin, and as I promised, I will be there for you when you need me."

Soo-Jin patted his back. She was really relieved that nothing changed their friendship. God knows she needs him when the times will be tough. "Now, will you teach me how to fix a car? I would love to learn about it."

"Of course! Go, get the rest of the toolbox. I'll teach you. Automotives are my expertise."

"Ya, bitch, Ssangmun-dong." sniggered Deok-Su, approaching them. It broke Soo-Jin reminiscing of the past, causing her to frown. "Ya, I appreciate the work you’re doing. Nice. But, do you think these will do anything? We can get through all of this easily."

Soo-Jin only gave him a glare, not minding his taunting. She still couldn't believe how he could be so audacious to confront her when she already disoriented him thrice. Thrice.

"You’re not worried at all?" retaliated Gi-Hun. "Those scumbags you got on your side over there? They’re people you trust? If that was me there… once the fighting starts to happen, you’ll be the first person I’d go for."

Deok-Su's expression faltered and he inclined his head to his own group. It was true. Thry were all vicious, bloodthirsty killers. They wouldn't hesitate for one second in betraying Deok-Su since they really didn't owe him anything. While with Soo-Jin's group, she had people she could trust.

"Ya -- "

"You’re the strongest person here, Deok-Su. That's your name, right?" Soo-Jin finally spoke up. "If I wasn't so merciful, I would've already killed you. Why? Because you might become the biggest threat in my way of winning that prize later on." She gestured to the piggy bank.

Deok-Su was rendered speechless and for the first time, he didn't instigate any fight or argument with her. He only backed away and returned to his group.

The brunette was still observing 101's team even when her own group was formulating a strategy to protect themselves for any attack during their sleep. She counted them all and noticed that player 111, the glasses guy, was missing. They still had a few minutes before the lights off, and she noted that maybe he went to the bathroom.

"You're focusing on them too much, guardian angel." commented Minjun beside her, his hands clasped together. "You really think they already knew the third game before it was revealed to us?"

"Sang-Woo's very observant. I trust his judgement. I also noticed it earlier, but I didn't pay it too much attention. Deok-Su only got rid of Mi-Nyeo and kept all of his boys with him. It's suspicious."

Minjun nodded. "So, what are you planning to do?"

Soo-Jin narrowed her eyes at the group far away from them. "Well, I'll monitor them through the night. One of them is missing right now, actually. If that guy returns immediately, then it's another player from them who gets inside information."

"You want to catch the cheater for what?"

The woman pursed her lips and finally, turned her head to the young boy. "I want to eliminate the upper hand they have. Every competition should be fair. However, if I can't eliminate them, then I plan to use them as our advantage instead."

"Use them?"

She smirked. "Blackmail, well, sort of. I'll not report him to the guards if he tells us what he knows about the next game. God only knows what they will do to him if they knew he was cheating. I can only assume they'll execute him since we were promised fairness, right?"

Minjun's lips fell agape. "Oh, that is so smart! Miss, I want to help you in this! Let me!"

"It's too dangerous. It's better that I do it myself."

"You'll need someone with you, miss. I can be of use. I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

"Oh?"

"I'll show them to you when you let me help you."

Soo-Jin thought about it. She was worried really. Well, not too much, for herself, but for the boy. If she gets caught sneaking around, then he will be dragged along. But, then, she also needed the extra help. She sighed. "Fine, but you will do what I say, okay?"

"Okay."

"What are you two conversing about there?" Mi-Nyeo's voice suddenly came up behind them and the two jumped slightly, surprised by her presence.

Soo-Jin swallowed. "We were just..." She then paused upon realizing that she could ask her for information about 101's group since she was part of them before. "well, thinking about why would Deok-Su remove you from his group. Do you know anything about that?"

Mi-Nyeo narrowed her eyes into slits when she looked up at 101. Licking her lips, she uttered, "First of all, they didn't remove me. I removed myself. Second," She then knelt beside Soo-Jin, leaning towards her ear. She whispered, "That asshole and that doctor... they're hiding something. I noticed it after the fight."

"Doctor?"

"111. He's a doctor. He stitched Deok-Su after he got wounded during the fight."

Soo-Jin blinked and flickered her gaze to the clock. It was already down to the last three minutes. The doctor, player 111, left twenty minutes earlier. What was taking him so long to return? She nodded. "Thank you for the very valuable information, Mi-Nyeo. I appreciate it."

"Anytime, bold woman. I am smart too like you, you know. I just never had the chance to study."

"Call me, Soo-Jin."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"They’ll shut off the lights soon. They might not all come right away." Gi-Hun huddled them together just like how a leader would do. Soo-Jin tapped both of her teammates' arms and they proceeded to listen to her bestfriend's plan. She really approved of his suggestion as it was what she was thinking of earlier. "So, we better swap out who’s gonna keep watch, just to be safe, I think."

"No, two of us should watch. A pair can keep each other awake. Just one person might go leave and betray our team." sighed Sang-Woo.

That's when the old man spoke up. "I can… be first watch then. You don’t really sleep a lot when you’re old."

"Excuse me, but are we just supposed to trust an old man like you to not sleep on the job all night?"

Soo-Jin rolled her eyes. "Well, he stayed awake all night after the fight to watch our asses, 196. I'd trust him more with my life than with you."

At this, Sang-Woo gently tugged her wrist to calm her down. "Let me go first. I’m not tired yet."

"I’ll go with you." Soo-Jin brought herself up.

Ali then raised his hand. "Then, I’ll be next."

"Good, good. I'll join you." Gi-Hun nodded then turned to Sang-Woo. "You two wake us up the second you get tired."

"Why don’t I join you two on second watch? Assuming that’s okay with you." suggested the old man, smiling.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

And with that, the whole group went to their beds and prepared themselves to rest. Sang-Woo and Soo-Jin positioned themselves in front of the barricade to keep watch of the other group. It was already down to the last minute and for the third time, she counted Deok-Su's members. They were still nine. The doctor had still yet to return.

Where are you, 111? And what are you doing?

"Soo-Jin," softly called Sang-Woo as the lights finally went out, breaking Soo-Jin's focus.

"Yes?"

"Calm down. You're thinking too much again."

"What?"

"You have that face again when you're too deep in your thoughts." he mentioned.

"I'm just... thinking about what you said."

While Soo-Jin crossed her legs in front of her, he lifted his knees to his chest. "Which one? I said a lot."

The woman stared at her hands as her thoughts reverted back to their conversation in the bathroom. "Do you mean it? Us, starting over?"

"What do you plan to do after you win that money?"

"Are you avoiding my question?"

"Answer it."

Soo-Jin crossed her arms. "Well, I joined here because of Hana. I'll pay for her hospital bills and transplant. Find a therapist since I know I will be so traumatized after this..."

"Then?"

"Pursue my dreams. Finish the last semester of senior year. Then, proceed to Law School. Do everything I wasn't able to do for the last twenty-two years." She finished. "You?"

"I'll get a therapist too after this like you. Admit to them everything... even my attempt to... end my life."

The brunette blinked. "You planned to end your life?"

"After you left my apartment, I decided to end everything. I just... found no more purpose to continue my life, but then these guys returned and gave me a card." He nonchalantly expressed as if he was just brushing the topic like it was nothing. Soo-Jin turned to him, and cupped his face in her hands. She couldn't believe he was about to do it, end his life. What's worse about it was that it almost happened after she left.

"Ya -- "

"At first, I joined because I can't end my life so I just decided to let the games kill me." he interjected, looking down at the ground. His strong eyes were softening again and he lifted his hand to put it above hers. She let her thumb stroke his cheek. She could feel herself wanting to cry because the man she still loves wanted to surrender, to give up. "But, then I saw you back in here and I thought this was my second chance. I shouldn't waste it. You and my mother are the reasons why I'm fighting to be alive now." he kissed her palm.

"When the fight happened, I realized I want to live because I still want that life with you, Soo-Jin."

Soo-Jin shut her eyes, quietly sobbing.

"I-I want to live. I will pay off my debts, clear my name, start my own investment firm, then marry you."

Her mind wanted to believe it could really happen, but then they were in this games where they could die anytime. She didn't even know if he or she will survive the next game.

Hope. You still have hope. You can still hope.

"You're crying," Sang-Woo noted, grazing his fingers below her eyes. Soo-Jin couldn't bear the feeling no longer. She still wanted it all. She still wanted what they have always dreamt about before they separated.

"No, I'm impersonating a fountain." She sarcastically countered.

He wasn't amused.

"God," She then complained. "Neither of us is drunk enough for this kind of conversation, but..." Exhaling, she continued. "I just... we could have had everything. We could've worked out our relationship, find us both a job that could've sustained my education, maybe find a scholarship for Law School. We could have gotten married! We could've had a son or a daughter! We... we could've been a family."

"We could still have that, Soo-Jin... after this."

"But -- "

"There wasn't really a rule that stated only one can win, right? They only implied and made us feel like there could one winner, but they never explicitly told us there could only be one." he explained, taking her hands in his, hope filling his dark eyes. They radiated off through his gaze, brilliantly shining like stars in the sky. "There's always a loophole in every rule, Soo-Jin. We can find a way to win together."

She bit her lip as she looked down. "But if that is true, what about Gi-Hun, Minjun, the rest that is in here? We'll let them die?"

He stared once again at the floor, and closing his eyes, he nodded as if he made a decision. Sang-Woo kissed her forehead. "I promise we will find a way for us all to live."

At that moment, hope filled her entire body. There was still indeed hope for them all. If Sang-Woo was correct, they could still find a way to save everyone, just like what they both did in the previous game.

Oh, if they only knew the next game... the next game was going to burn that hope into ashes.

"I trust you." she uttered once again, leaning her forehead against him. "I love you."

There was a moment of stilled breathing at that moment. Those three words were enough to ignite once again what they had. Drawing her eyes to his lips, she leant closer.

Heat rose from her stomach to her chest and Soo-Jin's heart definitely skipped a beat as her former lover's lips closed in. He was so close. That was it -- at that very moment his lips brushed over mine like a wave of warmth and all of her body reacted to him instinctively. Her eyes zeroed in on his. If anything, the warm feeling of his breath, although destabilizing, was inviting.  The taste of him… it silenced her thoughts and made her want more. 

Then, someone stirred awake and suddenly fell on the floor with a loud thud.

It was Minjun.

The two immediately broke away like they committed a crime. They both watched the young boy rub his forehead, his eyes blinking. "Ow... that hurt." he mumbled and the former couple chuckled. Minjun was adorable and Soo-Jin could not really comprehend why he was in the games. She thought she should ask him already. Thinking of that, she stood up her seat and approached him.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. I just realized I'm not sleepy." He shook his head. "Mind if I join you, guys? I still have too much energy right now."

She ruffled his hair and took his hand. "Of course, come on."

It wasn't too long that Gi-Hun woke up and he jumped in his makeshift bed. It was as if he just had a nightmare. His forehead was covered with symmetrical beads of sweat, which looked like little, glassy jewels sprinkled all over. Troubled, she went over to him, placing her hand above his cheek to soothe him. "Ya, ya, Gi-Hun, it's okay. You're okay. It's me."

"Soo-Jin," panted he. "I'm sorry. Did I wake anyone?"

She shook her head. "No, you didn't. Did you have a nightmare?"

"It was just... the third game. It's-it's..." he bowed his head down and Soo-Jin clicked her tongue, embracing him. Her heart was breaking at how everything was taking a toll on him. Even though he didn't say anything, she knew he was scared.

The woman noticed that as the games progressed, the light in his eyes were dimming. Every death was like stabbing him in the heart and it was breaking her heart. Gi-Hun didn't deserve to witness that. He was a kind-hearted man. Sure, he had his flaws, but deep down, he was always a good person. So, in that moment, because her emotions were taking over, she made another decision.

She'll get her bestfriend out of the games alive, no matter what.

She and Sang-Woo will work together to keep everyone alive. Gi-Hun, Minjun, Ali, Sae-Byeok, the elderly man... they will all survive.

"Ya, we'll get through this, Gi-Hun. Okay? You'll see your mother and your daughter. I promise we'll get you out of here alive." She rubbed his back, comforting him. Bringing Gi-Hun to the front where they sat at, the four only beheld the darkness and the golden piggy bank hanging in the center of the ceiling.

"Do you two remember when we were still kids..." instantaneously articulated Gi-Hun. "We would make this makeshift kites and see whose would fly higher?"

A grin flashed on Soo-Jin's pink lips. "Yes!" She chuckled. "I even remember Sang-Woo here crying one time because his kite flew lower than us."

Sang-Woo scoffed. "What? Crying? I never cried -- "

"Yes, you did." Soo-Jin and Gi-Hun simultaneously uttered, shooting him a knowing look.

Sang-Woo frowned. "Well, at least, I didn't cry in despair when my crush asked somebody else out." He then snickered. "Remember that, Gi-Hun?"

Soo-Jin's eyes widened into saucers and she gasped. She reminisced the moment she discovered her second crush in high school had feelings for someone else. Well, she really thought Lee Baek-Hyun liked her since he asked her to tutor him in Chemistry. He would always describe this girl he liked and Soo-Jin assumed it was her which was her mistake. As soon as she found out, it wasn't her, she ran to Gi-Hun and Sang-Woo, wailing.

"Gi-Hun! Sang-Woo!" cried the brunette, banging the gates of the Cho's since she knew her two friends were inside.

"Soo-Jin? Soo-Jin! What happened to you? Why are you crying?" Gi-Hun asked, brushing her hair aside. To be honest, Soo-Jin looked like a mess. Her hair was tangled and her mascara was running. She was just in her shorts, large t-shirt, and slippers when she came over to them. She even had a few drinks beforehand.

"I wasn't the girl he was referring to! I wasn't the girl he liked!" she wailed as she lifted the shoes Baek-Hyun gifted her. "Then, what was this for? Why all the implications? Why? Why? Why?" She dropped to her knees, crying. "I am beautiful! I am confident! I am smart! Why doesn't he like me? Why?"

"Aish," Soo-Jin shuddered just as Gi-Hun cackled and Sang-Woo pressed his lips tightly to avoid laughing. She slapped their shoulders, causing them to yelp. "You didn't have to bring that up!"

She then remembered that Minjun was with them and there he was at the side, his hand over his mouth to keep himself bursting into laughter. Gi-Hun narrated the whole memory to him, making the young boy cringe.

"Minjun, this conversation is staying here okay?" Soo-Jin then made a straight line across her mouth as if to say 'zip it'. "Okay? Keep quiet."

Minjun bit his bottom lip, but he couldn't stop the smile that was breaking through his façade. "Okay, okay. Keep quiet." He copied her gesture earlier and then pointed to Deok-Su's group. "By the way, I counted the group earlier and they're still lacking one member."

Soo-Jin furrowed her eyebrows and just as Sang-Woo and Gi-Hun was about to ask, she raised her hand. "Maybe he's just somewhere sleeping." Standing up, she resumed saying, "Okay, so I'll be going to the comfort room. You two can handle nightwatch?"

Her ex and her bestfriend nodded. "We'll keep watch. We'll wake the old man in a few minutes."

"I'll accompany you to the comfort room, miss. I've been wanting to relieve myself since earlier."

And with that, Minjun and Soo-Jin set off to the bathroom with a red-clad watcher following behind them. Immediately opening the door, she proceeded to the stall where Sae-Byeok used to get inside the vents. She smirked when she saw that the screws weren't tightened.

"Bingo." she muttered then turned to Minjun. "Come on, Minjun. You go first. You said you have tricks up your sleeve, right? Now is the time to prove it."

"So, we're going to do Mission Impossible now?" He asked as he climbed up the toilet bowl and raised himself to get inside the vents.

Soo-Jin walked over to the faucet and let the water rush in to make it seem they were still inside. Breathing, she opened the bathroom door to make another improvise scene when she caught no primary shapes masked watcher guarding outside. Knitting her eyebrows in confusion, she dismissed this and just proceeded to follow Minjun in the vents, concluding that the guard must've left for a minute to do something.

What they didn't know was that the whole facility was in chaos and they were going to be caught in the middle of it.