☀︎︎𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘☀︎︎
"Long time no see."
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The room was so silent that you could even hear a piece of paper fall to the ground. No one expected for the games to turn out like they did. When the guards said the players were going to be eliminated she thought they would just be out the game and return home but they just killed the players. Who knows if some of the dead players had someone waiting for them to come home and worrying about where they are now. Who knows how many days passed whilst being stuck in this hell hold. The memories of people dying replayed in Ji-hye's mind and all she wanted to do was cry, she didn't know why but crying was her only way of venting.

Ji-hye just laid her head on Gi-hun's shoulder since she was closer to him; in this game the only person she could trust right now was Gi-hun. He let her lay her head on his shoulder and just looked down on the ground. Sang-woo looked at both of them but then looked away.

"Sang-woo." Gi-hun spoke up, Sang-woo looked over at his direction "Thanks. Thank you. You two saved my lives." He looked in between player 199 and Sang-woo.

"I'm glad you're alive." Player 199 told him. A buzz filled the silence of the room, Ji-hye lifted her head and got up so did everyone else.

"Congratulations for making it through the first game. Here are the results of the first game." The number 465 players went down to 201 players. "Out of 456 players, 255 players have been eliminated. 201 players have completed the first game." Everyone gasped. Ji-hye just looked down and bit her tongue.

"Sir! Forgive me." A woman walked up to the center of the room "I'll pay off my debts no matter what. I'll pay back at all costs." She went on her knees and cried "Please, sir." She begged "I have....a child. I haven't even named my baby yet, so I couldn't register the baby's birth. Please let me leave." Then another woman got on her knees and asked if they could go home. It was like this and more people got on the floor.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. We are not here to harm you or collect your debts. Let me remind you. We are presenting you with an opportunity."

"An opportunity? You call this an opportunity? You make us play a children's game and then kill us. How is this an opportunity?"

"We may be in debt, but that doesn't mean we deserve to die."

"This is just a game."

"You killed all those people. And yet you call this a game?"

"They were simply eliminated for breaking the rules of the game. As long as you follow the rules, you will safely exit this place with the promised prize money."

"Prize money or no prize money, I didn't care. Just please let me out." Everyone began to talk to each other or try to speak to the guard.

"Clause one of the consent form: A player is not allowed to voluntarily quit the games."

"You really think you can get away with all of this? The police will barge in any minute, looking for the people reported missing."

"He's right. If you don't let us go, they'll locate us by tracking our phones and come find us! Then what will it be for you!" Some began to agree with him, the Guard fired a gun which made everyone scream and jump a bit. Ji-hye hid behind the beds bar and Sang-woo looked at her worried

"Clause two from the consent form: A player who refuses to play will be eliminated."

"Clause three of the consent form: The games may be terminated upon a majority vote. Is that correct?" Sang-woo walked up to the center of the room.

"That is correct."

"Then let us take a vote. If the majority wishes to quit, you will have to let us go."

"As you wish, we will take a vote on whether or not to terminate the games." Everyone thanked Sang-woo "But before we vote, we will reveal the prize amount from the first game."

The lights went dim and the piggy bank filled up with more and more money. Everyone looked at it with hunger. Ji-hye got up to look at it closely, she had never seen this much money before.

"Allocated prize money for each player, 100 million won. Therefore, a current total of 25.5 billion won has accumulated into the piggy bank. If you quit the games now, the 25.5 won will be sent to the families of the eliminated players, 100 million won each. However, all of you will return home empty-handed."

"Excuse me." The woman who said she didn't name her child raised her hand "If we make it through all six games, how much do we get?"

"There are 456 players. So the total is 46.6 billion won. We will begin the vote."

This will definitely change people's opinions.

-

Ji-hye felt the coldness of the road when someone pushed her on the road. She didn't even know where she was at since there was a blindfold on her eyes , her legs and hands were tied together.

"Hello?" She yelled and she heard some noises of people beside her "Hey! Whoever is there can you help me? It's freezing." But no one answered "Goddamnit, this is what I get for following into a trap with an attractive man." She wiggled trying to untie her hands. "If you don't come and help me I will- I don't even know what I'll do."

"Ji-hye stop moving, you're making it harder to untie you if you're moving." Sang-woo went over to Ji-hye after he was done changing

"Sang-woo? Well can you at least try to move at a faster pace? I am freezing." Sang-woo untied her arms, Sang-woo grabbed Ji-hye's jacket and covered her with it. Ji-hye took off her blindfold. Sang-woo went over to grab her clothes then untied her legs. "Thanks." She mumbled

"Get dressed." He handed her clothes. Ji-hye looked at herself embarrassed that she didn't have any clothes on but was covered since Sang-woo wrapped her around her jacket. She went over to the corner somewhere and began to get dressed.

"Sir, where are we?" Player 199 asked. Sang-woo looked around the city

"We're in Yeouido, the central of Seoul." Ji-hye responded and zipped up her jacket

"Do any of you both have a phone? I want to make one call. Just one call."

Sang-woo and Ji-hye both grabbed out their phones but both of their phones were dead.

"Looks like we need to go to a gas station and buy a charger, my phone is dead." Ji-hye began to walk up the road "Cmon, I know the nearest gas station."

-

"That'll be 2,000 won." The cashier said Sang-woo took out his wallet and gave the cashier the money. Sang-woo went over to the side to check his phone, Ji-hye went over to where player 199 was standing at and handed him a bowl of noodles

"Thank you." Player 199 said and bowed which made Ji-hye smile

"It's no problem. What's your name?" Ji-hye asked, beginning to open her bowl of ramyeon

"Ali. Abdul Ali." He smiled "And I think your name is Ji-hye." Ji-hye nodded that it was her name. They both ate their ramyeon. While they were eating, Sang-woo came over and handed him his phone. Ali thanked him and went over to the drink section to talk to someone.

"I got you some ramyeon." Ji-hye gave Sang-woo a bowl of ramyeon, he took it and thanked her. There was an awkward silence between them, none of them expected to meet each other ever again.

"Long time no see." Sang-woo broke the silence and looked at Ji-hye

"Yeah, it's been awhile."

"When did you come back?"

"Like a couple months ago. I thought you were in America, since I visited your mom like a few days ago. She seemed so happy that you were having a 'successful' business."

"You visited my mom?" Sang-woo finished his ramyeon. "How is she? How's the store?"

"She's fine. Her store is in place." Sang-woo just nodded. Ji-hye looked around the store not knowing what else to say. She took a deep breath before finishing her ramyeon, she went over to a bin and threw her trash away. She walked outside the gas station and stood there, thinking where she should go. Sang-woo also walked outside the gas station to smoke.

"Do you want one?" Sang-woo offered her a cigarette but then remembered "Ah right, you don't smoke."

"I thought you stopped smoking. But who am I to judge."

"Thank you, sir." Ali came to join them. He handed Sang-woo's phone back and bowed. Sang-woo grabbed his phone back and shoved it in the inside of his tux "Goodbye."

"Wait." Ji-hye said

"Do you have money for the bus?" Sang-woo asked

"Sorry?"

"You said you live in Ansan. You couldn't even pay for ramyeon. Do you have money for a ride?" Sang-woo pushed his glasses up "Money."

"I don't have money. I walk."

"You're going to walk all the way to Ansan from here? That's a pretty far walk." Ji-hye looked at Ali and he nodded, "You should really take the bus, it'll be better."

Sang-woo put his cigarette back into his mouth and pulled out his wallet giving money to Ali. "Wait a bit, then take the bus."

"I can't." Ali protested "I have no money. I can't pay you back."

"I won't ask you to. Just take it." Ali grabbed the money from Sang-woo

"Thank you." He bowed down "Thank you, sir."

"I'm not your sir, so please stop calling me that." This made Ji-hye smile for some reason

"I'm sorry. Thank you." Sang-woo began to walk away "Thank you."

"Take care Ali, don't miss the bus stop that'll put you in a shitty mood." Ji-hye gave him a big smile, Ali began to walk to the bus stop. Ji-hye went over to where Sang-woo was standing. She stood there for a few more seconds then began walking away. Sang-woo grabbed her shoulder gently, making her turn back.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know. Maybe find a guy to hook up with and get paid." Ji-hye jokes, Sang-woo just blinked at her "I might just go home. There's really nothing to do in the middle of the night. How about you?"

"I'll just rent a hotel and stay there for the night."

"Well, goodbye now, I guess." Ji-hye looked at him one more time before walking off.

Sang-woo stood in the same spot, if he was being honest he would've liked to walk Ji-hye home, to make sure she got there safely and not have any trouble. Sang-woo smoked on more time before dropping it to the ground and stubbing on it.

-

The sun shined brightly through the window of Ji-hye's apartment. She grabbed one ripped pillow trying to cover her from the sun which didn't work since the pillow was ripped. She woke up slowly, sitting up. She stretched a bit before grabbing her phone from the floor. She unplugged it and looked at the time: twelve in the afternoon. She dropped her phone and rubbed her eyes.

She got up from her bed; walking to the bathroom, she turned on the lights. The lights were flickering since she wasn't in a good service apartment. She got ready for the day and walked out her apartment room. Ji-hye walked down the road. For some reason she wanted to visit Mrs.Cho.

"Mrs. Cho!" Ji-hye yelled, Mrs.Cho turned, smiling brightly at the women running to her store.

"Ji-hye, I haven't seen you in two days. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just went to find a job and met up with an old friend."

"That's good. Have you eaten? I can prepare you some food. In fact, you can use my kitchen in my apartment. It's closer." Mrs.Cho went to grab some fresh fish.

"That'll be great. Do you need anything from there?"

"I can use some water." Mrs.Cho handed her a bin with fish and the keys to her apartment "But you can bring it after you eat."

"Thank you so much Mrs.Cho, you're too kind for this world." Ji-hye grabbed the bin and keys; sent went walking down the road. As she was walking she saw Gi-hun and Sang-woo sitting down beside a coffee machine.

"Ji-hye!" Gi-hun smiled

"Gi-hun." Ji-hye looked at him then at Sang-woo "I'm glad you both made it home safely."

"Same to you." Sang-woo looked up to her. They both made eye contact. The soft spot Sang-woo has for Ji-hye started to fill his heart. He broke the eye contact and looked at the keys and bins she had in her hand. "What's that?"

"Mrs.Cho offered me to use her apartment to cook fish to eat."

"She does have favorites." Gi-hun shook his head "Last time I asked her she told me that I could find food myself." Sang-woo and Ji-hye chuckled

"I'm just more likable than you."

-

After a long day, Ji-hye went back to her apartment. She enjoyed the moment of her, Sang-woo, and Gi-hun joking around. She missed seeing the smile on Sang-woo's face. When Ji-hye opened the apartment door she saw the same card that was given to her when she met the attractive man. She read the card.

She placed the card down at the table, she sat down and thought if she should go back. The memory of winning the games and having the money kept replaying in her mind.

AUTHOR- I have so many ideas for this book that I'm excited to share! Hopefully soon I can share some background about Ji-hye and Sang-woo! :)
THANK YOU SM FOR 200 READS!!!! <3333