Squid Game - Blog Posts

THIS WAS SO BEAUTIFUL 😭😭

second chance | hwang in-ho x fem! reader

*.✧ synopsis: hwang in-ho joined the games with one goal: to monitor and manipulate seong gi-hun. but everything changed the moment he saw his childhood friend among the players—a face he never expected to see again. *.✧ word count: 21.7k (are you even surprised) *.✧ warnings: squidgame season 2 spoilers, violence, death, choking, guns, explicit depictions of injuries, panic attacks (reader experiences one) usage korean words and suffixes, mentions of cho sang-woo, reader moved from in-ho's place to gi-hun's place (gyeonggi-do to ssangmun-dong), softie in-ho because its you, angst :D *.✧ note: I ACTUALLY THOUGHT CROSSROADS WILL BE THE LONGEST THING I WRITE, SURPRISE SURPRISE SECOND CHANCE IS HERE. hope you guys love it!! masterlist | request here

Your life wasn't supposed to go in this direction. 

Ever since you were small, people knew great things would come to you. You were talented and smart in every way, shape, or form. Teachers would gush about how bright your future was, and neighbors would brag to their kids about your achievements as if they were their own. So why were you here now, standing in a room surrounded by strangers for a chance of winning some money? 

Currently, all of you watched as the screen displayed various people getting slapped left and right. Announcing their player numbers, names, and how much money they owe. The sheer amount of debt displayed beside each name was staggering—hundreds of millions, even billions.

You shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the whispers around you. People were muttering under their breath, some recognizing names and faces, others lamenting their own debt in comparison. The tension in the room was suffocating, a shared humiliation that weighed heavy on everyone.

Player 132. [Last Name] [Name]. 562 million.

The words echoed in your ears like a slap to your face. Your own name, your own shame, displayed for everyone to see. A few heads turned toward you, but you refused to meet their eyes. You scratched the back of your head in shame, keeping your eyes on the ceiling as if you could avoid the weight of judgment all around you.

'Well... at least it wasn't from that stupid crypto bullshit,' you mumbled under your breath, though the bitter smile on your lips faded as quickly as it appeared. As the guard moved to another person, the crowd around you blurred into an indistinct mass of voices. You didn’t care to listen. You let yourself drown in your thoughts, tuning out the chaos.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Life was supposed to be a series of steady steps upward, not a freefall into the abyss. When your family moved from Gyeonggi-do to Ssangmun-dong, everything changed. 

Your father, once the pillar of the family, walked out one day without a backward glance. Which left you and your mother to fend for yourselves. He left for some woman he barely knew. Someone who didn’t have to deal with the mess he’d left behind. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, your mother decided she had better things to do than raise a child. 

One morning, you woke up to an empty house and a note on the dining table. The words were hurried, impersonal, as if she didn’t pushed you out and raised you. Worst of all, she didn’t even spell your name right!

The pain of abandonment never left you. It festered, growing into a heavyweight you carried everywhere. You tried to survive, piecing together odd jobs and small victories, but it was never enough. Debt piled up faster than you could manage, dragging you into this nightmare.

The first game was announced— Red Light, Green Light. 

You had doubts. The game seemed too simple, almost childish, like something even teens could survive without breaking a sweat—just a game, right? But as soon as the first shot rang out, you realized how wrong you were. Bodies fell like dominoes, blood staining the grass in vivid red. The sound of death was deafening, and the reality of it hit you like a punch to the gut. You froze, your breath caught in your throat, as the world around you erupted into chaos. People screamed, some running, others collapsing in terror. You couldn’t move. The simplicity of the game suddenly made sense—it wasn’t without cost.

Death was suddenly real, closer than it had ever been before. Your entire life flashed before your eyes—every mistake, every regret, every moment you had taken for granted. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Not here, not now.

Luckily, a player stepped up and took charge. Player 456. He was calm and collected, advising everyone to hide behind the larger players, claiming that the robot wouldn’t be able to see you if you stayed out of its line of sight. His plan was simple yet effective, and with his guidance, you managed to survive the round.

As you returned to the main area, the tension from the first game clung to the air like a thick fog. Every breath felt heavy, and the adrenaline that had pushed you through the chaos now left your limbs trembling. Despite it all, a deep sense of gratitude toward him lingered in your chest. You wanted to stay close, to follow his lead. There was security in his presence, a grounding force that kept the worst of your fears at bay.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the room. Guards entered in perfect formation, their masks as eerie as the silence that fell over the crowd. The sight of them sent a shiver down your spine. One by one, people began to plead for their lives, collapsing to their knees, their voices breaking with desperation as tears streamed down their faces.

“There must be a misunderstanding,” the main guard, marked by a square on his mask, said in a monotone voice. “We are not trying to harm you. We are presenting you with an opportunity.”

Before he could continue, the same player who had spoken during the first game—Player 456—interrupted with a sharp shout.

“Clause three of the consent form!” The room froze, all eyes, including yours, turning to him.

His words were sharp, filled with a sense of urgency and strength “The games may be terminated upon a majority vote. Correct?” he demanded, his voice firm.

“That is correct,” the guard replied, his tone unwavering, as though the question had been anticipated.

“Then let us take a vote right now,” Player 456 said, his words igniting a spark of hope in the crowd. It was as if a door to freedom had cracked open, and everyone could almost taste the possibility of escape.

“Of course. We respect your right to freedom of choice.”

A collective sigh of relief spread through the crowd, a fleeting moment where fear was momentarily pushed aside by a glimmer of hope. For the first time, you felt something that resembled a shift in the balance of power. They weren’t in control—at least, not entirely.

“But first,” the guard continued, “let me announce the prize amount that has been accumulated.” He pressed a button on his device, and the room suddenly dimmed.

A low hum filled the air, followed by the descending of a massive glass piggy bank from the ceiling. It gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights, casting eerie reflections across the players’ faces. The sound of wads of cash clinking together echoed through the room, loud and clear, like the jarring noise of a twisted casino jackpot.

The players stared, wide-eyed, as the money poured into the glass bank. It was hypnotic—the sound, the sight, the overwhelming promise of wealth. Some players instinctively stepped forward, as if drawn by an invisible force, while others lingered at the back, still fearful but unable to resist the allure of the prize.

“The number of players eliminated in the first game is 91,” the guard announced, his voice as flat and emotionless as ever. “Therefore, a total of 9.1 billion won has been accumulated. If you quit the games now, the remaining 365 of you can equally divide this amount and leave.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd, and Player 100, who was standing near you, called out, his voice filled with disbelief. “How much is that?”

“Each person’s share would be 24,931,500 won,” the guard replied without hesitation.

The words hung in the air, heavy and cold, as a wave of murmurs spread across the room. There was a mix of disbelief, anger, and confusion.

“Twenty-four million? We almost died for that?” Player 124 scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. You couldn’t help but feel the sting of it too. Twenty-four million wasn’t nearly enough to make up for the terror, the near-death experience, the trauma of the first game. Yet, at the same time, the number was hard to ignore. It was money. A lot of it. Enough to make you forget the panic, at least for a while.

“You said the prize was 45.6 billion!” Player 230 shouted, his voice rising with frustration.

The guard’s response was calm, almost detached. “The rule states that 100 million won is added for each eliminated player. If you choose to play the next game, and more players are eliminated, the prize amount will increase accordingly.”

There was a brief silence as everyone processed the implications of this. The numbers didn’t seem to add up at first. But as the calculation sank in, the possibility of even more money stirred the crowd.

“How much will it be if someone survives until the very end?” someone asked, their voice trembling with hope.

The guard, unbothered by the growing tension, simply stated, “As I already told you, the total amount of prize money for all 456 players is 45.6 billion won. If you are the sole survivor, you will receive the full amount.”

The room erupted into a chorus of gasps, whispers, and shouts. Some players looked at each other, their expressions shifting as greed began to seep into their eyes. Others remained still, haunted by the terror of the first game. The promise of so much money was a heady temptation, but it came at the price of their lives.

“So, we can take a vote again and decide to leave after the next game?” someone asked, their voice tinged with hope, as if the very idea of escape was now within reach.

“Yes,” the guard confirmed. “As outlined in the consent form, you may vote after each game and decide whether to leave with the prize money accumulated up to that point. We always prioritize your voluntary actions.”

You stood there, torn. The terror you’d felt during the first game still clung to you, wrapping around your chest. But the temptation of the prize money—of being free from the crushing debt that had haunted you for so long—was overwhelming. This could be your only chance to escape. A chance to climb out of the pit you’d been stuck in, buried under mountains of bills and threats. If you walked away now, you’d return to the same miserable existence, drowning in debt, with no way out in sight.

Your mind raced. You had fought so hard just to survive, and now, standing in this room, you were faced with a decision that could change everything. The terror from the first game still gripped your chest, but the lure of the money was almost impossible to ignore. It wasn’t just about survival—it was the chance to escape the suffocating weight of your debt, the years spent trying to climb out of a hole you’d fallen into.

The voting started with Player 456. You watched as he cast his vote, the air thick with tension. The red light from the voting machine flickered for a brief moment as he pressed his choice, a clear "X." One by one, others followed, some hesitating, while others quickly made their decision. The chaos of it all felt overwhelming. You couldn’t help but wonder if they had already made up their minds, whether they were giving in to the temptation of the money or if they were too afraid to continue.

When your number was called, your legs felt like lead as you approached the voting machine. Each step was agonizingly slow, the weight of your decision pressing down on you. The room seemed to shrink, and you could feel every eye on you, even as you tried to ignore them.

Your hand trembled as you reached for the button. The thought of pressing it, of choosing to continue, made your stomach twist in knots. For just a moment, you hesitated, feeling the weight of your decision crushing you from all sides.

Then, with a deep breath, you pressed the circle.

The blue light illuminated your face, a cold reminder of the choice you’d just made. A guard stepped forward, handing you a blue patch marked with the same symbol as your vote. You accepted it with shaky hands, bowing slightly before pinning it to your jacket. As you returned to your spot in line, your heart pounded in your chest.

God, why did it come to this? What could have gone so wrong? Had you done something to upset the gods? Or were you simply born unlucky, destined to live a life riddled with hardships?

You couldn’t stop questioning yourself—your decisions, your choices, the countless crossroads where you might’ve taken a different turn. You missed the early moments in your life when everything felt so simple, so light. Back then, there were no looming debts, no sleepless nights spent worrying about survival, no constant weight pressing down on your shoulders.

You had it all once—a lovely family with successful parents who made sure money was never an issue. You had good grades, a tight-knit circle of friends, and a future that seemed full of promise. You were happy, truly happy.

And you weren’t always alone. Aside from your parents and friends, there was someone else—someone who had been a constant in your life, a steady presence you could always count on. He wasn’t just a friend; he was the friend. The one who stood by you no matter what, even when the world seemed to turn its back on you.

When the bullies in school targeted you for reasons you never understood, he was the one who stepped in without hesitation. You still remembered the way he’d square his shoulders, his voice firm and unwavering as he told them to back off. He never cared if he got in trouble for standing up for you; all that mattered to him was that you were safe.

He wasn’t just your protector, though. He was the person who could make you laugh when you were seconds away from tears. He had this knack for knowing exactly what to say or do to lighten your mood, whether it was pulling a silly face, cracking a joke, or nudging you with that mischievous grin that always made you roll your eyes but secretly smile.

He was the one who stayed up late with you when you were cramming for exams, even though he wasn’t the most studious person himself. He’d throw pencils at you when you started to drift off, only to shove snacks in your face the next moment and tell you to take a break. He had this way of making even the most mundane moments feel special, as if just being around him made everything a little brighter.

And as much as you tried to deny it back then, he had become your everything. Your safe haven, the person you trusted more than anyone else. He was the one you turned to when life felt too heavy to bear, the one who never made you feel like a burden for leaning on him.

He was your partner in crime, the one who’d sneak off with you during boring school events, laughing as the two of you got caught and had to face detention together. He made life feel like an adventure, even in the quiet, simple moments.

But above all, he was your first love. Though you never said it out loud, it was there—in the way your heart skipped a beat whenever he smiled at you, in the way you found yourself searching for him in every room you walked into. It was in the way you felt safe and seen in a way no one else could make you feel.

He didn’t know, of course. How could he? You were just kids, too shy to even admit it to yourself most of the time. But looking back now, it was clear as day: he wasn’t just your best friend. He was the boy who had stolen your heart, even if he never realized it.

You paused. The faint buzz of the voting machines around you barely registered as you froze in place. Why were you thinking about him now, of all times? You clenched your fists, trying to will the memories away, but they pushed their way into your mind regardless.

You remembered the way he shouted at you, his voice filled with anger and frustration. The argument had been sharp, the words he threw at you cutting deeper than you ever thought possible. He had been upset that you were leaving, but instead of asking you to stay, instead of saying goodbye, he stormed off.

It didn’t matter how much time had passed; the wound was still raw. He was your best friend, the boy you loved so deeply you couldn’t even bring yourself to admit it back then. And he let you leave without so much as a goodbye.

Your chest tightened as the memories overwhelmed you, crashing over you like waves. You had convinced yourself that you were over it—that it didn’t matter anymore. But clearly, that wasn’t true. The emotions you had buried deep, the hurt and the unanswered questions, all clawed their way back to the surface.

Did he hate me? The thought stung, even now. Did I mean so little to him that he couldn’t even say goodbye?

The pain lingered, sharp and vivid despite the years that had passed. You could still see it, like a scene burned into your memory—the moment he walked past you on your last day of school. His face had been a mask of cold indifference, his eyes resolutely avoiding yours as though looking at you would cost him something precious.

You had called his name, your voice trembling with desperation and a plea you couldn’t quite voice. You just wanted him to stop, to look at you, to give you a reason, a sign that he cared. Anything to make the ache in your chest a little less unbearable.

But he didn’t.

He just kept walking, his steps steady and unyielding, leaving you standing there. The knot in your throat had tightened until it felt like you couldn’t breathe. He left without a word, without even a glance. And in that silence, you were left with nothing but heartbreak and questions that would never be answered.

And now, here you were, those same feelings dragging you down as the votes continued. The sound of faint button presses and shuffling feet filled the air, each vote drawing everyone closer to an answer.

You hadn’t been paying attention to the numbers flashing on the screen, but the tension in the room was suffocating. The votes were neck and neck—X and O, tied. A deuce. The final vote could change everything. You could feel the unease creeping over the room like a storm cloud ready to burst. The fate of the game rested in the hands of the last player.

The tension was unbearable. Everyone held their breath. It felt as if time itself had come to a standstill, the anticipation hanging in the air.

You forced yourself to look up, to see who the final person would be. Your heart pounded louder in your chest with every second, the weight of what was about to happen pressing down on you. Your gaze fell on the figure walking toward the voting station. You couldn’t immediately register who it was—your mind too wrapped in the urgency of the moment. The final decision.

 But then something hit you. A familiarity. A sinking feeling in your chest.

And then your breath hitched.

It was him—.

In-ho.

Your world seemed to tilt on its axis as you watched him. It was like a punch to your gut. Your chest tightened painfully, and your thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind. You had spent years trying to push him out of your mind, trying to move forward, but in that moment, it all came rushing back with a force you weren’t prepared for. The ache in your chest deepened, and you realized just how much you had never really healed.

Your mind swirled with the years you’d spent without him. The countless nights you had stayed awake, wondering what had gone wrong, why your friendship ended that way.

He was standing there now, in front of you, like a ghost of your past. He was so close, yet you couldn’t reach him. You couldn’t understand what you were seeing. Was this a dream? Was this some cruel twist of fate?

You watched his every move as if in slow motion. There was no hesitation in his actions. His hand reached out to press the button with a deliberate, practiced motion.

And then, he voted. O.

The cheers erupted around you, but they felt distant, muffled, like they were happening in another world. You could hear the excitement rising from the others around you, the shift in the air as the vote swung in favor of continuing the game. 182 to 183.

But none of that mattered to you.

All you could think about was how the boy who had once meant everything to you was here, in the same room, playing the same dangerous game. The same boy who had walked away from you all those years ago, leaving you in silence. 

You stared at him, unable to move, to speak. It was as if time had stopped, like the world around you had turned to static. Your mind was racing, a torrent of emotions swirling inside you. The hurt you had pushed down for so long had exploded back to the surface.

You couldn’t tear your gaze away from him, your body frozen in disbelief. All you could do was stand there, feeling the weight of the past, the weight of everything that had happened between you two. The questions that you had carried for so long—about why he left, about why he never said goodbye—pushed their way to the surface, raw and painful.

Your mind raced, but your body refused to move. You were trapped in this moment, unable to escape the overwhelming emotions that came with it. There was no easy way out.

The past was alive in front of you, and it had never felt so real.

Hwang In-ho was a man who prided himself on always being in control. Every move he made was deliberate, calculated, and designed to maintain his upper hand. He wasn’t one to take risks without knowing the outcome, nor did he leave anything to chance. His sharp intellect and knack for strategy had always kept him one step ahead of everyone else, whether it was in the games or in life outside of them.

So when he learned that Seong Gi-hun, the man who had also escaped the game’s clutches once, was coming back—not as a desperate participant, but as a threat to everything the games stood for. In-ho knew he had to act. It wasn’t just about the rules or the money; it was about protecting the intricate system he had helped sustain, the foundation he had sacrificed everything to uphold.

The idea of Gi-hun winning was infuriating. He wouldn’t allow it. Not because he believed in the games' morality, but because their collapse would mean his own failure. It would mean admitting that he, the one who always stayed ahead, had lost control.

And In-ho did not lose. Not to anyone. Certainly not to Seong Gi-hun.

The solution was clear: he had to join the game.

Adopting the alias "Young-il," In-ho entered as Player 001, his plan meticulously calculated. Every detail was accounted for—his presence would be unassuming, his actions deliberate. The goal was simple: get close to Gi-hun, observe his every move, and ensure the game remained firmly under his control.

It wasn’t just about safeguarding the system he had come to embody; it was about reaffirming his dominance. To In-ho, this was more than strategy—it was a statement. A test to prove that no matter the odds, no matter who opposed him, he would remain two steps ahead.

That was his purpose. His only focus.

Or so he thought.

Everything changed the moment he saw you.

It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving him breathless and disoriented. In-ho’s steps faltered, his carefully calculated composure slipping for the first time in years. His eyes locked onto your figure amidst the sea of players, and for a fleeting moment, he thought it was a cruel trick of his mind—a phantom conjured by guilt and memory.

But no. The wide, shocked eyes staring back at him were unmistakably yours.

The realization struck him like a physical blow, an ache spreading through his chest that he couldn’t ignore. You were here. You were really here.

You shouldn’t be here.

He froze, his usually sharp mind scrambling to piece together an explanation. What were you doing here? What had happened in your life to bring you to this place of desperation and death? He remembered you as you once were—bright, warm, full of life—and now, the thought of you standing on this stage of horrors felt wrong in every conceivable way.

Memories of you came rushing back, vivid and unrelenting. The way you used to laugh, how you’d pull him out of his brooding silences with a simple touch, the way you always seemed to bring light into his otherwise shadowed world. Those memories clashed violently with the reality before him. You didn’t belong here. Not in this uniform. Not in this nightmare.

He felt his mask of indifference. The armor he’d built over years of pain and regret started to crack. For so long, he had mastered the art of detachment, burying every emotion deep beneath a layer of control. But now, with you standing there, all of it came flooding back. Guilt. Regret. Anger.

And something else. Something he couldn’t name but had tried to bury long ago.

The look on your face gutted him. Recognition, confusion, hurt—it was all there, as raw and unguarded as the day he’d last seen you. You looked at him like he was a ghost, like you couldn’t believe he was standing in front of you. That look shattered something in him, something he hadn’t realized was still breakable.

For the first time in years, In-ho felt unsteady. His carefully constructed walls, the ones that had kept him in control, in power—shook under the weight of your stare.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

He clenched his fists at his sides, a desperate attempt to regain control, to force himself back into the cold, calculating mindset he’d mastered. He couldn’t let you see how much this affected him. Not here. Not now. This was a game—a deadly one—and emotions were dangerous, liabilities he couldn’t afford.

Even as he tried to steady himself, forcing his gaze away and focusing on the task at hand, something inside him rose above the chaos. He knew, without a doubt, that he had to protect you.

It wasn’t rational. It wasn’t part of his plan. But it was undeniable. Seeing you here, dressed in the same uniform, facing the same deadly stakes, ignited something in him that he couldn’t ignore. He had joined the game to regain control, to manipulate the outcome, to ensure Gi-hun wouldn’t tear everything apart. But because the one person he never wanted to see in this hell was standing right in front of him, the thought of sticking to that plan seemed impossible.

And no matter what it cost him—his control, his plan, his very life—he couldn’t let you die.

It was time for the second game: the Six-Legged Pentathlon.

You walked hand in hand with another player—Player 222, Kim Jun-hee, as she had introduced herself earlier. Together, the two of you moved through the crowded room, searching for three more players to form a team. Your eyes flicked down to the frail figure beside you, her grip on your hand trembling slightly, and you couldn’t help but feel a pang of protectiveness.

Earlier, before the announcement of the next game, you had found her curled up in the corner of the bathroom, clutching her stomach with a pained look on her face. She had been trying to hide her tears, but they slipped through anyway, leaving tracks down her pale cheeks. The image of her broken composure stuck with you, and even now, the weight of it hadn’t lessened.

The look on your face as you crouched beside her was indescribable. When you asked her what was wrong, she was silent at first, her gaze vacant and lost as if the weight of the world was too much to carry. Slowly, her shoulders sagged, and she spoke in a low, quiet voice, each word heavy with the burden she was trying to carry. It wasn’t just about the game anymore—it was everything. Her words were a confession, a painful release of all the fears that had built up inside of her. She spoke of being alone, of how no one wanted to team up with her, and the overwhelming worry that constantly gnawed at her. But it wasn’t just that.

She talked about her child. The one thing in this nightmare that kept her going, even if only by the thinnest thread. Her mind was consumed by the thought of them. She wondered if they would survive. But what hurt the most was the months of silence from the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. Her fiancé, who had disappeared without a trace, left her to wonder if he was dead or alive, only to learn he was in the same hellish game. She never imagined she would have to face this—alone, scared, with no one to lean on.

Something in her tone, the hopelessness wrapped in every syllable, struck a chord deep within you. For a moment, it wasn’t Jun-hee you saw—it was yourself. 

You had been there before. You knew what it was like to feel abandoned, to watch everything you had built slowly crumble, to be left in a world where trust was a distant memory. The same fears she voiced were the ones that had haunted you—the fear of losing your loved ones, the dread of facing a future where you had nothing, and the overwhelming loneliness that seemed to suffocate every hope you had left.

Her pain was your pain, her desperation mirrored your own. You had been there—fighting for survival, clinging to any hope that things could get better, even when the world felt like it was falling apart. It wasn’t just empathy you felt for her; it was the haunting reminder of your own struggle, a shadow of the darkness that had once consumed you. You didn’t want her to experience the same isolation, the same crushing hopelessness that had almost broken you. You knew too well how it felt to be lost, to question whether you’d ever make it out alive, to wonder if there was anything left to fight for.

As you looked at her, a quiet resolve settled deep within you. You wouldn’t let her walk this road alone. You wouldn’t let her fall into the same despair that had once threatened to swallow you whole. You could no longer stand by and watch someone else go through the torment you had endured alone. You would be her strength, her anchor—just as you had longed for someone to do for you when everything seemed to be slipping out of your grasp.

Without hesitation, you reached out, your hand finding hers, cold and trembling. You squeezed it gently, offering a steadying warmth that you both needed. “Then you’ll come with me,” you said. “We’ll figure this out together.”

You weren’t going to let her face this nightmare by herself—not when you knew the crushing weight of solitude so well. You wouldn’t let her fall down the same painful path you’d been on. From that moment on, you refused to leave her side.

You were supposed to focus on your own survival, you know that, but you couldn’t bring yourself to leave her behind. Something about her reminded you of someone else, someone you had been a long time ago. You couldn’t save everyone here, but maybe, just maybe, you could save her.

Meanwhile, In-ho’s plan was progressing smoothly. He had successfully gained Gi-hun’s trust and joined his team. Together with two others—Player 388 and Player 390—they were only one person short of completing their group. In-ho kept his head down, maintaining his facade as the amiable and harmless Player 001. He had positioned himself perfectly, right where he needed to be.

Until he heard your voice.

“Hello, excuse me. Do you have space for two more?”

His head snapped up instinctively. There you were, standing just a few feet away, holding player 222’s hand as you looked at Gi-hun and the others, avoiding him altogether.

In-ho couldn’t help but stare.

“We’re sorry, miss,” Gi-hun replied apologetically. “We already have four members.”

You didn’t falter, keeping your small smile. “That’s not a problem,” you said firmly. “Would you be willing to have her instead?”

Before anyone could respond, you gently nudged Jun-hee forward. She hesitated, glancing nervously between you and the group, but you gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.

In-ho stayed silent, watching the interaction unfold. He didn’t trust himself to speak. Irritation bubbled under the surface. Of course, you would do something like this. Even in a place like this, where survival meant looking out for yourself, you were still thinking about someone else. Always putting others before yourself, even when it didn’t make sense to do so.

You never change.

And yet, despite the frustration clawing at him, He couldn’t stop the flicker of warmth in his chest. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was there. A part of him—a part he didn’t want to acknowledge—was happy.

Because no matter how much time had passed, no matter how much this place had changed the both of you, there were still parts of you that remained the same. That stubborn kindness, that fierce determination to protect others—it was one of the things he had always admired about you.

It was one of the things that terrified him.

You still carried that same hope, that same belief that people could be better, that kindness had a place even in a place like this. It made his stomach twist. The fact that you hadn’t hardened, hadn’t become cynical like everyone else—it was both a relief and a danger. You couldn’t afford to trust anyone here, not without consequence.

What if you trusted the wrong person? What if you let your guard down just once and someone used that against you? He had seen it happen before, in a way that made his insides tighten with dread. People here weren’t to be trusted, and you were too pure, too unguarded. He’d seen how quickly things could turn, how easily alliances could break, how one wrong move could be the end of someone’s life.

It made him want to reach out, to warn you, to pull you away from the people who might betray you. But instead, he stayed silent, his heart racing faster than his thoughts could keep up with.

His gaze shifted to the girl you had taken under your wing. She was trembling, showing a strong facade. In-ho couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness for her too—though he would never admit it out loud. She was vulnerable. She didn’t belong here. But you were giving her a chance. You were always giving people chances, even when they didn't deserve them.

He tore his gaze away, looking anywhere but at you. He hated the way you made him feel, even after all those years. Torn between wanting to protect you and wanting to pull away, he couldn’t reconcile the two. He had built walls for a reason—so that no one could get too close, so that no one could hurt him again. And yet, there you were, slipping through those cracks, reminding him that even after all this time, even after all the distance, he still cared.

“What about you?” Player 388 asked, his voice tinged with concern.

You gave him a small, reassuring smile. “I’ll be okay. I’ll find a group somewhere.”

“Are you sure?” he pressed, his brow furrowing with worry.

You nodded, your tone firm but kind. “Of course. If you want, you can help me?” you offered, though it wasn’t a question so much as a gentle suggestion.

The male nodded without hesitation, as though it was the most natural thing to do. He saluted you with a small smile, his expression brightening as he turned to lead the way. You followed quietly, walking side by side as the two of you engaged in light, casual conversation. The sound of your voices seemed almost out of place in the tense atmosphere of the game, but for a moment, it was just the two of you, navigating the chaos in your own way.

In-ho watched the interaction unfold from a distance, his gaze fixed on you. His chest tightened as he observed the way you interacted with Player 388, the ease with which you formed connections, the comfort you seemed to give others despite the grim situation. For a fleeting moment, he found himself wishing it was him walking beside you instead of that other player. He longed to be the one you relied on again, the one you trusted in a world where trust felt like a luxury.

He clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides, trying to suppress the emotions that stirred inside him. It wasn’t supposed to matter. You had your own path to walk, and he had his. But the feeling gnawed at him, more intense than he liked to admit. A part of him wanted to be the one to keep you safe, to be the one to stand by your side. To be the one you turned to, the one who could offer you something real in the midst of all the chaos. But another part of him feels like that’s impossible to achieve now.

Busy with his inner battle, he didn’t notice the curious watchful eyes of the female beside him.

Luckily, you and Player 388—Dae-ho, as he introduced himself—found a group of four not long after starting your search. Players 149, 007, 120, and 095 stood in a tight circle, whispering among themselves as they looked around for their missing fifth member. Their faces were a mix of tension and determination, but they didn’t seem hostile, which was more than you could ask for in this environment.

Dae-ho, ever the confident one, strode forward with an easy smile. “Excuse me… do you need more members?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting.

All four turned to face you both, their eyes scanning you up and down. There was an unmistakable wariness in their expressions; trust wasn’t exactly in abundant supply here. Finally, Player 120 spoke, her voice measured. “I’m sorry, but we only need one more.”

Dae-ho didn’t even flinch at the rejection. Instead, his grin widened, his tone growing more playful. “Well, you’re in luck! You see, [Name]nim here is a master at spinning tops. Quick hands, sharp focus—everything you’d need for precision games like these. How could you possibly pass on a deal like that?”

You blinked at him, both amused and exasperated. Was he seriously pitching you like you were a product at an auction? Despite the absurdity of it, his tone was so casual, so confident, that it managed to disarm the tension in the air, even if just a little.

You gave Dae-ho a small shake of your head before stepping forward yourself, bowing politely to the group. “I may not be a master,” you began, sending a pointed but amused glance toward Dae-ho, “but I’ll do my best to contribute. Please, if you’ll have me, I’ll work hard.”

The group exchanged glances, their hesitation apparent. It was weird for them, hearing a casual and almost teasing tone in an environment where death is prominent. Still, after a moment, Player 120 gave a curt nod. “Alright. You’re in.”

Relief flooded through you, and you turned to Dae-ho, a small smile breaking across your face. “Thank you,” you said, your tone filled with genuine gratitude.

Dae-ho gave a casual wave of his hand, as if dismissing your thanks. “Thank me after you survive this game [Name]nim.”

You chuckled softly, shaking your head at his unshakable confidence. “Alright Dae-ho, see you later.”

As you turned back to your new team, introductions were exchanged before quickly discussing strategies. Despite the palpable tension in the air, they seemed cooperative enough. Each player carried their own air of quiet determination, though the stress of the situation was evident in the tightness of their voices and the stiffness in their movements.

Your team was one of the teams to go first. When it was your turn, you grabbed the top and string with trembling hands, whispering a small prayer under your breath. Slowly, you began winding the string tightly around the body of the top, starting from the bottom and wrapping upwards. But as you reached the middle, the string suddenly slipped free, unraveling entirely. You froze, your shaky hands betraying you further as you fumbled to pick up the loose string.

A lump rose in your throat as panic surged through you. You knew you were good at this. Spinning tops was your childhood talent, something you had always taken pride in. But now, in the most critical moment, your nerves were getting the best of you. Tears pricked the corners of your eyes as you looked at Player 120, your voice trembling. “I… I’m sorry. I swear I’m good at this. I’m just… really scared.”

Player 120’s expression softened, and she knelt beside you. Her voice was calm, reassuring. “It’s okay. You just need to take a deep breath and focus, alright? You’ve got this.”

Her words anchored you, and you nodded, inhaling deeply. As you exhaled slowly, a memory surfaced—something that always helped you when you were scared. Turning to 120, you asked hesitantly, “Could you… could you cover my eyes?”

She blinked at you, puzzled. “Cover your eyes? Why?”

You offered a nervous smile. “I promise it’ll help. It’s… just something I do.”

With a shrug, she moved behind you and placed her hands gently over your eyes. As darkness enveloped your vision, you felt a strange but comforting familiarity take over.

“What’s up with this weird ritual you do?” In-ho’s voice was teasing, his hands warm as they covered your eyes back then. “You’re always doing this!”

“It’s not weird!” your younger self had retorted, pouting.

“Is too!” he laughed. “Nobody else does this, you know.”

“Well, I get really scared when I see what I’m doing, okay?” you’d replied stubbornly. “So I thought, ‘What if I just don’t look?’ It helps me focus.”

You smiled softly at the memory, your hands finally steady as you began winding the string again. This time, it wrapped perfectly around the top, tight and precise.

When 120 uncovered your eyes, you felt a renewed sense of determination. But before you could proceed, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“To effectively spin the top, first, you must hold the loose end of the string firmly in your hand,” In-ho called out, his voice carrying an authoritative tone. He paced in front of you like a drill sergeant, his arms folded behind his back. “Next, throw the top onto the ground with a flicking motion. Pull the string sharply to make it spin. Understood?”

You straighten your posture, snapping a salute. “Sir, yes, sir!”

The two of you broke into laughter, a sound so pure and unexpected that it momentarily dissolved the tension in the air. When he handed you the fully wound top, his fingers brushed yours lightly. “Alright, [Name],” he said, his smile softening, “show me what you can do.”

Gripping the top tightly, you turned to him one last time, your eyes filled with uncertainty. He gave you a reassuring thumbs-up and a wide smile, and somehow, it was enough to calm your racing heart.

With all your might, you threw the top onto the ground, pulling the string sharply. It spun perfectly, steady and unwavering. Relief washed over you as you watched it spin continuously.

The cheers erupted so suddenly that it startled you out of your thoughts. Your teammates—149 and 120—rushed to your side, shaking your shoulders in celebration. Their excitement was infectious, and soon you found yourself smiling, laughing, and letting the moment sink in.

“Alright, alright, let’s calm down!” 120 said, her voice mixed with happiness and haste. She led the group to the next station, the victory fueling your collective determination.

In-ho watched from a distance, a quiet warmth blooming in his chest. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one he hadn’t let himself indulge in for years—a flicker of joy, the kind that came from something genuine. Seeing your face light up with relief and triumph stirred something buried deep inside him, something he thought was long gone. He couldn’t stop himself from cheering along with the others, maybe louder than necessary. Perhaps it was his way of masking the whirlwind of emotions inside him, or maybe it was just his heart acting on its own. Either way, he didn’t care to stop.

As your group crossed the finish line. The room became lively again. You couldn’t help but laugh, the sound pure and unrestrained, even as the adrenaline still coursed through your veins. For a moment, you allowed yourself to feel it: pride, joy, and the simple relief of success.

Amidst the commotion, your eyes instinctively searched the crowd—and then you saw him, his eyes never leaving yours. The sight made your breath catch, your smile faltering for a second before returning, softer this time.

And then it happened. Your eyes locked. Everything else seemed to fall away—the noise, the crowd, the weight of the game itself. It was just the two of you in that moment, a silent conversation unfolding in the space between your gazes.

His dark eyes, cold and guarded the first time you saw them, were now filled with longing, happiness, maybe even a glimmer of pride. It was as though he was telling you, I knew you could do it. I’m proud of you. But there was something deeper, too—something unspoken. His gaze held a vulnerability that he wouldn’t dare put into words, a quiet hope that you might still see him the way you once did.

You felt it, too. A warmth spreading through you, unexpected and disarming. The wall between you, built by years of distance and unspoken words, seemed to crack ever so slightly. For a brief moment, you forgot the tension, the pain, and the uncertainty. You saw him—not as an enemyl, not as someone you had grown apart from—but as the In-ho you once knew.

His lips twitched into a small smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes but still held a quiet sincerity. He wanted to say something, you could feel it. But words were unnecessary. The way his gaze softened, the way his shoulders relaxed, the way his presence seemed to pull you closer—it was enough.

The moment passed as quickly as it came, but it left something behind. A spark. A fragile yet undeniable hope.

As you were all escorted back to the main area, you found yourself glancing back at him one last time. He was still there, watching, his expression unreadable now. But you saw the faintest nod, as if to say, Please, let’s talk soon.

Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance. A chance to fix what had been broken. A chance to bridge the gap that had grown between you. A chance to reconcile, to find your way back to each other in a world that had done everything to pull you apart.

Your eyes remained locked with his until the door behind you closed.

Player 149 invited you to join them for a chat, a way to pass the time as the second game continued. With a small nod, you followed them to their little corner, settling on the stairs just behind Player 120. The group was warm and welcoming, and soon you were learning their names, hobbies, and bits of their lives outside the games.

Player 149 introduced herself as Jang Geum-ja, a kind but sharp woman who spoke with unwavering pride about her son, Player 007, Park Yong-sik. Her love for him was evident in every word and action—she had joined the games solely to pay off her son’s debt, determined to give him a better future despite the grim odds.

Player 120, Cho Hyun-ju, exuded a quiet yet approachable aura. A transgender woman with dreams of starting fresh, she joined the games not only to clear her debt but also to complete her medical treatments. Her plan was to move to Thailand and begin a new chapter in her life, one filled with hope and authenticity.

Finally, there was Player 095, Kim Young-mi, a soft-spoken woman with a warm, unshakable belief in the goodness of others. She and Hyun-ju had formed a close bond, their friendship blossoming into a dynamic partnership that made them inseparable—like two peas in a pod, finding strength in each other amidst the chaos.

As the room began to fill with players returning from the game, your eyes instinctively darted to the doors each time they opened. Your stomach twisted with worry, though you tried to stay composed. You were searching for Jun-hee and her group, your concern growing with each passing minute.

Finally, after what felt like forever, you spotted familiar faces walking through the doors. Relief surged through you as you quickly excused yourself from the group and descended the stairs. Without hesitation, you rushed straight to Jun-hee.

"Are you okay? How are you? How’s the baby? Did you feel nauseous? Do you want me to massage your back? Or your feet? Need to go to the bathroom? Pee? Puke?—"

Jun-hee's face turned bright red as she raised a hand to shush you. “Stop, [Name]nim, you’re embarrassing me,” she whispered, glancing nervously at her group. Despite her words, a small smile tugged at her lips, her eyes soft with gratitude.

“Hey! It’s [Name]nim!” Dae-ho’s cheerful voice cut through the moment as he jogged over to you.

“Dae-ho! Looks like I owe you a proper thank-you now, huh?” you said with a laugh, the tension in your chest finally easing.

The three of you exchanged warm words, laughter breaking through the otherwise somber atmosphere. Nearby, the rest of Jun-hee’s group—456, 390, and In-ho—watched the scene unfold. As 456 and 390 moved away to sit down at their spot, In-ho lingered, his gaze fixed on you for a moment longer before he turned to follow the others.

Moments later, you found yourself joining the group, introducing yourself properly. 390, a man with a friendly demeanor, grinned and replied, “Ah, how could we forget you? Thank you for giving Jun-hee to us. She’s really skilled in ddjaki! The name’s Park Jung-bae by the way.”

Your eyes widened. “Jung-bae? Are you Young-sun’s husband?” You asked, pointing a finger at him.

Jung-bae blinked in surprise. “Huh? How’d you know my ex wife?”

“I live in Ssangmun-dong! I visit your pub often. Young-sun would always keep me company when I stopped by.”

Recognition dawned on his face. “Ah! I remember now! You’re the one who splurged like crazy that one night. You even had to crash at our place because you were too wasted to leave! Young-sun told me you were whispering someone’s name... what was it... In-h—”

Panic shot through you as you clamped a hand over his mouth, heat rising to your cheeks. “Don’t. You. Dare,” you hissed, glaring at him.

Jung-bae’s eyes widened, and with a nervous nod, he raised his hands in surrender. You slowly released him, muttering an apology under your breath as you tried to regain your composure.

Dae-ho and Jun-hee, however, were staring at you, their mouths slightly agape. Who knew the kind person they looked up to was a raging alcoholic? Behind them, In-ho’s expression shifted subtly, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. Was it anger? Hurt? Curiosity? You couldn’t tell, and the uncertainty only made your heart race faster.

Breaking the awkward silence, Jung-bae cleared his throat. “W-well, speaking of Ssangmun-dong, my buddy here also lives there. We’re best of friends!” He gestured toward Player 456, who waved at you with a sheepish smile.

You bowed politely, offering a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

“Seong Gi-hun,” he introduced himself with a nod.

“What a small world,” you said, grateful for the distraction as the three of you fell into an animated conversation about your shared hometown.

From a short distance away, In-ho watched the scene unfold, his expression unreadable. His gaze lingered on you, his mind racing. Why were you talking about Ssangmun-dong like it was the greatest place in the world? What about Gyeonggi-do? What about the memories you shared there? What about him?

He paused, a flicker of something he refused to name surfacing in his mind. Was it jealousy? No, it couldn’t be—he wasn’t allowed to feel that way, not after everything he’d done to you. The very thought felt absurd. Yet, the knot tightening in his chest as you spoke to others wasn’t easy to ignore.

A nudge from Dae-ho jolted him out of his thoughts. He blinked, realizing all eyes, including yours, were on him, waiting for his introduction. Clearing his throat, he straightened his posture and forced a polite smile.

“My name’s Oh Young-il. Young-il sounds like ‘zero one’, and that’s my number, see?” He gestured to the 001 embroidered on his jacket. Dae-ho raised his brows, impressed by the coincidence, but your gaze lingered on him, a storm of confusion hidden behind your composed expression.

You knew his real name. You knew that he was Hwang In-ho, not Oh Young-il. So why was he lying? The thought gnawed at you. Had he changed his name after getting married? But there was no wedding ring on his finger. Maybe he’d taken it off? No, no. The contradictions piled up, yet a part of you didn’t want to accept the truth. He wasn’t meeting your gaze, deliberately avoiding you. He was hiding something, and you wanted to know what it was.

The moment was interrupted as the heavy boots echoed across the room. Guards marched in, their presence commanding silence. The atmosphere shifted instantly as the square-masked guard stepped forward.

“Congratulations to all of you for making it through the second game,” the guard began, his voice monotone yet eerily loud. He pressed a button on a remote, and the massive piggy bank descended from the ceiling once again. Wads of cash began to tumble into the glass container, the sound of bills hitting each other. Eyes across the room were glued to the spectacle, greed and desperation lighting up every face.

“The results of the second game are as follows: 110 players were eliminated. Therefore the total prize money accumulated is now 20.1 billion won. Since there are 255 players remaining, each person’s share is 78,823,530 won.”

Despite the staggering amount, you couldn’t shake the pit forming in your stomach. 78.8 million won. It was a fortune—more money than you could have ever imagined—but instead of relief, all you felt was disgust.

How could you be thinking about the money when 110 people had just died? Faces flashed in your mind, the terrified screams, the sight of bodies collapsing. And yet, here you were, wondering if it was enough to pay off your debts. The thought sickened you, and your throat tightened as bile threatened to rise. When did I become this person? You had stepped into the games for survival, for a better future, but now you couldn’t tell where desperation ended and greed began. The numbers on the screen blurred as hot tears welled in your eyes, your breaths coming quicker. I’m no better than the ones who created this place. Am I even human anymore? You clenched your fists, nails digging into your palms as you tried to silence the spiraling thoughts, but they refused to stop.

You felt your body tremble, your vision narrowing as the room seemed to tilt around you. The walls felt closer, the hum of voices blurring into a distant buzz that drummed in your ears. Every blink brought a sting to your eyes, tears welling and threatening to spill over. You tried to focus—on the floor beneath your feet, the faint pattern of the tiles, anything—but it all blurred together, a haze of shapes and colors you couldn’t ground yourself in. Deep breaths came shallow, catching in your throat, each inhale fighting against the tightness in your chest. Your hands twitched at your sides, desperate for something to hold onto, but all they found was empty air. You whispered to yourself, hollow words of comfort you couldn’t even hear over the pounding of your heart. Your pulse throbbed in your ears, drowning out everything else. All you could feel was the weight of guilt pressing down on you, the silent judgment of the room—even if it existed only in your mind. You were spiraling, untethered, a storm of shame and helplessness that swallowed everything in its path.

Suddenly, a hand gently rested on your shoulder. The warmth startled you, and you whipped your head around to find its source. It was him. In-ho. Or Young-il, as he’d introduced himself. But he wasn’t looking at you; his head was turned toward the commotion among the players, who were now arguing loudly about the rules. His hand, though, remained on your shoulder, steady and deliberate.

Before you could process it, he began to rub your shoulder in slow, soothing circles. His fingers worked gently, almost instinctively, massaging the tension from your stiff muscles. You stared at him, stunned into silence. His expression remained neutral, his attention seemingly elsewhere, but his touch told a different story.

After all these years, he remembered. He remembered how you used to freeze up during moments of intense stress, how just a simple touch—steady and grounding—could help you calm down. You hadn’t needed to explain it to him back then; it was something he’d noticed, something he’d done instinctively. And now, after everything, he was still the same. His hand stayed on your shoulder, firm yet gentle, just like before.

He remembered how you hated when people stared at you in moments of weakness, so he kept his eyes elsewhere. He knew you felt exposed, ashamed even, as if everyone was silently judging you, so he never let that happen. 

He remembered how you felt guilty for needing comfort, for drawing attention to yourself, so he never made a big deal of it. No words, no questions—just a quiet, unwavering presence that said, I’m here.

And you were thankful for that, more than you could ever put into words. It gave you hope. Hope that maybe, after all these years, there is still something left between you. 

With a grateful nod, you looked away as his hand left your shoulder, already missing his warmth. The commotion around you had ended, and people were drifting back into small groups, discussing their next move. You knew you had to focus, to think through the decision, but your mind felt like it was breaking into pieces. Should I vote X? If it wins, you’d leave with 78 million won—not nearly enough to erase your debt, but at least it would mean you were alive. Or should I vote O? That meant continuing the games. No guarantee of survival, but a chance at something greater—a chance to fix everything.

You tilted your head to gaze at the piggy bank hanging above, its glowing light taunting you. Before you could fully weigh your options, a conversation behind you caught your attention.

“Oh, don’t worry. I want to stop here,” In-ho’s voice said casually.

You froze, listening.

“I should go and be with my wife at the hospital,” he added.

Oh.

It was like someone had snuffed out the flicker of hope you’d just found. The energy drained from your body in one cruel wave as the words settled in. A bitter laugh bubbled up in your throat, and you swallowed it down, shaking your head. Of course, he has a wife. How could you have thought otherwise? You felt like a fool for hoping, for thinking even for a second that those small moments meant something more.

Dae-ho’s voice broke your spiraling thoughts. “I’m telling you, we’ll get out this time,” he said with determination, tugging at the patch on his jacket like it was the source of all his problems. “A marine should think strategically and know when to retreat,” he added, giving Jung-bae a playful shake.

Jung-bae, looking utterly rattled, nodded weakly. “R-right… that’s true,” he muttered, though his nervous glances betrayed his doubts.

“We have to end the games here,” Gi-hun said firmly, stepping into the circle of your group. His eyes met yours briefly, and you nodded. It was a silent agreement, one that seemed to lift his spirits slightly.

In-ho, standing off to the side, watched the exchange with something that could only be described as malice.

Dae-ho clapped his hands, calling everyone back to attention. “Alright, let’s huddle up!” he said with a grin, thrusting his hand into the middle.

One by one, everyone joined in. Your hand landed just below In-ho’s, and you tried not to think about it, about how the warmth of his hands made you feel .

“In one, two, three… Victory at all costs!”

“Victory at all costs!”

“This time the vote will begin with Player 001. Please cast your vote.”

All eyes turned to him, including yours. In-ho met your group’s collective gaze with a calm, unreadable expression before walking up to the platform. Without hesitation, he pressed the X button. The distinct chime echoed in the room as the counter for X increased by one.

The next player—Player 006—stepped forward. Without much deliberation, they also pressed X, their vote adding another mark to the tally.

“Player 007.”

Your eyes flicked upward at the familiar number. It was one of your teammates from the second game, Yong-sik. You spotted him in the crowd, watching him lean down to exchange hushed words with his mother. Her expression was tight, desperate, begging him to vote X but he simply nodded before walking to the machine. His hesitation was visible as he stood there, torn between his choices. Then, the sound of O being chosen played, the button glowing bright blue as his vote was registered.

Your heart sank as you saw his mother’s face fall, her grief and disbelief plain for everyone to see. You averted your eyes, unable to look at either of them any longer. You understood both sides of the story—the desperate hope of a mother to save her child so they can go home and the equally desperate desire of a child to pay his debt fully, leaving his mom with no more worries.

The votes continued, each press of a button punctuating the room like a drumbeat of tension. Finally, your turn came. You felt the weight of the decision like a physical burden pressing on your shoulders. Part of you wanted to vote O, to take the gamble, to fight for a chance to win enough to pay off your crushing debt. But the thought of your group—the first people in years who had truly accepted you—stopped you. You had promised yourself that you would protect them, that they would go home safe to their families.

You stepped forward and pressed X. The red glow of the button reflected on your face as the counter ticked up. You removed your blue patch as a guard gave you a red one. You stuck it to your jacket before, giving a small bow to them before retreating to your spot.

As you walked back, you felt In-ho’s gaze following your every step. His eyes burned with intensity, but you didn’t look his way. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, not when you knew the truth now. He had a wife—a life far removed from you. Whatever feelings you might have clung to in the past didn’t matter anymore. You would not degrade yourself into becoming a mistress in someone else’s story.

The voting continued until suddenly, a commotion broke out. Gi-hun stormed to the center of the room, shouting for people to vote X and urging them to end the games. His words rang out with desperation, but before he could fully plead his case, In-ho cut him off.

In-ho’s voice carried an edge of anger as he stepped forward, his composure cracking. “There’s no guarantee you’ll survive the next game! Do you really want to risk your lives for a few more million won?”

The room fell silent for a moment, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then Player 100 stepped forward, shaking his head with disdain. “And what if we don’t risk it? We leave here with nothing but debt and regret. One more game, and we’re looking at at least 240 million each. That’s life-changing money!”

His argument ignited the room, and chaos erupted. Voices clashed, some siding with In-ho, others with Player 100. It spiraled into a shouting match, each side growing louder, more frantic.

You stood still, detached from the chaos. As much as you wanted to support your friends, you couldn’t bring yourself to intervene. This wasn’t a debate to be won; it was simply another game of chance, with lives hanging in the balance. The outcome wasn’t up to persuasion or reason. It was up to luck.

Finally, the vote was tallied. O won against X by a wide margin, 139 to 115.

Your stomach churned, fear creeping in as you processed what it meant. You weren’t scared for yourself but for Jun-hee, her kind heart too soft for the brutality of these games. You weren’t worried about your own safety but for Dae-ho, whose unwavering faith in others had been betrayed as Jung-bae—someone he admired and respected—voted O.

When the vote ended, your group regrouped, the air thick with tension and unspoken emotions. You found yourself behind Jun-hee as she ate her portion of the day’s dinner. Her small frame trembled, though she tried to hide it, her hands shaking as she clutched the bread's wrapper.

Without a word, you placed your hands on her shoulders, massaging gently to ease her tension. You moved to her lower back, your fingers pressing lightly, offering what little comfort you could in such a bleak moment. She didn’t say anything, but the way her breathing slowed told you that it helped, even just a little.

Without a second thought, Dae-ho stood up, his face conflicted as he grabbed Jung-bae by the arm and dragged him over to your group. His eyes darted nervously between you, Jun-hee, Young-il, and Gi-hun before his gaze softened, and he let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m sorry, [Name], Jun-hee, Young-il,” he started, his voice low, his words laced with guilt. “Gi-hun, I’m sorry…” His apology hung in the air, sincere but laced with discomfort.

He went on to explain his decision to vote O, his voice shaky but determined. “You see, I borrowed some emergency cash, and the creditors have been harassing my ex-wife and kid. They’re threatening them, and if I play one more game, I think I’ll be able to settle the debt. So…” His words trailed off, the weight of his decision clear in his eyes.

Before you could speak up in defense of Jung-bae, In-ho cut him off, his frustration still fresh from the earlier commotion. His tone was cold, a sharp edge beneath the calm exterior. “Jung-bae,” he started, his voice low but heavy with disappointment. “You of all people shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t twice as righteous.”

You felt a twinge of sympathy for Jung-bae, but In-ho’s words were true. Deep down, you understood why In-ho was so disappointed.

In-ho’s gaze flicked back to Jung-bae as he continued, his words almost regretful. “But looking at the results, even if you two voted against it, we would still have been outvoted.”

“Right? So it’s not really our fault,” Jung-bae quickly added, eager to find any shred of justification. He seemed relieved, like the pressure had been lifted slightly, but his eyes flickered nervously to the others, waiting for confirmation.

Dae-ho, who had been silently observing, scratched his head and gave Jung-bae a comforting pat on the shoulder. His movements were casual, though his eyes were thoughtful. “Honestly, I get why you did it. 78 million won isn’t enough. So when I went to vote, I really thought about going for ‘O’ too.”

You nodded in agreement, a soft murmur of approval escaping you. You understood the temptation, the overwhelming urge to fight for more when it felt like everything was slipping away. The money was too much to ignore.

Seeing the subtle nods of agreement from the group, Jung-bae’s confidence grew. He straightened his posture, eager to make up for his earlier decision. “Next game, I promise. I’ll—”

“Next game?” Gi-hun’s voice cut through the air, sharp and filled with a quiet intensity. “Next game, we might have to kill each other.”

The room went completely still. Everyone froze, the silence thick and suffocating. Gi-hun’s words hung in the air, their weight sinking into each of you. He was right, and the grim truth of it was enough to stop all conversation. There was no sugarcoating it. The next round could very well be the end, and the thought was unbearable.

The quiet that followed was heavy, the dread and uncertainty sinking into your bones. You couldn’t help but feel a cold shiver run down your spine, the magnitude of what was to come settling over you like a thick fog.

Annoyed by the uncomfortable pause, you spoke up, your voice cutting through the tension. “Gi-hun, that’s a bit much. We all know there’s nothing we can do about it now. Let’s just stay focused. We need to eat, get ourselves together, and prepare for the next round.”

The group seemed to agree with your statement, the momentary discomfort fading as they all began to refocus.

In-ho, ever the quiet observer, handed his milk carton to Jun-hee without a word, his gaze flicking to her briefly before he looked away. “I don’t drink plain milk,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the gesture was nothing more than a small, unnoticed act.

Jung-bae, following suit, offered his bread to Jun-hee as well, his eyes shadowed with guilt. “I don’t deserve to eat,” he said with an awkward chuckle, trying to mask the heaviness of his words with forced humor.

You watched the exchange, your heart twisting slightly, but before you could speak, Dae-ho leaned in, his voice light but with an edge of concern. “I’ll take the milk carton?”

When Jung-bae shot him a glare, Dae-ho hesitated, then pulled back, not wanting to push it further.

As you ate, you couldn’t help but feel the heavy weight of what was ahead. The uncertainty, the danger—it all felt too much. But in this moment, you focused on your meal, knowing it was the only thing you could control for now.

You found yourself sitting beside Dae-ho, your bread in hand, chewing quietly as you both took a brief moment of respite. Dae-ho seemed lost in thought, his eyes darting toward you, hesitant yet full of unasked questions.

“If you have any questions, just ask me, Dae-ho,” you said, offering a small smile. “I’m not gonna bite, you know?”

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, caught off guard by your casual invitation. But he took a deep breath, calm now, and turned to face you fully. “Do you have kids at home, [Name]nim?” he asked, his voice low but sincere. “It’s just... whenever I see you with Jun-heesii, it reminds me of my mother taking care of me and my four sisters.”

You hesitated, feeling a slight pang of discomfort as you realized the question would require a vulnerable answer. In-ho, sitting nearby, seemed to listen in, his curiosity piqued. Part of him, though, wished you didn’t have any children, that you weren’t settled in on with somebody, a selfish thought he quickly pushed away.

“Ah, this is embarrassing,” you murmured, a soft laugh escaping you as you fidgeted with your bread. “I actually don’t have any kids or a husband... I’ve never even had a boyfriend. Boys don’t really look at me like that, if you know what I mean. Life wasn’t that nice to me, especially after we moved. I didn’t have the time or luck for any of that…”

Dae-ho’s expression softened with guilt. He immediately regretted asking the question, but when he saw the faint longing in your eyes, he paused. There was something more behind your words—something unspoken, something that told him you longed for a family, for the chance to live that dream.

In-ho, overhearing, felt a pang in his chest. What had happened to you? He knew things had ended badly between the two of you, but he never expected life to treat you so harshly. You were kind, generous, and had always believed in the goodness of people. He couldn’t understand why life had been so difficult for you. You didn’t deserve that.

Before the silence could grow any heavier, Jung-bae mischievously broke it with a suggestion. “Well, if you like, I can set you up with someone back in Ssangmun-dong. Right, Gi-hun?”

Gi-hun, who had been quiet up until then, blinked in surprise, his confusion evident. “Huh? Who?”

“You know! Sang-woo! The Pride of Ssangmun-dong!” Jung-bae grinned, clearly amused by his own suggestion. “I think he and [Name] would make a great couple, don’t you think?”

At the mention of Sang-woo, Gi-hun’s face shifted. His expression faltered, a wave of guilt and sadness clouding his features. A pained smile tugged at his lips as he nodded absently. “Yeah... I think so too,” he murmured, his mind clearly elsewhere as he drifted off into his own thoughts.

The sudden change in Gi-hun’s demeanor caught your attention. His usual angry and tense self had been replaced with something quieter, a deep sadness that seemed to pull at him. You looked to Jung-bae for an explanation, your brows furrowed in concern.

In a soft voice, Jung-bae filled in the blanks. “Gi-hun and Sang-woo were childhood friends, but... he’s been missing for years.”

You nodded, understanding the pain behind Gi-hun’s words. You could relate to that feeling—the ache of a long-lost connection. You couldn’t help but feel a pang in your own heart as well. Even though the lost connection was right in front of you, and he still felt so far away.

Gi-hun’s sadness wasn’t a good look on him. He was always either grumpy or happy, never in between. You wanted to change that. You thought back to when you missed In-ho so much, you’d drown your sorrows in alcohol and chatter to Young-sun about him. Maybe, just maybe, getting Gi-hun to talk about Sang-woo could help him, even if it was just for a little while.

“Hey, Gi-hun,” you called softly, breaking the silence. “Tell me more about this Sang-woo guy. Who knows, maybe we’d click together, you know?”

Gi-hun’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly caught off guard by your question. But something in his gaze softened as he began to talk. He recounted bits and pieces of his childhood with Sang-woo, his voice lighting up with nostalgia. His eyes shined as he described his friend’s strengths, quirks, and all the little memories they shared.

From the way Gi-hun spoke, you could see how much Sang-woo meant to him. The same way you felt about In-ho, the weight of love and loss behind every word. You silently prayed for their reunion. Gi-hun deserved happiness, and you wished for him to find it—whether through Sang-woo or another way.

In-ho’s jaw tightened, a flicker of irritation flashing in his eyes. If they were going to give you a partner, they should give you someone who can protect you—someone who knows you, your likes and dislikes, your type... His thoughts were possessive— jealous. His hands clenched into fists, though he forced himself to stay composed. He wasn’t sure why the thought of you with someone else hurt so much, but it did. It hurt more than he was willing to admit.

As the conversation shifted and laughter filled the space, In-ho stayed silent, the weight of his unspoken emotions heavy in the air. The conversation ended when they all went to the bathroom, leaving you and Jun-hee alone. She wasted no time asking a question that had been bothering her ever since she noticed something strange.

“[Name]nim, do you know Young-ilnim? Like, before the games?”

You were taken aback, your surprise evident in the way your eyes widened. What prompted her to ask such a thing?

“No, not that I remember,” you replied, a small ache tugging at your chest. It was hard to say those words. “Why do you ask?”

Jun-hee hesitated, her gaze flickering down to her hands. “It’s just that… I always see Young-ilnim looking at you, or staring at you. Especially when you helped me during the second game. His stare... it was like there was something there.” She trailed off, her voice quiet, unsure if she had crossed a line. “I thought you two might know each other. Sorry if I overstepped.”

“No, no... don’t apologize, Jun-hee. You didn’t do anything wrong,” you reassured her with a small smile. “Maybe I just remind him of someone?”

The conversation shifted, and though the topic ended there, you couldn’t help but linger on what Jun-hee said. In-ho, looking at you? Your mind spun with questions that you couldn't quite answer. But before you could dive deeper into your thoughts, the group returned from the bathroom, and the moment was gone.

Gi-hun gathered everyone, asking them to bring their mattresses and bedding to your designated spot. You all exchanged confused looks but did as instructed, gathering pillows and blankets. It was clear there was something important going on, and it wasn’t lost on anyone.

As you and Jun-hee handed out the bedding, the tension in the air grew. Jung-bae spoke up. “Hey, is this really necessary? I don’t like sleeping under here.”

Gi-hun continued setting down blankets without looking up. “Once the lights go out, someone might attack us.”

His words grabbed everyone's attention, and you paused, glancing around. Dae-ho, curiosity now evident in his eyes, asked, “Why would anyone do that?”

“The prize money goes up every time someone dies. It’s part of the game they designed,” Gi-hun explained, his voice tense with the weight of the situation.

You frowned, the idea feeling far-fetched at first. But as you thought about the desperation you’d seen in people—and the way some of the others eyed the prize board with hunger—it started to make a disturbing kind of sense. Gi-hun’s words seemed to settle over the group like a cold shiver, but In-ho wasn’t convinced. “Gi-hun, I think you're overreacting,” he said, shaking his head. “Even if that were true, people wouldn’t do that.”

Gi-hun turned to him sharply, fury in his eyes. “In the previous games, dozens of people killed each other at night. Right here, you have no idea how people can change in a place like this…”

In-ho trailed off, looking away, clearly uncomfortable. “I see… I guess I didn’t know what I was talking about. I’m sorry.”

The tension between the two men was palpable, but Gi-hun, though still angry, nodded with some understanding. “We need to take turns keeping watch after the lights go out.”

“I’ll take the first watch. You should decide the order for the rest,” Gi-hun added, continuing to spread the last of the blankets.

It wasn’t long after that you found yourself lying on the bottom bed, the silence in the room heavy. You couldn’t tell what time it was, but sleep seemed distant. With your eyes closed, you tried to rest, but your mind kept wandering. You couldn’t shake the thoughts of Jun-hee’s question, of In-ho’s gaze, and of all the tension in the air.

After what felt like an eternity, you couldn’t stay still any longer. You quietly rolled out of the bed, careful not to disturb Jun-hee beside you. As you stood, you rubbed your eyes, still groggy but wide awake. You walked over to the one who was supposed to be keeping watch.

“Hey... get some sleep. I’ve got it from here,” you whispered, your voice barely a breath in the darkness.

When no response came, you paused, your heart beating a little faster. Had you imagined it? You slapped your cheek lightly, half-expecting to wake up from a dream, but the sting was real. This was no dream. You were still in the game. But who was supposed to be guarding?

As you glanced toward the guard, your breath caught in your throat. There, in the dim light, stood In-ho, staring at you with wide, almost startled eyes.

“In-ho...” you whispered, the name escaping before you could stop it.

He blinked, his expression unreadable. “[Name]... sit down, will you?” His voice was quiet, laced with an undercurrent of tension. You did as he asked, your body moving on its own, though the atmosphere between the two of you felt thick with unspoken words.

You sat there, your knees pressed together. The silence stretched, heavy and thick. There were so many things unsaid between you, so many apologies left unspoken, so many reasons left unexplained. Neither of you seemed to know where to start, but the distance between you had never felt more real. You had shared a bond once, and now it was hard to find the words to bridge the gap that had formed.

In-ho shifted slightly, as if searching for something to say, but still, nothing came. Neither of you moved for what felt like hours, both of you stuck in a place neither knew how to navigate.

The silence between you and In-ho lingered, thick and suffocating, each of you carrying the weight of the years since you’d last spoken. Finally, In-ho shifted, breaking the stillness, his voice low and tight.

"[Name], I—I'm sorry," he started, his words hesitant, as though testing the waters.

"I shouldn't have acted like that, not when you were leaving. On our last day together, I—" He stopped himself, rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes avoiding yours, searching for the right words in the dim light. "I was so angry, I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t mean to push you away. I never should have let my emotions control me like that, especially when I knew you were going away."

Your chest tightened at his words. The apology you’d waited for, yet feared to hear, was finally being spoken, but the bitterness still clung to you. You swallowed hard, forcing the anger down, trying not to let it rise again. It felt like you were walking a fine line, torn between the hurt and the understanding you wished you could give him.

"You know," you said softly, voice wavering, "I was angry, too. You pushed me away, In-ho. I never got to explain myself, to tell you why I had to leave. It hurt so much that you didn’t even give me a chance." You paused, trying to steady yourself. "I don’t know what you thought, but I wasn’t running away from you. I... I never wanted to hurt you."

In-ho’s eyes flickered, regret and guilt tugging at his expression. His hand tightened into a fist, then relaxed at his side, as if searching for the right words but struggling to find them.

"I thought you were just... leaving, leaving me, leaving us." he said quietly, his voice strained with emotion. "I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t know if I could let you go. But you were going, and it felt like I was losing you, like you’d be gone for good. I was angry that you didn’t even try to stay. I thought you had already made your choice." He swallowed hard, his gaze still on the floor. "I thought you didn’t care about me the way I cared about you."

Tears threatened at the corners of your eyes, but you blinked them away. This was it. The truth you’d wanted to hear, but it didn’t make it any easier to bear. The anger you’d carried for so long still clung to you, but in this moment, it was tinged with understanding.

"I didn’t know you felt that way," you whispered, your voice breaking. "I thought you hated me for leaving. I thought I’d ruined everything, and you’d never forgive me for it." You took a deep breath, trying to steady the shaking in your chest. A tremor crept into your voice as you fought to hold back the emotions welling up inside you. 

"I understood why you did it," you said, voice cracking slightly. "I understood it at the time. You were scared, just like I was. But it didn’t make it hurt any less." Your voice dropped. "I didn’t know how to feel. You were the one person I thought I could rely on, and then you turned away without a word. And I had no choice but to carry that weight with me."

Your eyes locked onto his, your heart aching at the sight of the guilt in his expression. “I spent so much time angry at you, blaming you for leaving me like that. But now... now I know we were both just lost. I didn’t know how to handle it, and neither did you.”

In-ho’s face softened, his expression full of regret. "I wish I had known how to handle it better. I wish I had been braver... for you, for us. I should’ve told you how I felt, instead of shutting myself off."

The words hung in the air for a long moment, both of you silently processing what had been said. Then, as if a dam had broken, you continued, feeling a rush of emotions that you hadn’t been able to express before.

"All those years... I kept wondering if I could’ve done something different. If I could have convinced my parents to stay. But I was too proud, too scared. And when we left, it felt like the world just... stopped. I couldn't move forward, not without you. I didn’t know how to move on. And I don’t know if I ever truly did." Your voice cracked, the weight of it all coming crashing down in that moment.

In-ho’s breath hitched as you spoke, his eyes never leaving yours. “I was scared, too. I didn’t know how to handle the idea of losing you. But I realize now... that by pushing you away, I was only making it worse. I’m sorry, [Name]. I’m so sorry for everything.”

You both sat there in the quiet, the weight of the past hanging heavily in the air between you. In-ho’s voice broke through the silence again, softer this time. “I should’ve been better for you. I should’ve told you how I felt, not let my fear take over.”

Your heart ached hearing the sincerity in his words. He was so close now, but there was still a lingering distance between you. His hand hovered near yours, unsure if you’d let him in. Without thinking, you reached out, your fingers brushing his. The touch was like a lifeline, pulling you both back from the uncertainty.

In-ho’s eyes softened as he looked at you, his hand finally resting on top of yours. He shifted slightly, moving a little closer, his shoulder brushing against yours. There was a vulnerability in his gaze now, something you hadn’t seen in him before. “I don’t want to lose you again,” he said, his voice low and steady.

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you had to swallow hard to keep them from spilling over. For so long, you’d carried this burden of unspoken words, of lost time. But now, sitting here beside him, it felt like the weight was lifting, bit by bit.

In-ho seemed to sense your struggle, his hand gently squeezing yours. “I’m sorry for everything I put you through. I never wanted you to feel abandoned or alone.”

The words were all you needed. With a shaky breath, you leaned toward him, resting your head on his shoulder. The closeness between you felt like a reunion, a connection rediscovered after years apart. In-ho’s arm slipped around you, pulling you just a little closer, as though he never wanted to let go again.

He ran his hand through your hair, slowly, gently, as if trying to calm the storm inside you. The motion was soothing, and for the first time in so long, you felt at peace. The anger and the hurt slowly started to fade, replaced by something new—something warm.

“I’ve missed you,” you whispered, your voice muffled against his shoulder.

In-ho paused, his breath hitching as he processed your words. He pulled back slightly to look at you, his face inches from yours. “I’ve missed you, too,” he replied, his voice thick with emotion.

You both sat there in the quiet, letting the words hang in the air, surrounded by the unspoken promise of a new beginning. The past wasn’t something that could be erased, but it didn’t have to define you anymore. What mattered now was that you were here, together, in this moment.

In-ho held you close as you let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of everything you’d kept inside for so long. You felt his chest rise and fall against you, steady and warm, as his presence grounded you. After a long moment of silence, he pulled back just enough to look at your face, his expression filled with concern and curiosity.

“What happened to you, [Name]?” he asked softly, his voice thick with emotion. “What happened all of this? I’ve been wondering for years.”

You hesitated, your heart pounding in your chest as the memories threatened to spill out. But, in his embrace, it felt safer to finally speak the truth. Slowly, you opened your mouth, your voice a whisper against his chest.

“I didn’t want to leave, In-ho,” you murmured. “But I had no choice.” Your voice cracked as you spoke, the weight of your past pressing down on you. “My parents... My father left for someone else, and my mother... she just disappeared. One day she was there, and the next, she was gone. I was... alone.”

You felt In-ho’s grip tighten around you as you spoke, but he said nothing. He just listened, offering his silent support.

“I tried to hold it together,” you continued, your voice barely above a whisper. “But the bills kept piling up, and I couldn’t see a way out. I was working non-stop, just trying to keep up, but it never seemed to end. So, I thought, maybe a small loan would help... just to get by for a little while. But it only made things worse. I kept borrowing, and the interest kept stacking up. Eventually, I couldn’t keep up at all. To cope with everything, I started drinking. I just needed something to numb the pain.”

You paused, trying to steady your breathing. It felt like the floodgates had opened, and now there was no stopping it.

“After a while, it became a habit,” you said, your voice shaking. “I couldn’t face the world without it. And... I lost everything. My job, my sense of myself. I kept pushing people away because I didn’t know how to fix anything. I didn’t even know how to fix myself.”

In-ho’s hand gently cupped the back of your head, pulling you closer against his shoulder as if to shield you from the weight of your own words. He didn’t say anything at first, letting the silence settle between you. Then, his voice broke through the stillness.

“I’m sorry, [Name], I wish I was there with you during those times,” In-ho murmured, his voice filled with regret, each word heavy, like it carried all the years of silence and distance between you.

You let out a quiet sigh, the ache in your chest growing as you tried to push back against the weight of the past. The pain, the loss—it was all there, hovering just beneath the surface, but you chose to focus on what was right in front of you now. You chose the present. “It’s okay, In-ho,” you said softly, trying to steady your voice, but your heart was louder than it had been in years. “What matters now is you’re here with me, just like before.”

He was still so close to you, your bodies pressed together in the embrace, his breath uneven against your shoulder. His hand traced the back of your neck, his touch gentle, as though trying to reassure you, to hold you together. But there was more to it—something unspoken, a pull between you that neither of you had fully acknowledged until now. The warmth of his body, the steadiness of his presence, felt so right, and yet, it stirred something deeper, something dangerous.

His fingers grazed your cheek, his touch soft and hesitant, like he was testing the waters. He lingered, his thumb tracing the outline of your jaw. The tension between you was palpable, and you could feel that silent question in the air, one you had both ignored for so long. Could you finally give in? Could you finally let go of the years that had kept you apart?

You wanted to lean in. You wanted to close that distance, to feel his lips against yours and forget everything else. All the pain, the years apart, the weight of the world—it could disappear, just for a moment. But your mind raced with doubts. What if this wasn’t real? What if it was just a fleeting feeling? What if you were getting swept up in the moment, in the desperation of it all?

And then, In-ho’s lips brushed against your forehead, his kiss tender and almost like a promise. You didn’t hesitate this time. The distance between you seemed to disappear, and without thinking, you leaned in. Your lips parted, and your breath mingled with his as you slowly closed the gap, inch by inch. Your heart raced, your pulse pounding in your ears. It was all so familiar, yet so new. You could feel everything—the pain, the longing, the need. You wanted to erase the distance, to bridge the gap that had haunted you both for so long.

But just as you were about to close the distance completely, just as you were about to feel his lips against yours, something flashed through your mind. The memory of him speaking of his wife, of the woman who was supposedly ill in the hospital, came crashing back. Your chest tightened. He was already married. You pulled back suddenly, your breath caught in your throat.

“What about your wife, In-ho?” Your voice trembled, barely above a whisper. The words had been building inside you, but you couldn’t stop them. The questions came rushing to the surface. The connection, the closeness—it felt so real, but how could it be? How could you trust this moment when he had a sick wife waiting for his return?

In-ho froze, his eyes widening for a brief moment. Then, as though realizing the weight of what he’d said, his expression softened. He reached for you immediately, his hands cupping your face gently, almost desperately, like he couldn’t bear the space between you now.

“No,” he said, his voice low and strained. “You don’t understand. I lied to them. The wife... the illness... even my name. I did it for safety.” He explained as fast as he could.

“I swear to you, [Name], I wanted you. I always have. I’ve always wanted you. I’ve been waiting... waiting for you. All these years.”

The words hit you like a wave, sweeping over everything you had believed. The confession shattered your doubt. The years apart, the silence, the feelings that had never gone away. You had thought he was moving on, that he had a life without you, but now he was telling you that it had always been you. That he had always wanted you.

You looked into his eyes, searching for the truth, and for the first time in years, you saw it—his vulnerability, his sincerity. He had waited for you. He wasn’t lying now. 

Tears welled up in your eyes, and in that moment, you whispered, almost to yourself, “I never stopped thinking about you, either.”

That was it. Your hands, almost on their own, moved to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. The hesitation, the doubt, all of it was gone. You leaned in again, this time with no fear, no second-guessing. You could feel his lips, just inches from yours, and this time, it was going to happen. There was no turning back.

But just as you closed your eyes, just as you felt the warmth of his lips moving toward yours, the room suddenly lit up. The loudspeaker crackled to life, its cold, mechanical voice slicing through the moment like a knife.

“Third game will begin momentarily. All players, please get out of bed and get ready.”

The announcement shattered the moment like glass and reality rushed in. You pulled away quickly, both of you flustered, eyes wide as reality snapped back into place. In-ho let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. His gaze, still soft from the moment, quickly shifted into irritation.

You, too, felt your cheeks burn with the sudden shift. You couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh, the absurdity of it all washing over you. “Of course,” you muttered, voice a little shaky. “Couldn’t be that easy, huh?”

In-ho shot you a look, a mix of disbelief and exasperation. “I swear, they have the worst timing.” He shook his head, clearly irritated by how things had unfolded, but there was a trace of humor in his voice that made the tension feel lighter.

You both sat there for a moment, the awkwardness of the interruption still hanging in the air but somehow feeling less heavy. It was like you’d both just come back from the edge of something important—and the abrupt break made you laugh despite the weight of everything. In-ho let out a short chuckle too, the irritation in his eyes still there but fading, replaced by a sense of shared frustration with the situation.

You glanced at him, eyes still lingering as you both realized how close you'd come to crossing that line. But there was no point in lingering on it now—not with the game calling you back to reality.

“Guess the universe isn’t ready for us yet,” you said, shaking your head.

In-ho gave a soft, exasperated sigh, but the corner of his mouth twitched up slightly. “Yeah, well, it never really was on our side before,” he muttered, then stood, adjusting his clothes and brushing off the frustration like it was nothing.

You nodded, taking a deep breath before turning your back, to tend to the pregnant girl you had been caring for. It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t feel quite as impossible as it had before. In-ho followed suit, his gaze lingering on you a little longer than necessary. For a moment, the room felt like it belonged to just the two of you again. But the third game was calling, and you both knew you had to face it. Together, this time.

The third game was Mingle. A game where you had to form pairs based on a number assigned and get into a room within 30 seconds. As the platform spun beneath your feet, you felt a wave of nostalgia wash over you. It reminded you of times spent playing this game with friends back in Gyeonggi-do. You remembered one time in particular, when he had gotten into a fight with a common friend, because of the said game. You laughed softly at the memory, causing In-ho to glance over at you, curiosity in his eyes.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, his voice low but still full of interest.

“Nothing,” you said with a soft chuckle. “I just remembered how Byung-hun was angry when you pulled him off of me, so you and I could be partners instead. Didn’t peg you to be a jealous kid.”

In-ho immediately bristled, though there was a playful glint in his eyes. “Hey, I wasn’t jealous. He was hurting you by gripping you so hard.”

“It didn’t even hurt!” you teased, but the corner of your lips twitched upward, unable to keep a smile off your face. “You’re just jealous.”

“Whatever you say…” In-ho muttered, stepping onto the platform. You followed him, shaking your head but smiling at the same time.

After four rounds, you all began preparing for the final one. The rounds were nerve-wracking, the tension palpable, but you had made it this far with the help of your amazing group. The platform began to spin, the music creating a frantic rhythm as it played in the background. You found yourself standing beside Jun-hee, instinctively holding her steady to keep her from stumbling as the platform jerked beneath your feet.

“What do you think the next number will be?” Jung-bae asked, his voice alert as he looked around.

Without hesitation, In-ho spoke up. “Two.”

Gi-hun raised an eyebrow, glancing at In-ho, silently asking him to explain.

“There are 50 rooms, and 126 people still alive. Everyone will need a partner, but there won’t be enough rooms. This is how they conduct these games.” In-ho’s eyes were sharp, and you couldn’t help but feel a bit of awe at how quickly he had figured it out.

And as it turned out, he was right.

2.

Everyone paused, looking around at each other, wondering who would pair up with whom. Before you could grab Jun-hee to pair up, In-ho suddenly grabbed your arm, pulling you along with him. The rest of your group—Dae-ho with Jun-hee, Gi-hun with Jung-bae—quickly followed, all of you rushing to find a room.

You spotted an open door and, without thinking, you shouted. “Over there!” You both sprinted toward it, but before you could step inside, a man suddenly tackled you to the ground. Your head slammed hard against the floor, and for a moment, everything spun.

In-ho’s face twisted with fury as he watched the man try to crawl into the room you had been aiming for, disregarding you entirely. Without thinking, he reached for the man, grabbing him by the neck and shoving him away from you.

“Get in the room!” In-ho shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. You were dizzy and nauseous, the world spinning around you, but you didn’t hesitate. You stumbled to your feet, still feeling the lingering effects of the impact, and forced yourself into the room, fighting through the haze in your head.

But as soon as you entered, something coiled around your neck, a vice-like grip tightening with brutal force. You gasped, your throat constricting as you tried to draw in a breath, but the air seemed to vanish. Your vision blurred, dark edges creeping into the periphery of your sight. Panic surged like a tidal wave, and you clawed at the hands choking you, but they were relentless. Your breath came in short, desperate gasps, each one feeling more like a plea for life than a simple breath.

The world around you was fading, your chest tightening, your limbs growing heavier. You struggled harder, your body thrashing, trying to free yourself, but the darkness was swallowing you whole.

And then—just when you thought you would lose consciousness—there was a shift. The grip loosened. The constriction around your throat vanished in an instant, and you gasped, desperately drawing in the breath you had been fighting for. The air tasted sharp, bitter, as if the world itself was trying to punish you for the terror you had just experienced.

And there he was—In-ho.

He stood over you, his face a mask of fury, eyes wild and unrecognizable with the force of his anger. His knuckles were white, gripping his fist tightly, as though the act of hitting the man who had attacked you had only just begun to settle in. His face was twisted in a way you’d never seen before. Something inside him was unraveling—breaking.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned on the man who had attacked you, and the sound of his fist meeting the man’s face was deafening. A sickening crack echoed through the room, sharp and cruel, as In-ho’s punch sent the man crashing to the floor. But In-ho wasn’t done. The fury inside him was a beast, a monster he couldn’t control. He grabbed the man by the neck, his fingers tightening with savage force, twisting, until there was an awful snap.

The sound of a life being crushed, broken beyond repair, sent a shockwave through your body. Your stomach turned violently, and your chest tightened, as though you could feel the man’s life draining out of him, just like your own hope of ever seeing In-ho as you once had. It wasn’t just the man who had died. In-ho had killed, and something inside him had died, too.

Your breath hitched, and for a moment, you couldn’t move. You stared at him, frozen by what he had just done, your heart racing as the gravity of the moment began to settle in. His chest heaved, each breath coming out ragged and uneven. But it wasn’t the man’s blood on his hands that terrified you the most. It was the look in his eyes. Dark. Soulless. As though he was searching for something—anything—to bring him back to the man he once was. But it was gone. That warmth. That kindness. All of it.

"In-ho..." you whispered, your voice cracking as you reached for him, but he wouldn’t look at you.

His gaze was distant, bloodshot, as though he couldn’t even recognize the person standing in front of him. For a brief moment, you feared you were losing him—losing the man you thought you knew.

And you couldn’t let that happen.

“In-ho,” you whispered again, more urgently this time, your voice thick with unshed tears. “Thank you. For saving my life. Again.”

His jaw clenched, the guilt settling into every line of his face. “I’m sorry, [Name],” he said, his voice breaking, and you could hear the remorse in every word, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. “I’m so sorry.”

You shook your head, your heart hammering as you let out a shaky breath. “What are you sorry for?” Your voice was stronger now, fueled by a strange mixture of anger and desperation. “That bastard almost killed me, and I’m glad he’s gone. I’m glad he’s dead. What’s there to apologize for, In-ho? You saved me. You did what had to be done.”

But In-ho’s gaze softened for only a moment before it hardened again, his hands curling into fists. He was still haunted by what he had done. You could see it in the tight set of his shoulders, in the way he stood, as though he was trying to hold himself together. But the cracks were showing, and you couldn’t let him fall apart in front of you. Not when you needed him most.

Before you could say anything else, the adrenaline that had kept you both on edge began to fade, and the weight of everything—the violence, the pain, the fear—settled into the pit of your stomach. You threw your arms around him, not caring about anything else. Not the blood, not the death, not the mess that surrounded you.

You held him tight, pressing your face into his chest as sobs wracked your body, uncontrollable and raw. “I thought I was going to die…” you whispered between breaths, your voice trembling with the weight of the fear you had felt. “I didn’t know... I didn’t know what was going to happen...”

In-ho didn’t say anything at first. He just held you, his arms coming around you in a protective, desperate way, like he was trying to shield you from the madness, from the horrors that were closing in on you both. His chest was shaking with the same unspoken terror, his breath ragged in your hair as he held you closer, as though afraid you might slip away if he let go.

You closed your eyes, pressing harder into him, the weight of his words sinking into your heart. But no matter how tightly he held you, there was a part of you that was already broken, already afraid that the man you had just seen—the man who had crossed a line he never should’ve had to—was never going to come back.

“I thought I was going to lose you,” he whispered, barely audible. “I couldn’t let that happen.”

You both stood there in silence for a long moment, caught in the aftermath of what had just unfolded, the weight of the violence and the fear finally catching up to you. But for the first time in what felt like forever, you knew—no matter what happened next, you weren’t alone.

After the third game, the group gathered in the makeshift fort Gi-hun had set up, each player lost in their own thoughts. The atmosphere was heavy as they processed the brutal reality of the games. Gi-hun asked Jung-bae to report the number of players who had voted to continue. The tally revealed 56 players had voted O, while the X team remained outnumbered by twelve votes.

In-ho suggested that if six players switched their votes, it would result in a tie, and seven switches would tip the scales in their favor. The tension was palpable as everyone prepared for the vote. When the results were announced, it was a tie. Relief spread through the group, prompting cheers, but their celebration was short-lived.

The guards announced that a tie meant another vote would take place the following day. Dinner was served, and while the group shared light moments to ease their nerves, the tension lingered, a silent reminder of the stakes.

That night, chaos erupted when a fight broke out in the bathroom between the two sides. The O team accused the X team of initiating the attack, while the X team retaliated with their own accusations. The conflict escalated quickly, spreading through the room like wildfire. By the time order was restored, Team X had gained an advantage, now numbering 48 players compared to Team O's 47.

“Two people died on our side,” Player 047 said grimly, sitting down. “We lost three overall, but we’re still ahead by one vote.”

Jung-bae tried to remain optimistic, his voice steady. “As long as we don’t change our minds, we’ll win tomorrow.”

Suddenly, the announcement broke the silence.

“Attention, please. Lights out in 30 minutes. All players, please return to your beds and prepare for bedtime.”

Player 047 turned to the group, his voice firm. “Listen, no one can change their mind, okay? We’ll win tomorrow. Stay strong, and we’ll make it through.”

The group murmured their agreement, but Gi-hun’s expression remained tense.

Dae-ho leaned in, glancing toward the opposing team. “Those guys are acting really suspicious. They’re planning something—I can feel it.”

Jung-bae waved him off. “Whatever. Once we win tomorrow’s vote, it’ll all be over.”

“No. Once the lights go out, they’ll attack us.” Gi-hun spoke, his voice calm but filled with tension.

The room went silent. Player 007’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, They know we’re at an advantage,” He said, voice steady despite the situation. “They’ll try to kill some of us tonight to even the odds and raise the prize money.”

“Then we should attack first. We need to take them by surprise,” In-ho suggested, his tone firm. His words were met with agreement from Player 047, who nodded and added, “We have the women and elderly on our side. If they attack first, we’ll be at a huge disadvantage.”

But Gi-hun raised a hand, his expression grim. “No. We can’t start a fight like that.”

The group turned to him, confused by his sudden objection. Gi-hun’s voice cut through the growing tension, calm yet weighted. “We need to stay calm. If we kill each other, that’s exactly what they want.”

“Who are they? Who are you talking about?”

“The makers of the game,” Gi-hun said bitterly, his eyes burning with anger. His words hung heavy in the air, silencing the murmurs around the room. “They’re the ones who want us to kill each other. They’re watching us right now.”

A chill ran down your spine as you processed his words. The room fell silent, each player lost in thought. Dae-ho broke the quiet, his voice tight. “Where are they?” 

Gi-hun slowly looked up, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. “Up there,” he murmured, his voice barely audible but filled with conviction. You all follow. His eyes seemed to pierce the walls as though he could see straight into them. “The control rooms are above us. Their leader wears a black mask. If we capture him, we’ll have leverage.”

In-ho scoffed slightly, though there was no mockery in his tone. “How are you going to fight them? They’ve got guns.”

“We’ll take their guns.”

“From the masked men?” Player 246 asked, his disbelief evident.

Gi-hun nodded resolutely. “Yes. We’ll catch them off guard. They won’t expect it.”

“That’s too dangerous,” In-ho said, shaking his head. “Even if we manage to steal their guns, we’ll be outnumbered.”

Gi-hun’s gaze hardened. “What’s your plan, then? Sit around and wait to die? Watch as they pick us off, one by one? Is that your idea of survival?” His voice rose slightly, the desperation in his tone cutting through the tension.

The silence that followed was suffocating, each player wrestling with the grim reality of their situation. You could see some heads nodding in reluctant agreement, while others remained still, their fear paralyzing them.

Player 120 spoke up hesitantly, her voice trembling. “Do we even stand a chance?”

“We do,” Gi-hun said, his voice unwavering. “If we strike first, we catch them off guard. They’ll never see it coming. The people running this game think we’re powerless, but we have the upper hand now. This is our last chance to end these games once and for all.”

“How do you plan to take their guns?” In-ho asked again, his skepticism still evident.

Gi-hun didn’t hesitate. His determination was clear, as if he had already played the scenario out in his head. “Once the lights go out, we’ll have our chance.”

Lights out in ten.

The countdown began, the numbers pounding in your skull like the beat of a war drum. You lay stiffly on your bed, your muscles tense and ready to spring. Your heart raced as Gi-hun’s instructions echoed in your mind—Once the lights go out, get under the bottom beds quickly. You must not get caught by those planning to attack us.

You clutched the edge of the bed, your nails digging into the rough wood. The seconds dragged, each one stretching impossibly long, amplifying the terror building in your chest.

One.

The lights flickered violently before plunging the room into suffocating darkness. The sudden silence was deafening. You could hear every breath you took, each one louder than the last, as if your own body was betraying you.

For a brief, terrible moment, the room was still.

The silence was suffocating, a heavy void pressing down on you as though the darkness itself were alive. You held your breath, every muscle locked in place, straining to catch the faintest sound.

Then the chaos began.

Screams erupted, raw and animalistic, tearing through the suffocating silence like claws raking through flesh. Heavy footsteps thundered across the room as bodies scrambled and collided in the dark. The sound of someone slamming into a metal bed reverberated like a gunshot, followed by the sickening, wet crunch of bone meeting steel.

The sharp clang of makeshift weapons rang out, chaotic and dissonant, punctuated by the grotesque, unmistakable sound of flesh being pierced. It was chaos, raw and brutal, an orchestra of horror conducted by desperation.

You didn’t think—there wasn’t time to think. Instinct took over as you dove to the floor, crawling under the bed as Gi-hun had warned. Your breath came in short, panicked bursts, and you pressed yourself flat against the cold floor, willing the shadows to swallow you whole.

The room was a nightmare brought to life. The desperate shrieks of the dying mingled with the guttural grunts of attackers. Somewhere close, you heard a chilling, high-pitched laugh—a sound that sent icy needles of fear racing up your spine. The stench of sweat, blood, and raw terror filled your nose, a nauseating cocktail that made your stomach churn.

A body hit the ground nearby with a sickening thud, so close you could feel the vibrations reverberate through the floor. You froze, every nerve in your body screaming as you listened to their gasping breaths turn into choking, gurgling sounds.

You wanted to turn away, to block out the awful noise, but there was nowhere to go. Even pressing your hands over your ears couldn’t drown out the terrible symphony of suffering.

The screams were getting closer. You clenched your jaw, biting back a whimper as you pressed yourself tighter against the floor, your trembling fingers digging into the cold metal beneath the bed.

Your heart stopped when you felt it—a hand clamping down on your shoulder, strong and unyielding.

Your blood turned to ice, the chill spreading through your veins. Panic seized you, and you thrashed instinctively, your mind consumed by the singular thought that someone had found you. You opened your mouth to scream, but a second hand covered it before a sound could escape.

For a moment, terror blinded you, until a familiar face appeared as the lights flickered.

It was In-ho.

His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp, scanning the room with laser focus. “Quiet,” he whispered, his voice low and urgent, barely audible over the chaos.

Relief swept over you, so sudden and overwhelming that it left you momentarily breathless. But it didn’t last. 

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air, followed by the sickening sound of someone being dragged across the floor. You flinched violently, but In-ho’s hand tightened on your shoulder, grounding you. His grip was firm, steadying you even as your body shook uncontrollably.

The two of you stayed motionless, his presence the only thing keeping you tethered to reality as the violence raged around you. Every scream, every thud, every awful, wet crunch seemed amplified in the darkness, etching itself into your mind. You wanted to shut your eyes, to block it all out, but the terror kept them wide open, unblinking.

Gradually, the chaos began to subside. The screams turned into weak sobs, the sounds of struggle fading into an eerie, oppressive silence. Then came the mechanical hiss of the doors opening, cold and detached, signaling that the nightmare was over.

But you knew better. It was far from over.

In-ho’s hand finally relaxed on your shoulder, and you turned to him. His face was unreadable in the dim light, but there was something in his eyes—something fleeting, unspoken. Before you could say a word, he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Stay safe,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. Then, without waiting for a response, he crawled out from under the bed, disappearing into the shadows.

You stared after him, your mind struggling to process what had just happened. The display of affection, so sudden and unexpected, left you reeling. By the time you snapped out of your stupor, he was already gone.

The sound of gunfire shattered your thoughts, sharp and jarring, each shot echoing like a death knell in the enclosed space. You curled into yourself, covering your ears as tears pricked at your eyes.

Please let them be safe, you prayed silently, over and over again, the words a desperate mantra. Please let them succeed.

After a while, Gi-hun’s voice finally rang out—calm but commanding—it felt like the first breath after being submerged underwater. “Hold fire!”

The gunfire stopped.

Slowly, you crawled out from under the bed, your limbs trembling so violently it was a struggle to move. The room was a battlefield, littered with bodies and soaked in blood. Your eyes darted frantically, searching for one face, one person who mattered more than anything in that moment.

Your heart leapt when you spotted Jun-hee crouched nearby, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her wide eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Jun-hee,” you whispered hoarsely, stumbling toward her. You dropped to your knees, pulling her into a tight embrace. She clung to you like a lifeline, her body trembling against yours.

The two of you stayed huddled together, finding solace in each other’s presence, until Gi-hun’s voice called out again.

“It’s safe to come out now.”

When everyone was told to gather in the middle of the room, you lingered, pretending to adjust your shoes. Jun-hee gave you a worried glance, but you waved her off with a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right there. Just... something I need to do.”

She hesitated before nodding, her small frame disappearing into the growing crowd.

Your heart raced as you scanned the room, the chaos of bloodied survivors and flickering lights making it harder to find him. But then you saw him—a familiar silhouette, half-hidden in the shadows of a secluded corner.

In-ho.

He was focused, his movements precise as he disarmed a fallen attacker, slipping the weapon into his grasp. His stoic expression didn’t falter as he worked. Even now, in the aftermath of chaos, he was calculating, steadfast, and unshaken.

Your breath hitched. You knew this wasn’t necessary. You knew you should be with the others in the middle of the room like you’d been instructed. But the ache in your chest, the fear gnawing at your sanity, pushed you forward. You couldn’t leave without speaking to him—without feeling the warmth of his presence one last time.

When you spotted him in a secluded corner, hunched over a stash of weapons he was collecting from fallen players, your resolve solidified. Silently, you crossed the chaotic room, weaving past overturned beds and scattered bodies. Your heart thundered in your chest, not from fear, but from the weight of what you needed to say.

Without a second thought, you ran towards him, your steps quick and silent. When you reached him, you didn’t wait for him to notice you. You immediately threw yourself into his arms, catching him off guard.

“[Name]!” he gasped, his voice sharp with surprise as he caught you. He always caught you. His hands steadied you automatically, even as confusion flashed across his face. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be with the others. It’s not—”

Before he could finish, you cupped his face and kissed him deeply. The movement was so sudden, so full of everything you’d kept locked away, that it caught him off guard. He froze, his lips still against yours, the cold metal of the gun slipping from his grip and hitting the floor with a dull thud.

For a moment, he didn’t respond, and you thought your heart might shatter. Then, slowly, almost hesitantly, he kissed you back. His hands moved to your waist, holding you as though you might slip away if he let go. The kiss deepened, his lips trembling against yours, and you could feel the war inside him—the pull of his duty against the part of him that wanted to stay here forever.

His lips moved against yours, his hands gripping your waist as though anchoring himself to you. The kiss was messy, desperate, and full of everything you couldn’t say out loud.

When you finally pulled away, your breath mingling with his, your voice broke. “In-ho…” You could barely get his name out.

“[Name],” he murmured, his voice low and trembling. “You shouldn’t be here, you know that.”

“I don’t care.” You gripped the front of his jacket, your tears spilling freely now. “I don’t care about any of that. I needed to see you. I needed to know you were okay.”

“I’m fine,” he said, but his voice cracked, betraying the lie. His hands shook where they rested on your waist. “But you—you need to go back. You need to stay safe. I can’t…” He trailed off, his eyes darting away, as if meeting your gaze might break him completely.

“In-ho,” you choked out, clutching his jacket tightly. “Won’t you stay, In-ho? For me?” your voice crackled with desperation.

His breath hitched, and he pulled back just enough to meet your gaze. For a second, you thought he might say yes. But then, his face crumpled, and he shook his head. “I can’t,” he said, his voice breaking. “I want to—I want to so badly. But I can’t. I have to help them, [Name]. I have to make sure they have a chance.”

You tried to hold back the tears, tried to be strong for him, but the floodgates opened anyway. A sob tore from your throat as you buried your face against his chest. His arms wrapped around you fully now, steady and grounding, even as your world fell apart.

Of course, this was In-ho. The one who always puts others before himself. The one who bore every burden silently, who carried the weight of guilt and responsibility like it was the only thing keeping him alive. This was In-ho—your In-ho. The man who had always been so much more than you deserved.

And yet, even if it hurt, you loved him for it. You always would.

“What about me?” you whispered, tears streaming freely down your face. “What about us? Don’t we matter?”

His hands came up to cradle your face, his thumbs wiping away your tears even as his own filled his eyes. “You matter,” he said, his voice trembling. “You’ve always mattered. More than anything. More than anyone. But if I don’t do this… none of us will make it out of here.”

“In-ho…” Your voice broke, and he pulled you into his chest, his arms wrapping around you tightly.

“I’ll come back,” he whispered into your hair, his voice unsteady but full of resolve. “I swear, I’ll come back to you.”

“Please,” you choked out, clinging to him like your life depended on it. “Please, In-ho, don’t make me lose you again. I can’t—I can’t do this… not without you.”

“You won’t lose me,” he said, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his own uncertainty. He pressed a kiss to your forehead, lingering there as if trying to memorize the feel of you. “I’ll come back. I promise.”

Deep down, you both knew his promise was a fragile thing, held together by hope.

He leaned down, his hands trembling as they cupped your face. His lips met yours once more, this time in a lingering kiss, slow and deep, filled with everything he couldn’t bring himself to say. For a brief moment, the world seemed to pause. The chaos around you faded into a distant hum, and the weight of the moment lightened just enough for you to feel the depth of his love. A love as desperate and fleeting as the seconds you shared.

When he pulled away, his lips brushed against your forehead, a soft sigh escaping him as if the kiss had stolen the last of his strength. “I’ll be extra safe,” he murmured, his voice low and steady, though his eyes betrayed the agony tearing him apart. “I promise, [Name].”

The promise felt hollow, like a brittle shell barely holding together.

You nodded weakly, though every fiber of your being screamed at you to pull him close, to make him stay. But you knew. You knew who he was—knew that In-ho was the kind of man who always put others first, and there was nothing you could say or do to change that.

“I’ll come back to you,” he said, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips, as if he were trying to convince himself as much as you. “You have to believe that.”

Your voice wavered as you whispered, “I believe you, In-ho.” But the ache in your chest said otherwise.

He took a step back, his hands lingering on your arms before they fell away entirely. The warmth of his touch disappeared as he turned, moving toward the shadows with quiet determination.

Your heart shattered as you stood there, frozen in place, watching him walk away. It felt like every part of you was being ripped apart, your chest heaving with silent sobs. You wanted to scream his name, to demand he turn around, to beg him not to go. But the words caught in your throat, strangled by the raw, suffocating pain of letting him go.

As his figure grew smaller and smaller, the reality of what just happened sank in. The promise he made, the kiss he gave, the pain in his eyes—they all felt like goodbyes masquerading as hope.

As the silence closed in, the thought struck you with brutal clarity. This was the last time you would ever see him.

And it broke you, how painfully right you were.

RAHHHHH I NEED THEM BOTH 😫

Mine

Pairing: The Front Man /Hwang In-ho x Female Reader x The Masked Officer

Requested by anon: Reader being with the frontman, and the black guard just like to tease her and get the Frontman angry. Little did he know that the frontman was watching everything and put them both in their place.

Warnings: Nsfw, Smut, Oral Sex, Fingering, Masturbation, Voyeurism, Exhibitionism, Unprotected Sex, Cumshots.

"Mask off."

You obeyed the Officer's command, holding your gaze to the floor as the handsome man approached you.

"How many times have you been here now, y/n?"

"Five, Sir."

"You know, I've always wondered why a pretty, little thing like you ended up here of all places."

"Does it really matter?" you asked and looked up at him defiantly.

The Officer chuckled and stepped closer to you, running his finger down your jawline. You could feel your heart racing at the closeness of his body and the gentle touch of his finger.

"I guess not. But I know why you keep returning. Is the Front Man really that good of a fuck that you continue killing people just to get his dick?"

Your eyes widened and your face heat up. How could he possibly know this?

"I-It's not like that," you whispered and lowered your head.

The Officer's eyes widened in realization and he smiled mockingly. "Oh, I see. You love him. I'm sorry to say it, sweetheart, but he will never love you back. That man's heart is cold as stone."

"And yours isn't?" you asked, looking up at him again. You known for a long time now, that he wanted you. He was always flirting with you, calling you to his office for no apparent reason, just to tease you. And you would be lying to say that he didn't have an affect on you, he was a handsome and attractive man for sure. And a part of you wanted to make the Front Man jealous, to find out if he really cared about you or not.

The Officer smiled at your question. "You're probably right. In a place like this, who has the time to care about someone? But, it can't stop one from having a little fun."

He palmed your face and you held your breath as he lowered his face to yours, his lips nearly touching yours...

"Officer, back away."

You gasped at the Front Man's voice, the Officer only let go off your face and looked at his captain with a wide smirk, not caring about the fact that his helmet was off in front of his superior officer.

"Sorry, Captain. We were just...having a little conversation."

The Front Man walked up to the two of you, placing himself behind you with his hand on your shoulder.

"I do not share my belongings, Officer. And this one belongs to me."

A pang of heat rushed through your belly at his words.

"Oh? Are you sure that's what she thinks too? That she belongs to you?"

"I know so. Because she does everything I demand of her," the Front Man replied. "Now, sit down, Officer."

The Officer glared at the Front Man but did what he ordered, knowing what the consequences would be if he disobeyed.

"Y/n. Take your clothes off."

A wave of heat rushed through your core at his words and you bit down on your lip as you glanced up at the Officer and saw the spark of interest in his eyes where he sat in his armchair with his legs crossed. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath to calm your nerves. What choice did you have but to obey? And did you really want to disobey him? Opening your eyes, you held your gaze on the floor as you took of your mask and started undressing with trembling fingers, too self-conscious to meet the Officer's eyes.

In-ho smirked where he stood behind you, his dick twitching at the sight of your naked, tempting form.

You shot a glance upwards at the Officer, arousal spiking through your at the sight of his lust-filled eyes staring at your naked body.

"On your knees, y/n."

Cheeks flushed, you obeyed his command and dropped down to the floor.

In-ho smirked and lifted your chin, his voice dark and husky as he spoke again.

"Open that pretty mouth of yours."

You obeyed again, opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue as the Front Man zipped down his slacks and took out his cock.

The Front Man tapped the head of his cock against your tongue. You flicked your tongue across the slit of the head, earning a breathy growl from the Front Man. Encouraged by his noises, you leaned forward and wrapped your lips around the head of his cock. Slowly, you started bobbing your head, sliding your lips up and down his length. With each bob, you took more and more of him into your mouth until you started to gag.

"See what a good girl she is?" In-ho smirked and looked up at the Officer who kept staring at the sight in front of him. "She does everything I tell her to do. Even here. In front of you."

The Front Man grunted and grabbed your head, pressing you down on his cock and bucked his hips against your face. You choked and spluttered as his length pushed down your throat. The Front Man growled and released the grip on your head, allowing you to breathe. Gasping for air, you stared up at him and glanced over at the officer. A pang of heat rushed through your belly when you saw the cock in his hand, his brown eyes focused on you as he stroke himself.

The Front Man wrapped his hand around your throat and forced you to look at him. You gasped and stared up at the masked man.

"See how much he enjoys seeing your mouth wrapped around my cock? I bet he's gonna love seeing me ravage you."

"Please...," you whimpered, squeezing your thighs together to lighten the throbbing arousal.

"What's that?" The Front Man snickered and lowered his hand down between your legs, slipping his long finger through your wet folds and into your soaked pussy. You gasped and grabbed his arm, moaning with pleasure at finally having something inside your aching core. In-ho growled at the sensation of your spongy flesh gripping his finger and the sloppy noises your pussy was making as he moved his finger inside you.

"You're absolutely drenched. You want me inside you, little one?"

"Y-Yes, Sir...please...," you mewled, nearly sobbing as you desperately rode his finger.

The Front Man chuckled and removed his fingers, leaving you feeling empty and greedy for more. Your blurry mind was abruptly woken by his cock plunging into you from behind. Back arching and eyes widening, you looked at him over your shoulder, at the erotic sight of him crouching above you and pounding his cock into your gaping, soppy count. You caught something in the corner of your eyes and suddenly remembered the Officer was there. The sight he was giving you sent another wave of pleasure through your belly. He was still stroking himself, his pace faster now, matching the pace of The Front Man's hips. His mouth was half open, his chest heaving rapidly with breathy moans as he watched The Front Man fucking you from behind.

All of these impressions flooding your body and mind were too overwhelming, and you couldn’t control your body anymore as another gush of pleasure swept through your body. Throwing your head back, you pressed your ass back against The Front Man's hips, rutting against him erratically as your orgasm rolled like waves through your body.

In-ho growled and threw his head back at the feeling of your fluttering, clenching walls gripping his cock. He slammed into you one last time, his cock swelling and throbbing as spurts of his thick cum released into your cunt. Your eyes landed on the Officer just as he came, and a fountain of white semen erupted from his cock and painted the floor. You mewled softly at the sight, your pussy gently clenching around the Front Man's cock still lodged inside you as your body relaxed in post-orgasmic bliss. Then, you felt The Front Man's fingers in your hair and you gasped as he yanked your head back, forcing you to look at the Officer.

"This pussy will never be yours, Officer," The Front Man snarled. "You understand that? It belongs to me and I can fuck it whenever and wherever I want. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir," the Officer swallowed nervously and quickly put himself back into his jumpsuit.

"Good. Now, come along, little one. I'm not finished with you."

Face flushed with embarrassment, you stood up and scrambled your clothes together, following the The Front Man with your head bowed, already feeling the burn of his paddle on your ass.

Is it weird I love this like alot 😭

RIDE HOME ✦

pairing | dad’s best friend byunghun x fem!reader

summary | late at night, he catches your sneaking out and offers a ride home—but things take an unexpected turn.

warnings | 18+, fingering, squirting, overstimulation, age gap (40 n 19), obsessive behavior, dom!byunghun, sub!reader, sir kink, praise kink, etc.

a/n | hello tysm for showing love to my previous post!! i hope you all enjoy!!! (pretty long maybe 10-15k words idk lol)

the cold air bit at your skin as you slipped out of the house, your footsteps barely audible on the deserted street. you needed to clear your mind somehow; being sneaky out at night and scrolling through your neighborhood wasn’t helping.

you tried everything to stop thinking about him, to stop feeling the way you did. you buried yourself in distractions, surrounded yourself with noise, but none of it worked. every stolen glance, every fleeting touch, every low, murmured word from him had carved itself in your mind, replaying endlessly. you had indulged yourself in everything about him—the way he moved, the way his voice could slip beneath your skin like a secret you two only shared. it wasn’t just his presence; it was his absence, too. even when he wasn’t there, you felt him. you wanted to escape it, wanted to free yourself from the pull of him, but the more you tried, the deeper you sank. he was everywhere now, in every thought, every breath, every ache you didn’t know how to silence.

the street was eerily quiet, the faint hum of distant traffic the only sound cutting through the stillness. you kept your head down, hands stuffed into the pockets of your jacket, walking quickly but not too quickly—just enough to feel the invisible shadows.

then came the low rumble of a car engine.

your heart skipped, your steps faltering as you glanced over your shoulder. a sleek, black car was creeping alongside you, its headlights slicing through the night. you quickened your pace, trying to shake the unsettling feeling prickling at your neck. the car didn’t speed up or pass you. it matched your movements, sticking close.

you chest tightened. you kept walking.

the window rolled down.

“out a little late, aren’t you?”

the voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. you froze, the familiarity of it making your stomach lurch. turning your head around slowly, your breath hitched when you saw him.

he leaned one arm against the edge of the window, his eyes hard, unrelenting. there was no hint of softness, only sharp edge of disapproval that made your pulse race.

“what the hell are you doing out here?” he demanded, his tone low but with a roughness that left no room for excuses. “do you have any idea what time it is?”

you opened your mouth to answer, but no words came. the weight of his gaze pinned you in place, your carefully constructed rebellion crumbling under his authority.

“get in,” he ordered, not waiting for an explanation. “now.”

your feet hesitated against the pavement, your heart pounding in your chest as you stared at him. you considered ignoring him, turning and walking away—but the hard edge in his eyes told you that wouldn’t be an option.

“i’m fine,” you managed to say, your voice weaker than you intended. “i don’t need a ride.”

his jaw tightened, his knuckles flexing against the steering wheel. “that wasn’t a question,” he said, his tone sharper now. “get in the car.”

you glanced down the empty street, debating your options. run? keep walking? pretend you didn’t care that he’d caught you like this? but something in the way he watched you—like he wasn’t in the mood for games—left you no choice.

with a reluctant sigh, you moved toward the passenger side, your fingers trembling as you opened the door and slid in. the silence inside the car was suffocating, the weight of his presence filling every corner.

he didn’t say anything at first, just shifted the car back into gear and pulled away from the curb. the low growl of the engine matched the simmering tension between you two.

“what were you thinking?” he asked finally, his voice low and dangerous. “sneaking out in the middle of the night like that? alone?”

you turned your face toward the window, unwilling to meet his gaze. “i just needed some air,” you muttered.

“air,” he repeated, the word dripping with disbelief. “you think wandering around at this hour is safe? do you even realize what could’ve happened to you?”

“it’s not that big of a deal,” you snapped, the sharpness in your voice a weak attempt to mask your guilt.

he laughed, but it wasn’t warm—it was bitter, incredulous. “not a big deal?” his hand gripped the steering wheel tighter, his jaw clenched. “you’re lucky it was me who found you and not someone else.”

your stomach twisted at his words, the weight of your own recklessness suddenly crashing down on you.

“why do you even care?” you blurted out, her voice shaking now.

the car jerked slightly as he pulled over, slamming the gear into park. the sudden stillness made her breath catch.

“why do i care?” he repeated, his voice quiet but seething. he turned to face you, his eyes blazing with something you couldn’t quite name—anger, frustration, concern, all tangled together.

“because,” he said slowly, leaning closer, his voice like a low growl, “whether you like it or not, you matter to me. and if you think i’m going to let you do something this stupid again, you’re dead wrong.”

you blinked, your breath hitching at the intensity of his words. for a moment, you couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. the air between you two was thick, charged with something you weren’t sure how to handle.

the silence stretched on, and he finally leaned back, running a hand through his hair as if trying to compose himself. “just… tell me where you were going,” he said, his tone softer now but no less firm.

you swallowed hard, unsure of what to say, your thoughts spinning out of control.

the car’s engine purred softly as the two of you sat in heavy silence. the air inside was charged, almost suffocating, thick with the unspoken words and emotions between them. you shifted in your seat, your gaze darting to the window, then to your lap, anywhere but at him.

but you could feel him. his presence was overwhelming, every movement drawing your attention—the flex of his fingers on the steering wheel, the subtle clench of his jaw, the way his gaze flicked to you briefly before returning to the road.

your chest felt tight, your pulse thrumming in your ears as if your own body was betraying you. you didn’t understand it—this magnetic pull, this raw, electric energy that seemed to crackle between each other. every second in his car felt like walking a fine line between control and something far more dangerous.

you crossed your legs, trying to steady yourself, but even the movement felt amplified in the charged atmosphere. your skin felt hypersensitive, your body responding in ways you couldn’t control, your breaths coming shallow and uneven.

“you’re awfully quiet now,” he said, his voice low and rough, cutting through the tension like a spark to dry kindling. “got nothing to say for yourself?”

your head snapped toward him, and the weight of his gaze sent a shiver down your spine. his eyes held yours, unrelenting, piercing through your defenses like he could see everything you were trying so desperately to hide.

“i-i don’t know what you want me to say,” you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper.

the corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile, more like he was weighing your every word. “i want the truth,” he said, his tone softer but no less commanding. “why were you out there?”

your fingers twisted in your lap, your heartbeat a drumbeat against your ribs. “i just… needed to clear my head,” you admitted, the excuse sounding hollow even to yourself.

“and is it clear now?” he asked, leaning slightly towards you, his voice dropping an octave. “or is it just as messy as it was before?”

you swallowed hard, the intensity of his words sending a rush of heat through you. you couldn’t speak, couldn’t think—could only feel the tension in the small space between you two, the way it seemed to pull you closer to him without your permission.

the silence stretched, and you could see his hands gripping the wheel tighter, his knuckles whitening slightly. it felt like the air in the car was about to ignite, the tension unbearable, pressing in from all sides.

“look at me,” he said suddenly, his voice soft but firm.

you hesitated, but the command in his tone left no room for defiance. slowly, you lifted your gaze, meeting his. the intensity in his eyes made your breath catch. it wasn’t just anger or frustration anymore—it was something else, something deeper, something you wasn’t sure you were ready to name.

the weight of his stare sent another shiver coursing through you, your pulse quickening as the air between the two seemed to shrink even further.

moving his hand from the steering wheel, his fingers deftly fumbled with the waistband of your pants, the action sending a jolt of shock through you. your breath hitched, and your gaze locked onto his, wide-eyed and searching.

“b-byunghun… what are you doing?” you stammered, your voice trembling, the question barely escaping your lips.

unconsciously, your body betrayed you, your legs parting slightly without you realizing, as though responding to the magnetic pull of his presence.

“this will teach you something about sneaking out, sweetheart..” he said, his fingers stroking softly over your damp clothed pussy, that ache softly for some friction.

“byunghun..” you moan softly as you feel his gentle strokes turn more firmly. he moves your panties to the side, now being able to feel your cunt completely with no restrictions in the way.

“look at you…so fucking wet for me baby…” he whispers softly as his gaze shifts to the empty road and you. his fingers move up to circle on your clit, the movement sending waves of shock all over your body.

“fuck sir…please” you plea as one of your hands hold onto the door and the other his wrist. “what was that, baby?” he asks softly with a smirk plastered on his face, soft chuckles erupting from his throat.

“please sir… i need more..” sweat trickled down from your forehead, the heat of the two of you seeping through the car. having heard your pleas and sounds of pleasure made him fulfill your wish, as he inserts two of his fingers in your entrance wasting no time to let you adjust as he plunges them in rapidly.

“n-ngh sir!” you gasped as your legs tremble furiously, his fingers stroking you wet walls exceptionally. your fingers digging on his wrist, you were sure it would leave a mark but you could care less as your mind was gratified on his fingers curving inside you.

“bout to- ah -cum!” your eyes rolled back as your body arched off the seat. “cum for me baby..” he’d whisper against your ear, his eyes every once in a while meeting your pleasured out state, just as he demanded, his fingers were then coated completely as you came undone.

“you can do it again, right baby?” he asks as he doesn’t take his fingers out, you’d gasp at the overstimulation he was giving you. the first orgasm was already too much for you and it was going a lot worst at the fact he wasn’t stopping. tears brimmed as you’d gasped and pleaded him to stop.

“too much—sir!”

“too much?” he mocked you as he chuckled at the sight of you tears streaming down your face. he was coming closer to your house but before that even happened, he wanted you to cum again. “you can take it baby, i know you can. matter of a fact, why don’t we add one more, huh?”

“you can take three..” he slipped out of your cunt only to slam three fingers into you again, your body lurching forward as you gripped the dashboard. “sir! f-fuck please!”

“good girl..you’re taking it so well sweetheart..” he whispered soft praises against your ear as he felt you clench around his fingers, he swiftly parked the car in front of your house, his left hand abandoning the steering wheel as he placed it on your clit, harshly abusing it.

“ah! n-ngh sir! s-stop!” you’d moan loudly your head tilted back as your leg shook violently. “fuck..baby..” he’d groan, his boner erected and visible, all from how you looked and took everything he gave you.

your orgasm was coming quick and it felt a lot stronger than before, “sirrr—! please—i can’ttt—!” you moaned loudly as your orgasm ripped through you, your body arched and shaking violently. “fuck baby.. you squirted..” he groan against your ears as he licked your cum off of his fingers, body still shaking from the intense orgasm he had given you.

“next time baby, don’t sneak out—and make it so obvious of who you’re trying to forget..”

a/n: okayyy i’m ngl this might be my best work yet and i loved it so much (as you can tell i got carried away loll) but tysm for reading, any comments, reblogs and likes would be greatly appreciated <3

mxymii out!

Yea I fr love the age gap 🤭

HWANG INHO NSFW HCS …

cw: 18+, age gap, daddy kink (inho being fatherly …), intox kink, somno, dirty talk, general filth.

a/n: i’m so sorry this came out way too long & messy ,, long & messy…?!?! , may have some typos. i was writing an inho fic but while writing & coming up with possible ideas, i may have gone a little overboard with the hcs… whoops. anyways head full of inho

—-

• has mastered the art of juggling praising and degrading down to a T. when he has you pinned down fucking you stupid, expect to be hearing the filthiest remarks against your ear.

“that’s my pretty girl, so fucking dirty.”

“just a dumb little fleshlight for me to fill, hmm? so, so good. all for me.”

• he calls you his baby, his sweet girl, his angel, & of course, sweetheart.

• possessive is inho’s middle name. but really, is this shocking news?

• inho never would’ve thought himself to have a daddy kink. not like he wasn’t open to the idea, moreso he never thought he’d get the chance to try it. but ever since you came into his life, you gave him the perfect opportunity.

• he took notice of how much his fatherly nature had you wrapped around his finger. you couldn’t help it, really. the way he’s so protective of you, so patient and caring. the day he called himself daddy in bed, you came so hard you could’ve sworn you were on the brink of blacking out.

“my pretty girl just needed daddy to fuck her right, huh? it’s okay, baby. i’ve got you.” he’d murmur, low groans escaping past parted lips as his thrusts turn sloppier, more frantic and messy at the sound of your moans.

• forced intox kink … i will die on this hill. something about seeing you all dumb & drunk, mind clouded after taking a swig of alcohol gets him hot and bothered.

• somnophiliac. he’ll try his best to be gentle at first to not wake you up, but he can’t help getting lost in the pleasure, pounding himself deeper and deeper until your eyes flutter open.

• the times he uses your mouth, you’re woken up by the sensation of being choked, your airway getting tighter and tighter. tears prick at the corner of your eyes as you frantically grip onto him, gasping for air. he’ll just shush you, hands still pressed firmly against both sides of your head as he fucks your throat.

“shh, it’s okay, baby. s’just daddy… go back to bed, angel.”

• on the topic of choking, inho can’t get enough of it. wrapping his hand around your neck during sex, the choked moans that come from you never fails to make his cock twitch. it drives him up a wall.

• he’d never say it outright, but your age gap makes him so fucking hard. just talking about it with him could serve as foreplay, really. he tries to be sneaky with it, mentioning it in passing.

• he mentions how his age is getting to him, or how young and pretty you are, how he’s “practically old enough to be your father,”. you’d say it’s sick, the only problem being you find it equally as hot.

• for someone of his age, he fucks like a madman. you may be the younger one, but sometimes you find yourself huffing trying to keep up with him. he does most of the work, tells you to just “sit pretty and take it.”, but the times when he’s all tired out and still hard? he’ll lay back on the bed, dark eyes fixed on you as he motions for you to ride him. “get yourself off on daddy’s cock, pretty girl.”

and really, how could you turn that offer down?

I LOVE HOW ITS LIKEE JUST DAILY OR NORMAL LIFE WITH IN-HO LIKEE MWA MWAA CHEFS KISS 👌💛

 Which Boyfriend Calls Back First?

Pairing: Frontman/Hwang In-Ho x Fem!Reader

Summary: You and your friends test your boyfriends' responsiveness with a playful TikTok challenge, and naturally, your devoted boyfriend In-ho is the first to call back.

Warnings: Fluff, Cute!inho, Clingy!Inho, Protective!Inho.

Word count: 1k

You and your four friends—Yuri, May, Chaein, and Hayoung—gather around the dining table, each of you armed with your smartphones. The room buzzes with a mix of excitement and nervous laughter as you all prepare to join the latest TikTok trend: determining which of your boyfriends will respond the fastest to a missed call.

"Okay, ladies, are we ready?" Yuri asks, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Ready!" everyone chimes in unison.

You steal a glance at your friends, feeling the collective anticipation building up. "Alright, on the count of three: one, two, three!" you call out.

You all dial your respective partners simultaneously and then quickly hang up, creating what’s known as a "flash" call. The five of you place your phones back on the table, the screens facing up, and exchange amused and curious glances, eager to see which boyfriend will react first.

May leans back in her chair, crossing her arms with a smirk. "I bet Mark will call me back first. He's always so quick to respond."

Chaein laughs, shaking her head. "Oh please, Sunoo is definitely the fastest. Just wait and see."

You feel a familiar flutter of excitement as you look at your phone, fully confident in In-ho’s attentiveness. "Well, let’s just see about that," you say, grinning.

"Honestly, In-ho will probably call back first because he's so obsessed with Y/N. I mean, I'm surprised he even let her come out tonight," Yuri jokes with a knowing smile. 

It was no exaggeration; you and In-ho were practically inseparable. He despised being apart from you and would become upset if you were away for even a few hours. Heading out tonight to spend time with your friends had been an uphill battle, as he did everything he could to persuade you to stay with him instead. His unwavering devotion and the way he always wanted to be near you were endearing, adding a touch of romance to your relationship that made your bond even stronger.

Within moments, your phone lights up and starts ringing. The screen displays In-ho's name, and your heart does a little flip. You catch the surprised looks from your friends and can't help but laugh.

"Damn, In-ho’s fast!" Hayoung exclaims, genuinely impressed.

You pick up your phone, feeling a surge of warmth. "Hello?" you answer, trying to suppress a giggle.

"Is everything okay?" In-ho’s voice comes through, filled with concern.

"Everything's fine, love. It was just a little game we were playing," you say, your voice softening.

In-ho is renowned for his authoritative role and his emotionally guarded demeanor, but in moments like these, the depth of his love for you becomes undeniably clear. Despite the demands of his position as the Front Man, where he commands control and garners respect from everyone around him, you are the exception to his rigid exterior. Even amidst his busy schedule, he always ensures to carve out time for you, willing to drop anything at a moment's notice just to be by your side.

The room fills with light-hearted groans and chuckles as your friends mock-complain about losing the lighthearted competition. "Looks like Y/N's the winner," Yuri concedes with a playful pout.

You walk into another room, still on the phone with your love. In-ho's concern is palpable, yet there's a gentle humor in his voice as he says, "I could hear those groans and laughs—sounds lively over there."

"It's definitely lively," you reply, a soft laugh escaping. "We're just caught up in a silly game right now. But everything's all good, nothing to worry about."

There’s a brief pause, and you can imagine him thoughtfully staring into the distance, just as he often does.

"Are you having fun?" he asks, his tone lightening.

You smile, "Yeah, it's a lot of fun. We're all really into these goofy challenges."

"Good," In-ho replies, a warm undertone in his voice. "Do you need me to pick up anything from the store before you come back home?"

You think for a moment and then smile. "Actually, could you grab some snacks for later? You know, our usuals."

"Consider it done," he says with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Anything else?"

"No, that should be it. Thanks, love," you say, feeling grateful for his thoughtfulness. "Just get yourself home safely."

"I will," he promises. "I miss you."

Your heart swells at his simple admission. "I miss you too," you reply softly. "I'll see you soon."

As you hang up, your thoughts wander to the unique dynamic of your relationship with In-ho. You know that most people would probably find having a clingy, overprotective boyfriend suffocating or annoying. They might complain about the constant check-ins or the way he always wants to know you're safe. But for you, it's different. His attentiveness and concern are like a warm blanket on a cold night—they wrap you in a sense of comfort and security that you've come to cherish deeply.

You love how every call, every message from him is a small reminder that you are loved and valued. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, his protective nature provides a reassuring constant. In-ho has a way of making you feel like you are the most important person in his world, and it's a feeling you wouldn't trade for anything.

Your mind drifts back to a conversation you had with him not long ago. He had confessed that he had never been this way with anyone before. "I've never felt the need to be so protective," he had admitted, his voice soft but sincere. "But with you, I just want to make sure you're always okay."

His words had struck a chord deep within you. Knowing that his behavior wasn't a default setting but something unique to your relationship made you appreciate it even more. It was as if you had unlocked a part of him that had remained hidden until you came into his life.

Rejoining your friends, you can't help but smile, the warmth of In-ho's recent call lingering like a tender embrace. The noise and laughter around you feel a bit more vibrant, the evening a bit more enjoyable, all because of the love and devotion you know is waiting for you at home.

BOOMSHAKALAKA🔥 THANK YOU FOR BLESSING MY EYES WITH THIS

Playing Dangerous

Pairings: Hwang In Ho x Wife!reader

Summary: Mr. Hwang does not like it when his wife ignores him. He decides to show what happens when you upset him.

Warnings: Smut (18+) mdni, Yandere behavior, In ho is obsessive and controlling, dub con, public sex, breast play, mentions of captivity and stalking, a bunch of rich assholes.

Take the driver with you.

Did you reach yet?

I'm waiting for your answer.

Swirling the glistening champagne in your claw you leaned into the conversation, feigning interest into whatever story was being told. Mr. Richie, the President of a luxury brand of perfumes was bragging about his most recent visit to Luxembourg; how he surprised his wife by renting one of the castles for the week and how much money he burned through to make her happy.

He stood surrounded by some of the most powerful and elite people in the country as he drawled on and on about his stay. Bit overkill with how much money he spent for your taste but you were used to it by now.

From rare antiques to color vomits on canvases, these were awfully boring people who always talked about the same few conceited experiences. But you indulged in their conversations. You had to appease to them after all.

You had to play the perfect wife.

Nodding your head you smiled, as if you hadn’t zoned his story out completely. It was easier attending events alone. No one paid much attention to you without the loaded man beside you. You prayed that no one asked about why your husband was missing because frankly you didn’t have an answer.

As if sensing your thoughts Mrs. Richie asked, “Will Mr. Hwang not be joining us tonight?” interrupting her husband’s museum story.

“Oh yeah, I’m afraid he won’t be able to make it. He has so busy these days with meetings and that big launch coming up.” You replied.

They raised their heads oh in understanding. In truth, there was no launch. You just lied so they wouldn’t pry too much.

Mrs. Richie clutched her pearls, “That makes me so upset! He has such a strong aura around him, always brightens up the room with his presence.” She talked as if his absence was her personal loss. As if another moment without him would cause her to wither in physical pain.

In hindsight it should have really bothered you. Hearing another woman yearn for your husband should have had you pulling her hair and throwing her to the ground. But your relationship with Mr. Hwang wasn’t like that. It was all only for show; a signed inconvenient obligation. You two didn’t even looked at each other unless there was someone watching.

 “Yes, it is quite upsetting.” You said with the most heartbroken smile you could muster. ”But sometimes you have to sacrifice time-”

As you spoke a shiver ran down your spine. Your heart started beating faster as a knot formed in your stomach. It was as if your body was warning you.

You could feel his presence even before you could see him.

Every single person in the room had turned their heads towards the entrance. His black polished shoes clicked as silence fell around.

Mr. Hwang was the kind of man who commanded unwavering attention. It was impossible to ignore him. Not when he walked with a sense of ownership. As if every living and breathing thing belonged to him.

He was the kind of man who could will mountains to move on their own; the kind of man who could make a ballroom like this feel like a cramped elevator. Dressed in his signature black look he walked in with a sense of control. Every stride oozed power.

Alarm bells started ringing in your head as he walked towards you.

“Oh look he is here!” Mrs. Richie exclaimed. She looked seconds away from rolling her tongue out for him to walk on.

Color threatened to drain from your face as he slipped his long cold fingers around your waist and placed himself beside you. His touches always made you nervous, no matter the months you’ve spent with him. The haunting scent of his strong cologne filled your senses as his towering body pressed into your side like this was the most natural thing in the world.

You dragged out a surprised smile as he bent down to place a lingering kiss your cheek.

“You’re here.” You said finally, a ghost of a whisper.

He tilted his head to look into your eyes and smiled back at you. “When your wife doesn’t respond to your texts, you just have to come find her, am I right folks?” He turned to the group as they all threw their heads back in roaring laughter. It was kind of pathetic how much they seemed to want his approval.

Your eyes widened as you realized your mistake. You acted to feel around for your phone and said, “Really? I don’t remember checking my phone. I must have missed them.”

He just continued to stare down at you with a frown, “You know how worried I get. Should have just gotten you the phone with an inbuilt tracker” he said with a chuckle and people laughed again. But you both knew he wasn’t kidding. Anything this man couldn’t control drove him crazy.

You playfully patted his cheek and laughed. “He is so silly sometimes.”

He simply pulled you closer and squeezed you in his embrace, “I just want my wife to be protected that is all”. People took that as a hint to slowly start dispersing. When the last person left you tried to move away from him but he held still. “Don’t. They’re still watching.”

“Why are you here?” You asked with an accusatory tone.

He didn’t bother answering that. Instead he asked, “Why did you ignore my messages?”

So that’s why he came. The minute you refused to play along like his little doll he had to show up.

Fidgeting with the strap of your watch you replied, “I was preoccupied.”

“Were you avoiding me Mrs. Hwang?” His voice dangerously calm as he drawled on the possibility. He knew how much you hated it when he called you that. It felt derogatory. It was a reminder that you were just another one of his little slaves who had given into his power.

When you stayed silent, he leaned down to whisper in your ear, “Next time, I will hunt you down and drag you out by your hair if I have to.”

“Just be very careful with your actions love.” he kissed your shoulder and left towards to bar.

To everybody else he was the perfect husband; the one who showered you with jewels and admiration. Who blindly bought you everything you touched. Your brain itched every time they would congratulate you and tell you how much you lucked out.

How you wished it was true.

The tap water trickled as you stood counting the droplets one by one. You had excused yourself to the restroom, thinking a few silent moments would help you find the energy to go back and attend the event with your husband. But the more time you spent here, the more this little bathroom started to feel like your refuge.

Just five more minutes and then we go, you thought for the 8th time.

The door slowly swung open.

“Occupied!” you called out. But the intruder continued in. You turned around to tell off whoever entered but stopped when you saw those black polished shoe.

Your heart started hammering as his shadow came into full view. He invited himself inside and locked the door in one quick click.

With each step he took forward, you took one back; moving back till you felt the cold ceramic sink hit your back. The look in his eyes was animalistic. You felt caught. Like one wrong move and you’d be engulfed in a huge trapping net.

“So you are ignoring me I see.” Mr. Hwang concluded.

“I just feel a little tired from all this.”

He scoffed, “Do you find pleasure in defying me?”

You looked around at everything but his face. You were afraid of what you might find if you looked at him right now. Placing his palms behind you, he gripped the sink, locking you in front of him. His breath fanned your face as he said, “I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this.”

“I am an honorable man. I have been as patient as I can be but you just make it so difficult” he rasped.

“Do you remember what you said before you signed our papers?”

His jaw clenched as he ordered, “Answer me.”

“I said I would do anything if you saved my brother.” Your body had started shaking.

His eyes sparkled as he grinned deviously; finally getting the answer he was desperately waiting for. “Anything? Are you sure? A lot can happen with anything.”

He dropped his head into your neck and traced a slow line with his tongue, painting your bare skin with his saliva till he reached the top of your neckline. You clenched your eyes shut, your hands closed in a tight fist as his mouth roamed your chest.

“The question is how far are you willing to be pushed my love?” He sucked on your sweet spots as you turned into an unstable block of mass in his arms. He knew you wouldn’t fight him.

He had pulled that one string to puppet you, that one weakness you would lose to every single time. He had you right where he wanted you. Digging his fingers into your hair, he pulled your mouth near his and started devouring you with his soft mouth.

“I hate this dress." He said between kisses. "I hate that everyone saw you looking this fuckable.” His hand glided up your thigh, slowly massaging the smooth skin up and down with his palm.

His teeth hooked around the strap of your dress and pulled them down. When the sleeves fell down, his mouth attacked your already sensitive nipples. He sloppily circled around them through the fabric of your bra. Your hand tugged his hair as he continued to suck. It became impossible to stop the moans escaping you.

 “You have no idea how much I’ve been holding back. I have been nothing but a respectable man to you. But I’m beginning to think that perhaps you do not like it.” His words scared you. He seemed to have taken this as some sort of challenge. The look of terror between your eyes made him rock hard. He forced your legs open with his knee. You could feel his cotton trouser pressing into you through your underwear.

“Perhaps you don’t deserve my restraints anymore.”

Your head fell back as his knees started rocking. He almost came right there when he felt your juices starting to drench his pants.

 “You have no idea how far I’m willing to go. Trackers? Trackers are nothing. I will tie you and gag you till no one can hear your screams. You will be at my complete mercy and no one will come save you.” He moaned as tears started falling uncontrollably from your eyes. He continued rocking till you were a complete sobbing mess.

You should’ve known better than to displeasure him.

He pulled back right before anything progressed further. Straightening his coat he kissed the side of your head. “See you at home Mrs. Hwang.” And with those six words he left, leaving you half naked and dazed. In that moment you realized you had started a very dangerous game in just one evening and you weren’t sure if you could handle playing against Mr. Hwang.

A/N: I wanna play his wife so bad

GURLL THATS SO FR LIKE IVE READ EVERYTHING ALR I NEED MOREEE 😭

i need this man in ways that is concerning to feminism SOMEONE PLEASE WRITE FOR HIM IM WAITING PATIENTLY😭😭

This kinda reminds me of one of his movies bungee jumping 😭 STILL LOVEE ITT THOO

“sweetheart”

teacher!in-ho x you (mdni 18+) 💋ྀིྀི

when a sweet girl walks into his class, in-ho couldn’t resist making her his

🍒⋆⭒˚.⋆🍒 ⋆⭒˚.⋆🍒. ۫ ꣑ৎ . 🍒⋆⭒˚.⋆🍒 ⋆⭒˚.⋆🍒

it was the start of a new year, in-ho was the newest teacher. within days, he had fellow teachers, students, everyone pining on him. he knew it and he took pride in it.

he never paid any mind to any of them though, because his eyes was set on a particular student. someone so sweet and adorable, he was like a bee attracted to honey.

in-ho knew whatever facade you were putting up was for him and him only, it was obvious. you would frown at any boy who gave you looks, but when he did it, you gave him an innocent smile. it was as if you were so naive you didn’t know what you were doing to him.

fuck, you were driving him crazy.

the cute patterned clothes you wore, the small bows in your hair. you were like a lamb walking right into the slaughter house.

after weeks of keeping his dick in his pants, jerking off only when you were gone, he had enough. he wanted you, and he wanted you now.

in-ho had planned it out meticulously, getting you to stay behind after class when all your friends had left, leaving you alone with him as he licked his lips hungrily.

“did i do something wrong?” your sweet voice echoed in his ears, it was enough to make an old man like him collapse on the spot.

“no, darling. c’mere, yeah?” he beckoned, pushing his chair away from his desk, inviting you over.

you knew what he was doing and you loved it.

“if i didn’t do anything wrong, why did you ask me to stay behind?” you questioned, taking your place between in-ho and his desk, trapping yourself exactly where you wanted to be.

“you’re so sweet, darlin’.” he cooed, playing with the him of your dress as you giggled.

“you think so?”

“yeah… so, so sweet.” he sighed, looking into your eyes as you tilted your head confused. “sit here.”

you looked down to where he was patting, his lap. a cheeky grin crept onto your face as you complied.

“now, i have a problem.” he started, hands now twirling with your hair.

“what is it?”

“you’ve made a poor old man like me so on edge, hm?”

“you’re not that old.” you laughed, making him chuckle.

“take a guess.”

“forty?” he tutted.

“older.”

“forty seven?” you guessed, but he shook his head.

“getting close.”

“fifty three?”

“fifty four, sweetheart.” he corrected you as your breath hitched. “does it bother you?”

“not at all.” you whispered, leaning closer to him.

you could feel the heat coming off of him, he was so warm, so inviting. sure, this man could be your dad with the age he was at but damn did he look good.

“doesn’t bother you that your teacher is crazy for you?” he hummed. you could smell the cigarettes in his breath, overwhelming your mind, making you dizzy.

no, you shook your head.

“what a sweet girl, huh? do you know how down bad you’ve made me?”

no, you shook your head once more.

“of course you don’t, there’s nothing going on in that little head of yours.” he joked, tapping your forehead, making you laugh.

what have you done? you were going down a dangerous path with the only man you should have never done such a thing to in the first place. you knew from that moment, that in-ho was serious about keeping you his. it made you worry what he would do if you crossed paths with any other boy in the school.

DAYUMM I HAVE NO WORDS

In Ho headcanons | (NSFW)

Pairing: Hwang In-ho (player 001/the front man) x Fem!reader

Genre: headcanons, smut

Warning: dead dove do not eat, manipulation, dub/noncon, age gap, might be more but im too lazy to write it down

A/N: not proof read. thanos story in the works rn!! I have writers block so to help a little I'm making some hcs 4 this baddie (prob ooc)

hwang inho, the man that protected you from Thanos and his stupid friend during the first day of the games. he shoo'ed them away. stopping their harassment and took you with him with the rest of the group

hwang inho, the man that gives you his milk. reassuring you every time that its okay for you to have it, and it'll help you get stronger.

hwang inho, the man that checks up on you throughout the night. standing over you to make sure you're getting your nights rests. making sure no creeps try touching your delicate skin.

hwang inho, the man that lets touches linger a little longer than they should, whether its on your hands, thighs, waist..his touches feel more than platonic

hwang inho, the man that tells the guards to make sure you stay safe, to kill a player that hasn't broken the rules if they had to. anything to make sure you stay safe.

hwang inho, the man that would excuse himself to the bathroom just to touch himself to the thought of you. whether its your calm voice or plush hands that feel so soft and delicate...he just couldn't help it.

hwang inho, the man that squeezes your thighs when no ones looking...and when you express discomfort he used his past generosity as an excuse for it.

hwang inho, the man that will kiss you in the middle of the night with no warning. telling you to be quiet and take the kiss because if it were any other man it would've been worse.

hwang inho, the man that will find the perfect timing to sneak away from everyone else with you. he'll make you strip for him in the bathroom. savoring every inch of your body before he sends you away, leaving him in there alone to masturbate.

hwang inho, the man that wont let you sleep. he'll grope and squeeze your thighs, tits and ass. feeling you up while you hold in tears.

hwang inho, the man that reminds you this is your fault when you cry to him during a bathroom strip session. expressing how uncomfortable this makes you and how you don't want it anymore.

hwang inho, the man that will tell you nothing in the world is free. and your body will be the payment he receives for being so generous with you.

hwang inho, the man that gets hard thinking about your age gap. how youre only 19 and he's in his 40's..he loves it.

hwang inho, the man that slips his fingers inside of you when the lights are off, fingering you aggressively. reminding you once again that it'd be so much worse if he wasn't such a nice man.

hwang inho, the man that captures you during the raid against the guards. forcing you to stare into the eyes of your past friends as he kills them.

hwang inho, the man that keeps you as his pet after the games end. reminding you you're lucky because he spoils you with money.

hwang inho, the man that doesn't let you socialize with anyone after he's gotten his grip on you.

Another not: this one is pretty short compared to my last fic, this was to just try n get me out of writers block. expect a Thanos fic to pop up tmr. sorry if this sucked/was ooc, I tried my best T T~~

I LOVE THIS MAN SO MUCHHH 😫😫

I wanted to request a Frontman smut where he gets really jealous and possessive. You can write the storyline however you want. Thank you and much love from Germany 🖤

i'm so sorry this took so long, but I hope you like it! i really enjoyed writing this one!!

You're Mine

hwang in-ho | front man x reader

ao3 link

masterlist

song inspiration: you're mine by phantogram

warnings: SMUT - 18+ ONLY

You sat in the large leather chair, listening to quiet jazz music as you finished up your work for the day on your tablet. The final round was to begin tomorrow, and the remaining three players had just finished their celebratory dinner. As the day was turning to evening, In-ho was still out dealing with the intruder. You wanted to go with him and help, but had too many things to deal with, mainly keeping the VIPs from figuring out what was going on. 

Your relationship with In-ho was a strange one. You’d worked together now for about a year, and in many ways you felt like you knew him as a close friend and a stranger at the same time. You knew many things about him yet still longed to know more, and sometimes he felt so far away you’d questioned everything you’d known about him before. He was an enigmatic figure to you. 

At times, you felt your heart leap at the thought of him, or the sight of him, and wondered if he felt the same for you. You wanted to think he did when his eyes lingered on you a second too long, or when he stood a little too close to you, but nothing ever happened beyond little things like that, and it confused you. And because of his temperament, you never wanted to make the first move.

As you sat there wondering how he was doing with the intruder, you were pulled out of your thoughts at the sound of the elevator opening. You turned around in the chair to see In-ho walking down the hallway, hand over his shoulder and mask still on. He walked straight to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. You could tell, even under the mask, he was upset.

You decided to stay put, not wanting to interfere with whatever he was dealing with. After a while, you heard shuffling and a soft clang on metal on metal, followed by a groan. He was clearly in a lot of pain. What the hell was going on?

Before you could decide whether or not to offer help, you heard a loud thud and the clanging of metal falling to the ground. You quickly stood up and rushed to the door, hesitating in confusion before knocking. 

“In-ho? Are you okay?”

Complete silence followed.

You knocked again with no response. After a few moments, you slowly opened the door to find In-ho lying on the ground unconscious, blood pouring out of a wound on his shoulder. He’d removed his mask and coat to reveal a black tank top.

“In-ho?!” you cried, stunned. He was unresponsive.

You kneeled next to him, shaking his uninjured shoulder to get him to wake up, but nothing worked. The bleeding continued and by the pale color in his face, you knew it was dire. Looking around, you noticed a bullet in a metal dish and first aid supplies on the counter.

You quickly grabbed everything you could and began to treat his wound. He definitely needed stitches. Fortunately you’d been trained for moments like this, though it wasn’t the ideal option. After stitching the wound and applying bandages, you lifted him up as best as you could at the shoulders to lean him on the wall. He still hadn’t awoken, but thankfully the color was returning to his face.

You wet a small towel and began to gently wipe around his face and neck. You were beyond concerned, hoping he would wake up soon. If he didn’t, you’d probably have to bring this up with the others, and if the VIPs found out there was an intruder… it might be worse than getting shot.

You sighed as these thoughts swirled in your mind, and began to clean the blood around his arm and shoulder. You were worried about the VIPs, of course, but most of all you just hoped he would be okay. What would you do if he wasn’t around anymore? Selfishly, you almost regretted never being forward with your feelings for him. What if it was too late?

Tears threatened to fall from your eyes, but you tried to keep it in, taking a deep breath to try to calm yourself. As you looked around, unsure of what to do next, you heard In-ho groan. Pain was etched on his face, but you were just happy he was conscious and alive.

“In-ho? In-ho, it’s me.” You gently touched his hand to let him know of your presence.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at you. He took a deep breath, grimacing, before looking around. 

“In-ho, what happened?”

He looked at you and leaned his head back on the wall, closing his eyes. You could tell he was trying to push through the pain, so you stood up to grab some pain medication and filled a glass of water at the sink.

You kneeled down again. “Here, take this.” You put the pill in his mouth and held the glass to his lips, encouraging him to drink. He looked at you confused for a moment before sipping the water, and took the glass with his good arm.

You sat there as he drank and set the water down. In-ho looked down at his wound, noticing it was bandaged. He sighed and reached forward, touching his hand on yours.

“Thank you.”

You nodded and squeezed his hand. The intimacy of the moment wasn’t lost on you. Your mind was already shaken from fear of In-ho not making it, but now you were even more overwhelmed.

“Was it the intruder?” you asked, softly.

“Yes.”

“Where is he now?”

“Gone.”

You nodded. At least that was taken care of. You sighed, feeling exhausted to your core. It was late and both of you needed to rest. You stood up and reached your hand out to him.

“You should get some rest.”

He sighed and held your hand, slowly standing up with your help. Instantly, he groaned from dizziness, and leaned on your shoulders for support. You slowly walked him to his room towards his bed, helping him sit down. He sat up on his headboard and pillow, his head drifting to the side from his delirious state.

You noticed he started bleeding again and quickly grabbed more bandages and towels. As you fixed him up again, he groaned from the pain but still seemed out of it. It killed you inside to cause him pain but you knew it was necessary. After finishing up, you wiped the sweat from his face again, sitting next to him on the bed.

In-ho looked at you through half-lidded eyes, his breath calming.

“You’re an angel,” he whispered, slightly smiling.

You softly chuckled, not used to hearing such words from him. You continued to gently wipe his face, and he put his hand over yours. You stared at him silently as his hand grasped yours tightly. It was at this moment you noticed your faces were incredibly close, and you felt your cheeks flush red. 

You stared at each other for several moments, and you felt the overwhelming urge to kiss him. But what if he didn’t feel the same for you? What if you were just caught up in the moment? You felt selfish for wanting him after something so terrible just happened.

Your fears were quickly quelled when he leaned forward ever so slightly. “Come here.”

That was all you needed to hear. You gently leaned forward and pressed your lips on his, his lips eagerly responding to yours. For as tough of an image as he had, his lips were so satisfyingly soft. You pulled away and looked at each other for a brief moment, almost silently asking for permission to continue, before he leaned forward to kiss you again. You dropped the damp towel and held his face with both hands as he reached forward to touch your face. Though his other arm had limited movement from his injured shoulder, he reached forward and rested that hand on your thigh.

Your kisses were quickly becoming more intense and heated, and In-ho reached his hand from your face to the back of your head, pulling you closer to him and deepening the kiss. As your tongues began melting with each other, he lightly pulled on your hair and you moaned softly. He groaned in response, pulling your hair harder. You were getting lost in the moment and leaned forward, starting to move to sit on his lap as his hands went to your sides. Immediately, In-ho groaned and pulled away.

He grasped his shoulder out of pain, grimacing. You sat back down next to him, ashamed for going too far while he was in this condition. Now wasn’t the time no matter how much you both wanted it. You both needed to rest, and In-ho was clearly too delirious and in pain for you to go further. You sighed and gave him a pitying look, and he reached his hand to yours.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed.

“Don’t be,” you said as you slightly smiled. “Get some rest. Do you need anything?”

He shook his head slowly, his eyes closed. You could tell he was already drifting into unconsciousness. You stood up and pulled his blanket over him, trying to make him as comfortable as possible. Before you turned around to leave, you heard him mumble.

“Goodnight, y/n.”

You looked at him, a whirlwind of emotions swirling in your mind. You were worried for him, having been injured so severely and being in such pain, but you were also happy you finally had some sort of confession of your feelings. Knowing he felt the same towards you made you feel elated inside. You were happily anticipating what was to come, once this round of games were over and In-ho was recovered.

“Goodnight, In-ho.”

~~~

The next day you and In-ho stayed with the VIPs during the final round. Before going to meet them, you briefly saw each other unmasked in passing, but his face was stoic. He didn’t even acknowledge you. You knew he was going through a lot, so you tried to push away your disappointment. Though your mind was overwhelmed, you had to stay focused in front of the VIPs. 

The day went by without any problems, and by the end of the day you were riding in the limo with In-ho and the final winner. You briefly had your masks off, before the sleeping gas was released, but In-ho barely looked at or acknowledged you. Even after dropping the winner off, he kept his mask on while you took yours off.

You sat awkwardly as the limo drove to your apartment. You glanced at him a couple of times, but he stayed facing forward, completely silent. He was known for his temperament, you knew that, but what had him so upset right now that he couldn’t even acknowledge you?

Did he regret it?

You shifted in your seat uncomfortably, glancing at him. “Are you okay?”

He stayed silent for a while, before sighing and turning away. “I’m fine.”

It was the first time he spoke to you all day, and he sounded irritated. What was so wrong with you asking him if he was okay? You started becoming irritated yourself, scoffing and turning away. It was clear he thought everything that happened the night before was a mistake, and now you were just upset with yourself for having a moment of weakness.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw In-ho glance at you briefly, but that just made you even more annoyed. Luckily the limo was pulling up to your apartment, and you promptly got out without acknowledging In-ho, quickly walking to the building.

Once you made it inside your apartment, you threw your belongings on the ground and sat on your couch, stewing in your thoughts. There had been so much tension between you two, it only felt natural to act on your feelings that night. He even initiated it. So what was the problem today? Why would he regret it?

You groaned out of frustration and tried to distract yourself. There was no use dwelling on it. If he didn’t want anything to do with you, there was nothing you could do about it. 

Or was there?

The next day you had plans to go to dinner with In-ho, Il-nam, and the salesman, to celebrate the end of the games. You didn’t know much about the salesman. He intentionally stayed elusive to almost everyone, not revealing his name on purpose. With his role, it was probably best to stay as anonymous as possible.

You hadn’t interacted with him much before, but maybe if In-ho saw the two of you together…

~~~

The next evening, you were waiting outside of your apartment building for the limo to pick you up. You’d gone all out, putting on a revealing but still dinner-appropriate outfit and a comfortable layer of makeup, hair done perfectly. It was certainly unlike anything you’d worn during work, which hopefully would do the trick. You figured if In-ho really wanted to forget what happened that night, you’d make it hard for him to do so. And if he didn’t care, then what was the harm in having a little fun trying to make him jealous?

The limo arrived and the door opened from the inside to reveal the salesman with his alluring smile, beckoning you to join him. 

“Y/n, good to see you again.” You could see him looking you up and down in slight surprise as you walked towards him. This would be too easy.

You entered the limo and sat next to the salesman towards the middle. Though the seat extended the length of the limo, the two of you sat close to each other. He poured the two of you a glass of champagne as the limo began driving towards In-ho’s apartment.

“To another successful year.” He flashed his smile again and touched his glass to yours.

The two of you made small talk on the way to pick up In-ho. It was clear he was attracted to you, leaning in when you spoke, looking at you like you were a work of art, and you played into every bit of it. If you didn’t have such strong feelings for In-ho, you thought you’d consider pursuing things further with him.

The limo quickly arrived in front of In-ho, who let himself in, sitting on the back seat. For a moment, you were speechless, noticing his sleek attire. He was dressed in all black, everything fitting absolutely perfectly. You instantly smelled his cologne and your heart leaped. Seeing him outside of the standard Front Man uniform, looking that exquisite, took your breath away.

You took a deep breath, pulling yourself together. You had an objective here, and you couldn’t forget how coldly he treated you just the day before. You sat up straight and sipped your champagne, nodding as the salesman greeted him. In-ho looked at you, and unbeknownst to you had a similar reaction as you did seeing him. He was taken aback by your attire and how good you looked. You felt his eyes linger on you and hoped he was already regretting his behavior.

As the limo drove to the restaurant, you set down your glass and turned a bit towards the salesman, facing away from In-ho. “It’s weird to see you without the briefcase,” you chuckled.

He smiled. “It’s weird to see you without the mask… and everything else,” he replied, looking at your dress. You laughed in response, reaching forward to playfully push his arm.

In-ho scoffed softly to himself, something the salesman didn’t pick up on but you did. You turned around slightly, making eye contact. He stared intensely at you, you could see the irritation all over his face. You wanted to smirk but tried your best to keep it in. 

You reached for your champagne glass and gave him the most innocent looking face. “Do you want some champagne?” you asked before sipping from your glass, never breaking eye contact.

He stared at you intensely for a few moments before looking away, scoffing again. “No.”

You slowly turned back towards the salesman, who raised his eyebrows, sensing the bad attitude from In-ho. You chuckled to yourself and gave him a sweet smile, keeping up the facade. You continued to make flirty small talk as the three of you made your way to the restaurant.

Upon arriving, the three of you met with Il-nam and were seated. You sat across from In-ho, getting a dangerously good view of him. He glanced at you briefly, taking your breath away, and again you had to compose yourself before you ruined your plan.

The dinner went by pleasantly overall, and you could tell you were getting under In-ho’s skin. Anytime you laughed or gave the salesman a flirty look, you’d glance at In-ho, who was always boring his eyes into you. He knew what game you were playing, but he was surprised nonetheless. You’d even caught him rolling his eyes a couple times.

Once the dinner was over, Il-nam politely said goodbye while the three of you waited for the limo to pick you up again. As you stood there, you shivered a bit in the cold air. The salesman noticed and shrugged off his coat.

“Here, you’re shivering.” He gently laid the coat across your shoulders.

You gave him a sweet smile, but felt a little awkward. You weren’t really planning on going further with this act, yet In-ho still hadn’t done anything about it. Maybe it wasn’t worth it…

You were pulled out of your thoughts by In-ho stepping closer to you, leaning to whisper in your ear. “Are you trying to upset me?”

His words sent shivers down your spine. You turned to him slightly. “Is it working?” you said innocently, knowing it was bothering him.

He scoffed and looked away, seemingly pondering your words. The salesman gave you a weird look, bringing back the awkward feeling from before. Almost as if In-ho could sense this, he snatched the coat from your shoulders and handed it to the salesman.

“They’re taking too long. I’ll take her home.”

The salesman slowly took the coat, dismayed, and looked at you for confirmation. You looked at In-ho for a second, shocked, but quickly turned to the salesman and nodded. In-ho grabbed your wrist and you began walking away with him. The salesman, however, wouldn’t let you get away that easily.

“Hey!” He quickly walked towards you and grabbed your shoulder, gently turning you around. “I can take you home.”

You gave him a polite smile and shook your head. “That’s alright.” You turned around and wrapped your arm around In-ho’s arm, continuing to walk.

He scoffed, giving you a confused look. “So… that’s it?”

You stopped, and In-ho looked at you annoyed. You turned around again, looking down, just a little ashamed at your behavior, but you smirked nonetheless. “That’s it.” You gave him one last look and turned around again.

As you walked away, you heard the salesman scoff, “Fucking slut.”

This time In-ho was the one to stop and turn around. “Excuse me?”

The salesman laughed. “You’ve seen the way she’s been acting tonight.”

In-ho smirked. “Yes. I have.” He stepped in front of you. “Who do you think she was doing that for? You?”

The salesman scowled, looking away, silent.

In-ho scoffed. “Don’t be so foolish.”

He turned around and you finally walked away together without any interruptions. You made your way to the train and got on, sitting next to each other. Luckily it was empty as it was late at night.

After several moments of silence, you sighed. “Where are we going?”

“Home.”

You looked at him, noticing a hardened, stoic expression on his face. “So now you want to talk to me?”

He looked away. “I could say the same.”

“I didn’t ignore you.”

“Oh, I’m very much aware.” He glanced at you briefly.

“I had to get your attention somehow.”

He scoffed and turned towards you, eyeing you before responding. “You’ve had my attention.”

You blushed at his words, but composed yourself. “Don’t act like you didn’t ignore me yesterday.”

In-ho sighed, crossing his arms. “You couldn’t give me just one day to get my thoughts together?”

“You couldn’t just acknowledge me?”

“So because I didn’t acknowledge you, you had to act like a whore in front of that man?”

You looked at him, stunned. “If I’m not yours, then what does it matter to you?”

He stared at you for a few moments, seemingly holding back a smile. “Is that it? Do you want to be mine?”

Inside you were going crazy, but you tried your best to keep your cool, rolling your eyes. “Not if you’re going to be an asshole.”

“Watch it,” he said, with a serious tone now.

You glared at him. “With the way you’re acting, I should’ve stayed with him.”

He frowned, leaning in and speaking low. “With the way you’re acting, I should just claim you as mine, right here, hmm? Is that what you want?”

Your face flushed red instantly, and you gave him an innocent look, leaning in. “Does that mean you’ll give me what I want?”

You could tell you were affecting him just as much as he was affecting you. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, leaning in to kiss your neck and whisper in your ear. “Only if you’re good.”

You pouted. “Haven’t I been good?”

He chuckled. “Far from it.”

You smirked and turned away from him. “You seem to be enjoying it well enough.”

“You think I enjoyed watching you throw yourself at him?”

“And now I’m going home with you. Isn’t that a good thing?”

He paused for a moment. “I would’ve taken you home regardless.”

You turned to him, his features soft now, his lips almost pouting. You realized he might be genuinely hurt at your actions, though he’d never admit it. For a moment, you felt bad for him. You rested your hand on his cheek and gave him a soft kiss.

You looked at him dejectedly. “What was I supposed to think after you treated me like that?”

He leaned into your hand, sighing, but stayed silent.

You sighed, removing your hand and looking down. “I thought you regretted it.”

In-ho brought his hand to your face, just as you had just done, and kissed you, rougher this time. He pulled back and looked at you with fierce sincerity.

“Never. I would never regret that.”

As you stared at him, your heart was filled with unexplainable emotions, but you felt content at his admission. Before you could get further caught up in the moment, the train arrived at your stop.

In-ho sighed and stood up, reaching his hand towards you. “Let’s go.”

~~~

You entered In-ho’s apartment with him, a decent one bedroom space, but not quite indicative of the money he actually owned. You took a look around for a moment before In-ho turned you around to face him, immediately kissing you. You welcomed the sudden closeness again and wrapped your arms around his neck, deepening the kiss as you continued.

In-ho ran his hands along your back and sides, pulling you close to him. His hands gave you goosebumps all over your skin, your senses begging for more of him. You pulled on the collar of his coat, softly whining.

He pulled away, bringing his hand to your face. “What is it?” he said as he ran his thumb along your pouting lips.

You whined and pulled at his coat again while taking his thumb into your mouth, sucking lightly. His eyes darkened and he grabbed your face with both hands, removing his thumb and kissing you roughly, his tongue immediately dominating your own. You moaned softly and ran your hands along his chest desperately.

In-ho pulled away, slightly grinning. “You’re so needy.” He shrugged off his coat, letting it fall to the ground. You leaned in for another kiss as he picked you up, your legs wrapping around him. 

As he carried you to his bedroom, you kissed down to his neck, breathlessly whispering, “I need you.”

He laid you on your back on his bed, hovering over you and eyeing you skeptically. “Really? To me it looks like you’d let just any handsome man touch you like this.”

You rolled your eyes playfully, pulling him in for a kiss. “No. Only you.”

He slightly chuckled, gently caressing your face and holding your jaw. “You know I would have lost it if he touched you.”

“Really? To me it looks like you would’ve let him do whatever he wanted to me.”

He eyed you darkly and held your jaw tighter, huffing. “I don’t care what you think… No one else touches you like this.” He leaned forward to your neck, leaving sloppy kisses all over. You practically melted under his touch, grasping desperately at his shoulders while softly moaning, too overwhelmed to say anything.

He rolled onto his back, pulling you on top of him. “Fuck… come here.” He pulled your dress up off of you, leaving you in your bra and underwear. His eyes lingered on your form before he continued ravaging your neck. His hands roamed your sides, down to your ass and thighs, as you leaned forward on his shoulders. Your moans filled his ears as you slowly lost control of yourself, your hips starting to grind on his growing bulge beneath you. Your movements just encouraged him further and he started biting your neck.

“In-ho, you’re going to leave marks,” you said breathlessly as you pulled away.

“Good. Everyone should know you’re mine.” He leaned forward to your neck again and thrusted forward, pressing his erection against you. You moaned and let him take over, ignoring the fact that you were probably going to wake up with bruises all over your neck. In fact, the thought of it sent shivers throughout your core.

You continued grinding on him and In-ho brought both of his hands to your ass, pressing you even harder on him, guiding the movement of your hips. At this point, you were completely lost in your movements, feeling like you could orgasm just from this. Your pussy was soaked, and you could feel the wetness seeping onto his pants. 

“Fuck, In-ho, that feels so good.”

“Yeah?” he huffed into your neck. “I feel you making a mess on me, darling.”

You moaned and In-ho pushed you backwards, inspecting your underwear and his pants. “Fuck… look at you.” He ran his hands along your thighs and over your underwear, gently caressing your swollen pussy, your wetness sticky on his fingers.

You cried out, inadvertently grinding on his fingers as he touched you. You were so overwhelmed with pleasure, you just wanted to be fucked. In-ho was captivated by your disheveled state and flushed cheeks. He held himself up on one arm, and with the other pushed your underwear to the side, revealing your soaked pussy. 

“So fucking wet… all for me,” he mumbled as he spread his fingers, covering them in your wetness. He began to insert two fingers at your entrance, intently watching your face as he pushed them all the way in.

You cried out in pleasure and relief at finally having him inside you, at least part of him. His fingers felt divine inside of your cunt, adding a whole new layer of pleasure. He began to pump his fingers in and out, the sensation causing you to almost collapse. You held yourself with your arms behind you, holding on to In-ho’s legs. 

He began to fuck you furiously with his fingers, the feeling of his hand slapping against your clit almost sending you to orgasm right then. In-ho leaned forward and pulled you in close with his other arm as his fingers thrust up into you, kissing you roughly. He pulled your bra up and over your raised arms, not bothering to undo it. His mouth immediately went to one of your breasts, kissing and sucking with as much fervor as his fingers were fucking you. You held on tightly to his shoulders for support, your legs practically giving out beneath you as you moaned uncontrollably.

You pulled him from your breasts and kissed him roughly. “Please,” you panted, “I need you. Right now.”

You frantically began unbuttoning his shirt as he leaned backwards, undoing his pants and shoving them down with his underwear, his cock springing out beneath you. He shrugged his shirt off and guided his cock to your entrance, spreading the tip around your soaked slit. In another world he knew he would probably have taken more time with you, would have maybe been a little more romantic about it all, instead of frantically fucking you like this now. But this is exactly what you both wanted and needed at that moment. After him pining for you for all this time, after you desperately trying to get his attention, you both are finally getting what you wanted.

“Come here,” he said as he pulled you close to him, kissing you roughly as he slowly thrust up into you. Your legs shuddered at the feeling of his cock inside of you, stretching your walls as you adjusted to him. In-ho groaned loudly at the feeling of your cunt around him, your warmth sending goosebumps all over his body. You held on to his shoulders as he started to fuck into you quickly, moaning into his neck.

Immediately you felt your orgasm approaching, as if there was pressure building inside of you just dying to be released. Every stroke of his cock inside of you sent your mind into a frenzy. You felt your mind almost go blank as he fucked you furiously.

“In-ho… fuck, your cock feels so good.”

“Yeah?” he huffed, “you like getting fucked like this?”

“Yes, fuck yes, this is exactly what I wanted,” you cried.

“You wanted to be fucked, huh? By who?” He thrust even harder into you, your moans encouraging him further.

“Only by you. Only you.”

“Yes… you’re mine.”

“I’m yours, I’m yours, fuck I’m all yours,” you cried as you couldn’t think of anything else to say, your orgasm almost approaching.

In-ho roughly grabbed your jaw, forcing you to look at him. “No one else can fuck you like this. No one else gets you like I do.” 

You slowly nodded, moaning, your face twisted in pleasure. “No one else.”

He leaned forward to kiss you, his hands roughly holding onto your hips. “You’re gonna make me cum looking like that, darling.”

You mewled at his words. “I think I’m gonna cum, fuck.”

In-ho started thrusting faster up into you. “Cum on my cock, darling.”

You came immediately at his words, your pussy clenching on his cock intensely, every stroke sending waves of pleasure throughout your body. You moaned loudly, unable to control anything anymore. You shook above him as your orgasm rocked your body, satisfaction overwhelming you. As you came down from your high, In-ho continued to thrust into you. You could tell he was close. You kissed him roughly.

“Cum in me.”

He groaned and grabbed your face roughly before pushing you on your back. He pushed your legs apart from the knees and quickly began thrusting into you again, his pace brutal. Though you’d just orgasmed, seeing In-ho like this sparked something more inside of you.

“I’m gonna cum so fucking much in you. So fucking much into your perfect little pussy.” He looked at you and held your face roughly. “Who’s pussy is this?”

You whined beneath him. “Yours, it’s all yours.”

He closed his eyes in pleasure, mouth open, his hips beginning to stutter in their thrusts. He grabbed one of your hands and brought it to your pussy. “Touch yourself,” he huffed.

You began to circle your clit with your fingers, immediately feeling a new wave of pleasure come over you. You moaned loudly and felt your pussy clench on him, causing him to moan with you. He leaned forward and wrapped one of his hands around your throat.

“You’re gonna cum on my cock again. You’re gonna watch me cum inside you and then you’re gonna cum again.”

You mewled at his words, your body writhing under him. He moved his hand from your throat to the back of your head, pushing it down and forcing you to watch his cock thrust into you. The sight of it almost made you cum right then.

In-ho groaned loudly, thrusts stuttering again into slower, harder ones. “Fuck, look at what you do to me, I’m fucking cumming.” His moans filled your ears as you watched him thrust into you, filling your cunt with his hot cum, his cock throbbing inside of your sensitive cunt. You continued rubbing your clit and saw his cum spill out of you as he continued thrusting, coating your pussy and his cock, sending you over the edge immediately. You cried out beneath him and came as he was still coming down from his high, your pussy clenching on him and prolonging his own orgasm. He held you close as you shuddered beneath him, pleasure overwhelming your body yet again. 

As you both calmed down, In-ho laid on his side next to you and pulled you close to him, kissing your forehead. You nestled your head next to his neck, absolutely spent. He wrapped his arms around you, gently rubbing your back.

You noticed the small bandage on his gunshot wound, something you’d completely forgotten about in the heat of the moment. “Is it okay?” you asked as you inspected it.

In-ho smiled softly. “Of course. You did a good job.”

You smiled back and laid your head down again. In-ho ran his hand gently along your neck, inspecting the bruises. Your skin felt raw under his touch, and you noticed his pleased expression. 

“Is it bad?”

He chuckled. “Of course not. You’re covered in my marks… that’s a good thing.” He leaned down to kiss you softly.

You smiled, taking in all of his features up close, and shivered. “I’m cold,” you whispered as you cuddled closer to his warmth.

Instead of pulling the blankets over you, In-ho stood up and scooped you into his arms, carrying you to the bathroom. “Let’s get cleaned up and then go to sleep.”

You pouted, resting your head on his shoulder. “But I’m tired.”

“Shh, just wait.” He set you on the counter and went to turn the shower on. You turned around and inspected yourself in the mirror, shocked at your disheveled and bruised state. The bruises spread from your neck down to your chest, evidence of In-ho’s desire for you peppered across your skin.

In-ho saw you watching yourself in the mirror and stood next to you. You turned to him, wrapping your arms around him. “Now when he sees me, he’ll know I’m yours.”

In-ho rolled his eyes. “You won’t see him.”

You looked at him with a fake innocent expression. “Why not?”

“I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

You pouted, looking away, silent.

“If you’re trying to upset me again, it won’t work.”

You smirked. “Well it worked last time, and look what that got me.”

In-ho scoffed and slightly smiled. “You don’t have to wonder now. You’re mine,” he said before kissing you softly and whispering, “So if I see you act like that again, it won’t be so easy to get what you want next time.”

You playfully rolled your eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

He laughed and led you to the shower, both of you helping each other. In-ho was incredibly attentive to you, making your heart flutter. When you were finished and dried off, you crawled back in bed together, exhaustion overtaking you.

You cuddled next to In-ho under the warm covers. “Why didn’t we do this a long time ago?”

He caressed your face, sighing, clearly exhausted as well. “I don’t know. I was too cowardly to do something about it. I’m stupid.”

You laughed, playfully shoving him. “I knew you liked me.”

He smiled and kissed you. “That’s an understatement.”

You sighed contentedly, thinking about all the time you’ve spent together. You’d always felt alone, even working alongside In-ho, but now you had a companion. Someone to lean on and someone to support. The more you thought about it, the more you wondered about the intruder.

“In-ho… you know you can tell me anything. I’m here for you.” You gently touched his shoulder wound, indicating what you were talking about.

His face slightly dropped and he sighed. “I know.” He kissed you. “Thank you.”

You smiled and roughly pulled him close to you. “You're mine too, you know.”

In-ho smiled and rested his head above yours, holding you tight. Despite everything that had happened to him in the past couple days, he felt genuinely happy, something he hadn’t felt in such a long time.

“I know. I always have been.”

THE SWEETEST SHIT IVE EVER READ 😭

Hello!!! Could I request a heavily pregnant reader x In-ho? When In-ho didn't tell reader that he would be joining the games and left while she was sleeping and she threw a tantrum about it because she misses him and his scent and the guards try to signal him about it but he failed to notice. So when she saw him again she won't let him go. I need more sfw with this man please 🙏

-thank you so much🫶

Fall To Pieces

hwang in-ho | front man x reader

ao3 link

masterlist

song inspiration: fall to pieces by avril lavigne

note: thanks for your request! hope this did your idea justice!

warnings: pregnancy, angst, fluff, mentions of violence

Your body ached as you slowly lowered yourself onto the soft leather loveseat, sitting next to your husband, Hwang In-ho. He had just arrived from the control room to your shared residence. The first game, Red Light, Green Light, was about to begin on the large screen in front of you.

You rubbed your pregnant belly as you relaxed into your seat, feeling like you could burst at any moment. After 8 months of carrying your first child together, you were ready for it to be over with. And it didn’t help that you had planned it so close to this year’s games. You wanted to have your baby right after the games ended to get the most out of your time together, but now you were completely anxious that you’d have the baby early and have to have it on the island. All you wanted to do was nest and be comfortable in your own home.

In-ho gave you a loving look. “How are you feeling, darling?” He reached his hand to yours on your stomach.

“Everything hurts. I’m tired. How long do we have to be here again?” you pouted.

“It won’t be too much longer, just a few days.” He reached his arm around your shoulder and pulled you close, kissing the top of your head.

You sighed. You wanted to lean into him and rest on his shoulder but nothing felt comfortable. “This baby is killing me, you know.”

He looked at your exhausted face, pleading for respite, before gently pushing you away to readjust. “I know, darling. Why don’t you lean against me here and I’ll try to make you feel a little better?”

He turned his body towards you, pulling you to his chest so you could lay on him as you both laid across the sofa. The warmth of his chest brought a little comfort to your aching back. You sighed as he began to knead your neck and shoulder muscles.

He rubbed your shoulders down to your arms, tightly squeezing every so often to relax your muscles and warm your skin. You melted into his touch, letting out a content sigh.

“You know what else would make me feel better?”

Your thoughts dazed in your mind as you relaxed and imagined the most delicious ice cream you could think of. You were quickly interrupted by In-ho.

“That ice cream you like?”

You smiled, eyes closed, leaning on In-ho. It was getting late and you were so exhausted these days. “Of course. I wish we had some right now.”

He lazily rubbed your hair. “I know, I’m sorry. Do you want anything else?”

You sighed, slowly sitting up. “No. I’m just going to go to bed. I can’t stay up for this.”

In-ho stood up and walked with you to your side of the bed, giving you a chaste kiss on the forehead as you laid down. 

You eyed him playfully. “What, are you going to tuck me in like a child now?” you teased.

He scoffed, looking away but laughing. “Just taking care of you, darling. Goodnight.”

You smiled, sinking further into your blanket, sleep already threatening to take over as In-ho turned out the light.

“Goodnight.”

~~~

The next morning you awoke to an empty bed. Not necessarily out of the ordinary, but you hated being apart from In-ho lately. With the baby coming, your duties had been severely limited, and you felt like you spent your days just waiting for In-ho to come back. 

You got ready for the day, but everything felt off. Normally, you’d hear In-ho and the others on the radio, especially with the games happening now. Except you didn’t hear In-ho once.

You got dressed. In-ho’s uniform was still in the closet.

You walked into the main room. In-ho’s mask was still on the side table. Along with a note.

“Go to the freezer.”

Anxiety stirred within you. Upon opening the freezer, you saw your favorite ice cream - along with another note. 

“I’m playing undercover. Staff knows. Don’t worry - be back soon.”

You were stunned, reading the note over and over as if your brain couldn’t absorb the information. You dropped the note and stormed into the main room, activating the display and selecting cameras. 

Multiple camera views appeared in front of you, and you scanned a sea of players and their numbers. After a few moments, you found Player 001.

In-ho.

Your In-ho.

Dread filled your body. You knew In-ho was keeping an eye on Gi-hun, but like this? How could he be so reckless? The guards would keep him safe, but still, you couldn’t help yourself from jumping to the worst possible outcomes. 

How could he leave you?

You collapsed onto the sofa, immediately crying. If you didn’t feel vulnerable enough before, you definitely did now. It felt like nothing was going to happen according to plan now - you’d have your baby early, and have it on the island instead of comfortably near home, and In-ho would die in the games just because he wanted to spite Gi-hun.

You hurled the remote to the screen, watching as it clattered on the floor. Frustration started to take over. In-ho had no right to abandon you at such an important time.

You snatched your radio from the table. “Officer.”

A brief moment of silence, then, “Yes, Captain.”

“Come here. Now.”

You waited a few minutes, distraught in silence. When the Officer appeared before you, you glared at him.

“Get him out now.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can. Now do it.”

“He said only to take him out if it’s an emergency.”

You scoffed. “Tell him it’s an emergency then.”

He shifted uneasily. “I can’t go against orders.”

Your eyes bore through the officer’s mask as you contemplated what to do. In-ho would be two steps ahead of you no matter what you tried to do. There was no getting him back.

At least through the Officer.

You sighed in frustration, looking away. “Get out.”

The Officer promptly walked away. Once the elevator doors closed, you let yourself cry again. You just couldn’t believe you were being put in this position. All you wanted was to go home with In-ho, but instead you felt abandoned by everyone at the worst possible time. You were used to working alongside In-ho and having just as much of a voice as he does, but now you felt like everyone just saw you as his pregnant wife.

You turned off the screen and walked back to bed, your back aching intensely, taking a nap and hoping In-ho would miraculously be there when you woke up.

~~~

Of course, he wasn’t.

You watched the screen throughout the day, observing how In-ho slowly infiltrated Gi-hun’s group. Jealousy wracked your body - how did they deserve to be with In-ho more than you? It was clear why In-ho stepped in but you couldn’t stop yourself from thinking irrationally. 

That night, you cried yourself to sleep, knowing he wouldn’t be there when you woke up. Even though he would sometimes go to bed after you, at least he was still with you through the night. Your only consolation was to pull up a camera view on your tablet so you could watch him as you tried to get comfortable in the cold, lonely bed.

The next day, you watched In-ho and the players go through the six-legged pentathlon. In-ho looked like he was even enjoying himself for a few moments. Obviously he needed to fit in, but did he really have to be so brazen about it, knowing you were watching?

You tried so hard to stay calm, knowing stress would be the worst for your baby right now. But occasionally you’d feel a little kick, especially when you were watching In-ho, and your maternal instincts couldn’t help but take over. You had to come up with a plan to get a message to him.

After the game was over, you wandered over to the guard’s quarters, being sure to avoid the Officer. Before the guards turned in for the night, you pulled one aside.

“You need to tell him to come back.”

The guard froze in place, clearly glancing at your stomach. None of the guards had seen you since you started showing. 

You squeezed his arm tighter. “When he goes to the bathroom, pull him aside and bring him back.”

“I- I don’t know who w-will be there when-”

“I don’t care who it is, make sure it happens.”

You quickly walked away, not wanting to draw attention to anyone nearby or looking on the cameras. 

Once you arrived back home, you sat on the couch and attempted to get comfortable. You planned on watching the cameras all night until you could see In-ho leave and the guards bring him back. You didn’t want to focus on anything else, even though your body ached with pain and sorrow.

Inevitably, after a while, you couldn’t fight your body anymore and you fell asleep. You slept for another few hours before being woken up by a commotion on the screen.

“-with me this way.” 

You saw In-ho talking to a pink guard. “Why? Isn’t the bathroom this way?”

The guard paused, clearly trying to come up with something. “No? This way. Let’s go.”

In-ho scoffed, and you saw a couple other players approach behind him. “What are you talking about?”

The guard noticed the other players joining, clearly ruining his plan now. He sighed. “My apologies. This way.”

In-ho eyed the guard as they walked the correct way towards the bathrooms now. He glanced at a camera nearby, unknowingly looking right at you. His expression was indecipherable.

Your heart ached, and you felt a kick in your stomach. In-ho looked away and proceeded as normal. Your plan had failed.

~~~

The next day you watched as In-ho played through Mingle. You wondered what he was thinking in these types of moments - did he care for the people around him, or just see them as nothing more than pawns, even though he was getting to know them personally? It felt crazy to question it, but you couldn’t stop your mind from wondering if he thought of you, or if he wondered how you were doing.

Terrible, you’d tell him. Awful without him.

After the game, you set up another attempt to contact In-ho, slipping a note into his gimbap and instructing the guards to give In-ho that specific one. You went back home to watch your plan unfold again, hopefully successfully this time. You cheered internally when they gave him the correct gimbap, and patiently waited for him to reach the note. 

Unfortunately with tensions rising amongst the players, In-ho was distracted and never even finished the gimbap enough to reach the note. You covered your face in frustration. There was never a time you’d seen In-ho not finish his food. It was as if he was deliberately foiling your plans. 

The situation was becoming worse and worse. The more time passed, the more anxiety you felt that you could give birth without In-ho there. And even more importantly, the more the players became violent towards each other. How far could the guards really go to protect In-ho? Another player could definitely harm him before any guards stood a chance at protecting him.

As you expected, a fight broke out that night. In-ho was safely tucked away under a bed, but things were escalating fast. Your heart raced. It was becoming too much too quickly, and you couldn’t help but scream orders over the radio. “Why is this still going on?! End it now!”

“Suppress,” the officer spoke over the radio. Guards immediately went into the room to stop the fighting, and luckily In-ho was unscathed. As the guards were checking the dead bodies, some of the players suddenly snatched their guns and began shooting. You watched in horror as several players began killing the guards, In-ho even joining them.

Once the guards were gone, you saw an organized effort to gather all guns and ammo and begin a drive towards the control room. In-ho was still with them. You were worried sick for him but hoped this was finally his chance to come back. Several voices spoke over each other in a frenzy on the radio as guards mobilized against the players. All you could do was watch helplessly as you saw In-ho deliberately put himself in danger. 

His recklessness was going to give you a heart attack. 

You screamed through the radio, “If anyone even gets close to hitting him, even so much as a graze, I will kill you myself.” You scanned through the surveillance cameras and watched as In-ho and the players moved towards the control room, one by one running out of ammo. In-ho strategically navigated two players into the back hallways, coming up behind Gi-hun and Jung-bae. For a moment, In-ho looked into the camera.

Your heart skipped a beat. You knew he was finally coming home.

You watched as In-ho finally turned on the group, losing the Young-il persona. It was almost as if he was enjoying it. After killing the two players with him, he grabbed his radio. “Start wrapping things up,” he ordered, before looking up at the camera again. 

“Lockdown all residences.”

Before you could even process what he said, you heard the elevator doors lock, a red light illuminating above it. Your only way in or out. He had locked you in. 

Fuming, you called out on the radio. “What are you doing?”

In-ho responded calmly. “Keeping you safe.”

“Am I that helpless to you?” you spat. You were, in fact, feeling that helpless, but you’d never let it be known.

In-ho ignored you, which made you even more mad. You shut off your radio, turned off the screen, and stormed into your bedroom. If he was going to play with your emotions like this, you had no need to rush to him anyways. He could find you when he felt like it.

You curled up in bed crying, pulling the blankets to your chin and mindlessly rubbing your belly to soothe yourself. You were exhausted but couldn’t bear to fall asleep then. In your distress, you didn’t even hear the elevator door open, or footsteps approaching from the hallway, or your bedroom door opening.

“Darling.”

You quickly turned your head towards In-ho, your face swollen from crying. As soon as you saw him, all of your anger and frustration melted away into relief.

Your lip trembled, tears flowing even more now as you slowly sat up in bed. “In-ho…”

He rushed to your side and embraced you, cradling your head in his hand and rubbing your back with the other. You clung to him desperately, sobbing into his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”

You wanted to yell at him, shove him away from you, hit him, but you couldn’t manage anything except breaking down in his arms. 

“My poor darling. Are you alright?” He pulled away to get a good look at you.

Shocked, you glared at him through blurry eyes. “Of course I’m not okay, how could you ask me that?” You finally had the wherewithal to shove his shoulder. “How could you abandon me like that? What if the baby came, hm? What if someone killed you?!”

You were becoming frantic. In-ho embraced you again, trying desperately to calm you down. “Shh, darling, it’s alright now. Everything’s okay.”

You rested your head on his shoulder, weeping. “Don’t ever do that to me ever… ever again.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

You sighed. “Don’t make a promise you can’t keep.”

He kissed the top of your head and helped you stand up. “I know. I won’t.” He wiped your face before giving you a long kiss. “I missed you, you know.”

You rolled your eyes. “Didn’t seem like it,” you said before shoving him again. “Did you make some new friends?”

He smiled at your sarcasm and wrapped his arm around your shoulder, leading you back to the main room and helping you to sit on the couch.

“One more thing.”

He ran to the kitchen before rushing back with your ice cream. “You didn’t eat any of it?”

You scoffed. “How could I? You left me inconsolable for days.”

He sat next to you with your favorite treat. “I wanted you to feel a little better,” he pouted, looking almost dejectedly at you.

You laughed and leaned on his shoulder. “This wouldn’t have helped anyways. I just wanted you.” 

In-ho kissed the top of your head before wrapping his arms around you. He’d missed you so much during his time away, no matter how necessary it was.

“I know. I love you. Let’s go home soon, okay?”

Love at first sight. / Squid Games!Men

summary; a little prompt for each men in squid game x reader.

also my english isn't my first language so i do apologize for a few errors! enjoys x

including; in-ho, thanos, myung-gi, dae-ho & gi-hun

In-ho: 

Praise yourself for catching In-ho’s attention amidst the chaos of the games. Not only did he manage to maintain his composure, but he also came to terms with the truth—it wasn’t his mind playing tricks on him, but his heart betraying him. He had been ensnared in a dangerous blend of love and death. And no matter the cost, he was determined to ensure your survival, even if it meant faking your death and arranging for the guards to escort you to his shelter.

At first, his actions were subtle—a few fleeting glances, quiet assurances that you weren’t alone. He took it upon himself to ensure someone capable stood between you and danger. This resolve led him to seek out Gi-hun, cornering him with a whispered plea. “I’m not asking for much,” In-ho murmured, his voice low and firm. Gi-hun’s brows knit together as he glanced at you, understanding little of the request but sensing its weight. Though the urge to question why In-ho couldn’t protect you himself lingered, Gi-hun ultimately accepted—he, too, had his own plans to carry out.

Yet, watching Gi-hun hover near you ignited something unexpected in In-ho—a simmering, unanticipated jealousy. His blood boiled harder than he cared to admit.

It was Gi-hun’s proximity to you that set him on edge.

While 001 had extended a friendly hand, In-ho never anticipated him stealing you away entirely. The realization unsettled him, and during the chaos of the Carousel games, panic began to creep in. When he noticed you were nowhere to be found in the room, it nearly consumed him. The thought of losing you made his fists clench, and for a brief, irrational moment, he contemplated throwing a punch at Gi-hun. But it wasn’t until the final elimination, when the doors unlocked, that relief washed over him. There you were—your silhouette unmistakable behind Dae-ho.

In that instant, he didn’t hesitate. Rushing toward you, his breath hitched, words failing him. A shaky exhale escaped his lips, a mix of disbelief and overwhelming relief. He almost laughed—a scoff of incredulity—before pulling you close, his hand instinctively cradling the back of your head. Without a second thought, he leaned in, his lips pressing a firm but tender kiss to your forehead.

“Silly,” he muttered, his voice tight with emotion. “I never should’ve trusted Gi-hun to keep you safe. Damn it, I thought I’d lost you.” The panic in his voice caught you off guard, the weight of his words sinking in. You hadn’t expected such raw vulnerability from him—not now, not like this. A soft chuckle escaped you, an attempt to lighten the moment. “It’s okay,” you reassured him gently. “Dae-ho found me right away and made sure I was safe.”

That revelation gave In-ho pause, but he filed it away for later. For now, none of it mattered. You were alive and unharmed, and that was everything.

The kiss on your forehead wasn’t just a gesture of relief—it was a silent declaration. You were his, and no one—not Gi-hun, not Dae-ho, not anyone—would ever take you from him again.

Thanos: 

Once a retired rapper, Thanos now found himself thrust into a life-and-death struggle. Among his generation, it was no surprise that some idolized him—his presence commanding a respect so intense, it bordered on worship. To them, he was pristine, untouchable. But this adoration didn’t sit well with everyone, especially loners like you, who preferred to navigate the chaos without attachments.

Ironically, that aloofness was one of the many reasons Thanos found himself drawn to you.

In the early days on the island, Thanos made no effort to reveal his interest. If anything, he mirrored your indifference, matching your cold detachment with his own. But when you began spending time with Myung-gi, the dynamic shifted. Thanos hadn’t expected it, nor did he like it. Watching you bond with someone else left a bitter taste in his mouth, awakening a tension he couldn’t ignore. The loner mindset had been his strategy for survival—a simple equation: fewer people, fewer complications. But your presence complicated everything, especially when it came to your effortlessly beautiful face, which he found himself stealing glances at far too often.

It didn’t take long for his resolve to crack.

Thanos had made himself a promise: to keep his distance, to ignore you as you ignored him. But that promise shattered the moment Nam-Gyu let slip a confession Thanos had sworn him to secrecy about. That little fucker, Thanos thought bitterly, though his anger was tempered by necessity—he needed Nam-Gyu to survive. Yet, when the truth reached you, it unraveled him in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

Instead of drawing you closer, the revelation pushed you further away. Your avoidance became more deliberate, more pronounced than ever before. It stung more than Thanos cared to admit. For the first time in a long time, he was unprepared—for your reaction, for the way it tightened a knot of frustration and longing deep inside him.

Which only added more tension between the two of you.

The final games loomed, a trial where survival would demand more than just cunning—it called for a kind of ruthless cleansing. Thanos knew, without hesitation, that when the moment came, he’d be the first to grab your hand and shield you. Even if it meant overreacting, even if it jeopardized his own chances, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. Certainly not to Myung-gi, if it came down to that.

“You know...” he murmured late that night, his voice low and almost hesitant. Your back was turned to him, your body stiff on the thin mattress. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him, couldn’t even steal a glance. Not after everything. The weight of his breath lingered against the back of your neck, and you flinched slightly, betraying your nerves. His presence, so close and unyielding, was suffocating yet magnetic.

“Tomorrow is... big,” he continued, his words faltering as his gaze shifted across the dimly lit dormitory. For a moment, his eyes locked on Player 333, who sat sharpening a weapon in the corner—a stark reminder of the danger waiting ahead. Thanos clenched his jaw, then turned his focus back to you.

“If we’re not careful...” he trailed off, his voice softening, almost breaking. “Who knows if I’ll ever get to see your beautiful face again?”He exhaled sharply, frustrated with himself, as if admitting even that much was a risk. “I know it’s—” 

Your head snapped toward him, your brows furrowing into a glare sharp enough to cut through the tension between you. For a moment, silence hung in the air, charged and heavy. Then, your voice broke it, calm yet biting. “If you keep this up, you might be the one ending up with a bullet in the face,” you said, your tone so nonchalant it bordered on cute—a contrast that left Thanos momentarily stunned. He blinked, almost scoffing in disbelief, one hand pressing dramatically against his chest.

“Ouch,” he drawled, his lips curling into a grin. “I’m hurt, sweetheart.”

Your eyes narrowed into daggers. “Do. Not. Call me sweetheart.”

Before you could say more, Nam-Gyu chimed in from his corner, a mischievous smirk playing on his face. “I bet she’s in love,” he teased, his words practically dripping with mockery.

Thanos’s cocky grin widened at that, his eyes gleaming with a maddening mix of pride and amusement. The sheer arrogance in his expression made your fingers twitch, itching to slap that smug look right off his face. But instead, you gave him one final glare—a death wish in your eyes, though to Thanos, it looked like the beginning of a love story.

“I bet she is,” he echoed, his voice soft but certain, the words carrying a weight of truth that made your chest tighten. He didn’t try to stop you as you turned and walked away, but his gaze lingered, following every step you took. Oh, how you had him wrapped around your finger without even realizing it. A wimp for you, and you alone.

Myung-gi: 

Everyone knew who Player 333 was—you included. Unlike many in this room who were desperate to claw their way out of debt, you knew Myung-gi only by name. You’d heard the rumors: how he’d gotten his girlfriend pregnant, how his past was littered with mistakes and secrets. But something in you—a stubborn spark of hope, perhaps—whispered that he wasn’t as bad as everyone wanted him to be. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to him than the stories let on.

Myung-gi had noticed you, though. He’d seen the way you were with Jun-hee—the way your smile seemed to ease her fears, how your arms would wrap gently around her petite frame after every game, grounding her, giving her the space to breathe. The quiet strength and warmth you brought to her felt almost unreal, a motherly presence in a place devoid of comfort.

It was that tenderness, that undeniable light, that struck him like a blow to the chest.

Myung-gi was in love.

And he hated every single moment of it.

Why? Because he knew himself. He knew what he’d done to Jun-hee—how he’d left her while she was pregnant with his child, drowning in debt and fear. He’d been a coward, an asshole, and he knew it. That self-loathing festered, a constant reminder of his failures. And yet, it was exactly why he didn’t expect you to see him as anything other than the man he despised.

But fate had other plans.

Your first real interaction with him came after he saved you—something neither of you had anticipated.

It happened during the Bathroom games, where survival left no room for personal grudges. Confronting Thanos wasn’t at the forefront of Myung-gi’s mind, but then he heard it—your name, slipping from Thanos’s lips with such filth that it ignited a rage Myung-gi didn’t know he was capable of.

Everyone knew your past as an escort within the crypto community. Your name wasn’t hard to find, whispered in private conversations and occasionally tied to scandalous wallets. But Myung-gi knew better than to judge. Still, hearing Thanos—the retired rapper—speak of you like that, as though you were nothing more than a commodity, was the last straw.

“She was good for a foreigner. Not many—”

That was as far as Thanos got before Myung-gi’s fist collided with his jaw, cutting him off mid-sentence. The sickening crack of impact echoed through the grimy bathroom, followed by a faint splatter of blood. Myung-gi emerged from the stall alive but seething, his knuckles raw and his breath ragged. As he stepped out, his gaze immediately locked with yours. Jun-hee stood beside you, clinging to your arm for reassurance, but the look on your face was unreadable—a mix of surprise, understanding, and something softer.

A small, almost imperceptible smile crept across Myung-gi’s lips.

In that moment, he made a silent promise: no matter what it took, he’d make sure both of you got out of this alive.

Dae-ho: 

Dae-ho never believed in love at first sight. With everything he’d endured in his life—the trials, the sacrifices, the relentless pursuit of strength—he saw himself as a knight in shining armor, bound by duty but never destined for romance. That belief held firm until he met you.

It happened during the Carousel game. Like In-ho, he’d noticed you before—your stoic demeanor during Green Light, Red Light had left him quietly impressed. The way you moved, swift yet calculated, managing to evade the statue’s unrelenting gaze with precision, was nothing short of remarkable. It was then that something shifted in him. Against all reason, Dae-ho found himself believing in love at first sight.

At first, he thought he was imagining it. He even considered pinching himself, blinking twice to dispel the notion. But the feeling persisted, undeniable and maddening. It wasn’t until later, when you tended to his wounds after one of the brutal games, that he finally saw you up close—and the full weight of your beauty struck him like a blow. Your lashes fluttered delicately as you focused on your task, your fingers gentle but firm as you dabbed rubbing alcohol onto his injuries. He hissed at the sting, his lips parting in a soft groan of pain.

“Be still, please,” you murmured, your tone calm but commanding. Something about the way you said it—the quiet strength in your voice—silenced his protests. He nodded, his muscles relaxing under your care, though the tension in his chest was harder to soothe.

For the first time, Dae-ho felt vulnerable—not because of his wounds, but because of you.

“You know…” His voice was low, almost hesitant, but there was a softness to it that made you pause. You could’ve sworn his lips curved into the faintest smile. “I never would’ve thought I’d see you like this—healing me. Back at the Carousel, I swore to myself I’d keep you close, that we’d find the door as quickly as anyone else. But then… the next thing I knew, Thanos had taken you before I could…”

He trailed off, his words tinged with shame. The vulnerability in his voice made you glance up at him, your fingers stilling as you finished securing the bandage. His eyes widened at your sudden attention, and he immediately began to stammer.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

You interrupted him with a soft sigh, sliding the remaining bandage back into your pocket. “Don’t apologize. We just weren’t lucky, that’s all. I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle it—that I wasn’t just someone who had to count on others.” Your gaze softened as you added, almost reluctantly, “But… I have to admit, not having you there in that room—it was horrible.”

Your quiet confession was enough to undo him. Without a word, Dae-ho wrapped his arms around you, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at his wounds. Still, he didn’t let go. His embrace was warm, protective, and when he leaned in to press a kiss to your forehead, it felt like a promise.

“Nevertheless,” he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet reassurance, “I’m just glad we made it through. That you’re here with me.” His lips quirked into a small grin as he added, with a teasing lilt, “And that I get to cuddle with you for another night.”

You couldn’t help but chuckle at his words, the tension between you easing for a moment. For now, at least, you both had each other.

Gi-hun: 

Unlike the others, you weren’t a player. But you knew Gi-hun from the previous game he was in. He was so certain you had died right in front of his eyes back then that when he saw the mask ripped off your face—revealing you as one of the Guards—his shock was palpable. Another Guard had been taken hostage by the remaining candidates, and though you could have cursed every word that came to mind, you found yourself frozen, your voice stolen by the chaos.

In-ho was the first to recognize you. He knew you were on shift at this hour, but what he hadn’t expected was the look of sheer horror that crossed Gi-hun’s face when your name escaped his lips.

“Y/N...?” Gi-hun’s voice trembled, disbelief heavy in the air as though he was trying to confirm he wasn’t dreaming.

“You know them?” one of the players sneered, their stolen gun now aimed squarely at Gi-hun. Bodies of your co-workers—faces you barely had time to register—lay scattered across the floor, lifeless, just feet away. The metallic tang of blood filled the air.

But this time, Gi-hun wasn’t about to let anyone lay a finger on you. He remembered the vow you both had made:

"We belong to each other. And I will get you home."

With those words etched into his resolve, Gi-hun made his move. Chaos erupted as the gun exchanged hands, bullets flying. The air was filled with deafening roars of defiance and the sickening splatter of blood.

In the end, In-ho stood back, his heart cold and unyielding, as he watched Gi-hun fall. The final shot rang out, and his lifeless body crumpled to the ground. Blood speckled your cheek, and you stared in stunned silence at the empty shell of a man you had once loved.

From the shadows, a familiar voice cut through the carnage, low and mocking.

“Welcome back home, love.”

You turned toward the source, and there he was Gi-hun—his gruesome smile sending chills down your spine.

doomed siblings 😭😭 an edit of them to alex g is going to hurt EVERY time

radiohead and sangihun don’t do this to meee😭😭😭

my heartbreaking, nauseating, squid game edit of the day. this actually had me going “no no no no no” while kicking my legs.

i simply scroll on tiktok and suddenly get the most heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, i’m dry heaving squid game edit i’ve ever seen

When they're both predator :

My brain : Greaaaaaat

People think that 457 is a predator/prey ship, but it's not.

It's persistence predator / ambush predator.

Proof:

Okay I know I'm late to the party but I just manage to watch the season 2 of squid game and... WHAT IN THE FUCKING NBC HANNIBAL BULLSHIT WAS THAT !!!?

Seriously guys, no one warned me ! My hannigram detector was screaming. ThE vIbEs😩👌 and also am I the only bitche here who thought that Hwang Inho was looking a bit like Mads Mikkelsen ?

New toxic ship just drop for me I'm so happy !!! I waited so long to have hannibal level of toxicity again !

If anybody have good fic rec, I'm interested🖐

heaven and hell aren't that far apart ― attack on titan ft. f!reader

warnings: spoilers of squid game, violence, mentions of gore and blood, mentions of human trafficking, mentions of harassment, debt, gambling, major character death, angst (no comfort)

summary: attack on titan characters play in a life-or-death game with you. will you prioritize the relationships you made with these people or the family that's waiting for you back home? will you throw their lives away for millions of dollars?

notes: after suffering through the popular series called squid game, i thought why not make a headcanon list about it? a huge thank you for the anons who told me that levi can play as the detective, you are the absolute best. i'm not romanticizing the series, God knows how many times i became speechless every time there's a game in the episodes. i just thought this will be a perfect opportunity to make an au out of it. ^^ also, i'm going to add characters who you don't expect solely because of the plot. there might be characters who you love that won't make an appearance in this hc list. oh, and i kinda went off track with mikasa's lmao just don't mind me showing my love for that woman. THIS IS LONG, OKAY? that being said, enjoy !!

― [name] [last name] ; player 356

a college student who's barely getting by.

you lost your scholarship the moment your senior year in university rolls in ― the reason being your father's illness. you spent the majority of your junior year slacking off since that was the time when he collapsed in your home because of heart failure. you had to ride back to your hometown with your last savings just to take care of him, causing a majority of your grades to plummet to the point that extra credit couldn't help. not only that, your mother left your father right after he announced that he might have little time left to live, that he's getting broke and in a lot of debt. you were only twelve years old at that time, your younger sibling being two. that was the time you promised to yourself that you carry everything on your shoulders no matter how young you are.

now, in your early twenties, you're being sued for unpaid bills by your father's doctor and you're so tempted to drop out of university.

one time after coming home from university, you're being followed by the people your father owed a debt to. with your heart pounding and phone battery empty, you hasten your pace with tight grips on the straps of your backpack. once you spot a convenience store sign up ahead, you instantly seek refuge in the many aisles of junk food and beverages, waiting for the debt collectors to search another place. during your wait, you borrow someone's phone to call your boyfriend, only for him to never pick it up, his voicemail reminding you that he's attending a foreign university event the whole month. your peaceful minutes of hiding don't last. the debt collectors find you and drag you out of the convenience store, the person at the counter gawking at how one of the unknown men grasps your hair with all his strength. they gang up on you in the alley beside the establishment. you can only cry with your head raised to the starless sky as they manhandle you into paying, their hands on your throat scalding and their words piercing your weak resolve.

with bruises painting your skin like the flowers you give your father every time you visited him in the hospital, you head over to the subway. you brush off the bewildered stares other people are throwing at you. spots of blood on your shirt from your broken nose, coat torn at the sleeves, hair in disarray, and vacant stare ― you're the main attraction of the subway. you want to cry but you choose to bite your lip to prevent your soft sobs.

it's until you're sitting on one of the benches, waiting for your train, that you hear a―

"i see that you are also a troubled individual. hey, if you say yes to this game i'm proposing, there will be a promising amount of money given to you. so, what's your answer, [name] [last name]? will you accept this card?"

― mikasa ackerman ; player 067

the player who saved your life during red light, green light.

after becoming an orphan from a gang riot more than ten years ago, she accepted the invitation of going to this survival game to take revenge on her so-called guardian whose gang murdered her parents and little brother in the middle of the night. to her surprise, when all of the players gather around the huge sleeping area, the sight of kenny the ripper walking towards her direction becomes her welcome to this shithole. again, surprises keep coming her way as you shout for kenny to stop hurting her. dread fills in her veins when she sees kenny glowering at you to continue defending her. mikasa pushes you out of the way, bluntly telling you to stay out of her fight.

player 067 glares down at you with sharp glacial eyes, rendering you speechless. "stop meddling in fights that don't involve you. i don't need your help or anyone's help." the change in your expression makes her blink. you're telling her with your furrowed brows and small frown that she doesn't deserve this pointless beating. 067 scoffs, turning around with her hands in her pockets. "who are you to help me anyway?"

it just so happened that in red light, green light, you trip on a limp arm while the time is running out. however, you never meet the sandy ground, a hand gripping the back of your jacket. you don't risk looking back but as you cross the white line, you want to thank your saviour, your smile dissipating upon meeting the blank mien of player 067. no words are needed. the astonished look on your face says it all. so, 067 walks away from you for the second time of the day.

after you snap out of your trance, you follow her until all of you survivors reach the sleeping quarters. your words of gratitude might seem to fall on deaf ears but player 067 still listens. she doesn't bother replying because it won't change anything. yes, she saved your ass but she wants you to stop thanking her when you're one of the people she's going to kill for the piggy bank dangling above your heads.

you thought that's your last meeting with player 067.

you never expect your father to collapse once again when you came home, his heart once again failing. you also got a visit from the social services to have your little sibling placed in the city's orphanage since your father is not suitable to take care of him, plus, your finances are hitting the deepest parts of a trench. with the decision of coming back, you once again encounter player 067 in the most cliche scenario ― you bump into her while going back to your bunk with your dinner in hand.

you invite her to join you. only after you surmise that she's not going to say 'yes' did you notice her towering figure closely following you. her footsteps are silent, as if she's stalking her prey ― you. but that's not the case. 067 is just raised that way. most of the time, she sports an expressionless face but you're slowly getting used to it even after one night. she scoots further away from you when a brown-haired girl sits beside you with the most pleasant smile on a place labelled as hell. 067 watches you and the new girl interact like the best of friends, with the black-haired girl keeping quiet as she munches on her fried egg and boiled vegetables.

even though she doesn't trust anyone yet, it won't hurt to have allies in this place.

so, she asks for you to accompany her to the toilets because she has to take a huge shit right after lights out and she needs someone to hold the toilet paper roll. you choke on your saliva. 067 narrows her eyes at your hesitance, finding this as a mistake. with a roll of her eyes, she walks to the door with those soundless footsteps of hers. however, she nearly jumps when you appear next to her.

"just so you know, i was going to say yes," you casually tell her while going to the toilets after a square game guard permitted you. your smile is genuine as you look up to her. "you didn't let me finish. who asks someone to hold toilet paper to them while taking a shit anyway?"

you swear you see player 067 quirking a small smirk.

upon arriving in the toilets, 067 immediately goes to work ― unscrewing the vents so that she can spy on the guards. she tells you that it will give you both a clue on what the next game is. while she's finding herself becoming baffled at how the guards keep melting pots of sugar, you're trying to distract the guard who keeps pounding on the door of the toilets with the butt of their gun.

"sugar."

you turn to 067 during breakfast.

"they're melting sugar." she looks at you dead in the eye. "do you know any game that involves sugar?"

your mind becomes blank, your hold on your uneaten bread slacking. when you feel your brunette friend sidling up closer to you, you tighten your hold on your breakfast. "no, i don't think so." 067 leans down to let you whisper in her ear. "is that really what you saw last night?"

player 067 nods.

"hmm. strange. let's figure it out along the way, okay? why don't you eat your breakfast for some energy, yeah?"

she follows your words and nibbles on her bread.

you look down on your bread, tearing apart a piece. a small roll of paper catches your eye. without anything surfacing on your face, you slowly pull out the small piece of paper and read its content. with a small sparkle in your eye, you tug on 067's sleeve. she leans towards you again, gunmetal blues flickering as you murmur, "honeycombs."

starting that day, 067 follows you more and more. even if your group starts gaining numbers, she never leaves your side.

during the lights-out riots, the first instinct zapping through her is to find you and make sure you're safe from any threat. as she gets out of kenny's murderous hands, she finds you swinging a thin beam of metal. she knows you're capable of protecting yourself but something is whispering in her mind, telling her to pull you in the direction of the bunk beds.

she lets you lean on her shoulder after the riot stopped, her hands awkwardly rubbing on your shaking arms. you're the most warmhearted person in this game, God forbid if anything happens to you, she'll go berserk. she offers to stay with you during your turn in keeping watch during lights-out and there you two share things that deepen your relationship.

"what made you join here, 067?"

"mikasa."

"what?"

mikasa lifts her head to give you a small smile. "that's my name. mikasa ackerman."

you return the smile with that pretty one that always makes her eyes widen. "that's such a pretty name. mikasa." you test it out. mikasa thanks the darkness for concealing her warm face. you give her yours and she mimics the action of repeating the syllables of your name. you giggle before echoing your question. "why did you join this game, mikasa?"

she pensively looks away. "to best my guardian, i guess. i got some debts here and there, but that's about it. after my family died, i'm just living my life the way kenny wants it to be ― to be a part of his gang. i hate him." she puts her chin on her arm. "i want to be free from that life so i joined this hellhole. money brings you happiness, you know? so i said fuck it and accepted the invitation that blonde woman gave me." mikasa glances at you. "what about you, firecracker?"

you laugh at the nickname. she started calling you that after witnessing you mindlessly swinging a metal beam at nothing in particular. "i joined because my dad needed the money."

"your dad?"

you nod. "he's ... sick. he had heart surgery last year but his disease came back a few months ago. he got kicked out of the hospital because we couldn't afford the bills and medication. that hospital sued us and now we're barely breathing with all this debt. i ..." you take a deep breath to prevent yourself from tearing up. "i lost my scholarship because of that, which is the only thing paying my tuition and letting me have a future that can save my dad. plus, the social services are forcing us to put my sister in the orphanage because we don't have the capabilities of caring for her. i'm just so tired, mikasa." your voice wavers, a tear dripping on your cheek as you bury your face in your knees, mikasa's gentle touch on your head anchoring you to the earth.

there mikasa realizes that you're doing this for your family. you have some people waiting for you while there's nothing out there in the world for her but the police tracking her down. she vows that she will do everything to let you win this game. you're literally an angel who lost herself in the coldest pits of hell and mikasa will do anything to bring you back to the surface.

― eren jeager ; square

your boyfriend who's out of the country for one month.

or so you thought.

you know him throughout your life at paradis university. it was purely by chance how you two met but eren felt a pull towards you after your first meeting, getting lost in those wholesome smiles you give him. he knows about your familial situation and he offered so many times to help you but you respectfully decline. you always told him that you want to pay off your father's debt and hospital bills through your own efforts and he understands that. but the look on your face every morning unsettles him. you look so gaunt and lifeless that he feels so guilty of just watching you from the sidelines. yes, he's your boyfriend but your relationship is just you worrying over every little thing about him when he should be the one doting on you and caring for you. this man loves you so much that he sometimes anonymously pays your father's hospital bills, keeping it quiet for fear of you breaking up with him. but he has his limits, he's not made of cash after all. he's only leeching off of his half-brother.

the last thing he wants is for you to leave him behind. he admits he's being selfish but as long as he has his heaven by his side, he's sure that he can survive a lifetime in hell.

imagine his surprise when he sees you in the crowd of people participating in these life-threatening games, his mask hiding his wide eyes, parted lips, and the urge to vomit. you, the most beautiful thing on earth, staring at the piggy bank holding millions of dollars at the moment with a determined look on your face. it hurts him. eren has every chance to help you but he chooses to let your suffering fester until you have no choice but to be one of the horses the v.i.p.s are bidding on. he closes his eyes for a moment, willing to let you disappear as if this is a fever dream, but you're still there. oh God, you're really there. and it's his fault.

as his role of having a square on his mask, he holds the command over the other shapes. that fact he's thankful for.

eren knows about the games beforehand, seeing as he's assigned as the announcer for this year's games.

he watches you behind his mask, narrowing his eyes when you're with that black-haired young woman every time he enters the sleeping quarters. he clenches his teeth when he sees that bastard of a man with a long face tries to flirt with you. at times, eren panics when you flicker your gaze in his direction, your questioning gaze too calculating for his heart to take. who knows what you'll think if you discover that he's one of the game guards stationed in commanding the triangles to shoot the weaklings. will you look at him differently? will you break up with him? anything but that. eren can handle you sulking for days but just the thought of losing you chills his veins.

this spurs eren to make the system unfair by favoring you over the others. he slips little notes in your food about the games or the riots, pulling strings behind the spectacle to keep you alive. even if he has to kill off one of his coworkers to change his masks, he will do it in a heartbeat. he will make sure you win that prize money and live a luxurious life fitting for a person like you.

in fact, he's the square guard that you asked permission to use the toilet in the middle of the night, with that blank-faced woman no less. at first, he's suspicious that you're going in there with someone else but he trusts you so he lets you do your business. at the small distance between you and him, eren held everything back from holding you and cradling you close to his chest. all he wants is to graduate from university with you, buy a house, and start jobs that settle you two down in a domestic lifestyle. heck, he's willing to have children with you. but as he stared down at you that night, he bit his lip before speaking our his feelings. instead, he said that it's okay for you to do whatever you want in the toilets, a longing gaze targeted on your retreating back.

two words: the riot.

that nearly causes his mask to break.

the doors open and eren walks with his head empty except for you. he doesn't care about the dead bodies unless it's you. he has to find you because why the hell would you disregard what he wrote inside your dinner. you should be alive and breathing and intact ... and definitely shaking with your head buried on player 067's neck. his coworkers are curiously looking at him but he doesn't pay them any mind because all eren sees is you.

you feel mikasa's hand tighten around your arm, causing you to look up to a square masked guard standing idly in front of you. even your brunette friend and little group gawk at the highest-ranking staff who's rendered speechless at the sight of you. you flinch at the unyielding person, possibly staring at you, but you never look away from him. the next thing the game guard does stuns you ― his right hand unconsciously rubbing brushing the inside of his left wrist before turning around to signal the others to bring in the bowed coffins. you instantly stand up with a shocked visage because that game guard did not just make your boyfriend's nervous tick ― rubbing his left wrist, which has a simple bracelet with your initials as pendants. your group of allies is asking you what's wrong but all you can see is the back of that square-masked game guard who looks back at you with a small inconspicuous gesture that lays out everything.

that game guard holds out his pinkie in a silent promise to keep you safe.

now you understand why eren disappeared on you without any word but a short message of going on a random university event.

― sasha blouse ; player 151

your first friend in the games.

this girl immediately latches on you the first day of the games.

you're taken aback by such enthusiasm but you're not unwelcome by it. you're rather grateful that there's still bright and bubbly that can keep you sane in this place. you timidly call her by her player number, to which she brushes off with a light laugh.

"call me sasha!" sasha beams with her hands on her hips, chest puffing out in confidence. you blink a few times before laughing at her exuberance. sasha's a ball of sunshine and you unconsciously think that she doesn't belong in this place. she tilts her head at you and you're reminded of that puppy your little sister found on the street back when you were in high school. "what's your name?" you tell her and she brightens even more. "that's so pretty! it fits you so much. well," she holds out her hand expectantly, "i believe you have yourself a friend. nice to meet you, [name]. please take care of me!"

sasha entered the games because somebody approached her after going out of the police station. she tells you this when you came back to the games. she relays how the first body she saw was the corpse of her mother lying on a puddle of blood on the kitchen floor. chills run down your spine at her next words. sasha didn't hesitate from taking one of the discarded knives on the floor, pushing her father away from her dead mother, and proceeded to continuously stab him while his screams echo into the neighbourhood. she was arrested on the spot. she tells this story to you with a smile on her face, almost as if anything that happened in her life is pushed back and she only focuses on surviving the games. you thank her for sharing that part of her life.

"when we get out of these games together, promise me we'll have a girls' night out," sasha casually states while the tension rises after kenny stole another player's share. you're sitting with a stiff posture, player 067 beside you on high alert that kenny might come stomping in your direction to pick an uncalled fight. still, sasha eats her boiled egg with gusto. "us three can travel around the world with that money. we can go wherever we like. you can bring your little sister and you," she points at the blank-faced player who looks unamused at the idea, "can let loose for once."

you have no heart to tell sasha that getting out of the games with multiple players seems to be an unreachable thing but you smile at her suggestion. "that sounds like an amazing idea. we can drink those mojitos and go visit the maldives! just like what they portray in hollywood movies. what do you say, player 067? sounds like fun, right?"

067 looks at you for a moment before nodding slowly. sasha grins.

"that settles it! we'll go to the maldives for our girls night out."

"hey, let us join, too," another player in your little ally group chimes in.

sasha grimaces. "like hell we want to invite you, jean!"

you and mikasa have this silent pact of holding back sasha when the food is distributed. this girl can eat anything in a three-meter radius so every time it's her turn, her hands are itching to take another share for herself. you make sure you're behind her to hold her wrist in a vice grip as she reaches for another boiled egg or bread. you apologize to the person behind you for taking too long, pulling sasha behind you to where your little group is waiting. after witnessing kenny beat the whining player to death, sasha never once reaches out for another meal. since the beginning, you're the one supplying her with her extra portions, sliding your food to her after taking out the piece of paper wedged between. despite knowing her for a couple of days, you conclude that sasha has a vacuum for a stomach.

she has amazing senses. this girl always knows when something goes wrong. she heard mikasa crawling inside the vents while spying on the guards. she heard you two whispering about something regarding the second game. also, she heard a gunshot ringing out from somewhere in the compound when it's her turn taking watch in the middle of the night. there are surely no games happening, right? but as the alarms blared a few minutes after that gunshot, sasha's instincts of brewing danger are pulsating even more throughout the night.

if mikasa swore to protect you, you chose to protect sasha in little ways. you fought for her to be in your team for the tug of war because you're so sure that she's an asset to the team. you gave her tips during the honeycomb game. you let her hide behind you during red light, green light. she's so radiant that it hurts just looking at her. but as every luminary, they have to dim. losing her light came in the form of the marble game, where she asks you to be her partner because she knows you two will win it. as much as mikasa wants you as her partner, you honor sasha's request by shaking the brunette's hand. mikasa huffs and finds another person to pair up with, a player from your team named armin, and you promise her that you will work with her in the next game.

but as the game guard leads you through a maze of houses, all your confidence before turns into dread as you turn to sasha, whose smile disappears for the first time during all of the games.

"thank you for being my best friend and for always protecting me. win this and live the beautiful life you deserve, okay?"

― levi ackerman ; the detective

the one who followed you at midnight to get some clues on his lost siblings.

levi ackerman is considered to be the best detective in your city. he was commended for his performance every time he's on the field. he solves every case he got except for one. levi never knew what was behind the kidnapping of his siblings, farlan and isabel. their disappearance happened several years ago and while people were alarmed that there has been an increase in human trafficking, the police were lousy enough to turn this case cold. he begged for his higher-ups to continue the case but since there wasn't much evidence regarding the kidnapping of farlan church and isabel magnolia so the police department had no choice but to close it. that case plagues levi's mind to this day, that was until he met you.

you look like shit, that much levi can pinpoint.

he's sipping on his morning tea in his desk, listening in to your rambles of a mysterious game where it kills people without remorse. you are talking about how there's a life-size doll who scans people's movements and snipers shooting people if they move. it's absurd. that kind of story only unravels in a television show, never in real life. levi's curiosity turns into dust as he drowns out your frantic voice with the constant thrum of early city mornings.

"a blonde woman was giving out cards in the subway," you plead, hands running through your hair in distress. your clothes are thrown on you haphazardly and the policemen in front of you immediately thought that you had a rough night inside the club because what you're spewing doesn't sound like a sober person might say. "i have her card with me. i'm speaking the truth." you pat your jeans until you take out your wallet, the little brown card making your breath hitch. you hastily hand it over to the policeman. "here. there's a number at the back. they will immediately answer if you dial it." still, the policeman keeps snickering at you. "please." you try again. "just help me investigate this, sir. i beg you. lives are on the line if you don't do this."

"i think you had too much to drink, young lady," the policeman laughs. "i'll wager that you're hungover. booze can alter your dreams into reality, you know?" your glare appears and the policeman chuckles nervously. "okay, okay, i'm calling the number now." he inputs the number on the telephone and waits for the other person to pick up. after three rings, silence greets the policeman. you whisper the things that he needed to say, "uh, i'm calling because i want to play a game."

everything backfires. the person who answered the call was a woman screaming that the policeman was a complete pervert for calling her asking for games. it seems like the policeman pressed the number wrongly, brushing it off as you pulling off a prank in the police station. while you begrudgingly go out of the sliding doors of the station, levi stands up from his seat and inquires about your situation.

"oh? does mr. ackerman have a taste for younger women?" the policeman teases, his voice lilting annoyingly.

"cut the bullshit," levi snaps. "what was that woman here for?"

the policeman hums before laughing lightly. "something about games and dolls. just the random drunk stories, most likely. why?"

levi keeps quiet for a moment, gaze pensive as he stares at the brown card you left behind. his fist clenches at the familiar brown card, the shapes mocking him to pick it up. so, he did. levi pockets the card and doesn't answer his colleague, catching up to you outside of the police station. you're murmuring things about hating policemen as he stands behind you. he opens his mouth to interrupt your rant, "hello, excuse me. i'm detective levi ackerman. can you tell me more about what you told my colleagues?"

you proceed to tell levi everything you experienced so far, with him keeping an impassive facade that reminds you so much of a certain player in the game. you thought he's going to help you investigate this case but he wordlessly walks away after you reveal everything to him. bowing his head as thanks for your time. thinking that the police chooses to brush this situation off their shoulders, you feel as if all hope is lost. yes, you figured that they are incompetent and lousy when it comes to doing their job but you never expected them to put this aside. so, you go back home, only to find your father on the living room floor and your sister nowhere to be found.

that night, levi stays true to his judgment of investigating this case because he feels that your situation is somewhat connected to the disappearance of his family. he narrows his eyes at your standing form a few meters ahead of his parked car, cautiously waiting until a white van comes into view with its door open to invite you in. the whole thing flashes red flags in levi's head. he revs his engine and slowly follows the white van carrying you, watching with hawk eyes how the vehicle keeps on picking up random people on the street. he doesn't know that they're players of the game just like you are. as the moon remains high in the sky, levi sees that your white van is not the only one going in a certain direction. all this secret mission of his leads him to the port with a trail of white vans heading to a large ship.

taking his badge and gun with him, levi drops down and clings at the bottom of the last white van, praying that this will ultimately reveal why his family disappeared for days. or better, praying that levi finds his missing family in wherever this ship sails to.

what he will discover on this mysterious destination will throw him off though.

― hange zoe ; player 136

the doctor that you trust.

mikasa warned you beforehand that player 136 isn't right in the head after expressing how exciting it is to witness so many dead bodies in one game. she latched on your arm and whispered into your ear that you shouldn't trust privileged people who wormed their way into the games. you always heard player 136 bragging about how they're a well-known doctor so it doesn't add up that they're in this game. it was then that you discovered that they're fired by the hospital they're working at after receiving an alert that player 136 participated in money embezzlement. they're recruited by player 218 into your group for tug of war and after hearing them assuring you that you can rely on them, it's settled that they're a part of your little ally group.

being a doctor in the outside world, player 136 is assigned to be the dissector of alive bodies every night. however, they rejected the offer of getting clues on the games because it seemed unfair to those who are in the dark and not given the opportunity to work with the game guards. that's when you know they're trusted ― for telling you the truth behind their nighttime disappearances. they don't hide any details. instead, they willingly tell you the conversation circulating during those operations. after hearing a story that the game guards harassed a barely-breathing body minutes before they arrived for the operation, you vomited your dinner. mikasa glares at player 136 for eliciting such a reaction from you, all the while feeling the urge to vomit as well. it's not only the place that's so disgusting, the workers are the real devils as well.

having player 136 in your team screams advantage throughout the contest. just the presence of a person who specializes in mending people's wounds sets a wave of relief in your little group.

you only know their name when player 218 mentions it during the marbles game since he asks them to be his partner. they refuse, however. it seems like they both know each other all this time. now that you think about it, player 218 only ever converses with the silent player 199 and animated player 136, the latter being called hange. you find it to be a pretty name and you wish you could've talked to them a little bit more.

the only time you directly talked to hange was when they treated your hands after the tug of war. their hands are so gentle as they run over a wet towel over your wounded skin and you find yourself dozing off. it's only when they speak that you regain your consciousness. they ask you about your reason for entering the games since it looks like you're one of the so-called kindhearted people in this godforsaken place. you relay to her everything you told mikasa and sasha and suddenly recognition sparkles in hange's eyes. the look on her face is something that you can never forget. it's a mixture of horror and astonishment at the same time. you wonder why they acted that way. it's before the game of marbles that they look back at you with saddened eyes, their words chilling your body.

"i'm sorry for putting you in this mess. i didn't mean to kick your father out of the hospital that day. i remember seeing you in the hallway of the hospital begging for the nurses to stop rolling your father's wheelchair. i'm sorry that i don't feel remorse at that time even though you sound so broken and desperate. i'm also so sorry for suing your family. i hope you don't forgive me, 356."

― jean kirschtein ; player 097

the boy who asked you out during freshman year in university.

poor him. he's trying so hard to woo you despite having a death sentence hanging over his head by participating in these games. it's a good thing that eren is not here to watch jean shamelessly flirt with you every chance he gets. the only time he stops is when mikasa steps in front of you with a glower on her face, expression silently screaming for the ash blonde to stop embarrassing himself. you faintly remember how eren grumbles at you about this guy since you started dating, saying along the lines of trusting you at the same time never trusting anybody who lingers too long in your presence. after rejecting jean on freshman year, he stopped pursuing you until now. fuck these games. you already have a problem with death, now life has added another piece of suffering for you to worry about.

jean seems reliable and physically strong enough to carry the team on his shoulders, given the fact that he's well-built with lean muscles and tall stature. he's the one who brought armin to your little circle, his arm around the shorter male's shoulders with an easygoing grin, much to the blonde's dismay.

mikasa never trusts anyone and it flares even more around jean.

you try to reason with jean that if he wants to be inside your little group, he has to prove that he's trustworthy enough to keep playing with all of you. you want to prevent mikasa from lashing out at him to the utmost of your abilities. so, he did. jean is an expert on weighing people in his mind, being a psychology major. he scans a person's mannerisms and micro-expressions and report them to you to find out who's the real threat. he's the one who told you to keep your guard up with player 218, something that doesn't even cross your mind until the very last minute. he deems armin as a friend because the blonde was showing some signs of nervousness all throughout the first two games and that all armin's words seem genuine. but this isn't enough for you and mikasa. people like jean tend to lie more if given the chance. people from his major can use their knowledge to their advantage as worm their way in an intricately woven group just to sabotage them.

it's during the riots of the lights-out did he slowly gains your trust.

he saves you from being strangled by an unknown player before mikasa finds you, ripping your attacker from you to pull you to the intact bunk beds. he pats your figure with frantic hands, eyes flashing with panic every beating second. his hands are shaking yet they firmly hold you at arms-length. he asks you, "are you alright? are there any more wounds that i failed to check? fuck, everything is just plain bullshit right now. just stay close to me, okay?" jean places his hand on your cheek to bring you back to reality because you look shaken up by the incident. "hey, stay with me, alright? god damn it!" his outburst causes you to flinch. he apologizes soon after. "i want to find that motherfucker who attacked you, princess. i want to teach them a lesson for laying their hands on you like that."

he throws you a metal beam when you two got separated because a player got a hold of his jacket.

at this point, nobody is safe during the riots. even if nobody holds a grudge against you, you're still going to get targeted. so, with the metal beam, you swing it around yourself. people around you keep jumping back to avoid your blind swinging except for mikasa who pulls you to safety.

it's also jean who points out to you that the square game guard acts so different around you, that their actions are so similar to a certain someone he knows. you already have a clue on who's behind that mask but once jean voices out his opinions, that just proves it because jean is never wrong in these things.

you never got to say goodbye to him. the last words he said to you rings in your mind as you enter the sleeping quarters after the marbles game.

"hey, you better be alive after this game, princess."

― armin arlert ; player 431

an unlikely player who somewhat thought this was a place without slaughter.

you know armin because jean pulls him in your team for the tug of war.

at first, you're surprised that such a soft-spoken person manages to enter the games but when you see the glint in his eyes that he's willing to win the prize, you're convinced that he's not just a simpleton acting all clueless for people to underestimate. but, according to jean, armin is not like another blonde that you need to watch out for. true enough, the first time you talk to armin, he instantly gives you his name. there's no secrecy lacing his words. that manages to convince you that he is trustworthy enough. not to mention that mikasa appears wide-eyed when armin walks to your group, saying that she knew him as the kid who played with her in the sand playground years ago. apparently, armin was her only friend until his family moved away to a different city because of his father's job. there's nothing negative about the remarks surrounding armin and you welcome him with a smile before the tug of war.

"i'm armin," the blonde states, holding out his hand for you to shake.

you look at his expectant gaze before dropping your eyes to his outstretched hand. most people in the previous games never asks for a player's name. the numbers are enough for them to call the others but the wonder in armin's eyes is too hard to resist. you smile at him and fit your palm against his. "i'm [name]. nice to meet you, armin."

his expression brightens like a kid with a surprise birthday party.

there you notice that armin doesn't deserve to be in this place. he shouldn't have an imaginary death flag waving over his head. he deserves so much better than being betrayed by his so-called teammates. your little quartet (you, mikasa, sasha, and jean) forms into an intricate pentagon of people with different reasons for stepping inside their designated vans.

armin fits so well in your group, being the brains aside from player 218. if 218 shows cold calculations that will favor himself, armin focuses on the strategies that greatly benefit the rest of the team as well as distribute jobs that are suitable for every member of the group. even after a few minutes of interaction with him before the next game, you thank armin for his quick wits as he comes up with the strategy for this game of strength while all of you are inside the elevator. player 218 doesn't agree with most of what armin says but since there's not much time left before the game starts, all of you will have to follow armin's suggestions.

he has great assumptions about the games.

before the marbles game, armin becomes suspicious of the instructions of the game guards. find a pair? there's no game in his childhood that has pairs as teams. unless these pairs aren't supposed to be on the same side. armin gawks at the game guards, who wordlessly watch everyone scramble to get the fittest or smartest people to be their pair. the best solution for this is to pair up with people outside of his team. he looks back to you, horror painting his face when you accept sasha's handshake. no, that can't be happening. why didn't you notice this trap set by the creators of the game? armin is about to convince you to rethink your decisions when a firm hand circles his arm. he turns around, blanching inwardly when someone appears in front of him.

"hey, min, team up with me."

armin notices your apologetic expression directed to the young woman in front of him. so, he meets your gaze. he mouths, "goodbye." you're confused. what does he mean by that?

it's only when you see mikasa walk past the gates with a gaunt expression that you understand.

that night, you cry for the first time in this place, your silent sobs dedicated to sweet armin, beautiful sasha, and caring jean. you cry for your friends who deserve everything except for their fates in these games. that night, you ask mikasa if it's okay to sleep on her bed. as she wraps her arms around you, you cry again for fear of the next few games taking away the last person who kept you sane in this hell.

― erwin smith ; player 218

your professor who randomly stopped teaching in your sophomore year.

surely your eyes are deceiving you if you're seeing the most loved professor of paradis university standing in one of these foreboding green tracksuits. maybe you are too disoriented after the car ride that you keep seeing hallucinations of your previous professors. however, you know he's real when he meets your gaze and furrows his brows at you gawking at him. he silently walks to you with a puzzled expression, his tone polite as he questions what are you doing in a place like this. you tell him that you two share the same reason why you're standing under a piggy bank with millions of dollars. he accepts your enigmatic response and hums under his breath as if that already satisfies his interrogation. for you, though, you don't know how such a perfect man came to this place.

the only thing you remember from your short time learning under erwin smith was that he was a family man, with a picture frame of his little family on his office desk, and an amazing tactician. if a game needs strategy, this man is the only person you can go to. having taught business in the renowned university across the continent, erwin smith is not someone to be messed with. despite being known for his caring personality among his students, he also bores a menacing and merciless professor when needed. that side of him is not what you need right now. good thing that you only heard of it from your seniors a while back. but you don't know what to expect if he loses his control over that approachable mien.

one thing is for sure, erwin is a dangerous individual to be considered as an ally.

still, you teamed up with him way before sasha befriended you.

unbeknownst to you, erwin is facing a million-dollar debt for taking part in the stock market. that picture of his perfect family was taken way back when his ex-wife was still happy with him. it was his gambling ways that made his ex-wife drift away from him. he was constantly out until the late of the night to spend every single penny in her account just to bet on horses. the divorce and the continuous debts were the reasons why he stopped teaching at paradis university. he became a broke man in an entire year, always running away from the law and debt collectors who follow his every movement. the fight for the custody of his son was the nail to the coffin. he loves that little boy and seeing as he lost every bit of financial stability just proved that he's not fit for taking the boy under his care. then, came the blonde woman knocking on his dingy apartment, claiming that he can win millions of dollars if he just plays a little game.

there's more than one person who keeps telling you to never trust erwin but you can't help but listen to his suggestions, especially in the game of tug of war. when armin's strategy didn't work, it's erwin who stepped up as the temporary leader of your little group. there's no way that he'll willingly let all of you die when he's the one standing at the front of the line. so, you tell everyone to follow erwin's instructions, catching the other team off guard by sliding close to the edge. you internally let it sink that you owe your life to erwin at this point.

you notice how he shifts closer to player 199, a man named mike and a person with a great sense of smell, and the doctor. there seems to be a connection going on with those three that seems to have stemmed from when they were in college.

you're correct to never trust erwin when you see from a distance how he tricks mike into giving his marbles, never even flinching when the gunshot rings out and the monotone voice announcing that player 199 has been eliminated. again, your instincts are correct when he pushes hange into the regular glass pane when it's just the four of you left. that mistrust turns into anger as you witness him slitting mikasa's throat, face devoid of any emotion when he turns to you with bright sky eyes.

"just me and my favorite student left. how thrilling."

― zeke jaeger ; front man

the one who feels the least remorse from all these bloodbaths.

the previous recruiter.

he's given the role of the front man in this year's games, appointing a previous winner named yelena to be the next recruiter.

he's the one who gave eren the job of being a game guard. it's supposed to be a playful game of ddakji but since eren chose red instead of blue (the younger man's reasoning being his girlfriend looks great in red), zeke's interest is piqued. he's only known his little brother for about three years but he knows that eren has no reason to enter the games as a player. their father is a doctor and their family is pretty well-off for them to start getting desperate for any cash. since the younger man expresses his boredom of being a college student, zeke uses that opportunity to invite eren to the games. not as a player, but as a game guard. he proceeds to explain eren's role in this grand scheme, with the latter hesitating when zeke mentions something about killing people. in the end, the blonde uses another tactic to get eren on board with this. he mentions his girlfriend.

if eren joins as a guard, a high-ranking one at that, he gets a good paycheck to help you out.

equality has always been the main mantra of these games but when your group came, everything flew out the window.

zeke has taken a liking to how you formed relationships despite having your lives on the line. yes, he doesn't feel anything for the other players, they can die for all he cares, but when it comes to your little group, he's actually considering letting your group pass the games. even without eren's threat of exposing this whole spectacle if his brother doesn't show leniency to you, zeke is willing to make the system unfair to let you or any of your teammates win. (the reason mainly resides in the back of his mind; a five-person group who became unlikely friends so many years back.) in fact, he talked to you two years ago when eren introduced you to his family, inviting you to dinner. he found you remarkable and charming, wishing you the best of luck for being eren's partner, to which the brunet always get offended about.

he watches with attentive eyes as you walk to the center of the venue of the last game, the other finalist towering over you. the v.i.p.s beside him are laughing at how such a small girl managed to survive this far, all of them betting on player 218 with everything they brought. to prove himself, zeke casually bets on you, his eyes glinting behind his mask. as zeke watches the game unfold in front of him; gone was the girl who reminded eren to eat during all-nighters, gone was the lovable young woman who gained the blessing of grisha and carla jaeger, gone was the understanding friend during the previous games. in place of all of those was an expressionless person who struggles to get out of player 218's hold in the middle of the square, biting off a chunk of his ankle without second thoughts, and taking advantage of the vulnerability by straddling the blonde man. you stab and scream your sorrows out to the rain until erwin smith breathes for the last time.

"player 218 has been eliminated. the winner of the squid game is player 356."

eren was right, you look great in red.

reblogs are very much appreciated !!! <3

I don't think I like these that much tbh

Emergency Comms are also open, anything helps :)

Soooo yeah....this has become my new hyper fixation for the beginning of 2025....💀

❗Please check out the pinned post on my acc❗

Saw someone on twitter say Squid Game 2 is just the gathering of Lee Dongwook's babygirls and they are kinda right

#i support women's rights (to bear arms)

deepthroating a gun without breaking eye contact...... he put his entire gongyussy into that | SQUID GAME 2

+ the video because the sound he makes when he puts the gun in his mouth? [redacted]

update: he improvised that. the man really said i'll go full slut.

Hwang In-ho in season 2 of Squid Game

CHOI SEUNG-HYUN (T.O.P.) as Thanos (230) in SQUID GAME 2

2021 2025

; my art when the 1st season came out vs the 2nd

def gotta draw Sam and Dean in squid game at some point, it plagues my mind

im finally ditching meta and moving here, so uhh here’s me in squid game

Kang Mina Moodboard

Semi moodboard