Chapter Text
“You wanted the kid to live so bad, what would you do if I killed it?!” Player 100 demanded as both Gihun and Myunggi flinched. Daeho held Na-ri very close to his chest, trying to shield her away from Player 100’s wrath. “You three all wanted to protect her, because you’ll benefit from her money once we get out of here? You get to keep your little family, maybe not all of it.” He smirked.
“How dare you!” Myunggi snarled, barely holding himself back. The thought of the man talking about Junhee like that made him feel physically sick. Daeho also tensed, and Gihun looked at the man in disgust. He may not have lost hope in humanity, but he lost hope in Player 100 certainly.
“Stay back!” The man screeched, his knife getting closer to Daeho. “Stay the fuck back.” Daeho squinted as the knife rest on his chin. He lowered Na-ri slightly so her head was on his stomach instead of his shoulder, so she was further away from the knife.
Yet, it wouldn’t matter if Daeho was stabbed, because then they’d both fall off. He tried moving but Player 100 tugged on his shirt collar. Just as Daeho thought of an idea, the timer for the end of the round buzzed, and the men all looked at each other. Player 100 had a dirty smirk on his face, and the other three looked at each other in fear.
“All players, please proceed to the next round.” The PA announced, and Player 100 tugged Daeho, backwards, by his collar towards the walkway. They crossed to the circle platform with no issue, and he walked to the centre -Daeho still firmly in his grip.
“You two, grab him.” He gestures to Player 039. “You better leave that pole there, 333.” He threatens darkly. Myunggi flinches before dropping the pole on the floor. They then walked over to Player 039, who looked up at them with a sad look on his face.
“We’re sorry.” Gihun muttered to Player 039, “We don’t want to do this.” He wrapped one of his arms around Player 039, and Myunggi did the same on the other side of the man.
“I understand.” Player 039 mutters. “You need to save the kid.” He wheezed, coughing up a splatter of blood.
“We want to save you too. We’re working on something.” Gihun mutters as they start walking across the walkway. They were lifting Player 039 up slightly so that his broken leg didn’t drag across the floor.
“I’m dying today anyway.” Player 039 stammers. “Do what you need to do to save the baby.” He looked at Myunggi and suddenly he saw it. Myunggi realised what the man meant. Myunggi would have to become a killer, again.
They carried him over to the circle platform, and the walkway once again disappeared. They placed 039 on the floor gently as they raised their hands, showing Player 100 that they don’t have anything. It wasn’t hard to prove because: the old man had the knife, one pole was on the floor with Player 125, one pole was on the previous platform, and the last pole was still in the ground at the centre of this platform.
“Look, we mean no harm. Okay?” Gihun tried to start reasoning with the man. “Just let them go… please.” He begged, his eyes looking at Daeho. The poor man was barely holding it together as the knife rested on his skin.
“Why would I do that?” The man spat. “You won’t do anything to me as long as I keep them alive, and in my grasp. You’ll kill me otherwise, and have your happy little family. And all the prize money.” He chuckled darkly, looking between the two men. They both wore looks of panic but one of them was looking elsewhere.
Daeho looked at Myunggi, who wasn’t that far away from him anymore. Daeho gestured to Na-ri, and Myunggi raised his eyebrow. Daeho made a throwing gesture, and Myunggi’s eyes widened. Daeho gave him a sly nod, and Myunggi gave him one back. The men had formulated a plan that would guarantee Na-ri life, but it could mean death for Daeho. But, Daeho knew he’d die in these games, he’d known since the day of Mingle, he was just glad he was honourable until the end. He was glad he redeemed himself to Gihun, and helped Junhee until he no longer could. He’d saved people, but he’d also put the cause of people’s deaths upon himself. So, in his mind, Daeho thought he deserved the death he was about to get and was going to accept it with grace like he knew he should.
“Press the button.” Player 100 demanded, eyes darting around as if he was drugged, and Munggi -seeing the opportunity for the pass to happen- walked towards the button. He pressed it, and the PA spoke:
“The final game has started, you have 10 minutes.” And as it spoke, Myunggi nodded and Daeho kicked Player 100 in the shin before throwing Na-ri at Myunggi. He managed to catch Na-ri just as Player 100 recovered, and he pulled Daeho back towards him and Player 100 drove the knife into Daeho’s shoulder the second he realised what was happening, and Daeho’s scream echoed throughout the whole arena. He tried to fight back, but the man was stronger than him, and he ended up being thrown to the floor. Gihun ran over to help Daeho, but Player 100 still had the knife, so when Gihun tried to pull him back, he felt the dagger graze his side and blood started to trickle out of his side, slowly but painfully. In that momentary moment of distraction, Player 100 advanced back on Daeho and backed him right up to the edge. Myunggi gasped out in horror, realising the man was about to kill Daeho.
“GET BACK!” The man screamed, and Gihun managed to shuffle back despite his pain. He was about to start talking but Player 100 started screaming again. “I’LL KILL HIM, I SWEAR! YOU THINK I WON’T! I WILL!”
“What’s stopping you then?” Daeho muttered, one hand on his shoulder. “Kill me. You know you won’t, you’re too scared.”
“I DON’T WANT THEM TO KILL ME! IF I PUSH YOU OFF, ONE OF THEM WILL SHOVE ME RIGHT AFTER YOU!” He screeched, gesturing at Gihun and Myunggi, who both knew that the man was right, if he killed Daeho he would die too. “I can’t die… I won't die.” He snapped, taking a step closer to Daeho. “ Fuck it, I don’t care anymore. You’ll die long before I do, young man. This is for trying to break us, betraying us.” Instead of stabbing Daeho, Player 100 pushed him and nobody moved. The shock had frozen both Gihun and Myunggi until Myunggi processed what had just happened. His brain was now fuzzy and he wasn’t hearing anything, just his mind begging him to get revenge. Kill him, he killed Daeho. He made fun of Junhee’s death and had Na-ri at knife point .
Myunggi was furious… Daeho had saved him, but he couldn’t save Daeho. He owed Daeho his life, but couldn’t save his. He’d avenge him though… Player 100 wasn’t leaving these games alive. He wouldn’t be alive by the time the timer ran out, which was 6:24. Myunggi nodded to himself before approaching Gihun. He handed Na-ri to Gihun, who looked at him sceptically, before charging at Player 100. The old man didn’t anticipate this, and dropped the knife as he tumbled to the floor. They two landed strong hits on one another as the timer slowly ticked down. Player 100 somehow managed to retrieve the knife and was now holding it at Myunggi’s neck. Myunggi tried to fight back but he knew it was fruitful, he wanted to avenge Daeho but now he was going to die instead. How ironic…
“Say hello to the mother, why don’t you?” He grunted as he started to press the knife on him, but as he did Player 039 used his good leg to kick the knife out of his hands. Myunggi looked at the man in shock as he kicked Player 100 off him, and started backing him up towards the edge. He didn’t hesitate to get really close, and Player 100 was now shaking in fear as Myunggi had a dazed, almost out of body, look in his eyes.
“You killed him.” Myunggi reminded himself as he started walking closer. “He saved me, and you killed him.” After reminding himself exactly why this man needed to die, Myunggi walked up to him and kicked him straight off of the platform. He watched the man tumble off of the Platform and land flat of the floor. He felt bad for enjoying the fact that he killed this man, but Player 100 deserved it and Myunggi tended to get what he wanted.
He tended to.
“Player 100, eliminated.”
Myunggi then ran over to Player 039, who was smiling up at him. He crouched down next to him and almost burst into tears.
“Thank you… thank you so much.” Myunggi told the man. “You saved me, I’ll be forever in your debt.”
“Pass me the knife?” Player 039 asked, as it was just out of his grasp. “I’m sorry for voting to continue. None of this would’ve happened if I let you all go home. I was desperate…” He cried and Myunggi grabbed his hand, with the knife in the other.
“It’s okay, you did what you needed to.” Myunggi told him, passing him the blood-stained knife. “You don’t need to do this… We can all get out now, and get you medical treatment.”
“I must… I couldn’t bear to live knowing what I’d done.” He lifted the knife, but his hand shook as he did. “I-I… Raise her well, without knowing what she was born in. I wouldn’t want her to know what her parents went through just to keep her alive.”
“I-I.. I will. I swear.” Myunggi stuttered, tears welling up in his eyes. “Thank you sir, for giving me a second chance with my daughter.”
“Thank you… young man. For showing me there was still good amongst the bad.” The man smiled at Myunggi before stabbing himself right in his heart. His hand went slack in Myunggi’s, so he let go, and placed it on his chest. Myunggi pulled out the knife, and laid his second hand on top of the other one, so he could pass for sleeping if it wasn’t for the blood all over his body.
“Thank you sir…” Myunggi muttered before walking over to Gihun.
“Player 039, eliminated.”
“We don’t need to fight…” Myunggi told Gihun, who nodded immediately.
“We need to wait… for the timer.” Gihun replied, rocking Na-ri. “He’s okay, Na-ri.”
“Can I..” Myunggi held his arms out, and Gihun passed Na-ri to him straight away. He held his daughter close to his chest as the timer ticked down. He whispered in her ear that they’d be okay, that they were safe and that they were going to find a home.
Safety, they’d granted her safety.
“Brother…” A strained voice exclaimed, one both men recognised too well. “Help.” Gihun and Daeho looked around the edge, scared that they were hallucinating the voice of a lost friend, until Myunggi saw him. He was holding onto a metal pole near the top with one hand, and the other was reaching up. Trying to reach the floor of the platform.
“Daeho!” Myunggi exclaimed, and Gihun ran over.
“I… I caught myself.” He grinned as Gihun grabbed his other hand. Despite it being the injured one, Daeho didn’t say anything about the pain as Gihun pulled him up. He just grunted as he managed to get his lower body back onto the platform. “You’re all okay?”
“More than okay.” Myunggi smiled, pulling Daeho in for a hug. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”
“At this point, I might be invincible.” Daeho laughed as he pulled away. “I’m here to stay, always will be.”
“Maybe…” Gihun chuckled slightly as the timer ran out. “That was close, Daeho. Don’t scare us like that again.”
“Congratulations to Players 222, 333, 388 and 456. You are the winners.” A male voice spoke, and the three men looked at each other in shock. They didn’t think the money would actually be split, they thought they’d only allow a singular winner.
“We made it.” Myunggi sighed, looking at his daughter before the glass behind them shattered. The men all turned around to see a man with a gun, standing in the VIP room.
“Gihun!” The man shouted, and Gihun smiled up at him. “Sorry I took so long.”
“Junho! My bad with the tracker.” Gihun replied. “The guards found it.”
“Well I’m glad w- Is that a baby?” The man shouted, looking at Na-ri. Gihun nodded at him, and Junho looked shocked. “He would let that happen… of course.”
“What do you mean?” Gihun asked, and Junho shook his head. His eyes looked haunted, however and Gihun knew he had a story to share.
“I’ll tell you when we get out of here.” Junho responded as the circle in the middle of the platform moved, revealing the frontman. Junho immediately aimed his gun at the man and Gihun wondered if they had met in the past. The conversation that followed meant that they’d definitely met before.
“Do you want to tell them who you are?” Junho yelled as the Frontman turned to look at Junho. “Or will you keep on hiding?” The frontman looked at the group before pulling down his hood, and taking his mask off.
“Hello, Big Tiger.” He said, looking at Daeho. “Gihun, Player 333.”
“Youngil?” Daeho gasped, looking at a man he admired. “What-”
“We need to evacuate you all, now. The island is set to explode in 25 minutes. Junho, you're welcome to join us.” He explained. “Also my name isn’t Youngil, I made it up.”
“Another lie…” Gihun muttered, “Were you ever telling us the truth?”
“If you get on my boat, I’ll tell you everything.” The Frontman explained, and the men all nodded, “Junho, go to the front door. I’ll let you alert your team from the boat.”
They all followed the Frontman to a big door, where Junho ended up joining them. He was very sceptical of Inho, and kept his gun pointed straight at his head as they followed the Frontman to a boat for all of them before he handed Myunggi a box.
“Change her into these.” He instructed, and he nodded. He looked at Daeho, who ended up following. He needed to wrap his shoulder up anyway. They walked inside the ship and started trying to locate a bathroom, so they could sort everything out.
“Are you okay?” Myunggi asked as they walked into a bathroom. “It’s bleeding a lot”
“Hurts a little, but yeah. Are you guys okay?” He gestured to Na-ri as he took his jacket and shirt off.
“We’re okay, Player 039 saved us.” Myunggi smiled as he started to undress Na-ri, and looked at her diaper. It was full, and Myunggi looked at Daeho. Incredibly cluelessly.
“I can’t do it, because I need to wrap this, but I’ll explain it to you.” Daeho explained as he started ripping up his jacket sleeve.
Daeho walked Myunggi through how to change the diaper while he wrapped his shoulder up enough so he could call a private doctor when he got back. After Daeho put his shirt back on, the rest of the jacket now discarded, they joined back with the other three men.
“You want to start?” Gihun asks the Frontman. “Maybe with your actual name?” Junho took in a sharp intake of breath before the man on his right spoke.
“Hwang Inho.” He told Gihun, who looked at Junho in shock. “I may have told a few lies while we were in the games…”
“That’s an understatement.” Daeho muttered, but only Myunggi heard it. He laughed slightly but tried to cover up with a loud cough. The other three men ignored it, sideeyeing the two men slightly.
“But the stuff about my wife and child were true, except I’m not saving up for her treatment.”
“You told them about her?” Junho asked in complete shock. Inho looked at him and nodded slightly.
“I was in the games in 2015, to get the money for her treatment. After I won the games, I returned home and my wife had died with my child inside of her.” He sighed, body shaking slightly. “I returned as the Frontman for the next set of games in 2018, 2021 and this year after Oh Ilnam retired and passed away.” Gihun flinched at that, and Inho held back a smirk. He may be baring his soul for everyone to see, but he still held onto his slightly twisted morals.
The men sat in silence for a little while until Na-ri started to cry. Myunggi rocked her, but that didn’t work. He looked at the men in confusion, not knowing how to look after his daughter. He felt like a shit dad, how could he not know how to look after his own kid?
“She’s hungry.” Gihun told Myunggi, who looked around cluelessly. Inho walked off, and returned a minute later with a bottle full of warm milk. Myunggi nodded his head before starting to feed her. The men continued to talk around him as he did, but Myunggi was hardly listening.
“So you became like this, because your wife and child died?” Gihun asked.
“I had nothing else.” Inho muttered, but Gihun shook his head.
“The same happened to me in 2021, all my friends died, my ma died and my child moved half way across the world. You could’ve found help, or done anything else.” Gihun explained to Inho.
“Unfortunatley, not everyone is as morally right as you Gihun.” Inho told the man. “Not all of us find it that easy.” He explained as he stood up. “We’ll be back on the mainland in the morning, feel free to sleep until then.” He then retreated to inside the ship leaving all the men wondering more than what was told to them.
None of the men slept that night, and when they boarded the mainland, Myunggi walked over to Inho.
“I was wondering about our possessions from the start of the games.” He explained. “Junhee would’ve had a set of keys, because she owns a container full of stuff for her. Do you have it?”
“I was wondering when you would ask.” Inho smiled, handing the key to Myunggi. Myunggi bowed before walking away. He held the keys tightly as he picked Na-ri up, and got off the boat. “Your money will be delivered to you within the week.” The men all nodded as Junho got off the boat.
Myunggi would approach the storage container that afternoon. Na-ri was in the clothes Inho gave and had a fresh diaper on but she was sleeping again. He opened it with shaky hands before bursting into tears. Junhee’s storage container was quite bare, only a few clothing items for herself inside. There was also a pile of neutral baby clothes and a small notebook. Myunggi didn’t open it, he couldn’t. He grabbed all the items from the container and placed them in his duffel bag before returning the key to the owner.
Myunggi would soon forget about the notebook, as it got shoved into a drawer in his apartment, which he shared with Daeho. He was laser focused on raising Na-ri how he believed Junhee would’ve liked while Gihun was in America trying to reconcile with his daughter.
The scars of the games remained…
Daeho shook at every loud noise and couldn’t use knives or forks properly anymore. The fear of being stabbed and harsh reminders of lights out made him sceptical of any and all cutlery. He hardly left the apartment, and when he did it wasn’t for long. He was yet to call his sisters or ma, because he didn’t know what he’d say to them. He avoided talking about the games but for the first month he went through the motions. He got both his stab wounds treated and taught Myunggi everything he knew about raising a kid, while bonding with the younger man.
Myunggi found himself looking for Junhee whenever he was struggling, and would have to remind himself everyday that she was dead. He looked at a girl with short hair, and almost always thought about her. He couldn’t talk about her yet, despite it having been over 3 months since she passed and he started therapy not long after receiving the money from Inho, 2 cards posted and one had his name on it. One had Na-ri’s name. Both contained 11.3 billion won, but Myunggi only spent from his. He kept Na-ri’s card for when she was old enough to use it herself.
Gihun, despite being in America, called every single day without fail. He was slowly reconnecting with his daughter, but still made sure to call them at the exact same time every day. It was currently Midday in Korea, meaning it was 8pm in Los Angeles. Gihun called the second the clock hit 8pm and Daeho answered immediately.
“Hello Gihun!” Daeho exclaimed as Myunggi walked into the frame with Na-ri.
“Hello boys.” Gihun smiled back, “How are you all?”
“We’re alright.” Daeho smiled. “Na-ri did a really bad poo last night though and we’ve had to wash the pyjamas twice!”
“That’s unfortunate.” Gihun laughed. “Gayeong would like to meet you guys if that’s okay.”
That was a surprise to the men, as Gihun had been in America for 3 months at this point and Gayeong had only just started speaking to him again.
“Yeah that’s fine.” Daeho answered and Myunggi nodded enthusiastically. All of a sudden, a teenage girl walked into the frame and waved.
“Hello!” She smiled. “Which one of you is which?”
“I’m Daeho.” Daeho waved, before looking at Myunggi.
“I’m Myunggi, and this is Na-ri.” He smiled, lifting up Na-ri.
“She’s so cute.” She cooed. “Does she take after you?” She asked innocently, but Myunggi still recoiled like the question slapped him hard across his face. Daeho held out his arms, and took Na-ri as Myunggi curled up against a wall.
“She takes after her mother.” Daeho replied once he’d taken Na-ri into a different room. “But Myunggi can’t talk about it yet.”
“Remember, Gayeong. I told you about Junhee, didn't I?” Gihun asked and Gayeong gasped.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” She apologised but Daeho shook his head.
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell him when he snaps out of it.”
“Has it happened today already?” Gihun asked and Daeho nodded solemnly.
“He had therapy earlier.” Daeho told Gihun. “The therapist urged him to start talking about her today. He managed to talk about meeting her, and their first date. But he shut down after that. He has another appointment tomorrow, so hopefully they can get him to talk about her more.”
“Yeah that’s why he took it badly then.” Gihun nodded along.
“Please tell him I’m sorry.” Gayeong looked at Daeho, and the man nodded again. “I hope to meet you guys soon.”
“Perhaps we could.” Daeho smiles at the girl before she hugs Gihun and walks away.
“How has today been for you, Daeho?” Gihun asked.
“I got accepted for a job today, at a small corner shop. It’s not much but It’ll give me something to do during the day. Perhaps it’ll stop me from going through the motions everyday. How’s LA?”
“Interesting.” Gihun sighed. “I’ll probably be back by the end of the month, Gayeong has finally forgiven me and Eunji has agreed that Gayeong can come to Korea for a while during her summer break.”
“That’s fantastic Gihun!”
“It is, I’ll see you guys soon!”
The call ended, and Na-ri was now fast asleep.
It’s been 3 months but they weren’t over it.
…
It took Myunggi 4 months to find the notebook from Junhee’s storage container. He was looking for his backup pacifier, but ended up seeing the notebook.
“I found the pacifier!” Daeho exclaimed before seeing Myunggi sat down with the book in front of him. “I’ll let you read it, come find me when you’re done.” Daeho grinned before walking away.
May 20th 2024
Myunggi is gone, and I don’t know what to do. I’ve been evicted and I’m fucking pregnant. Nobody talks to me anymore and I hardly have enough money.
I don’t know how much longer I can do this, do I want it?
June 11th 2024
I’m keeping it. I’ve been staying in homeless shelters, women's shelters and motels. I don’t know if I’ll make it but I can try. I call him everyday, but it just rings out. I really hope the people he scammed never found him.
I still love him, no matter what happened to him.
October 11th 2024
I got offered to play games for money, and for my child I’ll do anything.
If Myunggi is still alive at this point he’s dead to me, I’ve called him everyday for the last 6 months and he hasn’t answered.
Screw him
Fuck..
Myunggi burst into tears reading that last entry, and held the notebook close to his chest. They weren’t the only entries, just the only ones his fuzzy brain could remember once the tears fell…
She waited for him, and he let her down…
“I hope you’re happy with me now, Junhee.” He wiped his eyes before leaving the bedroom. All of a sudden, a short knock was heard. They both jumped, but Myunggi still walked over to answer it.
“Hello boys.” Gihun smiled and Myunggi hugged him immediately.
“You didn’t tell us!” Myunggi exclaimed as Daeho ran over and joined the hug. They stayed like that for a small while before Na-ri started crying.
“I wanted to surprise you.” Gihun smiled. “Can I see my granddaughter?” They both nodded before walking towards Na-ri. “I’m glad we all made it out.” The two young men flinched a little but nodded along anyway.
“Inho was wrong. We are much more than numbers.” Gihun smiled at the boys as he rocked Na-ri. “We’re humans, and humans are more than just a name, or number. We’re complex, have emotions and thoughts and goals. We have likes and dislikes, and no two people are the same.” Gihun smiled as they all sat together, like the family they wanted to be…