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GAME OVER !

The silence in the room was suffocating. No one moved for a few long moments, the weight of Sunoo's lifeless body in front of them sinking deeper with every passing second. The soft glow of his computer screen flickered in the background, as if taunting them. Every breath felt heavy, and even the floor beneath their feet felt like it was pressing back, unwilling to let them move.

Seorin's heart was pounding in her chest as she reached out, her hands trembling. She wanted to pull Sunoo up, shake him, beg him to wake up, but it was impossible. His skin was cold, his body limp, a clear, undeniable sign that he was gone. The game's countdown, still echoing faintly downstairs, had somehow overpowered everything—every sound, every emotion, every feeling except the growing panic in the pit of their stomachs.

"Sunoo..." Seorin whispered, her voice trembling as she backed away from him. Her legs wobbled like they might give out at any moment, but Jay was there—his arms wrapping around her, pulling her close, as if trying to shield her from the horror of it all.

Jay's voice was strained, barely above a whisper. "This... this isn't real. It can't be real." His grip on her tightened, as if he was afraid if he let go, she might fall apart completely.

"This isn't a game," Jungwon said, his voice completely different now. Gone was the carefree, mischievous attitude that usually defined him. In its place was something colder, harder. His eyes, usually full of mischief, were now wide, his gaze locked on Sunoo's lifeless form as if trying to comprehend the impossible.

Seorin's heart skipped at the way Jungwon spoke. He was always the joker—the one who never took anything seriously. But now, there was no laughter. No sarcasm. Just... disbelief.

"I—I don't understand..." Heeseung's voice was small, breaking the silence. He was standing in the doorway, his hand gripping the frame so hard his knuckles were white. "We were all just... laughing. And now this..." His eyes were wide, as if his mind couldn't wrap itself around what had just happened.

Jake, who had been standing in the corner, his face pale, took a shaky step forward. "No way. No fucking way." His breath hitched in his throat as he shook his head, his eyes scanning the room. "This is some prank. It has to be."

But Seorin could see it in their faces—the disbelief quickly fading into something more sinister. Jake's voice cracked as he said it, like even he couldn't hold onto the hope that this was all some sick joke. The fear was beginning to creep into every one of their voices.

Jungwon walked over to Sunoo's body, kneeling beside him. His face was blank, unreadable, but the hand he placed on Sunoo's chest trembled slightly. "He's really gone." His words were soft, almost reverent, as if he couldn't quite believe it.

"Sunoo..." Seorin's voice cracked, and she suddenly felt as if the air had been stolen from her lungs. She felt Jay's arms around her tightening again, but this time, it wasn't a comforting gesture. It was like he was trying to hold himself together too.