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A cold and calculating man oversees the deadly competition as its secret mastermind: every move, every tactic, every techni...
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The next morning, I'm ripped out of sleep by that hauntingly loud and classic music. The bright lights buzz to life overhead, and groggy groans ripple through the room as everyone wakes up.
I sit up slowly, rubbing my eyes, my mind still replaying the night before. Young-il's words are stuck in my head like a song on repeat, and I don't know what to make of it. The way he crouched in front of me, the way he looked at me—it wasn't just protective; it seemed personal.
But why? I haven't seen him treat anyone else around here like this.
I spot Jun-hee sitting on the edge of her bunk, staring at the floor with a distant look in her eyes. I get up and make my way to her, deciding to check up on her quickly.
„Hey." I say softly, my voice still scratchy from sleep. „You okay?"
She chews on her bottom lip, her eyes flickering across the room, landing briefly on... Player 333?
„It's him." She says finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
I glance towards Player 333, then back at her. „What do you mean?" I ask.
„He's the ex boyfriend I told you about. The one who left me pregnant and convinced me to invest in his stupid crypto scheme. Said it was a sure thing, that I'd make a lot of money. And then, when I got pregnant, we decided I was going to get an abortion..." She says.
„Oh..."
„Yeah. But on that day, I was in the hospital, calling him, and he wasn't even there, didn't even answer. So... I don't know. I've had a change of heart. I decided to keep the baby... But with the situation I'm in right now, I realize that maybe that was the wrong decision." She says, sighing.
For a second, I really feel bad for her. I forgot how the people here actually have real life problems they need to solve, and don't just want to win the money to just... have more money, like me.
No. That's not true. I'm here to continue the legacy. I'm here to make my Grandpa proud, if his own son never did and never believed my Grandpa whenever he would talk about the games.
"It's all some fantasy world he's talking about, ddal (daughter). He probably dreamt about this at some point, and the old age is getting to him. Don't let him get to you too" My father would always say, laughing.
But it's not. It's real.
I look back at Jun-hee, trying to show her the closest look to sympathy that I can manage. Then I look at Player 333 again, my stomach twisting with anger.
