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[ author: please read the prologue!! otherwise you won't understand a lot of things ]

୨⎯ jia ⎯୧

it's another day like any other. the sound of gunfire echoes through the private training hall as i steady my aim, exhaling slowly before pulling the trigger. another perfect shot.

"you're getting too good at this," bora teases from behind me, leaning against the doorway with a smirk. "remind me to never get on your bad side."

i lower the gun and turn to face her just as she practically runs into the room. "i just had the best date ever," she announces, dramatically placing a hand over her heart.

i chuckle, setting the gun down. "yeah? who's the unlucky guy?"

she nudges me playfully. "shut up. you're going to want to hear this." and just like that, she dives into every detail - where they went, what they ate, the way he looked at her.

but before she can finish, a knock on the door interrupts us.

one of my father's assistants steps inside, her expression unreadable. "miss jia, your father wants to see you. immediately."

bora and i exchange a look. the lighthearted moment vanishes in an instant.

"guess that's my cue," i mutter, standing up. bora gives me a knowing look but doesn't say anything. she knows how these meetings go.

as i step into my father's office, the air feels heavier than usual. he's seated at his desk, scribbling something down.

"shouldn't you be in the hospital right now?" i ask, arms crossed as i lean against the doorframe.

he doesn't look up. "that's actually what i wanted to talk to you about."

that gets my attention. i move to sit across from him, watching him carefully.

finally, he puts his pen down and looks at me, his dark eyes serious. "there's something you need to know, jia. something i should have told you long ago."

i stay quiet, waiting.

"you already know i'm not just any ceo," he starts. "and the business i run isn't the only thing that has kept our family powerful." he leans back in his chair. "i am a vip."

i blink. "a what?"

"a v.i.p.," he repeats. "a member of a very select group of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world. we fund and oversee a competition known as the squid games."

"squid games?" i repeat. "what does that even mean?"

"it's a series of games where participants compete for a chance to win an large sum of money. the catch?" he tilts his head slightly. "if they lose, they die."

i stare at him, waiting for some kind of punchline. but there isn't one.

"you're joking," i say, but my voice lacks confidence.

"do i look like i'm joking?" he asks, and that's when it really sinks in. he's serious. completely, terrifyingly serious.

i shake my head. "i don't get it. why would you-"

"because, jia, the world isn't fair. people at the bottom suffer regardless. we simply give them a chance - one final opportunity to change their lives."

"by killing them?" i snap.

he doesn't flinch. "by making them fight for survival."

i don't realize i've balled my hands into fists. "and why are you telling me this now?"