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when the game started, Gihun had found again one of his childhood friends, Sangwoo. He always wondered how could a prodigy like him ended up here on this hellhole, never failed to compliment him and tell everyone about how smart Sangwoo was.
Gihun always had something for Sangwoo while growing up, but he thought it was admiration, a stupid man crush, a need to be as succesful as him— how incorrect. After meeting again, poor Gihun saw himself on those uncomfortable beds thinking about his memories with Sangwoo, and sometimes loved the sight of the man with glasses dozing off.
Sangwoo wasn't much different than Gihun, seeing Gihun's fluffy hair and his awkard smiles. The only difference was that Sangwoo tried to get those thoughts away and focus on the objective, classifying Gihun as an obstacle in the way of his goals. It would hurt to kill him, but he must do so, and if you love something you should let it go.
Two different mindsets with one thing in common: love.
Now at night in the middle of that improvised bed fortress that was made after the incidents of last time, Gihun was alone on his turn to watch. The poor old man was feeling sick and Gihun sent him to sleep. Alone he thought he was until Sangwoo quietly sat next to him with a serious expression on his face.
“Sangwoo? How come you're awake? your turn's later.” Gihun asked in slight suprise.
“I cannot sleep.” Sangwoo answered simply.
“Ah. Paranoid, uh? I completely get it. Don't be afraid though, look at me! I'll protect you and everyone, because I'm Seong Gihun from Ssangmun dong. Trust me.”
Sangwoo let out a small laugh and a sigh. Gihun was just like how he remembered when they were children. “It's not that.”
Gihun got closer, in curiosity he asked: “What is it, then?”
“I'm sorry, Gihun.”
“Uh? Sorry? You're okay, Sangwoo?”
“I'm just sorry, I suppose. For whatever comes next, whatever the future brings.”
“The games are not your fault.”
“The way I play is. I wanna win the money.”
“And we both will. We'll split the money, you, me and Ali. We'll go on a yacht to Jeju, drink beer, party... can you imagine?” Gihun insisted looking at Sangwoo, he rested his head on his shoulder and sighed while looking at him. The dim light reflecting off his glasses, his jawline. the blood on his cheeks, then the smell of both deodorant, sweat and dirt.
Sangwoo looked back at him, cleaning some off the blood Gihun had on his face with his fingers, delicately. “Remember when we were kids?”
Gihun's cheeks were bright red, thank god the light didn't let that be seen. “Sure I do, ah. We pushed eachother, punched eachother. Yet remained always very close.”
“And the rumours we liked eachother, everyone mocking us with them while we screamed it wasn't the truth.” While still remembering, Sangwoo now ran his fingers through Gihun's hair, softly.
“Now look at us. Old, playing the same old games, just... to the death. It's ironic.” Gihun closed his eyes for a second before removing his head from the man' shoulders and looking at him, close enough to feel his breath. “Are the rumors still going around, Sangwoo?”
The one in glasses smiled. Although wanting to give some sort of corny answer, he had to remember Gihun was nothing but an obstacle to the main goal. He had to see him more as a thing to have fun with while it lasts, so he did that.
Sangwoo pressed his lips against Gihun's with certain confidence, their tongues twisting just seconds into the kiss while both of them pushed harder and harder. It was needy, fast, satisfactory. Sangwoo bit Gihun's lips slightly making them bleed thanks to a wound he had, embracing the metallic flavor of the red liquid. Taking every chance they had to gain a little bit of air they continued until it wasn't possible anymore.
In the dim lighting you could still see Gihun's lips full of blood, looking a bit shocked. Sangwoo was in a similar state but with a sadder expression.
“Sangwoo...” Gihun spoke, but Sangwoo stood up and left. Gihun was still too shocked to beg him to stay and it was too late to make that much noise.
Sangwoo wasn't about to deal with something he promised to ignore, his feelings.