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All of Park Min-su’s life, he’s always been timid and weak. He admits this fact. Whenever he was told to do something, he’d always do it, even if it wasn’t a good idea. He crumbles upon the most infinitesimal pressure, crumbles upon an authoritative figure's disapproval, so no matter the circumstance, no matter what’s asked of him, consider it done. This made him an easy target for infamous classmates when he was in school and corrupt businesses when he was working.
Of course, under bad influence, he gambles away the majority of his money and lends the rest of it to random people at a gambling house because he can’t quite seem to say no. When he does get out of gambling, he works at a company that underpays and overworks their employees, and he doesn’t find it within himself to say no, to resign. To put it simply, his life story is his inability to say no.
So when suddenly, Min-su is kidnapped into a life or death scenario and he finds someone who actually sees him as a decent human being other than his father, he’s disorientated. Someone who sees him as Park Min-su, not as any other iteration of “weakling”. And so, with a question in mind, he yearns for a reason. A reason why he’s treated fairly. A reason why Se-mi advises him on what to do and sticks around instead of leaving him to rot by himself. A reason if he is seen as an idiot as she calls Thanos and Nam-gyu, and it’s on the tip of his tongue.
Do you see me as an idiot who is easier to deal with? Do you see me as an idiot, like everyone else does? Why do you bother with me?
“What about me? Why did you team up with me?”
…I shouldn’t have asked that. Ignorance is bliss, and as he’s about to utter a frantic apology, he hears her voice once more and he’s shut his mouth.
“Because…”
Min-su fears. He fears that he’ll be left behind or seen as unequal. He fears Se-mi’s answer, positive or not. He fears her silence. He fears that this little bond they had together is flat and not as profound as he thought it was.
“I thought you wouldn’t deceive me.”
—
“Who should we take?”
“Rock paper scissors!”
“Come with me.”
In the sound of wails and chaos, her voice rang ever-clear.
She extends her hand, and it waits for his own patiently, despite the time ticking. Min-su glances at her silently pleading eyes and he knows that he should take her hand and let her lead. The fact he’s been given a choice for it, not being forced upon it, makes it more distressing.
“Winner comes with us! Rock, paper, scissors!”
What if Thanos and Nam-gyu can’t find a partner if I leave? What if they’ll be disappointed in me, if they do make it out by themselves? What if I’ll be the subject of their frustrations once more? What if Nam-gyu will beat me up over this?
…But Se-mi-ssi isn’t leaving me to go with them. She’s not letting go of me,
and I don’t want to let go of this, too.
Min-su reaches out for her hand, and the immediate tug he feels is gratifying, makes him wonder what made him hesitate, and it eats away at his insides that he finds delight in this, that he has the ability to feel joy in such a scenario.
He hears a voice weeping in mortification, You’ll regret this. It’ll all be for naught, and this faith in yourself won’t last long. It’ll all go wrong. This shallow bond of yours isn’t worth it.
Liar, Min-su cries out, Even if this is just some cruel manipulation tactic and I’ve already fallen into the pit I might never crawl out of, I will continue to take your hand, because I know that you will be waiting for me to do so.
There stood a lone person left behind in the circle, and Min-su wonders if that would’ve been Se-mi had he not taken her hand, too. He grabs their arm and rushes into a room along with Se-mi and… Player 347, he acknowledges. Se-mi shuts the door shut and he hears the telltale sound of a lock clicking. His body relaxes, leaning against the wall, catching his breath.
However, just as soon as he relaxed, he tenses once more. The momentary quiet is replaced with ringing gunshots and screams, and it’s too much.
He wants to check the outside, wants to see if Thanos and Nam-gyu are alive, but he’ll end up seeing blood spattered across the floor, across the walls, bodies upon bodies of people who’ve had lives and were fighting for it, and he doesn’t dare to look. He shuts his eyes and covers his ears, only able to hear the sounds of his own loud, rapid heartbeat and heavy rushed breaths through muffled screams and gunfire.
…
It’s quiet again.
He opens his eyes and the flickering purple lights that adorned the room are gone once more, replaced with dimmer yellow-ish glow.
“Excuse me… 125 and 380?” 347 mutters, skeptical and quiet.
Min-su turns to 347 and Se-mi gives a questioning look.
“Thank you.”
What? This is odd. He didn’t do much. He just grabbed them along. He doesn’t deserve a ‘thank you’ for selfishly taking them without consideration. He glances at Se-mi to see how she responds, and she simply nods her head.
You aren’t worthy of praise, that little voice within him says, gnaws at his confidence, and he keeps his head down.
“Er, it’s no problem,” Min-su stammers, offering a small smile. 347 smiles as well, and he hears the lock click once more, and Se-mi steps out. Hurriedly, he follows behind her, rushing to her side and looking around for Thanos and Nam-gyu.
They’re alive. He's somewhat relieved, managing a small smile. But when they look his way, they scoff and give the middle finger.
His heart jumps.
I’ve disappointed them. It’s not going to go well after this. I’m really screwed this time. They’re going to hit me. They’re going to insult me. It’s okay if I’m ordered around, but I don’t want to be abused over this. I don’t want to be hurt.
His chin trembles and his eyes sting. He’s pathetic.
He feels a tap on his shoulder, and his daze is interrupted.
“…Good job on getting someone. Come on, let’s go,” Se-mi mutters, and her lips quirk upwards into what could barely be considered as a smile.
I’ll be okay, for now.
He watches two other people talk to 347. Listens into their distinct worried cries, “Where did you go? We couldn’t find you, so we just went with someone else!”
If the game needs five people, maybe they have enough.
—
[ Round and round, ]
[ Round and round, ]
[ Let’s go around in circles and dance! ]
The platform comes to a halt.
[ Six. ]
Well, they don’t have enough.
347 and their two other friends — 308 and 111 — grab onto each other, and Se-mi grabs his arm as well. They’re looking around, but everyone’s already scrambling to the rooms.
“We need one more person!” 111 shouts.
“Get into a room first and I’ll find someone!” 308 yells, shaking the others’ hands off of them before they dash into the distance.
They all bolt towards the rooms and, fortunately, there are many available, because everyone tries to gather people before going inside. But unfortunately, 308 takes too long. Too long, it's suspicious. Too long that they’ve already hit the ten second mark.
[ Ten. ]
“Where are they?” Min-su mutters.
[ Nine. ]
“111, go outside and call for them!” 347 calls.
[ Eight. ]
“Okay, okay!”
[ Seven. ]
Min-su hears 111 screaming for 308 with all they can manage. It’s loud, too loud. He reaches to cover his ears and peek at the slightly ajar door.
[ Six. ]
It’s over, Min-su thinks. He presses his lips together and closes his eyes, hoping 308 will come quickly. Hoping that 308 didn’t abandon them.
[ Five. ]
“308! Come, quick!”
[ Four. ]
Min-su opens his eyes as he hears loud footsteps through his covered ears.
[ Three. ]
He can feel himself up as he sees 308 come rushing through the door while practically dragging someone else, Player 095, along with them while 111 quickly follows suit and shuts the door behind them.
[ Two. ]
308 takes deep, shaky breaths. “Um.. 095? Are… are you okay? I saw you get pushed and fall. Is your knee okay…?” 308 chokes out in between wheezes.
I think we should be concerned for your lungs as well.
[ One. ]
095 sniffles. “Yes, I’m alright… Thank you.”
“Good to hear.”
The door locks, and everyone visibly sags in relief.
Min-su covers his ears to not hear the gunfire that may come. To not imagine how the bullets pierce through the bodies. To not imagine the lives those people lived and the people that might mourn them, to not fear that it’s Thanos or Nam-gyu. To not fear that it might be any of 095s friends.
Se-mi gives a pitiful glance at Min-su, gently patting his shoulder once more in hopes he’ll calm down.
—
“Young-mi-ah! Young-mi-ah, you’re alright!” Player 120 cries out, rushing to 095 alongside 149. Min-su sees it’s the woman who people were shunning during the second game and the old lady. He smiles a little, seeing the people care for 095. He smiles, knowing that this one person who saved them from death in that room is also a person they saved.
—
[ Two. ]
Se-mi immediately grabs Min-su’s hand and runs. Runs terribly fast that he’s caught himself almost tripping on someone’s foot on their way to a room, and he’s convinced they were the first people to enter a room as she shuts the door and presses her back against it.
Quietude is something he’s found comfort in, especially with Se-mi’s presence. She’s not much of a talker and only speaks when necessary, or if it bothers her. When she’s here, it’s not particularly awkward silence. It's just… silence. Not quite silent right now, he can hear people screaming behind the doors and a countdown from the speakers, but silent nonetheless.
He’s not expected to build a bond with someone here. He’s not expected to last this long, either. This game and the previous one before this was about teamwork. Not really teamwork, but people. He’s not quite good with people, or doing any game in general.
He was too scared to move during Red Light, Green Light. He doesn’t know where he got the motivation to keep running. Maybe it was that Player 456, always standing out. He was trembling when doing Gong-gi and messed up 2 times while Nam-gyu screamed in his ear. He wasn’t that good at Gong-gi either, so he’s surprised he didn’t fail entirely. It was a miracle he’s still here.
He’s thankful. Thankful for Se-mi for not abandoning him when Thanos asked her to join, thankful for her not tolerating Nam-gyu mistreating him. He’s thankful for Thanos as well, for making order within the group. He’s not… as thankful for Nam-gyu.
He briefly looks at Se-mi, panting and her head turned to the side as she peers outside the little peep window of the door, then to their still joined hands, and he doesn’t feel flustered or embarrassed, surprisingly. He just feels tired.
Min-su leans his body against her side and mumbles, “Thank you.”
He doesn’t quite see it as he’s preoccupied with his mind, but Se-mi smiles — really smiles, not in the ways she usually does, not that small smile she gives to let him know she’s listening as he talks, not that smirk when she finds something amusing — and she’s found that right now, this is what matters.