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It was time for the third game of the Squid Games. The speaker loudly stated that the game would be “Mingle”.
Each player will have to find a group with the corresponding number of people that matches the number that is called out. Thanos and his group walked on top of the platform. As the music started playing and the platform started spinning slowly, Thanos started dancing.
Nam-gyu laughed and kept looking at Thanos and smiling. Se-mi and Min-su stared at Thanos and Gyeong-su smiled and fidgeted as he looked around. The platform suddenly stopped and a bunch of lights swirled around.
“Three”
The voice called out. The whole group ran to a door and made it safely in time. It was thrilling for Nam-gyu and Thanos, they had found a random person along the way to take with them. The rest of the group in another room took a deep breath and huddled together. Gunshots were heard, the three of them flinched. The doors unlocked and opened. Thanos and Nam-gyu were laughing and giggling high out of their minds, Se-mi, Gyeong-su, and Min-su were cautious and they all got on the platform again. There was blood splattered everywhere, it was sickening. The other groups came out of the doors and quickly got onto the platform as well.
“Fuck, so many survived!! Shit, man!” Thanos said, he spoke the last sentence in English. He was annoyed.
“Chill out dude, the game has only just started. We can also push some cockroaches.” Nam-gyu snickered as he spoke into Thanos’s ear.
Se-mi looked at Nam-gyu with a disgusted look on her face, Nam-gyu noticed her and flipped her off. As he then spoke to Thanos again. The sound of Nam-guy’s sly voice made Thanos’s spine shiver in a good way. Fuck he was so hot. The platform started spinning and again and the music began again. Nam-gyu and Thanos linked their arms together circling and spinning around laughing and giggling. They spun each other around while the others stared. Many found it surprising how they were having so much fun in such a deadly way. It was disgusting. They gave the two dirty looks but they didn’t care.
The platform suddenly stopped again.
“Two!” The voice called out as everybody went into a panic.
Thanos shook his head and decided who to take. He dragged Nam-gyu with him. The two ran and dragged the other people who were reaching for the door. They got in and the door locked. The rest of the group had to split, Gyeong-su found another person, Se-mi and Min-su went together.
Thanos and Nam-gyu laughed at the gunshots and held onto each other as they ran out of breath from laughing too much. After that they stared at each other. They stood in front of each other. Nam-gyu in the corner, and Thanos in front of him. They stared at each other and got closer. Nam-gyu placed his hand on Thanos’s shoulder as he stared at Thanos. Even if Thanos didn’t remember, Nam-gyu kept thinking of the first time they met in the club.
The flashing lights, Nam-gyu bringing Thanos the drugs. The way Thanos would make him sit beside him, he would keep Nam-gyu around like a little pet and parading him and ordering him to bring him what he wanted. It was quite degrading, but Nam-gyu didn’t really care. He was used to it anyways but he and Thanos had almost shared a kiss.
There was something they would always do. Stare, deep profound eye contact without saying anything. It wasn’t awkward, Thanos found it quite sexy, honestly. They always had some sort of tension they never decided to resolve. It kept Nam-gyu awake, he would sit on his bunk and stare at the money. He would never admit it but he would sometimes picture him and Thanos living out of the games being filthy rich, and in love. He kept playing scenarios and scenarios over and over in his head until he fell asleep. Was he really supposed to feel this way? He would play with his rings and just think about Thanos. He would also think about that cross necklace. The ecstasy and pleasure, goodness.
He couldn’t get enough of it, however he’d always discard his own feelings toward Thanos, he couldn’t possibly feel the same. He wouldn’t haha. He would just appreciate what he already had, just clinging onto Thanos and supporting him, but Thanos also gave him drugs. Thanos would do the things he wanted to do but didn’t. It all played out correctly, he ended up getting what he wanted anyways. Nam-gyu boosted Thanos’s ego. Nam-gyu would shut up whenever Thanos said to, if Thanos said to insult a bitch, then Nam-gyu would. It would make Thanos feel high and mighty. He was Thanos’s pet but he didn’t mind anyways, as long he got drugs and Thanos would keep creating messes he would be satisfied.
Thanos and Nam-gyu got closer to each other, Nam-gyu looked at Thanos up and down. Their faces were inches apart, slowly getting closer and closer, closing the distance. The doors suddenly opened.
“Shit.” Thanos cursed in English as he quickly got away from Nam-gyu.
Nam-gyu reached out but Thanos quickly exited. Why? Nam-gyu cursed in his head and voiced out an annoyed “ugh” as he followed along to the platform again. Thanos ran to Gyeong-Su and Min-su immediately hugging them. He was going to hug Se-mi too, but she avoided it by moving the other way. Nam-gyu stared and seethed in jealousy as he smiled through it all.
“I'm so glad you’re alive, my boys!!”
Thanos yelled out in English as he ruffled their hair, Min-su seemed visibly nervous while Gyeong-su laughed awkwardly. The platform started spinning once more, Thanos did his little dance again. The platform stopped and the colorful lights filled the room again.
“Five!!”
Yelled the voice. They all ran towards a door, Nam-gyu tried to grasp Thanos’s hand but he couldn’t. and Nam-gyu got caught in the crowd losing them.
“Shit.. shit shit SHIT!!”
Nam-gyu voiced out, he suddenly spotted the room they were in and he sprinted towards it, but another person had already gotten in.
It was MG Coin.
Thanos laughed as he looked around the room and spotted MG Coin.
“Why the fuck are you here..” Thanos said in pure hatred as the realization hit him. He quickly looked at the door hole. He moved in an instant moving anybody that was in the way.
“Nam-su, tell me… why the hell are you outside?”
“Hyung..!!”
Nam-gyu banged on the door loudly as he tried to open it. No. This can’t be happening, no fucking way. It’s just not possible, it couldn’t be, right? Thanos would just wake up to Nam-gyu bothering him for another one of his drugs. But it wasn’t. No. No.
“OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!!”
Nam-gyu yelled out as he kept banging on the door violently. There is no way he could lose this way. It’s just impossible. All because of that bastard MG Coin. Nam-gyu’s voice was shaky. Thanos shook the door.
“NAM-SU!! WHAT THE FUCK!!”
Thanos swore in English and Korean, he was stressed the fuck out. No way he could lose Nam-gyu like this. The time ticked and ticked. Thanos didn’t know what to do, what could he do? The door was already locked, he tried tampering with it but it just wouldn’t budge. He had to try to save Nam-guy’s life quickly. He had to, he just had.
”Hyung..”
Nam-gyu shook uncontrollably, he looked like he was doing something in a frenzy as he suddenly looked down and then up. He continued banging on the door and trying to open through the peep while as he stared at Thanos with eyes full of shock, fear, and confusion. He looked like he was on the verge of tears. His eyes were swelling up. Thanos only kept yelling and yelling trying to open the door as well. He couldn’t just leave him behind like this.
”Hyung..”
5…4…3…2..1…
Nam-gyu banged once more on the door as there was a gunshot. Nam-gyu stopped dead and slowly fell and slid to the floor. Thanos stared in shock. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. No. It couldn’t be. Nam-gyu is alive…
“No. No no no. NAM-SU!!”
Thanos then stared at MG Coin and socked him in the face two times. He stared at him with a disgusted look on his face as the rest of them team could only watch what was happening. They didn’t interfere with the situation.
“You stupid bitch! Why the fuck would you do that?”
Thanos yelled out.
“It’s not like he would survive anyways!! If anything, I saved you guys.”
MG Coin yelled back while rubbing his bruised face. Shit, it was a mistake to kick that club guy out. Now they’re on his ass. He’ll probably die soon.
“Yes he would.”
He would remember the nights him and Nam-gyu would spend staying up together whispering about their lives and childhoods. Nam-gyu had mentioned he used to run track and he had won a few competitions before. Thanos would smile and share on the sports he would also play. They would just bond and bond. He knew that if that asshole didn’t sneak in, Nam-gyu damn well would’ve used all that might he had to run towards the door. Pathetic excuses.
Thanos quickly got out the room. To look for Nam-gyu’s corpse. As gnarly as it sounds he wanted to see Nam-gyu for one last time. Even if he was dead. Just once more to see him. All he saw was Nam-gyu’s fearful eyes. Thanos also didn’t like to admit it, but he was fond of Nam-gyu. He liked to push his buttons and see his reactions and he’d boost and support him whenever he needed it. He loved Nam-gyu and Nam-gyu loved him. They never got to actually say it to each other. But, lovers don’t need a reason to love, do they?
Thanos quickly got out the room and stepped on pile of blood, Nam-guy’s rings and his black wristband were there. Did he leave this? On purpose? Is that why he was shaking so much? Thanos’s could feel his heart getting heavy at the sight. Of course Nam-gyu did. He was pretty cheesy even if they were “bros”. But he wish he could’ve had the chance to show that he really did love Nam-gyu. His Nam-su.
Thanos rushed to pick up the bloodied accessories. He quickly put them on. He wanted to cry so badly but he couldn’t. He looked at the rings on his hands, he envisioned that they were Nam-gyu’s hands holding his hands. Fuck.
“Why?”
Thanos whispered as he disappointedly walked to the platform. The voice exclaimed that the game had ended. Thanos stared at the money being added to the pig knowing Nam-gyu’s death added a bit more cash to it. The rest of the players shouted excitedly but Thanos didn’t feel that kind of excitement anymore. Shit. He rubbed his face. It still wasn’t enough money, losing Nam-gyu just for that little?
“MG Coin, that stupid asshole.. I’ll make sure he’ll pay for that Nam-su.”
He looked at his hand again, staring at Nam-gyu’s rings and rubbing them. He could almost swear he felt Nam-gyu’s cold hands on his warm body. It kept him up at night. He swore he could feel Nam-gyu’s cold body cuddling up and absorbing his own body heat. The two temperatures together made them warm, just right. Thanos and Nam-gyu always matched with each other even without meaning it. Their personalities went well, purple and black were a good color combination. Thanos kept Nam-gyu calm, and Nam-gyu would encourage Thanos’s behavior. Wow, Thanos never really thought he would miss Nam-gyu this much. He felt determined to take down Mg Coin and end his life, even if it meant also ending his. He’d meet Nam-gyu anyways.
“I promise, Nam-su.”