≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

THIRTEEN | YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

THE LARGE ROOM was quiet.

That one could feel the change in atmosphere. Soo-Jin could almost feel the deaths around especially when she glances at the center area where the carnage occurred. She remembered how savage and brutal the other players were earlier... because of money. They all killed in the name of money.

The woman brought her knees closer to her chest as Minjun rested his head on her shoulder, his eyes fluttering close and his lips forming a yawn.

"Are you all right?" She heard Gi-Hun ask the old man who looked dazed and still shocked with all the violence he had seen. "All of the... That was dangerous. When did you get up there?"

"We were worried about you, sir, when you disappeared."

"Nobody here got hurt so that's good."

Player 001 exhaled, just looking down at the floor and Soo-Jin was reminded of her promise to Jun-Ho. She still had to find his brother amidst all this chaos. Another reason why she should live until the end. "You know what," she raised her voice. "at this point, we should know what to call each other. It's so hard to just call each other by numbers. Why don't we go around and tell each other our names now."

"I know your name already, though, miss."

Soo-Jin cocked her eyebrow at Minjun's words.

"Guardian angel."

She chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Aish..."

"Yes!" agreed the foreign man. "She really is like a guardian angel." He then made some punch-like gestures in the air. "Ma'am was so strong earlier! She took down several players herself! How were you able to do that?"

The fair brunette was about to answer him, but Gi-Hun beat her to it. "She joins fights!" He exclaimed like how a mother would proudly boast their child's achievements. "You know, like the ones where they have to fight until one of them can no longer stand!"

To be honest, she wasn't really proud of what she was doing. It was nothing to be proud of. Beating up people until they're unconscious. Sometimes, they would be rushed to the hospital because of the severe injuries they accumulated during the fight. There were even death matches, but she didn't join those. She still haven't gathered enough courage to do it.

"Boxing?"

"No," Soo-Jin smiled. "Underground fight clubs."

At this, the foreigner beamed in awe. "Underground fight clubs... Wow, that's awesome! Oh, oh, I know what to call you," he then tilted his head to Gi-Hun. "Ssangmun-dong."

Her bestfriend chortled, giving a very big smile, one that reached his eyes. "Ssangmun-dong is just my hometown. The name is Seong Gi-Hun. Seong Gi-Hun of Ssangmun-dong. So then, what about your name?"

"Ali." proudly replied the foreigner. "Ali Abdul."

"And where are you from?"

"Pakistan." This time, Soo-Jin answered for him. "Pakistan, right? I remember you saying it during the second game."

"Yes! You remembered!"

"Pakistan... where is that?"

"North of India."

Ali turned to Sang-Woo, smiling. "He's right."

Gi-Hun laughed, heartily. "Of course, he is. This man here went to SNU..."

"Cho Sang-Woo."

Soo-Jin winced at how her ex interrupted her bestfriend. Sang-Woo never liked people praising him too much. Especially at a time like this? It can make anyone wonder what he did to fall from grace. Gi-Hun only simpered and glanced at Sae-Byeok, gesturing her to reveal her name as well.

"Come on, really? We're all teammates here now. We should really know about each other, build up a little trust, okay?"

She didn't reply, and instead just stared ahead. But, when Soo-Jin gave her a small pat of comfort at her shoulder, the young girl relented. "Kang Sae-Byeok."

"Sae-Byeok? That's a pretty name. Though I'm not sure how well it fits." Gi-Hun commented, looking at her. "What about you, kid? Soo-Jin was really worried about you when you didn't come to my bed."

Minjun let out another yawn. "Me? I'm Yang Minjun."

"Why are you here, Minjun?" the woman questioned, curious.

"I, uh, well, like you guys... I am in debt."

"Where are your parents?"

"I don't have any parents. They both, uh... passed away." the boy swallowed, looking down.

At that, Soo-Jin reached out and held him closer to her. They were the same. They both lost their parents at nineteen. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, guardian angel. There's nothing you should be sorry for. Besides, you're like my mom now."

She smiled.

"And what is your name, sir? If you don't mind."

"What? My name? Oh. It..." the old man paused in thought at Ali's question, blinking. "Uh... Let me think."

Soo-Jin closed her eyes, feeling so soft for the elderly man. He shouldn't be in here like Minjun. This old man should be in the care of his wife, or children, even his grandchildren. He should be showered with love and care. She said to herself.

"Hold on, it... it... They call me..."

At that, the brunette reached out and gave the old man a soft rub on his shoulder and back. She remembered the time she had with her parents before.

The young Soo-Jin ran up to her parents, beaming. "Omma! Appa! Look, look, I got a high score today!" She held up her quiz paper, proudly.

Her father and mother lifted her up in their arms, kissing her cheek. "Aigoo!" they cooed. "We are so proud of you! Our little brainy baby!"

"Come! Come!" the five year old girl wiggled out of her parents' grasp and gave them a toothy grin. She took both of their hands and led them to the chairs where she prepared to massage their backs since she knew they were exhausted from work. "Let me take care of you since I know you're tired!"

Kim Chun-Hei and Chang Sung-Ho were childless and so when the adorable and energetic Soo-Jin arrived in their lives, they knew she was the gift they have been waiting for ever since they got married. Both of them worked average jobs and dreamed to open up a store one day.

Soo-Jin's mind returned to the present time and she smiled at the old man. "It's okay, sir. You must be really shaken up today. Please, do get some rest."

"You know when I'm stressed, my home address slips right out of my head." commented Gi-Hun, chuckling. "Along with my social security. Soo-Jin's right. It'll be okay once you get some rest."

"Why don't we all get some rest now? I'm very sure those idiots won't try anything right now since we have those guards..." remarked Soo-Jin, jutting her chin towards the four red-clad watchers guarding the silver sliding doors.

"Yes, we should."

SOO-JIN COULDN'T SLEEP.

Her mind was pushing her to stay vigilant and so here she was, eyes wide and open, alert and ready if anyone would try something again. The primary shapes masked guards were no longer in the large room, raising Soo-Jin's anxiety further.

Everyone around her was asleep until she saw Ali and the old man rise up from their positions, sighing. She tapped the two of them, catching their attention. "Hey, it's okay. I can stay up to watch us all. I'll wake you all if anything happens."

"Oh, no, it's okay, ma'am. I'm not that sleepy, anyways." Ali beamed, scooting closer to the old man. "What about you, sir? You should rest. You'll be needing your strength for tomorrow."

The old man sighed. "No, it's okay. I'll stay up with you two."

Soo-Jin then moved closer to them, but not before glancing at Minjun to check if he was okay. She stared at the darkness ahead of them. She could still feel the heaviness in their surroundings like it was trying to consume them. This place really wanted them to succumb to its desire for carnage.

"Why are you here, ma'am? If you don't mind me asking." asked Ali, lifting his knees to his chest while sitting up.

The brunette clicked her tongue. "Aish, don't call me ma'am. You're making me I'm very old. Wait, how old are you?"

"I'm 33, ma'am."

"Oh, I'm really old then." She chuckled. "Call me noona, okay?"

"Really?"

"Yes. So, why am I here... uh, well, I need that money. My younger sister... I need to pay her hospital bills. She's having her surgery by the end of this week and they cost millions of won." She pursed her lips. "You? Why are you here, Ali?"

Ali turned to the glowing piggy bank. "Like you, I need that money too so I can provide for my parents and siblings in Pakistan." He looked down at the ground. "And for my wife and baby too."

This sparked Soo-Jin's interest. "You're a father? How old is your kid?"

"He's a year-old boy."

"What's his name?"

"Ahmed. I named him Ahmed."

Soo-Jin felt saddened when she then realized that he had a wife and baby waiting for him outside. Did they even know where he was? Were they aware that anytime he could die and never return? His son may grow up fatherless.

"That's a very cute name." enunciated the woman. "I always wanted to have a son, you know, but I was so busy with taking care of my sister... and it just, it wasn't really my priority."

That's why Soo-Jin really felt so close with Minjun. She and Sang-Woo once joked around after he gave her that anniversary ring that when they get married and have a son, they'd name him Minjun. Cho Min-Jun.

The brunette fiddled with her fingers. She could still have that dream once she gets out of here... with that money. She will no longer have to fear her sister's hospital bills, join fights, exhaust herself to work, have a beach wedding. She will finish her education and become a lawyer. She may even put a stop to this deadly games.

She sniffed. "What about you, sir? Why are you here?"

"Me?" the old man asked, pausing. "I am here... I am here because I don't have much time left now."

Soo-Jin hummed, raising an eyebrow.

"The doctor said there's a lump inside over here. Growing every day." the old man pointed to his head.

"Brain tumor." finished Soo-Jin, forlorn. "Sir, you really shouldn't be in here. You should be in the hospital or in your home with your family."

"I don't want to sit around waiting to die. That's pathetic. Besides, I feel like I'm with my family right now." he glanced at her, smiling as if he knew something she didn't. "Whenever I see you, I'm reminded of my second son and daughter-in-law."

"What happened to them, sir?" She then shook her head when she remembered the elderly man's struggle earlier to remember his name. "Oh, wait, it's okay, sir! You don't have to tell me. I don't want to tire you."

"No, it's okay. I remember it. They... my son and daughter-in-law... they got into a car accident along with their four-year-old daughter."

Soo-Jin bent her head down and put her hands on her lap. "I'm sorry, sir, for your loss. My adoptive parents told me that they found me on the streets crying and with a head wound. I couldn't remember exactly what happened, but I would get this dreams of a car crashing into this tree."

"Did you ever find your relatives?"

"No, it never crossed my mind to look for them. I don't really know where they are or if they even want to see me. Plus, if they really wanted to, they would've found me already."

The old man patted her shoulder. "Maybe they just didn't really know where you were."

"Maybe." She shrugged. "What about your wife and other children, sir? Where are they?"

"Oh, my wife passed away seven years agao. My other children... they're all successful now and married. They all have their own families now."

"I'm sorry about your wife, sir. I'm very happy to hear your other children are doing well."

At this, Ali joined their heartfelt talk. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help overhear your conversation and I just want to say... you're so strong, noona. I'm very proud of you."

Soo-Jin simpered and wiped away the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. Actually, she had been feeling something different since earlier... like she was connected to this old man, somewhat, but she dismissed as only a feeling of closeness since she missed her adoptive parents.

"Thank you, Ali."

"Your adoptive parents would be too. Also, your true parents... if they see you know, they would be very proud of who you have become now." the old man spoke, soothing her. "I hope you reach your dreams in life. Didn't Gi-Hun say you want to become a lawyer?"

She nodded.

"You'll become one, I know it."

The woman embraced him, tightly for she could no longer fight the feeling. She missed her parents and her sister. She needed to see her again. Hana was the only reason why she was still fighting in this miserable games. She was her purpose.

If she ever gets out alive and victorious, she'd find her biological family and live with them. Spend time with them. Be happy with them for she lost so much time. She'll do everything she hadn't done for the past twenty years. She'll travel the world, help those who are in need, defend the weak...

She gave the boy behind her a small smile when she turned her head to him and Sang-Woo. Maybe even adopt Minjun... and start all over again with Sang-Woo.

She could even help Gi-Hun gain custody of his daughter and help him and his mother.

Oh, if the young woman only knew the truth about her past.

Maybe she could've done this all a long time ago.