[Encore]

This perverse game started just about half an hour ago and is already exposing the other inmates' biggest weaknesses. Between scandals, lies and untold truth, this is becoming more like a fight for survival than a simple tell-all session.

The more they spill, the more they become void. The more they learn about each other, the more they realize they can't trust anyone. The more they lose trust in each other, the more their relationships break.

Anna and Lee are so close to calling quits that it's impossible for them to deny reality. Either they talk now or they're bound to suffer more.

As I ponder whether to ask Anna a question first or not, Lee interjects. "I need to tell you something, Daejung. Now." I believe he wants to talk in private, but we can't. The game isn't over yet.

"Tell me."

"Well, when you invited Anna and me here, I actually considered telling her not to come." Anna feels betrayed after his confession, but he's not surprised. Instead, who's truly left in shock is the rest of us. Why would Lee try to keep his girlfriend to take part in this game?

Ashley already suspects he's cheating on Anna, Wendy believes he's hiding something related to his health and Kasey is convinced it has to do with his family. All interesting options. But the truth is far from them.

Lee addresses me again. "I actually lied when I told you Anna loves games and would appreciate this one. I had to bribe her to make her come here," he admits, much to my confusion. "She hates games like Truth or Dare and similar. They bring back painful memories to her."

"Such as?" I raise my eyebrow, wanting to know more. The possibility of finding out Anna's weaknesses intrigues me. I believe there's a lot more behind that resting bitch face. She has tons of issues weighing on her shoulders. She is struggling to make ends meet because she recently lost her job and Lee is even unluckier due to his long string of dismissal. I don't want to deny they're hardworking lads, but there's something wrong here.

Before focusing on Anna's memories, I switch to the dreaded job topic. "Now, I've just thought of another thing. Anna, you recently lost your job. Lee, you've lost yours countless times since we met first. Last year was a completely mess, though. Your longest-standing job lasted two... maybe three months at most."

"I'm honest, I'm not going to give you the COVID crap because that's not fair," answers Lee. "Every time I lose a job, I reflect on my mistakes. And I make a hella lot of them. Of course, I never tell Anna, not even the smallest, because she's a perfectionist and I've let her down too many times for her to see yet another mistake."

"And the last one was no exception."

He nods. "Exactly. That's why I don't open up with her about my work life. She already has a lot of stuff on the plate."

"The usual, I think? Your household, bills, your social life-"

He cuts me off, growing increasingly nervous. "Marriage."

"What?" That particular word leaves me agape. How can they even think of marriage when their live-in relationship is already a mess? Isn't Anna trying to bite more than she can chew?

Speaking of her, her usual glares are replaced by an expression of terror. She's too paralyzed to even attempt to shut her boyfriend down. Once the truth is out, there's nothing she or anyone else can do to cover it up again.

"Yes, Daejung. She's planning to get married even though neither has proposed to each other yet." Lee's explanation makes me see Anna on a different light. She tries to sound badass to hide her insecurities behind that mask made of cold glares and snorts. She's different from that and hasn't realized so yet.

I turn to Anna, hoping to shed a light on this intricate situation. "Anna, now that Lee talked, I'm trying to understand you as you are. I'm not bothered by your expressions not because I want to defy you, but because there's no point in feeling intimidated," I explain. Then, noticing that she shows no sign of reaction, I continue, "Why do you hate this game and others like, for example, Truth or Dare?"

She frowns as I mention Truth or Dare. I've just found her biggest weakness. She must've been badly humiliated due to that game, or lost a bet she was sure to win.

My doubt fades away as she answers, "I don't like this game because of you. But, to be fair, my dislike for Truth or Dare is only my fault. It all happened three years ago, way before I met Lee."

"Oh, really?" intervenes Wendy, who's shocked as she believed the couple knew each other for a longer time.

Anna retorts, "Yes, really." As she realizes that she's losing her composure once again, however, she takes a deep breath. "Okay, it happened during spring break. I was granted a weekend off from work and decided to spend it with some friends. Plot twist: one of them decided to invite some acquaintances. Guess what? They called some colleagues from my workplace."

"Who, exactly?" asks Lee.

"Do you remember Helen Busby and Allison Heaton?"

"The two gossips?" Lee seems surprised. I'm sure he never thought that Anna's colleagues could betray her. Solidarity isn't a concept that applies to work places, unfortunately, and I know because of my life experience in South Korea, where competition among workers is even tougher, to the point that I lost count of how many people my mother argued with when she was still employed at her old firm.

But that's not the point right now. What matters is that Anna had a hard time because of a bunch of people who turned their backs at her.

"Yes, the two gossips, as you said, Lee. Anyway, they called in several colleagues of mine, thinking it would be a good idea. It turned out it wasn't. They called Alaina McNulty, Leanne's secretary and right hand." Rage runs down her veins as she pronounces the last sentence. Who would like Leanne Betts apart from her goons, anyway? I met her in person when we ended up in the same café and was already disgusted at her attitude towards the staff. Needless to say, we haven't crossed paths after since, especially because I dared to curse her out.

Amy, who has no clue of whom Anna is talking about, asks, "Who is Leanne?"

Before Anna can scoff, citing Amy's lack of attentiveness, I reply, "Leanne Betts is Anna's former employer. She's the kind of person you wish you'd never meet."

For once, Anna shows a smile, pointed directly at me. "I have to admit, I couldn't have explained it better in just few words. Now, where I was? Oh, yeah, Alaina." Her smile is now replaced by a cloudy glance as she mentions Leanne Betts' lackey. "When it was her turn to ask Truth or Dare, she pointed straight and me. I picked Truth, and still regret it as of now."

Kasey guesses. "Let me tell you, he forced you to confess your weirdest sexual experiences, or your worst figure in public."

"I'd say she asked you if you've ever dreamt of sleeping with someone important, such as your teacher or your boss," intervenes Lily.

Anna shakes her head, visibly embarrassed. "No, it was something far worse. She asked me if it was true that I worked part-time at a strip club as an extra job." She sobs, making the other girls shudder. Lee is basically a ghost. I'm speechless.

The more Anna talks, the more the others want this game to end even though it's impossible. "I had to admit it. I thought I'd be all set, but later I found out that she recorded everything-"

I finish the sentence for her. "And I guess she threatened to send it to Leanne, right?"

"She actually did send it." Oh boy, I was so wrong when I thought things couldn't escalate further. This is revenge porn. Period.