NO TIME TO DIE. Squid Game
╰┈➤ The Salesman ( Chapter One )

THE FEELING WAS BITTER. The feeling of opening a wallet to find nothing within it. It was a feeling that tugged at Nari's heart and slapped her across the cheek, providing a not so gentle reminder of her past life. She did it to herself, really. It was her fault her wallet held nothing- no cash, no receipts and no evidence of that ever changing. But regardless of who was at fault it still left a bitter taste in her mouth. And regardless of how long she'd been dealing with the feeling, Nari never got used to it. Each time she would glance in her wallet in hope of finding money to spend, she'd be left disappointed to see that there was nothing waiting for her. Even after years of expecting it, her heart still sunk and every time, without fail, her lips would curl into a frown.

She dealt with the same feeling now. As Nari looked down to the wallet in her hand, she began to panic. She pulled apart slots, searching for spare change or a sign of hope. Instead she found nothing aside from the cobwebs tucked in the corners. She sighed and pressed her lips into a straight line, the corners tugging downward ever so slightly. She closed the wallet that mocked her and slid it into her pocket seamlessly.

She met the cashier's gaze who'd been watching her, waiting impatiently as she searched for payment of the ramen package sitting on the counter. She met his eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat. The young teenager on the other side of the counter scanned her eyes, raising an eyebrow. His face grew annoyed, his expression suggesting he was waiting for her to take the hint to leave. Nari slid her hands into her sweat shirt pocket, sending him a begging look. She looked around before leaning in slowly. She dropped her voice to a whisper and with tired eyes met the boy's. "Come on." She said softly. "You can't just give it to me?"

"Not unless you pay for it." He said through a sigh. He blinked slowly, his eyes flickering with annoyance. He held up the package to her, waving it in the direction of which she'd gotten it. "Put it back on the shelf and come back when you can actually afford to be here."

Nari's eyes widen, then narrow suddenly. "You-" She bit back a remark, allowing it escape her lips in the form of a sigh. Meeting his gaze, she snatched the package from his hand and clenched her jaw. "Asshole." She muttered under her breath.

She made her way to the shelf she'd just been by, letting out another breath. She tightened her grasp angrily around the ramen package as her eyes scanned the shelf for where to return it. The once bitter feeling fizzled to anger and impatience, the dry noodles crunching in her grasp. Her eyes shot like daggers down to the food she clutched to, then closed completely as she let out a disappointed sigh.

Defeatedly, she glanced around for cameras, pulling her hoodie to the side and sliding the package between the cloth and her body when she finds nothing. After the gesture, she left the isle she'd been in and made for the door. Her eyes were heavy, squinting at the transition form artificial lighting to overhead sunlight. As she stepped onto the concrete and continued to walk forward, she shielded her eyes with her hand and sleeve, blinking rapidly until her eyes adjusted. In the process her spare hand searched her jacket, wrapping her fingers around the package and sliding it out.

Her eyes fell to the food in her hand. The package she held to was almost just as bitter of a feeling as the empty wallet. It mocked her from her very own grasp- such a cheap product forced to be stolen due to lack of money. She pressed her lips in a straight line as her fingers pinched the zagged edge and tore. She picked at the already broken bits and placed them in her mouth, biting down and wincing at the crunch.

She looked at her watch. Her sister should be home from work by now- home to give Nari her long awaited payment. It was how Nari just barely made it by, using the money her sister provided to pay for her place and her food. Today just happened to be the day she'd get the cash. Today just so happened to be two days after she'd already ran out of her last payment.

Nari walked until she found the metro station, claiming her spot on a bench as she took another bite of the dry and crunchy noodles. She cringed at the sound, but repeated the gesture until the package was empty and crumpled in her hand. She blinked slowly, getting to her feet and making her way to the nearest trashcan as she waited patiently for the train. She froze as the wrapper slipped from her grasp and joined the rest of the waste, feeling someone's gaze upon the back of her hand.

"Are you going to say something or just stare at me, Lee-Han?" She muttered under her breath. Her voice was dry and tired, each word escaping her mouth like a cry for help.

"Your payment's over due, Jeong." The man said. As Nari turned around, she's met with a man standing tall and looking down upon her. His gaze was impatient, matching his tone. His hands rested in his pockets and his lips formed a straight line as his eyes narrowed.

"Damn really?" She muttered sarcastically, pushing past him. She grazed his shoulder, "Let me just pay you back with the money I don't fucking have."

A hand grasps her sleeve, yanking her backward and pulling her closer. His lips lay inches away from her ear as he speaks through gritted teeth. "I've been patient with you. You haven't had the money the last several times we've spoke so where the hell is it all?"

She scanned his face, he lip snarling in disgust as she pulled herself from his grasp. "I don't know, maybe I spent it on surviving?"

"Since when did you start giving a shit about living?" He hissed.

"Fifteen years ago." Nari replied. She took a step back and let out a huff. "You'd think after that long you'd cut me some slack." She continued to push away from the man beside her, stopping in her tracks as the man spoke in annoyance.

"Fifteen years that you've had to pay me back. I'll cut you some slack when I get the money you owe me."

She spun around, meeting his gaze. Neither one of them showed much emotion, they're faces filled with nothing more than an expression that suggested they each were wasting the other's time. Nari sighed, blinked slowly, then took her hands out of her pockets. The girl took a micro step forward, Lee-Han watching he movement and raising an eyebrow.

Then she ran. Without warning she took off in a sprint, breaking their eye contact to dart down the metro stations paths. She ran until she reached stairs, each step heavy and loud below her. Her hair blew behind her, her breath shaking and her heart pounding. She didn't make it far before she turns the corner and is met with a dead end. Her body fills with dread and her shoulders fall, a sigh escaping her lips. She spun around slowly and met Lee-Han's gaze looking back at her.

"You're going to give me my money, Jeong." He said. What little patience he once had had vanished as he made his way toward the girl, backing her against the wall. "One way or another."

Nari's back met the cold brick of the wall behind her, the fabric of her shirt catching on the texture. As he grew closer, she finally tore her gaze away and dropped her act. Her body began to shake as she let out a gentle plea in the form of a weep. The emotionless gaze is replaced by fear in her eyes and sweat building on her forehead. "Lee-Han, come on." She adjusted nervously, pushing harder against the barrier behind her to put the most amount of area between them as she could.

The man wraps his finger around her chin, redirecting her gaze to meet his eyes. "What will it be?" He whispered.

"Eat dog shit you fucking-" Her words are cut off as the man's thumb grazes her lips. Her eyes widen.

"You pay me in cash or..." His other hand runs gently down her cheek, then tucks the hair behind her ear.

"You fucking pervert." She spat. Her eyes narrow as Lee-Han presses her against the wall, limiting the room she had to squirm. His hand closed her jaw, cutting her protest short. He slowly leaned in as he redirected her head to the side and pressed gentle lips against her neck.

She gained her strength and shoved him away, pushing the man harshly to the side. She began to sprint, retracing her steps toward the direction she'd come from. She could hear her foot steps, each loud noise echoing through the station, Lee-Han's soon joining. Knowing the man was behind him, she quickened her pace, passing by the bench and trashcan she'd been by earlier.

By standers watch in confusion as they pass, not much concern rising other than the occasional mutter. Until one by stander interfered. Sticking an arm out and grabbing Nari by the shoulder, a Salesman stood out from the rest.

"What are you doing?" she hissed with widened eyes, swatting at his hand. "let me go!"

"Is he bothering you?" He asked. He rose his eyebrows, smiling ever so slightly as if his intention was to warn the man who'd been following her.

Nari didn't say anything, only continued to give him the look of panic she'd been wearing, then watched as the salesman approached Lee-Han. With a briefcase in hand he made his way toward Lee-Han who had stopped once Nari had.

"Do we have a problem here?" He asked. His hand ventured to his pants pocket, his eyes sending him a warning look as his eyebrows rose. Lee-Han shook his head in a panicked manner, eyes wide as he quickly turned on his heels and left Nari behind.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, the salesman turned around, his fingers pinching the contents of his pockets and pulling it out to reveal there was nothing there. "Are you okay, ma'am?" He asked softly.

Shook, Nari nodded slowly, scanning his face with her eyes.

"Good," he continued as if that was the response he knew was coming, "then perhaps you'd like to play a game"

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