it's night—Seo-hyun can feel it in her bones. Hours have passed while they waited for their turn at Six-Legged Pentathlon, and by her quick calculations, it's probably very late by now. Whether it's the lack of sleep from the night before or the crash from the adrenaline of surviving the day's game, she doesn't know. All she knows is that exhaustion is sinking in, heavy and unrelenting.

Beside her, Jun-hee blinks slowly, her head nodding forward before she catches herself. Seo-hyun can't blame her. She's visibly more worn out, her hands resting protectively over her stomach as though shielding her unborn child from the weight of this place.

"Try to rest," Seo-hyun murmurs, her voice soft but firm. She leans back against the cold metal frame of the bed behind her, suppressing a yawn herself. "You need it."

Jun-hee nods, her eyelids already drooping. "Should I go back to my bed?"

"There's going to be a vote soon," Gi-hun reminds them, his tone cautious and low. "We shouldn't separate right now. It's dangerous."

Jung-bae groans loudly, his head lolling back in frustration. Seo-hyun can't help the small smile that tugs at her lips, especially when he tries to rest his head on his knees. The awkward angle makes his back arch weirdly, and his discomfort is almost comical.

"You look ridiculous," Seo-hyun says with a soft chuckle, shaking her head.

"Yeah, well, so do all of us," Jung-bae grumbles without lifting his head, his voice muffled. "If I die here, it'll be from sleep deprivation, not these stupid games."

"We should stay alert," Young-il advises, his tone firm, looking as alert as can be. Gi-hun nods in agreement, his eyes scanning the room cautiously. "Don't fall asleep," he warns, his voice sharper than before, trying to keep them all focused.

Seo-hyun stretches her arms above her head, her tired body craving some relief. A sliver of her stomach peeks through her shirt, but she doesn't notice. Gently, she taps Jun-hee on the arm, coaxing her out of her half-asleep state. "Let's go wash our faces," she suggests. It's not a question, but an offer, a way to shake off the weariness threatening to drag them under.

Jun-hee blinks a few times before nodding, pushing herself to her feet with Seo-hyun's help. "Okay," she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

Together, they walk toward the washroom, the stark fluorescent lights casting harsh shadows on their tired faces. The sound of running water fills the air as they turn on the sinks, and for some reason, they find themselves alone.

Seo-hyun splashes her face with cold water, savoring the refreshing shock against her skin. She glances over at Jun-hee, who carefully washes her bangs, the water gliding through the dark strands.

"Seo-hyun," Jun-hee says timidly, her voice soft.

Seo-hyun turns, curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

Jun-hee hesitates for a moment, confidence flickering in her eyes as she gathers her thoughts. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course," Seo-hyun replies easily, wetting the front pieces of her hair and tucking them behind her ears.

"Why do you hide that you're... together?" Jun-hee asks, her gaze flickering toward the door as if worried someone might overhear.

Seo-hyun blinks, confusion washing over her. "Together?"

Jun-hee nods, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You and Young-il. I just thought... You two seem close. The way you look at each other. And he stood up to Thanos for you. I figured you were... you know."

"I've never met him before the games," Seo-hyun confesses, shaking her head lightly. She glances at Jun-hee, hoping to dispel any lingering doubts. "And I don't think he stood up to Thanos for me," she adds, running her hands under the cold water before pressing them to her warm cheeks. "I think he's just a good guy like that. He would've done it for anyone."

"Oh," Jun-hee murmurs, gripping the sink in her hands. "Never mind then," she waves her hand.

Seo-hyun squints at herself in the mirror, nodding faintly. She splashes her face with cold water again, hoping to shake off the unease that has settled in her chest. The image of Young-il standing up to Thanos flashes in her mind—his bravery igniting something inside her that she struggles to understand. Seo-hyun can't afford to think about these things, not in these games. And defiantly not about her boss.

"It's okay," Seo-hyun replies, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the sink as she offers Jun-hee a small smile. "And you? Where is the father to the baby?"

Jun-hee lowers her head, hair falling into her face. "Here," she admits quietly. Seo-hyun's brows practically disappear into her hairline in shock. "I didn't know he'd be here. I came here for money to raise the baby. He wanted me to get rid of it because we don't have any, and we broke up. I couldn't do it..."

Seo-hyun closes her eyes tightly, Jun-hee's words ringing too close to home. A wave of empathy washes over her as she recalls her own struggles, the sacrifices she made for Yong-ae. She takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of Jun-hee's situation press against her chest.

"Jun-hee," she begins, her voice softening, "I'm sorry."

Jun-hee nods, the vulnerability in her eyes piercing Seo-hyun's heart. "I thought maybe I could make some money here and then... I don't know. Find a way to take care of us."

"You know," Seo-hyun starts carefully, standing back to full height. "When we get out of here, you won't be alone. Not if you don't want to."

Jun-hee looks up, surprise flickering across her face. "Really? You mean it?"

"Of course," Seo-hyun reassures, her expression firm yet gentle. "You deserve to have support. We're in this together, and I'll help however I can."

Jun-hee's eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and Seo-hyun feels a pang in her chest. She understands the weight of that promise, but uncertainty gnaws at her. Will she truly be able to follow through? Will they both make it out of this alive?

If it were anyone else, Seo-hyun would remind herself to not get attached. She would scold herself for feeling empathy, for caring, for allowing emotions to seep into her hardened exterior. She had long since shed the innocence she once held, transforming into someone who had witnessed horrors and committed acts that would haunt her for a lifetime. By now, she should view players as nothing more than dirt beneath the sole of her boot, mere pawns in a game.

Yet here she was, feeling the weight of Jun-hee's vulnerability pressing against her heart. Despite everything, she finds herself drawn to the other woman, wanting to protect her, to uplift her in this bleak existence. Suddenly, the thought of returning next year to kill and torment new people sends a chill down her spine. Some of those faces might be just like Jun-hee, young and filled with hope and dreams, unaware of what they signed up for.

It makes Seo-hyun feel guilty.

"Thank you," Jun-hee whispers, her voice trembling with emotion. "That means a lot to me."

Seo-hyun offers her a smile, but it quickly wipes off when the door slams open. There, a triangle guard stands, hand on his rifle as he regards them.

"Players, please go back to the dormitory."

Sensing it's Hoon-sik from his shuffling feet, Seo-hyun hesitates, glancing between the two. "Sir, can I just go pee quickly, and then go?"

The guard agrees after a moment, but sends Jun-hee back with s stern point of his finger. Then the guard steps into the room, lock turning behind him. Only then, does he remove his mask, and as she expected, it's those familiar eyes looking back at her.

Seo-hyun exhales through her nose, shoulders tensing as she meets Hoon-sik's gaze. His eyes are soft, scanning her face like he's searching for something—she doesn't know.

"What?" she asks, keeping her voice natural.

Hoon-sik exhales, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "You're getting too close," he mutters, keeping his voice low even though they're alone. "To her. To them."

Seo-hyun huffs a quiet laugh, leaning against the sink as she crosses her arms. "Are you serious?" she asks, tilting her head. "You locked the door just to give me a warning?"

Hoon-sik giver her a pitiful look. "I mean it, Seo-hyun. I saw you and your little team back in the game room."

Seo-hyun grips the edge of the sink behind her, fingers curling around the cold porcelain. "I'm doing my job," she says quietly. "Just like you."

Hoon-sik shakes his head. "No, you're not. I know you, Seo-hyun. You probably care for this pregnant girl like you can actually help her. And you know how this ends. For her, for all of them."

Seo-hyun doesn't flinch, but something in her chest twists painfully. "You don't know that," she counters.

"Yes, I do," he says. "And so do you."

The silence stretches between them, heavy and suffocating. Seo-hyun stares at him, at the weight in his eyes, at the unspoken concern lingering there. They both seem to know Seo-hyun is too deep into this.

Finally, she straightens, rolling her shoulders back. "Are we done?"

"No, actually." Hoon-sik sighs, stepping closer and taking Seo-hyun by the shoulder. "I did a little snooping around."

seo-hyun snorts, raising a brow at him. "And?"

"The next game..." he starts, "I've seen the game room. It's never been played before." Seo-hyun sucks in a breath, nodding her head. She's not surprised. "I don't know what it is, but it was a big platform with a lot of doors around it. Very colorful, reminded me of a circus."

"Thank you," she mutters, running a hand through her hair. "If you're stationed there, try not to shoot me, hm?"

It was meant as a joke, but Hoon-sik's lip curls all the same. He was never fond of such jokes, even when they were younger.

Once, she joked that if he ever became a soldier, he'd probably be the kind to trip over his own gun. He hadn't spoken to her for a week after that. She thought it was funny. But looking at him now, standing rigid in that uniform, rifle slung over his shoulder, there's nothing funny about it anymore.

"I'll do what I have to," Hoon-sik says, his voice flat.

Seo-hyun tilts her head, watching him. "Yeah," she mutters, "me too."

His jaw twitches, just for a second. Then he steps back, turning the lock and pulling the door open. Before he leaves, his eyes flick to hers, something unreadable in them.

And then he's gone.

Seo-hyun stays there for a moment, gripping the edge of the sink. Her reflection stares back, unreadable, unfamiliar.

Seo-hyun barely hears the guards entering the dormitory, her mind still reeling. 110 eliminated, 20.1 billion won prize money. The chaos around her fades into a distant murmur as she tries to process everything.

The guards wheel in the table with the buttons again, snapping her back to the present. She blinks, taking in the determined faces around her, the palpable anxiety hanging in the air. She needs to focus, to be alert.

"Seo-hyun?" Gi-hun's voice breaks through her thoughts, concern etched on his face. She looks at him, and for a moment, the world around her sharpens. She realizes she can't let her emotions cloud her thoughts. "Let's go down, the vote's about to start."

Seo-hyun offers him a small smile, pats him on the back when she passes him, pressing herself between Jun-hee and Dae-ho while they wait for the voting to begin.

"I'm voting red," Seo-hyun says firmly, then glances between Jun-hee and Dae-ho, the youngest in their group. "For both of you."

Gi-hun shoots her a hopeful smile, and she gives him a small nod. His gaze shifts to Jung-bae and Young-il. The latter rests a hand over his blue patch.

"Don't worry," Young-il tells Gi-hun. "I want to stop here too. I should go and be with my wife at the hospital."

Seo-hyun keeps her expression neutral, but curiosity stirs in her chest. Is it true? Probably not. But the best lies always have a little truth in them. She ignores the weight of Jun-hee's stare, the clear attempt to gauge her reaction. Seo-hyun gives her nothing. Still, she feels a twinge of shame for feeling up Young-il's bicep earlier—if he really does have a wife waiting somewhere.

"We're getting out this time," Dae-ho says, conviction ringing in his voice. Then, with a groan, he tugs at his blue patch like a petulant child. Seo-hyun huffs out a quiet breath, resting a hand on his back for just a second. "A marine should think logically and know when to retreat," he adds, before grabbing Jung-bae by the shoulder, "Isn't that right, brother?"

"Yeah, you're right." Jung-bae agrees after a brief pause. "Marines aren't invincible. We should get out."

"We have to end the games here," Gi-hun says seriously, his gaze sweeping over each of them. "I will help you guys out when we get out. Please trust me and support this vote."

Seo-hyun had never witnessed such kindness before. And definitely never from a previous winner. She keeps her eyes on the glowing piggy bank, clenches her jaw, willing herself to stay composed, to not let the his words get to her.

Still, her throat feels tight. She blinks hard, ignoring the sting in her eyes.

Seo-hyun feeling bad for enjoying in-ho's muscles is so funny to me idc like yes girl he DEF has a wife and you felt up her man...😔😔😔