X or O

                     ⛧°。 ⋆༺♱༻⋆。 °⛧
    "I need the money desperately."

Summary
   After surviving their first day, the players must vote if they choose to stay or leave.

TW // Physical Assault.

"Yo Naji" My teacher screamed, waking me up from my nap.

I groaned, my eyes half open and my body stiff. My hair covered my face completely, it was messy and kind of matted.

"What did I tell you about sleeping in my class!" I didn't respond, just looked at her with tired eyes.

This class was Geometry, something I am good at. I never really paid attention in this class, it was boring, and just overall unpleasant. My classmates were your normal everyday people, they seemed to all have the same personality and lifestyle. None of them really stood out to me, which is why I fell asleep most of the time.

"Naji, this is the third time i've woken you up this block." My teacher expressed sounding exhausted. Her hand slowly rested on my shoulder rubbing it. "Is everything well at home?" She softly asked.

My eyes quickly met hers, nobody has ever asked me about my home life.

"Naji! What is this?" My mother shouted, causing me to drop all my stuff and rush downstairs.

"Is she drunk again—" I muttered to myself.

I was on the last two steps when an object was thrown at me, striking me in the face. At first, my body didn't feel the impact of the object. Five seconds later and I was howling in pain. A high heel was thrown in my direction, the heel part poking me directly in my eye. All I could do was hold my left eye and pray it wasn't serious damage.

"Naji, why are you crying?" My mother asked, rushing over and hugging me tightly. Her breath smelled like straight alcohol, her hands tightly held me, I felt safe for a bit.

"You threw a shoe at my face." My voice trembled as I responded.

"I'm sorry Naji, mommy didn't mean too." My mother replied, rubbing circles on my back.

I know she didn't mean too, it was just the alcohol right? Right?

"Naji.." A voice whined, rocking my body. "Wake up, it's almost time for the second game." I felt another body wrap themselves around mine, snuggling their head on my neck.

My eyes opened as I realized who it was, it was Juri.

"Juri—??" I quietly said, yawning and flipping myself over to face her. Her eyes were red and low, like she was crying prior to waking me. "Your eyes are red.." I softly rested my hand on her cheek, rubbing it. "Yeah, I was crying earlier." She softly expressed, smiling.

Using the same hand that rested on her face, I moved it down to her hand interlocking it with hers.

"Why were you crying?" I asked my voice gentle. Juri hesitated to answer. I noticed how nervous and tense she suddenly had gotten. "You don't have to answer me, if you're uncomfortable Juri." I softly smiled at her.

"Because, I thought you died, Naji." Juri stated, her grip on my hand tightened. "And the rumors Junhee has been spreading about you, I'm worried for your safety."

"You shouldn't worry about me so much, to the point where you start crying Juri." I stated, letting go of her hand. Juri's facial expression changed showing sorrow and confusion. "Naji, why shouldn't I? You're one of my friends." She stated resting her hand on my shoulder. "I care about you deeply, even though you probably don't care about me as much."

I stared at her not knowing how to reply. How does one care about someone so much they just met?

"GOODMORNING PLAYERS" The intercom above announced. I turned around and seen five guards walk in, one of them pushing a portable table with wheels on the bottom of it. On top of the table, lay two buttons.

"I wonder what that is for.." Juri said sitting up and criss crossing her legs, I also did the same.

"What is this for?" A player asked walking up to one of the guards.

"PLAYERS, YOU NOW HAVE THE OPTION TO EITHER VOTE TO STAY OR LEAVE." The head triangle guard announced, confusion filling the room.

"So does this mean, if we choose to leave the money will be spilt among us?" Another player questioned sternly, their number was 456. Apparently, they had played these games before and won the prize money prior. I still don't understand why he would come back again, unless he gambled it all away.

"Yes, currently the prize pot is 1.2 billion won but there are 365 contestants still alive. Which means if you leave now, everyone will leave with 78 million won." The guard responded.

"Why is the prize pot so low?"

"Yeah, we deserve more money!"

"Why is it so low?" Juri whispered to me. I just shrugged my shoulders. I didn't know why it was so low but it is still a lot of money.

"PLAYERS THE VOTING WILL NOW COMMENCE."

"PLAYER 456, you're up first." The triangle guard stated, ushering 456 to hurry.

"They're calling us up individually?" Juri worrying questioned.

"PLAYER 444"

I looked down at my jacket and noticed it was my number, quickly I got off my bunk and went up to the voting area.

"If you want to stay choose "O" if you want to leave choose "X". " The guard explained to me. It wasn't a tough decision for me, I needed the money. Swiftly pressing the circle button I received my patch of honor.  My face highlighted in blue as I slowly looked up at the triangle guard.

"Please head towards the circle side Player 444." The guard gestured towards my left and I headed that way.

"PLAYER 424"

A red hue displayed on her face, tears flowing from her eyes.

"PLAYER 347"

A blue hue displayed on her face, a devilish smirk as she walked past me.

"PLAYER 333" I looked up to see Myunggi slowly walking up to the voting station. His hands in his pockets, his body language exuding nervousness.

"Player 333, please choose between staying or leaving." The guard stated, awaiting his response.

Myunggi's hand slowly hovered between the two options, shaking and trembling. He had to choose between staying and loosing the people he valued closely, or leaving and dealing with financial struggles and possible imprisonment.

He struggled choosing between the two options, until, a blue hue displayed on his face.

"Player 333, please head towards the circle side."

"PLAYER 310"

Juri slowly approached the stand, her face swollen from crying. Immediately a red hue was shown, earning sighs and gasp from the others.

"I no longer want to participate." She stated turning around and facing the others.

"Please, if you haven't voted yet, press X. Just because you chose to stay doesn't mean you will win." Juri expressed, sending the circle voters into a frenzy.

"She just can't do that!"

"Yeah, she's persuading the others."

"Ma'am you cannot persuade other's votes." A guard behind her stated, pressing the front of the gun into her back. Juri just sighed and walked onto the X side.

"PLAYER 230"

Thanos happily skipped to the podium, kissing the circle button.

"Ew" I said catching another players attention.

"That's Thanos for you." I turned around and noticed a girl, her number was 380.

Her hair was cut almost into a bob length, it looked good on her.

"And who you might be?" She asked walking up to me and fingering my hair.

"I'm Yo Naji, one of Thanos's 'friends'" I replied air quoting the friend's part, earning a laugh from 380.

"I'm Semi, nice to meet you." She kindly introduced herself, reaching out her hand for a handshake.

"PLAYER 222"

Junhee slowly walked up to the podium, holding her stomach as she did. Did she really spread those rumors about me?

"She couldn't have, she looks so sweet." I stated.

"The sweetest ones are always the ones you can't trust." Semi interjected.

A red hue displayed on her face as she grabbed her patch and walked onto the X side.

"PLAYER 120"

A tall female walked to the podium, I've never seen her before.

"Who is that?" I asked Semi causing her to look my direction.

"Oh, thats Hyunju. She's here to afford gender changing surgery." Semi explained.

Juri is also here for the same thing, I wonder if they know each other.

A blue light covered Hyunju's face as she quietly walked towards my side.

"PLAYER 001"

Finally, the last player had to cast his vote. He confidently walked up to the podium, and pressed the circle button.

"I need to keep playing for my children." Player 001 stated, walking towards the circle area.

"Players, we have calculated the votes and it seems majority of the players chose to stay. Please prepare for your next game." The guard announced and began wheeling the voting table out of the room.

Chaos erupted, people began to scream and shout while others ran and hid.

"Are you guys fucking stupid?? We are gonna die in here!" Player 135 shouted.

"Only the weakest will die!" Player 335 yelled.

"I don't care if I die, as long as I died trying!" Player 272 screamed.

I became overwhelmed and collapsed on the ground and began covering my ears, the scene reminded me of my mother and father.

"Nana, I can't believe you cheated on me." My father shouted.

"You better believe it asshole!" My mother replied grabbing the bottle of alcohol and chugging it.

"What about our daughter, our family." My father expressed.

"Fuck our daughter and this family!" My mother shouted back, throwing the glass bottle at my father almost striking him.

All of a sudden, a gunshot went off causing the commotion to abruptly stop.

"Players, please stay calm and follow us into the game room."

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