𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍

chapter four

⤷𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃

"What's that on your arm?" His eyes narrowed on the purple bruise on your skin as you immediately hid it with the sleeves of your blazer.

"Nah. Don't worry about it. I'm fine." You quickly reassured him as you hissed from the sudden contact of your own hand to the bruise.

It is likely from the metal frames of the bunk bed as you were climbing down.

But there's no way in hell you would tell him that otherwise he will interrogate you to no end.

Besides, you and In-Ho decided it would be for the best if his younger brother doesn't know anything about the games that the two of you are taking part of.

"You should take care of yourself better, Y/n."

"Did something interesting happened at work today?" You deliberately changed the topic of the conversation as Joon-Ho hummed in agreement, "Want to talk about it?"

It had been years since the two of you have met and been friends ever since. Even though he moved to America and only returned to Korea when he learned that his brother went missing for a week back in 2015.

Of course, In-Ho lied about that incident and he believed it.

Though the same thing happened to you in the year 2016 and 2017 when Joon-Ho suddenly lost all contact of you and couldn't even track your phone or even your watch.

And just like his older brother, you returned unscathed with no visible injuries anywhere.

You pretended that it had never happened and simply moved on. And refused to address the topic entirely.

After all, you won the games that easily and it only lasted for three days before you finally had enough and killed the remaining players in their sleep.

It may seem ruthless but there could only be one who will emerge victorious in exchange for everyone's lives.

"A man was saying something about human trafficking. From what I heard, they gathered strangers into a field and made them play a kid's game in exchange for money. I don't know how much though but there is something about it that feel so real."

As you listened to his explanation, you couldn't help but wonder what kind of person would randomly report this to the police.

Putting those teeny tiny bits of details together, this must be one of the players who thinks that the police will be able to stop that madness that they call 'games'.

"Anything else?" You asked, trying to see if you could identify this person from what Joon-Ho had overheard. Description is all you need but he showed you a drawing in a piece of paper, a very familiar looking one, "This is?"

"That man left it on the front desk. I wasn't able to get it so I might as well remember what it looks like." He stated, "Do you know what it is?"

You sat on the empty chair before meeting his eyes and said, "Listen, Joon-Ho. You're a cop, a little mishap could potentially lead to your death."

He looked at you in confusion, finding it difficult to take your words that seriously since he never seen you acted like this.

You were always so cheerful and sarcastic that it's almost impossible for you to switch personalities that quickly in a snap of a finger.

"Huh?"

"Don't get involve in things you shouldn't."  

.
.
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Well, turns out this guy is a lot stubborn than you initially thought.

The next day, you received a message from him saying that he will stop by In-Ho's apartment and maybe ask the landlady if she knew where he could have gone to.

Chuckling to yourself nervously, you grab your car keys and rushed outside your house and wasted no time to drove where Joon-Ho is.

Dialing his phone number, it all went to voice mail which made you much more irritated than you already are.

"Come on idiot. Answer it—"

"Y/n?"

"Fucking finally. Where are you?" You asked, clearly mad that even though you had warned him yesterday he still insisted to search for him,  "Joon-Ho, he's your brother. He'll be fine."

You could only pity yourself on this poor attempt to reassure him though Joon-Ho had already made up his mind.

"So am I. I'm a police officer after all. Just worry about yourself."

And then he hung up, leaving you alone with your frustrations as you almost want to stop the car in the middle of the road and strangle someone who just happened to be passing by.

This is something that you couldn't change.

Though there is another person who can persuade him but it all went in vain when his mother also replied to you, saying that Joon-Ho had also talked to her about In-Ho's disappearance and he is so fixated on getting him back no matter what.

"Gosh I'm screwed." You whispered to yourself as you then dialed another phone number and this is the person who will never hang up on you.

It had been happening each and every time and this is already a pattern that you grew to hate whenever you had to talk to someone over the phone.

"Hello?"

"Number 10, the games will soon resumed. If so, then when?"

There's no need for you to introduce who you are as the staff is already aware of your identity. Along with the host and the Front Man who had once offer you to be one of them though you declined.

"Yes. It will restart at June 23."

A sick grin crept to your face as you look at the rearview mirror to see another black car following you closely behind and you know that it's him. The man who had been recruiting players throughout the years.

"Perfect. Tell them I'll participate once more."