pretty flower | 강새벽

013

The second game will begin shortly. Please follow the instructions from our staff. Let me repeat. The second game will begin shortly. Please follow the instructions from our staff.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

Sae stands behind me as we walk up the brightly coloured steps, holding onto the back of my shirt. We continue walking like this until someone begins pushing next to her. Sae lets go of my shirt momentarily, causing me to trip slightly.

"You saw something, didn't you?" It was Sang-Woo. "I heard you talking last night. Tell me what you saw."

I turn my head slightly, trying to get a glimpse of their interaction.

"Why should I?" Sae asks, her tone of voice cold.

"You're a North Korean defector. All the games they made us play, I played them as a kid. It's likely the next one's something similar. So tell me what you saw."

"What makes you think that is going to change my mind? Need I remind you that you insulted my girlfriend?" She spits back in his face, taking a few extra steps to grab onto my shirt again.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult her or you. But I might be able to guess what the next game is." Sang-Woo speaks again, causing my fists to clench.

Sae looks him in the eyes, glaring as she spoke again "They were melting sugar. Now get lost."

Sae nudges me forward and we walk a little faster, distancing ourselves from Sang-Woo.

The masked men lead us to a brightly coloured room. The walls were all painted blue with child-like cloud drawings. Inside the room was a giant playground.

"Why are they so big?" I whisper to Sae as she grabs my hand subtly. She shrugs in response and we go back to looking around.

Welcome to your second game. Before the second game begins, choose from one of four shapes and stand in front of it.

In front of us were four shapes on the wall. Circle, Triangle, Star, and an umbrella.

I look behind us to see Sang-Woo and Gi-Hun talking to each other.

Choose a shape and stand in front of it immediately.

Sang-Woo looked nervous as Gi-Hun, Ali, and the old man walked away. Did he know something?

"Sae? I'll be right back." I let go of her hand and sneak towards Sang-Woo.

I stand in front of Sang-Woo "What do you think?"

"I'm not sure."

I scoff "And you begged Sae to tell you. What a loser."

"I can't tell you for certain what it is." Sang-Woo grabs onto my arm, stopping me from walking away.

"Let go of me!" I try to get out of his grip.

"Let me explain before you go running off first. "

"I'll listen when you let me go!"

Sang-Woo let's go of my arm and I step back.

"Dalgona." That was the only thing he said before walking away towards the front of the room. 

"Dalgona? Like the candy?" 

I walk back towards Sae, her eyes watching Sang-Woo suspiciously as he walks away. 

"What did he say?" She asks as we begin heading to the front of the room.

"Dalgona. That's all he said." I answer, putting my hands in my pockets.