─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
CHAPTER THREE:
do you wish to participate in the games?
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"We'll find them, Mei," Jun-ho assured her as he sat opposite her in the coffee shop. She clutched her cardboard cup tightly between her hands, the heat scalding to her palms. "You don't have to worry, alright? I promise we'll find them." He said once more, trying to ease her mind a little.

Mei scoffed, "The police ain't gonna anything," She said, glancing up to look at the man opposite her. "I know there isn't shit they can do against these guys. There's too many of them. They arrest those two? Another two will just come looking for the money. We'll never be able to escape it." She told him knowingly.

Mei had known Jun-Ho for years—ever since the first time her mother called the police station in a panicked mess, insisting that bad men were after her. He'd been a Detective back then and had promised to protect the woman, often doing house calls to make sure she was okay. It had been years and she still called for him each time she had a suspicion someone was onto her—even though he'd given his work at the station uo and had become a traffic cop.

Jun-ho reached across the table, putting his hand over hers, "Then I'll look for them myself," He insisted, his pretty-brown eyes connecting with hers as she glanced up at him. "Look, why don't you come stay with me for a while? I don't like the idea of you being alone." He suggested kindly. That was Jun-ho—kind. He'd always been that way to her, ever since he first met her. They'd been friends for a long time, and despite the fact there was much they still didn't know about each other, it didn't change the fact that they were friends.

Mei found a smile surfacing onto her lips, slowly meeting her eyes, "That's kind of you, Jun-ho. But you and I both know I can take care of myself." She told him, the smile getting bigger on her mouth.

Jun-ho chuckled, taking his hand from hers to give her head a playful shove, "Don't I know it," He agreed. He reached out, tapping her cheek with his finger. "It's how you've always got shit like this on your face." He pointed out, remarking to the small cut on her cheek.

Mei scoffed, "A girl has to learn to defend herself y'know—but it's not like I'm some kind of alley cat who's always getting into fights." That was only half true. Mei was known for getting into her fair share of brawls and usually, Jun-ho was the one to let her off the hook. But he wasn't an officer anymore and that luxury had gone away.

Jun-ho laughed and they slipped into a silence. After a moment, Jun-ho's face grew more serious, "You really believe he's dead?" He asked her, making her raise a brow in question. "Your dad." He clarified for her, making her swallow down the scolding hot coffee a little faster.

"His death was still never confirmed—he could be out there somewhere and if he is, then he could pay off his own god damn debts and—"

"He's dead," Mei spoke over him, giving a nod of her head. She glanced by Jun-ho, staring at the clock hanging behind the counter of the shop. "Don't ask me how I know. I just do. And if he isn't dead, then he better be." She concluded.

Seeing the solemn expression on the man's face, Mei swiftly changed the subject, "How's work going for you anyway? Is being a traffic cop all you hoped and dreamed?" She asked him sarcastically, raising a teasing brow. Mei had thought he was insane for giving up his job as a Detective to become a traffic cop, but each to their own she supposed.

Jun-ho scoffed, "It's quiet," He told her. "And honestly, after everything that happened a few years ago, that's exactly what I need." He said, giving a reassuring nod.

Mei eyed him, "You never actually told me what happened, you know. All I know is that nearly everyone thinks you're a madman." She'd tried asking Jun-ho about what had happened to him three years back, but despite her being a trusted friend, he'd never spoke a word of it. All he'd say is that something bad had happened and he'd witnessed it all. Mei usually left it at that, not wanting to pry, but sometimes, she got particularly nosey.

Jun-ho stared at her, as if debating whether he should speak on the matter. After a few seconds, he shrugged, "It's nothing you'll have to worry about, alright? All I can say is," He paused, thinking it over. He moved a little closer to her, leaning over the table. "If a man ever gives you a card and tells you to call the number—don't, alright? Even if he promises you that by calling you'd earn a lot of money." Mei's heart momentarily skipped a beat.

"A card?" She prompted.

Jun-ho nodded, "Don't ever call, alright? No matter how desperate you are." Mei stared at him for the longest of moments, pondering his words. Surely he wasn't talking about the salesman she'd played Ddakji with? It seemed silly for it to be the same man—he'd only ever offered to play games, and child games at that.

Mei nodded, "Alright."

By the time Mei returned to her apartment, she was soaked. Rain had come pouring from the Heavens on her way home, drenching her within seconds. The moment she opened her door, she was met by the sound of a cat screeching, "Hello to you too, asshole." She mumbled as she kicked the door shut behind her, Bae following at her feet, almost tripping her over.

She went straight for the fridge, pulling out the leftovers she'd put aside before scraping some into Bae's bowl by her feet, "Eat up, you fat cat." She said, giving him a pat on the head. He didn't waste a second, immediately scoffing down the food.

Mei went to her bathroom, fetching a towel to dry off the ends of her hair. She didn't bother turning any of her lights on, planning on going straight to bed after the day she'd had. She left the bathroom, heading into the kitchen to see how Bae was doing with his food—but he was already finished and gone, leaving out the cracked open window as he always did.

When looking down at his empty bowl, Mei's eyes caught the glimpse of a piece of card on the floor. Furrowing her brows, she crouched down, picking it up and examining it. It was the card the man at the subway station had given her, the one with the square, triangle and circle printed on it.

She flipped it over, staring at the number. She remembered Jun-ho's words. Don't ever call, alright? No matter how desperate you are. Mei licked her lips, her gaze fixated on the card before she let out a breath and tossed it onto the kitchen counter.

By the time she had gone to bed, she had grown restless, tossing and turning. When she did sleep, her dreams were merciless and when she was awake, shadows in her room startled her. The dark had been something Mei had been weary of for years—it unsettled her, made her mind a little too loud.

Eventually, she gave up on sleeping and got up from her bed, patting into her kitchen to fetch herself a glass of water. As she sat by the sink, her back against it and sipping on the glass, her gaze diverted to the card resting on her counter. It had flipped when she'd thrown it, the number side face-up.

She stared for the longest of moments before settling her glass of water down and picking up the card. She walked to her bedroom, her feet moving her slowly before she sat down on the edge of her bed, reaching for her phone.

She dialled the digits shown on the card and then rose the phone to her ear, waiting. After a moment of ringing, there was an answer, "Hello. Who's calling?" The voice on the other end of the line asked.

"I was given this card and..." she trailed off, not quite knowing what to say.

"Do you wish to participate in the games?" The voice questioned.

Mei inhaled sharply. The games. She thought about it. If they were just like the Ddakji she'd played with the businessman then they'd be easy enough—and if cash was the prize, she'd be walking out with a little extra in her pocket to pay the debt her father owned. If she played, she'd finally be able to rest without being haunted by his ghost.

"If you wish to participate, please state your name and birthdate." The voice said after a moment.

Mei licked her dry lips, her stomach doing flips. Her lips parted, not saying anything for a moment before she finally spoke, "Mei Wu. 1992."

( authors note )

        jun-ho: if someone ever gives u a card and tells u to call it. don't!!!

       mei: amma call it😈

        — taylor x