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━━𝒯he crisp, weighty morning air clawed at Mira's skin, pulling an involuntary shiver from her as she stirred awake. Stretching lazily, she groaned and quickly shut the window to keep the biting chill at bay. Without a second thought, she flung herself back onto her bed, sinking into the luxurious softness of her pillows, which felt as light and delicate as an angel's touch.

Just as she let herself drift back into the embrace of her bed, her eyes caught sight of the clock on her nightstand. Her blood ran cold.

"Shit!" she screamed, launching herself upright with such force that she tumbled off the bed, landing face-first on the hard floor. A groan of frustration escaped her lips as she propped herself up on her elbows, glaring at the clock as if it were personally responsible for her misfortune.

Dragging herself upright, Mira rolled her eyes and shuffled toward the kitchenette, her unicorn-patterned pajamas swishing softly with every step. Her fluffy pink slippers, mismatched from years of wear, completed the look of someone who had thoroughly given up on trying to blend into societal expectations. At 26, she refused to conform to the polished image of a typical Korean woman. Besides, who cared? She rarely ventured beyond the four walls of her cramped apartment unless food or drinks necessitated her appearance in the outside world.

Yawning, Mira rummaged through the drawer, finally pulling out a weathered box of cereal. Her stomach growled in protest as she realized there was no milk left to accompany it.

"I already hate this day, and it's barely been ten minutes," she muttered bitterly, tossing the cereal back into the drawer. Without bothering to make further attempts at breakfast, she flopped onto her worn black couch and promptly passed out.

A loud, relentless banging on her front door jolted her awake. Panic set in as Mira sprang up, snatching a baseball bat that leaned casually against the wall. Her eyes darted to the door, her heart pounding. Was it finally happening? Were the debt collectors here to make good on their threats?

Steeling herself, Mira gripped the bat tightly, her knuckles whitening. She swung the door open with all the fury she could muster, her voice booming, "You idiots better turn back because I'm not giving you a single won-"

Her rant cut off as her eyes met the smug, familiar face of Choi Su-Bong, her ex-boyfriend. He stood there, purple hair styled in that same ridiculous way he always loved, his grin as arrogant as ever.

"Wow, Mira, didn't know you were still so madly in love with me. Sacrificing a baseball bat for me, huh? Adorable," he teased, laughing like he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.

Mira scowled, her grip on the bat tightening. "What the hell do you want, Su-Bong? Did you lose more money betting on that stupid crypto scam you follow? Well, guess what? I've got my own debts, so the answer is no. Bye!" She tried to slam the door, but his foot shot out, blocking it.

"Aw, don't be like that," he said with a smirk, ruffling her hair as if she were a child. "You're as feisty as ever, my favorite ex-girlfriend." Without waiting for permission, he stepped inside, tracking dirt across her clean floor.

"Are you kidding me?!" Mira snapped. "You can't just waltz in here with your filthy shoes! Get out!"

Su-Bong plopped himself onto her couch, ignoring her protests. Laughing at her outrage, he accepted the glass of water she shoved at him, downing it in one go.

"Listen," he said, wiping his mouth. "I just came to check on you, make sure you're still kicking, you know? Gotta keep tabs on my favorite debt-ridden ex. Anyway, I'm a busy man, so I'll leave you to your misery. Later, Mira."

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out," she retorted coldly, slamming the door shut the moment he left. She muttered curses under her breath as she retreated to her bed, burying herself in the covers for another nap.

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By the time Mira woke again, the sky was an inky black. Her heart sank as she remembered her best friend Ji-a's invitation for a sleepover. Panicking, she hastily gathered her things, slinging a bag over her shoulder and rushing out the door.

The subway station loomed ahead, but as Mira descended the stairs, the weight of her overstuffed bag threw her off balance. She tripped, sprawling onto the platform just as the train's doors shut in her face.

"Kill me now," she groaned, dragging herself to a nearby bench.

"Care to play a game?"

The deep, velvety voice startled her. She looked up to find a strikingly handsome man in a sleek black suit standing before her, a mysterious case in his hand and a strange smile on his face.

"Depends," she said warily, crossing her arms.

Wordlessly, he opened the case, revealing a set of folded paper tiles-ddakji.

Mira's eyes lit up. "Hell yeah!"

The man's grin widened. "Here's how it works. If I win, I get to slap you. If you win, you get a prize."

"Deal," she said confidently. Mira was no stranger to ddakji; she'd mastered the game in her childhood. How hard could it be?

Turns out, much harder than she remembered.

The sharp sting of the man's hand against her cheek echoed over and over as he beat her at least ten times. Her pride lay in tatters as she glared at him, muttering curses.

"One more," she demanded. Fueled by determination, she slammed her tile down with all her strength, finally flipping his.

"Yes!" she screamed, victorious at last. The man clapped politely before handing her a small stack of cash and a peculiar card bearing a circle, triangle, and square, along with a phone number.

"Hey, wait-" Mira began, but the man vanished into the crowd just as her train arrived.

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Later, curiosity gnawed at her as she studied the card. On an impulse, she dialed the number.

"To participate in the game, state your name and birthdate," a robotic voice instructed.

Mira hesitated briefly before replying. "Cho Mi-ra, August 22nd, 1997."

"Thank you. You will receive an address shortly." The line went dead.

Minutes later, a van screeched to a halt in front of her. A figure in a crimson suit stepped out, their face obscured by a mask.

"Cho Mi-ra?"

She nodded cautiously.

"Please step inside."

And, with a mixture of fear and intrigue, Mira climbed into the van. She had no idea it would be the last time anyone would see her.

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ℋello and welcome to yet another story from me.

I just want to inform you that my first language isn't english so there might be some issues with my grammar. However I would suggest to not focus on it and just simply enjoy the story ♡

But of course I'm always open to any tips and suggestions on how to improve my writing, so don't be shy to help me out!!

Also don't forget to vote and comment, there's no need to be a silent reader everyone is welcome here:)

These kind yet simple gestures make me stay motivated, so thank you for it!!

Lots of Love,

Lexa 🤍