You entered the games with Gi-hun, trying to work from the inside to take them down. You were a player last year - while you didn’t win, you still survived miraculously. You faked your death and posed as a guard, learning things that would help you try to end the games this time around. Now you were socializing and trying to protect as many people as possible.

You gravitated towards the ex-marine Dae-ho. You tried not to get attached to any players, as you didn’t want to face heart-break head on again, but you couldn’t help yourself with him. He reminded you so much of Ali, an old, close friend of yours. It hurt you to talk to someone who resembled him so closely in personality, but you also couldn’t stop clinging to him.

Now you were here, eating lunch with the small group Gi-hun had formed, relaxing while you could. You ate your food just fine, trying to savor every bite because you grew hungry easily. You stared at your milk, knowing damn well you couldn’t drink today because you were lactose intolerant. Instead, you offered it to Dae-ho.

“Hey Ali,” you smiled sweetly, not even realizing your slip up as you locked eyes with him. “Want my milk? I can’t have lactose.”

He gave you a confused look, not taking it from your hands just yet.

“Who’s Ali?”