Hwang In-Ho walked through the hall, which was neither too big nor too small. There were several people dressed elegantly, each wearing a mask of an animal on their face. Everyone was laughing or pointing at the TV screens, which showed the players participating in the fifth game, Hide and Seek. Some were betting on the strongest, while others were betting on who would die first.

But there was one distracted person: you. I-ho walked over to you, standing in front of a TV, staring at player 120. In-ho noticed that ever since the VIPs arrived, you hadn't taken your eyes off this player. He knew you well enough to know you were interested in her. Even he admits that she has been one of the best players, thanks to her former job as a former special forces sergeant, as much as her physique.

She is intelligent, calculating, strong and yet elegant, kind and positive. When In-ho disguised himself as a player, he stood close to player 120 and could see up close what a warrior that woman was. She was there to raise enough money to pay off her debts and complete her gender transition surgeries. She faced prejudice even from her parents simply because she was trans. So it made sense for her to perform so well in so many games.

In-ho would almost feel sorry for her.

“Do you intend to bet on the Player 120?” – In-ho asks, looking from the TV to your face. When you nod, he smiles. – “Lucky her.”

The game is finally over. During it, player 124, Nam-gyu and player 333, Myung-gi, eliminated several players. The idea of the game was that those with a red vest would chase and eliminate with a dagger those with a blue vest, who had to hide in rooms, which they could only open with their key. Player 120 landed on the blue team, but surprisingly eliminated several players on the red team. She was practically winning that game.

As the game timer ran out, player 222, Jun-hee, gave birth to her expected baby, alongside an older player, Geum-ja and the player 120. After the baby was born, player 120 fought a player from the red team, killing him, and finding her way out. She could have gone in, but she chose to seek out the other players, her friends. And that's when she arrived at the door, player 333 stabbed her from behind, eliminating her.

You narrowed your eyes, watching player 120's screen disappear from the "actives in game" section. In-ho looked at you blankly before you left the room. He knew it wasn't the end for player 120, not with you having bet on her. When you left the hall, In-ho secretly informed the guards about a recent mission; save the player 120.

Cho Hyun-ju had been in a coma for days. No relatives came to visit her, no friends, only you. In-ho paid for the best hospital and the most expensive surgeries so that the doctors could save Hyun-ju's life. They succeeded, but she remained in a coma. She was no longer dressed as a player, but in normal hospital clothes. No doctor suspected how she got to the point of near death, especially since In-ho bought them with a lot of money.

Then finally, on the seventh day, Hyun-ju began to wake up. She opened her eyes suddenly, looking around the room in confusion. You were still sitting in the escort chair next to her, but asleep, unaware that she'd woken up. You were also dressed in fancy clothes, which made her even more confused. When a doctor came in, you finally woke up.

You missed part of their conversation, but the doctor had already told her about you. When he left and closed the door, Hyun-ju slowly sat up in the hospital bed, apparently suspecting that you were someone to do with Squid Game. Gi-hun had told her about what his friend Jun-ho had discovered. The VIPs. They bet on people. And at first, she assumed it was something similar.

“The doctor said I might have missing memories due to my condition,” – Hyun-ju began, her voice calm but suspicious. – “He told me you were my girlfriend...” – She paused, crossing her arms. – “Still, I firmly believe that I have no idea who you are.”

But she felt like she knew you. You were always watching her.