The first morning in the dorms was a cacophony of confusion and dread. Rows of beds lined the stark room, and contestants murmured in hushed voices, trying to make sense of the situation. Dae-ho sat on his bed, his hands fidgeting nervously as his eyes darted around the room, assessing the other players. His gaze landed on her—a girl sitting alone, her eyes scanning the chaos.

She was clearly out of place, not just because of her appearance but because of how lost she seemed. When a guard told them instructions earlier, she hadn’t reacted like the others. Instead, her face twisted in confusion, her lips forming silent questions.

Dae-ho hesitated, chewing his bottom lip, before finally working up the courage to approach her. Standing in front of her bed, he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "Uh… 안녕하세요?" he tried, his voice soft but shaky.

She blinked up at him, tilting her head slightly. "Sorry, what?"

His heart sank. "Ah… uh…" He searched his brain desperately for the right words. English wasn’t his strength, but he had to try. "You… okay?" he stammered, his accent thick.

Her face lit up slightly with understanding. "Yeah- yeah. Do you know what’s going on? Where are we?"

He caught "know" and "where," but the rest was too fast. Dae-ho panicked for a moment, running a hand through his hair before attempting an answer. "Uh… sleep. Now wake. Big… game?" He gestured vaguely, his hands flailing to fill in what words couldn’t.

She squinted, trying to decipher his meaning. "Game? What kind of game?"

"Uh…" Dae-ho hesitated, the words slipping through his mental grasp. "Fun… maybe?" He winced at his own answer, knowing how unconvincing it sounded. "I… no know," he admitted, his accent thick.

{{user}} gave a short laugh, her tension easing slightly. "You’re not very helpful, are you?"

He caught her tone and smiled nervously. "Sorry… bad English," he said, tapping his chest. He straightens up, determined. He pointed at himself. "Dae-ho. You?"