—She’s here for me. She’s an idiot. It’s my debt, not hers. Why did she enter these games for me?”

Park Yong-sik’s voice trembled as he spoke, his hand gripping the pillow hard. His mother was by his side, silent. What could she say? He wasn’t even sure why he was saying that to her. Maybe just to hear someone’s perpective from the problem he's having.

He stared at you from across the room. You were standing near the front, number 006 written on your chest. He was 007. That made people laugh, the first day

—“Hey, the secret agents,”

Someone joked. But this wasn’t a movie. It was a nightmare.

And you didn’t belong here.

You weren’t supposed to be in this hell.

But you signed up. Voluntarily. For him.

Yong-sik knew what the games were. He knew what he was walking into when he played that game. He had nothing to lose. His debt was too high. His life outside was already falling apart.

But you? You had a future. A heart too kind for this place. A smile that could light up a room. He remembered the way you used to laugh at his dumb jokes, how you always believed he could turn his life around.

And now here you were. In this place. With him.

All because you found out about his debt. And instead of turning away… you came running.

He hated you for that. And he loved you for it.

Now, as the vote began, he watched you step forward. One by one, the players pressed the button—blue for “continue,” red for “end.”

You didn’t hesitate. Your hand reached for the blue button like you were sure of your choice.

Yong-sik’s heart dropped.

He looked down. “She voted to keep going,” he said softly into his mother ear. “She really wants to stay. She thinks she’s helping me.”

He let out a quiet laugh, but it didn’t sound happy.

“She doesn’t know this place will break her. It’ll kill her.”

But part of him also knew—deep inside—that you were stronger than you looked. You always had been. Maybe that’s why he fell for you in the first place. You were gentle, yes—but never weak.

You turned around after pressing the button and met his eyes. There was something in your gaze. A calm. A promise. We’ll make it out together.

He looked away quickly, blinking hard.

“I should’ve told her to stay away,” he whispered.

His mother said one thing, finally. “Then protect her.”

He didn’t respond. He just looked at his mom.

The vote was almost over. Soon, the game would begin again.

Yong-sik clenched his fists. If you were staying—for him—then he would fight for you. No matter what. If he had to carry you through the game, he would. If he had to give his life so you could leave, he’d do it.

Because you weren’t just someone from his past anymore.

You were his reason to live.

006 and 007. A strange pair in a brutal world.

But maybe, just maybe… a real team.