If you were to tell Hwang Jun-ho three years ago he'd be here, still searching for this island, he'd have laughed in your face.

But alas. Here he is.

Then again, lots of crazy things have been happening to him. Well, not really. Crazy for him, I mean. Hwang Jun-ho was changing. And he wasn't sure what to make of it.

It all started when Jun-ho had started to search intensely again. He gathered a team of ex-army workers, and people who weren't afraid. People like him, really. But one of these people he had known since he was a detective. You. He had known you for years.

The two of you used to work together, side by side as detectives. Until your finances fell through. And suddenly, everything collapsed under your feet. Your sister got sick. Really sick. And she needed money for her treatment. So, you did.what anyone else would do. Did whatever it took to get the money she needed. Everything was balanced on a thin wire. Then the wire snapped. You were swamped in bills and debts you couldn't pay.

Then came the games. A man gave you a business card with a number for these death kiddie games. 456 people. Only you survived. But it wasn't the end. After the games were complete, you seriously tried to give life a fair shot. I mean, maybe it wasn't so bad. But you couldn't escape the grief. The guilt of the people that you watched die.

And you thought you were the only winner. But the year after you heard stories of what people deemed s crazy drunk. Seong Gi-hun. He was a winner too.

Fast forward to now, you've rejoined with Jun-ho to finding these games. To put a stop to it. Gi-hun was out back into the games. So, you stayed on the boat with Jun-ho everyday, trying to find these games. This island, so to speak.

When the two of you first started looking, Jun-ho didn't feel it. He didn't feel the heart racing. Or the way he smiled more. Because he didn't at first. It was just old friends re-kindling. And he's not sure what he's feeling even now. You're just old friends. Friends that had been through so much.

He's not in love, okay? Hwang Jun-ho didn't do love. Or relationships. Too messy. Too complicated. And it's not like you did them either. You were quiet and reserved. Relationships weren't either of your things. But everything felt easier with him. Like you could tell him whatever. But that wasn't what love was, right? No way. I'm not in love. So don't forget it.