"They're back!"
We enter inside the main gate of the retreat's building as we push our bodies forward looking in a daze. The sky is orange blue during the sunset time. The other students are apparently waiting for us and our arrival as we meet them once we make our entrance. I find Kyungjun as soon as I get in and he moves away from his spot near the white unknown girl statue.
The student is full of worry but Eunchan takes the lead and directly asks.
"We heard the announcement, what happened to Dongyun?"
None of us could reply about what happened to him, no one dared. If saying out loud what actually happens, it will confirm the fact that it is real. I would rather stay quiet.
"Say something! What happened to Donghyun?"
"He slipped and fell. It was by mistake."
Somi says, as me and Eeunha stare in disbelief at each other with wide open eyes.
"So, how far did you get into that village?"
The class president remains silent at Kyungjun's question.
"You said you would meet people and call the police for help!" Kyungjun loses his temper and shouts in Junhee's face as the latter one replies soullessly.
"We couldn't. The entire place is enclosed with the line." He raises his shoulders as the last desperate breath comes out, "We're completely locked in."
Kyungjun throws what is in his hands, and Yoonseo asks "Does that mean we can't leave this place until we finish that game?"
"Yes."
The word leaves his mouth and we start to sink into the pit of hopelessness of our reality.
A memory of my family glitches back and forth. A picture of us smiling, fades and dissolves, burns and sets itself in fire where the flame swallows the members one by one. Eating alive the people in the picture, leaving the trace of black corrupted, melted, and twisted faces with holes and black ambered ashes all around.
Eunha shakes my shoulder.
"Are you okay? I mean, we are all not okay at the moment, but,"
"It's fine, I'm okay."
I force a smile to her. She copies my tiny smile too then she drops it, looks both ways and whispers secretly, "Call the people you trust the most and I will call mine. Let's meet over the place I will send to you in our private chat."
I nod and I do bring both Nahee and Hyunho, I don't know what's the identity of him so far but if he's the mafia, he would pretend to agree with us and get rid of anyone we point fingers on for now. At least that's what happens in the beginning of this game. Mafia game.
We form a group of six in total consisting of me, Nahee, Hyunho, Eunha, Eunchan, and Yeonwoo. Eunha closes the door and takes a deep breath as she looks at me, I nod to her back encouraging what she is going to say. The four of them sit in front of us as we stand still facing them. Eunha crosses her arm and I wet my lips thinking how we can bring this topic up.
Sometimes what's more important than what information you have, is how you choose to deliver it or tell it. The How's influence is so remarkable that it could change the meaning of the information content to the core. The same goes for who says it. This is how the world works if you want to make your ways and survive through it.
'You might hold the truth, but if you tell it in the wrong way it might turn out otherwise.'
"We think Somi is a mafia."
I quickly intervene to make our statement hold weight to them.
"We did see her push Donghyun back to the mountain."
"What? Is this for real?"
Eunchan jumps from his seat first and I calmly speak in a clear voice with one breath.
'Now is our only moment.'
"Back in the mountain trail, when Wooram and Junhee were making sure the camera footage was not broken to search for nearby villagers, Eunha and I took a walk just ahead to clear our mind away from screaming for help. On the other side, there is Somi with Donghyun who both stumble at the same time, but because Somi was afraid he will drag her, she pushed him out of the way. Both Nahee and Hyunho can confirm that they saw us first on the scene just behind Somi when they first arrived."
I inhale and close my fist as I see their reaction, all of them are taking in the information, I hear Nahee whispers "we did see you both behind Somi first."
"So she dared to lie!" Eunchan yells, "Why didn't you both say a word when we asked what happened to Dyungho?"
"Eunchan, if we did not plan how to say it and let our emotion guide the heat of the moment, we might seem like the suspicious ones who just want to point our finger out at anyone. That's why we planned this meeting, so we can figure out what to do next with your help."
"She does have a point." Hyunho says. "Are you guys sure of what you saw, that she really pushed him?"
"Yes." "Yes."
"You do realise that even if she pushed him, she could've done it not because she's the mafia right?"
I close my mouth and before I can say a thing I look at Eunha to see her flabbergasted face as well.
"We like to think big of our noble self. I know It's unbelievable people could step that low. But even with knowing all this, won't the human nature that strives on surviving make her do this even if she isn't the mafia in the spur of the moment?" Hyunho pours another ice cold bucket over our heads.
"Do you justify her actions? She is a killer!" Eunchan says with a loud tone.
"I would never justify it. But I'm saying regardless, she could end up just a citizen in the end."
'I need to think about this one more time.'
"It's a huge risk that we might be able to give away a citizen."
"Even if that citizen might kill? At the end of the night, we are going to vote for someone anyway, isn't it better to vote for a person who actually murdered someone?"
Eunchan faces Hyunho with his question, "then who are you guys voting for then?" and the whole group is now quiet, I feel like our moral compass is being tested and at the same time thrown out of the roof. I made a mistake and I didn't think that far, what if Somi really is a citizen even if she kills, the game said that we need to wipeـــ … That we need to win over the other team so every member counts, no matter how annoying I might find them in real life.
"I can't think of anything, I'm sorry." Nahee sits further in her seat.
"This is so confusing." Yeonwoo pulls off his glass and messages his temples.
Eunha takes a seat and shakes her legs nonstop while biting her nails, where I come and sit next to her and slowly put her hands down.
"Let's take a break from this meeting and check on others."
I look at Eunchan and Yeonhwon, "has anything happened since we were gone?"
"Except the process where we put the dead bodies in the freezer? No, everything is normal." Yeonwoo puts back his glasses.
'They left them in the freezer? Wow. right, Juwon was a mafia and he got out of the game. This totally slipped out of my mind.'
"Do you know who first saw Juwon? Who first came upon him or discovered him?"
We all look at each other until Yeonwoo says, "I think it was Dabum, in the men's bathroom. Quite just when we all woke up. Just before you guys check the studio."
'You mean that time when I noticed him stumble his way through next to Yoonseo who was standing over the huge broken glass. I do remember a scene like that.'
"Like we said, we all deserve a break. Let's not say a thing about Somi and just ask them who they would vote for, see what they think about this whole situation, let's make our final choice back at midnight then."
"If there was no definite answer, we might choose Somi then, right?" Eunchan asks but no one dares to answer.
"I will go and check on my friends." Hyunho first stands and leaves the room.
"I will go and talk to Mina, Jooyoung and Jisoo."
"Be careful, they are close to Somi so they might be influenced by her. Don't be obvious, and don't let her tricks get under your skin." I warn Eunha before she nods and leaves too.
"I will go to Yoonseo, Junhee and Jeongwon and see what they recently found." Nahee stands too and disappears.
Me, Eunchan and Yeonwoo last stayed in the room in an awkward silence. I stare at Yeonwoo, who himself avoids my eye contact and stares at Eunchan, then Eunchan hits his knee in swift move, and bow his head and force a smile to me then he stares back at Yeonwoo who looks back at me again.
I stand pushing back my chair making noise.
'I can't stand this anymore.'
"so, I will excuse myself, bye," I bow.
As the group is on the move and we all depart our ways for more intel, I know exactly who I need to talk to, no one mentioned his name either so I'm most fit for the job. I search though the rooms but I can't seem to find him, where is this jerk when you need him the most?
'Oh! a vending machine. Milkis!'
I soon put the can away from my lips, I swallow the sip I have once I see the shadow of someone.
"Oh! Jinha! Over here!"
"Oh. Yoonhwa."
I walk excitedly towards Jinha because whenever you see Jinha, kyunjun won't be far enough. I then slowly stop my feet when I see his hand zipping his pants, I look where he just came out from and I see the sign of the men's toilet, then my smiles change slowly to pure disgust.
"I washed my hands!"
"Wash them again!"
****
"Help me!"
I see Jinha run towards Kyungjun as soon as he enters their hideout and step behind him like he has seen a ghost. I wonder if he did see one in the bathroom.
'Oh so this is where Kyungjun is, the swimming pool cafeteria. Smart move.'
"Cut it off with your jokes, I'm not into the mood to play."
I did see Kyungjun flinch when Jinha entered screaming.
"The place looks more lively than I thought. Who is he?"
I say bluntly as Dabeum comes into the picture.
"Don't mind him and take a seat."
"Hi there seungbin, how are you doing?"
"I'm cool. Totally not scared and taking everything under control." he says as he smugs and raises both his hands and crosses them over the back of his head.
'Totally.'
"But why did you enter like that jerk," Seungbin stands from his chair momentarily and hits the back of Jinha's head.
"This evil woman forced me to wash my hands 20 times!"
"20 seconds."I correct, "20 seconds is not the same as 20 times!"
"You were in the same bathroom? Both of you?" Dabeum opens his mouth.
The way he talks and looks about things from weird perspectives always throws me off. It's creepy and annoying.
Jinha stands from his seat and picks something from the store's shelves and shoves into Dabum, "You love this sesame-seed-flavoured ramen, right?"
"Thank you."
"The ramen preferences are the only thing we have in common."
Jinha pulls away Dabum's headphone, "then does that mean you have different music preferences?"
"Get out."
Kyungjun says as he stares at the floor and everyone looks at me, Jinha drops the headphones from his hand back to Dabum's knees and Seungbin interferes and tries to ease the situation, "I don't think an extra company would harm us, Plus we could benefit from what she is also going to sayــ"
"Haven't you heard me," He raises his head slowly and glares at Dabeum."Get out. Now."
My body shivers when Dabum passes through me, I change his chair with another one and sit where he was sitting at Kyungjun's table.
"So, exchange the intel you have and we will give you in return one package of Shin Ramyun."
I play along with Jinha as he plays the detective role so I hit my palm on the table making as little sound as possible and answer back, "won't say a word until you hand me two!"
Seungbin grins and stops as soon as he looks at Kyungjun's solemn face so he waves his palm over Jinha to give him the memo.
"What were you both doing in the bathroom?"
Kyungjun asks.
"We didn't meet on purpose, I was by the vending machine buying me a Milikis and came across him halfway through the hallways. I caught him coming out of the bathroom without washing his hands."
"I did!"
"So I made sure to wash his hands in front of me by the purified water dispensers next to the vending machine."
"The what?"
Kyungjun says the two words slowly, closes his eyes and raises both his brows while he scratches one side of his brow with his thumb tilting his head.
"The purified water dispensers." I repeat confidentially."There are no teachers so I'm allowed to break a law or two about water usage. Don't judge me."
I narrow my eyes and look at him.
'I know how to glare too so you know.'
I let out a sigh, "Anyways, thank you for letting me join you."
"Well, I'm okay with anyone as long as it's not that pervert." Seungbin joins the conversation.
"Why would you call him that?"
"Don't you know? Oh yes! You came halfway through the midterm." Jinha claps his hands and my body flinches. "There was this g.. This accident about … I don't know, I don't remember that much."
'Hmm, at this point I might leave the place without any useful information, let me think about something else.'
"Kyung jun, Seungbin, and Jinha. Tell me anything weird you came across today."
"What for?" Kyungjun asks.
"I'm lost with the whole situation we are all thrown to, this whole mafia game."
"We just brought this pervert in so we can ask him too about this app game."
"Why him?" I look at Seungin and take a sip from my Milkis can.
"He is known among the classmates for being good with everything computer-related. We wanted to check if this game existed before we came to this centre."
"Good question, but I think it's better to put thoughts into how you will play this game instead." I take one last sip, "since we all gonna end up playing anyways."
"So what should we do to win this game?" Kyungjun swings his phone while he asks me.
"First, who is 'we' that you're talking about." Kyungjun waits for me to continue.
I stare at Seungbin, Jinha and lastly Kyungjun's face.
'Do they want me to explain the game's rules in detail?'
"There are two sides to this game, the mafia and the rest. The rest are the citizens, doctors, and police officers. A citizen's role is to vote someone out before midnight, the doctor's role is to heal someone before midnight without knowing who the mafia will choose. However they can't save the same person twice in a row. The police officer's skill is to identify a specific person every night before midnight and find a way to convince the citizen without alarming the mafia about them."
"Damn, it looks complicated. Hey!" Seungbin adds, "why don't we just kill random people? We will end the game like this."
"You said you're a citizen, why not just get rid of the mafia? Why would we drag down citizens too?" Jinha replies.
"The game said to wipe them off completely."
"The mafia, not the citizens! Why say these stuff anyways when you won't walk through the full process, don't act tough. You are scared too."
"Who is scarـــ"
"I'm sorry to interrupt this lovely chat but if you allow me to ask something to you guys," Seungbin waves with his hand as a yes and Jinha nods his head. Kyungjun stops playing with his phone absentminded and looks at me.
"Would you vote someone out if you knew he murdered someone even if he might be a citizen?"
Jinha looks clueless as he frowns and stares at the floor, I look at seungbin and if I can hear the wheels of his brain not moving, I would.
Kyungjun seems to be the only one to catch my drift as he leans forward and stares at me, "I won't."
Kyunjun coldly answers back. "The mafia team will only score high if we just keep losing citizens."
"And what if this person is a mafia?"
Kyungjun fidget with his phone before he stirs the conversation to a completely different direction, "Juwon. He was a mafia but he died. Why did the mafia have to kill him?"
"I don't know, but I think he might have bad blood with one of them. The mafia knows each other unlike us, so their interactions should give us a hint on them later on too."
I lean forward to Kyungjun, "but you know what's weirder? That he was discovered as soon as we woke up, not even minutes later. Don't you think it was too quick?"
He looks at the floor for a bit then asks, "by who?"
"Da beum."
"Earlier on, when you said that the mafia could tell about themselves by their interaction, what did you mean exactly?" Seungbin scratches his head.
"They would either stick to each other bonded by the fear and weight to succeed in killing without getting known, or they might take the complete opposite approach acting like they don't even know each other even if they are in the same room."
'Am I giving too much information for Kyunjun? I was the one who should obtain information from them. I think I might have over done it. I'm still not sure of exactly what role he is playing in the bigger picture, am I taking a huge leap in believing in him now?'
'Did I let the past blur my vision of what could actually happen later?'
Kyung Jun catches the way I stare at him, and I avoid his eye contact.
"What if we call all the mafia," Jinha joins us, "and then get them inside one room to kill each other?"
Seungbin throws the chocolate bar on the table making a bang sound, "That's a great idea!" he then shakes the hands of Jinha as a respect.
"You idioــ"
"I have also thought the same!"
I put my hands over theirs.
"Right? Seems legit." Jinha grins the most, feeling prouder than ever.
I doubt that they're mafia.
I walk out of the cafeteria with one glance over my back to them, Jinha and Seungbin still joking. Smacking each other over some bro's joke, while Kyungjun seems just absentminded. I let out a breath.
I open my phone screen to check the time, when everyone might think of who to vote for, I have an extra job of who to save. Without gaining attention to me, it's still the beginning of the game. I need to guess who the mafia is going to kill and make my vote before I fall asleep.
I need to make sure to not stir too much attention during the upcoming meeting too with the students so I don't cross the mafia the wrong way.
That's why I have a plan and I need to find Hyunho and Nahee for it.
I cross each room searching for them. I find someone in the hallways and I greet them briefly before I continue. "Wait, hold on! Yoonhwa."
"Yes, Wooram."
"Somi just wanted to call you and Nahee for the upcoming vote meeting."
'This girl is definitely on the move, isn't she?'
"Okay, I am on my way to search for Nahee anyways. I will bring her with me towards where you guys are."
"Cool! I will go and find the rest then."
I smile and wave my hand as I watch Wooram turning his back to me walking in the hallways all by himself, my smile drops slowly as a thought crosses my mind that I let it pass as quickly as it comes.
'Where could Nahee go? Hm, is that the clinical room?'
I check the lights that are turned on from underneath the edge of the door, someone is inside.
'Did someone get hurt?'
I almost knock on the door but I stop myself when I hear two people talking from the inside.
"See? I told you I'm fine."
"I can't shake the feeling that you have got hurt for some reason."
'It's Hyunho and Nahee! I wonder if I should let them be, I mean eavesdropping is bad.'
I say as I get closer to the door to hear them better.
"I saw Donghyun die in front of me, and I couldn't do anything."
"Hyunho…" Nahee says after a moment, "Let's stay alive and get out of this place. I will protect you!"
"You will?"
"When we get out of here, I want to watch you play too."
I hear Hyunho chuckle as he last adds, "then don't fall for me when you do."
'Do I hear footsteps? Is he coming out?'
I run to the other side and I slide when I hide behind the corners of the wall crossroads. Hyunho just walks by looking upfront and he misses me as I breathe in and walk back to Nahee.
I knock the door first then I open it and I see Nahee almost getting out of the room as well reaching for the knob with her right hand, she puts her hand down.
"I wanted to see you."
Nahee speaks with new found determination in her dark eyes then she pulls her phone up and before I ask her what's wrong, she shows me her screen.
"So, what will we have to do to win this game?"
***
'I have an idea but I need to meet Yoonseo and Junhee first. Let's meet them.' That's what I said to Nahee to search for them.
"We need to make it a quick visit because Somi wants us to for hermeeting."
As Nahee suggests, we do find them in their rooms with Junhee. I knock on the door and I see Jeongwon's face when she first opens the door only a bit. I smile at her as I and Nahee bow at the same time. Junhee steps up from behind Jeongwoon and further welcomes us.
"Hello there, me and Nahee just wanted to check if you guys have any new ideas as we are lost as to who to vote for next, especially if the class president or you yoonseo has any new insights as you usually lead us with helpful theories."
Yoonseo smiles at us and prepares two extra pillows so we can sit on the floor.
"Thank you." "Thank you."
"No problem."
She spread her palm as a welcoming gesture for us to sit. Me and Nahee adjust our pillows and sit next to each other as we sit across them in the room, there is still a big space between us with them sitting on the other side. Jeongwon glances over Yoonseo and Junhee then she rolls her eyes and leans backward in her pillow chair as she crosses her arms. They definitely don't trust us, and it's very well written in their faces. Not that I do mind, trusting us too quickly and especially at the beginning might indicate that they are either stupid, or know for a fact that we're citizens which is usually a thing only known by a mafia.
"I was just thinking about the reason behind the game maker's actions," Yoonseo tries to break the ice, "why would he make us go through this game? we must find who is the game maker and what is his reason."
"Where would the game creator be? It's just us here." Jeongwon talks back.
"Do you think the creator comes during the night? Maybe he's the one who killed Ju won." Junhee says.
"No, it said it was the mafia who did this. Only the name of our class students are on the participants list of this game." Yoonseo answers bluntly as she stares at the floor.
"You mean that someone from our class really killed him?" Junhee replies.
"The creator must have selected the mafia when assigning the identities." Jeonwon says, and that when I join in.
"I thought that maybe the identities were assigned randomly,"
"Why would he? If we win, he loses. Won't he make sure that we all lose? Thus, purposely assigning the exact roles that we, in a way, … we could ...." Jeonwon stops talking.
I bet the shock of the possibility of us dying frightens her, Yoonseo and Junhee notice that too as yoonseo gets closer and puts her hands over her shoulder, she says to ease the atmosphere. "There must be a way to survive out together, I'm sure."
My phone buzzes and I get a notification, it seems that it alarms all of them as they grab their phones out too. "There's nothing, I just got a text from Eunha on private chat." I swing my phone as I press my lips for a smile to calm them when they all sigh, I then put my phone in my pocket after I check the message and I bow briefly at the three of them, "well, we won't take that much of your time." and signal to Nahee to go out.
We leave them at last when Junhee tells us we are going to meet later, I don't pay attention that much to what he means as all that has occupied my mind is Eunha. I walk with fast steps just like Nahee heading back to Eunha.
"Eunha needs us, some are suspecting her when she voted for Heo yul yesterday."
"That's ridiculous! I don't think she is mafia. If she is, she would have turned blind eye to Somi, right?"
'Maybe.'
Nahee stands up as I say at last, "she is at Somi's room."
I honestly thought about it the most when I came back from Kyungjun's meeting. What if Somi is a citizen and I was just not objectively seeing things through? Blinded by my unexplained feelings towards others with no proof, Could she really be the mafia? Did I trust Eunha too fast? feeding my hunger sense of just wanting to gain new friends? The only one I'm sure of is Nahee. What about the others? Kyungjun too.
'Will I mess up the game if I do so?'
Until I finally heard the last piece that I wanted to hear the most, and it was from Jeongwon. It's like the exact missing puzzle that my brain was aching for to find to assure me that what I'm doing is correct.
For now.
'Why would he? If we win, he loses. Won't he make sure that we all lose? Thus, purposely assigning the exact roles that we, in a way,'
…. lose.
Why would the game makers make me the doctor, unless they thought that I would make the citizens' path harder? I feel a bit offended but that's a good rope that might lead me to possible upcoming truths. If I was the game creator, I would pick people who have power over others so the rest can easily be influenced by them.
'Maybe I should just act like the opposite me in this game to win then?'
But isn't the opposite of a thing, is still the same realm meaning as its contrast?
I would have just played in circles as they expected from me then.
Nahee knocking on the dorm's door snaps me back to reality, she opens the door and we see most of the students sitting around in a big circle, their number is more than I thought and more intimidating, it must have been hard on Eunha. Eunha jumps from her place and soon stands next to me.
"I almost snapped at her when she framed me, but I held back when I remembered what you said." she whispers to my ear and a memory flashes in my mind back at the meeting we have had.
'Be careful, they are close to Somi so they might be influenced by her. Don't be obvious, and don't let her tricks get on your nerves.'
"Good job," I say back.
Eunchan stands up as well as Yeonwoon pushes his glasses back, Somi gets perplexed by the scene "what's with you all? We're just doing what we are told, to think about someone to vote for. Why do guys trust her that much when she might end up killing you at night?"
"I do understand that you might be suspicious of her because of her voting out heo yul, but wasn't that because at the beginning no one even cared about playing his part in this game and Heo Yul got the most votes just because he was the only one talking in game chats attracting all the attention?"
Somi crosses her arm as she raises one brow, I continue "So we all voted him out of … pure joke, no one could predict it will go that far."
"If I do remember correctly, there is one who didn't vote for him but yes technically we did all voted,"
Wooram shuts his mouth when he sees Somis glare's, she pushes one side of her hair to the back and leans forward and says, "Well, if you have thought that hard with that beautiful mind of yours, then please enlighten us who should we vote for next."
Calm down Yoonhwa, don't act in a rush and dance to the rhythm of the game creator's drum. Imagine ten days from now, what will I have done that would result in the citizens losing.
I would have doubted my choice of not voting Somi out.
Why would he? If we win, he loses. Won't he make sure that we all lose?'
'I need to make sure to not stir too much attention during the upcoming meeting with the students so I don't cross the mafia the wrong way. That's why I have a plan and I need to find Hyunho and Nahee for it.'
'Hey, Hyunho!'
'What are you doing here?'
'I was on my way to see Nahee.'
'She is in the clinic, I just got out of there.'
'I know.'
'Excuse me?'
'Never mind! Before that, I need to ask you for a request,'
Hyunho looks at me, 'depends,'
'I have decided about Somi's case, so can you call the rest for another meeting? I will bring Nahee out from the clinic now too.'
'fine.'
'Everyone! Glad you all came again.'
'We can't disappear for that long during our bathroom break from Somi's gathering, so make it quick,'
'I will vote her out.'
'What?'
'Wow!'
'Let's all calm down.'
'I agree.'
'Eunchan, you were with this idea from the beginning.'
'still am.'
'I will come back home, and get out of this place even if I have to vote a citizen out. A person who kills a citizen is still a danger to citizens, mafia or not.' I say.
'I'm in,'
'Count me as well.'
'And this is more than enough to lead others.Thank you guys.'
'Still, we are talking about unaliving someone.'
'Vote for me next, if she is not a mafia.'
'what'
'Yoonhwa!'
'Have you gone mad?'
'Did you lose your mind?'
Yes, I have.
Because that's the only way out.
That is the missing piece we need in order to win.
I stumble over my feet and I sit in front of Somi's at the current time I'm in and say while I try my best to get my words clear and out of my mouth. "I … I don't know.. Uhm … how about, how about we don't vote?"
'But if I vote for her at first, I will attract the mafia's attention by thinking I might be smart enough to guess them next,'
'so?'
'What are you suggesting?'
'That's where I need your help. Let's vote all at the same time before midnight, I will arrange the situation to look like this.'
Somi tilts her head and narrows her eyes in question as I continue, "How about we try and don't vote for any of us just for one night?"
"And you thought of this?" she asks as she raises one eyebrow.
"No, it wasn't my idea, it was Donghyun's."
"Donghyun-ah!"
"Donghyun…"
The whispers of the students in the room reach both me and her as I look at her.
"Me and Donghyun talked briefly during the trail. I thought it was kind of a smart move from his side and he was feeling like telling the others once he comes back, so why not give it a try?" I get close to her while I sit on my knees and grab the sleeve of her sweater. She pushes my hand with her palms and puts both her hands in a fist and rest her forearms into the table to think about it.
Somi finally pushes her head to the back while she fidget with both her thumb and index fingers, "where is Wooram? Why hasn't he brought Junhee yet?"
"They might think we would end up voting because that's the news that it's sent by Wooram." Mina says, the girl who had colorful bright blonde hair extinctions among her wavy black hair.
"I will go and notify them if you want me!" I jump and wait for her order as she waves her hand in disgust, I run out to find Wooram and Nahee follows me.
"What will you do?" Nahee asks me.
"Well, if Donghyun's plan works then we won't have to vote for tonight, but if it doesn't, I will still vote for her."
"Was it really Donghyun's plan? I don't remember you talking to him."
I press my lips to Nahee then someone catches my attention, "Oh! Hyunho! Do you know where Junhee and Wooram are? It's urgent."
"I just met them seconds ago, follow me!"
We find Wooram and Junhee with Yoonseo and Jeongwon right in time, when we cut straight right into their conversation.
"Yul died after we voted, and they still plan to vote again?!"
"Change of plan! They decided not to." I took a second to collect my breath as I ran to them.
"What? But that's not what they told me." Wooram objects.
"We just came from there, you can ask Somi yourself."
"I agree about not voting, I would have suggested the same idea. First things first, let's gather all the students and see what happens next." Junhee says.
Way to go, class president.
"Where is Dabum?"
"He left when Kyunjun just called him. Again." Jeongwon says.
"Those punks." Junhee says.
That doesn't sound good, I hope this jerk won't cause any trouble to the plan. Junhee runs first and we follow as we go to the cafeteria room. He then smacks the door, dash in and shouts the moment our eyes catch the scene ahead.
'What is he doing? Did he call Dabeum again after I left? What for?'
I check the phone in Kyungjun's hands while Seungbin and Jinha hold Dabum still with his finger up ahead in the air.
Did he think he could force a vote?
….. Well, did he succeed?
"What on earth are you doing?"
Junhee pushes Jinha aside as he brings Dabeum up, Yoonseo offers a hand as she helps Dabeum to get up.
"Three in one guy. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Hyunho faces Kyungjun and I can stop him, he brought this to himself, he should be able to think of a way out.
"Where do you think you are going fucker?"
Kyungjun doesn't seem to think for today as he pulls Dabeum by the collar once again and curses him, Junhee uses a calmer way this time as if he is talking to a child, might as well be the case.
"Hey, let's stop. Come with me, I have something to say."
"Why do I have to listen to you?"
He pushes Junhee as he raises his voice, Hyunho immediately interferes and pushes him as well making him hit the table behind him. And just like witnessing the silence before the storm, Kyungjun sneers then he whispers a few curses that get louder and louder towards the end as he runs straight to the cashier arena and holds the big tip glass jar. he holds it up with his hand in the air and then stops.
He looks at me and Nahee, the ones that stayed right behind the glass-see-through door.
He changes the direction of his hit and throws the jar next to him on the floor, making sounds like marbles crash into pieces. He then says much lower than his previous voice but still loud enough to be heard, "you're not the boss of me to order me around."
Hyunho seems shocked for a second of what this jar would have done to him, so he chuckles in disbelief then he walks slowly to grab the hard long can of chips, "seems like I need to teach you a lesssــ"
Hyunho stops when he notices the hard spiral can of chips on his hand are harder to grab, more than he thinks, because I was holding the other end of it. I take advantage of his dumbfounded state and disarm his anger with my smile, then I use one of the cards I hide up my sleeve.
"Now, how about we calm down, you won't like to scare Nahee, right? She just came back from the clinic, it might be dangerous to her."
I slowly pull the chips from him when he checks her and sees her shocked and scared face. I walk to Kyungjun and I leave Hyunho behind me.
Unlike the others, I have known Kyungjun since middle school and I know exactly what would trigger his anger issues. It's the sense of warning that once he thinks people are looking down on him, he will be in danger.
So he enters the fight/fawn survivor state. Especially, the fight one.
"What the class president meant earlier, is that all the other students are going to gather in the assembly hall. It's something related to the game so it will benefit you as well if you come. Seungbin and Jinha too, don't you think?"
Kyungjun scoffs and turns around and sits in his chair next to the table, both Seungbin and Jinha scratch their heads and look elsewhere.
"Hey! When a girl is talking to you, you should.."
"Nahee! Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
Hyunho gets closer to checking Nahee again.
'Got you.'
We leave the cafeteria in a messier condition than when we came in.
"Is it okay if we leave them like this?" Yoonseo asks Junhee.
"I'm sure they will come, it's about the game after all. Whether they liked it or not, we have to work together."
We arrived at the assembly hall next to others.
"Why are you holding a chip?"
"Do you have the appetite to eat?"
"I eat my way out of stress, I'm an emotional eater."
I answer both Eunchan and Eunha in order as they approach us once we meet all back.
"Out of the way."
The three of us step aside when Kyungjun, Seungbin, and Jinha show up at the meeting as well.
We walk to a new spot next to Nahee, Hyunho and then Yeonwoo joins us at last. They all keep staring at my chips once, then over me twice. Are they hungry but shy to ask?
"Want some?"
"You know you do have a bit of a crazy streak, right?"
Eunchan hits Eunha's arms when she asks me that question, as I keep shoving the chips and glance over Junhee as he gets ready to tell us the reason behind this gathering. I feel Yeonwoo coming closer with the corner of my eyes as he pushes back his glasses with shyness, I smile then I lean the chip's can towards him.
"I gathered all of you here to agree about not voting."
"Yes, it's a great idea I have thought of so I suggested it to Junhee."
Somi steps next to him.
"But are you sure it's going to work?"
"If we vote, one person is guaranteed to die. But if we don't we won't have to deal with it." Junhee assures us.
"Hey, are we on with our plan?" Eunchan whispers next to me as I bite my lips.
"Let's wait for now." I whisper back to him.
"What if we agreed on not voting, but someone votes in secret?"
Mina we must have been soulmates in our past life, or else how would you have read through me?
"What are you going to do then?"
"She got a point."
"How I'm supposed to trust everyone here."
"I don't think I want to risk it with this method."
"Me too, I don't think everyone will follow."
"We should trust each other. I will collect the phones so we can be sure."
As the students start to get nervous, I try to ease my mind with slow breaths and remove my nails from my lips and stand still to seem composed as ever.
"But then, who will keep the phones? The person in charge could change his mind."
Hyunho gets closer and whispers, "if it comes like this, let's just follow through this night and vote for her later on if things are still off with her."
"Then let's put all our phones together in the middle of the ground for us to see."
"What if someone ran to grab it at the last minute to vote? Or even stole it? I don't like this idea, I'm not handing my phone, I'm out."
"Who is going to steal your phone at this time, stupid? Just hand it over!"
"Why are you yelling at me?"
Simultaneously as Mina fights with her friend Jooyoung, the classmates couple also fight.
"I'm in. let's just hand our phone, what do you think?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Why not?"
"Why would you hand it so easily like this? Do you trust the situation we are in?"
Students are once again divided in opinion, this is hopeless.
"I have a different opinion."
The students become quiet as I speak.
'Okay, I can do it.'
"If this idea still bothers some, then how about a different one?" I look towards the class president as he seems all ears. "What if we all just ended up voting equally for two people. Then we might pass the night with no one getting the most votes."
"What is this?"
"This seems more risky!"
"No way, I will not do it."
"That makes more sense."
"Then who will we vote for?"
"What if both of them die?"
"I'm out."
"I will volunteer."
The class president says to everyone, shocked, even I froze for a second. As he perfectly follows my plan. "Then will the class president and vice class president take it this time?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Somi suddenly stands up and shouts at me, I flinch and step back.
"She is right!"
"You guys take the responsibilities, the class president and vice class president."
"I like this idea."
"It seems logical, and no one will be voted out."
"Doesn't that what you want, class president?"
"Isn't that's why we're all here? Because you guys wanted to help us!"
"No! I said no! You can't force me! If you guys like that idea too much then why don't you vote for her instead? You do it!"
Somi glares at me.
"I will volunteer!" Yoonseo steps up next to Junhee, as he stops her saying with a low and tender voice."No it will be too dangerous, let's not do this."
'What about me, brother? Hello?'
"Then vote for me and Junhee equally."
I agree to Somi's request.
After the students gather around, Junhee stands ahead in the front of the line as he checks each student's phone while they vote. "We're now at an odd number of total so there will be an extra vote going to a third student but don't be alarmed."
"Vote for me!" Yoonseo raises her hand as she gets closer to Junhee.
A dedication this girl has for things like this.
"Don't worry, it won't affect me that much, right? please?" she asks Junhee.
"Kim Somi has voted for Lee Yoonseo."
We all look in Somi's direction as she shamelessly says, "what? you just said another student will get the vote, I was just helping."
"One minute left for voting."
I see students hugging their friends and others biting their nails, while some are just staring on the floor.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Praying.
"Warning!"
"Since there is a tie in votes, the votes data will be deleted."
"One minute left for voting."
"Oh my god!"
"We still have to vote."
"I told you it won't work."
"Fuck!"
"What should we do now!"
"The class president, say something!"
"Just vote for anyone!"
"Calm down everyone, what if we decide to not vote at all and just ignore the warning! We have to try! So we don't kill anyone!" Junhee raises his hands as he calms the students, after they all stare at each other, wary of who would vote or who would not, everyone freezes his hands over their phones.
'Dammit, my thumb is shaking so bad. Everything will be fine. Everything will be alright.'
"Hey Soobin, where are you heading? We should be close so we can, Soobin are you listening to me?"
Hm? What's the problem? I find a girl among our classmates ignoring her friend as she heads towards the electricity switches, the service panel. Good idea! why haven't we thought of cutting the power off away from the woman in the speaker, then won't we force the game master to get out and force them out of their lane.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Soobin!"
"Have you gone mad!"
Huh? I look at the girl again as I see her grabbing two wires on each hand and then sheـــI shut my eyes over the sounds of screams and shouts that are coming from the students. In the far distance, I hear the electric buzz and few sparks that lead to explosions that make me shrink all over my body. Then the power shut down with the emergency red crimson light that flashes on and off.
"For breaking the rules, Lee Soobin will be executed."
"Lee Soobin was a citizen."
"Hey! We need to vote!"
"We will die if we don't vote!"
"Park Jisoo has voted for Kang Yoonhwa."
"Lee Jeoyoung has voted for Kim Junhee."
"Oh! Fuck! Dammit."
"Kim Yeonjoo votes for Lee Yoonseo."
I hold my hand as a fist as I try to catch my breath, lifting the weight of my body. I look towards Eunchan and Eunha as they seem to understand my slight nod as I signal them.
"Im Eun Chan voted for Kim Somi."
"Baek Eunha has voted for Kim Somi."
"Kang Yoonhwa has voted for Kim Somi."
"Oh! Fuck, just pick randomly."
"Hey, Somi got the highest votes for now!"
"Vote for Somi!"
"Kim Jinha has voted for Kim Somi."
"Shin Seungbin has voted for Kim Somi."
Among all the buzz of the vote notifications and tapping on the screen Somi snaps and shouts as she checks the number of her votes, "Hey! Ya! Have you lost your mind, you crazy fool!" Somi starts screaming as she pulls the handphones from their grasp "Stop! No! Stop! don't vote for me because you can't use your brains!"
"Kim Somi with the most votes will be executed."
"Kim Somi was the mafia."
"Stop! No! I want to live! Please! Please! Anyone, stop this please!"
Somi cries on her knees as she makes eye contact with me for the last time, I move my lips in a whisper motion in two syllables.
'mis-take'
The emergency light flickers off and on over my painted bloody face as a smile gradually takes a shape on my lips.
"You!" she yells as her face starts to form wrinkles, then stops.
Her eyes turn white.
I stand up and walk away as I pull Nahhe and Eunha to the exit for a run, "we need to leave now, we will fall asleep anytime soon." "That's true! Let's go," Nahee pulls Hyunho's hands as the students all flock like birds and run as we do just the moment they see us.
"You were right!"
"Not now, Nahee,"
I glance one last time behind my back as we run in the corridor. As the students flood outside the assembly hall door one by one, pushing it back and forth, still showcasing what's inside. I see Somi's figure from afar as her hands go inside her eyes. I turn away and look ahead.
"Who should I check?" I look over the police notification over Nahee's phone. "Hyunho?" "I already did that the first night." I bring up my phone and then click over someone's name. "Uhm, Then this!" Me and her stare at her phone's screen, at that one red word written over it.
This person is mafia.
We both look at each other with wide eyes open. We hear the school ring music and I feel the darkness spreading all over my eyes, and feel the easy weight of my body falling to the ground.