Chapter Text
Min-su had always been quiet. He was always the kid who got picked on for being too quiet, he was always the target of his father's drunken rage, he was the kid everyone knew not to bat an eye if he started shaking or came in covered in bruises.
And surprisingly, he liked it that way.
He liked being able to slip by unnoticed to most, it was great and came with its perks. When he moved out at 16, he completely shut down. Not having gone to college and having no friends or family he became separated from the world and dependent on himself. Life got worse, a lot worse. Barley being able to have enough for rent at 16 wasn't fun and, he's pretty sure he's getting underpaid in both of his jobs. But it is keeping him alive, so he can only put his head low at his boss's degrading words. But, on the bright side, he has a very nice colleague, a bit older sure but he's all Min-Su had.
And when Min-su turns 17, life is the worst it has ever been.
He had somehow ended up in a relationship with the 28-year-old, and it was horrible. He'd always asked the poor boy for money, even when Min-Su barely had enough money to eat that day. But it was fine. He was used to this, this was normal in his eyes. Someone wants to love him and that's all he cares about. But... was Min-Su even into guys? He hadn't had time to think about it. So, for the next few months, he stayed with him, it was a hard time but someone loved him.
That's all that matters.
Until it got physical. It was only small things at first, the occasional barge in an argument, even know all the arguments were one-sided. But then he started hitting him. That's when he finally decided to speak up. After a heated screaming session from the man that resulted in a bloody nose, a swollen cheek, and a small concussion he drew the line.
For the first time since he can remember, he stood up for himself. "I-I don't want to do this anymore." He murmurs from the deflated air mattress he had been resting on. The footsteps that filled his ears came to a halt. "What the fuck did you just say?" The man shouts, turning back to face the broken boy who was sitting on the bed, fidgeting. "I'm sorry- I- no actually I'm not. You've treated me like shit and I- I'm not even sure if I like guys and this just isn't right. I'm breaking up with you."
And from that day on, Park Min-Su learned never to stand up for himself again. It felt good when he did, sure, but what happened to him after wasn't worth the short satisfaction.
So now, here he is, with a swollen cheek, but with 100,000 Won in his trembling hand. "Thank you, Sir." He says with a bow before turning around and going to head back to his apartment.
"Park Min-Su, Age 17, Victim of a rental scandal, 150 Million Won in debt, No family or friends, Previously in a relationship with Hun-Ji Jack, Currently a month late with rent, works in a restaurant as a server and previously worked at a bar for a year. Need I go on?" What on earth? He turns back around but doesn't take a step closer to the man, he wants to challenge where he got his information from but he knows better than that.
"Y- Yeah that's right."
Reaching into his suit pocket, the man pulls out a small card and hands it to him. "You're interesting, Min-Su, a nice kid." He pauses and seems to look through Min-Su and straight to his thoughts. "I don't ask, I observe, and from what I can see, you are willing to do what's needed to get money, if you want to play more games like this, phone the number on the card."
And just like that, the man was gone, walking off into the night with his money-filled briefcase in hand.
Pocketing the money, he heads back to his apartment but his eyes don't leave the business card.
When he gets back, he opens the door and heads into his one-room house. It's plain, but it's clean. He shivers and hits the button to turn on the heating, but it doesn't turn green. He's out of gas again. God damn it. He falls back onto the air mattress and holds the card out in front of him. That's when he realizes.
He's desperate.
It's pitful, what he's about to do but what other choice does he have?
All he can do is pull out his beaten-up iPhone 8 and go onto his phone book.
3 contacts.
He has 3 fucking contacts.
His boss, his ex, and his landlord.
It's almost pathetic. But ignoring the lack of social life, he types in the number from the card and brings it to his ear. It rings a few times before stopping on the third ring. The silence on the other end is an indicator that he needs to start the conversation. "Uh... Uh hello? I-is this the guy t-that gave me the b-b-business card?" Damn his stuttering.
"Do you wish to participate in the game? If you wish to participate, please state your full name and age."
Now, at 12.03 AM exactly he's stood outside a sushi restaurant, wired earbuds in his ear playing once more to see you by Mitski. He threw on an old pair of cargos and a plain black shirt. Not knowing what to bring, he brought his phone and the 100,000 Won he had given a few hours before. Just as the song comes to an end, a grey van with blacked-out windows pulls up beside him. The window rolls down revealing a man with a pink body suit and mask with a square on it. That's... Odd? "Sir Park Min-Su?" The masked man says. He nods, his hands inter-wringing with nerves. A habit he was never able to break. "Password?" The man says bluntly as if he's bored. "Uh- I- Red light green light S-sir." He fumbles, glancing around the street;
This isn't right.
Somethings wrong.
The masked man turns his head back to the windscreen and the side door opens. This feels wrong. He shakes the thought off and goes to get in the van, but freezes at the sight of 5 others sleeping. Are they sleeping..? Pushing his nerves down he slips into the seat nearest to the door and it closes. His leg starts to bob with anxiety as he puts his headphones back in. Just as Harvey by Alex G comes into his ears, a gas fills the van- holy shit there's gas "What the hell?! I... I..."
It all went black.
And that is how Park Min-Su's living hell began.