“But still… why are you doing this? Why did you save me?”
In-ho tightened the last loop of the bandage, smoothed it down with his fingers, and only then replied,
“Sometimes it just takes one small thing to remind yourself you’re still human.”
He didn’t look at him. His hands moved away right away, gathering the supplies and tucking them neatly back into the first-aid kit. He said it calmly — like he was stating a fact, not confessing anything.
Gi-hun went quiet. The question hovered on his tongue — should he push, ask more? But something in In-ho’s tone felt too personal, too raw. It made him stop. He leaned back instead, eyes on the ceiling, letting himself breathe for a moment, trying to find silence.
But silence never came. Memories did.
The office. That conversation.
He’d spoken differently then — dropped the mask in every sense, unguarded for the first time. He’d even switched to an informal tone.
“Sometimes. When you’re around.”
Softly said — too honest to forget. In that moment, Gi-hun had almost seen not the Front Man, but the man underneath. And that was the worst part.
He’d been the one to say, “You still want me to see someone human in you,” and the answer had been a simple, unguarded “Yes.” No excuses. No attempts to defend himself.
And now — the wall again. The distance. The cold tone. The return to “Mr. Seong.” As if that night in the office had never happened, as if the door had slammed shut right after.
Gi-hun clenched his jaw. Better not to remember. Easier to hate.
Easier than admitting there might still be someone alive under that mask.
✦ A short excerpt from Exit Code — our Squid Game fanfic that’s still in progress but already goes beyond canon.
Written together with my amazing co-author 💥
For now it’s only available in Russian, but we might bring an English version someday 👀
Full fic (in Russian) → [Ficbook]
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