No Way Out (Squidgame s2 x child reader)

|12|

🌃🌃🌃

Jun-hee and I exchanged a glance, and without saying much, we both silently agreed—it was time for a bathroom break. She stood up first, and I followed close behind, staying right by her side just in case. The last thing I needed was another embarrassing collapse in front of everyone. My legs still felt a little wobbly, but nothing like before.

The bathroom was dimly lit, the air thick and stale. The mirrors were smudged and the smell—well, I tried not to focus on that. We stood near the far end, away from the others, and while Jun-hee washed her hands, I leaned against the sink, rubbing my temples.

That's when I noticed her.

An older woman approached, her movements slow but deliberate. Her short, graying hair framed a kind face, and despite everything, she managed to give me a small smile. The number 149 was printed on her uniform.

"How are you feeling, dear?" she asked, her voice gentle.

I blinked, confused for a moment—then it hit me. Right. I fainted. In front of everyone.

My face flushed with embarrassment, and I quickly nodded, hoping to brush it off. "Oh! I'm fine. Really," I said, waving my hand dismissively.

She chuckled softly. "That was quite the scare. You should take it easy, hm? No need to push yourself too hard."

I bit the inside of my cheek, feeling a little guilty. People were actually concerned about me, which wasn't something I was used to.

"Thank you," I said, my voice quieter this time.

She gave me another reassuring smile before heading toward one of the stalls. I watched her go, then turned back to Jun-hee, who was drying her hands with the bottom of her shirt.

"You good?" she asked, her brows slightly raised.

I exhaled a small laugh. "Yeah. Just... processing, I guess."

She nodded, understanding without me having to say much. "Let's get back before Dae-ho drinks all the milk he doesn't even need."

I snorted, shaking my head, and we walked back together, side by side.

As Jun-hee and I made our way back to the main area, the air felt slightly less suffocating. Maybe it was because I had taken a moment to breathe, or maybe it was because of 149's kindness. Either way, I felt lighter.

We stepped into the vast room filled with bunk beds, but it was noticeably emptier than before. The others were still in the bathroom or lingering around eating whatever was left of their breakfast. We were the first of our group to return, which gave us a rare moment of peace.

Jun-hee plopped down onto one of the lower bunks and patted the spot next to her. I hesitated for a second before sitting down, stretching my legs out in front of me.

She sighed dramatically, leaning back on her palms. "I swear, if I see one more piece of stale bread, I might actually start hallucinating a buffet."

I giggled, nudging her shoulder. "A whole buffet? What's on the menu?"

She hummed, tilting her head. "Definitely rice. The real kind, fluffy and warm. Maybe some kimchi stew too. Oh! And kkanpunggi—I make the best spicy garlic fried chicken."

My stomach grumbled at the thought, and I groaned. "Why would you do this to me? Now I'm going to be thinking about food all day."

Jun-hee laughed, then turned to me with a playful smirk. "Okay, your turn. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?"