THE END GAME - SQUID GAME

Chapter 92

The team moved cautiously through the dense underbrush, each step measured to avoid snapping twigs or rustling leaves that might alert the enemy. The air was thick with tension, the weight of their mission pressing down on them like the humid forest around them. Jun-ho's injury still throbbed with every movement, but he refused to let it slow him. Minseo matched his pace, her eyes sharp and vigilant, constantly scanning their surroundings.

As they pushed deeper into enemy territory, the path narrowed and the canopy thickened, plunging them into near darkness even in the midday sun. The silence between Jun-ho and Minseo was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was filled with a shared determination, a bond forged in battles fought side by side and moments stolen amid chaos.

Suddenly, Minseo stopped, holding up a hand. Her eyes caught a faint glimmer ahead—a tripwire, almost invisible among the undergrowth.

"Trap," she whispered, her voice tight with warning.

Jun-ho nodded, kneeling to inspect the wire. "They've been setting these along the path for weeks. We have to be careful."

Carefully, Minseo pulled a small toolkit from her pack and began disarming the trap. Jun-ho watched her fingers work with practiced precision, admiration mingling with something deeper. Despite the danger, despite the exhaustion, there was a grace to her movements that held him captive.

"Why do you always have to be so good at this?" he asked quietly.

She smirked without looking up. "Because someone has to keep you alive."

Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the world narrowed to just the two of them—their breaths, their heartbeats, the silent promise lingering between them.

"Minseo," Jun-ho began, his voice softer now, "I don't want to lose you."

Her hands paused on the trap, then she looked up, meeting his gaze with unwavering intensity. "You won't. Not if I can help it."

The moment stretched, raw and fragile. Then a sharp crack echoed through the trees—an enemy patrol, no more than fifty meters away.

"Move," Minseo hissed, grabbing Jun-ho's arm.

They melted into the shadows, hearts pounding as they pressed themselves against the rough bark of a massive tree. The patrol passed too close, voices low but edged with menace.

Jun-ho felt Minseo's hand find his, gripping tight. That simple touch anchored him, reminding him of what they were fighting for—each other.

As the danger faded and the patrol's footsteps receded, Jun-ho pulled Minseo close, their foreheads resting together in the cool shade.

"We'll get through this," he promised.

"We have to," she replied, voice barely above a whisper.

They stayed there for a long moment, two warriors caught between war and the fragile hope of something more. And as the forest around them whispered its secrets, they both knew their greatest fight was not just for survival—but for the chance to build a future together.