ISOLATED • squid game

[ PROLOGUE ]

( season 1, episode 1: red light, green light )

" You communist little bitch." Deok-su scoffed, watching as the girl put her jacket on. She only rolled her eyes.

" Your sister ran away from us, now you too? What is the deal with you guys?" Jiwon zipped up her jacket and stared at him.

" It's not us. It's you. You're a manipulative piece of shit, and we don't need you anymore." His expression went from annoyed to furious, but he changed it quickly.

As she went to leave, he stood in the doorway of the bedroom, seething. Jiwon leaned all her weight on one side, and sighed.

" Deok-su...are you really this desperate? There's plenty of other women for you to get a piece of." She tutted.

" I fed you. I taught you. I helped you when nobody else would. And now you're just gonna leave?" Jiwon huffed. She'd had enough.

" Deok-su, you'll get over it. Are you really gonna stand here and beg me? Hm, embarrassing." She mocked him, before shoving past him and leaving the house, ignoring his shouts and insulting words.

She quietly made her way to the subway, where it was rather quiet. That being said, it was 11 at night.

Jiwon sat down on a bench and checked her phone. She'd be waiting for about half an hour.

She didn't have much time to herself, though, as footsteps made her look to her left, and a well dressed man sat down beside her, putting his briefcase on the floor.

She assumed he was waiting for the next train to Ssangmun-dong, so she didn't bother interacting.

" Hello, miss?" He spoke up, and she turned to look at him.

" May I speak with you?" She sighed, crossing her legs.

" Listen, I'm not trying to be rude, but if you're here to preach about Jesus, I'm not interested." The man shook his head, straightening his posture.

" I'm not here for that. I wanted to let you in on a big opportunity. Would you like to play a game with me?" He asked, and Jiwon gave him a look as if to say 'are you mad?'.

" What kind of game?" The man clicked open his briefcase and turned it to her. Inside sat two cards, a red one and a blue one. Next to it, was what appeared to be a buttload of cash.

" Miss, I'm sure you've played ddakji before, correct?" She nodded slightly. She remembered playing in high school a couple times.

" Play a few rounds of ddakji with me, and each time you win, I'll pay you a 100,000 won." Jiwon laughed under her breath. There was no way this man was serious.

" What's the catch?" She questioned, sitting up straight.

" There's no catch. If you flip my ddakji, I give you 100,000 won. If I can flip yours, you will give me the exact same amount of money." And there it is.

Jiwon sighed, frustrated.

" Do I look like I'd have that kind of cash on me?" She chuckled, shaking her head. The man appeared unfazed.

" How about you pay with your body, then?" He suggested, and she snapped her head up towards him, eyes wide.

" Sorry?"

" Every-time you win, I pay you 100,000 won. But, every-time I win, I get to slap you in the face." Jiwon was very suspicious. 100,000 won after a few slaps in the face? Child's play.

" You can even go first." With a sigh, Jiwon stood up and looked at him as he held the cards out. She slipped the red one out of his grasp and held it between her fingers as he placed his on the ground.