ISOLATED • squid game

[ ONE ]

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

When Jiwon was a child, she hated being waken up before her body woke up naturally. It was often a sudden and scary call, either her sister or mother frantically pulling her out of bed for a home inspection by police.

It was never a pleasant experience for her, being woken up early. So, now, as she was awoken by bright lights and sudden classical music, she groaned and pulled her blanket over her head.

Wait. Classical music? She pulled the blanket down and sat up, utterly confused. Hundreds of people around her looked to be in the same situation.

She glanced down at her clothing, an aqua tracksuit with the number 073 printed on her chest. White slip on shoes adorned her feet, and she looked around to see she was on the very top of a row of bunk beds.

Jiwon carefully climbed down the ladder and followed the other people down the platform, recollecting her memories from the day before.

Salesman. Ddakji. 100,00 won. Business card. Red light, green light.

As she jumped down off the final platform, a thud and a cackle met her ears, and the crowd in front of her gasped. She pushed forward through them to see two very familiar people in the middle of the circle.

The people around her muttered and whispered, as she stared at the scene in front of her.

Deok-su still laughed as he circled the girl on the floor. The girl on the floor was her older sister.

" It really is a small world, huh?" He mused as she stumbled up off the floor, breathing heavily. Jiwon kept glancing between them.

" Look at those eyes. You still have that temper, huh. Then again, nobody broke your spirit, you could always take a hit." Her sister didn't say anything, just stared with that familiar gaze.

" I took care of you, I fed you, I taught you when you had nobody else. This is what I get?" Jiwon rolled her eyes. Speaking the exact same words he used on her.

" You took more from me than whatever I might possibly owe." Saebyeok bit back, glancing over and catching Jiwon in the crowd. She had to do a double take, but didn't let that break her demeanour.

" If all of that's true, how come you ran then?"

" Well, I didn't. I went independent." Saebyeok replied, and Jiwon rolled her eyes. Sure as hell she did. Fully independent.

Deok-su only laughed at her, with that ugly smile on his face.

" Independent?" He repeated, mockingly. His face soon fell, and he swung for her. She easily dodged his fist, and as he went for her again, he spotted Jiwon.

" Hey! Looks like both of the little traitors are here, huh?" Jiwon kept her expression cold, shoving her hands in her pockets.

" Surprised you hadn't come running back. We even made a bet on it." He'd clearly lost, she could tell by his angry expression.

" Cry me a river." She responded in the same tone, shifting her weight.

" I'd never come running back to you. Not even if you were the last man on Earth." This set him off, and he lunged for her, grabbing her collar and throwing her to the ground.