Flaming Glow (Sang Woo x Fem!OC)

Chapter 4

Y/N drew her legs to her chest or at least, she thought she did. She couldn't be sure as she was blindfolded and bound. "Fuck, it's cold," she said, trying to somehow pull her wrists down to her ankles. She didn't know what she'd do once she got in that position but maybe she could at least get her legs free. The ground dug into the skin of her arms and legs. If she didn't know any better, she might think she was laying on asphalt.

"Hold still." Y/N froze in her wriggling. She knew that voice. Cold fingers wrapped around her forearm as her wrists were freed from their restraints, then her ankles, and finally, the blindfold was removed.

"Thank you," she said, rubbing her wrists. She looked up to see Sang-Woo standing above her and he wasn't dressed. The cold prickled his skin and she sucked in a breath, chest feeling strangely tight. Then she looked down and saw she also wasn't wearing anything but her undergarments. Boring ones at that. "Oh God."

"Yes, it seems they just threw us out on the street." He extended a hand and Y/N hesitated. She didn't want him to see her undressed, certainly not like this. But she considered what had just happened and she thought she'd moved beyond embarrassment and pride. She took his hand.

Her bare feet on the ground caused her to shiver. Sang-Woo glanced down at her only once before pushing up his glasses and turning away. It was kind of him. "Our clothes are scattered everywhere," he said. "I'll get them."

"Thank you." She crossed her arms over her chest, looking around. They truly had been dropped in the middle of the street in Yeouido and they weren't alone. Standing at some distance was player 199, the man who'd saved Gi-Hun in Red Light, Green Light. He was getting dressed and gave a tentative wave when he noticed her attention. She lifted her fingers from her arm in reply. For some reason, she wasn't nearly as embarrassed to be unclothed before him as she was with Sang-Woo.

Sang-Woo handed her a bundle of clothing, gaze intent on her face and nowhere else. She wasn't as noble. She watched Sang-Woo button his shirt as she tried to tuck her own blouse into her slacks. Why she'd dressed like she was actually going on a job interview was beyond her. Sang-Woo brushed hair out of his face and adjusted his glasses. He truly was lovely.

He cut his eyes at her and she flinched, caught like a hare in a trap.

"Excuse me, where are we?" asked player 199. She looked up at the night sky, thankful for the distraction.

"Somewhere in Yeouido," replied Sang-Woo.

"And where is that?"

"In the center of Seoul."

"What's your name?" she asked 199.

"Ali Abdul," he said and he smiled. It was utterly disarming--Gi-Hun had the same gift of easy charm. Y/N wished she possessed it.

"You saved my best friend in there," she said, smiling. "Thank you, sir." Sang-Woo looked up from lighting his cigarette at her formal address. Ali also noted it because he shook his head. "No, I owe you a debt."

"I would do it for anyone," he said and Y/N thought that was true.

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The steam rising from the bowl of ramyeon was almost enough to make Y/N forget the past day. She was low on cash but she needed something good and clearly, so did Ali. She got another bowl of ramyeon at the convenience store without thinking and pushed it in front of him. He thanked her so profusely for it, she would have thought it was made of gold. It took the burn of spending so much money away, especially since there was no longer any chance of a spectacular windfall.