Summary: Today is Front Man's birthday! Though he believed no one knew, he received an unexpected greeting from someone.
It was already late!
The time felt heavy after a day of torment and physical exertion. The players were tired out from the deadly game and lay stretched across their beds. Some were moving in their restless sleep, while others simply stared at the ceiling with empty eyes. They got only a small, dry biscuit and plain milk for dinner. And it didn't help to fill their empty stomachs at all.
Jun-hee slowly got up from her bed. Unfortunately, the call of nature had a different agenda than her body's desperate need for rest. Pain shot through her body when she started to walk slowly. She could feel her muscles aching as if she'd run a marathon. They felt stiff and a little bit resistant.
She headed to the main door to ask a guard for permission to use the toilet. But to her surprise, the masked guards who usually stood there were nowhere to be seen.
That was odd! Where did they go?
She was a little puzzled to find the scary guards missing. It's weird that they are not present to secure the quarters. She waited a few moments, but no one appeared to escort her to the toilet.
With a heavy sigh, she decided to go alone. She couldn't wait! She really needed to use the toilet right away. Besides, it wouldn't be her fault if they noticed Player 222 was missing. There was no reason for them to shoot her, right? She hoped not, anyway.
….
After she used the toilet, her discomfort eased a little. Jun-hee decided to leave the restroom to go back to the quarters. But as she turned to head back, a soft clinking sound caught her attention.
Down the poorly lit corridor, near a service entrance, a lone figure stood. Jun-hee observed it first until she realized it was a circle-masked guard. The guard didn't know she was there. He looked very focused and didn't notice her. She saw him arranging something on a small metal tray.
What was he doing?
Jun-hee got curious. From the safety of the shadows, she quietly watched the guard.
He was carefully placing a single, triangular slice of cake onto a plate. But this wasn't just an ordinary cake. It was beautifully decorated! The cake had pretty icing flowers on top in soft pinks and blues. There were also cute little bears made from frosting. A small candy ribbon was wrapped around the bottom of the cake slice, making it look extra special.
A cake? Was it someone's birthday?
Her face showed her confusion as she watched the cake. It was decorated in a way that looked like it was made for a child. The kind she'd only ever seen at kids’ birthday parties.
It made her even more curious. After so many people had been killed, how could someone have the audacity to still be celebrating a birthday in this brutal place? Like, what was going on?
She knew she should go back to her quarters to rest, but she couldn't resist. She had to find out where the guard was taking that cake.
The guard was about to leave the corridor with the cake on its tray. Jun-hee made a snap decision. Despite knowing it was a bad idea, she chose to follow him. She didn't know what danger it could bring, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear.
.
.
.
Within his cold, minimalist private quarters, the Front Man stood before a massive, dark monitor. He was staring out at the extensive surveillance network covering the entire game facility. The only sound breaking the dead silence was a faint whir of machines in the distance.
Today was his birthday!
He had been very careful to keep this a secret. It was a small, personal thing he believed no one could ever know. He liked it that way. Birthdays were for sentiment! And sentiment had no place in the big, harsh plan he was in charge of now.
His intense concentration was interrupted by the quiet click of the elevator. He turned as they opened, his masked face unreadable. It was the same circle-masked guard who had delivered his dinner earlier. A routine, faceless interaction. The guard entered the room holding the metal tray in his hand.
But this time, he saw a small plate with a slice of cake on it.
A jolt went through the Front Man. He couldn't understand what was happening. He narrowed his eyes, though the guard couldn't see it behind the mask he was wearing.
"What is this?" There was a hint of real confusion in his voice.
The circle guard said nothing, his head bowed a little. He simply put the tray on the side table.
Still confused, the Front Man kept his eyes on the piece of cake decorated with cute designs.
Who made this? And why did the guard bring it to him? He couldn't remember making an order to bring him a cake as a dessert.
The guard reached into the pocket of his pink uniform and showed a small, folded piece of paper. He placed it on the tray next to the cake.
The Front Man picked it up. His gloved fingers unfolded the note. In neat, simple handwriting, he felt surprised by what he saw.
Happy Birthday, Sir!
After reading those words, the Front Man watched the circle guard form an "O" with both hands, lifting them above his head. The "O" gesture usually means "pass" or "all clear" when a participant wins a game.
But this time, it felt different. They weren't playing a game now. Maybe the guard was trying to cheer him up for his birthday. Or perhaps it was a quiet acknowledgment that someone saw him beyond his role and responsibilities.
Even though his mask showed nothing, a mix of strong emotions was building inside him. For a short time, he felt a warm comfort he wasn't used to. It was as if someone remembered him. Known and cherished, especially today. It was such a strange and hidden feeling. And he wouldn't deny it surprised him a lot!
But then….
A cold, sharp anger quickly replaced the warmth. How could this faceless subordinate know such a private detail about him? It felt like an attack on his privacy! His carefully guarded anonymity had been violated.
"How did you know?" His voice was sharper now, laced with a dangerous edge. "Tell me. How did you get this information?"
The poor guard remained still and silent. His hands dropped instantly. Maybe he got scared by the sound of his angry voice and that left him completely unresponsive. He seemed physically unable to speak.
Grabbing the pistol at his hip, the Front Man quickly pulled it out, pointing it directly at the guard.
He had no intention of killing him or causing any harm. He knew the circle-masked guards were the lowest rank, and most of them were innocent. He was also aware they couldn't defend themselves because of a lack of combat training compared to triangle and square soldiers. They were mere followers and definitely couldn't pose a threat to others.
"Speak! Or I will kill you!"
Again, causing harm was still the furthest thing from his mind. He just wanted the guard to be scared so he'd reveal how he knew about his private information.
Just as his finger tightened slightly on the trigger, a loud and urgent voice cut through the tense silence.
"Sir, please put your gun down. He's innocent!"
The Front Man froze. He knew that voice!
He turned his head sharply. And he was right! Standing outside the open elevator, he could see the young lady looking at him. The girl was one of the players. Her eyes instantly filled with terror when their gazes locked.
It was Player 222, Jun-hee.
"Please, don't hurt him!" Jun-hee moved quickly despite the pain she was feeling right now due to the brutal games she had played earlier. Stepping in front of the guard, she used her body as a shield against the Front Man, whose pistol was still raised. Her voice trembled slightly but remained firm as she continued, "He didn't mean any harm. He's just trying to be nice to you."
The Front Man stared at her, his disbelief palpable even behind the mask.
"What are you doing here, Player 222? How did you get here? Don't you know this is trespassing and against my orders?" He spoke in a low, menacing tone. "And why are you defending him?"
Where are the guards watching the player's quarters? How did Player 222 get into his private room? How could this woman possibly bypass security and enter a restricted area without being noticed? The guards should be paying more attention to players leaving their rooms! He needs to talk to them right away after all of this unacceptable breach!
"I… I just wanted to check on him, and then..." Jun-hee stammered, then regained her composure. "I saw him. He was just preparing the cake for you. He wasn't doing anything wrong." She gestured towards the cake on the tray. "It's your birthday, isn't it? He was just trying to do something special for you."
"You mean, you followed him?" The Front Man's voice dropped to a low, threatening growl. He was stunned. Not just by her confession, but by her mention of his birthday. He felt his privacy was invaded, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable.
"Y-Yes, I followed him. I mean... I want to know where he—"
"You risked your life for this?” Damn! This woman was truly unpredictable! "Don't you know how dangerous this place is? What if one of the guards had killed you?”
He knew he shouldn't show any concern for Player 222. He was the Front Man, after all! He had set strict boundaries for himself, promising never to display any weakness. He needed to remain emotionless to everyone in this brutal place, a stoic enforcer of the rules.
Yet, her presence here, defending the guard, was a never-before-seen challenge to his authority and his carefully constructed mask. It was a new kind of trouble that made him feel uneasy.
"I'm...I'm sorry, I was just curious," Jun-hee admitted, her eyes meeting his. "And then I saw you pointing the gun. He's innocent, Sir! It doesn't matter where he got your information. You shouldn't punish someone for kindness regardless of the situation."
The Front Man's gaze went between Jun-hee and the silent guard.
He had built a world of brutality where kindness was a weakness. A danger! Yet, Player 222 put her life on the line to defend a person she should not trust, all for an unexpected act of human kindness. He never believed in the inherent good of people, especially not in a place like this. He saw only self-interest and a primal will to survive. He thought everyone was only out for themselves.
But what he saw now made him pause.
He slowly lowered the gun, though he didn't put it away.
"You think this is kindness?" he scoffed, but the conviction in his voice cracked. "This is a breach of protocol. A weakness!"
"No," Jun-hee countered, her voice softer now. "It's humanity. Even in a place like this, some people still have it. And maybe… maybe it's still there, inside you." She looked at the cake. "He probably doesn't even know how he knew. Maybe he just heard something or saw a date. But he chose to do something nice with that information."
The Front Man looked at the small note again. His gaze shifted from the cake to the silent guard, then back to Jun-hee. Her face was sincere and unafraid, full of bravery.
He had run this whole game thinking that people's kindness was just an act! He believed it was something easily lost when people became desperate or greedy.
But now, right in front of him, was clear proof that he was wrong. Player 222 was a living example of something he thought could not exist in this cruel place. He had built his world on the idea that people only cared about themselves. And that being kind was a big mistake!
But Jun-hee's bold act, defending a guard she barely knew, made him see a crack in his own beliefs. This wasn't just a challenge to his power. It made him question every assumption he'd ever made about humanity.
He sighed, a sound barely audible beneath his mask. The gun clicked as he holstered it.
Just then, a group of triangle soldiers appeared. Their gun barrels glinting as they entered the room. A few of them froze, visibly surprised and confused to see Player 222 speaking directly with the Front Man. The air was thick with questions no one said out loud, and a nervous feeling. No one dared to speak. They waited for the Front Man's command.
"Leave," he ordered, his voice flat. "Both of you."
Jun-hee nodded. Despite everything that had just happened, a small, barely noticeable smile touched her lips. She turned to the circle guard, nodding to give him a silent signal that he was safe to go.
Jun-hee noticed the slight tremble in the guard's gloved hands. She sensed he'd tried to appear tough when the Front Man pointed a gun at him, but deep inside, he was scared. A wave of pity washed over her. He had shown kindness on someone's birthday. And yet, this was the harsh reward after everything he did.
The circle guard began to walk towards the exit door, accompanied by the triangle soldiers. Then, Jun-hee followed.
But just before she stepped all the way out, she paused. She turned back to the Front Man who was now staring at the cake on his tray.
"I know you're not a bad person, Sir. Thank you for letting him go. It might sound a bit odd, but… I wish you all the happiness you deserve. I hope you find a little peace," she said, her voice clear and gentle in the quiet room. "H-Happy Birthday."
And then, she was gone. Jun-hee quietly followed the group of masked guards who were there to take her back to the quarters.
Just as the elevator closed, In-ho was left alone with his cake that was made by the circle guard. He felt a mix of emotions all at once. His mind was spinning, filled with a mess of thoughts.
All he could hear was the gentle sound of that birthday wish he never saw coming. It was a soft voice in a harsh world. A whisper of pure humanity in the barren landscape of his existence.
And that made him feel confused. Something else he couldn't name. He desperately wished he could disregard what Player 222 had said. But this is something that he couldn't simply ignore…
A glass gleaming in the far corner of the room snagged his attention. It was small, almost hidden beneath a pile of discarded junk.
A familiar pain squeezed his chest as he slowly reached for it. His gloved fingers trembling, and he could tell how his breath stuttered. Tears welled in his eyes, and he allowed himself to feel vulnerable.
This was it! The secret he'd been keeping.
It came from Player 222's personal belongings. And that was a secret he was sure no one else knew.
During the time he spent with other participants as Player 001, he realized he had a soft spot for her. Perhaps Jun-hee's pregnancy brought memories from his own dark past. He couldn't say why he felt that way.
He took off his mask while holding the item in his gloved hands. His eyes returned to the item. The words were written on its old, fancy cover. La Vie en Rose. It was a thing connecting Player 222 to his late wife…