[18:10]
Time continued to pass. Footsteps and heavy breathing became the silent yet gripping background music of the game.
Jo and Reina managed to hide in a small room on the 9th floor. The room was dark, only lit by a dim light from a window covered by half-torn curtains. They sat on the floor, their backs against the wall, breathing heavily after running in panic from the upper floor.
Reina closed her eyes. "This place… smells damp," she muttered.
Jo laughed softly. "I don't think we have many choices if we want to live."
Silence followed for a few seconds, then Reina opened her eyes and looked at Jo.
"Jo," she said softly. "Can I be honest?"
Jo nodded.
Reina hugged her knees and leaned towards Jo. "Since entering this game world… everything feels empty. As if life is no longer ours."
Jo didn't respond directly, just stared at Reina silently.
"But," Reina continued, "when you're here… time feels slow. I can laugh, I can feel… alive."
Jo was silent. His heart was pounding, not because of the game, but because of Reina's words.
Reina looked at him straight in the eye. "I don't know how long we can survive in this place. But if… I have to die someday… I just want you to know… I like you, Jo."
Jo returned her gaze. "Reina…"
His eyes were slightly watery. But before he could say anything further, there was the sound of quick footsteps from the hallway and then the bedroom door was pushed open.
"Jo, you're here!"
It was Mina.
Without realizing it, he ran and immediately hugged Reina from the side. "I was being chased! I didn't know where I was going! I thought you…"
Beep!
"STATUS: REINA - GUARD"
(Transition in 5 seconds)
Reina froze. Mina's hug made her a guard now.
Mina slowly pulled away, her eyes widening in realization.
"Reina... I... I didn't mean to."
Reina lowered her head. Her breath hitched. She tried to smile thinly.
"It's okay, Min."
Jo stood up. "Wait, we still have time. We can switch statuses again."
Reina raised her hand. "No. If I keep running... you guys will be the targets. I'm strong. I can take it."
Jo looked at her with disapproval. "Reina, don't talk like that."
Reina looked at him, this time with a soft smile. "I want you to live, Jo. You... and Mina... and the others. I'll survive. I promise."
[16:45]
Reina stepped out of the room.
Jo was about to chase after her, but Mina grabbed her arm. "Jo... please, listen to him. He knows what he's doing."
Jo clenched his fists, but eventually nodded slowly.
From behind the door, Reina turned to look at him once more.
"If I lose... remember, I never regret knowing you."
And she disappeared into the hallway.
She was a guard now, and time kept on ticking.
[00:03:00 – 3 minutes left]
The ticking of the game clock echoed throughout the apartment building, like a slow death song approaching.
"Time left: 3 minutes. Guard status: Reina."
The large screens at the end of the hallway displayed the locations of all the players in real-time. Cameras from various angles captured the tense faces of Jo, Mina, Ren, and Taka.
Reina ran. Her breath was heavy. Her face was wet with sweat and without realizing it, tears. She had passed two floors, had seen Taka on the 13th floor, then Ren on the emergency stairs. But she didn't touch anyone.
Her hand rose several times… but stopped in midair.
[00:02:20]
On the 11th floor, Jo stood in the middle of the hallway. His eyes stared straight at Reina who had just emerged from the stairs.
Reina stopped in her tracks. Her breath was heavy. Her eyes met Jo's.
"Reina…" Jo whispered, then raised his hand slowly. "Do it."
Reina shook her head, her lips trembling. "Don't be stupid… I can't, Jo…"
Jo took a step forward. "If you don't touch anyone, you'll die. I can't lose you."
Reina took a step back, holding back tears. "But I also can't… watch you die because of me."
[00:01:45]
Ren and Mina appeared from the side of the hallway. Taka from behind the pillar. Everyone stared at Reina and Jo. No one moved. They realized: Reina… refused to save herself.
Jo shouted—not at Reina, but at destiny.
"If you die, Reina, then why am I living in a place like this?"
Reina walked forward with trembling steps. Her hand was half raised, almost touching Jo. They were only a meter apart.
Jo closed his eyes. "Touch me… I'm willing."
Tears streamed down Reina's cheeks. She raised her hand…
…then lowered it again.
[00:00:30]
Reina turned and started running. She ran as fast as she could, away from everything, so that she wouldn't be tempted to save herself by sacrificing the people she loved.
Jo chased after her. "REINA! COME BACK! DON'T DO THIS!"
Reina kept running to the end of the hall… towards the large window with the twilight burning the sky of the empty city.
[00:00:10]
Reina stopped. She stood with her back to everyone. The screen on the wall focused on her face.
"Jo…" she said without turning around. "Thank you for making me feel alive, even for a moment."
[00:00:05]
Jo screamed, "REINA!!!"
[00:00:03]
Reina's smile widened. "Don't let this world change you…"
[00:00:01]
TING!
[ELIMINATION: Reina – The Last Guardian]
White light enveloped Reina's body. Then… she disappeared. As if she had never existed.
Silence enveloped the long hallway.
Jo knelt down. His hands clenched on the floor. Tears were stuck in his throat. There was no background music. There was no winner.
Only emptiness.
The apartment room felt empty. The night sky outside the window was only a silent witness to the loss that had just happened.
The atmosphere was so quiet. There was no television, no jokes, no Reina.
Jo sat alone at the dining table.
The chandelier above his head gave off a warm light, but it was not enough to dispel the coldness of his newly broken heart.
In front of him…
A black, soft hair tie, curled on the table like a never-ending memory. It belonged to Reina. The last time she had used it was when she tied her hair up while laughing while cooking with Jo a few days ago.
Jo stared at the object in silence.
His hand slowly lifted the hair tie, holding it tightly as if he could hold Reina's presence once again.
Jo's monologue (narration in his heart):
"I used to think love could only grow in the real world—in a normal world, full of sunlight, and everyday laughter. But it turns out… even in the darkest place, in the hell of this game… love can find its place.
Reina… you made me want to survive. You gave me a reason not to give up.
But today, that reason… is gone.
And this wound, the wound of losing you, is more real than anything I've ever faced in my life.
I promise…
I will continue to live.
Not just for me. But for you.
And when all this is over, if there really is an end…
I will meet you there."
Behind the bedroom door, Mina leaned her head.
She heard Jo's monologue in her soft voice. Her tears fell slowly.
Ren and Taka sat silently on the balcony, staring at the sky. Neither of them could hide their sorrow.
However, amidst the sadness, there was one thing that grew—determination.
They knew… the game wasn't over. And they had to keep going.
The screen went black.
White text appeared:
"Remaining life: Jo + 10 days | Mina + 7 days | Ren + 8 days | Taka + 9 days"