(POV In-ho) "There's no way!?", I gasped. The warm summer breeze was surrounding us and promised a beautiful day in the beginning of July. We had left the Netherlands a week ago, trying our luck in Belgium now. Mi-na and I were going for a walk alongside the Zenne river in Brussels as she told me the news: apparently she had found a trace of her parents. "I can't believe it either, but all the facts and dates seem to correspond. I found a man, 42 years old, who claims that his girlfriend was pregnant over 25 years ago. She died during childbirth, probably because of eclampsia. Even though they were a couple back then, he was still a minor so he couldn't accept paternity and the baby girl was given to a orphan house where it had been adopted by a Korean couple who already had an adopted daughter, Min-jung. The orphan house gave me a phone number and when I called the man said he would like to meet me. Isn't that crazy? I mean after all this time I finally found someone." Mi-na shook her head in disbelief. I frowned. "The guy is younger than me or Gi-hun...that's weird, I feel super old now. But back to the important stuff: how is he? And what does he do for a living?" "Apparently he's a registrar, some kind of lawyer or public prosecutor I think. I don't know much about such things, you only taught me to navigate ships, use guns and supervise death-games, brother." Mi-na softly punched my shoulder and we both laughed. But on my mind the thoughts had started to spin as she was talking: a registrar? Or even some higher authority? As far as I remembered those were exactly the people who had denied us some special authorization to get married... so probably the guy was some unsympathetic snob. But what if he wasn't? What if Mi-na met the guy and he was actually likable? "Mi-na, you have to meet him. Whatever he does for a living, if this guy is really your parental producer then you should know. I admit that it's weird that he's younger than me but that doesn't matter, if he's the one you've been searching for. As long as he's nice to you. And Jun-ho shall better hope that your dad is well-disposed towards him too, since he's your boyfriend and almost 30 years old." Mi-na rolled her eyes. "In fact I didn't tell Jun-ho yet. He's been supporting me so much and I know he's worried that the whole thing could wear me out too much... I don't want to get his hopes up or worry him even more at the same time. He really is a good guy, inside out." I nodded pensively and smiled: "He sure is. A far better man than I have ever been." Mi-na shook her head: "In-ho that's not true. I know what you did, better than anyone else because I was in this with you. But you are not a bad person, no matter what you did. After my sister's death, your wife's death, you have always been there for me, you took me with you to the games and gave me a position there and even though you're just my brother-in-law, you always treated me like I really was your sister." I smiled and messed up her light hair with my hand. "Because you are my sister. You were there when we both had no family left and you always had my back, especially when I met Gi-hun." "Gi-hun is the best thing that could ever have happened to you. You're far nicer since you met him, do you know that? He brings out the best in you.", Mi-na listed the facts. "Yes - but he's too good for me", I sighed, "and I'm scared that one day he'll notice that, and then he's going to leave me."That was the first time that I had spoken it out loud. With every time we failed getting a wedding appointment I got more and more unsettled. What if karma thought that I didn't deserve a man like him and what if some higher powers decided that we wouldn't end up together because of everything I had done before? There was no point in denying that the ghosts of my past kept haunting me. Mi-na shook her head. "You are aware that Gi-hun would punch you for telling such nonsense? He's completely in love with you and he wouldn't have accepted your proposal if he wasn't sure about you. In-ho, have you seen him? Every time you guys kiss he smiles like a honeypot. In fact Gi-hun does nothing but smile all the time, I don't recognize any trace of the man I saw participating in the second games." Despite my doubts I suddenly felt comfortably warm. It was true, Gi-hun seemed happy. He was confident, always messing with me, always down to do something crazy or stupid and our physical chemistry was undeniable. And Mi-na was right about one thing: Gi-hun would definitely punch me if he knew my doubts.



(POV Gi-hun)

I was on my way back from the gym when I felt my phone buzzing. 'Not now', I thought, 'Who thinks he can disturb my peaceful summer day in Belgium?' Impatient I waited until the buzzing stopped so I could use my phone again.

I was entering our apartment when my phone buzzed again - I sighed and answered the call... and instantly froze when I realized who was at the other end. "Gi-hun, it's been a long time.", a female voice said. "Kang Eun-ji", I gasped. I had never expected my ex-wife to contact me again, unless... "Why are you calling? Is our daughter alright? Ga-yeong?" I started panicking. "Don't worry, she's fine. I just heard rumors about you... rumors saying that you're a wealthy man by now and I wanted to know if this is true.", she said and I laughed contemptuously: "Seriously, Eun-ji? You take our daughter away to the United States, forbid me to contact her and now you decide to call me because you heard that I am rich?" I couldn't believe it. "I want to make peace, Gi-hun. If you really made something out of yourself by now, I want you to be a father to Ga-yeong.", my ex-wife explained and I slowly sat down on an armchair. "Are you for real?", I asked, not daring to get my hopes up. I hadn't seen my daughter in five years and her loss still caused me pain. "Look, if you really mean it, then you can always visit me. At the moment I'm traveling Europe with my fiancé. Or if you don't want than maybe we could come and visit you both." The voice on the phone paused and I wondered if she was still there; then she continued talking: "Your... fiancé? When did that happen?", she asked tonelessly. I wanted to answer something when I heard the apartment's door open: In-ho was home. "Hi love, I'm home!", he shouted and obviously my ex-wife could hear him, because she asked in confusion: "Was that a guy? Seong Gi-hun, what the hell is that supposed to mean!?" The tone in her voice made me angry, I didn't like her judging me. In-ho entered the room with a wide smile on his face, remaining silent as he saw that I was on the phone. He was so wonderful and I couldn't help but give my ex-wife a snappy answer: "Yes and I intend to marry him as soon as it can be arranged. Contact me as soon as you made your decision if you and our daughter will come to the wedding." Without awaiting an answer I hung up and went to kiss my boyfriend. "Hello baby.", I said decidedly relaxed, but In-ho gave me a confused look. "Who was that on the phone? Was that your wife?" I sighed and nodded, saying no more. "Your wife called you and you told her to come to the wedding?" In-ho's confusion was hard to miss. I took his hand in mine, trying to explain: "I don't care about my ex, all I care about is my daughter. I haven't seen her in years and by now she's a teenager. No need to be jealous." I grinned and pulled In-ho on my lap. In-ho couldn't help but smirk as well as he answered: "Fine but if this woman fcks with us then I need to come up with some consequences."

I rolled my eyes and kissed him passionately. "Chill dude, I'm all yours. No need for any sanctions." In-ho blushed and kissed me back, still sitting on my lap. "No, I'm serious, you were right to invite them to our wedding, if we shall ever have one. Your daughter is your family and if you get the chance to stay in touch with her you must take it. Family is important." I smiled and messed up his hair. "You and I are family. And don't say if we shall ever have one. Cause we will."

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Author's note: Will they, won't they? Stay tuned if the wedding in question will ever take place... Will Frontman be able to control his jealousy? And did you wonder what happened to the 49 players who survived the Squid Games? I guess we'll find out soon.

Lots of love to yall xx