Chapter 11: Shadows of Doubt

As Young-il's fingers grazed his skin, Myung-gi felt a wave of discomfort wash over him. He tried to pull away, but Young-il's grip was firm, yet gentle. The older man's eyes seemed to bore into his soul, as if searching for something hidden deep within. "I'm fine," Myung-gi said, his voice laced with a hint of irritation. "I can take care of myself." Young-il's smile never wavered. "I'm sure you can, but sometimes it's nice to have someone help you out. Especially in a place like this." Myung-gi's eyes narrowed, unsure of what to make of Young-il's words. Was he being genuine, or was there an ulterior motive at play? He glanced around the room, noticing the concerned faces of his fellow players. Junhee looked like he was about to burst out laughing, while the granny seemed genuinely worried. Young-il led Myung-gi to a small first-aid kit in the corner of the room. "Let's get you cleaned up," he said, his voice soft and soothing. As Young-il began to tend to Myung-gi's wounds, the younger man couldn't shake off the feeling that he was walking into a trap. Every touch, every gentle movement, made his skin crawl. He wondered if he was being paranoid, or if there was truly something sinister at play. Thanos, still fuming from his earlier confrontation with the guard, stormed out of the bathroom, his face red with anger. "You think you're so special, don't you, 333?" he spat, his eyes fixed on Myung-gi. "Getting preferential treatment from the nice Young-il over here." Young-il's expression never changed, but Myung-gi detected a hint of warning in his eyes. "Thanos, I suggest you calm down," he said, his voice low and even. Thanos snorted, but he seemed to think better of escalating the situation. He stalked off, leaving Myung-gi feeling uneasy and on edge. As Young-il finished dressing Myung-gi's wounds, the younger man couldn't help but wonder what secrets the older man was hiding. Was he truly trying to help, or was this all just a ruse to get closer to him? The questions swirled in his mind like a vortex, pulling him down into a sea of uncertainty. Myung-gi knew he had to be careful, that one misstep could lead to disaster. But as he looked into Young-il's eyes, he saw something there that gave him pause. A glimmer of kindness, perhaps, or a hint of genuine concern. It was enough to make Myung-gi question everything he thought he knew about Young-il. And as the older man smiled and patted him on the back, Myung-gi felt a shiver run down his spine. He was trapped in a game, surrounded by players with unknown motives. And he had a feeling that he was just starting to scratch the surface of the truth.