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I hesitate, a blush creeping up my neck. “He can’t breathe if it’s zipped all the way.”
Oh my God, I can’t believe I said that aloud. How embarrassing. I press my hands to my face and hurry out of the kitchen area and back through the cafeteria.
How much time has passed? How will I know if someone else found a token?
From the window facing the back of the school, I look out to see Youngmin sprinting across the athletics field. A few seconds later, his cameraperson follows, huffing and puffing behind him.
I’m stepping from the stairwell onto the fifth floor when I glimpse the lights of a filming crew down the hall. It’s another player, likely more than one with that many cameras. Is it Hyemi? A sense of unease settles in my gut. It could be Sun or Jaewoo. The thought of being chased seems a bit terrifying. I didn’t think I’d beafraidplaying this game. I almost scream when a hand grabs my arm, pulling me into an empty classroom. My cameraperson stumbles into the room behind me.
“Nathaniel?” I gasp.Hiscameraperson—a woman with a checkered bandana around her nose and mouth—waves from behind his left shoulder.
“What are youdoing?” he says. “That’s Sun down there. I think he’s met up with the host. Do youwantthem to get you out?”
The reliefI feel at seeing Nathaniel is intoxicating. I almost act on impulse and throw my arms around him, then remember we’re being recorded.
“Of course not,” I say. I can’ttellNathaniel that I’m tryingto find Hyemi so that she can tagmeout. He sweeps his hand through his dark hair, the metallic rings on his fingers glinting.
To remain together in the shot, I’m standing close to him. While his attention, and the attention of the cameras, is on the window and what’s happening outside of it, I have a rare opportunity to study him. His lips have retained their burgundy stain, though there’s a slight indent where he must have bitten them. His hair is truly a work of art, his hairstylist having used gel to keep its shape during the episode, a few strands falling across his brow; his pulse beats rapidly at his throat.
While some girls, like Jenny, prefer a student council member, I’m admittedly much more attracted to a delinquent. And Nathaniel has always embodied that spirit, at least in the group. While Sun was the heartbreaker, Youngmin the boy next door, and Jaewoo the student council president, Nathaniel was the rebel. The one who broke all the rules and made me want to break them too. If it was to defend a friend, hewouldcall a bully to an alley for a fight. Or he might meet the girl he likes up on the rooftop for a kiss.
“Let’s wait until they move out of the hall,” he says, and I nod, my face red from the direction of my thoughts.
We crouch down beneath the window.
“Can you turn off your light?” Nathaniel asks his cameraperson, and she switches off her camera light. My cameraperson does as well. And now all four of us are crouched together in the darkness beneath the window.
There’s a sound outside. Nathaniel shifts his body to cover mine,pressing his hand against the wall. When it’s clear the sound was just a production assistant making the rounds, he lowers his arm.
I’m filled with gratitude that I’m not alone, thathe’sthe one by my side.
“There’s advantages to splitting up,” Nathaniel says slowly, “but also staying together.”
“I want to stay together,” I say.
He lets out a breath, turning his face away. After a short pause, he says, “You watch my back, I’ll watch yours?”
I wait until he turns to me before pressing my forefinger and thumb together. “Okay.”
He gives me a lopsided smile.
We wait another few minutes before Nathaniel peeks through the window. “I think they’re gone. Let’s go.”
“Wait.” I grab on to the back of his uniform shirt. “I want to show you something.”
I release him and swing my backpack forward, opening it to show him the stuffed animal inside. “I found one of the tokens in the cafeteria’s kitchen.”
“Damn, Sori!” He laughs, his eyes twinkling. “Nice work!” He raises both of his hands, palms up, and I slap mine against them.
Our camerapeople seem pleased that we’ve joined up. Between the two of them, they should have a variety of angles to shoot from.
Moving down to the third floor, we enter a classroom filled with students. There’s already a filming crew inside, which is a very strong indicator that the producers want us to linger here.
“Is there a token in this room, by any chance?” Nathaniel asks a girl in the front row.
She giggles behind her face mask but doesn’t answer him. They must have been instructed not to help us until we’ve earned it.
“Can you give us a hint?” He flashes his most charming smile, dimples showing.
