Death Wish

Act III - Hidden Buttons, Isolated Island

Jin Suk and the woman find themselves in a place where there's a jungle on land and a massive body of water around it. They were stepping on the grains of sand. Coconut trees everywhere and the sound of crashing waves are in the vicinity. They have been given a vacation for a summer break. They were bought in the middle of an isolated island.

"Where the hell are we?", one of the wishers not far away next to them said as he covered his eyes because of the blinding sun.

"I think we are some kind of an island", his partner said.

Jin Suk looks at the woman and just can't seem to engage in a conversation with her, he knows that teamwork will be impossible for him and her.

"Hey, look there", the wisher from the other teams on their left side pointed at the far distance of the ocean.

Jin Suk and the others looked at where she's pointing, they saw a small wooden boat floating on the water fifty meters away from them.

"Are we going to play the game here?", her partner said.

"I think so", she replied.

Jin Suk tries to analyze the size of the island, it wasn't that massive but it was big enough for them to play in. Jin Suk tries to think, his eyes slanted as he tries to know how the game would work.

"Are we going to find the hidden buttons here?", the woman spoke a word and interrupted Jin Suk's focus.

"Maybe, the game title is hidden buttons so we are I guess going to find the buttons on this island", he replied so he can get a connection to her. He needs to do this so that both can interact and work together.

The woman nodded and minded her own business again. Jin Suk needs to have a conversation with her for longer so they can feel a connection towards each other, "What's your name?", he asked.

The frail woman looked at him with her messy hair covering her face. She was hesitating, she didn't feel comfortable about it. Jin Suk takes initiative immediately, "It's okay, you don't have to tell me, maybe you have reasons", he said. He tries to be polite as much as possible, he was pretending to be nice. His personality when they first meet in the hall and where they are now contradicts his current personality.

The woman doesn't trust him as she was rubbing her elbow, "Kim Hyun Jin, my name is Kim Hyun Jin", but she believes that giving out her name won't be a problem.

Her voice was so quiet but Jin Suk was able to hear what she said. He has greater senses than other people so he was able to hear it clearly.

Jin Suk went close and faced her. He gave his hand to her, "Im-", a loud ringing interrupted Jin Suk before he could even say anything.

'Game: Hidden Buttons', the voice came into existence and all of them went back to the spots where they were standing at the start.

'The game will be played in pairs. The wisher who is in the same room as you will be your partner', Jin Suk and her look at each other. Jin Suk was right in getting a connection to her.

'Rule, Find the buttons hidden and scattered all around in and out the island', the other wisher from the team had his face wrinkled after hearing it.

'There is nine buttons hidden in different areas, each pair must find and press three buttons'

'A map will be given to you', the earth trembled in the grains of sand, sliding to each other. A pillar ascended beneath the sand at a distance in front of them.

Jin Suk tries to see what it is, "What is it?", the woman asked. Jin Suk noticed three round black balls on the top of the pillar, "I don't know, but there's three small ball on it", he replied

"Are you able to see that?", the woman asked. The pillar was too far away to see what's on the top of the pillar.

"I have the eyesight of an eagle", he said and straightened his back.

'Please obtain one round ball for each pair'

Jin Suk looked at her and she wasn't there, she already went to get it on her own. Jin Suk just looks at her as she walks and pick the ball from the pillar. She went back and took her time as she tried to inspect the black ball.

She arrived and gave the ball to Jin Suk. He turns it around and checks every side of the ball.

'The given ball is a map, it shows where the buttons are hidden'

"That's the map?", she uttered.

'The map can only be activated when a two individuals held onto it'

Jin Suk and her look at each other awkwardly. They aren't that close to hold each others hand, it will be too awkward for them.

She took the ball from and grabbed his hand then put it flat. She placed the black ball on his palm and locked her hand with his. Jin Suk was surprised by her sudden action, it seems she doesn't have any problem with him. It was a good thing, she knows how to coordinate with him and there won't be a problem later.

A holographic map showed in front of them showing the island's whole landscape, "This is the map?", she asked.

"I think it is", Jin Suk said as he inspected the coordinates and points of the map. There weren't any clues where the hidden buttons could be.

'Each buttons from the map contains specific numbers, you can only press your own buttons'

A static sound pass by and they saw their profiles in front of the pillar. Their portraits and names were displayed in front of them. All of their attention was switched to the floating screens.

Jin Suk looks at his profile and shifts to his partner's profile. He confirmed her name and what she gave was real. Her face was shown fully as her hair was removed from her face, it was a formal portrait of her. Jin Sul felt nostalgic as he looked at her profile. He felt that he found something that he lost before.

She isn't just some he knew, she was someone who was special to him.

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Yoon sank into the cold river as he looked at the moonlight, he was almost out of breath and he wasn't doing anything. He let himself sink as sadness pulled him under. He wanted to die that day.

But the end of his story won't just end there. A splash of the water has disturbed the calm flow of the river. A black figure was blocking the beauty of the moonlight, someone was reaching a hand to him. It's hair flows like a silhouette that is getting blown by a gentle wind. A girl was coming closer to him. He closed his eyes, he thought he was hallucinating.

He opened his eyes and the girl had already reached him. She grabs his hand and pulls him back to the surface. Before they could even reach the surface, Jin Suk already lost his consciousness.

They reached the surface and the girl grasped some air. She immediately swam for land as she was dragging him. She wraps her left arm all around Jin Suk's chest and paddles with her right arm and feet. She tries to endure the numbness of her muscles that is about to give up at any minute.

She paddles with the strength in her. They finally reach the land. She drags Jin Suk with her two hands and places him on the ground with his back on the ground.

"Jin Suk-ah, wake up!", she yells as she tries to do a resuscitation on him. "Come on! Wake up, you stupid i***t!", she cried and continued pressing on his chest. "Jin Suk, you better come back or I will you", her cries got louder as she tried her best to bring him back.

Her eyes bawled out with tears as she pressed on his chest repeatedly. Then she stopped, Jin Suk coughs as water sprays in his mouth. Jin Suk regained his consciousness.

The girl couldn't help but sigh in relief. Jin Suk adjusted his sight as he looked at the face of the girl who saved him. "Hyun Jin-ah . . .", he called out to her with a quiet voice.

Hyun Jin smacks his chest, "Aw!", she began to cry again, she was relieved that he was okay. "Why are you here?", Jin Suk asked.

She made an angry face as she pinched her lips, "That's my question! Why are you here!?", she sobs.

"I, uh am-", Hyun Jin slaps him, he didn't have any chance to tell a reason.

"What were you thinking!? Have you gone crazy!?", she yells at him as she shakes Jin Suk aggressively and sobs.

The two of them looked each other in the eyes with sadness and sorrow inside it. Jin Suk shed a tear and made an ugly face. Jin Suk began to cry as he slowly dropped his head. "What is it!? Tell me what is wrong with yoo?", she co.cks her head to look at Jin Suk's face.

Jin Suk sobs and slowly raise his head and looks at her with a pitiful face, "Come on, tell me", she wanted to know, she just wanted to help him.

"Eomma - eomma is - she's -", he keeps cutting what he said, unable to say anything properly.

"What is it? What happened to her?", she asked.

Hyun Jin knows that Jin Suk is not the type of person who will cry at something. She might have already known what it is but she wanted to hear something different about what she believes. It's unusual for her to see Jin Suk's current state, Jin Suk is the kind of person who doesn't show any weakness. It was sad for her to see Jin Suk like this.

"Tell me, Jin Suk. You can tell me", she grabs his hands and holds it firmly.

Jin Suk looks at her eyes, "Eomma, she's gone", he sobs.

Hyun Jin has heard what he said, she was already expecting this but she wants to deny that truth. She knows that Jin Suk loves his mother more than anyone in this world. She knows that her dear friend is suffering deeply into the darkness of sorrow. Losing his mother is like losing the world for him.

Hyun pulls him closer and wraps her hands around Jin Suk, she hugs him tight, "Then you must live for her", she said as tears dripped on her face. She pushed down her lips to prevent herself from crying. "You need to live so the memory of her will live on", she grips on him tighter. "Remembering her everyday will make you feel that she is still there", she stated.

Jin Suk's eyes were closed, a memory of her runs through his head. Her smile, her voice, her gentle hands, her everything. Jin Suk regrets his act. Remembering her mother has made him more emotional. He just needs to let it all out. Jin Suk wails as his loud cries echo through. He cried underneath the grace of the moonlight.

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Jin Suk holds hers tight as he tries to look through her messy hair. He removed her hair out of the way with his right hand. He was googled-eyed as he saw the face of the girl he once knew. The girl who saved his life in the past, the girl who was with him in his sorrowful times, the girl who was with him in his early days.

Jin Suk couldn't believe that he found and met Kim Hyun Jin again, his childhood friend. After twenty years, destiny has brought them together again. It was like seeing a constellation again that can only be seen after a hundred of years.

His feelings are mixed, he doesn't know if he should be happy or not, "Kim Hyun Jin?", he uttered her name.

Her eyebrows lowered and pulled closer together as she looked at Jin Suk confused, "Noh Jin Suk?", she spoke.

Jin Suk held his breath and nodded then smiled. "It really is you", she smiled. Her whole mood became softer and more gentle.

Jin Suk looked at her, he noticed the bruises and scars anywhere on her body. The neighborhood princess he once knew had turned to somebody else he doesn't know. The girl who keeps a smile on her face often has become a scrawny woman that smiling a little is impossible anymore.

"Glad to see you again", she said and forced her smile. Her eyes looked empty and broken, there wasn't a single soul inside of it.

Jin Suk coped with it and pretended he didn't notice her change, "Me too", he smiled.

'Each team must press their specified buttons', the voice continued giving the instructions.

"Let's talk later, let's win this first", Jin Suk said and Hyun Jin nodded in response.

'Pushing other buttons from a different team will result in duplication"

'Each pair must find and press the buttons before the given time runs out'

'Failed to do so will result in immediate elimination'

[Game: Hidden Buttons]

[Duration: Forty Minutes]

"Forty Minutes!? How are we supposed to find the three buttons in just a short amount of time!?", one of the wishers who were with them complained.

He kicked the ground causing grains of sand flew like waves, "This is ridiculous! This is a big island for goodness sake!", he yelled to the air, not knowing where he could complain.

"This would be difficult", Hyun Jin said.

"Yes, in a game like this we are surely needed to separate to find the buttons simultaneously", Jin Suk tries to think of some possibilities that might hinder them.

"If we do that, we won't be able to use the map anymore since we have to separate", Hyun Jin said. Apparently her quiet personality has gone down when Jin Suk lifts her hair up.

"You're right, but if we don't separate, we will consume too much time and eventually lost the game", Jin Suk said.

They just can't figure out how they are able to win the game, it's like the game is making them lose purposely.

"Even we memorize the locations, we will still be confused finding it in this big fricking island", Hyun Jin clicked her tongue, "There's no way we're going to find the hidden buttons in time, it's impossible", she put her palm on her forehead frustrated.

Jin Suk couldn't respond l, he know that the game was way more harder than they thought. The rules of the game are easy, it was only hard because of the location they will play. Jin Suk tries to think deeply, he knows that there will be a way to win the game, it is just hard to find it.

"You have the ball right?", Hyun Jin asked.

"Yes, I have it", he took the ball on his pocket and showed it to her.

Hyun Jin nodded, "Don't lose it or we're dead", she reminded.

"I'm not that carele-", Jin Suk words was cut down when one of the wisher shouted.

"Xibal!", their attention was switched to him. "We are fxcking dead for sure!", he throws a tantrum and his face turned red after taking the heat of the sun.

(Note: 'Xibal' is a korean curse word for 'Fxck')

Jin Suk puts the ball back in his pocket as he looks at the wisher getting out of control. He sighs and look at the timer above.

Out of nowhere, a ray of light blinded his eyes. He flicked his eyes, then something came rushing into his mind. A certain rule of the game has blended in his mind over and over again.

He snaps his finger, "I finally know how we're going to win", Jin Suk have finally figured out the game's loophole.

Hyun Jin went near him, "Really? How?", she asked.

Jin Suk smiled, "Yes, we will win this", Jin Suk looks at the four wishers, "Together with them", he said.

Hyun Jin was puzzled, "With them?", she asked. "Aren't we suppose to go against each other?", she added.

"Trust me, we need them", Jin Suk assured. The two look each other and a line between the two connects them together, a line where their trues for each other lies.

Hyun Jin nodded her head, "Okay I trust you".

"First, let's try to talk to them", he instructed.

They run to them, Jin Suk handled the team where the wisher who was out of control was in. Hyun Jin was on the other one.

"Hey", Jin Suk called out to him. He didn't hear it as he keep kicking the coconut tree. "Hey!", Jin Suk raised his voice.

The temperamental man heard him, "What do you want!?", he said with a husky voice as anger sticks to it.

"There's a way to win the game", Jin Suk said to him.

His partner went closer to Jin Suk, "Really?", she was ready to hear him out.

"How sure are you?", He asked.

"Not sure, but my plan will surely help all of us'' Jin Suk replied.

He clicks his tongue, "I don't trust you", he shakes his head.

"Then, its fine", Jin Suk said and he didn't even try, he walked away.

"Wait, wait!", the girl grabbed his hand. "Don't mind what he says, I - I trust you", she was desperate, "Tell us how please", she begs.

"We can't trus-"

"Shut up, big guy! Do you want to win or not?", she cut his sentence, she wass irritated. The man didn't complain anymore. He kicks the tree again for one last time.

"So, how do we win?", she asked.

Jin Suk looked at her then unto the man, "Let's gather together first", Jin Suk suggested and the girl nodded her head.

Jin Suk looked at the distance where Hyun Jin was and signalled her. Hyun Jin signalled back, they were able to convince the two teams.

They gathered together and Jin Suk introduced his plan, "Here's how it is. This game isn't actually a competition but a team game", he stated.

"A team game?", the girl said.

"Huh? So much for us to believe", the big guy grunts.

"But there's a rule that predetermined that we are on against each other", the man who was in his twenties said.

'Pressing the other team's buttons will result in duplication'.

"Yeah, that rule", the girl seconded.

"That rule is just coherent, to make us think that we are against each other", Jin Suk wrapped his hands, "There is also a rule that shows that this game can also be played as team", Jin Suk said and they were confused, they didn't know what he meant by it.

'The map can only be activated when a two individuals held onto it'

"Ahh!", the girl slams her feet and raised her point finger high. She finally realizes what Jin Suk was trying to say. "That rule!", she said with excitement.

Jin Suk nodded his head, "Yes, that rule", he seconded. It didn't took long enough for the others to realize it.

"But what if it doesn't work?", the big guy asked.

"We can try", Hyun Jin backed up then asked Jim Suk to give her the ball.

She went near the big guy and grab his hand then placed the ball on his palm, "Why don't we confirm it", she looked at him straight then hold his hand.

Then a light shows up, the holographic map have shown itself in front of them, "It works!", the girl said excitedly. Everyone was relieved as if one burden have been lifted from their chest.

Hope have come to them, they believe that they can finish the game by working together.

"You can stop being negative now, right?", Hyun Jin said to him and took their ball then gave it back to Jin Suk.

The girl stomped her feet, "Let's start planning before the game starts!", she yells.

"There's no plan yet", Jin Suk replied.

"What do you mean?"

'The game will begin in three minutes, please be prepared', the game has finally set the time.

They couldn't help but feel nervous again and anxiety is rising up, "Why is there no plan?", the girl was agitated.

"The plan can only be made when the game starts", Jin Suk stated.

"What do you mean, Jin Suk?", Hyun Jin ask.

"I think the buttons will only shows itself on the map after the game starts. All we need to do is show our maps together", he explained. "Once we saw each other's map, we can split ourselves with a different pair", he added.

"I get what you mean, the buttons that are closed to each other but have different team numbers should go together, right?", Hyun Jin guessed.

"That's right", he confirms.

"Okay, I get it. We will surely win this together", Hyun Jin smiled.

"Yup, because of this, we have a better chance of winning", the girl said.

"Are we all ready?", Jin Suk asked and all of them agreed. "Then let's open our maps together and let us wait for the buttons to appear", Jin Suk instructed.

The pairs opened their maps and three holograms showed up. All they just need to is to wait.

One minute left and the cavalry challenge is almost nearing. "Wait a moment", the big guy let go of his partner's hand.

"What are you doing?", his partner said.

"Just hold on a bit", he removed his upper clothes, it was full of sweat. Not just him but all of them were sweating excessively because of the scorching heat. The heat made them more anxious and pressures were rising up inside them.

"Sure is hot", Jin Suk let go of Hyun Jin's hand and gulped. He removed his tops too. The other team consisting of two guys did the same.

The girl couldn't help but stare at Jin Suk's perfectly chiseled abs. She was amazed by his great body and couldn't help but gulp with her dry throat. His partner was big but it wasn't perfect like Jin Suk's.

"Pretty convenient to be a male at times", the girl was envious since the guys can cool themselves just by removing their clothes.

They hold each other's hand to show their maps again.

Tension is growing and agitation is keeping up as the timer is decreasing down to zero. All they have to fight it was their determination and perseverance to win.

'3'

'2'

'1'

A loud bang has started the game. The buttons have appeared on their maps. "It's here", the girl said. "What now?", the big guy looks at Jin Suk.

Jin Suk was analyzing the locations of their buttons, he kept out the distractions and tried to find a way for the perfect solution.

"Let's wait", Hyun Jin said.

It took him a minute to grab the right plan, "Okay, this is the best outcome I got", Jin Suk started their plan.

Button Locations:

Team Three(Girl and Big Guy)

-One in the ocean

-Two in the jungle

Team Two (Two Guys)

-One on the beach

-Two in the jungle

Team One

-Two in the ocean

-One in the jungle

Jin Suk points at Hyun Jin, the girl and one of the guys from team one, "You guys should go together and help each other to find the buttons in the jungle", he instructed and they went along.

He pointed at the big guy, the other guy from team one and himself, "Can you two swim?", he asked them and they both nodded. There was no problem so he gave the instruction, "You two find the button of team one on the beach first while I get the boat over there and start searching the three buttons on the ocean" , he instructed them as he points the boat at the distance.

"Two maps will be given to the jungle team since there are five hidden buttons over there, with two maps on you, you can find the buttons immediately", he reasons.

He looked at the beach team, "You two should held on it first to find the button from the beach immediately", he said, "I'm sure you will already find the button once I get you with the boat", he added.

Jin Suk noticed that the girl was looking closely on their map, "Why are some of the buttons moving on it's own?", she noticed that the buttons had movements.

Jin Suk observed and she was right, one button from each team is indeed moving on the map.

"It is moving", a guy from team one said.

"Maybe it's just a bug", the big guy reasoned.

Jin Suk ignored it and accepted the big guy's statement because they were running out of time.

"Did everyone get their own instructions", he wants to make sure that all of them have punched in the instructions.

"I guess everyone is ready, let's not wait waste any more time", they used exact four minutes to discuss. "Go!", Jin Suk signalled and they immediately go on their ways.

Hyun Jin hurried to the left side of the jungle where team three and team two's button was located. Their button was near a small pond and there were three big rocks on the left side. She went to find her button first.

Beach team went to the far left side of the beach where team two's button was located. The buttons were on the top of a huge boulder. They saw the huge boulder and hold each other's hand to check if it was the right one. It was the right one indeed, the big guy lifted his teammate so that he can reach the top and pressed their own button.

*ting*, beach team found the assigned button in just a span of one minute. Their profile appears on the white sky as a line mark was added to team two. They have successfully found one button, eight more to go.

Jin Suk is fast in terms of swimming, he reached the wooden boat in a short amount of time. He climb up to the boat and paddled to the beach team location.

The girl found their first button out in the open on one of the coconut trees, she ran and pushed the button.

*ting*, a line mark was added to team one.

"That was easy", she mumbled and smiled, "l need to find Unnie next so I can check the locations again.

Jin Suk have fetched the two of them, and gave the paddles to team one. Big guy and him held each other's hand to check their buttons' locations, "Team three's button is near, let's go get that first", the big guy suggested. The button was just a eight meters away from them.

[Time Left: 32 minutes]

"Unnie!", the girl have found Hyun Jin. "You didn't find your button yet?", she asked.

"Not yet"

"Let me help you", she started to search too.

*ting*, another line mark was added to team two.

"I guess team two will finish first", the girl said.

"Yeah", she replied, "let's make sure that we can finish too", they didn't waste any more time and continued looking.

They consumed four minutes after they found the button, "Unnie!", she called.

Hyun Jin immediately went to her and she pointed on the pond, "Under there", Hyun Jin looks at where she's pointing and she saw the button immediately since the pond was crystal clear.She quickly jumps on the pond and swim her way under.

*ting*, she successfully pushed the button. Team three got their first line mark. Five more buttons to go.

[Time Left: 27 Minutes]

"That looks deep", the big guy said. He looks at Jin Suk and he was already gone. Jin Suk have already jumped from the boat and swam his way on the surface of the ocean floor.

Jin Suk's vision was much more better than an average human, he can see clearly even underwater.

He looks around for their button holding his breath. The ocean floor was dim and there wasn't enough light for him to be able to find the hidden button. He was running out of air as bubbles floated in his nose, he needed to find that button fast.

A class of fish have caught his attention, circling around a certain spot. The fishes were poking on a round object. Jin Suk focuses his sight and realizes that it was the button.

Jin Suk swims fast like he was in the olympics. He reaches his hand on the button as his leg paddles.

*ting*, another mark appeared on team three's panel. Jin Suk pushed the button successfully.

Jin Suk quickly swims back to the surface as he was running out of breath. His body has grown tired, he'll get a muscle cramp in any second.

"There he is!", the big guy shouted as he pointed at a distance. Jin Suk came back to the surface safe and sound. They quickly paddled to fetch him up.

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[End of Act III - Hidden Buttons, Isolated Island]

[Next - Hidden Buttons, Isolated Island II]