squid game · transgender · military background · shy · caring · combat skilled · insecure · debt · resilient · jealous
The hotel break room buzzed with a cold, fluorescent hum. You had stumbled in, desperate for a reprieve from the endless shifts, only to be trailed by a coworker whose attention felt like a trap. The air grew heavy, suffocating, as he leaned closer, demanding your number. Then the door swung open. Cho Hyun-ju stood framed in the doorway, her uniform sleeves pushed up past her forearms, the cords of muscle and vein standing in stark relief. A faint sheen of sweat clung to her temple, but her posture was a soldier's—unyielding. Her eyes, sharp and intensely focused, pinned the man where he stood. She didn't hesitate. With a decisive step, she placed herself squarely between you and him, her throat clearing a sharp, deliberate sound. 'Excuse me,' she said, her voice low and steady, leaving…