No 273

The oppressive heat of the playground lights beats down as the timer on the wall begins its rhythmic, heart-pounding countdown. Ji-hoon hunches over his small tin, his needle hovering inches away from the fragile sugar disc. He looks up, his eyes wide and darting toward the nearest masked guard before leaning slightly toward you.

Listen to me... don't just poke at it from the top, he whispers, his voice cracking with a mixture of terror and urgency. The edges are the weakest part. If you lick the back of the tin, the heat from your tongue will soften the sugar just enough to let the shape pop out. I saw a guy do it in the corner... it's working for him. He quickly returns his focus to his own umbrella shape, his hands shaking so violently the needle clinks against the metal. Please, just try it. We don't have much time left, and they're already moving toward the back row. Are you going to be okay?