I LOVE YOU SO
Chapter Nineteen
❛ Graveyard of broken hopes. ❜

ANTICIPATING THE GREAT unknown, a large deal of dread ran through Aera's veins as the number of people left partnerless decreased. With crossed arms, Aera gripped tightly at both sides of her sleeves as she chewed on her bottom lip. Every time someone declined her offer of becoming their partner, her heart plummeted deeper within the depths of her fears every time.

Wandering her eyes over towards the corner of the room, her eyes landed on Gi-hun who was stood alone, his expression was faraway, as if deep in thought. A wave of relief washed over Aera's features as she hurried by his side.

"Thank goodness you're still here," a breezy chuckle left Aera's lips, a smile widened on her lips as Gi-hun craned his neck over to look at her. "Do you have a partner yet Gi-hun," placing a palm on his shoulder, Aera grinned brightly, before it faltered as a thought ran through her mind. "Actually, it might be best if we don't pair up."

If Aera was willing to sacrifice herself for both Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok. Then that would take Gi-hun's life too if he were to be her partner, which wasn't what Aera wanted. Not for anyone at all.

"I really don't want to make it any awkward Aera," shifting between his feet with hung down shoulders and a remorseful smile, "but really, I'm not sure if I want to partner up with women-"

"No, no, no," shaking her head, half understandingly, a gentle smile painted across Aera's face, "it's not that."

"Oh okay," blinking a few times, even letting out a relieved chuckle, "that's great because I . . ." Noticing the silence between them, he leant towards the side, "hang on," trying to catch Aera's distant stare, he waved his hand briefly in front of her face when she didn't answer, "if it's not that then what is it?" Gi-hun knitted his eyebrows, puzzled.

Deciding there was no point in explaining her theory again, since the time was wasting away rapidly, Aera brought her eyes towards her feet, "nothing," lifting her eyes back on to Gi-hun's worried ones, she began to stride away, "good luck Gi-hun." She saluted with both her index and middle finger pressed together, whilst trying her best to give him a brave smile.

"What happened to you and Pickpocket then?" Lifting a finger up and pointing it at Aera and behind her with knitted eyebrows, a hint of curiosity sat within his tone, "are you two not partnering up? From the looks of how close you two are, I thought that you two would enter the next game together."

Grumbling a response, "we agreed not to," Aera rubbed a palm along her forearm with her vision hazing a little, she swallowed thickly before returning her distant gaze on Gi-hun's perplexed expression.

"Okay . . ." He hummed, "well Pickpocket does seem like a reckless choice really, I could see why you didn't choose her," Gi-hun's tone was lighthearted and playful, his words were somewhat untrue. Flickering his eyes between player 001 and Aera, with arms spread wide, Gi-hun let out a long exhale before catching up with Aera again, who began to turn away with a forced smile. "Hey," tapping her shoulder lightly, making her do a half-circle to face him, his eyes brightened, "good luck to you too."

With a more broader smile, one that warmed her chest, Aera flickered her eyes towards her feet before spinning on her heel, "thank you," standing a little longer with a cheery grin, Aera nodded at him, "I really need it," before stepping forwards and flinging her arms around his torso, bringing him into a short hug.

Stumbling backwards from the swift embrace, he patted Aera's arms, a soft chuckle flying from his lips, a golden feeling of warmth swarmed within his chest. He casted his mind back to the last time Ga-Yeong rushed up to him with open arms, that was a while ago, when she was much younger and was still under his care. His golden smile wobbled tinily over reminiscing the fond memories, how Ga-Yeong used to wrap her arms around his torso, similarly to Aera's hug.

Pressing his lips together, thinking over his words before saying them aloud, "you don't need so much luck actually." Holding on to Aera's shoulders at arms length, a merry grin plastered on to Gi-hun's lips, "because," he dropped his hands and twiddled with his thumbs, a confident grin grew on his sunny face, "you've got this," Gi-hun inclined his head hurriedly to his own words, "and, you've got the Ssangmun-dong spirit," he nudged Aera's shoulders with an arm.

Slanting her head slightly, there was a hint of puzzlement within Aera's features as her eyebrows wove together, "but I'm not from Ssangmun-dong."

Aera watched as the glimmer within Gi-hun's kind eyes glowed even more, making his features even more warm, his cheeks rosy, "you don't need to be from Ssangmun-dong to have the Ssangmun-dong spirit." He stuffed his palms within his pockets, his friendly smile only grew larger with pride as he talked about his hometown, "when I first saw you in the dorm room, when you fought for that man's life with me, I could see it within you. You know? That strive you had in you to make things right."

Nodding slightly at this, "I was only doing what everyone else would've done if they weren't in such a shock," with slightly crestfallen eyes that drifted towards the side, a series of unwanted recollections flittered through Aera's mind.

The visions of the slack player flashed before her distant eyes, the crimson splattered skin and scattered bruises that damaged the player's body engraved itself within Aera's recent memories once again. Every single traumatic experience always seemed to resurface like an old bottle washing up to the shore.

Eyeing how her fingers rolled and unrolled into a tight fist, concern filled Gi-hun's compassionate eyes as he placed a palm lightly on her shoulder. Aera jolted slightly as she broke away from drowning within her cluster of thoughts, she blinked several times whilst landing her eyes on to his, trying to keep her attention on him.

"Hey," earning Aera's faraway gaze, a soft chuckle left Gi-hun's lips as he patted her shoulder gently, "you've got what it takes kid. Don't let go of that fire."

Elevating her chin slightly, trying to take in this new found information, "thank you Gi-hun," Aera tightened her arms around him once more before stepping aside quickly with a bright grin stretching on her lips, "I wish you well, for the next game."

Inlining his head in an encouraging manner, Gi-hun brought his thumb up in front of him, whilst a warmhearted chuckle toppled from his lips, "keep fighting on," he received a light chuckle from Aera, which made him nod several times more, "yeah?"

"Yeah," bowing her head slightly and casting her eyes back up with a positive grin glowing on her face, Aera rolled her shoulders back whilst clapping her palms together briefly, ". . . keep fighting on."

"You've got it! Now you go find a partner," flapping his fingers backwards and forwards in front of her, as if to say 'hurry on', Gi-hun stood on the balls of his feet, "the time is ticking by so fast, I don't want to see you in one of those coffins wrapped in pink ribbon any time soon, or at all." When Aera only nodded with a miniature thumbs up and how she remained stationary in front of him with a jubilant grin, he eased her on by giving her shoulders a tiny push, "go on!"

"Yeah, yeah I will . . . I will!"

Aera was reluctant in her steps, just as she was with Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong. At times, when she was alone, she felt like a puppet with loose strings, in need of someone to pick up her strings to navigate her life. Just as she wandered aimlessly around the packed room, the blank walls seemed to be endless, and just as the time was beginning to cease to an end, it felt as if those very walls caved in on her vulnerable body.

With fearful eyes, she darted them towards the brightly coloured soldiers with hot pink suits, in that very moment they caused bile to churn within her stomach, it bubbled and threatened to fall out of her lips. The hefty weapons that they equipped only made Aera more queasy- her pulse raced endlessly.

"Fuck, everyone has a partner, shit, shit," frantically glancing around her, the bustling room swirled as trepidation increased. Jaw hung open with widened eyes, Aera spread her arms open wide, her breath hastening, "does someone not have a partner," bringing her palms towards the back of her head, she threw her head back before thrusting her hands down towards her side. Aera's voice came out as a faint squeak, her fear was beginning to take a toll on her.

Sae-byeok peaked through her thin fringe that framed her strong structured face, watching as a familiar, dark haired female landed herself beside her, Sae-byeok's shoulders stiffened. She slowly lifted her hand up and brushed her fingers along Aera's wrist, her eyes lingered on Aera's pinched face. "Aera? Where's your partner?"

"Shit, shit, shit," Aera murmured mindlessly. Everything wasn't going according to her initial plan.

Pressing her lips firmly together, a wave of regret filled Sae-byeok's pupils. With softened eyes, they trailed themselves over all Aera's jittery features. Sighing sharply, Sae-byeok harshly glared from her peripherals, never moving her seated position as her cold scowl practically scorched Ji-yeong.

Her fingers curled into tense fists. Sae-byeok nibbled on the corner of her mouth, surely causing an impermanent dent on her bottom lip, why did she listen to Aera's stupid plan? Was she so blinded by Aera's convincing reassurance about the plan, to even realise that she wasn't actually reassured on the idea of Aera making it out alive?

With heavy shoulders, Sae-byeok dragged her gaze on to Aera, "hey, remember to breathe," even though Aera wasn't listening, Sae-byeok played with the hair tie that was wrapped around Aera's wrist, as she swallowed thickly, "do you want to stay with us . . . until you find someone else." Those words felt salty on her tongue, she found herself hopelessly wishing that she wasn't with Ji-yeong and that she was with Aera instead.

". . . Someone else," Aera mumbled in response, her pulse rushing at an alarming speed. "Oh God why do I always end up in shit like this-"

Snatching her wrist back gently, Aera's weighty thoughts overlapped each other and jumbled themselves up within her head. The thoughts of the worse possible outcomes, swarmed within her mind. Pressing her palms on to her ears, the sounds around Aera dulled into a blur, even Sae-byeok's concerned voice was merely there, as her thoughts drowned out her voice.

Trudging backwards, Aera's back collided with another body, causing a booming yelp to fly out of her lips. Ducking due to her instincts, Aera stretched out her arms, with her hands out in front of her in defence. Aera's terror filled eyes relaxed slowly as they landed on a woman with ashen streaked tresses and puckered skin, a sign that age was taking control over the woman's life. The woman sent her a friendly grin, it wobbled slightly due to the strength needed, but the kindness was there.

"Oh I'm so sorry," lowering her back and bowing her head repetitively, the sides of Aera's cheeks burned a deep tone of red, "I apologise for bumping into you Halmeoni." She felt a feeble hand grip on to her shoulder, easing her to a stop, even so, the tips of her ears were a scorching shade of scarlet.

"Don't worry my dear," the fragile woman replied.

Shifting her feet slightly, sinking her shoulders slightly whilst nodding graciously at the elderly lady, Aera tore her eyes away, abashed, and they landed on a scrawny person beside her- her acquaintance. The frizzy haired lady, avoided Aera's gaze with a garish chuckle, Mi-nyeo stepped aside from both Aera and the elderly lady, as if they were a plague, or non-existent.

Right in the limelight, Mi-nyeo wagged her finger at each pair with a strong stance, "you guys, you're all making a big mistake. Do you really think you can win without me on your team? It's me Han Mi-nyeo!"

"Mi-nyeo-" Aera placed a hand on Mi-nyeo's uptight shoulders, only for it to be flung away with force as Mi-nyeo narrowed her eyes with a deep glower.

"I'm not partnering up with you, you infuriating brat," Mi-nyeo ignored the hefty huff Aera let out, "one of these men will allow me to play with them, I'm Han Mi-nyeo." Throwing her arms up whilst shuffling on her feet, Mi-nyeo continued, "You hear that? I'm Han Mi-nyeo! I've made suckers out of everyone there is from Dongducheon to Gangnam," she tried scavenging the place for a possible male to appear from thin air, but she was only met with players with averted gazes, players that distanced themselves as far away as possible from her.

"We're drawing near the end Mi-nyeo. It's just the three of us now. But it's too bad for you. I don't think I'd want to be partners with a bully like you."

Tick, tick, tick.

Grabbing both Aera and Mi-nyeo's attention was the constant clacking of the deathly timer. Still having a hint of irritation seething through her veins from Mi-nyeo's unnecessary outburst, Aera leant all her weight on one foot as she awaited for Mi-nyeo to discontinue her hunt for a partner other than her. Aera didn't understand why Mi-nyeo had so much hatred towards her, usually it was just banter, but from the way Mi-nyeo roughly shoved her aside to yank a player away from their partner, only made her feel unsettled and uneasy.

She felt a gentle squeeze on the side of her arm, pulling her widened eyes away from Mi-nyeo, Aera parted her lips slightly as she faced the elderly lady. "Would you like to partner up with me?" The frail woman's stance wobbled, as if it was arduous to keep herself up on two feet. With a hopeful grin, it only grew in a sheepish manner as she watched Aera lower her head slightly, "sorry I didn't mean to put you on the spot-"

Fixing the cottony jumper Ji-yeong leant her with ease, as it sat lightly on her shoulders, a polite smile landed on Aera's pink lips as she waved her palms in front of her whilst shaking her head quickly, "no, no I'd be honoured to . . ."

Aera stuck her hand out.

Clap. The booming sound echoed around the room; the sound of another cold palm colliding against Aera's smooth hands, blared into everyone's ears. Shoulders solidifying sharply, Aera sucked in a harsh breath as the whites around her eyes grew.

"Hwang Aera. Let's prove these men wrong, yeah?" With a sturdy voice, with a hint of aggravation, Mi-nyeo watched with rigid, teary eyes as Aera crawled her eyes onto their palms that pressed together. "Yeah?" There was a firm and almost dangerous grip on Aera's hand, since Mi-nyeo's desperate emotions completely blinded her rational state of mind. "Let's prove them wrong," she continued through gritted teeth, "yeah?"

"You're hurting me-" Aera tried tugging her aching, now ruddy pink hand, back towards her side, her face scrunched up with effort, yet Mi-nyeo yanked her hand forwards with urgency.

"Be my partner. Didn't I help you in those toilets? I worked with my all my blood, sweat and tears for you and your bastard of a friend-"

"She's not a bastard- Just stop holding my hand so hard, you're crushing my bones-"

"Oh really now?" Mi-nyeon challenged.

". . . Yeah, Han Mi-nyeo. I think you've fucking sprained it!-"

"- Then why isn't she your partner. Huh? Why isn't your girl-friend your partner?"

"Girl- Girlfriend? She's- we're ahem well . . . we're . . . she's, we're- there's some- well," staggering backwards with a few steps in alarm, the outer layer of Aera's skin stung with an abnormal amount of heat as her cheeks stained a harsh pink.

Flittering her stunned eyes towards the layers of steps, in a cautious manner, though, Aera wasn't at all discreet even if she claimed she was. With a sandy dry throat, Aera swallowed gingerly as her pulse raced till it felt as if it stilled, her limbs froze as her eyes trailed on to the slim female with a lean stature.

The fabric of Sae-byeok's thin shirt was ruffled from last night, some holes were beginning to form on the collar. Aera's lips parted slightly when Sae-byeok's slightly veiny hands travelled towards her collar to fix it, she pulled at it, revealing her sharp collarbones and defined jawline, one that could carve the toughest of materials. Behind all of this celestial beauty was an angelic heart, and even though Sae-byeok forced a hard exterior on everyone to protect her angelic heart, there was a seraphic soul.

A soul Aera grew to admire.

Tightening the space between them with an elevated chin, a perilous glimmer caught on to Mi-nyeo's dark and round pupils, "why isn't she your partner? Hm? Be my partner. Weren't you so desperate to prove those jerk faced men wrong? Huh? Huh?"

"The time for finding a partner is now over," the unwanted announcement sizzled into the trio's ear drums. A wave of dread drenched their skin. Their pulses crashed against their ears rapidly.

Still the marine doors were spread wide open, evilly welcoming the remaining players to walk on, as if they were the starting button for the next game. Heavy footsteps drummed around the three final players, the black combat shoes stomped against the hard ground as the bright pink supervisors kept their burly weapons under their arms.

"Hey why is the room so empty," frantically flicking her head around her shoulders, the rims of Mi-nyeo's eyes were dark pink as they widened, her hand still clamped tightly on Aera's cramped hand. "I have a partner. Look," waving Aera's hand with a frenetic and wild energy, "you can't take me away. You can't do this-"

"Mi-nyeo calm it-"

"You shut your Goddamn mouth," viciously sneering, Mi-nyeo eyed the supervisors with her hands spread wide, "if you hadn't refused to be my partner we wouldn't be in this situation!"

Tilting her head sharply, with a curled lip, "now, now, you were the one who refused to be my partner, calling me a cruel and unnecessary name-" Aera spat.

"Oh so this is my fault now," placing a hand on her hip, with a raised eyebrow, and coldly staring at Aera incredulously, Mi-nyeo tutted under a furious breath as she dramatically craned her neck to the side.

"Yeah," nodding speedily with a pointed look, "kind of- no, it's all your fault."

Inhaling a bucket full of air, it only increased Aera's stress levels, it rocketed towards the sky, pressure simmering within her veins. Her skin paled drastically, as the luminous supervisors sealed the space between the three of them tightly shut, their hands reaching out-

"Please, please let me live," a forlorn voice wavered around the tense room, clasping her hands together was the elderly woman, her flimsy arms were being forced open, "I have a daughter, I love her, I need to get back to her," her knees skidded along the floor as the supervisors hauled her away with burly arms.

"Hey where are you taking her-" Fingers tightened around Aera's wrist, preventing her from sprinting after the helpless woman. "She has a child."

The army of supervisors left Mi-nyeo and Aera be.

But really, the sapphire painted doors urged them onwards and into the next room, the mouth of it wide open, welcoming them to another ruthless life or death game. Another barbaric memory to be created and embedded within the core of their minds.

Spinning messily on her heel, Aera's frightened pupils darted on to Mi-nyeo's faraway gaze, as if she was affected by what the elderly woman said. Mi-nyeo picked at the cuffs around her sleeve before elevating her chin and turning sharply around to face Aera, which caught the younger girl off guard.

"What?" Mi-nyeo clicked her tongue, stared at the ceiling briefly before landing her peeved eyes on Aera again. "Hey, infuriating brat, ready to prove people with dicks wrong and win this together? I'll make sure your skinny arms don't ruin this for us, I'm Han Mi-nyeo, oh you've lucked out today."

Scoffing and throwing her head to the side with the side of her lip towards the side, making her left dimple more evident. "You're funny you know," Aera shook her head slowly, "you don't have a dick, yet you act like one," shoving the side of her arm against Mi-nyeo's shoulder with a suppressed eye roll, an amused chuckle almost slid out of her mouth at the sound of Mi-nyeo complaining in her ear.

"Hey- you little bitch- you think this is how you treat people that are more respectable than you? You little brat, once we're out of here, you'll find that you'll be walking out with more than just a broken leg, I'll tell you now-"

"Don't care."

"Hey, you-"

Striding towards the gates of a place more wicked than hell. They entered a battlefield. With them acting as courageous soldiers, it meant that they only had each other to count on, for their opposing team was fate- which was unknown to every fearful soul in the room.

Thus, another game was introduced. Everyone entered with determined faces, not knowing that it would soon turn into an impermanent graveyard of broken hopes.

( 3768 words )

DEAR ALL,

Have a great day guys💯

WITH LOVE SYLVIA