⭐️ ———— It was mid day in South Korea. The weather was nice, the sun was out. And Mi-Ya sat inside her car, staring down at her lock screen on her phone.

With pursed lips, she turned off her phone, placing it down on her lap as she looked through her window at the building in front of her.

Three years she had tried to find her siblings. Three long and depressing years of fishing out her money, only to walk into dead ends.

And only one name run through her mind, the name that apparently had all the answers to her questions.

Gi-Hun.

She did not know who the man was, or where he was. He was nowhere to be seen. It was like he didn't want to be found.

So, Mi-Ya lifted her hands to her steering wheel, a heavy breath leaving her lips as she glanced away from the building.

This was her last hope.

She ran a hand through her dark locks, biting at her bottom lip as she looked out of her window once more.

Her nerves were through the roof. She didn't want to run into another dead end, and she was running out of money. Money she made for her family.

Her last resort was a broker. She didn't know who the man was, but she heard that he would find people for money.

She let go of her steering wheel as she reached over to the passenger seat to grab ahold of the envelope that was filled with money.

Mi-Ya placed the envelope in her jacket pocket, zipping it up and reaching for her phone. She took one last look at the Lock Screen on her phone, a sad smile bracing her lips.

"I'll find you both." She uttered to herself, staring down at her phone and the photo of herself, Sae-Byeok and Cheol.

And with that, Mi-Ya placed her phone in her other pocket, before opening her car door and getting out, locking her car immediately as she moved towards the building.

Mi-Ya made her way up the stairs, biting her inner cheek as she reached the top. She hesitantly raised her hand to the door, contemplating her thoughts.

But, she soon knocked on the door, moving to open it as she heard a male voice tell her to 'come in'.

As Mi-Ya entered, she politely smiled at the man behind the desk, closing the door behind her. "You're Mi-Ya, correct?" The man said, looking down at the paperwork on his desk, making Mi-Ya nod her head. "Please, take a seat."

Mi-Ya nodded her head once more as she made her way towards the seats, carefully sitting down as she watched him move to the other seat in front of her.

The man let out a heavy sigh as he sat down, turning his head to her as he placed his cup down. "So, what do you need help with?"

Mi-Ya cleared her throat as she placed her hands on her lap. "Finding my siblings." She simply said, her tone sweet as she spoke. "I haven't heard from either of them in three years."

"That's a long time." The man tsked, making Mi-Ya nod her head with pursed lips. "Where were they last?"

"Uh, my brother was in an orphanage whilst me and my sister tried to earn money for our family." Mi-Ya explained, unconsciously fidgeting with her hands as she spoke. "And my sister remained here whilst I left to make some money for us."

The man paused slightly, his eyes slightly narrowing as he analysed Mi-Ya, making her swallow thickly, afraid she had said something wrong. "What is your sister's name?"

"Sae-Byeok, Kang Sae-Byeok." Mi-Ya answered, tilting her head to the side as she noticed the recognition in his face.

"You're the older sister." He uttered, making Mi-Ya nod her head, her eyes slightly widening.

"Do you know her?" She immediately asked.

The man hesitantly nodded his head, making Mi-Ya sit up, her lips parting. Maybe she'd finally get some answers—this wasn't a dead end.

She watched as the man cleared his throat, leaning forwards in his seat as he clasped his hands in front of him, "She came here a couple of times three years ago, trying to help your mother in North Korea." He started, making Mi-Ya continue to fidget with her hands. "Then, she never came back, I haven't seen her since."

"Do you know why? Where she went?" Mi-Ya asked, an hopeful expression in her features as she looked at him.

The broker shook his head, making Mi-Ya's features drop, her lips pursing. "No, I don't." He breathed out, making Mi-Ya slowly nodded her head. "But I could try."

"Thank you. And my brother?" Mi-Ya asked, making the man nod his head at her words. "Thank you." She politely bowed her head before reaching into her pocket, pulling out the envelope. "If you need more I can get it." She said, pushing the envelope over to him.

She knew she didn't have much money left, and she was close to going into debt. But she would find the money.

Mi-Ya watched as he opened the envelope, looking down at the money inside and nodding his head. "This will be fine." He said, making her breathe out. "I'll need your number to keep in contact."

"Of course." She nodded her head, reaching into her other pocket and pulling out her phone as he moved towards his desk to grab a piece of paper and a pen.

Mi-ya quickly wrote her number down and her name, before sliding the paper to him with a polite smile. "Let me know if you need any more money." She breathed out, moving to stand up.

And with that, Mi-Ya thanked him once more, politely bowing her head as she exited the room, walking down the steps as she shoved her hands in her pockets.

She kept her head bowed as she walked out of the building, moving towards her car. Unfortunately for Mi-Ya, she accidentally bumped into someone, making her quickly turn and apologise.

"I am sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." She sheepishly apologised, looking up at the person she had bumped into.

She had bumped into a man, who had a cap on his head, trying to cover his face, but Mi-Ya could see his face.

The man simply shook his head, pulling the hat down to cover his face. "No need to apologise." He quickly said, shaking his head.

Mi-Ya nodded her head as she sent him a polite smile, apologising once more before making her way towards her car.

She sighed heavily as she closed the door, sitting in the seat. Subconsciously, she watched as the man entered the building she just left.

Mi-Ya shook her head as she stared her car up, pursing her lips as she realised she was almost out of gas.

And she had barely any money.

⭐️ — madeleines notes

AYYY

Mi-Ya you're in for a REAL treat. I'll tell you that.

My baby just wants her sister and brother back. CRIES.

Gi-Hun, be ready for the amount of Deja-Vu you are about to have LMAO!

Gi-Hun knows Sae-Byeok has a sister and her name. Because Sae-Byeok told him to tell Mi-Ya what had happened, but Gi-Hun couldn't get in contact with Mi-Ya and that will be discussed when they're both in the games.

But I thought I'd just let you all know so you'd be aware. So he will recognise her after seeing the photos of her in Cheol's room in the orphanage. But bro was too busy hiding to actually look at her LMAO.

That broker gonna be like "you just missed the sister" and he'd be like "WHAT" LMAO.

But next chapter will be before the games and her getting the card so, BUCKLE UP. I'll round write that after this LMAO.

But I hope you liked the first chapter!

I love comments and it helps me stay on track and motivated! <3

10th January 2024
1380 words