C H A M P I O N O F D E A T H

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       GOING BACK TO THE POLICE STATION WASN'T SOMETHING ON SAE-BOM'S MIND OR TO DO LIST, BUT SHE FOLLOWED JUN-HO ALONG ANYWAY. She really didn't knowing he was going in there to ask something she thought she had the answer to, but apparently he just wanted to make sure he got every bit of information they could.

    Her black hair was placed up into a high-pony tail, and a few lose pieces fell over her sweaty forehead. She was dressed in a white shirt that had a weird patterns on it, covering herself with a black jacket and ripped cargo pants.

    In her hands was a cup of water Jun-ho given her, that she threw away when empty, as she stood next to him with a bored expression inside the police station.

       Jun-ho was lucky she loved him, otherwise she could have beaten his ass up for making them revisit the station.

    Next to her figure was the male in question, his elbows leaning against the beige counter top, and was talking to the Chief, someone who Sae-bom found to be way to loud for her liking.

    She couldn't complain however, as he has helped her many times with information regarding her lost childhood friend, yet she tried to keep that between herself and Jun-ho, in case of something bad happening if more people searched for him.

    The air-conditioned room did wonders for Sae-bom, who was using her hand to fan herself from the horrible heat outside. She lived in South Korea for so long, but she still wasn't use to the heat nor the temperature changes.

       "Ah, you mean, that stupid game guy?" The Chief narrowed his eyes on Jun-ho, who asked him about Gi-hun and it caused Sae-bom to send Sang-hyuk a glare, "That guy? What do you need his name for, Detective Hwang?"

    Sae-bom pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth, her eyes looking at Jun-ho discreetly, and glanced back to the Chief who eyed them both suspiciously. She understood what Jun-ho was doing, but she also knew it would of been easier to find Gi-hun through her.

    She could sense that the Chief was a bit suspicious of them, and why they wanted Gi-hun's name, and address. If she was being honest, she did forget where he had moved to after his divorce and he didn't answer her calls either, so that's also why they ended up at the station.

       "I thought he looked familiar to me." Jun-ho came up with a lie easy, smiling through his teeth at Sang-hyuk, "I think I know the guy, like through a family friend or something."

        Chief Kim didn't really buy it, but he also knew Jun-ho wouldn't be asking for just any reason, "Really?" He raised his eyebrows surprised, before turning to the quiet girl, "Sae-bom, you know him don't you? Why can't you call him or something?"

    Her shoulders tensed up, face getting pale as she laughed nervously, "A-ah, yeah, I do know him--" She stumbled out and smiled crookedly at the Chief, "But I don't know where his new place is, and he isn't answering his phone...."

    He clicked his tongue, and muttered something under his breath that had her eye twitching, "Let me think about it." He trailed off, brows furrowed together in thought, "Something like Saeng or Seong or--"

      "Seong Gi-hun," Sae-bom's flat voice spoke over the male, a deadpan expression plastered on her face as she sighed annoyed, "Yes, we know his name, but where does he live?"

        "Ssangmun-dong is where he lives, right?" The younger officer behind the desk added onto the conversation, making their eyes all flicker to him and Sae-bom's face to light up suddenly remembering something.

    Sang-hyuk nodded his head with a hum, and turned his head back to the duo, "Is he your friend?" He asked this to Jun-ho, already knowing Sae-bom was familiar with him.

    The male ignored Sae-bom tugging on his jacket sleeve for a second, and gently pulled her elbow to stop her from doing it, "Uh, yeah, I'm pretty sure." He stuttered out, and leant closer, "Uh, and how about getting me his address too?"

    Before the Chief could make a comment, Sae-bom was pushing herself in front of Jun-ho and grabbed onto his forearm, "No need, I just remembered where Gi-hun lives!" She exclaimed quickly, and began to walk backwards with the confused Jun-ho, "Thank you for your help though!"

    Sang-hyuk blinked rapidly at the sudden display from the girl, before snapping out of his confused state and called out to her as they neared the exit, "Oh, Sae-bom! Any luck finding your fiancé yet? I know you mentioned it before, but I can't recall."

   The young adult once again felt her body freeze, followed by Jun-ho tensing behind her. She swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing who the Chief was talking about.

   Her grip on Jun-ho's arm tigheted, and glanced up at him through her lashes, seeing the nervous sweat on his face as he avoids her expecing gaze. She had a feeling he was the reason behind In-ho getting called her future husband.

      "Oh! Y-yeah, he's currently out of town." Sae-bom answers through her gritted teeth, words coming out more forcefully then anything, as he free hand found the glass door of the exit, "He should be back soon, but thank you for worrying."

        Her palm kept sliding up the glass to find the handle, and quickly grasped it blindy. She shoved it open, still looking at the Chief and pushed Jun-ho out of the door, who yelped and almost lost his footing on the stairs.

       "I'll be sure to drop in with him soon." She added smiling lopsided, before spinning around to quickly walk through the doors, not giving Sang-hyuk the chance to speak anymore to either of them.

        Sae-bom barely let the moment settle before she spun around and grabbed Jun-ho by the collar of his jacket, yanking him closer.

       Her dark eyes bore into his, and her voice was sharp as a blade, "Why did the Chief call In-ho my fiancé?! When did he find out he's missing?"

    Jun-ho's eyes widened, his hands instinctively going up in a placating gesture. A nervous sweat broke across his brow as he met her glare.

        He was used to Sae-bom's strength and temper, but it didn't make her any less terrifying. Gently, he wrapped his hands around her wrists, trying to loosen her grip on his jacket.

       "I—uh—he must've overheard our conversation on the phone once," He stammered, trying to keep the girl from throwing a punch at him, "I had to come up with a cover story. So I... I told him In-ho was your fiancé who's out of town."

        Sae-bom's grip slackened, but she didn't back away, her narrowed eyes still trained on him. Her voice dropped to a low grumble, "You couldn't come up with something else? Anything else?"

    Jun-ho sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as her hands fell from his collar, "It was the first thing that came to mind, okay? It's not like I had time to plan it."

     Her gaze flickered, the words striking a tender nerve. Her chest tightened painfully at the thought of a future with In-ho—a future that now seemed impossibly far away. She swallowed hard, shoving the ache deep down where it wouldn't show.

    Jun-ho's next words made her regret lowering her guard. "Besides," He said with a small, teasing smirk, "it's bound to happen sooner or later."

    Her face flushed, her pale cheeks dusted with crimson. Embarrassment flared in her chest, and she shoved him back with a firm hand to his chest, "You're such an idiot," She muttered, her voice flustered.

    He chuckled, entirely unbothered, and reached for the umbrella he had brought along. The faint smell of rain lingered in the air, the horizon darkening as the last streaks of sunlight faded. Without warning, he pulled Sae-bom into a hug, his arm wrapping securely around her shoulders.

    Her protests were muffled against his chest, and he only laughed harder, "You're scary when you're mad, you know that?" He teased, his voice warm.

     When they finally broke apart, Sae-bom sighed heavily, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face. She shot him a withering look, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward despite herself, "Let's go," She said, her tone turning serious again, "We need to get to Gi-hun's place."

        Jun-ho nodded in agreement, motioning for her to lead the way. She rolled her eyes but set off down the street, her boots clicking softly against the pavement.

    As they walked, the familiar sights of the town came into view—rows of small businesses with their signs glowing softly, families leaving restaurants, and the occasional sound of laughter spilling out from a bar. The streets weren't as crowded as usual, but the city still felt alive under the gentle glow of streetlights.

        Sae-bom slowed her pace, falling in step beside Jun-ho. He was quiet, his gaze darting around as though scanning for something—or someone. His posture was tense, his head turning slightly every now and then as if he felt eyes on them.

       "Jun-ho," She called, her voice breaking through his thoughts and the calm silence between them.

        He hummed lowly in the back of his throat, looking away from the alleyway beside them he felt weird vibes from and glanced at her.

        "Why didn't you go see Gi-hun without me?" She asked, tilting her head to the side, and raised a brow, "I did my part. I got information about the games from the one who runs them apparently."

    Jun-ho sighed, his shoulders slumping. He quickened his steps to catch up with her, shoving one hand into his pocket, "Because you know him better than I do. He's more likely to open up to you. I'd probably just piss him off."

     Sae-bom hummed thoughtfully, glancing up at the night sky. The stars were faint but visible, scattered like pinpricks of light across the dark expanse. She exhaled softly, "I'm not sure I'll get through to him either. He was a mess the last time we saw him."

        Jun-ho didn't respond, his silence comforting in its own way. They continued walking, the noise of the city fading into the background as they neared Gi-hun's neighborhood.

        The rain began as a gentle drizzle, a soft patter against the pavement that glistened under the faint glow of the streetlights.

    Sae-bom walked ahead of Jun-ho, her steps steady in the middle of the empty road. She barely noticed the cool droplets soaking through her clothes, nor how her loose strands of hair clung stubbornly to her damp skin.

       Jun-ho kept close behind her, holding an umbrella over their heads. He frowned when he realized she was just far enough ahead to miss most of its cover, "Sae-bom, you're getting wet," He called, his voice tinged with concern.

        She didn't respond, her attention focused elsewhere. Her fingers absently tucked her sister's necklace under her shirt, hiding it from the rain and from harm. The chilled metal pressing against her skin grounded her as she trudged forward.

        They rounded a corner, and Sae-bom's breath caught in her throat. Her steps faltered as her eyes locked onto an old playground just down the street. Even in the dark and rain, it was unmistakable—the swing set, though rusted and weathered, stood as a ghost of her past.

       Her mind drifted, unbidden, to a memory that came rushing in like a tidal wave.

        It was another rainy evening, years ago. She and In-ho had walked along this same road, laughter spilling between them.

       He had been holding her hand to keep her steady on the slick pavement. His hand was warm, grounding, and she clung to it as her heart raced for reasons beyond the damp road.

   "In-ho, where are we going?" She had asked, her voice light but tinged with curiosity, as she gripped on tighter to his hand that kept her from slipping over.

        He turned to glance over his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. His fluffy hair framed his forehead, damp from the drizzle, and her heart skipped at how effortlessly handsome he looked. She had to physical hold herself back from pushing it back with her hand.

       "You'll see," He teased, his voice rich with amusement, and tugged her forward more to where he was walking, "Be patient, sweetheart."

        Her face flushed at the pet name, and she pouted, earning a chuckle from him, "Don't give me that look," He scolded gently, giving her hip a playful pinch making her squeak, "We're almost there."

    She perked up at his words but stumbled on a small stump in her excitement. A startled yelp escaped her as she pitched forward, only to be caught firmly against his chest.

      "Careful," He murmured, steadying her with an arm around her waist and another on her back. His dark eyes looked down at her through his lashes, a mix of concern and amusement glinting in them, drowning her where she stood.

        She felt heat rise to her cheeks as her palms pressed against his chest. His warmth seeped through the damp fabric of his shirt, and she couldn't bring herself to move. He was so close, she thought.

       "You're worse than a drunk person," His deep voice mused, his breath brushing against her ear, as his fingers gently run up along her sides.

      Her cheeks burned brighter, and she gaped at him in mock offense, "How dare you!" She snapped, shoving him away. He only laughed, his deep chuckle resonating in the cool air as he moved after her, watching her fondly from behind.

        When they finally rounded the last corner along the alleway, she stopped in her tracks. Her jaw dropped lower then she thought possible as her eyes widened in disbelief.

     The playground before her was transformed—fairy lights strung across the swing set cast a warm glow, and a red blanket lay spread out in front of them on the grass. Patterned pates, a basket, and her favorite ice-cream mochi balls were neatly arranged on the blanket.

   Her hands flew to her mouth, covering it with her palms, overwhelmed by the sight. Happy tears welled up in her eyes as she took in the thoughtfulness of the gesture.

    She barely noticed when In-ho stepped up behind her, his chest pressing lightly against her back. His fingers gently brushed her hair aside from her neck, and he leaned in close to whisper near the skin, "Do you like it?"

      Her breath hitched feeling his warmth so close to her skin, and she spun around, her words stumbling over themselves, "I—I don't know what to say," She finally managed, her voice trembling, "Thank you, In-ho."

       He smiled down at her fondly, but it turned into a surprised grunt as she tackled him into a fierce hug. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, fisting his shirt tightly in her hands and her face buried itself against his shoulder.

        His chuckle was deep against her ear, as he brushes his lips along her skin with a soft exhale, "You're welcome," He murmured onto her forehead, his voice gentle as his arms enveloped her, not planning on letting go anytime soon.

      They stood there under the glow of the lights, the stars seeming to shine brighter above them, as if blessing the moment. Neither knowing that was the last happy moment between them before things went sideways.

   In reality, the memory faded as quickly as it had come, leaving Sae-bom staring blankly at the dark, desolate playground. Her chest ached, and a single tear slipped down her cheek, unnoticed until Jun-ho's hand gently brushed it away.

   "Sae-bom?" He asked quietly, his voice laced with concern. His hand rested on her shoulder, grounding her in the present.

    She sniffled, quickly wiping the remaining tears away with the back of her hand. Forcing a weak smile, she shook her head, "It's nothing. I'm fine."

    Jun-ho didn't look convinced, his brows furrowing as he studied her face. But he didn't press further, knowing her well enough to understand when to let things be.

     "Alright," He said softly, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, followed by a tiny smile to offer comfort, "Let's keep going."

    She nodded, tearing her gaze away from the playground. The ache in her chest lingered as she fell into step beside him, the rain continuing to fall softly around them. It mirrored the storm within her, a quiet chaos she couldn't quite shake.

       When they arrived at where Gi-hun's place was, well where his mother lived with him, the duo waited patiently in the rain for the male to return. Sae-bom was starting to get worried about him, knowing how the male was like sometimes.

   Quiet footsteps sounded behind them against the road, and it caused them to turn around. Walking up to his front door was Gi-hun, who looked miserable more than ever and it broke Sae-bom's heart seeing him like that.

   He didn't even register that she was now running up to him, and forced an umbrella over his head, to keep him from getting even more drenched than he already was.

      "Seong Gi-hun?" Jun-ho was the first to speak, coming up to the quiet male who glanced at the concerned Sae-bom briefly before looking at the male.

    Sae-bom reached the umbrella up higher for him when he lifted his head, and he tucked his hands into his pockets eyeing Jun-ho, "Yeah?" He muttered lowly.

    Jun-ho flashes his police badge to show him who he was, using one hand to hold up his own umbrella, "Hwang Jun-ho, police." He introduced himself, slipping his badge back into his pocket, "You recently made a report at the station, right?"

          Gi-hun didn't say anything, as he only shuffled uncomfortable causing Sae-bom to take over the conversation, "You said a group took people and made them play games," She spoke softly up to him, back turned to Jun-ho, "And you also mentioned some players were... killed too."

    The male glanced down at his friend, who was more like a daughter figure to him, face was a blank slate, devoid of emotion, with lips pressed into a straight line, "Oh... all that, yeah, I just made that up. Yeah, a story I made up when I was drunk--"

    He avoided the young adult's piercing gaze, knowing Sae-bom would be able to see through his lies as he went to move forward to his door, but Jun-ho pressed a hand on his stomach to stop him from doing so.

       "They sent a card to my brother, and Sae-bom's sister," He finally revealed, which made the said girl nervously fiddled with the umbrella handle, "just like the one you had, sir. He went missing, and hasn't been heard from for a while."

    Something flashed in Gi-hun's eyes when he looked to Sae-bom, but he pursed his lips and shakes his head, "I just found it, I don't know. I saw it on the street and just put it in my pocket."

    He went to move to his front gate once more, but this time Sae-bom was the one who reached out to grip forearm in a gentle hold, "Gi-hun, listen for a second please."

    Her fingers wrapped around his jacket's material, while her other hand lifted up the umbrella above their heads, "There's no need to lie to us, but I can understand if you are." She started of soothingly, "And I can tell something really horrible happened, but we want to help. I need to get my sister, and Jun-ho's brother back, so please, if you have--"

    Dark eyes stared into his teary ones that he blinked away, and he gently pulled her hand off of him, "Why would you think..." His tone came out sharp, and emotionless causing her face to drop, "that I will be useful to you or anybody else? I'm sorry Sae-bom, I have nothing."

    As he said those double meaning words, he pushed open the gate to his home and walked inside, leaving the air tense and heavy between the best friends outside in the rain.

    There was a long pause, before Sae-bom opened her mouth to speak, "He's not telling us the truth for a reason," She mumbled to Jun-ho, and turned around to him with furrowed brows, "probably the same reason why I was told to stay away and stop looking."

    Jun-ho sighed through his nose exhausted, but nodded his head knowing there was only one option now, "Our best beat it go with your plan," He comments with a worried grimace, "even if it is incredibly reckless and dangerous."

     Her mouth twisted up into a crooked smirk, making her teeth flash, "Reckless is my moto, remember." She chirped knowing she'd do anything for her sister and beloved, "If we join the games, we might just find them. And I'm willingly to try before giving up."

      "Then it's settled," His phone screen lit up in front of his face to check the time, and took out the card she was given to the salesman prior, seeing the location she was meant to go to, "we infiltrate the games from the inside."

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❪ ✏️ ❫ 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙳𝚂 : 3651
─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
idk if im proud of this chapter but im glad i wrote that lil flashback scene of in-ho and sae-bom even though it hurt my girl to remember those fluffy times with the bitch. tbh this is more of a filler chap and im so sorry it's not that exiting yet but shit's going to go down in the next update i swear 💔

and before anyone attacks me for sae-bom's bad memory on where gi-hu lives.... it had be done for the plot and so i could write more scenes in this chapter LMFAOOA but for real i have a shitty memory at times also so that's why i made her have it 😭

anywaysss you all know the drill, vote,
comment, ect mwah <33