❝ Every memory of you the good times and the bad, comes as a hug in times of need and lifts me back onto both feet ❞

Sun rays come as nature's easel, giving brilliant colour to what was hidden even under the passing starlit night.

A-Yeong's young face glowed as the golden drops of sun shone in her little yard. She was laying on the cool grass, her dark hair splayed against the vibrant green. Her eyes were sparkling with innocence and happiness and her smile was contagious. At least that's what the boy next to her thought.

Jun-Ho was beside the girl. His long legs carelessly laying on the grass and his arms resting underneath his head. He gazed up at the clear blue sky sometime turning his head just slightly to watch A-Yeong.

A-Yeong turned herself sideways so she was facing the young boy. She grinned at him, a twinkle visible in her eyes.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" she asked curiously.

"You mean older like your brother? Or older like our parents?" asked Jun-ho.

"He's not that old. He's still young enough to be an idiot," said A-Yeong, glancing in the direction of her brother who was climbing trees with In-ho.

Ha-Kun was almost eighteen which seemed like a big number to little A-Yeong who had just turned ten years old. Jun-Ho's twelfth birthday was around the corner yet the concept of being as old as In-Ho was strange.

"I meant like a job" A-Yeong clarified. "For instance I'd want to be one of those cool people who are all stealthy..." A-Yeong stood up to demonstrate her stealth. "And they catch all the bad guys because they are so smart, and they have the little magnifying glasses."

"You want to be a detective for the magnifying glasses?" chuckled Jun-ho.

"I mean that's a big part. But also it would be so rewarding to stop bad things from happening. I'd feel like I was doing something, you know?" said A-Yeong settling down again.

Jun-ho nodded. "I'd want to be a traditional police man. They look so powerful and they help so many people. Everyone respects them. And they've got badges."

"Those badges are cool."

"What are you little nerds up to?" asked A-Yeong's brother as he ruffled his little sisters hair. The girl slapped his hands away.

"Stop or I'll tell Appa" cried A-Yeong as her brother continued to annoy her.

"You're so annoying" huffed Ha-Kun.

"Well, at least my face doesn't look like yours. Imagine being that ugly"

"You little–" started Ha-Kun as he chased his younger sister around the yard. In-Ho and Jun-Ho laughed as the two siblings ran around in circles until a larger figure stepped out of the front door.

A-Yeong clashed into her father as Ha-Kun came to a abrupt halt. The man pulled up his daughter before smiling.

"Dinner's ready. You two can stay here if you'd like," said A-Yeong's father nodding his head towards the Hwang brothers.

The two boys looked at each other before shrugging and entering the house after the two Shin siblings.

A-Yeong's father shook his head at the four. "Never a moment apart" he grinned.

Four Years Later

"If you had a chance to change your name what would you choose?" asked Jun-ho as he relaxed against a particularly shady tree.

Y/n settled herself beside him. "You ever see those short English names sometimes? So simple and easy. Nothing like A-Yeong."

"I like A-Yeong. It suits you" said Jun-ho simply.

Y/n smiled at Jun-Ho before continuing. "I think Y/n sounds pretty. If I could change my name I would make it Y/n Shin"

"Y/n" tried Jun-Ho. "If you want ,I'll call you Y/n from now on."

Y/n nodded her head earnestly and Jun-Ho laughed.

"What about you? Any name preferences?" asked Y/n nudging the boy's shoulder. "Maybe like sweetheart, honey pie, sweet–"

"No! None of those!" yelled Jun-Ho catching In-Ho and Ha-Kun's attention. "I'd want to be Jun. Just Jun" he said quietly.

"Ok just Jun" Y/n said before a mischievous glint appeared in her e/c eyes. "But I'm sure you won't mind if she called you those sweet names," said Y/n, giving Jun-Ho a significant look.

"She? My brother has a girl in his life and he didn't tell me?" said In-Ho as he took the chance to ruffle the teenager's hair. "What's her name, Jun-ho? When will I get to meet her?"

"Stop! It's nothing like that. Y/n's lying–"

"Aw look at them they have little names for each other. A-Yeong is his little Y/n. Oh they grow up so fast!" said Ha-Kun wiping away an imaginary tear.

"Shut up, Ha-Kun. Shouldn't you be fawning over some other women who are out of your league?' asked Y/n quirking her eyebrow.

"You look just like your mother like that," said Y/n's father as he walked towards his kids. "She used to do the same thing"

All the kids went silent.

Y/n's father rarely about their mother. She had died when Y/n was only two. Y/n hardly remembered her mother, but Ha-Kun surely could. He had been almost nine at the time of her death. He could still hear her gasps for life as the cancer overtook her body. There was no saving her.

"I'm sorry" said Y/n's father slightly patting his son. "It's time for dinner though. I've made Jun-ho's favorite since his birthday is in a few days."

"Really?" asked Jun-ho his eyes lighting up.

"You two are as good as family. I may as well just accept it."

Three years later

"A-Yeong please, this isn't in my hands. It's for you and your future, darling. Think about it reasonably. You'll get a better schooling and Ha-Kun will get a better paying job. You can come back once you've finished school!" pleaded Y/n's Appa as he tried to calm the crying girl.

"But Jun-ho and In-ho and you. How can we leave all of you behind. We know no one there Appa!"

"You have each other. Your brother will take care of you. It's only a matter of four years."

"Only four years?" cried Y/n in disbelief. "That's like an eternity without the people I love the most."

"Y/n we can't change it. We might as well just spend the time we've got left happily" tried Ha-Kun.

"A-Yeong think of all the opportunities you're going to get. You're going to the best of the best. An ivy league student from a small town in Korea. Not many have that opportunity. And you're going to make so many new friends–"

"I'm going to see Jun-ho" said Y/n suddenly. And within minutes she was out the door. Her brother was running behind but all Y/n could think about that this would be the last time she would see Jun-ho.

Thoughts spiraled in Y/n's mind. What if Jun-ho got a new best friend? What if he didn't like Y/n anymore. Worst of all what if he completely forgot about her. Four years was a long time anything could happen.

Before she knew it she was at his door. She rang the tiny doorbell and there he was. Smiling at her like always. One look at her tear stained cheeks and his grin was gone. He pulled her small frame into his own.

"What happened?"

"I'm leaving."

"What?" he pushed her away slightly to stare into her eyes. He searched for a trace of a lie. Maybe a cruel joke? "Why? Where? How long? When?"

"College, America, four years, and the day after tomorrow."

Jun-ho just stood there. He tried to think. But nothing. He couldn't go with her. He couldn't beg her to stay. It was difficult as it is.

"Just promise you won't forget about me" he whisper into her ear as he brought her into another hug.

"I wouldn't dream of it. You don't get a new best friend" she said through tears.

"Never in a million years"

Five years later

Y/n Shin had graduated top of her class at University of Pennsylvania. It had been years of perseverance and toil but she had made it. She was a major in criminology and had already earned a spot at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Y/n and her brother spoke English so frequently over the course of the years that their Korean was now quite weak. On the flight Y/n and her brother laughed at their own pronunciations. One point remained certain though. As they glanced out the plane and saw the shining lights of Seoul, they knew they were finally home.

Their father was at the airport. He looked the same as before, slightly older, yet still clean and neat as always.

Y/n couldn't help but search the small crowd. She knew it was ridiculous. She hadn't told Jun-ho that she was coming back.

Their communication had been weak. They had talked a few times. Each wishing that they were talking face to face without the barrier of half the earth.

Chan-Yeol was now hugging his children. He was gripping his son firmly with pride shining in his eyes. His one arm was wrapped around his daughter as they walked away from the airport.

"I'm so proud of both of you" he said smiling. "Ha-Kun a successful manager at Amazon and my A-Yeong a young detective with knowledge like no other."

"Stop Appa" said Y/n grinning. "We were just trying to keep up with your expectations"

"You both always exceed my expectations" Chan-Yeol said ruffling Y/n's hair.

"You know that I'm an adult now right? I'm twenty one. I'm not a kid anymore" Y/n said pulling away to fix her hair.

Their father opened their mouth to speak but Ha-Kun was quicker. "Let me guess. You'll always be my little girl?"

Chan-Yeol shook his head while chuckling. "And you always my little boy."

"That was not necessary" said Ha-Kun grimacing.

And just like that the little family was reunited.

....

Y/n was in front of the police station. The large building wasn't all that intimidating but it was the prospect of talking about a job. A real job. An adult job.

She took a deep breath before entering the building. It was bustling with officers in uniforms. Y/n immediately sensed a change. There were hardly any women. Y/n could see one receptionist who was a female. She hurried over.

"I have a meeting with the Chief" said Y/n in what she thought was a confident tone.

"Complaints don't go straight to Chief, Miss. You can tell one of the officers and they can help" the woman said indifferently.

"I'm not here for a complaint. I'm here for a job"

The woman's eyes suddenly looked up with shock. Her eyes scanned Y/n's body as if determining her worth.

"I'm sure he's expecting me," said Y/n, nodding her head.

The woman looked suspicious but before she could say anything, the Chief himself was walking towards Y/n. "A-Yeong what a pleasure!"

At the sound of her name Y/n distinctly saw a few heads turn.

"Come in. Come in. I'll show you your desk and you'll get to meet your partner" said the Chief smiling at the young woman.

Y/n followed after the man giving the receptionist a significant look.

"You're going to have to partner up with a trained cop. No detective will match your skills that you've developed from America. I've decided on a cop that I trust but if you want we can always switch a few things around."

"Thank you sir" said Y/n. She truly was grateful. She was finally achieving the job of her dreams.

"Well, here he is" said the Chief grinning broadly. He thumped the young man on the back. "Hwang Jun-Ho, my most loyal officer"

It took Y/n a considerable time to put together the things the Chief had just said. The young man standing in front of Y/n was him. Her best friend. The same young boy she spent hours laying in the sun with. The same boy who had cheered her up countless times.

Yet he was so different.

His face had lost its boyish charm instead replaced with maturity and confidence. His previously bony structure was now clearly defined yet his black hair still flopped over his forehead. He stood considerably taller than her so that Y/n had to tilt her head to look into his dark brown eyes. Y/n could see a glimpse of happiness in his eyes but it was overshadowed by something so much worse. He looked betrayed.

He put a hand forward like any stranger would. "Pleasure to meet you A-Yeong." Y/n was numb but she managed to raise her hand into a limp handshake.

Why was he like this?

....

Jun-ho's heart had swelled at the sight of the young woman. He had seen her enter and talk to the receptionist. And with a moment of great happiness came a wave of memories. Four years and Y/n had called a grand total of maybe ten times. He hadn't heard her voice in the last six months. He didn't know where she was. What she was doing. It was like she had forgotten about him. He had left messages to which he received no reply. And he had accepted it. She had moved on.

But now she was here, in all her glory. Her dark hair hanging over her shoulders and a defiant look in her sparkling eyes. She had matured into a woman. The morning glow from the small windows reflected on her face in a way that put everyone and everything else in the shadows. And just like that he was mesmerized again.

Jun-ho had no idea that the Chief was assigning Y/n as his new partner. If he had known maybe he'd have prepared himself for this moment.

Jun-ho's heart was blossoming at the thought of spending time with his best friend after all these years, but his mind kept reminding him of her negligence. Jun-ho wasn't some toy that she could love one moment and forget the next. He was her best friend at least that's what he thought.

Giving what he thought was a relatively cold look, Jun-ho shook Y/n's hand.

....

Over the course of the day, Y/n had absorbed information like a sponge. She had learned all the details about detective work in Korea yet her biggest concern still remained the young man who avoided her gaze.

It was six o'clock in the evening and Y/n had been desperate to go home for the last half an hour. She had finished all her day's objectives. But Jun-ho was still rooted to his desk. Finally he seemed like he was packing up.

Once he was out the door. Y/n rushed out after him. She could clearly see his broad retreating back in the small crowd. Catching up to him, she yanked on his shoulder to stop him.

Jun-ho was taken aback. His eyes softened once he looked at the young woman standing in front of him.

"What do you think you are doing?" asked Y/n stepping closer to the young man.

Jun-ho did not move back. "I'm giving you your space. That's clearly what you had wanted right?"

"I don't know what–"

"Don't play dumb with me, A-Yeong. I called you almost everyday. I texted you a million times–"

"I was busy!"

"I didn't ask for explanations or excuses, A-Yeong. You thought you did what was best. Just leave me alone."

Y/n grabbed onto the man's forearm and dragged him out of the crowd to the side of the street. "I'm not letting you go until we figure us out"

Jun-ho remained silent a stubborn look overtaking his face.

"Fine. I was busy trying to cope up with school and other things. I should have made time for you and I'm sorry. A part of me thought that I was holding onto this vanishing memory of our friendship. I thought maybe I was trying too hard to salvage something that was breaking–"

"We never have and never will break apart. Distance is a strange thing to manage and maybe we weren't the best. But now you're here. And everything will be just fine"

With that, Jun-ho pulled Y/n into his embrace and buried his face in her sweet smelling hair. Y/n finally felt complete. With Jun-ho back at her side and her feet planted in Korean soil, Y/n knew nothing could shatter her again.

"You want a ride home?" asked Jun-ho pulling away.

"I don't know if I trust your driving" grinned Y/n.

"Well, you're not crashing my car so you better hop in."

"You know it wasn't that hard to convince you, Jun. I thought you would be angrier. I don't think you have the capacity to be truly angry though"

"Don't test me, Y/n. I could let you walk home"

"Shut up. Just accept that you can't be mad at me for long. You never could. Remember when we used to..."

Just like that the two of them dissolved into their equilibrium. The best of their past memories engulfing them and forming the golden thread of both soul and spine.

{2897} 

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞

I know that was a lot of time skips! I'm sorry but now we are all caught up to start at the beginning of squid game! 

Also from now on mostly only Jun-ho and Ha-Kun will refer to Y/n as Y/n. To almost everyone else Y/n is A-Yeong.