game over | squid game

part three

Sae-Byeok and Ji Yeong took a step from the ledge on to the small boat, trying not to rock it side to side.

"i can't believe we're really leaving this place and together." Sae-Byeok smiled as she sat herself down.

"to jeju island." Ji Yeong smiled as she began to reverse the boat in to the sea.

"to jeju island." Sae-Byeok responded , she hadn't smiled this much since she last saw her brother.

The weather had been perfect for the boat trip. The ocean was calm and the birds flew through the air, everything was how Sae-Byeok had always wanted it to be.

"you know how to get there right? Sae-Byeok asked concerned.

"no." Ji yeong chuckled.

"how is that funny?" Sae-Byeok exclaimed. " what if we get lost?"

"we won't, don't panic." Ji Yeong smiled back as she rowed the wooden panels.

"i'm not panicking, but it would be nice to have a map around here." Sae-Byeok insisted.

"look under the seat." Ji yeong declared and watched as Sae-Byeok began to look under the seat grabbing a piece of paper and opening it in to an old looking map.

"how did you know?"she had asked.

"just a guess." Ji yeong shrugged.

"i'm still pissed at you, you know." Sae-Byeok hid behind the map pretending to read it.

"and why's that?" Ji yeong asked concerned.

"because you died for me! you might be alive now but that doesn't change the way i felt."Sae-Byeok raised her voice.

"i'm sorry. But you had a reason to get out of there.it was what was best." Ji Yeong expressed.

"you were getting shot and you smiled. Who even does that?." Sae-Byeok laughed trying to lighten the mood.

"i was honoured to have known you." Ji Yeong responded without hesitation.

- - -

It had began to get dark. Sae-Byeok had her head rested on the edge of the boat looking down in to the ocean. So much had happened, She was free.

It seemed like a dream, it had to be a dream, She didn't think she'd ever leave such a place never mind with the person she trusted most. everything she had dreamed of when she was younger. it was happening, She was really going to Jeju island.

as a child she didn't have what other kids had.

She didn't have money.

her childhood ended earlier than most.

She had been so busy looking after her brother and caring for him she could never do anything for herself.

money was even harder to get once her mother didn't come back.

and the only option she had left was to join squid game. Of course at the time she didn't know what she was getting in to like everyone else. She didn't think once you were eliminated you'd die.

But that's what money does. It drives you crazy.

Crazy enough to kill someone for it.

Crazy enough to end your own life for it.

She had always dreamed of going to Jeju island, Way before she had even met Ji Yeong, she dreamed of it since she was a child herself, and the idea of drinking mojitos on the beach with her mother and brother.

"we have to get my brother." Sae-Byeok blurted out and sat herself up quickly.

"what?" Ji Yeong looked over to her.

"we have to get him" she repeated herself being to look at the map

"i don't think that's a good idea, Sae-Byeok." Ju Yeong hesitated.

"it's on the way look" she pointed on the map showing Ji-Yeong. " i promised him i'd come back. He will be so glad to come with us. You can meet him!" she ranted on and on.

"Sae-Byeok." Ji yeong sighed.

"what?" Sae-Byeok frowned.

"it doesn't matter." Ji yeong shook her head.

"it clearly does. Just tell me, if you don't want to meet him just say." Sae-Byeok hissed.

"it's not that. it's just i don't think it's a good idea." Ji Yeong's voice trailed.

"what. why? aren't you the one that told me to get out of there and live my dream by going to jeju with him?" Sae-Byeok raised her voice.

"yes but things are different now." Ji Yeong replied looking out in to the ocean, trying not to make eye contact with Sae-Byeok.

"how are things different?" She asked.

"well for one. I'm alive, Does that not make you question anything?" Ji Yeong responded.

"not really."

"right. Well i'm going to bed sleep well." Ji Yeong stood up and pulled the duvet from under the box in to where she was going to sleep. She lay and turned from one side to the other so that she wasn't looking at Sae-Byeok.

Sae-Byeok lay looking up to the stars. She couldn't believe Ji Yeong. After all that time she didn't want her brother to go. Things had felt strange between the two ever since Sae-Byeok had noticed she was still alive. Maybe it hadn't sunk in yet. almost as if it was a fever dream.