#sangwooxreader

After you and Sang-woo had eaten your last meals, two beds had been pushed out of the walls. Placed on the opposite ends of the room. Both of you, exhausted from everything, had walked up to one of the beds. The urge for rest constantly at the back of your mind, yet body still so alert for danger. It was just a tiny bit more comfier than the beds you had slept on before this. The staff members had left one knife for the both of you, but you didn’t think Sang-woo of all people would try to hurt you. You had seen him push off that one man in the last game, but surely he wouldn’t have done that if it had been you, or that’s what you kept thinking to keep your mind calm. 

The lights had gone out a little bit ago, but the small amount of light that was left made it possible to see the other bed. Sang-woo seemed like he was about to fall asleep while sitting, which was a good sign. It hopefully meant that he trusted you enough to feel comfortable falling asleep. Even though you trusted him, you kept the sharp knife near you, just in case. Sang-woo hadn’t felt the same after Gi-Hun had died, as much as you had tried to deny that before. 

Even before the game, the two of you had been together. Neither of you having told the other about the invite to the game. You were afraid he’d tell you not to go, so you just called the number, but little did you know that Sang-woo had gotten the same card. It was only when the both of you had woken up with the others that you’d realised. Sang-woo seemed to be internally angry that you had come here as well, but he’d never been directly mean to you before. That being the reason why you thought he hadn’t scolded you for calling the number. And, would he have been any better? He’d gotten himself stuck here as well. Instead, he helped you with the games the best he could, and you did the same to him. And by doing so, it had led to the two of you being the only two left. 

You couldn’t sleep with the thought of what the next game could be swirling in your head. Surely one of you had to die, so the other would get the money. You knew why Sang-woo needed it so desperately. So because of that and the love for him you felt, you thought it was only fair if you just let him win. He’d helped you get so far, when he had never been obligated to. Nor had he attacked you now, even when given the chance. Instead, he seemed to trust you enough to rest for a moment. He had worked so hard to get to this point, it would only be right. 

While all this thinking your eyes had begun to close. Slowly but surely you fell asleep, with the knife next to your hand. After what felt like a short moment, you started to wake up to a noise coming from near your bed. Startled, you sat up with the knife in your hand. As your eyes started to focus in the dark, you saw Sang-woo standing near your bed. Your breath hitched. Was he really there to take you out like this, like some animal?

Before you could say anything, the man leaned over. “I am sorry if I startled you…” He sighed as he looked at you with tired eyes, the rest seemingly not having done anything. “I was only thinking, If this is the last game...We could spend the last night together?” Sang-woo suggested quietly. Your body started to slowly relax, and you put down the knife. “I-it’s okay. But..” You thought for a second. You had nothing to lose, he was the only thing you still had. Inside this very game, and outside.  You wanted him to win anyway, so even if he killed you now, it wouldn’t matter. “Sure, come here…” You hummed as calmly as you could in this situation. Without another word he climbed under the blanket, next to you. 

There was a moment of silence. Even though you liked the calmness, you had to ask him something. “Sang-woo?” You said quietly, as you looked at your hands. He turned his gaze to you, and hummed out a soft ‘yes’. “I assume you know that one of us will have to lose the next game?” You tried to start without going straight to the point. He tilted his head a little. “Yes. I suppose that has to happen..” He replied, waiting for you to continue. “I want to let you win...We both can’t leave this game alive.” You admitted and closed your eyes tightly. Sang-woo stayed silent for a little bit before he said anything. Soon you felt him turn you towards him by your shoulders. “Are you insane? I didn’t come all this way to let you die. I did this because I want you to get the price.” He huffed with a tiny bit of anger in his voice. But the crease between his furrowed brows was leaking of worry and a form of panic. He was being honest, desperately so. You opened your eyes and looked straight at him. “I don’t want the money if I can’t be with you.” Was the only thing you could think of, focused on making your point clear. He had to survive the last game. “I won’t let you go through with this!” He furrowed his brows with anger and worry now more pronounced in his tone. Eyes searching something from you, as if attempting to find anything pointing to you not being serious. Catching nothing. You on the other hand didn’t want to continue this conversation any further. You had made your decision. “I’m sorry…” A sigh left your body as you leaned towards Sang-woo. The feeling of sorrow from this whole topic overpowering any reason and logic.

You knew you wouldn't be able to live without him outside the game. Even if you had all the money in the world, it wouldn’t matter if you were alone. You would still miss the times he’d taken you out with him. And as the sun had gone down he would smoke a cigarette while you waited for a bus home. Passing you a drag on a good night. No amount of money would fill the hole in your heart.

You both still had some time to sleep, and you would gladly do that now that Sang-woo was next to you. Your head was against his chest, so you could hear his heartbeat. He hadn’t said anything after your apology. But perhaps that was for the better. You hadn’t wanted to hear his pleas of saving your life in the first place, only that he knew of what you’d decided.

 This was most likely the last time you were both going to be like this, ever. The thought of that saddened you. Sang-woo was about to fall asleep with his head resting on top of yours, but he felt the stirring coming from you. He pushed you up by your shoulders so he was able to see your face. 

There were small crystal clear tears falling down your cheeks. “I don’t want to leave...” You cried out a desperate whisper to Sang-woo, as if there was anyone else to hear you anymore. His expression appeared pained. He was aware that one of you had to go, but he didn’t want that either. “You won’t have to…” He closed his eyes with a sigh. Sang-woo started to caress your hair gently, an attempt to calm his nerves and an even more desperate try to help you. “I-..you should sleep a little..” He tried to change the subject that seemed to bring down both of your moods, keeping you awake. He wiped your tears away with his suit sleeve, brushing some of the stray strands of hair back. He wanted to say something, but couldn’t find anything to add. Due to his cold persona, it was hard for him to comfort anyone, even if that someone was as dear as you.

You pressed your head back against his chest to hear his heartbeat again. It was such a calming sound at this moment. But the thought that this would be the last time you heard it, made you not want to fall asleep. Yearning to keep listening, if only for a moment longer. But even though your fight against the built up exhaustion, sleep took over your form and you fell asleep against Sang-woo. He was biting his lip to keep his emotions from boiling over. Now that you were asleep, he didn’t dare to move at all. There was no time to cry now, he had to be there for you like he had promised from the start. Soon sleep took over him as well. Falling asleep with his right arm gently around you and his head resting on top of yours. 

You both woke up to the guards and staff coming in. They took you to the last room that the 6th game would be held in. You noticed that it was the same room the first game had been held in, but this time there was a pattern on the ground. Before you could figure it out, the game was announced. The last game, the squid game. You were both given positions, you were the offense, Sang-woo the defence.

You took a step closer to Sang-woo before the game started. “I love you.” You said to him as your eyes looked at his for the last time. His eyes never left you as you started to walk to your spot. A wistful look in his eyes for that passing moment. 

“Remember me”

And so the game began. You both still had the knives with you, holding on to it for dear life. Every time you did something, it seemed like Sang-woo didn’t want to stop you, he wanted you to win. He was supposed to be the defence, but he wasn’t doing any of that. You knew that he had played this game as a kid, even more than you had. So he was aware of what he was doing, not making this any easier. There was no talking to him anymore, that chance had passed the previous night. 

 “Though I have to say goodbye, remember me”

This wasn’t going anywhere. The VIP’s were getting irritated at the two of you. This was meant to be the final game, the grand finale, but nothing was happening. You hadn’t turned into mindless animals like they’d hoped, there was something between the two of you blocking that from happening. They had put money, bets,  in this game and nothing was happening. The host told the guards to do something about this before the guests got more irritated. 

“Don't let it make you cry, for even if I'm far away”

The guard with the triangle on their mask pointed a pistol at you. You and Sang-woo stopped, not a hitch of breath making a single sound. You saw how Sang-woo had come to the painful realisation that he actually had to try and get you killed. You started to move to the other spot, feeling your hand tremble. 

“I hold you in my heart. I sing a secret song to you”

The game went on and you had gotten a few bruises. You both still had the knives in your hands, but neither of you wanted to do any serious damage. After a moment of thought you stopped completely and stared at Sang-woo, a lifeless expression behind the lively eyes he’d been used to. He tilted his head a little, but not enough for anyone but you to notice. So far, whatever fighting there may have been, had been a mere play put up for the audience watching. 

“Each night we are apart. Remember me.”

You lifted the knife up to your neck, your eyes staying on Sang-woo. He soon realised what you were about to do and started to sprint towards your form. As he reached to take the knife out of your hand, he managed to kick your balance off, allowing you an opening to swing the knife.

“Though I have to travel far. Remember me”

The knife slit your throat severely, causing blood to spill from the cut immediately. You started to cough a little, before collapsing on the sand. Sang-woo dropped on his knees right after you, and tried to lift your head as his clothes started to get soaked with your blood. You knew you didn’t have much time before you ultimately bleed out. Your half closed eyes were scanning Sang-woo’s. His eyes were getting teary, only the pure terror of the situation blocking them from streaming down. 

“Each time you hear a sad guitar.”

“I told you I would let you win, why-..what!” He yelled out the last part with anger and deep sorrow embedded in each word. Sang-woo knew that he was going to lose you, and these were going to be the last words he was ever going to be able to say to you. The thought of that made him calm down a little, if only for a mere moment. The guards didn’t seem like they were about to shoot you to death, they probably would let you suffer until you died. Allowing him a moment’s opening to say whatever he had on his chest.

“Know that I'm with you, the only way that I can be.”

You were both looking at each other in silence, just like the night before. Sang-woo swallowed his tears back before he started to talk. “I love you.” Was all that came out of his mouth, something he’d wished to have said earlier. The thought of him not being able to even bury you saddened him, there was no going to be a place of proper rest for you. He’d been aware of his tendencies to appear cold, but the sight of you like this had caused something in him to freeze over. You tried to pull a slight smile on your face even through the sheering, yet warm, pain. 

“Until you're in my arms again”

Never could have you guessed this was going to be the end of the line. Oh how you now wished that one of you hadn’t called the number and would now be at home waiting for the other to come back from wherever they were. The only worry being the amount of time the other had been gone, if only. But now, only one of you would return alive.

“Remember me...”