Chapter 55

After an excruciatingly awkward period, the meal finally arrived. Haon realized for the first time how welcoming and appreciated it was to eat. While eating, he could naturally avoid Cha Yugeon’s gaze and didn’t have to endure the awkward silence.

With his attention solely on Cha Yugeon, Haon was focused on chewing and swallowing the spaghetti, not even tating it.

“And we should resume training.”

Haon, who almost buried his nose in the plate, suddenly raised his head at the abrupt statement. Cha Yugeon, as usual, looked at him with an unaffected expression.

“Just training to improve our instantaneous resonance. We only did it once.”

“Well, but…”

It was a valid point. The training was embarrassingly infrequent. Haon agreed with Cha Yugeon’s words but tried to find a way to escape the awkward situation.

“Regardless of our emotions, we have to do what needs to be done, right?”

“Well, yeah, but…”

There was no rebuttal. Despite their emotions, there were tasks that needed to be completed. In fact, that’s how he had gotten this far.

Haon had disliked Cha Yugeon intensely, but in emergencies, he had to guide him to prevent Cha Yugeon’s rampage. Though he didn’t like it, to fulfill his duty properly, he had to make some concession. In doing so, they had arrived at the present moment.

Haon realized anew how terrifying it was that he had to do what needed to be done, no matter what.

“Agreed?”

“Yeah… let’s do it.”

Haon reluctantly agreed with Cha Yugeon’s question that seemed to seek confirmation. It felt like he was being dragged into something, but there was no way out. Haon resolved to snap out of it now.

He was afraid that if he continued like this, he might end up inadvertently dating Cha Yugeon or something.

* * *

After finishing the meal, Haon and Cha Yugeon headed to the arcade together. Haon should have said he didn’t want to go, but since he had already said he didn’t mind, he ended up following Cha Yugeon to the arcade. Throughout the journey, he couldn’t help but think this wasn’t right, but it was too late to turn back.

“Do you know how to play any games?”

 “Of course.”

Cha Yugeon’s question pricked Haon’s pride. Although Cha Yugeon didn’t mean it that way, it sounded as if Haon didn’t know any games.

Haon stood in front of a gun-shooting game. As someone who was proficient in handling real guns, shooting in a game was a piece of cake for him. Haon casually picked up the gun with a smile.

“Bring it on. I’m really good at this.”

“What are you talking about? We’re on the same team?”

“Ah, right.”

At Cha Yugeon’s words, Haon felt awkward and clicked his tongue. Since it was a game where two players fight zombies, there was no reason for Haon to compete with Cha Yugeon.

With Cha Yugeon eagerly inserting coins into the game machine, the game’s storyline began, and the two of them set out to kill zombies.

“…What the heck, did they design this to be impossible or what?!”

Despite their confident approach to the game, they encountered trouble early on. Haon and Cha Yugeon struggled against the third-level boss.

“Park Haon, didn’t you say you were good at this?”

“Shut up… Why do you keep dying?”

“I never said I was good at it, did I?”

It was true. While Haon had boasted about being good at the game, Cha Yugeon had never said anything. Haon regretted not keeping quiet himself. Nevertheless, there was no way to turn back time.

“Ugh… I died again.”

“Me too.”

In the end, the two of them couldn’t defeat the third-level boss and gave up. While Haon was looking for another game, Cha Yugeon pointed to the claw machine with his finger.

“Should I try to grab that?”

“That creepy one with the blue eyes and pink head?”

“Yeah.”

Haon frowned at Cha Yugeon’s words. The claw machine was filled with dolls with pink heads and eerie blue eyes. Haon shivered. It felt as if the doll would move when he wasn’t looking if he took it home.

“Let’s forget it. Why would you want to grab such a suspicious-looking doll?”

“What about that one?”

“Why are you so obsessed with dolls?”

Despite Haon’s grumbling, he couldn’t help but laugh at Cha Yugeon’s enthusiasm for the claw machine. Contrary to his appearance, Cha Yugeon had a childish and playful side.

“Just because it looks fun.”

“Then give it a try.”

As soon as Haon agreed, Cha Yugeon approached the claw machine. It was filled with dolls that resembled bears.

“But do you know how to operate the claw machine?”

“Well, I’ll give it a try. Doesn’t look too difficult.”

“Tsk. That sounds like you never tried it before.”

“Be quiet, I’m concentrating.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry for disturbing you.”

Though Haon grumbled sarcastically, he kept quiet so Cha Yugeon could focus. He didn’t even breathe heavily, afraid of bothering him. Haon had tried the claw machine a few times before.

Whenever he went to the arcade with Siyun, their last stop was always the claw machine after spending all their changed money. Of course, he had never succeeded.

“Wow, amazing.”

Before long, Haon exclaimed in admiration, clapping a couple of times.

“You’ve just wasted five thousand won in a blink. Impressive.”

“…Shut up.”

Despite Cha Yugeon’s spirited attempt at the claw machine, the results were modest. Haon had expected as much, but seeing Cha Yugeon struggle at the machine was somewhat satisfying. It reminded him of earlier when Cha Yugeon criticized him for not being able to play the gun game.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

“Just one more round, just one.”

“Sigh, don’t gamble all of your money.”

Haon clicked his tongue upon hearing Cha Yugeon’s ‘just one more round’. However, since it wasn’t his money anyway and Cha Yugeon seemed determined, Haon let him have one more go at it, intending to let him be the generous donor to the claw machine.

Cha Yugeon decisively inserted a thousand won bill and took a deep breath before carefully operating the claw machine. Haon watched him silently.

“There it is!”

Finally, after several futile attempts, a doll Cha Yugeon had missed countless times hung precariously from the claw machine’s hook and dropped out. The doll, dangling as if about to fall, miraculously made it to the exit despite its awkward grip.

“See that?”

Haon smirked as Cha Yugeon triumphantly held up the doll.

“You used your telekinetic powers, didn’t you? I saw it all.”

“N-No?”

“What are you talking about? I saw your eyes turned red, clear as day.”

“…You did?”

“Yeah.”

Though he retorted coldly, Haon soon burst out laughing. He found it amusing that Cha Yugeon would resort to using his esper abilities just to grab a doll. Nevertheless, Cha Yugeon may have been childish, but he was certainly entertaining.

“Well, it’s good that I make you laugh. Here.”

Despite feeling embarrassed, Cha Yugeon shamelessly handed the doll to Haon. Haon glanced between the unfairly pitiful bear doll and Cha Yugeon’s face before accepting it.

“Thanks. I’m not sure where I’ll use it, but I’ll take it for now.”

“What do we do now?”

“Well, do you have anything in mind?”

At Haon’s question, Cha Yugeon looked around and then pointed to a game machine that had become available after a couple had left.

“How about we play ‘Find the Differences’?”

“Hmm, looks interesting.”

“That’s it then.”

“Don’t say you don’t like it later.”

“No, let’s do it. Let’s give it a try.”

Though Haon had been to the arcade with Siyun many times, they had never thought to play ‘Find the Differences.’ Impressed by Cha Yugeon’s originality, Haon sat down in front of the game machine, thinking it would be easy.

“Ah-ah-ah, time’s running out! Give me a hint, quickly!”

After a while, Haon realized how tense and nerve-wracking ‘Find the Differences’ was. It was more thrilling than any other game he had played before. Finding the difference between two seemingly identical pictures within a limited time frame was not as easy as he had thought.

The two of them played ‘Find the Differences’ for quite a while. When they finally gave up due to eye strain, more than 40 minutes had passed. Haon vowed not to overlook ‘Find the Differences’ in the future.

After sitting in the small chairs for so long, staring at the screen until their eyes hurt, their bodies felt stiff. Haon stretched long and hard before leaving the arcade with Cha Yugeon.

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Haon replied lightly to Cha Yugeon’s words. The two of them walked back slowly along the path they had come a few hours earlier. They didn’t engage in any particular conversation, but Haon felt that the atmosphere was significantly different from when they had arrived.

It felt much more comfortable. Perhaps this was what Cha Yugeon had hoped for. Spending time together and gradually becoming more comfortable with each other. Haon wondered if, as they became more accustomed and comfortable with each other, they might eventually grow to like each other.

It was just a fleeting thought.