Chapter 10: Friends or Not?
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We were carefully measuring angles at the claw machine.
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Considering the doll inside was likely worth around 12,000 won, another failure would make the whole endeavor seem futile. Weâd already burned 10,000 won into this, after all. But now, with the claw hovering so close to the prize chute, it felt as though we were on the cusp of triumph.
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âDo you want to try the last turn, Eun-ha? I feel like Iâm just not good at this.â Han-gyeol asked me.
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âMe? Me do it? Iâve never played the claw machine before!â
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âWho knows? There might be something like Beginnersâ luck.â
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âUm... Okay! Iâll try it! But youâll have to guide me, alright?â
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âTrust only in me!â
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I switched places with Han-gyeol and started moving the claw around.
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âHan-gyeol...how is it? Is it good?â
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âUh, maybe a little to the left?â
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âLike, this way? Should I press the button now?â
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âAh... Just a tiny bit to the right!â
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âLike this?! How about now?!â
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âSeems good!â
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âAlright, pressing it now...â
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As I cautiously pressed the button, the claw began its slow descent. Its pincers perfectly wrapped around the doll, lifting it into the air for a suspenseful moment.
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Then, as if destined, the blue turtle doll slid right into the prize chute.
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âWooooow! Han-gyeol, we did it!â
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âWooowww! It worked on the first try when Eun-ha did it?! Youâre a natural!â
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âReally?!â
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Han-gyeol bent down and retrieved the doll.
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âHereâEun-ha, itâs a gift.â
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âHaha! Thanks! But I feel bad just taking it, so Iâll give you 5,000 won?â
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âHuh?! Um... No. I got it because I wanted to give it to you as a gift.â
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I couldnât decline the kindness radiating from Han-gyeolâs genuine smile.
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But still, it was a bit embarrassing, as this was the first time I had ever received a doll from a guy.
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âAh... then Iâll gratefully accept it.â
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I hugged the doll a little tighter.
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âAlright. Letâs head home.â
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As we made our way back home, with the blue turtle doll nestled in my arms, I pondered our unexpected events. I had thought we were just going to watch a movie and part ways, but we ended up hanging out at the arcade.
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And each time I recalled Han-gyeolâs expression after his defeat at a fighting game, a smile couldnât help but bloom across my lips.
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Han-gyeol is a really interesting person, and surprisingly easy to talk to.
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I even felt a little guilty for initially being wary of him.
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âSo, why are you so good at fighting games?â
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âAh, I used to play a lot of games with my brother. Not so much recently, thoughâ
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âDoes that mean your brother is better than you?â
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âNot at all! My brother is worse than me. Why? You want to try playing against him?â
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âTo be honest, Iâd just like to win against anyone at this point.â
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âHaha! Then, uhââ
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âHm?â
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âNothing! We can just do it online!â
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For a moment, I almost asked if he wanted to come over to my house to play against my brother.
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The questions and conversation flowed naturally in front of Han-gyeol, brazen and unguarded.
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At this point, weâd crossed the line from mere familiarity to something more...
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Han-gyeol seems to have a knack for making people feel incredibly comfortable around him.
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So I should be a bit more careful.
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Bold words could slip out without thinking.
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âWell, Iâm not really good, I donât really game that much. I only play occasionally when hanging out with friends.â
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âIs that so? We are in our senior year after all. UghâI donât want to go to school tomorrow.â
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âSame here. Iâd rather skip school, but what can we do?â
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âHave you ever actually skipped school, Han-gyeol?â
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âIâve talked about doing it dozens of times, but never actually did. What about you, Eun-ha?â
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âMe neither.â
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We were about halfway home.
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This was the same spot where Han-gyeol and I had parted ways after eating chicken last time.
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âSee you tomorrow then, Han-gyeol!â
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âWow, time flew by as we talked. Make sure you get home safely, Eun-ha.â
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âWill do! See you tomorrow!â
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âYeah, see you tomorrow.â
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After parting ways with Han-gyeol, I walked home alone.
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I hadnât expected the day to be so enjoyable.
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Images of Han-gyeol watching the movie with an indifferent face flashed through my mind.
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When he smiles brightly, heâs like a puppy... but when heâs expressionless, perhaps heâs more like an eagle?
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I felt a little uneasy comparing a friend to animals, but that was my impression.
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Heâs like a child at times, but occasionally seems so mature.
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If I had to describe Han-gyeol to someone, thatâs how Iâd explain him.
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When we were gaming with the console between us, his expressions were so entertaining.
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The flustered look on his face was something I suspect Iâll think about often.
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Next time we go to a movie, weâll definitely have to stop by the arcade again.
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âIâm home.â
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âEun-ha, youâre back?â
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âMom? I thought you were busy with work?â
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âEven the busiest people need at least one break a week.â
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âAnd Dad?â
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âYour dad will be busy until next week. He swung by earlier just to pick up some clothes.â
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âAh... if he had called, I would have freed up some time for him...â
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As expected, Dad wasnât home.
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He said he would be busy last weekend, but it seemed he was busy this weekend too.
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I wish heâd take better care of himself, but there were adult matters I, as a youngster, couldnât understand.
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âWhatâs that doll in your hand?â
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âOh, my friend and I watched a movie and played a claw machine afterward.â
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âAh, I see. Make sure to wash your hands since youâve been out.â
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âWill do.â
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I headed to my room to change clothes first. And after washing my hands in the bathroom, I went to the living room. My brother was sitting on the floor leaning against the sofa, munching on apple slices.
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âHowâs school, Eun-ha? Must be tough being a senior?â
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âHuh? Not really? Iâve made friends, and I donât find anything particularly challenging. Being a senior is a bit stressful, though.â
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âMom, sheâs not studying these days and is all into datingâ Ouch!â
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I kicked my brotherâs shoulder for making unnecessary comments.
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âDating? Is there someone special?â
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âNo, no, itâs not like that. Iâve just become fast friends with a guy, and my brother is blowing it out of proportion.â
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âMom, she was even going to wear a short padded jacket instead of a long one today.â
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âWould you please stay out of it? So, who is this friend?â
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I briefly described Han-gyeol in response to my Momâs question.
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âHe seems mature for his age? Heâs incredibly kind, considerate, and good at sports too. I donât know why, but I felt very comfortable around him. Oh, I didnât mention his name. Itâs Lee Han-gyeol.â
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Mom looked at me with a warm smile.
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âWe went to see a movie today, and well, itâs a movie that could potentially be boring. I had intended to watch it alone, but Han-gyeol seemed really engrossed in it. I was a bit worried that I was subjecting him to a dull film, so I glanced over now and then, and he was thoroughly enjoying it. Itâs like, I got a sense of his maturity? A mature vibe? His calmness was really palpable.â
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âAh, thatâs rare to find in people nowadays,â Mom said with a smile.
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âBut sometimes he acts really childish too. Like, the doll I was holding? We got it from the claw machine together. He looked confident at first but struggled quite a bit. Heheâso he spent 10000 won to get a 12000 won doll. After he got it, he bounced around joyfully, offering it to me. His expression was so happy, it made me happy too. Heâs undeniably a young kid at heart.â
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I didnât just talk about todayâs events; I also mentioned what happened yesterday.
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âBy the way, he bumped into Hyun-joo unni and me at the bookstore yesterday. We shared some pizza that sheâd bought. Later, I picked up a bunch of heavy reference books, and he insisted on carrying them for me. He said it was the least he could do after âmooching off the pizza.â Heâs really considerate. I didnât ask if heâs good at studying, but he knows a lot. Weâre desk mates, so I saw him looking at computer components on his phone. Speaking of which, he also gave me a rundown of the computer components you were interested in, bro.â
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As soon as I finished my story, my brother shot up from his seat.
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âWhat?! Youâre saying this guy is that guy?!â
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My brother seemed to be holding him in high regard, apparently because the computer parts Han-gyeol had recommended were quite helpful.
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âWhoa, calm down. Whatâs the big deal?â
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âAh, Mom... That guy is legit. I was skeptical at first, but his recommendations were spot-on: cost-effective and well-balanced. Man, heâs really something. Heâd make a great son-in-lawâow!â
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I kicked my brother in the thigh.
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âOuch... Why did you hit me?â
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âI told you itâs not like that with Han-gyeol!â
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âWhat do you mean âitâs not like thatâ? Youâve only started the new semester, and youâre already all about this guy!â
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âWh-What are you even talking about?!â
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âDonât you recognize your own feelings? Mom, my sister hereâs totally cluelessâOuch! Why are you hitting me, Mom?â
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My brother rubbed the top of his head.
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âYou ungrateful brat... What do you mean by calling your sister âcluelessâ?â
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âWhy are you picking on me?!â
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âUgh! You obviously havenât learned your lesson.â
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âMom, Eun-ha always talks about how she wants me dead!â
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âQuiet. My daughter doesnât know such things.â
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âMan, this is so unfair! Donât I count as your child too?!â
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âQuiet. Youâre re-enrolling next semester, period.â
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While Mom and my brother were talking, I was still spaced out. I cautiously went back to my room and lay down on my bed. It wasnât bedtime yet, but I could feel my face flushing.
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Now that I think about it, what did Han-gyeol mean by saying he doesnât smile at everyone that way? Was he implying that weâre close friends? Imagining any deeper meaning might be my own speculation, but why canât I get that comment out of my head?
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-Buzz!
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My phone vibrated on the desk. There was a message from Han-gyeol.
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[You get home safe?]
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[Yeah. You?]
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[All good. See you at school tomorrow.]
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[Yeah, see you! Today was fun.]
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[Same here. Next time, letâs watch a movie of my choice.]
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[Deal.]
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After our brief text conversation, I looked down at the stuffed animal that Han-gyeol had given to me and gave its cheek a gentle pinch.
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A friendship just one week old...
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Two moments of subtle excitement.
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One unexpected encounter.
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One planned meeting.
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Weâre just friends, right...?
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--- End OF The Chapter ---
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