Life Lessons [Park Jimin]

Chapter 19

Yeji

As soon as we walk into the arcade, Haein grabs Mr. Park's hand and drags him towards the coin machine. After Mr. Park puts some money in, Haein's tiny hands start shoveling the coins into his pockets. And when his pockets are full, he starts putting them in Mr. Park's pockets. Geez, how much money did Mr. Park put in?

I look around the arcade while they deal with the money. It's a lot bigger than I had expected and it's full of big machines with colorful, flashing lights. I don't know if we will have enough time to play most of them. I don't want to take over Mr. Park's entire night. Then again, he does seem to be enjoying himself, looking around excitedly.

We follow Haein around as he bounces from game to game. Occasionally he picks a two person game and he usually chooses Mr. Park to play with him. I don't mind though because I like seeing this more youthful side of Mr. Park as they play together.

However, when Haein's eyes settle on the claw machine, he grabs my hand and runs.

"Haein-ah, don't run. There are a lot of other people here, you have to be careful," I laugh as I follow behind him.

"Noona, I want the cat plushie," he says demandingly, his face pressed up against the glass as he points to the stuffed animal that he wants.

"I can try, but don't get your hopes up. These things are hard," I tell him as he puts the money in the machine. It lights up and Haein bounces eagerly with the music that starts playing.

"Noona is the best at claw machines," he says, thinking back to the time I won him a toy at the fair a year ago.

I chuckle at his confidence in me and then focus on the task at hand. I decide to try to grab it by the head because the body is partially covered by another toy. I check from different angles to make sure that I have it lined up properly.

"Alright Haein, press the button," I motion for him to finish it.

He very carefully presses it, making sure to not bump the joystick and mess up the alignment. And then his eyes go wide as he watches the claw lower and close around the plushie.

He shakes his hands in tiny fists by his face as the cat is lifted from the pile. I hold my breath in anticipation, waiting to see if it falls when the claw jerks at the top. But it doesn't. This claw machine is stronger than most of the others that I've played.

"YESSS!" Haein cheers happily as the cat is dropped into the opening. He pulls it out and hugs it tightly against his chest.

"See? Noona is the best! Right Hyung?" Haein boasts to Mr. Park who I had momentarily forgotten was with us.

"That was pretty impressive," he smiles and I blush a little.

"Noona, can you get the bunny too? And the pig and the tiger and the-" he starts rambling.

"Pick two more and I'll try. We have to leave some for other kids," I tell him.

"Ummm, the tiger and the bunny," he decides eventually.

"Alright. Why don't you go with Jimin-ssi to play other games while I try to win these?" I suggest.

I'm worried that the first one was a fluke and I don't want to embarrass myself in front of Mr. Park.

"Okay! Hyung, let's go!" Haein grins, handing me some coins before skipping away.

Luckily the tiger is sitting on top so I'm able to get it in two tries. But the bunny is stuck between two other plushies so it keeps slipping out of the claw. I groan in frustration after the third attempt.