We both started walking around for a while, still holding my hand not knowing where she's leading me to but still I continue to follow. She stops her footsteps and looks at me.
"Let's go in there," she said pointing at the arcade not that from us. "We need to enlighten that mood up of yours. The games here seem really fun, come on." Dragging me along, she opened the door, letting us both enter the arcade.
"I said I didn't want to come here," I told her.
She turned around to face me and looking up,
"And I said I wasn't taking no for an answer." "Here! Let's go play the claw crane. You could probably win a plushy if you're lucky enough."
She entered a coin into the machine and started playing. I kept an eye on her and her hand movements. The claw began to move, as she pressed the button, the claw went down and back up not picking anything up.
"Awh man.. well a second try wouldn't hurt."
Time passed and she ended up inserting 5 more other coins, still not being able to pick up one plushy. I could see the disappointment on her face.
I sighed, "Here, let me give it a try," pushing the girl gently to the side. I took out a coin from my pocket and insert it into the machine. Placing my hand on the stick, I started moving it, keeping my movement steady. Making the claw move to where I want it, I pressed down the button hoping that it will pick up something. To my surprise, the claw did pick up something. It released the plushy and I grabbed it, taking a moment to look at it.
"Woah... YOU WON! I'm impressed. Not even I could do it after 5 tries.. hmph sucks but at least you got it. I'm proud of you," nudging my shoulder, looking at me with a wide smile.
"I mean it was really nothing, anyone could get it." I kept staring at the plushy for a little moment.
"Here," I said handing it to her. "You should keep it."
"Really?!? Wait- but you won it, you should keep it. I saw how focus you were trying to get this, so it's okay you can keep it." Handing me back the plushy but stopping her, I placed it into her hands again.
"No.. you keep it. I'm not taking it back from you."
"Oh.. thank you! I'll make sure to treasure it." giggling, playing with the plushy.
I looked at how happy she got when I gave it to her. She must have really wanted it but was hesitant to ask knowing that I was the one who won it fair and square. The sadness in her face when she wasn't able to get it. She's like a child getting excited over the smallest things...
it's cute.
"Hey, Hyunjin.."
I snapped back to reality hearing the calling of my name.
"Let's go play another game." She looked around searching for another one.
"Oh- let's go play that next," pointing at the air hockey game.
"Three games only, Loser is a chicken butt," she said while laughing.
"You're on," I said.
I began crackling my neck, stretching my arms, and as I was done, we let the gameplay begin.
Right, when we were playing a thought popped in my head. Remembering how much Minah used to enjoy playing this game. Her laugh when she would always beat me. Oh how much I miss it now. Should've cherished that moment during that time.
"SCORE!... C'mon, you gotta keep your head on the game Hyunjin. Not unless you want to lose and be a chicken butt," sending a smirk at me.
"No way, I won't let you win," I glanced at her.
"If you say so."
We started the next round and continued to play. This time I stayed focus during the whole game. Focusing on her every move so she wouldn't hit the puck to my goal area.
"So- you haven't really told me what your name was," I asked her while still playing the game.
"Hmm... That's me to decide whether to tell you or not,"
"Hey, that's not fair I told you mi-" and just like that, I was cut off by the scoring noise. She won the game.
"I WON! hehe take that,"
"so you were saying... talking about how you're not letting me win?"
"C'mon, I was right in the middle of talking to you. Let's do a rematch."
"Shouldn't have spoken then, chicken butt," she started making chicken noises, making fun of me for losing. "pock, pock, pock, chicken butt."
Although I lost, and she was making fool out of me by teasing me.. it was fun not gonna lie. Watching her having a fun time made me happy. A smile made its way up my face again and I began to laugh watching her tease me. I ruffled her hair.
"Well, this was actually really fun. I had a good time honestly, but I think it's time for me to head back."
"Don't leave now, the night is still young."
"Let me take you somewhere else. We should probably grab something to eat. Doubt you had a meal in these past few hours."
"Oh no, it's alright I'm perfectly fi-" getting cut off once again this time by the sound of my stomach rumbling. I looked at her with an embarrassed face.
She laughed.
"Doesn't sound like it,"
"Let's go, my treat," taking my hand, intertwining them again, leading me out of the arcade.
I started feeling a funny feeling inside. Not knowing why but...
My heart began pounding by the touch of her hand.
Well, I made it longer than I was expecting.. guess this will be a 5 part of this story.
