Arcade Lover

Chapter 10

Months ago, the blonde sworn she'd never go to the arcade. A month plus ago, Jisoo just had to get a job at the biggest arcade in town, making the place unavoidable if Lisa wanted to find the chestnut head for anything after school.

A week in of Jisoo's job, Lisa decided to pay a painstaking visit to ask the girl out for supper. At that same time, she met a certain brunette who, a month later, became the person to set off even the lightest bit of butterflies whenever she saw her. Who makes her heart beat so much better.

Who most importantly, makes her feel at home.

Because of Jennie, the arcade felt like home whenever she was there. She couldn't hate the place anymore as much as she used to. Because of Jennie.

Before the blonde's mother had passed, she once told Lisa, "Fall in love with someone who feels like home, because home is a person. The person that makes you happier than anyone in the world. Home is wherever they are."

Home isn't anything other than someone giving you a reason to stay.

Home is a place you feel safe at. Home is that person that makes you feel secure. That person who simplistically eases every worry because they're standing next to you. The person that reminds you, whatever it is you are going through, you aren't going through it alone. That person that gives you something to want to come back to.

Home is the person who can look at you smiling and know you are completely bullshitting the world. Home is the person who can see the pain in your eyes when you've fooled everyone around you. Home is the person who stands by you in moments of confusion. They aren't there to answer questions or solve anything, they are simply there and don't leave. They stay by your side despite the most awkward types of silence.

Lisa understood that. She understood that to an amateur level when she first heard that. But now, things were different. She could see where her mom was coming from.

This feeling, of Jennie being 'home', seemed too fast. A month was probably too quick to establish that. But romance is weird as shit. Lisa thinks, curling up to the edge of her bed the moment she gets home from the arcade.

Jisoo always tells her 'stability' over anything else. Jisoo says life was all about goddamn timing. But when the hell was the right timing? Today? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Next year?What the hell.

Right timing for what, Lalisa?

I can't fight the urge to kiss her anymore, honestly.

Who told you kissing was about timing? Jisoo too?

No...

Then no one is stopping you.

How am I supposed to know if she likes me as much as I like her? I don't want to make a mistake. What if kissing was about timing? Will I screw up?

You won't. Recall the times you've spent with her, then speak to me again when you have your answer.

Answer? Answer for what? I'm asking you for my answers.

I can't give you answers. No one can, and that's the sad fact. I can only advise, to help you find your own answer for yourself. Do you get it?

So what is the point of this?

The point... the point is for you to realise that you don't exactly need affirmations of her feelings towards you. If you payed enough attention, you can feel her feelings. It radiates around her. It orbits in the open. Why do you think, in most cases, other people are able to point out your flaws faster than you can for yourself?