I Loved You

Young K

I take my time getting to the arcade, knowing that Mari would be disappointed in me if I told her I behaved the way I did instead of cleaning up as I should have been.

I just wanted to avoid Ari, that's all.

If I told Mari that, she would think I did the right thing...

Right?

I shake my head.

No, Mari would be upset I didn't do my punishment, then get more upset that her best friend's other best friend likes me.

Mari would kill her.

I reach the arcade, passing Dowoon on my way in. He's playing a fighting game, and he looks really concentrated, so I don't bother to greet him; I just head right to my favorite game--Super Bikes.

I put a quarter into the game and get on, and in the middle of my game, I hear pounding on a console, followed by the voice of a worker.

Dowoon? I think, getting off my game. I rush to where he is, seeing the worker raise his hand at Dowoon.

Oh, God, don't hit the kid, I think, rushing in to grab the worker's fist.

"Oh, so you'd rather take the beating for your friend?" the worker laughs.

Dowoon slips out, and I stare at him in disbelief.

This kid owes me big time.

Holy shit did that guy swing harder than I expected.