episode_0035

The woman who had grabbed the olive oil glanced back at me.

Leaving behind a cold gaze, she casually moved away.

Why is her look so sharp after I helped her…

I finished shopping while trying to forget about that strange woman.

Dragging the heavy bags, I made my way to the lobby on the first floor.

Sitting on a bench, I zoned out until Jucksaga returned.

Faint sounds of an analog game machine could be heard in the distance.

I turned my head in that direction.

“—.”

It was behind the corner.

Seeing her repeatedly saying, “Next time, maybe,” felt like a lottery machine.

That sound was familiar to me.

In fact, it was more than familiar; it was nostalgic.

Back then, I remembered enjoying claw machines with Jisoo noona.

Perhaps it was Hongdae.

Our meetings were awkward, so we pondered on how to spend time together.

After much deliberation, we ended up at a game center.

Among the many games, we particularly enjoyed the familiar doll claw machine.

Since noona wasn’t into console games much.

I think claw machines offer good value for money.

Even if you don’t win, there’s always another reward – a chance to bond.

With one swift move of the claw, we could experience a mix of joy and sorrow.

Moreover, if we succeeded, we could naturally high-five each other.

And that high-five was our first bit of physical contact.

Lost in those memories, I found myself heading towards the claw machine.

Once I turned the corner, the machine would be right there.

Leaning against the wall, I peeked at the machine.

There was only one person there, not a lover like Jisoo and me.

The woman was intensely focused on the machine, maneuvering the claw diligently.

With boxes of onions and eggs leaning against the wall.

“That’s the woman from earlier…”

I stared at her intently, clasping the corner with both hands.

She seemed so engrossed in the game that she didn’t notice my gaze.

Despite her high concentration, she didn’t seem very skilled.

From the machine, all you could hear was a disappointed sound like, “Ah, too bad!”

Nevertheless, she kept feeding bills into the machine.

She should have given up by now…

I had already seen her spend 5000 won.

At this rate, she might break the 10,000-won mark.

“Too bad!”

The continuous mocking sound of the machine was irritating.

Feeling frustrated, I approached her calmly.

How can she be so bad at this claw machine?

As I stood beside her, she glanced down at me briefly.

Then, she refocused on the claw.

The rattling claw moved slowly.

It was already precarious.

The claw stopped above the wolf plushie.

When she pressed the button, the claw precisely dropped onto the plushie’s head.

But like it was greased, the claw slipped off the plushie’s head.

One of the most common mistakes beginners make.

Since the head is the most noticeable part, that’s where they aim first.

“You shouldn’t do it like that…”

I muttered to myself.

However, the woman didn’t react at all to my annoying voice.

She just inserted another bill.

This machine costs a whopping 1000 won per play.

Has she really played six times already?

I couldn’t tell if she was wealthy or just stubbornly competitive.

“Too bad-!”

In the meantime, she had already wasted another thousand won.

Seemingly getting angry, the woman roughly shoved her hand into her pocket.

Then, she pulled out a crisp 10,000-won bill and pushed it into the machine.

At this rate, she might end up breaking the machine before winning anything.

“Excuse me…”

I murmured softly, and through her mask, the woman’s black eyes met mine.

Meeting her dark, glossy pupils made my throat involuntarily dry.

I instinctively cleared my throat and avoided her gaze.

And she murmured.

“Those wolf-shaped ones are better to aim for the body rather than the head. The head is bulky, so the claws slip off.”

The woman paused for a moment.

Then, as if determined, she moved the hook straight towards the tail of the wolf.

Oh, really, not there.

“Oh, too bad!”

I feel even more frustrated by the repeated mechanical laughter.

I clenched both hands tightly and took a deep breath.

“You’re trying to grab that wolf doll, right?”

“…”

“Let me try once.”

I took out two thousand-won bills from my jacket.

Shall I show off my skills after a long time?

Confidently, I pushed the money in.

But even with this action, the woman, without flinching, held onto the handle firmly.

Since she didn’t respond no matter what I said, I subtly leaned on her.

Then, as gently as possible, I pushed her away.

In response, the tall woman gracefully stepped aside.

Instead, she stared down at me as if to see how well I would pick.

Her gaze felt like my past sister Jisoo watching over me, making me feel strangely sentimental.

Thanks to that, I could decide to pick the doll for her.

I skillfully manipulated the hook.

And aimed for the body, not the head.

The claw swooped in without hesitation.

“—.”

Eventually, the hook bit into the wolf’s neck like a snake.

And slowly began to lift the doll.

But it was just about that much.

The moment the hook moved towards the exit, the wolf slipped and fell.

“Oh, too bad!”

The oblivious machine shouted coolly.

In response to that sound, the only audience of the picking stared at me blankly.

“…”

“Oh, it’s not supposed to be picked in one go. Slowly—carefully twist it…”

She clearly didn’t say anything.

But I started making excuses in front of the woman.

By the time I realized it myself, a dry cough burst from my throat.

“Maybe it’s because it’s been a while…”

Muttering, I bent my knees again.

And neatly unfolded the last bill.

Politely, like offering a sacrifice to the gods, I pushed the bill in with both hands.

“Sigh…”

I lightly slapped both cheeks.

Get a grip, I’m a guy who has only picked five dolls for his sister.

Even though my body has changed, that feeling remains the same.

I take a deep breath.

And with eyes wide open, I manipulate the hook.

I was so focused that my under-eye spot flashed.

Is this it?

No, just one pixel to the left.

Like NASA launching a spaceship, every cell in my head holds its breath.

Their attention is solely on the hook.

After fixing the position, I slowly turned towards the back of the machine.

Bowing my head, I checked the hook’s position one last time.

The area where the neck and tail connect.

Right here is the weak point.

Soon, my hand signals to attempt docking.

“—.”

I press the button decisively.

With a fierce sound, the machine smoothly targets the wolf.

The hook roughly snags the wolf’s neck.

Gradually, flesh stretches out, and the doll begins to rise.

Just a little more, and it’s the exit.

Me and the woman stare as if piercing through.

This moment is insanely quiet.

So quiet that you can hear swallowing.

“—!”

But that silence doesn’t last long.

The wolf’s leg gets caught on the exit ledge.

“Don’t do this. Seriously!”

I grab my head and shout.

The machine, responding to my cry, somehow manages to pull the wolf.

However, like a stubborn thing that refuses to leave, the doll clings on.

In the end, the wolf freezes cold with its neck stuck on the ledge.

Every cell in my body freezes as if humanity’s crucial mission has failed.

“No…”

It’s not over yet.

There’s still one forbidden trick that works on this ancient machine.

I step forward and push the machine with all my strength using my shoulder.

The old claw machine creaked.

Then, the once rigid wolf doll began to squirm coldly.

I pushed the machine repeatedly.

My shoulders ached and throbbed, but I couldn’t forgive the machine that swallowed my precious 2000 won.

“—!”

Eventually, a sound of something falling to the ground was heard.

“Congratulations-!”

The machine sent a congratulatory message as if impressed by my efforts so far.

But to me, that voice just sounded like, “You picked this? Harsh, so harsh.”

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand.

Then, clutching the wolf doll I had finally won, I shook it in front of the woman.

“How about that? I got it in just two tries.”

I handed her the wolf with both hands.

The woman, taken aback, grabbed the wolf’s ears. Then, gaining confidence from my success, she rummaged through her pockets.

Soon, an enormous bundle of bills popped out of her pocket, neatly tied with rubber bands.

Wait, did she rob a bank?

Casually, as if familiar with the routine, she pulled out a 10,000 won bill.

And nonchalantly fed it into the machine.

“There, you see. Aim for the neck.”

I pointed at the wolf doll’s neck with my finger.

Understanding, the woman adjusted the hook.

Soon, she precisely hooked the wolf’s neck as I directed.

Gradually, the doll started swinging towards the exit, but I couldn’t relax even during this smooth process.

The greatest challenge, the “Wall of Wailing,” still remained.

“—!”

As expected, the doll got stuck on its chin.

And just like it did to me, it dangled with its neck caught.

“Too bad-!!”

The machine immediately chimed in.

“It’s okay. You saw what I did earlier, right? Just push it skillfully, and it will fall to the exit.”

In response, the woman confidently pushed the machine to the back.

I gestured to her encouragingly.

“Just tilt the machine slowly. Apply just this much force…”

I tried to explain as carefully as possible.

But I couldn’t finish my explanation.

Because…

“—!”

The moment the woman pushed the machine, it completely fell apart.

Its sturdy iron exterior crumpled like clay.

“What a… shame.”

The unfortunate machine fell silent.

It probably won’t make any sound again.

Instead, sparks began to fly from the broken machine.

I took a step back slowly.

But the woman paid no attention.

She boldly reached into the dangerous debris.

Soon, she pulled out a pile of dolls.

“Take them.”

In a low, cold voice, she handed me a bunch of wolf dolls.

However, I couldn’t focus on the dolls in my arms.

Because…

Her voice from earlier was very familiar.

A voice that once heard, could never be forgotten.

By the time she realized who I was, the woman was already moving away from me.

With her hands full of eggs and onions.

“Just a moment.”

I called out to her desperately.

But she just silently walked away as if annoyed by revealing her identity.

I watched her retreating figure blankly.

Suddenly, my eyebrows furrowed.

She abruptly stopped walking.

The reason was simple.

The department store’s shutter suddenly came down.

The noon sunlight that illuminated us disappeared completely.