The next few days passed in a blur for Ji-eun. Every morning, without fail, Min-jae was there. He was at the school gate, casually leaning against the iron fence or scrolling through his phone. Every afternoon, he would follow her home, chatting easily about anything and everything. She couldn’t decide if it was getting more comfortable or more annoying. Either way, it was becoming harder to ignore him.

By Friday, Ji-eun was beginning to feel a strange sense of dependence on his presence. Not that she would ever admit it. She had spent so many years enjoying her solitude, crafting the walls around herself, that the idea of letting someone break through them, especially someone like Min-jae was unsettling. He didn’t have to try hard. He just existed, and it was enough.

That afternoon, as they walked home together again Ji-eun couldn’t help but notice how easy it had become. She didn’t feel the need to snap at him anymore when he commented on something she did. He no longer felt like an intrusion but rather like... an unexpected companion.

They were walking past a busy street when Min-jae suddenly stopped.

“Hey,” he said, his voice suddenly serious. “Do you want to go to the arcade with me?”

Ji-eun blinked, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. “Arcade?”

“Yeah,” Min-jae grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Come on. It’s Friday, and we could do something fun for once.”

Ji-eun felt a flicker of resistance, her natural instinct telling her to stick to her routine, but there was something in his gaze that made her pause. She had been so used to the humdrum of life, the endless cycle of school and solitude. Maybe a little change wouldn’t hurt.

“I don’t know,” Ji-eun said, feeling herself hesitate. “I’ve never really—”

Min-jae raised an eyebrow, cutting her off. “You never really what? Come on. You said you didn’t need to get out of your comfort zone, but I think you should give it a try. For once, do something spontaneous.”

Ji-eun felt her heartbeat quicken, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected him to challenge her like this. She hadn’t expected anyone to challenge her. But here was Min-jae, with his easy confidence and that grin of his, making her question everything.

“Just for today,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “No commitments. No pressure. Just a little fun.”

She stared at him, at the hopeful look in his eyes, and felt an unfamiliar warmth stirring in her chest. Maybe this was what she needed. Maybe she was tired of always playing it safe, always following the rules she had set for herself.

“Okay,” Ji-eun said before she could stop herself. “Just today.”

Min-jae’s face lit up like a light bulb. “Yes!” he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

The arcade was loud, filled with the bright lights and excited chatter of kids enjoying their Friday evening. Ji-eun hadn’t been to an arcade in years. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d done anything just for fun. But walking through the doors with Min-jae by her side, she felt a strange sense of excitement building within her.

“You game?” Min-jae asked as they walked past rows of machines.

Ji-eun shot him a skeptical look. “You think I know how to game?”

Min-jae laughed. “I think you’re underestimating yourself.”

They stopped at a claw machine first, and Min-jae wasted no time inserting coins and trying his hand at grabbing a plush bear. Ji-eun watched, amused by his focused expression as he tried over and over again. He was surprisingly good at it, despite the odds.

“Isn’t this rigged?” Ji-eun asked, crossing her arms.

Min-jae looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. “Are you going to make excuses already?”

Ji-eun rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying, these things are usually impossible.”

But Min-jae ignored her. After a few more attempts, he finally grabbed the bear. “See? Told you.”

He handed it to her with a smile, as if he had just won a world championship. Ji-eun took it, her fingers brushing against his for a split second, sending a strange shiver down her spine. She quickly pulled her hand away and tried to act unaffected.

“Thanks,” she muttered, though she couldn’t hide the slight smile that tugged at her lips.

They moved on to other games arcade basketball, air hockey, and even a racing game where Min-jae insisted they race each other. Ji-eun was surprised to find herself laughing. She hadn’t laughed like that in so long. It was as if all the tension she had carried with her for the past few months was starting to melt away.

Eventually, they took a break by the vending machines. Min-jae bought a soda and handed it to her, sitting beside her on one of the small benches.

“You’re actually pretty fun, you know,” he said, taking a sip of his drink. “You should hang out more.”

Ji-eun shifted uncomfortably, not used to receiving such a compliment. She wasn’t the type of person people usually called “fun.” But Min-jae said it so casually, like it was just a fact. It made her feel warm in a way she hadn’t expected.

“I’m not the fun type,” she replied quietly, looking down at her soda can.

Min-jae shrugged, as if the label didn’t matter. “Everyone’s fun in their own way.”

She blinked at him, surprised by how simple his response was. It didn’t require her to be something she wasn’t. He wasn’t trying to change her; he was just... accepting her as she was. It was something Ji-eun had never really experienced before.

“Thanks for inviting me,” Ji-eun said, her voice soft but genuine.

Min-jae smiled at her, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Anytime. You should do this more often. Trust me, you’ll feel better.”

They continued to talk, the conversation shifting from light-hearted topics to deeper ones, things Ji-eun had never shared with anyone. Min-jae asked about her hobbies, her dreams, and for the first time, Ji-eun found herself answering honestly, without hesitation.

As the night wore on, the arcade began to empty, and Ji-eun realized how late it had gotten. She was reluctant to leave, reluctant to let go of the strange new feeling that had taken over her.

Min-jae walked her to her building again, but this time, something felt different. There was no rush. No pressure. It was just... easy.

“Thanks for hanging out today,” Ji-eun said, feeling oddly shy. “I didn’t expect to have fun.”

Min-jae flashed her a wide grin. “I told you, I don’t do boring.”

She couldn’t help but smile back. “You definitely don’t.”

“Well,” he said, his tone turning a little more serious, “I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

Ji-eun hesitated, her heart skipping a beat. She had never thought about it this way before. Of course, they would see each other tomorrow. They had already spent the whole week together, after all.

“Yeah,” Ji-eun said softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As she walked into the building, she felt a strange sense of loss, like something important had been left outside with him. But when she turned around, he was already gone.

Later that night, as Ji-eun sat at her desk, her mind wandered back to the arcade. To Min-jae. To the way he had made her feel not like an outsider, but like someone worthy of attention. She had always kept her distance, building walls around herself, but now... now, she wasn’t sure if she wanted those walls to remain.

“Maybe I was wrong,” Ji-eun whispered to herself, her heart beating a little faster. “Maybe it’s okay to let someone in.”