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“What will you buy if you have all the money in the world?” Eunji asked the woman resting on her chest.

“I don’t know,” Naeun replied as her fingers circled the navel of the older woman. “Never thought of it before. How about you?”

“Money cannot buy the things I want.” Eunji stared blankly at the ceiling while caressing the younger woman’s locks.

“Oh,” Naeun said almost inaudibly. She traced the mark on the older woman’s stomach which was quite a deep scar on her skin. “Where did you get this?”

“I-I got it from an accident,” Eunji replied, looking away. “One of my many scars since I was so unruly when I was younger.”

“You still are, you rascal,” Naeun teased, earning a chuckle from the older woman.

They shared the stillness of the night, enjoying the warmth in each other’s embrace as their own space brought them solace.

“Hey… are you going to leave soon?” Naeun asked.

The older woman groaned internally, already complacent with their positions on the bed. “I left early the last time we were together. Do you want me to leave soon?” she asked back, her voice trying to appeal.

“No.” Naeun buried her face onto the older woman’s skin. “Let’s stay like this until the sun rises.”

-----

It was Bomi’s last day of leave before she officially returns to her job as a bus driver. With Minah, she decided to spend the day at the arcade for a mother-daughter bonding.

“Mom!” Minah shouted as she ran to her mother who was playing a fighter game. “Look!”

A second after Bomi won the match, she faced her daughter and saw the panda plush toy in her hands. “Did you win that sweetie?”

“No… I was watching this super serious person who was playing the crane and she gave me this plushie after she won it,” Minah explained excitedly. She brought the toy up to her mother’s face.

“Uwaah!” Bomi clapped in amazement. “Did you say thank you?”

“Yes… but she left right away after she gave this to me,” Minah replied, scratching her head.

“Oh.” Bomi carried her daughter and placed her on her lap. “Let me see that toy.”

“Mom, what does ‘A New Challenger’ mean?” Minah pointed at the words flashed on the screen.

“Oh! It means someone wants to fight with me in this game,” Bomi replied.

“Who?” Minah asked.

“The person on the other side,” Bomi replied smilingly while choosing her character. “This is interesting. The enemy chose Steve.”

“Mom, who’s Steve?” Minah asked.

“Steve is a character here that’s good in boxing. He uses his hands to punch the enemy,” Bomi explained.

“You mean like this?” Minah punched the air energetically.

“Yes, sweetie.” Bomi laughed.

“What’s your character good at, Mom?” the child asked.

“Taekwondo! My character is good at kicking!” Bomi replied enthusiastically. “His name is Hwoarang.”

“Hwoarang,” Minah repeated.

When the game started, Minah’s full attention was on the screen. Her interest eventually subsided when her mother already lost two rounds.

“Mom, can I get down?” Minah asked her mother. “I want to play something else.”

“One moment, sweetie. Let me finish the game first,” Bomi replied, mashing the buttons until she won a round. “Two more rounds until Mom wins.”

Minah huffed quietly, crossing her arms while waiting for her mother to finish. After Bomi won another round, Minah couldn’t wait anymore so she slid down on her mother’s lap. “Mom, I’m going to play Mario Kart.”

“Okay, sweetie.” The brunette’s eyes were glued to the screen. Her efforts almost paid off as she was about win the last round with just one more hit. However the screen went black abruptly, forcing the game to close. “No!”

Suddenly, Bomi heard a loud cry. It was her daughter who accidentally tripped on the wire that was connected to the machine she was playing with.

“Minah!” Bomi ran to her daughter. “Are you alright?!” She hastily checked the body of her daughter and found a small wound on her knee. “Does it hurt?” Bomi asked before blowing her child’s knee.

“A bit…” Minah sniffed, already stopping from crying.

“Here, I have a bandage.”

“Eunji-ah?”

“Oh? Bomi!” Eunji said. “I didn’t recognize you with your hair.”

“Mom! She’s the scary person who gave me the plushie!” Minah pointed her finger at her mother’s friend.

“Minah, she’s not scary!” Bomi lowered her daughter’s arm. “Is that what you say to someone who gives you a toy and a bandage?”

“No…” Minah pouted. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright,” Eunji replied, kneeling as she whispered at her friend. “I’m not really good with kids.”

“Minah’s a nice kid though,” Bomi said. “You won’t have a problem with her at all.”

“Really?” Eunji tugged an uneasy smile.

“Alright, it’s finished.” Bomi stood up, carrying her daughter in her arms. “What do you play here by the way?” she asked.

“I was playing Tekken until the machine suddenly shut down,” Eunji said. “I was about to win though. Too bad.”

“Steve?” Bomi asked.

“Hwoarang?” Eunji asked back. “Wow. Another coincidence. What is this sorcery?”

The both of them laughed it off.

“Hey, I was about to win that round,” Bomi said.

“No, I was,” Eunji replied. “One punch and you’re knocked down.”

“Na-ah, did you see the kick I made right before the screen went blank?” Bomi bantered.

“Mom, I’m tired.” Minah yawned and rested her head on her mother’s shoulder.

“Look at the time.” Bomi checked her watch. It was already past nine in the evening. “Do you have any other plans?”

“Not really,” Eunji replied. “Why?”

“Lemme give you a ride home,” Bomi suggested. “How about that?”

“Sure.” Eunji smiled. “Thank you.”

The two of them walked to the parking lot.

“So how are you doing, Bomi?” Eunji asked.

“Well… my wife died in a car accident,” Bomi replied directly. “Her girlfriend was drunk when they took off.”

Eunji stopped walking, internalizing what she just heard. She was somehow expecting something else, anything but that. “I’m sorry,” she said. An apologetic look crossed her face realizing how things drastically changed in just a short period of time.

Bomi turned around, facing the other woman with a somber smile formed on her lips. “It’s alright. I’m just worried about Minah.” Her fingers ca