Getting Close Again
I stared intently at Im Lua as she munched on her pizza.
Her mouth was working away, chewing steadily.
The last time I'd really watched her eat was... if I had to pinpoint it, during that chicken feast last time.
But back then, I'd been too busy fending off Mom and Oppa to pay her much attention.
Now it was just the two of us, so I could gaze at her without interruption.
There was something satisfying about the way she ate. Not exactly cute, but like she'd crush a mukbang stream.
Meanwhile, Im Lua glanced up at me while taking a bite.
"...Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you staring like that?"
Oops, I'd clearly been rude.
I racked my brain for a decent excuse and tossed out a question.
"Just wondering if it tastes good."
Im Lua nodded with a grumpy little huff.
"Of course it does. It's pizza."
She still loves pizza, huh.
I nodded back, figuring since we were at it, might as well chat some more.
"Then why'd you bring chicken last time you came over?"
"What're you talking about?"
"If you like pizza, you should've just gotten that."
Im Lua answered casually, dredging up the past without a second thought.
"You like chicken more."
She was right—I'd preferred chicken as a kid.
Hooked on that crunch, chew, and salty kick.
But not anymore.
"I like pizza better now."
"Huh? For real?"
"Yeah, pizza's my top pick these days."
Just like her.
"Why?"
"Well... chicken keeps getting pricier, but pizza's cheap on discount, tastes better, and the nutrition's decent too?"
My excuses sounded flimsy, but Im Lua nodded vigorously in total agreement.
"Exactly! I think the same. Pizza's more filling, tons of flavor options, and great for groups."
"Right? And these days, the chickens are all so tiny."
"Totally, and the prices just keep climbing."
Somehow, we ended up trash-talking chicken and hyping pizza together.
Im Lua naturally launched into her pizza rant.
"Every location has its own vibe, but they're all delicious. Wood-fired ones are insane! Oh, but Hawaiian pizza? Hate it. That's not pizza—it's a crime in disguise. Even that famous chef said so. Hawaiian's a sin."
I knew she liked pizza, but not this much. And she had strong opinions too.
I asked her,
"So what's your favorite?"
"Me? Potato pizza."
"Potatoes hit different on pizza."
"Yeah, so nutty and tasty up there. And adding sweet potato mousse? Love it."
"Sweet and good. But won't that pack on the pounds?"
—Tremble!
Im Lua's body twitched slightly.
...Yeah, probably rude to say that to a girl.
As I gauged her reaction, she glared and spoke up.
"A girl's enjoying her pizza, and you say that?"
"Sorry."
"Loser."
Her scornful "loser" made me tread even lighter.
While I pondered what to say next, I noticed her empty cup and poured her some cola.
—Glug glug glug —Fizzzz
She eyed me as the carbonation bubbled up.
"...You're forgiven."
"Thanks."
"Here."
Im Lua held out her cup toward me.
The toast-loving Korean in me got it instantly and raised mine too.
"A bit late, but cheers."
"Cheers~"
—Clunk!
The plastic cups made a dull thud, not the crisp "cheers" sound.
"Ahhhh... Zero cola hits different lately."
It was the zero cola from her house, and she seemed to love it.
"Yeah, zero drinks taste better these days."
"Right? And zero calories? Perfect!"
Chatting about trivial stuff like that, I felt like we clicked surprisingly well.
Was it just me? Im Lua, who'd been pretty reserved earlier, was showing more emotion now.
We kept devouring the pizza in this fun vibe...
...and before I knew it, we'd polished off nearly the whole thing. Me four slices, her four.
Perfectly even.
I watched her stuff pizza into that small mouth and asked,
"Not full yet?"
"This'll fill me right up. You?"
"Same. You eat well, Im Lua."
"I've always been a good eater."
"And no weight gain."
"Strict management."
Strict management—brought back the image of her jogging in perfect workout gear.
Compared to other girls lately, her stamina was top-tier. Great at studies and sports? Total cheat character.
"You seem pretty dedicated to exercise too."
"Me?"
"Yeah, out jogging and all."
"Survival training."
Survival, exactly. The kind where you think, If I skip this, I'm done for.
Im Lua started praising my efforts.
"So many kids don't even do that much these days."
"Hey, guys might not look it, but we all have our thing."
"So you like jogging?"
"Like it, but I got something I love more."
"What?"
I almost answered straight but decided to tease.
"Guess."
"Guess?"
"Yeah."
"...Hint."
Her "hint" got a cryptic one from me.
"Uses equipment."
"...More."
"...Ball sport."
I'd spilled "ball sport" without thinking.
Still, Im Lua pouted then named the big three.
"Gotta be soccer, basketball, or baseball."
Smart as ever—she nailed it.
"...Baseball?"
"Ding ding. Correct."
"You like baseball too."
"You too...? You like it?"
Im Lua nodded.
"Which team?"
"Hanul Devils."
"...Me too."
Seoul kids like us, rooting for the Seoul-based Hanul Devils.
And with that...
"Haaa..."
"Huuu..."
We both let out heavy sighs.
Hanul Devils used to be postseason regulars, but now they scrape the bottom, dreaming of playoffs.
We'd never seen their glory days—just stuck cheering the perennial losers.
"...How'd it come to this?"
"No idea..."
As we sighed together, Im Lua asked,
"...Wanna watch baseball sometime?"
"Baseball?"
"Yeah, go to a game or pile up at someone's place."
It tempted me, but I had my Lulu clipping gig—super important.
I hesitated a bit...
"Busy with work?"
She sounded concerned.
I nodded, and she replied,
"Guess no choice then..."
Her disappointed tone slipped out an answer from me.
"...I can make time, though."
"Really...?"
"Yeah, should be able to."
"Then let's watch sometime. Promise?"
"Yeah, deal..."
Somehow, I'd promised to watch baseball with Im Lua.
And more...
"Any other good games?"
"You liked it, huh."
"Yeah, pretty fun. Still playing."
"What about Endless Return?"
"Oh, I've tried that too!"
We chatted happily about games.
And in that talk, it hit me.
Im Lua hadn't changed as much as I'd thought.
Unlike my image of her, she was still my friend Im Lua.
The fun evening wound down, and I slipped on my shoes to head home.
But...
"Hey, Jinwoo-ya."
"Yeah?"
"Here."
Im Lua dashed over and shoved something into my hand.
Money.
"Uh...?"
"Um... Mom said give it to you. Take it—I got some too..."
"...Okay."
I took the cash with a nod.
Im Lua beamed and said,
"See ya later, Jinwoo-ya."
Her waving figure wasn't the model student I knew lately—it was my childhood friend Im Lua.