Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Bowling Victory
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A negative emotion I hadn't felt in ages suddenly bore down on my shoulders. At that moment, I reached out, grabbed a bottle of beer, and downed it in one go.
"Hyunwoo?"
"Let's go. Time to win!"
"...Yeah!"
Han Aebom, who had been momentarily flustered, soon flashed a bright smile. Meeting her gaze, I thought to myself.
I was still a pathetic guy. Sure, big changes had come to my daily life, but in reality, I hadn't accomplished anything substantial yet.
Just like that Kim Hyunwoo from last year's year-end party—drowning his sorrows as a loser, a freeloading slacker, a job-hunting failure.
But if you asked whether the me from back then was the same as the me now? No, not really.
I didn't have concrete proof to shove in anyone's face, but I was steadily building up things that made me feel far more confident than last year.
Inferiority complex, anxiety about the future... I no longer let emotions like that crush me and hold me back.
Instead, I wanted to learn from them.
"I'm a beginner too, so let's not feel pressured. Just swing confidently."
"Got it. Of course."
It wouldn't change overnight. But at first, you fake it till you make it. Luckily, I had excellent teachers right beside me.
"Hyunwoo, how do you hold the bowling ball?"
...In bowling terms, I guess I'm the teacher here. Han Aebom learned how to grip the ball from me, tried her fingers in several balls, and soon picked up an 8-pound fluorescent pink one.
Maybe it's a rock bowling alley, but all the balls were shining in vibrant colors.
"Just one ball? Usually people pick two."
"Oh. I plan to stick with one. That way, my fingers get used to it, and it'll be easier to adjust for errors."
Error correction...? Bowling isn't exactly a numbers game.
I nodded anyway and started carefully selecting my own ball. Taking her advice, I'd use just one today too.
I think I used a 10-pounder before.
Stronger folks went for 11 or even 12. Personally, 10 felt perfect—no strain on the arm.
"Oh, this one's holes fit my fingers just right."
The moment I slipped my fingers into a familiar-feeling 10-pounder, I couldn't help but tilt my head.
"Huh?"
"Hyunwoo, something wrong?"
"Uh... no. Hang on."
What is this? The ball feels... light?
To check, I picked up an 8-pounder and belatedly remembered the +2 Strength from my quest reward. I'd adapted so naturally that I kept forgetting about it.
Like it had always been mine.
At this rate, I could probably handle something a bit heavier than 10.
Not like I could jump to 14 or 15. I could manage, but it wouldn't feel right in my grip.
"This feels just like when I used a 10-pounder before."
I lifted the 13-pounder with a satisfied smile. In kilograms, it wasn't a huge difference, but getting stronger in any way felt damn good as a guy.
"Whoa, 13 pounds."
"Hyunwoo, you're strong. But just one ball?"
"Yeah."
I nodded and checked the balls the Jo Ki-hang couple had brought—both 9- and 10-pounders.
With Han Aebom on 8, no mix-ups.
"We'll do three games, first to two wins. Any objections? Oh, and we play all three even if it's decided early."
"Sounds good."
"Perfect."
As we nodded, steaming side dishes were set on the table.
"Enjoy your time."
"Thanks."
Crispy chicken sprinkled with salt, french fries loaded with it.
And frozen dumplings too.
This has to be delicious.
"Sides are here, so cheers before we start. Huh? Someone already downed a bottle?"
"That was me. I was thirsty."
"Heh, drink up. Plenty more. You're paying anyway."
"We'll see about that."
"Oho, confident? This'll be fun. Right, Ki-hang?"
"Yeah."
Jo Ki-hang wasn't watching me anymore now that the game was on.
He knew pointless consideration now would just annoy me.
"Cheers!"
I gulped down the refreshing beer and thought.
This wasn't bad. Sharing drinks with people you met by chance felt pretty good. Romantic, even?
Looking back, even awkward college drinking sessions weren't all bad. Not sure when I turned coward, sticking only to familiar faces.
"Who goes first? You decide the order."
Thanks to Lee Seon-hwa's courtesy, Han Aebom spoke right up.
"Then..."
The order was set in a flash: Jo Ki-hang, me, Lee Seon-hwa, Han Aebom.
"Whew! Me first?"
"Ki-hang! Fighting, babe!"
As Jo Ki-hang took a deep breath and stepped onto the approach, I asked Han Aebom. Wondering if there was strategy here.
"Ki-hang seems introverted. Those types tense up extra on the first turn, overforcing it. Seon-hwa's outgoing, so giving her first might make her nail it unexpectedly."
Made sense.
And then.
"Argh! No striiike..."
Sure enough, Jo Ki-hang took stiff steps and sent the ball straight into the gutter. He didn't even watch it, bolting back to hug Lee Seon-hwa.
"Ugh... so embarrassing, sis."
"It's okay, it's okay. You still have your spare. Our Ki-hang did great. Or sis'll handle it. Don't worry!"
Really embarrassed, huh?
Is he low-key aware of the next lane?
I consider myself self-conscious, but not that much. Total introvert.
"Whew, next... me?"
"Yes."
I gripped the 13-pounder and eyed the next lane.
The one bowling etiquette I knew: wait if the adjacent lane's in use.
Staring blankly, a slick form sent the ball flying—for a clean strike.
Damn, pro level.
"Niiice...! Ugh, house balls are brutal."
What's a house ball?
But it wasn't just that guy—too many skilled players around. Like taking a gym newbie to a hardcore gym.
"Hoo!"
After ribbing Jo Ki-hang, I did the same deep breath, hyper-aware of side glances. Especially since I was using the rail.
Screw it.
"Gah... ugh..."
Worse than Jo Ki-hang, I guttered it clumsily and slumped, hand over mouth.
Insane. Mortifying!
Now I got why he dove into his girlfriend's arms. No way Han Aebom'd go for that.
"Ugh..."
Rubbing my flushed face as I trudged back. Then what?
"Come here, Hyunwoo."
"...?"
Han Aebom had her arms open, ready to comfort. I hugged her awkwardly. Why though?
"No need to rush from self-consciousness. Take your proper steps slowly, roll the ball gently at first. Game one's about getting comfortable with bowling."
This wasn't the comfort I expected.
"Yeah... got it."
Jo Ki-hang mercifully downed 9 pins next, but I only got 4.
Han Aebom didn't mind. True to her word, it was about acclimating.
"My turn then!"
Lee Seon-hwa strode up confidently, form sloppy but bam—strike.
"Yes!"
"Nice one, sis!"
Impressive in her own way. Sloppier form than Jo Ki-hang, but strike score. Confidence is key, huh.
"Hm."
Han Aebom's turn. Before stepping up, she checked the dots on the approach, planting her foot precisely.
What's it called? Standing spot?
Her left foot hooked the third dot left of center. Unfazed by stares, she took ultra-slow steps.
Sloppier than Seon-hwa's, really.
Like practice walking, then at the foul line—pop, gentle release.
The slow ball picked up natural spin and... guttered. She returned dead serious. Lee Seon-hwa said,
"I got strike, so to sync turns, go again."
"Is that how it works?"
"Yeah. Strike's one throw, doubles your score."
"I see."
Han Aebom nodded, grabbed her ball, same spot, same steps—roll.
Slight difference:
This time, it clipped the right edge, toppling 3 pins.
"Hm."
She watched intently, returned.
Everyone underestimated her till then. First time bowling, after all.
But then.
[0/3] [4/3] [6/2] [7/-] [8/-]
...Exactly.
Post-first gutter, every ball went dead center. Unbelievably precise.
She struggled with spares, but that'd come with time.
"Hoo."
Her sixth turn.
Same spot, same steps, same form.
The limp 8-pound pink ball.
It slipped perfectly between center and right pin—for a strike.
"..."
Too ridiculous.
Still, strike's a strike—I whooped "Nice!" and high-fived. She smiled happily, slapping back.
Palm tingled.
"Whoa, insane..."
"Amazing! How? First time today!"
Everyone stared at Han Aebom. Curious!
"Nothing much. Fixed what I could, tweaked variables finely. Ball kept veering right aiming center. Can't diagnose why yet, so I aimed deliberately left. Now it hits center."
"...What?"
Jo Ki-hang and Lee Seon-hwa tilted heads, confused. Sounded like sophistry to me too.
But why did it click?
I pondered her words, kept my release consistent.
Realized my ball pulled left— so I aimed right on purpose. Boom, center.
Holy shit.
Not textbook, more hack. Pros'd scoff.
But I wasn't pro-bound. Winning mattered.
"N-No way."
Their scores were near highs.
We won the bet.
"Heh."
Han Aebom grinned victoriously, so natural and fitting.