A Cherished Brooch and an Unexpected PC
"No! I don't like it! Don't do it!"
==============================================================================
"She's gone..."
The child stared in the direction where the girl had vanished, her face crestfallen as she gazed down at the brooch. It was the item her witch friend had left behind. After watching her turn banana milk into a straw, the child had wondered if she was really a witch at all—but then she'd lifted the spilled banana milk from the floor and restored it perfectly, even crafting this brooch for her. It felt like she'd made it out of annoyance at being ignored, but for a child who'd spent so long cooped up in the hospital, drifting away from old friends, that brief encounter had been incredibly precious time—and this object was too.
The child smiled and clutched the brooch tightly in her hand. As long as she had this, she firmly believed she'd meet that little witch again someday.
"Suyeon?"
Someone approached the child, who was smiling down at the brooch. Hearing her name, she looked up with a beaming grin. There stood a man with a still-gaunt face, gazing down at her with gentle warmth mixed with worry. So much had happened, but thanks to someone who'd helped her, she could finally leave this cramped building and see the world outside.
Yet for some reason, the child felt like that little witch she'd just met was the one who'd saved her. The amazing magic she'd shown felt like stepping into a fairy tale. It was nothing like the wonders her dad tried to share. He'd always insisted she'd get better, but she'd seen his face growing grimmer, felt her own body weakening day by day, breathing turning labored. Even as a kid, she could vaguely sense the truth: her illness wouldn't improve. And she saw how her dad suffered, desperately trying to hold on to her as things worsened.
One day, she'd even imagined it while reading a picture book—a prince of her very own appearing to heal her and whisking her away to fly through the world together.
And that fantasy had come true.
"I want to see her again."
It wasn't a prince who'd helped her, but a little witch her own age—and the child didn't mind one bit. Even if it had been a prince, she wouldn't have wanted to meet him if he couldn't save her and her dad. More than anything, the witch had looked like her peer, so even her newly introverted self could approach her. She wanted to meet again. If they did... could they really become friends?
"Dad! I met the most amazing friend today!"
"An amazing friend?"
She wanted to show her to Dad too. If that little witch met her awesome dad, she'd surely like him. When that day came...
"Dad's gonna be so shocked when he hears!"
"Yeah? Tell me on the way home?"
"Yeah!"
.
.
.
.
Whoa.
I let out a silent gasp of awe at the machine right in front of me. When Sis asked if there was anything I wanted, I couldn't bring myself to say a high-spec computer, so I'd settled for a phone with some lame excuse about needing it. I'd accepted it as inevitable and didn't push back, but yeah, it stung. What can you do? I'd figured I'd have to make do with a phone for now.
I'd been way underestimating Sis. Like, epically so.
I drew in a sharp breath, staring at the massive beast of a machine. I glanced around it, then over at Sis. She was smiling casually, like "Go ahead, use it all you want."
Of course, I hadn't said a word about wanting a computer. Sure, I'd watched her using it with wide-eyed curiosity, but that was it. Not like I was eyeing it hungrily or anything—it just looked so cool, like something out of a movie.
But Sis must've mistaken my fascination for longing and handed it over, saying not to be too bummed it wasn't her exact same model. As if I cared. Even if it wasn't identical, this was unexpected windfall territory. I was still kinda dazed. Can I really use this? Like, for real? Am I allowed? Rich people gonna rich people... It looked way better than anything I'd touched at the PC bang. She'd bought it originally for gaming, she said with a wry smile, but games weren't her thing, so it'd been gathering dust. Who knew there were people who didn't game? Coming from someone who'd never owned a computer and couldn't play, it was a whole other world.
"Come to think of it, do you even know how to use a computer?"
I did. But if I acted too comfy with it here, would it seem weird? Most kids my apparent age barely knew what a computer was, let alone how to use one. Coming from a year in the mountains, fiddling expertly might raise eyebrows. Though I'd handled her phone fine at the station without issue. Good thing she didn't seem to mind.
"Alright... wanna try pressing the power button on the tower?"
I know how, y'know. I kept that to myself. She looked busy earlier, but apparently she was done—glasses off now, fully focused on me. She'd even hauled it to my room and set it up herself. Sure, you might say that's basic, but giving away a sweet rig like this for free and then installing it as a bonus? No complaints from her, either—she was grinning, teaching me the ropes.
She could've just tossed it at a kid like me and said "Figure it out," no biggie responsibility-wise. But no, instead of pointing from the side, she sat behind me, guiding my arms directly. Her breath on my neck from behind had me tensing up without meaning to. Not that she'd see me as anything but a normal little girl. Still, better than the alternative. If she ever learned my real deal... who knows. Pointless what-if, but knowing my original self, I couldn't help thinking it.
I shook my head and followed her lead, reaching out to hit the power button on the tower.
Vrrr...
"There you go... good job."
No need to praise me that much... Feeling a bit embarrassed, I turned my head—and caught sight of the tower's side panel.
"Whoa."
Oh yeah, she'd said it was a gaming rig. Top-tier specs thanks to a buddy's connections, no question. And like all gaming PCs, it was customized to hell—transparent case stuffed with dazzling LED lights, arranged beautifully, not just slapped in haphazardly.
"Pretty, huh?"
Yeah, gorgeous. I nodded faintly.
"It's yours now."
Saying it like that made it feel weirdly official. But thinking of it as mine wasn't half bad. Every other computer I'd touched was some PC bang communal junk—no personal vibe there.
"Since you're a kid... maybe start with a dress-up game?"
Wait, hold up. Dress-up? Like that game?
I'd heard of it as a little kid but never played. No clue what it was, but definitely not my jam. I shot her a look like What're you even saying? Was she annoyed? Nah, she looked curious, then smiled and explained the game.
"You just dress up Seol-i however you want."
Mid-sentence, Sis eyed my outfit. Oh right—still in the same clothes from when we met. Hadn't bathed yet, obviously.
"Guess Seol-i needs a real-life dress-up session too."
Wait, what? I didn't want a game version, let alone IRL. I shook my head hard.
"What do you wanna do first?"
...
...
Neither. Neither, please.
Of course, I couldn't say it out loud.