GB   ...

GB   Hmm.

How long as it been, since the two of you have relaxed together like this? In the few moments of respite The Program affords, you feel yourself strangely grateful that it reunited the two of you like this. You're half-tempted to start humming or singing, but it would be quite embarassing to start in front of someone else, out of the blue.

But this is nice. It’s so easy to let your guard down and return to a comfortable, familiar rhythm.

GB   Hey, Oojin?

They look up from their game console and glance over, wearing their usual, lazy grin.

OJ   what's up

OJ   you look like you have something on your mind

GB   Goodness. Was it that obvious?

OJ   not in a bad way

GB   Well, I was just thinking about all this.

GB   This whole mess we've found ourselves in.

OJ   understatement

GB   But we're here together. Isn't that peculiar?

GB   It's just like back then.

It was only a few years, back in Letterpal. Before your world turned upside-down, and your family moved all the way to Forest Grove. But you remember the time you spent with them. And now, seeing how comfortable they are putting their usual weirdness on display... it's putting you in an introspective mood.

GB   It feels like you had the same console, too.

OJ   actually, this is the gamekid 2p

OJ   what i had in middle school was the gamekid advance

OJ   big leap in technology there

GB   You know what I mean.

GB   It feels like hardly anything has changed.

GB   Well, except...

GB   You seem more grown-up.

OJ   ha

OJ   haha ha

GB   Wh-what's so funny?

OJ   i mean, i would hope so, right?

OJ   god forbid you see me again and i've somehow regressed

GB   You say that, but...

GB   There are plenty of people who don't grow as they get older.

OJ   does this 'growth' include height

OJ   because i'm still working on that

GB   ...how's it going?

OJ   bad :(

GB   I'm sorry.

GB   But! That doesn't matter as much.

GB   I'm just saying. I'm happy you were able to grow up.

GB   Even if I couldn't see you for most of it.

Their personality wasn't so different back then. But it was underlined with a fear and awkwardness you associate with that age. And now, seeing how comfortable they are, completely at peace with their usual weirdness... it's putting you in an introspective mood.

GB   I know you’re not the most outgoing person, but…

GB   You’re confident in some ways that I’m not.

GB   Hee hee.

GB   I guess I'm kind of envious.

GB   I'm always second-guessing myself, you know?

GB   You never know what people will think.

GB   But you carry yourself in a way that's... really different.

GB   Like you don't care.

GB   I wish it were that easy.

They tilt their head. Suddenly, you feel the weight of your words, and you cover your mouth.

GB   I, uh -

GB   Wow, that must've come out of nowhere, huh?

GB   I'm sorry!

GB   Don't - don't read too much into it.

GB   I'm sorry if I said something strange, just now.

OJ   no, it's fine

OJ   it's just, haha

OJ   the way you put it, i thought it was an insult

You lower your hand.

GB   The way I - what?

OJ   i mean, i guess i know i can’t change certain parts of myself

OJ   i've lived long enough to learn that i guess

OJ   so it’s easier to run with it

OJ   being honest who i am

OJ   instead of being someone people expect highly of

They're smiling, again. Almost as if to reassure you, specifically.

OJ   besides

OJ   it’s easier being the weird one, y'know?

GB   Oh.

Suddenly, their words sink in, and your eyes widen.

GB   Oh, no, Oojin!

GB   I - I didn’t say you were weird!

GB   Not at all!

OJ   huh

OJ   you didn’t?

Oojin blinks. For a moment, they seem somewhat dazed. Like they were thinking too many things at once. But they tilt their head and shrug, like they didn't see much of a problem anyway.

OJ   i guess not out loud

OJ   but that’s what you meant, right?

Goodness. That's what you get for getting lost in thought. You don't even remember what you've said or thought anymore. Poor Oojin - they could've easily assumed that you were trying to insult them in a roundabout way.

GB   I… well…

GB   I mean you’re much more… honest about yourself to other people.

GB   About your flaws, and what people usually try to hide.

GB   We've all got our eccentricities, right?

OJ   right

OJ   character quirks

GB   But you have such a confident way of expressing yourself.

GB   Flaws and all.

GB   Not that that’s not a bad thing!

GB   And I'm not trying to make a... statement on your flaws or anything.

GB   I don’t mean anything negative. I promise.

GB   It just... makes me think about myself.

GB   I'd like to think that I'm much better than the person I used to be.

GB   And I have grown. I'm proud of that.

GB   But that kind of attitude can be dangerous.

GB   It can make you think... you don't have anything else left to learn.

GB   Like thinking too highly of yourself.

GB   So...

GB   I always look for new ways to grow.

GB   It's hard, but...

GB   Being too comfortable scares me more.

You laugh softly. Oojin nods.

OJ   yeah

OJ   yeah, i get that

OJ   i'm always learning, too

OJ   that's why it's good to get out of your comfort zone

OJ   out of your own head

OJ   to… have some perspective

OJ   it helps a lot

They’re staring at you rather intensely, now. Is this... that important to them?

GB   Right.

GB   I hope I'm helping, too. In that way.

OJ   you are

It's strange. Oojin was never this direct, when you were younger. Maybe that's just how they grew.

OJ   don't worry

OJ   you are