“You’re trying to use a different room from us? Did you already promise to room with someone else?”
“No, no. There’s no way that happened.”
“Then there’s no problem.”
Flustered by Hee-ae’s words, I looked around here and there. Rather, the three of them seemed fine with it. Only I seemed to care about using the same room, which made me confused for no reason.
***
Time flew by like an arrow and before I knew it, it was the day of the school trip. When the bus arrived at the amusement park, the teacher stood up from their seat and said,
“We’ve arrived, so wake up anyone who’s sleeping.”
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and unfastened my seatbelt. Hee-ae and In-sae, who were sitting in the next row, stared at me intently. Burdened by their gazes, I subtly avoided both their eyes and got off the bus.
Hee-ae, who had been looking around here and there, asked carefully,
“Have you been to an amusement park before?”
“I came when I was very young and this is my first time since. Was it when I was 7? I don’t remember well.”
“I also haven’t been since elementary school.”
I recalled my childhood memories for a moment. Hee-ae, who was looking at the amusement park sign, asked,
“Are you good at riding rides?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll probably manage somehow.”
I lined up while talking with Hee-ae. The kids excited about the school trip chattered noisily. The teachers were talking among themselves and didn’t even stop the kids’ commotion.
Cho-yeon, who got off the car, looked surprised by the noisy atmosphere. Of course, In-sae didn’t care and walked to my side.
“We’ll be entering shortly. Everyone be quiet now.”
We handed in our tickets and ran as soon as we entered. In-sae grabbed my hand while running. Hee-ae and Cho-yeon also, I don’t know why, grabbed my hand and bag and ran.
“We’re here, so let go of my hand, quickly.”
I said while looking at In-sae and Hee-ae who were still holding my hands. How long ago did we arrive yet they’re still holding hands? In-sae, who looked like he had no intention of letting go, finally released his hand after hearing my urging.
“You guys always grab my hand first.”
I smiled awkwardly and shook off my hands. Then I was surprised by a hand that pulled my bag sharply and turned my head. Cho-yeon was still holding onto my bag.
“Ah, could you let go of this bag?”
“I have to hold it. You’re so clumsy you might get lost.”
“I’ll be careful, so let go. And if I get lost, I can just use my phone.”
Cho-yeon let go of the bag as if shaking it off. Thanks to running and arriving early, there weren’t many people at the rides. There are so many different types of rides I’m conflicted about what to ride.
At that moment, I was swayed by the suggestion that if we’re going to ride something, let’s ride something scary. I inadvertently ended up riding the scariest roller coaster. And I regretted it as soon as I got on. The incline is so steep.
As soon as I got off the roller coaster, I said weakly,
“I feel like I went on a blind date with the Grim Reaper.”
Cho-yeon laughed dryly. His face looks like he can’t relate at all. Well, Cho-yeon was calm by himself even when people were screaming like crazy.
“How did you not scream even once, Han Cho-yeon-nim?”
“I didn’t scream because it was manageable.”
Nice that you’re good at riding rides. I almost died from fear. I even closed my eyes, and In-sae doesn’t look too good either. And Hee-ae kept screaming, probably because he was very scared.
“I think I screamed too much, my throat hurts.”
Hee-ae cleared his throat with a face that hadn’t recovered from the shock of the roller coaster. The roller coaster was too scary, so next time I should ride a carousel or something. I clapped my hands and lightly pushed In-sae’s shoulder.
“Actually, I opened my eyes a bit in the middle. But this guy was scared too, holding the safety bar tight with his head down.”
“No, I wasn’t scared.”
In-sae, who was making excuses at my distrustful expression, even turned his head away. I smiled and encouraged In-sae.
“Why are you making excuses like that? It’s okay to not be good at scary rides.”
“I’m good at them.”
In-sae stepped back a few paces. Hee-ae looked at us with eyes full of curiosity. What’s wrong with not being good at rides that he’s denying it this much? But it is surprising. I thought In-sae would be unfazed no matter how scary the ride.
“I wasn’t scared at all.”
It seems like he’s just bluffing. In-sae, who was flustered, made his usual calm expression again. I changed the subject feeling strange.
“Hee-ae, is your throat okay? Want to drink some water?”
“No. I also have water… I don’t?”
Hee-ae rummaged through his bag and shouted in surprise. He must have forgotten. I immediately handed him my water bottle. Cho-yeon led us to go ride something else.
I hurriedly said, remembering a sudden fact,
“I drank from that so you need to drink without touching where my mouth was.”
Hee-ae quickly pulled the water bottle away from his mouth. It’s my fault for saying it late. Hee-ae closed the bottle cap and returned it to me, making excuses,
“It barely touched, really.”
“It’s okay.”
I took the water bottle back nonchalantly. As if bothered by it, Hee-ae glanced at my water bottle several times. Of course, I was bothered by it too.
After that, we rode several more rides. Even Cho-yeon, who was enthusiastic at first, seemed to get tired as his steps gradually slowed.
“Why are all the rides just spinning? I’m getting motion sickness.”
Cho-yeon complained in an annoyed voice. Because there were so many spinning rides, I felt dizzy. Hee-ae wiped his forehead and said,
“I feel nauseous too. Let’s rest for a bit.”
“We can sit here. But what are the kids in our class doing? How come we haven’t seen a single one?”
I asked while sitting on a bench in the corner. If we’ve walked around this much, we should have met at least one person by now, but we haven’t seen hide nor hair of them.
“Aren’t they following the Five Great Kings-nim around? Or maybe, they might just be at the restaurant.”
“They came all the way to an amusement park and they’re at the restaurant? Are they doing an amusement park restaurant tour or something?”
“Yeah, Lee Seung said he won’t ride any rides and will do a restaurant tour. He even made a plan?”
I made a completely fed up expression. But why aren’t the kids following the Five Great Kings around for once? In the past, they would have followed them around like a package deal.
Hee-ae looked around and pointed at Cho-yeon saying,
“Move. There’s a piece of paper under there, what is it?”
“Paper? What kind of paper is this, a haunted house?”
“What is it?”
Even In-sae showed interest. I became curious too and got close to Cho-yeon.
“Is it an advertising flyer? Someone must have left it.”
I opened my eyes wide to see the flyer in detail and realized something strange.
“Since when have you been speaking casually to Han Cho-yeon-nim?”
There was a moment of silence. Looking at their reactions, it seems they didn’t even know they were speaking casually. Hee-ae shouted in embarrassment,
“I spoke casually to Han Cho-yeon-nim?”
“Now that I think about it, I did.”
Cho-yeon also retraced his memory and said with a look of realization. After thinking for a moment, he made eye contact with me.
“Just speak casually. I didn’t like using formal speech anyway.”
It feels like he’s talking to me. Did he not like that I used formal speech in front of the kids? I met Cho-yeon’s blue eyes. Feeling somehow strange, I made a fuss for no reason.
“Han Cho-yeon-nim, do you want to go to a broadcasting station? No matter how I look at it, you should become a celebrity.”
“Don’t flatter me. No.”
I moved far away from Cho-yeon again and asked,
“Are you going to the haunted house?”
“It would be fun to go. What about you, Shi-dan?”
“I don’t think anything will be scarier than that roller coaster earlier.”
I answered seriously. In-sae smiled lightly. The kids got up from their seats again and turned to me shouting,
“Let’s go.”
“Okay, but I’ve never been to a haunted house. Is it very scary?”
“Do you watch horror movies well? Then it won’t be too scary.”
I searched my memory. I’ve never gone to watch a horror movie so I’m not sure.
“It probably won’t be too scary. It’s not real and it’s all makeup, right?”
I was scared by the eerie atmosphere, but I spoke boldly and entered. I hesitated then asked with an expectant expression,
“Can I say that line?”
“What line?”
“It’s cleaner inside than I thought?”
Even though the surroundings were dim, I could clearly see Cho-yeon’s fed-up expression. Hee-ae laughed hard, finding it funny. Feeling mischievous, I said one more classic horror movie line.
“And, hello. Is anyone there?”
As soon as I spoke, a doll fell from the ceiling. I was startled and almost missed my step.
They should at least put up a sign, what if they suddenly appear like that? Or when appearing, can’t they shout a loud self-introduction like ‘I’m Ghost Number 1, I come out from Area A’?
“The staff are good at makeup. You scared me.”
“Shi-dan, I was surprised too.”
In-sae said matter-of-factly. If I could at least see ahead properly, I could confirm if he was really surprised, but it’s dark so I can’t see expressions well.
“Mmm, yeah. It’s scary from the start.”
I answered while calming my startled heart. In-sae kept touching my index finger. He said quietly,
“I’m scared.”
He looks too fine to say that though? In-sae also seems to be getting better at exaggerating and acting. In-sae kept touching my hand then grabbed it tightly.
“In-sae, I know you’re not scared. Let go.”
“In the past, you never told me to let go no matter what I did.”
In-sae raised both hands and said bitterly. I lightly ignored In-sae and looked at the doll’s eyes faintly glowing red.
The three of them have already told me not to feel burdened, to act like usual. But how can I do that? I keep being conscious of it so I can’t make contact casually like before.
“Let’s go. What are you doing standing there?”
I followed the faintly visible back of Hee-ae.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
