Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Cutting the Line
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Bucket list item: the amusement park.
Someone might think, what, an amusement park? I'm not a kid anymore…
But what I wanted wasn't just to play around.
More precisely, it was 'Get a pass at the amusement park and ride whatever I want right away, one after another.'
'Hmm… Now that I think about it, isn't this basically just playing around?'
It didn't seem all that different, so I let out a small chuckle to myself while gazing at the Gyro Drop visible in the distance.
The amount I'd spent today was for day passes and 10-ride passes.
Added up, that came to about 150,000 won per person.
And with tickets for me and five others, a rough total of 900,000 won.
Worried they'd feel burdened if I said I'd bought them, I brushed it off by saying I'd received them as a gift.
'Even if they've got money, it's probably not as much as mine.'
I wanted to have pure fun today—no awkwardness from them catering to me.
"Yup."
As I opened my mouth slightly to yawn, thinking those thoughts, a woman with brown wavy hair poked my cheek from the side.
"…Thanks to you, the yawn's gone."
She was grinning ear to ear at my words.
This woman with the adorable smile was Kim Eun-ah.
She was 20, a year younger than me.
Younger, but tall like me with great proportions.
Yeon-ah had spotted her while out and about and scouted her herself, which went to show her eye for talent.
She definitely had that model look.
And she acted her age, too.
Plenty of playfulness and energy.
"Hmm…"
She let out a small laugh, then poked my cheek several more times.
Wondering what she was up to, I turned my head slightly, and she was looking at me with an expression of pure admiration.
"…How is your skin this flawless without any makeup?"
So that's why.
Not sure what to say, I just told her the truth.
"…Born this way?"
"Whoa…"
Eun-ah shot me a look like I was being obnoxious.
It was so funny that I burst out laughing without thinking.
Seeing me laugh set her off too, and she started cracking up.
With the two of us laughing it up, the two male models in the back tilted their heads curiously.
"What's so funny?"
These two guys were Kim Min-hyeok and Lee Chan-su.
Kim Min-hyeok was 28, Lee Chan-su 22.
Both were pretty good-looking.
Kim Min-hyeok looked younger than his age and had that sleek, model style.
Lee Chan-su was so tall he didn't look 22.
His face… well, it was pretty divisive.
'At least in an all-boys high school, it'd be the kind of face guys hate.'
Pretty boy? Parasite vibe?
Anyway, the type guys tend to dislike.
Of course, I had no intention of judging personalities by looks.
Just my personal take.
'Still, it boils down to him being handsome.'
Anyway, the two of them were interested in my conversation with Eun-ah.
Eun-ah shook her head with a small laugh.
"Nothing much. Just looking at Unnie Yeon-bi makes me laugh."
'…Do I look that funny?'
I pondered that a bit seriously when the short bob-haired woman in the passenger seat glanced back at us.
"We're almost there."
Her name was Park Ji-su, 26.
She had sharp features and wasn't much of a talker.
She'd introduced herself like the others, but we hadn't chatted much.
Not that I'd talked at length with the others either.
'Still, she seems kinda scary.'
I finished that brief thought just as the car pulled slowly into the parking lot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Tickets on our wrists, we entered the amusement park.
Riding up the escalator, the first thing in view was the carousel.
The iconic spot of this park.
"Proof shot! Proof shot!"
Eun-ah grabbed my wrist and dragged me forward quickly.
'She's got some strength.'
Pulled along by her enthusiasm, I arrived in front of the carousel.
The other models followed, chuckling softly.
Yeon-ah naturally ended up posing like our photographer.
"Okay! Smile! One, two!"
On three, a soft click sounded.
She checked the photo with a satisfied look.
Then she hurried over to me, switched the camera to selfie mode.
"Alright, now! One, two, three!"
"Whoa, the photo came out amazing."
Eun-ah was right; it really did look good.
'Doesn't hold back even among models…'
My face stood out even among these people.
It made me rethink how others saw me.
"This pass only works 10 times, right?"
Chan-su asked while checking the pass on his phone app, photo shoot done.
Yeon-ah nodded.
"Probably. Think carefully about what to ride."
One pass per person.
Once you used all 10, buying more wouldn't help.
So you had to choose wisely.
'I didn't know there were so many restrictions before.'
I'd assumed you could ride all day freely, but it wasn't that impressive.
A bit disappointing, but on the flip side, without passes, you'd get pushed back by pass-holders all day and barely ride anything. So it made sense.
'Otherwise, marketing-wise, it'd be a total loss.'
Lost in pointless marketing thoughts, I noticed the models and Yeon-ah deep in discussion nearby.
"…So first one's this. Second has to be this one."
"…Do we have to ride the roller coaster?"
"What do you plan to use your pass on then? Obviously roller coasters first."
They were debating what to use passes on.
Their serious faces were hilarious, so I sidled over.
"Yeon-bi, Min-hyeok says he won't ride the roller coaster with his pass?"
Yeon-ah's words had me glancing at Kim Min-hyeok.
'Scaredy-cat?'
Passes were free choice.
I'd seen people use them on the spinning teacups before.
But.
Skipping roller coasters? Unforgivable.
"What? You've got a no-wait pass… and you won't ride the roller coaster?"
"Right? Doesn't make sense."
"Oppa Min-hyeok, you scared?"
Eun-ah lobbed a straight fastball.
Min-hyeok gave her a flustered glare.
"Sca… Scared? Who's scared! Just, using all 10 on roller coasters feels off."
"Huh? Isn't that exactly what passes are for—riding every type of roller coaster?"
Min-hyeok stared at Eun-ah in shock.
He claimed not to be scared, but his face screamed terror.
Feeling a bit bad for him,
"If you're scared, it's fine not to ride. We're not all doing the same rides with passes."
"True. So we'll do the indoor coaster, and Min-hyeok can pick something else…"
You couldn't force someone who didn't want to ride.
That's why I said that.
"No. I'll ride too. Let's pick together."
Looks like I'd poked his pride.
'Hope he's okay.'
I knew how forcing a ride ended.
Well, not just me—anyone would.
Maybe that's why Yeon-ah looked oddly excited.
'Does she dislike Kim Min-hyeok?'
Not dislike, exactly, but her face said she wanted to tease him.
So I played along.
"Then this one, and right after, the two outdoor coasters back-to-back."
"I approve!"
"No lines, straight to the rides—perfect."
Eun-ah shot her hand up cheerfully, Chan-su grinned happily.
Park Ji-su nodded quietly,
"Y… yeah. Sounds good."
And Kim Min-hyeok wore a complicated expression.
'Gotta buy him something tasty.'
Carrot after the stick.
Tease hard, then a little reward at the end.
Yeon-ah seemed to think the same, smiling as she spoke.
"By the time we're done, it'll be around lunch. Food after would be perfect. Lunch is on me."
Exactly.
Birds of a feather.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ —Di-ri-ring-ring-ring
[Alright, here we go. Have a fun~ time~!]
'This is insane.'
A fun time.
But for Kim Min-hyeok, it was anything but.
'Should've just said I wouldn't ride.'
Regretting his pointless pride,
He was the type who never rode roller coasters or anything like them.
Yet he'd boarded anyway— all because of Choi Yeon-bi.
He didn't want to look weak in front of her.
The first coaster had a full 360-degree loop.
Last time he'd visited, seeing it wrap around a pedestrian bridge had made him shake his head in horror.
And now, Min-hyeok was strapped into the front seat of that very coaster.
"Front row's the way for coasters, right?"
Chan-su grinned casually beside him.
Great guy, but right now, utterly hateable.
"Y… yeah."
The coaster slowly climbed high.
At the peak, it plunged down at breakneck speed.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Gripping the bar with both hands as the force hit his whole body.
When he cracked his eyes open briefly,
The upside-down world made him half-give up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Boss, Oppa Min-hyeok looks pale."
Eun-ah's words had me checking his face—yeah, he looked rough.
Like it'd been bleached white.
I couldn't help a small laugh.
Some people have the funniest reactions when teased.
Kim Min-hyeok was exactly that type.
"I… I'm fine. Alright, next one."
His state was funny and pitiful, so I glanced around.
'That one for a breather?'
A ride caught my eye: Egypt's Fury.
Not scary, popular—perfect for a quick, easy ride. I pointed.
"How about that? Break before the next coaster."
"Ooh, good. But using a pass there feels wasteful, no?"
I nodded at Yeon-ah.
"We'll skip the pass and wait a bit. No need to rush when we've got them."
Everyone nodded.
Min-hyeok looked at me like I'd saved his life.
I averted my eyes, a bit burdened.
Anyway, we headed up to the Egypt's Fury line.
"Not much of a line."
Ji-su noted, and Eun-ah nodded.
Looked like 30 minutes tops.
We chatted lightly while waiting.
"Hey, this way!"
"Whoa, hardly any people."
"See? Told you one person runs ahead."
Suddenly, a crowd surged in front of us.
Not one or two—a whole group.
So many, so shameless. Was this allowed?
"…?"
Stunned, I stared at the cutters, locking eyes with one.
I figured he'd look embarrassed, bow slightly, show some remorse.
Instead, he glared like what're you gonna do about it? and joined the line.
"…Well, now."
I hate line-cutters.
They might not see it that way, but to those waiting behind, it's always cutting.
"What the hell?"
Yeon-ah looked baffled too.
"Excuse me, this is…"
Min-hyeok started to step up, but Chan-su lightly grabbed his shoulder.
Smart move.
No need to get dirty fighting trash.
But letting it slide felt bad.
And I wasn't one to just shrug it off.
"…Should we use our passes?"
After a moment's thought, I suggested lightly.
Expected complaints about waste, but they thought like me.
Min-hyeok especially nodded with serious eyes.
"…I'm in."
Even Ji-su spoke up for once.
With that, we slipped out of line and headed straight for the rear elevator.