The World’s Greatest Friend
This isn’t a date. It’s just a gathering of friends.
This isn’t a date. It’s just a gathering of friends.
This isn’t a date. It’s just a wholesome social gathering of friends!
Standing at the meeting spot in front of the amusement park, I keep my eyes tightly shut and repeat that mantra in my heart three times.
I couldn’t calm down the moment I woke up, so I arrived at the meeting spot early and have been waiting ever since.
The suggestion Yeoeun made at the end of our last meeting—that we should go out and have fun as friends.
It was a promise made as abruptly as a lightning-speed bill, but I didn’t refuse.
No, "couldn't" would be the more accurate term.
I couldn't bring myself to reject that proactive energy and her signature, thick, aegyo-filled voice.
She said we should start slowly as friends, but since she’d been dragging me along ever since our first meeting, I practically had no right to refuse.
Ugh... my heart won't stop pounding in my ears!
Above all, I didn't exactly hate it.
I had already decided to trust in this stroke of luck that had rolled into my life, and once I harbored that greed, I didn't feel the need to keep my foot on the brake.
More than that, the state of my body was fascinating. Even though I’d pushed myself for three days straight, I felt absolutely no fatigue, fueled entirely by the adrenaline of the anticipation of meeting her this weekend.
The excitement for what was about to happen was so inflated that sleep deprivation or a hangover wouldn't have been a problem at all.
I felt like a high schooler—no, like a middle schooler who had just discovered the mysteries of the opposite sex for the first time.
"Honey, you were already here!"
While I was nervously checking the time on my phone, that voice, so enchanting, called out from behind me.
I turned around immediately.
Men around me, not just me, all turned in unison at the sound of that honey-drenched, sweet voice, and I’m sure they were smiling to themselves, thinking it was a choice they wouldn't regret.
"Y-Yeoeun!"
"Hehehe♥"
The first thing that caught my eye was Yeoeun’s ivory-colored knit top.
It was a tight-fitting style. The way the fabric clung to her, highlighting the exposure she’d chosen, was incredibly important.
...Gulp!
I could see her breasts. I could only see her breasts.
She was clearly making a point to show off the size of her already ample chest, with the lines of her figure perfectly outlined. The ivory knit looked like a balloon about to burst; if I were to exaggerate, it was at the level of carrying two mounds the size of her own face on her chest.
It was a complete reversal of the atmosphere she had when wearing a flowy dress. If the dress from our meeting had added a sense of innocence, this was a bewitching style that openly revealed the contours of her body. The dress was nice, but this was an outfit no man could resist.
She had paired it with jeans pulled up high, which she styled with her hip line in a way that looked incredibly chic.
It made me think that if I had a body like that, I’d be happy just looking in the mirror all day. It made me realize that the common outfits you see on the street can look like worlds apart depending on the model.
Poke!
"Ugh!?"
As I stood there, dumbfounded, Yeoeun, who had been walking toward me with long strides, suddenly poked my lips playfully.
She pressed down firmly, pushing them up, and then parted her lips as if she felt a bit slighted.
"We decided to be friends, didn't we?"
"Ah."
"From now on, drop the 'ssi' and come up with a more friendly nickname for me, okay?"
Yeoeun was giving me an assignment right from the start. She tilted her head from side to side, looking at me as if expecting a new nickname. It was a calculated, fox-like move she could only pull off because she knew she was cute and pretty.
...Gulp!
I knew it. It wasn't that she wanted to be treated like a child; it was the fact that she wanted to break down the wall between us quickly, like real friends.
However,
"That... just switching to informal speech in one day is already a struggle for me..."
Pathetically, that was the only answer that could escape my lips. Even though I tried to keep up with the tempo, all I could manage for now was forced, awkward informal speech.
I couldn't even bring myself to say "You're pretty," the very first thing I felt when I saw her. My romantic cells were so out of practice that even the most common flowery words, which I’d rehearsed hundreds of times in my head, wouldn't come out.
"Aww, that's no fun!"
With that, Yeoeun—...no, Yeoeun—laughed and declared as much. She stood right next to me, still beaming.
"Since you gave me a boring answer, you have to make things *plenty* fun for me from now on, okay?"
Press!
She leaned in, her shoulder pressing against mine in our new capacity as friends. The thick scent of her perfume, which I’d become quite accustomed to, wafted over me. I heard that beautiful voice, which felt like it would melt my ears, right beside me.
I straightened my spine, stiffened by the sensation of her shoulder leaning against mine.
"Shall we go?"
"Y-Yeah!"
We bought our tickets and passed through the gates of the amusement park. As we walked side by side, I felt the gazes of the men around us pinning onto us, but things like that were buried deep beneath the pounding of my own heart.
Just walking made my heart float. I tried to steal a glance at her profile, but seeing her chest emphasized so much, I kept my head facing forward.
This is really just friends hanging out, right?
It’s definitely not a date, right?!
Why on earth did she suggest we meet at an amusement park? I had been terrified, thinking it held some deep meaning, but from the perspective of Yeoeun—...no, "Yeoeun," who I wasn't quite used to calling by name yet—it didn't seem to have any deep meaning at all.
"Mmm~ This is pretty delicious! Try some!"
She was happy eating a churro slathered in whipped cream, calling it a new snack,
"Whew... all my stress from the week is just melting away! One more time, honey, let's ride this one more time!"
She was just excited to be on the rides. She was bubbling over like a kid who had come to an amusement park for the first time.
True to her straightforward personality, she seemed to be chasing a dopamine MAX, preferring rides with high thrills. Roller coasters, drop towers, Vikings—mostly the kind that plummet from above. She picked and chose, and if it was fun, she’d grab my wrist and ride it again.
That was it. The reason she called me to the amusement park, without needing to guess too deeply, was simply that she wanted to play.
She genuinely needed someone to play with at the amusement park.
...She smells like flowers every time she opens her mouth.
And just that alone was enough to make me happy. Because I felt a sense of happiness just by being by her side today.
Every time our shoulders touched, it was just good. Whether it was subconscious or not, every time something soft accidentally brushed against my shoulder, my blood boiled.
On top of that,
"Honey, you’re surprisingly good at riding these, aren't you?"
"Oh, uh... I like heights."
"Hmm, that's unexpected? I thought you were just a coward, honey."
The "honey" I’d heard so many times today. The "honey" that melted me with its sweet tone. No matter how I looked at it, the term "honey" was too much for a friendship. It was absolutely not a nickname that fit a friendship we’d decided to start from the ground up.
Even so, I didn't ask her to change it.
My ears are literally melting...!
Naturally, because it sounded good. Because honey seemed to drip from my ears every time I heard it. My veins reacted more to that "honey" than to the boring rides that dropped from top to bottom.
"But you never suggest where we should go first, honey?"
She raised the question while walking side by side, sipping on her takeout coffee.
"......Huh?"
I made a somewhat dumbfounded face at that. I drew a line, noting that this was a different meaning.
"That’s because Yeoeun—no, no, Yeoeun, you’ve been holding the leash and dragging me around all day, so when would I have had the chance to speak?"
"Hmm? Was I?"
We had stopped at a cafe for a break after she’d spent the morning dragging me around on a whim. From the perspective of someone being dragged along, it had been a perfect forced march. She had come to get her money's worth today, riding one ride after another using smart reservations. I just hadn't felt tired because I was constantly conscious of her beside me.
Yeoeun rounded her lips at my counter-question, then—
Hehehe♥
"Then, is there any ride you *specifically* want to ride with me, honey?"
"......"
"Oh, so you *do* have one? Where is it? Where did you want to go so badly?!"
When I walked silently instead of answering, Yeoeun revealed her white teeth and immediately stuck to my side. She raised the tension in an instant, as if she were truly looking forward to my preferences.
Where I want to go...
Actually, there was one place. A place I’d wanted to go since I’d been wandering around the amusement park out of the blue. There was one course I personally harbored a romantic notion about if I ever came with a woman.
"I've never ridden a safari bus before!"
Inside the bus, which had full-view glass so you could see every corner, with a cute, open-mouthed lion character painted on the side. Joo Yeoeun, 30, three years my senior, had returned to a state of perfect childhood innocence, looking around from the car as it slowly toured the safari.
She’d only ridden the thrilling ones until now, but she looked around with the nuance that this wasn't bad either. She fussed around in the window seat, looking at her surroundings, then whispered,
"Honey, did you like animals? Do you happen to raise a dog or a cat?"
"Well... I don't raise any, and I'm not crazy about animals either."
"? Then why the safari, of all things?"
Turning her body, which had been leaning toward the window, toward me,
"You said *you* really wanted to go, right?"
The reason I chose the safari was simple. Actually, the reason is as big as what you see. For one, I’d been walking around so much that my lower body muscles were a bit sore. I needed to lower the tempo a bit after matching her high-tension energy all morning.
"Actually..."
And next. This was actually my personal and biggest goal. I hesitated a bit because it was embarrassing to say it directly. I scratched my cheek, wondering if I should just brush it off, then tossed it out nonchalantly.
"I... I wanted to sit next to Yeoeun..."
Honestly, that was it. Walking around quickly was nice, but I wanted to sit still for a long time and look at her more from the side. I wanted to feel it while looking at her more. I wanted to observe her appearance, dressed up for today, more than the loose animals. If I went a step further, I wanted to monopolize her. The reason I insisted on the safari was that kind of childish, dark desire.
"Ah! It's a lion, a lion!"
But then, she suddenly turned her neck. It wasn't a quiet whisper, so she definitely should have heard me, but she quickly turned her gaze to the window.
"Hmm, it really feels different seeing it in person right in front of your nose, doesn't it?"
"Y-Yeah! It does..."
It was a nuance of intentionally changing the subject. She’d asked for the reason first, only to pretend she hadn't heard it.
"...It really is different seeing it in person."
I didn't know what she was thinking, but I agreed and let it slide. Regardless, I just liked the time we were spending together, so I chimed in and looked out the clear front window. It must have been the lion zone, as a few lionesses and one male lion were grooming each other while keeping their distance.
...Look at them all sprawled out. They've got it made.
The lions just did their own thing even as the car drove around. They ignored the noisy car as if it were just a part of their daily life. Even when we stopped completely to watch, there was no change, but—
"Grrr..."
"...?"
The male lion, with its magnificent mane, suddenly shook its head wildly and stood up. Soon, it sniffed the scent of a lioness that had been curled up nearby, and then—
Thump! Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!
"...Eek?!"
"Oh my?"
The male lion climbed onto the lioness from behind and... began to move its hips. It was blatantly moving its hips, showing 100% that it was *that* kind of act. One moment they were just sprawled out, and the next, they were suddenly sharing love. Whether it was a special performance for tourists or not, they were proving they were the kings of the savanna in that very way.
-Oh my, oh my, oh my!
-G-Goodness...
-Close your eyes! Don't look!
The bus, filled with families out for a cute animal tour, was in immediate chaos. Families with sons and daughters covered their children's eyes, and the other adults turned their heads, pretending not to see.
"..."
"..."
However, Yeoeun stared at them intently. I stared at Yeoeun’s profile.
"Grrr, grrr-grrr."
"Krrng♥"
After finishing their business for quite a long time, the male and female lions groomed each other as if love were blossoming between them. She seemed intrigued by this scene, which was difficult to see in person. Yeoeun watched until the very end without wavering once, then slowly turned her head.
Hehehe♥
There was no shyness to be found on that face. It was just a face full of intent to tease. She leaned in close to my ear with that lovely face,
'The lion here is bolder than someone else♥ Isn't it?'
"..."
After whispering that, she giggled. Was that overflowing charm from our first meeting an innate instinct? She was teasing me from the side.
...Her lips are so glossy.
Even so, it was good. When she giggled like she was teasing me, my eyes were just intoxicated by that smile. Even if it made me seem like a pervert, every time I caught her breath while we were close, my dark desires rose even higher. I was starting to like her more and more. As time went on, I became even greedier.
After touring the safari, it took more time than I thought, and the sun was already setting. Even though the sun had set, it was still far from closing time, and there was even a parade with brilliant lights in the evening, but we left the amusement park early at this point. We’d covered almost half the park, and since we’d been walking around since the morning, we were reaching our limits. We decided to run the rest tomorrow and headed to the hotel we’d booked in advance.
"Did we really need to come for a 1-night, 2-day trip?"
"Since we took the time to come, we have to play properly! It’s inconvenient to go back and forth since the distance is far, right?"
...She really did want to play properly.
She’d suggested we stay for two days and one night, and it seemed she just genuinely wanted to play. She was burning with determination in front of the hotel counter, saying she’d ride everything we couldn't today tomorrow morning. By the way, the money spent today, including the street food, was covered by the card sent by Yeoeun’s father. Even when I tried to contribute my own money, she adamantly refused, saying, "Since Dad arranged the meeting, Dad has to take responsibility until the end."
"Hey... I really think I should pay for half the accommodation at least."
"I told you that's not happening. I have a separate card Dad gave me."
I scratched the back of my head at her ironclad defense,
"No... still, you must have booked two single rooms, so I feel bad. I’d feel more comfortable if I paid for half."
"Hmm?"
Yeoeun turned around, slightly surprised at that. Her long eyelashes blinked as if asking what on earth I was talking about.
"...?"
I felt something ominous in this part. Soon, the corners of her mouth stretched wide, foreshadowing a bombshell statement.
"I booked a studio room for us to share, obviously?"
"...Eh?"
"Well, it’s much more economical to stay together if we want to save on room costs, right?"
"...........................................What?"
That’s what she said. She let out such an absurd statement. It was only yesterday that we promised to start as friends. She waved the card key she’d received from the staff with a sly look and delivered the final blow with a giggle.
"Since we're friends, it's fine, right?"
She leaned her shoulder... and more than that, against me. Pretending it was an accident, she brushed her chest against my shoulder and smiled.
"..."
"Hehehe♥"
It had begun. Today's big event was scheduled to take place not at the amusement park, but at the hotel.