Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Amusement Park
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Today was a special day.
Unlike Na-young's heartfelt cuteness, my utterly soulless and pathetic attempt at aegyo had somehow convinced Mom and Dad to carve out time from their busy schedules and join us at the amusement park.
"Wow...!"
Na-young, who had only just started wearing her school uniform, was still nothing more than an innocent kid who loved playing above all else. The moment she laid eyes on the massive entrance to the amusement park—brimming with dreams and hopes—her own eyes sparkled with wonder and awe.
"Haha. If I'd known you'd be this excited, I would've made time sooner."
"You're right."
Mom and Dad seemed happier than expected.
Setting aside the joy of finally taking the daughter they'd always wanted on a family trip, they had been buried in work due to the company's explosive growth. Now that they'd finally snagged some vacation time, it was only natural.
The rift that work had driven between the couple was already mending before I could even intervene. They were glued to each other, with no intention of letting go.
I suddenly remembered they were that lovey-dovey couple—enough to make others envious, or even embarrass me.
They didn't need my help at all; they were clearly going to have a satisfying time on their own.
"Ji-hoon! Hurry! Come on!"
Na-young grabbed my hand and tugged me along, desperate to get inside the park as soon as possible.
No matter how much she rushed me, Dad was still at the ticket booth buying our tickets. We couldn't go in without them.
"Alright, alright. Let's head in!"
Dad looked like he'd regressed to his innocent childhood, his face beaming with a boyish grin as he dashed toward the entrance with Na-young.
Of course, since she was holding my hand too, I got dragged along for the ride.
"Everland, the land of fantasy..."
"Here you go!"
Even as the staff member flashed a bright smile and recited her greeting, Dad handed over the tickets.
"Y-yes, sir..."
The adult momentarily froze at the sight of another grown man acting like a kid in front of children, but as a seasoned employee, she quickly softened her stiffened smile and handed over the VIP unlimited-ride wristbands.
"Thank you!"
"Sigh... Who'd ever guess that man's the chairman of a massive conglomerate?"
Mom sighed and shook her head.
Dad had risen to become the chairman of a colossal group, swallowing up big and small companies that went bankrupt in the wake of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis. Yet there wasn't a shred of dignity about him now.
I had to admit, I was curious too.
Managing a conglomerate was one thing, but surely he couldn't show that side of himself. Didn't he need to project dignity, resolve, and competence to keep his subordinates in line?
That was my purely personal take, anyway.
Think about it. If the president showed up at an amusement park and bounced around like an excited kid, would the public really love it?
"Na-young! What do you want to do first?"
"Hmm! Um!"
Na-young fell deep into thought at Dad's question.
"Haha! Take your time picking!"
Our family had bought VIP unlimited-ride passes, so there was no need to wait in lines.
No standing at the back of those endless peak-season queues.
We could leisurely choose what to ride and still hit almost every attraction in this vast park without delay.
"Definitely Y Express!"
"Ah... Y Express."
Dad's eyes twitched nervously.
"Ji-hoon."
"Yes."
"Your mom and I will look around elsewhere, so go ride Y Express with Na-young."
He was scared.
Dad was infamous for being timid, so it wasn't surprising.
"Got it."
How scary could it be, anyway? It was all the same.
Before my regression, I'd ridden Y Express so many times at amusement parks that I was sick of it.
Though coming here only twice on school trips was a pretty big flaw in that logic.
"Hurry! Hurry!"
She yanked my arm, urging me on like it was a race.
I could have resisted, but there was no reason to, so I followed her willingly toward Y Express.
"Whoa... the line's huge!"
It was a holiday during peak season, so the queue stretched forever.
But right next to it was an empty entrance.
It looked like "staff only," yet regular visitors were slipping in one by one.
That must be it.
"Let's go."
"Yeah!"
I led Na-young to the empty entrance.
"May I see your tickets?"
The staff member spoke politely, even to a young customer like her.
"Yes~ You can go right in~ Have a great time~!"
One look at our distinctly different VIP unlimited-ride passes, and she waved us through.
"We don't have to wait?"
"Of course not. VIP perks."
Those passes cost ten times more than regular ones. Without benefits like this, no one would buy them.
We strolled past the envious stares from the packed queue, where people stood endlessly waiting.
Soon, we climbed the stairs into the building.
Just then, a train rolled in along the rails.
Riders stumbled off, hair whipped back, looking dangerously unsteady.
"Perfect timing~! It just arrived, so you can hop right on~!"
We boarded under the guidance of a staff member whose bright smile and cheery tone looked exhausting to maintain.
"Haha. Haha. I'm nervous. You, Ji-hoon?"
"Me too."
Even after riding it twice before, this tension was hard to describe.
Fear and excitement swirled together.
"Safety bar coming down~!"
Soon after the bar locked, the train lurched forward.
"Hehe. Ji-hoon, should we hold hands?"
"Yeah..."
As I clasped Na-young's hand and my gaze drifted upward, a wave of regret hit me.
Should I have bailed like Dad? Sure, I'd ridden it as a student, but that was nearly ten years ago—no roller coasters or rides since.
Gulp.
My male pride had gotten me on, but now I wanted to flee.
"Ugh, uuuugh...!"
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Oblivious to my turmoil, Na-young gripped my hand tight and laughed happily.
"Uwaaaah!"
We climbed to the peak, then plummeted.
Wind sliced across my face, wrinkling it, roaring in my ears.
"Haaah... haah...! I-is it... over...?"
We arrived at the station in a flash, the train grinding to a halt.
It had felt eternally long—like one second stretched to ten—but now it seemed like chunks of time had vanished.
"Hahaha! Haha! Ji-hoon, that was fun. So fun, right?"
"Y-yeah... fun..."
My legs wobbled.
As soon as we stepped off, I tensed them to stop the shaking.
Forcing a calm expression, I nodded at Na-young.
"Wanna go again?"
"......"
Anything but that.
I used to ride it fine before... or did I? Anyway, twice was my limit; doing it again might actually kill me. I shook my head vigorously at her suggestion.
Na-young pouted in disappointment.
Truth be told, I was too scared to go again, but my pride wouldn't let me admit it.
"Na-young, we've got tons more to ride. We can't just do this one. Let's try everything else first, and if there's time, we can come back."
"Ah...! Right!"
She beamed instantly, as if the pout had never happened.
"Ji-hoon, what next? What should we ride?!"
She bounced around, shouting at me.
The scariest ride here was Y Express, so anything else should be fine.
Nothing looked worse.
"Ah! Haunted House! Let's go there!"
Scratch that.
Why was the Haunted House right by the exit?
I sighed, then sighed again at Na-young's sparkling eyes.
No escaping this.
Resigned, I followed her into the Haunted House.
They usually charged extra, but our VIP passes got us right in.
"Eek?!"
Darkness swallowed us the moment we entered.
A few steps in, a ghost doll jumped out, and a scream erupted.
Funny thing—it came from me.
"Ahaha. Ji-hoon, look at this. So well-made, right?"
Na-young, fearless, poked it to feel the texture. I was amazed.
Even knowing it was fake, my body trembled in shame.
"Eek?! Ack?! Kyaa!"
This was backwards.
She should be the scared one clinging to me.
Instead, I was the one screaming and sticking to her.
"Ji-hoon scared like this is too cute... Ah...! Oh, not here~!"
Wanting more of my unusual reaction, Na-young awkwardly changed direction.
"N-not there...!"
"Tch..."
Desperate to escape, I pointed out the right path.
She clicked her tongue in regret and followed it.
"Ji-hoon, wanna go again?"
"No."
"Hng..."
Finally out of the Haunted House. Na-young begged to go once more, but I refused flat-out.