Water Park (3)
Thud-!
“Kyaaaaah!”
A scream echoed from above as a shadowy figure whooshed through the tube pipe. Since the pipe was made of thin plastic, those of us waiting in line below could see it all crystal clear. It felt just like standing under the guillotine.
Thud-!
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Another unidentified crash, and yet one more person plummeted down.
Squeeze. Aqua’s grip tightened on my arm.
[……What in the world is that hollow thudding sound?]
Aqua asked in a trembling voice. Gone was the bravado from moments ago; now she looked utterly terrified.
“……Beats me.”
I wanted to reassure her, but honestly, I was scared too.
What the hell was I thinking, chasing glory to ride this thing?
I wanted to smack the cocky me from ten minutes ago, the one who’d charged in yelling that it’d be fine, that no one dies on this ride.
“Hoo……”
Jang Gilsan shook his head at the sight of us.
But we didn’t even have time to worry about that.
Thud!
“HyaAAAAH!”
At that scream, I instinctively pulled Aqua close. She leaned into me even harder, her eyes wide with fear.
The people in line ahead and behind us lost it.
“Hey, hey, check that out.”
“What? The spirit’s actually shaking in fear from this?”
“Crazy cute, for real.”
“I wanna go hug her.”
We exchanged glances. And in that shared terror, we found a strange comfort.
Gathering my courage, I asked, “Hey, Aqua. Should we just bail?”
Aqua was about to nod eagerly when an undine came trotting up out of nowhere. The timing was so ghostly perfect, it made me sigh in exasperation.
[Lady Aqua, you’re here to ride this too?]
The undine had been lining up higher up with her contractor. Aqua hurriedly schooled her panicked face.
[O-of course!]
[Wooow! I love this one! It’s so fun!]
[F-fun……?]
[How many times has Lady Aqua ridden it? I’ve done it twice!]
To look dignified, Aqua even let out a hearty “Uhahaha!”
[This is my fourth time today alone! Uh, uhahaha! I wish there was something even more thril-, thrilling!]
[As expected of Lady Aqua!]
[To the number one rider in the Spirit Realm, this is ab-, absolutely nothing!]
[Even the unicorns would be proud!]
The undine chattered a bit more before heading back to her spot. Her contractor gave me a thumbs-up like, “You got this.”
The moment they turned away, we both sighed in unison.
[If I die, make sure to send me out to sea.]
“Hear that, Gilsan? Dump me in the Samcheok waters too.”
“……Just go home, you cowards.”
We shuffled forward like lambs to the slaughter, utterly limp.
Why did time fly when you wished it wouldn’t? Before we knew it, we were prepped to board.
Our turn came, and the staff said, “Spirit contractor, please hold your spirit tight in your arms! Otherwise, you might both get hurt!”
[Hurt’s the least of it?]
“Pardon?”
[N-nothing.]
True to Phoenix Resort’s spirit-friendly vibe, the staff didn’t bat an eye.
“Step over here and stand inside!”
We followed into the upright tube—like a coffin, literally.
[Wh-what is this? Where’s the slide?]
Before I could explain to the panicking Aqua, the staff slammed the lid shut above us.
“Okay, 3-second countdown and we’re off!”
[Hic!]
Aqua hiccuped and burrowed into my chest. All I could do was hug her tight.
Outside, the executioner boomed the count.
“3, 2, 1!”
Each number shaved years off my life. I gave Aqua one last squeeze.
Thud!
In that instant, I finally got what the sound was. The floor dropping out.
The bottom vanished, and for a split second, we hung in midair. An eternity in a blink.
Then gravity yanked us mercilessly down.
“Hng……!”
[Ng……!]
We couldn’t even scream as the plunge began.
Right below the tube, a pipe awaited. Gravity and the twists hurled us wildly through the coils.
At the end, the slide spat us out like chewed gum into the water.
After gravity shredded us to bits, we floated limply, half-dead.
“Hey. Wake up.”
We were still dazed when Jang Gilsan, who’d gone next, poked us.
“You okay?”
He offered a concerned hand. I ignored it and shot up. Aqua did too.
We locked eyes and yelled together.
“That was fun!”
[So fun!]
Jang Gilsan’s outstretched hand clenched into a fist.
“I’m the idiot for worrying……”
I hoisted Aqua onto my shoulders and jumped up.
“One more?”
[Totally!]
“Let’s go!”
We charged back at the ride.
* * *
While we played, Mandu lounged on a sunbed with Jang Gilsan’s secretary, soaking up rays.
After four straight rides, as we approached, the secretary bolted upright.
“Young master, you’re back.”
“Lie down. It’s a rare vacation—rest up.”
“No, sir. I’ve rested plenty.”
Mandu scurried up to my shoulder. Still a baby spirit, we’d left him behind in case the ride was too risky.
[Did you rest well, Mandu?]
Mandu hopped to Aqua’s shoulder and flicked his tongue.
[Heeheehee! We missed you!]
We headed to the cabana we’d borrowed earlier for a break.
[Ooh! Sunscreen! Gimme some!]
I handed Aqua the lotion. She squirted some into her palm and slathered it on Mandu’s back.
[Don’t burn! You wanna turn from red lizard to blue undine like one of them?]
Aqua diligently coated his back and limbs. Mandu, loving the attention, squeezed his eyes shut and went limp.
“Snack time.”
Jang Gilsan rolled up the cabana flap, arms full of drinks and treats with his secretary.
Crash—snacks piled onto the table.
I eyed the mountain with mild nausea.
“How long ago did we eat, and you got this much more?”
“They don’t seem to care.”
I glanced down. Aqua and Mandu were crawling toward the pile.
[Ice cream!]
Aqua snatched a marble ice cream. ‘Appetite incarnate.’
I shook my head with a small smile, popped the lid, and handed her a tiny spoon.
[Nom!]
Aqua scooped a big bite. It melted instantly, sizzle.
She beamed blissfully.
[Delicious!]
Mandu peeked in curiously from her hand. She fed him a spoonful too.
[Chit!]
Loving it, his eyes curved into crescents.
Jang Gilsan and I munched hot dogs slowly, watching.
I finally got what “full just watching” meant.
After devouring everything, Aqua flopped down and rolled into me.
Boing—she bounced off with a soft thud.
[Giggle!]
Playtime and treats had her in high spirits.
I scooped her up. Her cool body temp lifted my mood too.
She gazed up sparklingly.
[The human world has sooo many tasty things!]
“Yeah?”
[I get why spirits visit every day!]
“That marble ice cream was that good?”
[As good as cola!]
To her, cola was the gold standard.
I chuckled. “I’ll buy more.”
[Promise!]
She stuck out her hand, pinky extended—the “human promise” I’d taught her.
“Haha, yeah, promise.”
We fist-bumped and hooked pinkies. Her tiny fist meant thumbs barely touched my index, but it was enough.
“I’ll buy whatever you want.”
[Heehee!]
She held on forever.
* * *
Snacks done, we hit the wave pool.
[Totally different from last night!]
Crowded as ever—top attraction for sure.
[Ooh! Undines!]
Lots of spirits, but water undines dominated. Some were resort-hired by contractors.
They amped waves higher, spun whirlpools—guests went wild.
[Let’s join!]
Aqua manipulated water to zip us deep in.
[Lady Aqua!]
[It’s Lady Aqua!]
[I felt your aura!]
Undines mobbed her with cheers.
[How’ve you all been?]
[It’s been ages!]
[Here to play too?]
They eyed Mandu.
[Whoa! Baby salamander!]
[Cute!]
As Aqua chattered with them—
[Shut it, undines!]
Three sylphs dive-bombed from the sky, hovering over the pool. Jeong Ri-on’s sylphs.
They grinned wickedly down at Aqua.
[Time for sweet revenge……!]
[We’ve waited for this!]
[We lost once, but we won’t yield. The final victor wins in the end!]
[Because it’s final.]
[Today, we awaken the black gale within!]
Confused undines slowly arrayed behind Aqua.
[…….]
[…….]
Tension crackled between sylphs and undines. Eerie calm before the storm, tiny spirits radiating battle intent—sweat beaded on my temple.
Lick. Mandu flicked his tongue.
Gulp. Jang Gilsan swallowed.
Elemental power surged from both sides—simultaneously.