Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Amusement Park Fake-Out
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I figured he'd make some excuse about the watcher and come at me pretending to kiss again.
But surprisingly, the guy was on his best behavior.
He just clung tightly to my forearm without saying a word.
Scared stiff?
Finally, it was our turn.
The safety bar clamped down hard on my thighs.
"I've ridden this at Everland, but it's my first time on Lotte World's."
"Me too."
With the start signal, the coaster shot forward.
72 kilometers per hour.
It hit top speed in an instant.
The roller coaster tore across the lake like a bat out of hell.
Steeep climbs, plunging drops, hairpin turns assaulted us nonstop.
Screams and chaos erupted from the seats ahead and behind.
But the two of us just stared straight ahead, unfazed.
The wind tousled our hair a bit, but our expressions didn't change.
We arrived.
"Boring."
"Yeah. Everland's scarier."
"Let's check out something else besides rides."
We pushed through the crowds.
Somewhere, the greasy, sweet smell of fried dough assaulted my nose.
A churro stand.
The moment she caught the scent, she bolted over and bought some.
She took a bite of the freshly fried churro and suddenly thrust it at me.
"Ahh~ Try it."
I'm not one to turn down free food.
I chomped down right where she'd bitten without a second thought.
Crunch.
Sugar dusted my lips.
"...Huh?"
Sea’s eyes went wide.
"Y-You... That's where I just...!"
"So? Did you poison it or something?"
"No, not that... I-Indirect..."
She stammered.
"Indirect? Oh! Indirect kiss?"
I mumbled around the bite.
"Hey. We've already tangled tongues..."
Thwack! Thwack!
"Ow! Why'd you hit me? I didn't do anything! You shoved it in that day!"
I got smacked senseless on the back, totally clueless.
"Shut up! Please!"
Sea clapped a hand over my mouth, startled.
People nearby glanced over.
Anyone watching would think I'd said something outrageous.
She huffed and puffed with a flushed face, storming ahead.
I rubbed my stinging back and followed.
We wandered the crowds for about ten minutes.
Then, a cheerful pop-pop-pop caught my ear.
A shooting gallery.
Sea's eyes lit up at the massive bear plush on display.
"I want that one."
She grabbed the gun confidently.
But the results were disastrous.
The pellets sliced through empty air instead of the targets.
"This gun's busted! It doesn't hit where I aim!"
Didn't seem off to me.
Finally losing patience, I stepped behind her.
"Move. Your form's all wrong."
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and elbows from behind.
It unintentionally turned into a back hug.
The moment my chest pressed against her back, her shoulders stiffened.
"Grip it firm like this. Hold your breath..."
My lips nearly brushed her ear.
I murmured low, focused solely on the shot.
"Inhale... hold it. Don't breathe when you fire."
"H-Huh, okay... W-Wait, Dojin. Your breath on my ear..."
"Not concentrating? Barrel's shaking. Don't pull your hips back—brace with your lower body."
I tapped her hip to correct her stance.
"Eek?!"
Her body jerked like she'd been shocked.
Soon, she melted against me, leaning her full weight into my arms.
"Hey, you're heavy. Leaning on purpose?"
"N-No... My legs gave out..."
I could feel her heartbeat pounding through her back.
Tense?
Makes sense—beginners get spooked by the shots.
Pop, pop.
In the end, her pellets hit the wrong wall.
"Ugh, no good!"
She set the gun down, face red.
"You're good with guns in games. Win it for me."
"Mouse and real guns are different, but..."
I took the gun she'd used.
"I'll give it a shot."
The light plastic feel of a toy gun.
But as I shouldered it, my stance settled naturally.
Sights aligned perfectly.
Vision narrowed, noise faded.
Hold breath.
Pop.
The first target flipped back with a sharp crack.
The spring's recoil tingled in my fingertips.
Riding that subtle feedback, I slid the barrel to the next.
Pop, pop, pop.
Steady rhythm, like a music game.
Each shot dropped a target effortlessly.
"Whoa... insane."
"Every single one?"
Onlookers murmured.
The final target had a hole dead center.
Perfect score.
The booth kid chuckled awkwardly and pulled the biggest bear from the shelf.
Nearly half my size.
I took it and shoved it into her arms.
"Here."
Sea hugged the bear plush tight.
Her face buried in its fur.
"Hee hee..."
Grinning like a fool.
Then she looked up at me.
Our eyes met.
She beamed.
A pure, childlike smile.
"Thanks, Dojin."
Something zinged faintly in my chest.
What was that?
Maybe the bright weather.
Her face looked way too radiant.
Meanwhile.
Sea was actually in a pretty tangled state right now.
She wanted some skinship, somehow.
But memories of that forced movie class fiasco made her cheeks burn.
That wasn't it.
Couldn't force it like before.
Had to be natural. Super natural.
But now there was a problem.
This bear plush.
She'd greedily asked for the big one.
But hugging it blocked her entire view.
Weighed down, she wobbled along.
Watching her, Dojin clicked his tongue.
"Hey. Gimme."
"Huh? No, I can carry it! It's mine!"
Dojin ignored her and snatched the bear.
Gripped its scruff one-handed like luggage.
"Tch... You're choking our Bear Doll..."
Smoothly.
She slipped into his free arm.
"Hey. Hot. Back off a bit."
"Nope. Getting chilly as night falls."
She rested her arm on his like a pillow and grinned.
The sun had set, darkness blanketing everything.
As night deepened,
we boarded the Ferris wheel for our last ride.
A tight, enclosed space.
Silence flowed.
Dojin plopped the bear beside him.
Suddenly, he addressed the plush.
"Bear Doll happy riding with Daddy?"
"Who’s Daddy?"
"You won it cool-like. Wasn’t bought or fried."
Dojin gaped like he’d choked.
"Hey! Lights flashing—get in here. Shit! Shut up before I toss it."
"Why toss our baby."
"Hey, it’s a doll. Don’t make it creepy."
"Dolls have names. Yoon Bok-sul."
"Why my surname! Use yours... Wait."
Dojin ducked his head like he’d spotted something.
Finger to lips, he leaned close to Sea.
"Wh-What? What's up?"
"Hey, check the people behind us."
"Huh?"
"Black suit, sunglasses guy. Been staring our way."
I checked out the window behind.
Clear as day.
Man in the next gondola.
Black suit, black sunglasses, bushy mustache.
A shady middle-aged dude staring us down.
Suspicious as hell.
No way.
But Sea nodded quickly anyway.
Real or not, didn’t matter.
Perfect chance to sell the lie harder.
"Oh? Y-Yeah... He is! Totally!"
"Perfect timing. Great angle to show off."
Dojin twisted to block my view.
His shadow fell over me.
"Let’s kiss here."
"K-Kiss?"
My heart dropped, then pounded wildly.
Dojin backed me to the window.
Thud.
Cold glass hit my back.
Nowhere to run.
The wheel creaked to a halt at the top.
Sealed off from the world in this tiny box.
Our faces inches apart, breaths mingling.
Dojin tilted my chin up gently.
His fingertips burned like fire.
Head spun.
Pupils shook on their own.
Is he for real?
We’d done it before, but this felt different.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Lips parted slightly on instinct.
Do it.
Huh?
But instead of lips, rough hands on my crown.
Ruffle.
"Angle’s such that the hair covers it—looks like a kiss. Good?"
Dojin tousled my bangs wildly, then pulled back without regret.
I opened my eyes blankly.
Just Yoon Dojin’s impassive face.
"...Huh?"
Taut shoulders slumped.
My racing heart deflated emptily.
He didn’t care about my reaction.
Turned sharp-eyed to the window—straight at the gondola behind.
"See? Sunglasses dude nodded."
"Totally fooled."
Dojin grinned, mission accomplished.
......Wow.
This jerk.
Just faking it to fool the mustache shades?
Ah.
Deep frustration welled up.
We got home.
My fingers trembled faintly punching the door code.
Beep.
Door swung open—I leaned back against it without even kicking off my shoes.
Legs buckled.
Slide.
I sank straight to the floor.
"...Haa."
Held breath burst out.
Heart hammered like it’d crack my ribs.
Back in the gondola.
Acted cool, but I was losing it.
Her skin under my fingertips.
Trembling lashes.
Parted red lips.
Sweet breath rising to my chin.
Crazy bastard.
I raked my hair roughly.
Honestly.
I wanted to touch for real.
That split second, nearly snapped—but barely held back.
I stared at my right hand.
Her chin’s feel lingered vividly.
Palm burned.
No illusions. This is fake dating.
Damn.
I staggered to my room.
"...Shower. Cold water."
A penthouse study overlooking Seoul’s glittering nightscape.
A file envelope thudded onto the heavy mahogany desk.
Thump.
The man removed his black sunglasses.
Peeled off the itchy fake mustache, shoving it aside.
His revealed eyes were cold and sharp.
And somewhere, they resembled Han Sea’s.
He pulled out a few photos from the envelope.
Pics of Dojin and Sea from all day.
His gaze stopped on the last one.
Ferris wheel interior.
High-res shot of Dojin roughly pinning Sea to the window.
He tapped the glossy desk with his index finger.
"Interesting."
His low voice echoed in the silent study.