41. We went to the carnival (3)
41. We went to the carnival (3)
While waiting in the line that had formed on the stairs to ride the water slide, So-jeong felt a renewed sense of wonder as she gazed at the amusement park scenery visible from the steps.
Though several years had already passed since the day Baek-seol first brought her to this amusement park, the memories of that day still remained vivid wherever So-jeong's eyes fell.
Even though Baek-seol herself must have been unfamiliar with such places, her expression as she blindly dragged So-jeong around everywhere flickered before her eyes.
The sensation of the winds that had brushed against her cheeks while riding various attractions that day still seemed to linger on So-jeong's cheeks, but the memory most deeply etched in her mind from their first trip together was undoubtedly Baek-seol herself.
From the look in Baek-seol's eyes, from the trembling she felt in the hand holding hers.
So-jeong could feel more keenly than any words how much Baek-seol cherished her.
No one else - not her parents, not anyone at school - had cherished her, but Baek-seol had looked out for her.
"......"
So-jeong glanced at Baek-seol, who was also waiting her turn beside her.
Though just looking at Baek-seol's current indifferent expression, it wasn't easy to recall that day's expression.
"I'm looking forward to the water slide."
At So-jeong's words, Baek-seol turned her head.
"Yeah."
"Is this your first time coming here since that time too, Baek-seol?"
"Yeah."
"Other amusement parks too?"
"I don't really come to places like this normally."
"Ahaha, well, that doesn't really fit your image anyway, Baek-seol."
Though neither had intended it, So-jeong and Baek-seol had hardly spoken about that day they went to the amusement park together since it happened.
The events before going to the amusement park were too painful memories for So-jeong, and Baek-seol, knowing this, had likely avoided the topic.
But now, So-jeong found herself naturally talking about that day.
Time was a better medicine than So-jeong had thought.
"But Baek-seol."
"Yeah?"
"If you don't normally come to places like amusement parks, why did you bring me here that day?"
"......"
Baek-seol opened her eyes wider and sharper as she turned her gaze.
Though she pretended to look angry, after a moment she answered in a voice barely audible.
"......I don't know. I remembered a commercial I saw on TV back then."
"So that's what it was."
It was the moment a small curiosity she'd held for so long was finally resolved.
"It was good."
"What was?"
"That you took me there back then. Thanks to that, I felt much better emotionally."
"Why bring that up now......"
"Hehe, just because. I don't think I ever properly thanked you for taking me there."
So-jeong pressed herself closer to Baek-seol. Baek-seol flinched and stiffened for a moment, but So-jeong, who was pulling a pamphlet from her handbag, didn't notice.
"Where should we go after the water slide this time? This time, you choose somewhere you want to go, Baek-seol."
"I don't really have anywhere......"
"Aw, come on. You're visiting an amusement park for the first time in a while too, right?"
Baek-seol silently watched So-jeong for a moment, who was pressed tightly against her arm while pointing at the pamphlet and looking up at her.
Though something soft and squishy was touching her arm, So-jeong didn't seem to mind at all.
"Hmm?"
Her bright expression asking where she wanted to go next was quite different from when they had visited here before, making Baek-seol feel fortunate.
But on the other hand, she also felt anxiety that such times might not come again after today.
Keeping the sincere feelings she would reveal to So-jeong today still buried in her heart, Baek-seol accepted the pamphlet So-jeong offered.
No particular ride particularly caught Baek-seol's interest. However, just thinking about riding any ride with So-jeong made her want to try every attraction at least once.
Knowing So-jeong would keep asking if she said 'anything,' Baek-seol picked one of the attractions from the pamphlet.
"Next group, please~"
Around that time, the guide ushered So-jeong and Baek-seol into a large log-shaped boat.
"Uh, ugh...... I'm suddenly feeling nervous."
So-jeong spoke from inside the boat that swayed slightly as it moved along the water channel.
"At least we're sitting in the back so we won't get drenched."
Beside So-jeong, Baek-seol brushed her hand over the seat to confirm it was dry as she spoke.
The water slide, which had been changing directions here and there along the channel, now climbed a steep incline along the rail.
"Huuuaaa......"
Watching the people below grow smaller and smaller, So-jeong let out a faint sound.
"Are you okay?"
Baek-seol gently took So-jeong's slightly trembling hand.
"Ah, ahaha, we're going higher than I thought...... It would be really scary if we fell."
With a stiff face, So-jeong still managed a smile and tightly gripped Baek-seol's hand in return.
"If I were riding alone, I might have fainted from fear by now."
The slide was gradually approaching the end of the incline. The impending drop and the fact they couldn't escape it heightened the tension.
"Are you okay, Baek-seol?"
"Yeah," Baek-seol answered immediately.
"But I might not have been able to ride this without you either."
"Ahaha, but your face looks completely calm."
The front of the slide crossed over the peak of the incline. The screams of the people in the front seats echoed from afar.
With a very tense face, So-jeong gripped Baek-seol's hand tightly.
The water slide, having reached the top, felt like it stopped for a very brief moment.
All that was visible around the high-up boat was the blue afternoon sky and the person sitting next to her.
In that brief moment, So-jeong felt Baek-seol gently pull her hand toward herself.
Baek-seol wasn't looking at the downhill path ahead or the tiny surrounding scenery, but at So-jeong.
So-jeong knew Baek-seol was silently telling her that it would be less scary if she closed her eyes in her embrace.
But So-jeong shook her head slightly and looked forward.
"......"
Then Baek-seol stopped pulling So-jeong's hand toward herself and looked forward along with her.
The water slide tilted forward.
The surrounding scenery blurred momentarily as wind noisily whipped past their ears.
Gripped by the unfamiliar speed, So-jeong held tightly to Baek-seol's hand.
Even in that moment of complete uncertainty, she could clearly feel the warmth coming from her hand.
***
"Ueeeh......"
"......You rode it just fine without any problems."
Baek-seol spoke with a voice mixed with worry and disbelief as she looked at So-jeong, who was still slumped dizzily on the bench even after she returned with warm tea from the convenience store.
The moment So-jeong got off the water slide, her legs trembled and she staggered. She ended up half-leaning on Baek-seol before barely managing to regain her composure on a nearby bench.
"Here, take this."
"Th, thank you...... Hooah."
After Baek-seol opened the lid, So-jeong took a sip of the steaming tea and let out a deep sigh, seeming to calm down a little.
"This was my first time riding something like that...... It was scarier than I thought."
"You probably shouldn't ride rollercoasters then."
"Ahaha...... But it was fun."
So-jeong took another sip of tea and looked at the high rollercoaster tracks towering in the distance.
"The rollercoaster is the most famous ride here, wouldn't it be a shame not to ride it?"
"Will you be okay? It'll be faster and you'll drop from higher than this one."
"I'll need to rest a bit first...... but I think I'll be okay."
So-jeong stood up from her seat and stood next to Baek-seol again.
"I want to have as much fun as possible today."
And true to her word, So-jeong busily moved her feet as if intending to enjoy every ride in the vast amusement park.
After lunch, they enjoyed lighter rides like the carousel, and when their stomachs had settled somewhat (So-jeong had repeatedly emphasized that it might be dangerous on a full stomach), they challenged the rollercoaster.
As a result, they needed to rest for several times longer than after the water slide, but Baek-seol didn't mind much, thinking that So-jeong, who had weak stamina anyway, needed the rest.
Sitting on a bench in a small garden where tulips bloomed beautifully, So-jeong and Baek-seol chatted about various things while enjoying the colorful hues of the flowers.
The blue sky and white clouds were slowly changing to golden, fiery sunset colors around the time So-jeong and Baek-seol visited the zoo within the amusement park and emerged.
"It's already this late."
Baek-seol said as she checked her watch.
"Closing time must be soon, right?"
"Ah."
So-jeong reacted to the mention of closing time.
"Hey, Baek-seol."
"Yeah?"
"Before we go...... should we ride one last thing?"
"Uh, yeah."
Baek-seol nodded, slightly puzzled by So-jeong's suddenly nervous appearance.
"What do you want to ride?"
In response to Baek-seol's question, So-jeong pointed with her finger to the very center of the amusement park, at a large wheel-shaped attraction.
"The Ferris wheel."
"Yeah. I really wanted to ride that last. And......"
Trailing off her words slightly, So-jeong glanced up at Baek-seol.
"I have something...... I want to say."
Only then did Baek-seol realize why So-jeong had suddenly become nervous.
This special place the two had come to at So-jeong's suggestion.
Baek-seol vaguely knew that So-jeong had something important she absolutely wanted to tell her today.
"......"
And coincidentally, holding equally important words herself, Baek-seol also felt her chest tighten slightly.
The march music echoing faintly through the amusement park was playing a slightly nostalgic melody in time with the closing hour.