Chapter 24: The 'Kim Taeyang & Lee Yuyeong' Line (2)
“We’re here!!”
“It’s the amusement park!!”
“Heh heh, you two seem pretty excited.”
“Haa~”
At the amusement park entrance, Iri noona and Yuyeong raised their arms and shouted. My white noona—Hayan—seemed totally unfazed next to them, but I was embarrassed. What the hell are they doing with all these people around?
Luckily, most folks nearby were hyped up too, so they just glanced over without making a big deal.
“Alright, let’s go!”
“I wanna hit the Slide Drop first!”
“I heard the roller coaster lines are packed too!”
“……”
“Taeyang, wanna ride the merry-go-round with noona?”
“Yeah.”
Better to get treated like a kid than deal with that crap. I can’t handle those rides.
“What’re you talking about? We all came together, so we gotta ride at least one as a group.”
“Taeyang, the Slide Drop isn’t scary at all, so don’t worry. It’s no big deal once you’re on.”
“I just don’t like it.”
It’s not that I’m scared of rides. Back when I was a kid at an amusement park, I rode the octopus legs and the Viking ship, and it gave me major trauma. I got so carsick I puked and spent the whole day miserable. That memory makes me avoid pushing myself on high-intensity stuff.
“There’s stuff like the Haunted House or merry-go-round that’s lighter. Why start with something so hardcore?”
“’Cause it’s fun.”
Yuyeong grinned brightly and grabbed my arm. I slipped it free and said,
“I get carsick bad, so I can’t.”
“Yeah, Taeyang hurled his guts out last time too.”
“Oh, really?”
Yuyeong clicked her tongue, disappointed but nodding like she got it.
“Bummer, but fine. Let’s do the merry-go-round then.”
“Don’t worry about me—just ride what you want.”
“Nope. We came here to hang with you today.”
“But Iri noona’s here too.”
“Oh yeah. Guess I can play along with Taeyang for one day?”
Iri noona sidled up to me and grabbed my other arm.
“Target: merry-go-round. Let’s go!”
“Go!”
Soon they were dragging me along by both arms.
“Wait! Fine, I’ll go—just let go!”
“Ho ho ho.”
Hayan noona just followed behind with a fond smile. People kept glancing our way. Not just ’cause two girls were hauling one guy, but because they were both total knockout beauties— the kind that’d make any guy do a double-take.
They’d probably wonder who the hell that dude with the hotties on each arm was. Especially with my blonde hair and tan skin— I spotted groups of guys snickering and whispering among themselves.
Blind to the stares, the two dragged me straight to the merry-go-round line.
“We’re here.”
“This is gonna be great~”
“...Sorry, let’s do something else.”
Up close, the line was nothing but little kids and their parents. Even if I was okay with kid treatment, this was too embarrassing.
“What’s wrong? Merry-go-round make you carsick too?”
“Nah, not that. It’s just... too kiddie.”
“Oh, right—Taeyang cares about that stuff.”
“Seriously, sorry. How about we all just do our own thing?”
Flaking out made me feel guilty. Maybe splitting up and riding freely was best?
Yuyeong thought for a sec, then grabbed my arm again.
“Taeyang, how about the Haunted House?”
“Haunted House? That sounds fine.”
Yuyeong lit up and yanked me toward it.
“I said I can walk myself!”
I ended up dragged to the Haunted House anyway. At the entrance, speaker screams blared like sound effects. Couples were stumbling out nearby.
“Babe, that was so scary, right?”
“I thought my soul was gonna leave my body!”
“The zombies were so realistic.”
They clung to each other, sharing how terrified they were. Either it was that scary, or just an excuse for couples to get touchy.
“This one’s secretly famous for being well-made.”
Iri noona added.
“Yeah, I think I’ve seen it too. Most reactions say it’s pretty realistic and spooky.”
“Let’s go in!”
Yuyeong looked pumped. There wasn’t anything in her character sheet about liking scary stuff. But then, I only learned she was an otaku after possessing this body, so who knows what else is hidden.
We’re at an amusement park—time to have fun. No complaints from me this time, so in we went.
Short line, then into pitch-black darkness. Can’t see shit in here.
Yuyeong and I led, with Iri noona and Hayan noona behind. Yuyeong had my arm, after all.
“How long you gonna hold on?”
“Taeyang, I’m scared~”
She grinned and played dumb. I’d caught on ages ago—why she’d been like this since we met at the station. Sure, the park excited her, but she’d stuck close to me from the start.
Probably wants to get closer. I’d been keeping distance from her outside class, so yeah. She must think bonding like this’ll help me get over my soccer trauma and stop avoiding her.
All I want is for no one to go yandere. The narrow path left no escape. What’s the worst—just deal if she clings from a scare.
Hoping nothing happened quick, we shuffled through the dark hall.
“Wah—!”
A corpse-doll dropped from the ceiling.
“Eek~ Taeyang, it’s scary~”
As Yuyeong cooed and reached for my arm—
Whoosh—
“Wha—what!! Eek!!!!”
Suddenly yanked backward, my weight toppled. Something soft and warm hit the back of my head. My view went dark.
“Iri noona, can’t see. Move your arm.”
Before Yuyeong could grab, I was snug in Iri noona’s embrace behind me.
“Ah, sorry... sorry, Yuyeong.”
“...It’s fine.”
Shouldn’t you apologize to me? Not that the feel was bad... cough, what am I thinking?
Iri noona’s clinginess was a hassle too. Anyway, once she calmed, she let go and we kept going.
“Iri, you okay? Pretty scary?”
“Haha, th-this much... it’s not even real ghosts, I could just punch ’em if I had to.”
Punch hardworking staff? For what?
Next ghost: a white dress ghost with bloodstains passed by.
“Hee hee hee—!”
“Eek!!”
Iri noona’s reaction was so good, the staff amped it up. The ghost we thought passed swung back with a knife in its mouth, hands from graves, zombies cracking coffins open and shambling toward us.
“Give it back... my leg...”
A legless ghost doll crawled on elbows.
“Taeyang, it’s scar—”
“Kyaaak!!! What do we do!!!!”
“……”
Before Yuyeong could whine, Iri noona screamed for real, clinging and leaning on me nonstop. Why me over Hayan noona right there?
I went from startled by her chest to handling it smoothly.
“Iri noona, it’s fine. Just dolls—look.”
“I can’t look!”
“Jeez...”
I stroked her head on my shoulder to soothe her.
“If it’s too much, close your eyes and hold my shoulder. It’ll end soon.”
“Yeah!!”
“Taeyang, I’m scared too...”
I glanced at Yuyeong. She didn’t look scared at all—more like side-eyeing Iri noona.
“Hayan noona, can you handle Yuyeong? This is tough for me.”
“Ahaha... caught in the middle, huh.”
Hayan noona gave a wry smile. I soothed the clinging Iri noona and we pressed on.
“Hahaha!”
“Hahaha!”
“Nngh...”
Her grip tightened on my shoulder, eyes squeezed shut. Scared just from sounds? Whatever—almost out. White light neared.
Reached it: “Thank you for visiting” sign. Bright sunlight poured in, exit visible. No more.
“Iri noona, it’s over.”
She trembled, then peeked.
“Phew~”
Relaxed, she let go.
“That scary, huh?”
I teased with a grin. Her face flushed as she grumbled cutely.
“C-couldn’t help it. Can’t hit staff.”
“Pfft—”
I stifled a laugh; she pinched my cheek like payback.
“I helped, and this is the thanks I get~”
“Don’t laugh!”
“’Cause you’re cute.”
“What!?”
“cough Anyway. Where to next?”
I ignored her reaction and asked Hayan noona and Yuyeong.
“……”
“……”
“What? You two okay?”
“Just... you guys act like a real couple.”
What the hell, Hayan noona?
“What’re you saying? Iri noona and I are just friends. Right?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
Iri noona nodded, setting the record straight. With Hayan noona’s history of thinking I liked Gahee noona, better clear misunderstandings.
“Then let’s go. I’m done here.”
Iri noona led, opening the exit door.
“Uwweok~”
“Kyaa!!!”
Whoosh—
Exit was a trap: zombie staffer with bulging eyes jumped out. Super startled, Iri noona crushed me in a hug—face buried in her chest.
“Noona, can’t breathe.”
“Hahaha, the real exit’s over there, folks.”
Staffer’s prank ended there. (I opened the next door since Iri noona suspected it; she bolted out relieved when nothing happened.)
“Phew~ Never again.”
“Roller coasters don’t scare you, though.”
“Those I can tough out with my body.”
Scarier than what your body can handle are things you can’t touch, or whatever.
Anyway, we moved on.
“Taeyang, come on.”
Out of the Haunted House, Yuyeong pounced to my side again.
“Taeyang, wanna do that next?”
She pointed at the Viking ship.
“I got carsick on that once.”
“Oh... yeah? Then...”
She scanned around, pointed elsewhere. If we’re like this, wouldn’t splitting up be easier?
“Ferris wheel?”
“That sounds good. I’ve wanted to try it once.”
No acrophobia, so no dizziness, no problem.
“Let’s go!”
“I keep saying I can go myself if you let go.”
Ignoring me, Yuyeong’s enthusiasm surged, dragging me to the Ferris wheel.