The 'Kim Taeyang - Lee Yuyeong' Line (4)
While I was waiting at the food court in the amusement park, Lee Yuyeong and Min Iri soon returned.
"Is Iri noona okay?"
I approached, worried about what Yuyeong might have done to her, but Iri noona's reaction was a bit off.
"Ugh... yeah. I'm fine."
She subtly pulled her body back, putting some distance between us.
"What's wrong?"
"Ahaha, it's nothing. Anyway, I'm hungry—let's order something. Hayan, did you already order?"
Iri noona quickly scurried over and sat next to Hayan noona like she was escaping. And, as if it were the most natural thing, Yuyeong plopped down right beside me. I shot her a wary glance.
"Taeyang, let's eat already."
"Lee Yuyeong... what did you do to Iri noona?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Yuyeong tilted her head with a genuinely puzzled smile. In no time, she'd reverted to that bright, bubbly self from when we'd first arrived at the park. It was as if the weird vibe I'd sensed since the Ferris wheel had never existed...
"Iri noona's avoiding me all funny-like."
"...Well, she just stepped aside so we could get a little closer."
"Oh, really?"
Iri noona, pulling that unnecessary stunt. I'd thought she was deliberately keeping her distance from Yuyeong... but did she really expect me to buy that?
"What did you two talk about?"
"Taeyang, come on~ Why do you wanna know girls' secrets?"
I wanted to press her, but the noonas cut in with the menus, wrapping up the conversation. From their perspective, it must've seemed weird that I was so suspicious and distrustful of Yuyeong.
"Then I'll go with the safe bet—Hamburg steak."
"Taeyang, if you're getting Hamburg, wanna get the 'Couple Set' with me?"
She pointed to the set menu. It was a smart choice—two aides and our individual picks bundled for a discount. The "Couple Set" name rubbed me the wrong way, though.
Still, no rule said only couples could order it.
"Sure..."
"Yay! And let's share a little!"
"...Whatever."
As I answered, I snuck a glance at Iri noona. She smiled warmly at Yuyeong, then started chattering away with Hayan noona.
"Taeyang, where to after we eat?"
Yuyeong asked.
"We stuck together this morning, so how about splitting up for the afternoon and riding what we each want?"
Yuyeong and Iri noona were into the hardcore rides. But I immediately took it back.
"Wait, I mean, if there's something you really wanna ride. But sticking together's probably better, right?"
"Yeah, true."
Phew~ That was close—I almost ended up alone with Yuyeong.
She'd been trying to stick to me since earlier. If we'd split and she went along with the plan, Hayan noona and Iri noona might peel off, leaving Yuyeong glued to me. The thought gave me chills.
Anyway, I quickly backpedaled.
"Mm... then, Taeyang. Let's all go together."
"Exactly! We're here to have fun, so better as a group!"
"Hayan, you ever ridden a roller coaster?"
Iri noona glanced at Yuyeong, then started pitching to Hayan noona. Yuyeong nodded slightly when our eyes met—yep, something was definitely up.
"Never have. Isn't it scary?"
"Not scary at all. Once you try it, it's a blast!"
"Yeah, Hayan unnie. Go ride with Iri unnie—you'll love it. I'll hang with Taeyang."
"Now I kinda wanna try the roller coaster too."
"What? Taeyang?"
Hayan noona, clueless about the situation, looked flustered at my declaration. Fair enough—she'd seen me puke my guts out on rides as a kid.
"Taeyang, you don't have to push yourself."
"Yeah, go with Yuyeong—maybe hit the arcade?"
Suddenly, Yuyeong and Iri noona were tag-teaming to dissuade me, like they'd formed an alliance just to pair me off with Yuyeong.
"I couldn't back then 'cause I was weak, but now I've done sports clubs—no problem. I've endured way worse dizziness."
After lunch, my stubbornness won out, and we all ended up at the roller coaster. Well, almost—we didn't actually ride. Hell, even I couldn't do this one.
Watching it spin and loop like mad made my stomach flip. Was my real trauma rides, not soccer? Dodging a yandere ending with Yuyeong still left me time, but this? One ride and I'd die on the spot.
"Ugh... my stomach's acting up."
"Then I'll take good care of Taeyang."
"Yeah, Yuyeong—thanks."
"Don't feel too down!"
In the awkward mood, Hayan noona and Iri noona offered quick words of comfort and headed off.
"........."
"Taeyang, it's fine! We can have fun elsewhere!"
Yuyeong nodded encouragingly. Was this girl secretly thrilled?
Anyway, bottom line: my personal issue left me stuck wandering alone with this awkward girl.
"What should we ride?"
"Bumper cars."
"Bumper cars?"
Yeah—single-seaters possible.
————
"Kim Taeyang! Stop right there!!"
Yuyeong was chasing me. I yanked the wheel left—but a car blocked me, and she slammed into my rear.
Bang!
"Heehee! Gotcha!"
Are you a real psycho?!
"Why do you keep hitting me?"
"'Cause you're always dodging me."
"That's the point..."
Maybe 'cause from the start, I'd ignored her calls and tried to pull away? That sparked her competitive side, and now she was relentlessly tailing me—bumping, closing in, bumping again. All 'cause I was avoiding her...
What if she awakened as a yandere later and stole a real car to run me over, whining "You ignored me"? From afar, we just looked like kids goofing around. But having seen her hit Yandere Stage 1, I couldn't let my guard down.
Once a stage activates, it supposedly ramps up easier next time. That was my renewed vow—
Beep. The end signal sounded; all cars stopped.
"Aw, too bad~"
"Lee Yuyeong, you're seriously scary."
"Hehe, that's how you play."
Glancing at the roller coaster, the noonas were still in line. Ride's quick, wait's eternal. How to kill time with Yuyeong without stacking flags or getting closer?
Sit and wait while she solos a freefall? As I pondered, she grabbed my arm.
"Taeyang! Arcade?"
She pointed—full setup: games, rhythm pads, drums, shooting prizes, claw machines.
Getting tangled here might stack more flags. As I hesitated, she said,
"I'm good at that. Wanna watch?"
"Sure."
Buys time till noonas return, and just watching shouldn't raise flags.
She led to the drums near the entrance, grabbed sticks confidently, and queued a song.
That Japanese rhythm game, right? Music blared; she gripped tight.
"Taeyang, watch close! I'll reignite your passion!"
"Can't you save lines like that for when you're home alone?"
Ignoring my jab, she hammered away passionately. Her fave anime OP. No otaku friends but me—practiced solo?
I watched silently. Impressive, but I knew zilch about the game, so no comments.
"Hoo~ How was it?"
"You're good."
She beamed at my curt review.
"Wanna try? I'll teach you."
"Nah, I'll do darts over there."
She pouted, but I ignored. No affinity grinding. What if teaching meant hand contact or back-hug?
Paid the clerk, grabbed darts, stood at the board.
"Good at darts?"
"Nah, couple times maybe."
Answered her casually, gripped a dart.
"Mm... tried it, sucked."
I tuned her out and threw.
Whoosh. 7 points?
"Whoa! Amazing! You hit the board!"
"Duh, scoring assumes you hit."
Her eyes sparkled.
"Me too!"
"Spot next to you."
"No—wanna bet?"
"Bet? You just said you suck..."
Grinning mysteriously,
"Our skills seem even. Loser grants winner one wish—total score."
Like I'd risk that? If she wins, she drags me deeper—future's doomed.
"No crossing lines! Park-only wishes. Light stuff."
She practiced—darts missing or bouncing off, zero points.
"For real with that skill?"
"Slippery hands! Little practice and—"
Stubborn, she kept throwing—barely one or two stuck. Ammo gone.
"Argh, hands keep slipping."
"Mm, my turn?"
Confidence boost.
"Grr... looking down on me, huh?"
Whatever she said, I smiled, plotting my wish. No oversteps like "split up" or "ignore me"—need distance excuse. Like, "I'll rest; fetch something."
Phone map: farthest shop, 13-min walk. Good enough.
"You proposed first, Yuyeong."
"Ugh... you'll see. I'll crush you!"
"Sure~ Noted the loser's flag line."
Infuriated, she paid the clerk.
"No regrets!"
I paid too—game on. Simple: 5 darts, high score wins.
"Hoo~"
She exhaled tensely, swallowed, raised hand.
"Hit the bull this time."
"........."
She threw—dart flew.
"B-bullseye...!"
Clerk stammered in awe. From trash skill to dead center.
"Ah... ah... hands slipped again~"
Deadpan tone—calm, terrifyingly so.
She leaned back, eyes locking mine, smirking.
"Was aiming for 20-point 'triple' though~"
Her big eyes gleamed maniacally.
"Hurry up and throw the rest."