Trip (11): The Haunted House Prank and Midnight Confessions
After the haunted house experience wrapped up, I dragged my exhausted body back to the pension.
"Welcome back."
"Yeah~ We're home."
The moment we stepped inside, I went hunting for some pain relief cream. Luckily, the pension was well-stocked with all sorts of first-aid supplies.
"At least you didn't get hurt too bad. How on earth did this happen?"
"Haha, that haunted house was surprisingly well-done and scary."
"Haunted house?"
The pension owner auntie seemed clueless. Just then, Juyeon noona—his niece—asked the uncle who'd given us the tickets.
"Uncle, what the heck was that haunted house? It didn't seem like some small private business with that scale."
"Yeah, zombies swarming us and all that—it was intense."
"The moving dolls were creepy too."
Everyone started sharing their impressions of the haunted house one by one. Since it was all over, we were a lot more relaxed than before.
"Haunted house? What are you talking about?"
But the pension owner uncle just tilted his head indifferently.
"………Huh?"
"You gave us the tickets."
"Tickets? I've been out all day and only got back just now."
He tilted his head like he genuinely had no idea. The image of him handing us the tickets a few hours ago was still crystal clear in my mind.
"And besides, there's no place like that around here anyway?"
His expression was utterly sincere, as if it had all been an illusion. The mood turned awkward in an instant.
"Uncle! Quit joking around!"
"Puhahaha! Sorry about that!"
Ah, called it. The uncle laughed mischievously, then calmed down and explained.
"It's not a private business. Actually, it's run by a company where a friend of mine is an executive. They set it up temporarily, and if the response is good, they'll build a full-fledged theme park there."
No wonder—the manpower, the props, everything screamed big money. A major corporation was behind it. We nodded in understanding, said our goodnights, and headed to our rooms.
"See you tomorrow."
"You too, noonas."
"Night, Taeyang."
"Yeah, you too, Yuyeong."
I barely managed to stop Iri noona from piggybacking me into the guys' room. Sure, her coming in wouldn't be a huge deal, but it might set off Gahee noona or Yuyeong.
After parting ways with the girls, I entered the guys' room.
"Taeyang, you can shower first."
"Thanks."
I gladly went first. As I soaked in the warm water, melting away the day's fatigue, I reflected on everything.
Thankfully, the biggest flags I had to watch out for on this trip were all cleared. Gahee noona's flag had planted a bit ambiguously, but no signs of yandere tendencies. Hayan noona's flag? Perfectly defended.
It sparked some hopeful expectations. Maybe Hayan noona wouldn't build flags with Seonwoo anymore? I'd intervened to crush her flag today, but she acted differently from the game too. During the barbecue prep, she'd seemed genuinely happy pairing Juyeon noona and Seonwoo— no emotional turbulence at all.
Maybe she was already trying to push Juyeon noona and Seonwoo together? She had the personality for it, especially since she'd tried pairing me with Gahee noona or Iri noona behind my back.
Of course, no room for complacency yet. Especially since Seonwoo seemed to be targeting Hayan noona. This trip, I'd clashed with him more than usual—unlike normal.
And I still couldn't read him. Maybe he was just trying to impress Hayan noona by helping with my love life... but his gaze said otherwise. At first, I thought it was because I looked like Geum Taeyang and he was wary. But if it was just first impressions, the wariness should've faded by now.
Seonwoo wasn't some weirdo like Yuyeong with bizarre thought circuits.
"...Ugh, just thinking about it gives me chills."
If Seonwoo was a hyper-immersed solo like Yuyeong, I wouldn't feel safe sharing a room tonight. Anyway, his stares were off—wary one moment, smug like he could see right through me the next.
Of course, you can't read a whole person from eyes alone... but one thing was clear: he didn't think much of me. Maybe he saw me as a nuisance.
"Guess I'll have to talk it out."
After I finished showering, Seonwoo went in. I wanted to crash on the futon spread on the floor, but I'd probably fall asleep, so I sat in a chair instead. Sleep was crashing over me, but I was waiting for Seonwoo.
I planned to chat him up before bed—steer the conversation. Hard to do this outside the guys' room with the noonas around, and Seonwoo might hide his true feelings for his image.
While waiting, I checked my phone. I'd ignored it since barbecue, and GlassMental had messaged.
The last message was harmless chit-chat. The photo showed keychains with character figures. I wouldn't read deep now, but fired off a quick reply.
I'd responded to a chat from hours ago, but she replied fast. No way she'd been waiting, right? Nah, overthinking. Might as well keep the convo going.
She missed my roundabout rejection and kept pressing. Persistent.
No reply after that. Did I disappoint her bad? As I stared at the stalled chat, a noise came from beside me. Seonwoo had finished showering and changed.
"Still up?"
"Yeah. Shower woke me up."
"Should sleep though—big day tomorrow."
"Yeah, in a bit."
Seonwoo, now dressed, plopped down next to me like it was natural.
"So, whatcha looking at?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing much."
Seonwoo smirked.
"Have fun today?"
Why's he being all creepy nice? His sudden soft tone threw me off, and I nodded awkwardly.
"Yeah."
Silence stretched. What to say? Rare chance, so I thought it over and spoke first.
"You and Juyeon noona hang out a lot. Childhood friends, right?"
"Yeah, known her forever. We fight 'cause we're too comfy, though."
"Jealous. Must be nice having a friend you've stuck with since kids—no loneliness."
"You have Iri though."
"We got separated after moving, so not constantly together. Different schools now."
"Hmm... But you have Hayan, so less lonely, right?"
"True. Noona takes good care of everything."
"Siblings really close~ Always together."
"Are we?"
Seonwoo beamed—a flawless smile, no cracks. But his words grated.
Still unreadable.
"Just checking—no hard feelings between you and Juyeon noona?"
"What?"
Caught off-guard, he faltered. No beating around the bush in front of him.
He shut his mouth briefly, then smiled again.
"Told you, friends."
"Long time together, feelings could develop though?"
"Dunno..."
"...What about Juyeon noona's feelings?"
Seonwoo clammed up. He looked away, then spoke.
"Dunno... She'd know her own heart best."
"Lame."
He laughed it off playfully. Thinks his charming guy act smooths it over? Pathetic.
"She probably sees me as a friend too. Maybe a pitiful one."
...So, really no feelings for Juyeon noona. Ignoring the obvious. If he'd even flinched, I could've chalked it to shy denial. But this? Hopeless.
I was internally facepalming when Seonwoo turned it back.
"What about you, Taeyang? Who's the girl you like? Haven't heard."
"Told you. Hayan noona."
He kept the cheery smile, teasing lightly.
"For real? You can tell hyung."
"No one else."
"Others'd be hurt. They all seem into you."
Tricky question. Wrong answer here, and I'm either a player or oblivious. Both get hate.
"Even if they like me, I don't get it. Those feelings."
Going oblivious.
"Kinda burdensome. Fine if no other girls like me."
He'd probably think Is this kid asexual? Whatever.
"I see."
Seonwoo nodded, then added,
"Don't overdo it though. They'd feel bad."
"……"
Damn, hit the nail. The ignored emotions I'd buried stabbed deep—I got annoyed at my flustered self. Outplayed by Seonwoo?
But I schooled my face. He's ignoring Juyeon noona's feelings too, right? At least I rejected clearly.
"If they keep coming after rejection, what am I supposed to do?"
I muttered my buried thoughts without thinking. Unnecessary.
"...Jealous. That situation."
"Huh?"
Misheard? I looked up, but he continued naturally.
"Being loved that much is happiness. Don't reject kindness too hard."
His warm smile soothed like an older brother.
"...Yeah. Got it, hyung. I'll remember."
"Good."
Shocked, but I didn't show. Still, the unease lingered.
That felt like his real self peeking through—no facade.