Memories (2)
“Ta-da!”
“Huh?”
Jia cutely flashed a V-sign with her fingers as she held out her phone to me. When I leaned in for a closer look, it was four mobile tickets purchased through an app.
“What the? You bought these in advance before we even got here?”
“Of course. I wanted to come, so I had to cover it. I'm not the type to let a guy bleed himself dry.”
“Ho ho, impressive. Good girl. In return, lunch is on me—order whatever you want.”
“Hehe, looking forward to it.”
I was less thrilled about saving money and more grateful for Jia's thoughtfulness in arriving early to snag the tickets. Isn't that what gets guys—those little gestures from women?
That's when Hyoseok, who'd been eavesdropping on our chat, butted in.
“Hey! Didn't your aunt gift you free passes? Why you acting like you paid?”
“Hey! Shh!”
“......”
Moments like that shatter the mood in an instant.
Jia glanced at me nervously, flashing a sheepish grin.
“Hehe. You'll still buy lunch, right?”
“Yeah, sure. But your menu options just got a lot narrower.”
“Eek.”
Finally, our group made it through the entrance gate.
“Whew, it's been ages since I came to one of these. Kinda exciting, though. Where to first? Hit the outdoor Final Attraction? Or start with the indoor Illusion Train? Oh, they got a haunted house too. Used to scare me back in the day, but now that I'm older... haha!”
I hadn't even considered a theme park at first, but stepping inside got my heart racing with genuine excitement.
Yeah, you gotta come when you're young to really run around and make memories. Then later, bringing a girlfriend, I could play tour guide, act like I know it all. Experience counts for everything. So, outdoors first?
Indoors was great regardless of weather—easy to navigate, tons of small rides, parades, and shows scheduled for families.
Outdoors drew the young couples and students, though.
Tap tap. Lost in thoughts of a packed day, Jia poked my shoulder. I turned, and she wore a mischievous smile, nodding toward something with her eyes.
Huh?
While crowds rushed to rides, a cluster lingered, buzzing as they headed straight to one spot right after entry. Curiosity piqued—Jia's grin aside—I followed the flow.
What caught my eye was...
“School uniforms?”
“Whoa, so pretty. Perfect.”
As I muttered in surprise, Jia—hot on my heels—cheered, eyeing the displayed uniforms hungrily. Black, gray, blue, pink skirts and pants, shirts in checks and solids, skirts of every length—vibrant variety on show.
Pretty to look at didn't mean I wanted to wear one, though.
“You guys trying them on? How long since you ditched uniforms, and you're hunting for more?”
“They're cute. And these aren't like the ones we wore in school. Different lengths, colors, patterns. Plus...”
“Plus?”
“We get to choose now. Back then, no options. That's why everyone wants to try when they come here.”
“Fine, whatever. Go for it.”
“'Go for it'? Oppa, you gotta wear one too. Let's match and fight on!”
“What? Me? Nah, I'm good. Guy uniforms aren't even cute. Dudes wear 'em here just to couple up with girlfriends. Not for looks. Right, Hyoseok?”
Girl uniforms could be fashion—highlighting legs, curves, skirt length.
Guy ones? Just uniforms.
Some guys pull them off? Those types turn heads in fatigues too.
I turned to Hyoseok for backup on my anti-uniform stance.
“Hehe... Hyun in a uniform... ahh...”
“.....”
Hyoseok was lost in a dreamy daze, picturing Hyun in one. I looked away—and spotted Hyun herself browsing in the corner.
Even in her casual outfit, she drew sticky stares from guys and jealous glares from girls. Yet her eyes on the uniforms sparkled with curiosity.
Why's Hyun so into this? She's plenty pretty without one.
After getting caught dragging her to a PC bang and taking a beating from her dad, things got awkward. I'd barely seen her in uniform up close.
From afar, yeah—neat, plain design and color. She never hiked skirts or anything flashy, so no big thrill back then.
These are way different from hers, so maybe that's sparking interest? With her figure, it'd suit her fine anyway.
Jia was already chatting her up, pointing at uniforms. Hyun's eyes lit up too.
I decided to wait.
Okay, girl uniforms are pretty cute.
Girls emerging from changing rooms—even average builds—drew eyes to thighs peeking from short skirts. Slim legs gleamed smooth.
Before long, I casually scrolled my phone... while sneaking peeks at the women's figures.
Ooh. Damn, that's fire? Are girl uniforms always this hot? Or just Fantasia World's? Or 'cause I went to an all-boys school and never saw 'em? Whatever... fucking killer.
Buoyed by the unexpected eye candy, I grinned.
Then a changing room door opened. Another girl stepped out. I ducked my head, faking phone focus.
Heh, smooth. Natural. Now, sneak a peek. Oh. Ohhh. Not average.
In a world quick to cry “visual rape” for a wrong glance, uniform rental shops were fair game—as long as eyes didn't meet.
I desperately flicked my gaze naturally, devouring her legs.
Her lines outclassed every other girl here. Delicate ankles that'd snap at a twist, porcelain skin stretching sleek from calf to thigh. Smooth curves swelled softly upward. Pink check skirt fluttered, teasing hidden skin.
Higher up, a tight shirt hugged her full bust to the max...
Oh fuck, deadly. They say fashion ends with the face, but this body? Even with an ugly mug, guys'd grovel...
Unable to stop, my eyes climbed. Breaking the no-eye-contact rule, I saw...
Hyun? Shit.
She sidled up, fidgeting bashfully in her uniform.
“Ooh. H-Hyun... whoaaa.”
Hyoseok's interjection was the cherry on top.
“How's our Hyun? Killer, right? Pretty? Gorgeous? Face, body—perfection?”
Jia, in her own uniform, gushed zero-self-esteem praise. Perfect hype.
Store eyes bulged at her in unison.
...Well, Hyun's stunning, defenselessly so.
Guys' lust, girls' envy—she ignored it all, immune as ever.
Why the uniform today, though? Normal Hyun skips fashion for park conquests.
Her flushed face and poised strut felt off.
“Oppa, how's Hyun?”
Jia sidled up, probing.
“What d'you mean? Just...”
“Just?”
Her beaming face too close, I flinched back—but snuck another scan of Hyun.
“Fucking...”
“Fucking?”
“...Why you pushing? You're in one too, and dying for my take on Hyun.”
“Your opinion's the most accurate. And important.”
“Important? What? My eyes some expert appraiser?”
I deflected awkwardly, but she persisted.
“Anyway, verdict? Cute? Or swap it? She only tried this one—thinking of more.”
What to say? Guys slinking toward her said it all.
Evoked 101 idol-wannabes dropped here—top-tier ones cherry-picked.
Too embarrassing to admit aloud, though.
“It's just a uniform. I've seen her in one once or twice. What's new to rate... aaagh.”
Hyun's foot slammed my side.
Grimacing through gags, I glared.
“You crazy bitch. Kicking me like it's habit now? Ow, fucking hurts.”
“Shut up, psycho. Eat this.”
Wham.
“Gahhh!”
Her dazzling white, slim leg lashed wildly. Skirt fluttered, flashing glimpses—nearby guys' heads snapped.
****
“Ow, fuck, kicking me in a crowd. Still throbs...”
“Shut it. Can't take a little kick and whining in public?”
“What, you psycho? Want me to really lay into you? Think you could handle it?”
“Hmph.”
Their brawl killed time for more uniforms. But Jia dragged me into a guys' one anyway.
Faced with her fierce glare thrusting it at me, I caved.
“Feels weird after so long... You okay?”
Hyoseok grinned like a fool, thrilled.
“Man, glory walking with Hyun in uniforms. Guys dream of schoolgirl memories. Imagined high school Hyun, and now... augh.”
“'Schoolgirl memories' my ass. Want memories? Ask for her album.”
“You live next door, so you can say that. For adults meeting later, it's normal to fantasize. You hung with her in school, right?”
“...Dunno?”
Post-middle school, after the PC bang fiasco and her dad's wrath, things got weird. Caught uniform glimpses, no sparks.
My repeater nights meant forgetting her high school look.
Come to think, no standout memories of school Hyun.
Twenty years knowing her, but a gap during her middle-high years.
Makes this uniformed Hyun feel fresh.
Still new to adulthood, she fit it seamlessly. Chatting Jia, flashing smiles—caught my eye.
Heh, brat's a beauty now. Drawing stares...
Store guys fixated on her—I'd struggled too, knowing her forever.
Irked anyway, compliments stuck.
“Whoa, hyung... Hyun's seriously pretty. See how other girls fade? Augh.”
Hyoseok drooled honestly. Enviable.
Pretty. Saying it. Long familiarity bred awkwardness.
But I mustered some courage.
“Took you long enough, punk. Hyun's always been pretty. Not knowing? You're the idiot.”
Blunt honesty. Hyoseok grumbled.
For a fleeting moment, I imagined us side-by-side in uniforms—that era.