Memories (4)
Seonghwan let out a sigh like a groan as the long line in front of him finally shortened enough that he could count the heads ahead. The time has come.
Hoo, hoo. It's okay, Seonghwan. You can do this. From the moment he'd finished lunch and drained his post-meal coffee, he'd been wrestling with himself internally. Should I just say my heart's not great, so skip me? Nah, that'd kill the vibe because of me. Hyun might not care, but with Jia's personality, she'd probably pick something lame just to accommodate me.
Even back when they'd first come here after the college entrance exams with friends, he'd tried not to overdo it. Once the body breaks down and that memory etches itself in, even if the mind tries to forget, those recollections pop up unbidden from the warehouse of the brain. The head might forget, but the body remembers.
Seonghwan couldn't easily shake the terror of suffocating as a child or the burning heat in his chest. He had no memory of the cardiac arrest at his aunt's house, but the exams, injections, and breathing struggles from age eight and earlier had left deep scars. Even on that bold trip here years ago, yelling "It's nothing!", he'd dodged the risky rides with excuses about a bad stomach from bad food.
It's been fine the last few years. A few years? That's nothing. At Aunt's, I don't even remember what happened. At least fifteen years. Since the surgery, my heart's been like everyone else's. The doc said I could live normally now.
"Kyaaah!"
"Aaaah!"
The screams from high above sometimes made Seonghwan waver, but he'd steeled himself.
Final Attraction—Fantasia World's trademark, the ultimate final weapon you had to ride last if you wanted to enjoy the others carefree. Once you rode it, no other ride felt thrilling enough... or in another sense, your stomach flipped so bad you couldn't ride anything else.
"Ow... What. No big deal. Ha... haha..."
"Hyoseok, calm those bugged-out eyes first. They're darting everywhere. How about you, Seonghwan oppa? Manageable?"
"Worry about Hyoseok. This shit? I could ride without the safety bar."
"Yeah right. I've seen you gulping nonstop, too focused on freaking out to chat."
"Ugh, damn it. Keep talking like that, and I'll grab your hair up in the air and shake it."
"Go piss first. Scared you'll wet yourself before you grab my hair. Fair warning—puke or piss, I'm pretending not to notice."
"Crazy bitch, I wasn't expecting shit anyway."
Jia and Hyun had come arm-in-arm as ride buddies to the Final Attraction, but Jia soon dragged Hyoseok to her side with half-forced excuses about mixed pairs looking bad, shoving Hyun next to Seonghwan.
Seonghwan didn't mind Hyun—his childhood buddy—sitting beside him; no awkwardness or complaints. Hyun grumbled but naturally swapped with Hyoseok per Jia's say, sticking right to Seonghwan's side.
Hyoseok, naturally: "No, wait, Seonghwan hyung gets anxious. Even on the Viking, he was shaking. What if Hyun pukes next to him? Better if I'm there to protect her clean—"
"Whoa, Hyoseok, that's kinda rude. So puking's fine next to you? Disappointing."
"N-no, not like that."
"Hey, who're you calling a puker? I don't puke. Never in my dictionary. What do you take me for?"
"You pissed the bed once."
"What? Shut your bullshit—"
"Age eleven. Slept over, wet the blanket. I woke up and heard you begging Mom to keep it secret."
"You fucking bitch, that was after chugging watermelon. How's bedwetting link to this ride? Fuck, embarrassing with people listening."
"I whispered, but you're advertising yourself as bedwetter."
"This bitch really."
People stealing glances at Hyun's celebrity-level looks gawked wide-eyed at her banter with Seonghwan, chuckling. Curious about the hot girl and average guy combo, they read the sibling vibe with Of course expressions.
But Jia beamed, alternating glances between Hyun and Seonghwan. Perfect match, right?
Hyoseok dazedly watched from Jia's side, then asked her, "Stick 'em together and it's high-class radio. How do they bicker nonstop without fists flying? Hyun kicks sometimes, sure."
"Hyoseok, still zero tact."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. That just looks like fighting to you?"
"Else?"
"No sis, so I don't know either. But one thing: siblings don't ride rides together or wear couple uniforms."
"Couple uniforms? Ridiculous guess. Honestly, Hyun's uniform looks more couple-y with me—"
"Shut up!"
Jia ignored Hyoseok's pout—annoyed at the interruption or his uniform claim rejected.
She recalled Hyun's secret glee at last week's theme park proposal. Jia planned it, but Hyun jumped on board eagerly. If for Hyoseok, it'd mean gouging her own rotten eyes, but Jia was sure.
'Fantasia... World? Suddenly?'
'Why? Hate it, Hyun? Han River Park was fun last time, but no reason to repeat. Aquarium? Cafes or libraries too quiet. Date-course vibe if possible...'
'Date? No, I...'
Jia's deliberate "date" trap worked; Hyun blushed and fell in.
'Yeah, date. You, Seonghwan oppa... even Hyoseok. Study grind kills time like this. Gotta drag to dream spots whenever. Right?'
'...If you say so.'
'No half-assed answers. Commit. Hate it, we'll pivot. Seoul suburbs cafes...'
'No, fine. Fantasia. You like it too.'
'Heehee.'
Hyun averting eyes, shy—adorable. Fun ahead. Indoor-outdoor huge; wandering eats time. Tons to see/ride. Warm weather, short outfit for outdoors...
'.......Uniform.'
'Huh?'
'Don't people wear uniforms there? That's what I heard.'
Hyun's cherry-blossom blush, playing coy. Uniforms weren't random; Jia knew students wore them regardless of age. But she hadn't planned it—till Hyun mentioned first.
Means she's dreamed of this moment, right?
Lover's date: spring blooms, thrills, hugs amid laughs. Perfect for pretty couple pics as memories.
Photos!
Jia whipped out her phone like it just hit her, firing the camera app. Hyoseok crept toward Hyun watching.
"Hyoseok, c'mere."
"Why me? Group shot?"
"Yeah, group. But oneshot, twoshot, threeshot first. Then all."
"Weird count. Why all after threeshot?"
"Wait. Don't trust me?"
"Not you, but—"
"Shh. Look here! Seonghwan oppa, here."
Seonghwan, mid-bicker with Hyun, whipped around at Jia's call.
"Huh? What, Jia?"
"Photo! Oppa here. Hyun, next to oppa. Gotta prove we're riding Final Attraction."
"Photo?"
Seonghwan grimaced, but Jia pressed.
"Oppa, we paid big for this. Always wanted group memories with friends. Please?"
"Then all together—"
"Yes, all. But Hyun-oppa first. Hyun, side-by-side quick."
"Uh? No, just group..."
Hyun panicked, dodging the twoshot, but Jia knew it was fake resistance.
"Cheese~~!"
"Wha? Uh..."
Caught off-guard, Hyun stood by Seonghwan. He shrugged shoulders open for her space.
In the packed line, side-by-side meant pressed close. Seonghwan's hand on Hyun's shoulder. She shivered briefly, met Jia's camera eyes, then posed.
Enchanted, cozy pose from both. But Jia ordered more.
"Cheese! No? Kimchi? Smile. Okay? Laugh."
"Ahaha..."
"...."
Awkward at first, but Seonghwan's smile bloomed—instinct before a lens. Hyun snuggled into his arm, head tilt, natural V-sign. Shy smile curved her lips, eyes crinkling genuine joy.
Perfect... Heehee.
Click. Click. Jia snapped fast, wishing her friend cherish this.
****
"Wait, you said you'd photo us too? Threeshot, no, group shot?"
"Too bad—our turn's up. Skip after waiting? Skip?"
"Photo time'd work though..."
"Yeah, yeah. C'mere. Hyoseok, cheese."
"When'd I say duo..."
Amid Hyun spat and surprise shots, their boarding turn hit. Jia-Hyoseok chatter faded from Seonghwan's ears. The 1.5-hour wait for 2-3 minutes gripe vanished.
Thump-thump.
Ugh, fuck, why now?
Tension built as turn neared, but heart racing hard started when front groups boarded.
Zing-zing.
Now, as they neared the drop zone, heart stung.
Trauma's mysterious—narrows actions, invites coward jabs, but the body demands heed. Warning signals. Body worrying for its owner.
Ugh, fuck. Rather take chicken label than ride this...
Zing-zing-zing.
Maybe peak tension mimicking heart pain. This level would've sent him to ER every exam.
But couldn't ignore the sting. Flustered, he glanced at Hyun beside him.
Her wide eyes checked the bar, face alight with thrill and anticipation.
First time together on this, but kid days at local parks, milder rides shared. Hyun no scaredy-cat; even young, braver than peers. So her excitement made sense.
Seonghwan gritted teeth, gripped bar.
Fuck, what's gonna happen? 3 minutes? Guys endure chem-bio training longer in army. Can't I?
Bar locked, staff warned: "...Never reach outside. No grabbing for dropped items. Stay seated till end. Departing now..."
Staff voice faded. Train lurched forward.
Thump-thump-thump. Hoo, fine. Okay. Eyes shut, it'll pass...