Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Dating Chaewon Unnie
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"Is the cake tasty?"
"Yeah."
I gaze indifferently at Chaewon's face as she nods slightly and savors the cake.
All we've done since arriving is take sticker photos, ride two rides, and grab some snacks, but time in an amusement park always flies by, and before we knew it, the clock had ticked past 6 p.m.
Maybe it's because today was irritatingly hot, but the park was strangely empty, so we could probably squeeze in three or four more rides before the 8 p.m. parade...
But after seeing just how chicken Chaewon is, ruling out scary rides and even kids' ones leaves us with hardly any options.
Still, being able to roam the amusement park freely with Chaewon is a rare treat that won't come around often, so savoring this time at our own pace felt pretty appealing to us.
"Before the parade, let's ride the carousel and bumper cars, then wander around taking pictures."
"...Minah."
"Yeah?"
"It's kinda late to say this now, but..."
Chaewon fidgets, peeking at me in a way that's not like her at all.
Even after eating her favorite sweets, her energy hasn't picked up. Seeing her still shaken from the Gyro Swing and Atlantis, I felt like I needed to look after her more.
"...What about my image?"
Right, how could she feel down after churros and cake?
She'd already bounced back, and now the celebrity Chaewon was recalling her own scaredy-cat and crybaby moments from earlier.
"I'm already famous for being a chicken, and today feels like I hit the peak..."
"...Chaewon."
"Yeah?"
"I don't know how much you'll remember, but don't watch this footage."
I offer a solution with a warm gaze.
"Stop following me!!"
"What? Don't watch the footage? You call that comforting?!"
We're on the bumper cars.
She's targeting me like crazy.
This is so unfair.
"I already said I'm sorry...!"
"What about my already wounded heart...?!"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll figure that out later."
"...You're dead. Just you wait."
"You've been chasing me from the start, so what...?"
The red bumper car pursues me with terrifying momentum.
Bumper cars are meant to bump, sure, but the fun is in barely dodging them, so that's what I tried this time too...
Kwang-! But after her relentless chase, we finally collide.
Glancing back, I see her fixing her bangs with a sly grin.
"Told you, nothing good comes from this."
"It's fine. It relieves my stress."
"Hey, move aside. It's a corner; the car's stuck."
"Oh? I'm not planning to move either."
Then why did we even get on bumper cars?
I try to retort at her nonsense, but a hollow laugh escapes instead.
No point talking; I twist the wheel desperately looking for an escape...
But in the end, time runs out before I break free.
"One more?"
"...Hey, let's have a proper showdown this time."
This round, we ram each other in a fierce battle that'd make kids snicker.
After two rounds of bumper cars total, we head to the candy shop from earlier and buy all sorts of sweets.
Then we stroll around spots good for photos inside the park, snapping individual shots and couple selfies.
About an hour before the parade.
"We'll be taking pictures around here, so staff, go grab some food."
Chaewon speaks up first to the staff who've been trailing us nonstop.
From their perspective, skipping meals is par for the course on shoots...
"But to keep shooting healthily, you can't miss meals, right? Especially today with such nice people around—no troubles at all."
It's true we'd had an easy time thanks to their unseen cooperation and constant help, and we do need to stay vigilant until filming ends.
But even in this 4th-floor studio where we're chatting, it's empty except for us.
"Split into three teams and eat. If anyone doesn't want to, no choice."
The staff finally relent to Chaewon's relentless persuasion.
They decide to mix PD crew and Chaewon's staff into two teams for meals, while we hop on the carousel and monorail for prime parade views on time.
First up, the carousel.
"Photos first."
The classic Lotte World carousel front pic everyone takes.
"What? Why's your face so small."
"That's why I said lean your head forward."
"Ugh, your awareness has improved~."
I poke my head forward a bit at the bratty one's approving tone.
"Hand on cheek pose."
"...Like this?"
"Hey, that sour expression with a cute pose? Make it cute too."
"...Cute?"
"Watch. Like this."
The 6-year idol veteran pouts cutely, showing off her idol moment.
She wrinkles her face on purpose, winks, and cycles through five expressions perfectly matching the cute pose in seconds.
"Now you. Wink first."
"...Like this?"
"Okay. Now scrunch like 'I'm an orange.'"
"...Like this?"
"That's a lemon, not orange. Want it bursting sour?"
"......"
"You nailed it at the sticker booth. Why struggle here?"
Her puzzled look draws only a bitter smile from me.
The first one was just us two in a playful space with goofy expressions, easy to mimic...
But for me, who got told as a kid I looked scary just sitting still, "cute expression" might as well be "sprint two laps around here full speed."
Yeah. Sprinting two laps is tough, but doable.
"Yumin. Expressions are just muscle moves. You can do it."
The 6-year idol chooses persistence over giving up.
"Loosen your facial muscles first."
I quietly flex every facial muscle I can.
"Gently close one eye like sleeping."
I softly shut my right eye.
"Add a bit of tension to the closed eye."
"...Like this?"
"Perfect. Hold it."
Chaewon claps lightly, beaming with satisfaction.
She whips out her phone quick before my face relaxes, sidles up close, and mirrors me.
"Hand support~."
"Support."
"Head tilt~."
"Tilt. ...Huh? Tilt?"
I follow along, then doubt hits. Why tilt suddenly? Right as I wonder...
Chaewon rests her head lightly on my shoulder.
Click from the phone.
"Oh, came out great."
"...Yeah?"
I nod indifferently at her pleased gaze.
I'm done for. After today, I might have to admit we're dating, so couple stuff just feels normal now.
"Yeah. AirDrop later?"
"...How do you do that?"
Right, headlines probably "Han Chaewon Flaunts Secret Romance."
Truly enjoying an amusement park night means soaking in the night views.
In other words, Chaewon, who knows how to play, had all the ways to enjoy the park's nightscape—and that was the monorail.
Sunset sky peeking through the ceiling.
It's nearly 7:40 p.m., perfect timing. Monorail runs 10 minutes, enough to prep for the parade, and lights start flickering on as dusk settles.
"Wanted to ride this while on Gyro Swing."
"You ducked your head scared on Gyro Swing."
"Shut up."
Bickering as the monorail arrives.
Temperature's finally bearable outside, so maybe heading for unfinished rides or snagging parade spots—only 8 folks board the 18-seater: us, a couple-looking pair, and a family of four.
Three cars, so split nicely...
"You two okay with faces on camera?"
Chaewon chats up the uniformed high school couple.
They look legit teens, freak out, and nod wildly.
"Yes!"
"Texting friends nonstop, huh?"
"Hehe."
"Caught you 'cause your boyfriend's next to you but glued to KakaoTalk. Forever fan?"
"Total fan, unnie~!"
The bubbly girl whips out her Pocha card from her wallet for fan reveal.
Her boyfriend isn't a fan but clearly stunned by Chaewon's beauty.
"Fate brought us—ride together?"
"Really okay?"
"Yep. Yumin?"
"Fine by me. Memories, right?"
"Your boyfriend?"
"...Sure."
The guy nods faintly, dazed.
Buddy, careful—she might snap. Later you'll get "Me pretty or Han Chaewon?"
Her side-eye screams volumes, but...
Eh, growing up pains.
Family takes the front car; we claim the last.
Monorail eases forward, scenery shifting along the rails.
"Upload these later? Hmm, maybe a month—promise?"
"Yes! So many shots—totally!!"
"True fan. Now, quench fresh Hyojin and Mingyu's curiosities?"
Chaewon beams her thanks.
She'd explained the vlog shoot while snapping pics; the girl Forever had seen it.
Obviously knows me too, full of questions like for Chaewon.
"Oppa, no SNS?"
"Nah. Did Facebook briefly in middle school peak, deleted after, just Kakao now."
"Knew it—searched everywhere, zilch."
"...You searched?"
"Duh~! Gotta vet the guy dating Chaewon unnie as a fan?!"
"...You two dating?"
Girl assumes yes; guy gawks.
Old me would've chuckled awkwardly or widened eyes...
"She must like you a ton. Grateful as childhood friend that fans like Hyojin care for her."
Today's sauna-to-park insights hit hard.
I'm exposed as a normie, no eternal secrets—especially with this brat.
She figures dating won't hurt her group image much, no intent for secrecy anyway.
Eh, my life's changing unknown, but better open than hidden—we're even.
"Vlog shows it, right? She's clinging to me—I'm the one befriending her. Chaewon's unstoppable."
Can't confirm straight, but joke-mixed casual works.
"Watch later—you'll freak."
"Hold up, Yumin—what's that mean?"
"Hint: rides today—Gyro Swing, Atlantis, bumper cars, carousel."
"...Unnie, cried on it?"
True Forever nails it.
"...Kinda."
Chaewon forces a stunned smile.
Yeah. Not just teary—bawled buckets.
Recalling her pitiful sobs nearly cracks me up; she glares spotting it.
"See? Not cool. Laughing at my trauma?"
"No rule against it."
"Hyojin, hurt or not?!"
"Oppa! I'm hurt too! Forcing a scaredy on rides then laughing?!"
"...Forcing? I never—."
"Knew you get me...! Boyfriend laughing at your tears?"
"Hmm. Radio silence week."
"...Bro, not me."
Sudden 1-vs-3 tribunal.
How'd it flip?
Topic warps; I open to protest, but fan and star team up scolding "don'ts" for girlfriends.
Guy quietly distances: "Not me."
"...Haha. Memories."
Yeah. When hasn't it?
Before long, whole ride's me at fault.