"Jungtae!"
An arm wrapped around Jungtae's shoulders before he could step away. The sudden weight made him stumble back half a step.
"Owen?" Jungtae turned his head.
Owen stood too close. His usual grin again, teasing, like this was normal. Like he hadn't just grabbed him forcedly in the middle of the path.
"Where are we going?" Jungtae asked.
"On a date again."
Jungtae froze. "What?"
"To the amusement park."
"Seriously?" Jungtae looked at him with suspicion. It is nearly 6pm.
Owen's arm stayed there as he leaned closer. "Come on. It's going to be fun. Trust me."
Jungtae hesitated. His eyes drifted down. The deal flashed in his mind.
'His deal looks normal, treating me anywhere. But…"
The kiss before flashed in his mind. The heat of it. The way his heart had jumped when it shouldn't have.
'I'm kinda scared of how this deal will go.'
He rubbed his lips without noticing.
Owen clicked his tongue. "You're spacing out again. Get in."
"Oh! Okay."
ৎ────
The car ride passed quietly. Jungtae watched the streets slide by, hands resting on his lap. Owen drove with one hand, humming low, relaxed. Occasionally glancing at Jungtae who was watching outside the window.
"Hmm."
When bright lights and the huge Ferris wheel appeared ahead, Jungtae straightened.
The amusement park glowed like another world. Colors spilled everywhere. Music echoed. A lot of people lined up for some rides. It was lively.
Jungtae stepped out of the car and stopped.
"There's a lot of people."
Owen locked the car. "It is the weekend so it's expected."
He grabbed Jungtae's wrist and pulled him forward.
"But that doesn't stop us from having fun! Come on, don't get lost."
Jungtae didn't pull away.
ৎ────
The Ferris wheel was the first thing they rode.
The cart creaked as it lifted higher. Jungtae sat stiffly, knees pressed together. Below them, the park shrank into tiny dots of light.
"It's so high…"
Owen leaned back, one arm stretched behind Jungtae's seat.
"Relax," Owen said.
Jungtae glanced down. His breath caught, and closed his eyes shut.
"!!!"
"Haha. Are you scared of heights? Don't look down if you're scared."
"I'm not scared!" Jungtae muttered, gripping the bar tighter.
Owen chuckled. "Liar."
The wheel stopped at the top.
Silence fell around them. The city spread wide. Wind brushed Jungtae's hair.
"Hey, close the window!"
Owen watched him quietly. "Relax, you are ok." Owen looked outside the window. "Look, we can see the city lights."
Jungtae slightly relaxed and looked down. "Yeah…It's nice," Jungtae said, breathing steadily unlike earlier.
Owen smiled, slow and pleased.
"Told you."
ৎ────
Next they headed towards the roller coaster. Screams can be heard.
Jungtae stared up at the twisting tracks.
"I'm not sure."
"You don't have to ride it, if you don't want to." Owen said.
Jungtae clenched his fists. "I want to know the feeling. It's gonna be my first time."
"Haha. It's gonna be my first time too. Let's ride it." Owen said while wrapping an arm around Jungtae's shoulder.
Jungtae slightly pushed him. "Hey, stop being clingy."
Owen laughed with palms raised. "Sorry. Can't help it."
It was their time to ride. They strapped in. The climb was slow. Click. Click. Click.
Jungtae's chest felt tight.
"You okay?" Owen asked.
Jungtae nodded.
The drop came fast.
They screamed. Wind tore past his face. His body lifted, heart racing wildly.
"Woahh!!!"
When it ended, his laugh burst out, genuine, and breathless.
"I-" He stopped, surprised at himself.
Owen laughed beside him. "That felt good."
ৎ────
Then they tried the bumper cars which were loud and chaotic.
Owen hit Jungtae's car immediately.
"Hey!" Jungtae shouted.
Owen grinned and rammed him again.
Jungtae chased him back, laughing as he crashed into Owen's side.
Their cars bumped again and again until the ride ended.
Jungtae stepped out, hair messy, face warm.
"You cheat," he accused.
Owen leaned close. "You're just slow."
Jungtae, little by little, was feeling more comfortable with this guy.
ৎ────
The carousel slowed everything down.
Relaxing music playing softly. Lights spun gently.
Jungtae sat on a painted horse, hands resting awkwardly on the pole.
"This is for kids."
Owen stood beside him, watching.
"Well we are allowed also, so why not?" Owen said.
Jungtae remembered this was his first time in an amusement park. While the carousel is spinning he can't help but smile.
Owen catches the smile on Jungtae's face, he looks down at the painted horse he was sitting on. A memory flashed in his mind.
The last time he went to an amusement park was when his mother was alive.
Owen frowned and looked back at Jungtae who was enjoying the slow ride.
The carousel moved. Jungtae's expression softened as the lights passed again and again.
Owen kept quiet alongside, eyes never leaving him.
ৎ────
Owen dragged Jungtae to the photo booth, and Owen stopped suddenly.
"Here."
"What?" Jungtae asked.
Owen bought a headband and placed it on Jungtae's head.
Cat ears.
"What the! Take it off," Jungtae said.
Owen stepped inside the booth and put on his own… red fox ears.
"Too late."
The screen flashed.
Jungtae tried to glare but smiled instead.
The photos printed out. Owen took them.
"I'm keeping these."
"Let me see."
Owen laughed looking at one of Jungtae's photos. "You look like a grumpy cat in here."
"Hey, it's not so bad. Give it to me."
Owen raised the photo. "Nope I'm keeping this one. You keep my photo!"
"Seriously…"
ৎ────
They rode the drop tower next.
The seat locked. The ground shrank.
Jungtae's hands shook.
Owen noticed and placed his hand over Jungtae's wrist.
The drop came without warning.
Jungtae screamed again, fingers tightening around Owen's sleeve.
"Stop! I don't want this!"
When it ended, his chest heaved.
"My lungs felt like coming out!"
Owen laughed softly. "You're honest with your fear. Don't worry, I got scared there too. Let's not ride that again."
Jungtae looked away, ears burning.
ৎ────
The fun house mirrors distorted their reflections.
Jungtae laughed as his body stretched oddly.
Owen stood beside him, tall in every mirror.
"Even like this," Owen said quietly, "you're still you."
Jungtae didn't answer.
"??"
ৎ────
The horror house came last.
Darkness swallowed them whole.
A scream echoed. Jungtae flinched and grabbed Owen's sleeve.
Owen smirked and paused.
"Stay close," he whispered.
A figure jumped out.
Jungtae stumbled back. Owen caught him at the waist.
For a second, they didn't move.
Jungtae felt Owen's breath near his ear.
"I've got you," Owen murmured.
Jungtae realized and pushed Owen aside. "Ahem…I'm fine." He continued to walk forward.
Owen smiled behind him. "If you say so."
After three minutes they stepped out into the light again.
Jungtae's face relaxed.
Outside the park, they ate quietly.
Owen spoke first. "Did you have fun? Because I did!"
"Yes… It was fun."
They ate quietly for a moment.
"Why did you tell Woojin?" Jungtae asked.
Owen paused. "I didn't."
Jungtae looked up.
"He figured it out," Owen said. "He would've anyway."
Jungtae stared at his plate. "The deal?"
"Sorry, I was sharing too much." Owen sarcastically replied.
"It's ok." Jungtae said.
"Right?" Owen was satisfied of his answer.
Owen's phone buzzed.
He checked it. His smile disappeared. It was from his older sister.
'Come home right now. It's father.'
"I need to go home," he said.
The ride back was silent.
When Jungtae stepped out, the car left fast.
"See you again."
The lights faded behind him.
"His mood shifted, is it about his father?" Jungtae wondered as he stepped inside their house.
When he checked his phone, a message from his mother at the hospital suddenly appeared.
"Woojin came earlier to visit."
His chest tightened.