The amusement park was glowing like a small city made of lights.
Jay walked in with wide eyes, holding the park map upside down.
Keifer leaned in lazily.
"You sure you're leading us somewhere… or into disaster?"
She squinted at him.
"I know exactly where we're going."
He pointed behind her.
"The roller coaster is literally there."
She froze.
"…I was testing you."
He laughed.
Hard.
Jay pushed his shoulder.
"Don't laugh!"
They ran to the rides like children who had escaped real life.
Jay screamed on the roller coaster.
Keifer only laughed at her reactions.
"You're enjoying this way too much," she accused.
"I paid for the entertainment," he replied, nodding at her.
Bumper cars turned into war.
Jay chased him mercilessly.
"Stop targeting me!"
"You deserve it for calling me boring on the ride!"
Later, cotton candy in hand, Jay's lips turned faintly pink.
Keifer stared.
"What?"
"You look… sticky."
She leaned close.
"So do you."
He smirked.
They walked slowly toward the quieter side of the park.
Lights reflected on the small lake.
No cameras.
No people recognizing him.
Just them.
Jay squeezed his hand.
"Thank you for bringing me."
He glanced down at their fingers intertwined.
"Thank you for coming with me."
She smiled softly.
"Did you really have fun?"
He looked at her for a long second.
"I forgot everything for a while," he said quietly.
"That counts as fun, right?"
Her heart softened.
Then she suddenly stopped.
Her eyes widened.
"Ferris wheel."
He followed her gaze.
The giant wheel glowed slowly against the night sky.
She pulled him by the sleeve.
"Come on!"
Inside the cabin, the door closed with a soft click.
The wheel started moving.
Jay sat beside him.
Their shoulders brushed.
The city lights slowly rose below them.
She looked outside in awe.
"It's beautiful…"
Keifer watched her.
Not the view.
Her.
As the cabin climbed higher, distant voices from the ride operator echoed faintly through the speaker.
"Legend says… if you kiss the person you love at the highest point of the Ferris wheel… you'll never lose them."
Jay froze.
She slowly turned to Keifer.
He was already looking at her.
The cabin kept rising.
Higher.
Higher.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
"You don't have to…" she whispered nervously.
Keifer lifted his hand.
Gently touched her cheek.
"I want to."
The cabin slowed.
Stopped.
At the very top.
The entire park glittered beneath them.
So small.
So far away.
Jay's breath shook.
"Keifer…"
He leaned in slowly.
Giving her time.
Giving her choice.
Jay closed the tiny space between them.
Their lips met.
Soft.
Careful.
Like both of them were afraid to break the moment.
Her fingers curled into his shirt.
Keifer's hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss deepened just a little.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just real.
When they finally pulled back, their foreheads touched.
Jay smiled through nervous breath.
"So…"
He smiled too.
Quiet.
Certain.
"Guess we're stuck with each other now."
The Ferris wheel started moving again.
But something between them had already stopped changing.
They had kissed at the highest point.
And neither of them wanted to ever lose the other.