It was Saturday so Lotte World was filled with couples. They went everywhere holding hands, taking pictures with their phones, and bright smiles were visible everywhere.
Ga Eun felt a smile also stayed on her lips. Ki Jun was right. She did feel glad to be there.
They went to the amusement park eagerly. "Which one should we start first?" he asked.
"The moving cups!" she decided.
And so they ran together to the venue.
They steered their big round cup so fast they spun out of control and crashed other cups. They laughed out loud and complained "Oh my God, seriously, my head is spinning!" she complained.
"I feel like throwing up," he whined, but he was laughing too, his eyes disappeared into tiny lines.
"We should stop and try something else."
"I think you're right," he agreed.
They got out and when they stood up, their bodies swayed.
"Omo! Okay. So what next?" she asked.
"Um, the roller coaster?"
Her expression changed a bit.
"What?" he asked, tilting his head in a challenging, albeit amused, look. "Are you scared?"
"A little. But maybe that's why we should do it."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm determined!" she emphasized. "Let's go!"
"Wait!" Jin Yang held her in place.
"Let's run to the place. The loser has to buy the tickets!"
Ga Eun smiled. "Okay. Hana....dul..... (one, two)" but she ran even before saying "set (three)!"
He laughed, yelling, "Hey, you cheated!"
Still, they raced together to the roller coaster ticket box.
"I win!" she declared breathlessly. "You pay up!"
"Aish! You cheated!"
"You pay up!"
"Okay, okay. I was going to pay for you anyway."
So they rode the roller coaster. Both of them screamed so loud every time it dove sharply.
Afterwards, they went to the haunted house. They jumped and screamed every time a scary ghost surprised them.
"Yah! You're a guy! You shouldn't scream in a haunted house!"
"But this is so freaking scary! If I'm not with you, I'll never enter this!"
"What? Aaaaaah!" a bloody thing just popped out of nowhere and they ran together down the hall.
When they safely went out of the haunted house, Ga Eun spotted the bubble tea booth.
"Let's drink, Park Jin Yang. I'll treat you!"
"Really? Thank you so much!"
They gave their orders and walked to the direction of the mall. In front of Just Diamonds, she stopped to admire the jewels behind the glass displays.
She stood there beside Jin Yang, drinking up and was completely clueless that he was staring at her. There's something in her silence that made him wonder what was she thinking. They had fun together. But at that moment, she looked so far away.
The display she was looking at showed a case full of couple rings. White gold and diamond, those rings shone under the lamp lights. The design was elegant yet lovely.
"Woah, it's really beautiful!" he commented, if only to make her say something. He felt like he needed to pull her back from her thoughts.
"Yep. But it must be so expensive! Only the richest people could wear it."
After being silent for a while, he asked, "Would you wear it if I buy you a couple ring?"
She laughed, walking away, and he followed.
"Can we just use couple mugs?" she offered.
He laughed.
"Ne? Couple mugs?"
"Yeah. It's cute, I think."
So, to humor her, they went together to a gift shop, where there were many pretty things in a relatively cheap price. They passed a small box of couple rings.
"Oh. They sell it here too!" she exclaimed.
"You wouldn't wear it if I buy it for you, I suppose?"
She smiled and shook her head.
"But you will use couple mugs?
"Ne."
Jin Yang nodded and pointed to the corner where they put the couple mugs.
The designs and forms of the mugs varied. He chose one with black and white color that honestly looked like a cow.
"This one," he decided.
She chuckled.
"One for you and one for me," Jin Yang announced, placing one mug identical to his into her hands.
"I'll use this everyday," she said.
"Promise?"
"I promise," she nodded.
****************************
Myung Hwan stopped typing and checked his watch. It was almost 9 P.M. He had been typing his assignment since the afternoon. He badly needed a break. So he reached the intercom and called the kitchen.
Kim Sang Ok received it.
"Kim Ahjussi?".
"Ne, Doryeonnim. Do you need anything?"
"Tell Ga Eun to make coffee for me."
"...Jeosong hamnida, Doryeonnim, this is her day off, so she's not here."
"Oh. Hm.....just tell her to make it when she comes back."
"Doryeonnim, she said she and her friend wanted to see the firework festival, so she might come home after midnight. Are you sure you want to wait for your coffee? Do you want me to make it for you?"
"Ah....."
"I can call her and ask her to come home immediately."
"No, no! Let her have her time. I would hate it if I'm out having fun and my parents call me to come home before I'm done."
"Doryeonnim, this is different. She works for you."
He chuckled. "Aigoo, ahjussi (uncle), why so stern? It's okay. It's her right to go have some fun. You too, actually, ahjussi. But I know you never go out. You're always there for Harabeoji (grandpa) and Abeoji (father)."
He sighed, "Okay then, ahjussi. Please make that coffee for me."
"Yes, Doryeonnim."
Myung Hwan hung up.
Fireworks? A friend? So Kim Ga Eun is already at the age of dating a boy? How old is she? I know I'm 5 years older so she's....fifteen? Wow. Time sure flies so fast.
He went back to his desk and opened the document again.
"A little more to go. Fighting!" he muttered to himself.
************************************
"Doryeonnim was looking for you," Kim Sang Ok informed his daughter when she just came into the kitchen.
"Jinjja (really)? What did he need?"
"Coffee."
"Oh."
"Call him now and offer him your assistance."
"Ne."
"Ga Eun?"
"Ne, Appa?"
"I know this is your free day, but you shouldn't have gone out that long."
"Mianheyo (I'm sorry)."
"The family might still need your help."
"I know."
"But you did have fun?"
Ga Eun smiled, "I had a great time."
"That's nice" he smiled, patting his daughter's head. "It's not an easy life, right, Ga Eun? Living here, having to dedicate your life to them."
"At least we're together, Appa. So I don't mind. Besides, the family gives us nothing but kindness."
"True. Okay. Go call Doryeonnim. I need to sleep now."
"Ne," she said, reaching the intercom as her father went out of the kitchen.
********************************
Myung Hwan heard the intercom in his room rang and picked it up.
"Good evening, Doryeonnim."
"Oh. Hello, Ga Eun."
"Are you still awake, Doryeonnim?" she asked carefully.
"Yup. Paper for tomorrow."
"Jeosong hamnida (I apologize), I wasn't here when you needed me."
He sighed, "Aigoo. It's okay. This is your free day."
"Do you still want the coffee?"
"Hm.... Kim ahjussi already made it for me. But I could do with another cup."
"I'll make it now. Have you eaten dinner yet, Doryeonnim?"
"Not yet."
"I'll bring dinner too."
"Ahrasseo."
"Ne. I'll make your coffee first."
***********************************
She put the tray on the table near the door and knocked.
Myung Hwan opened his door, waiting for her to come in.
"Where do you—"
"Put it over there," he pointed to a desk near the window, since the desk where he typed was messy with books already.
She obeyed and he walked to her, taking his coffee.
He looked positively starving, as he hurriedly relished his food.
She waited patiently while he ate.
"Was the fireworks great?"
"Ne? Oh yes. It's really beautiful. The sky looked like it exploded into colors."
He smiled, "How poetic."
She said nothing and he kept on eating. Until she saw it.
Something glinted on his fourth finger. And her heart leapt into her throat. The shock almost choked her. He wore that couple ring she saw earlier that day from "Just Diamond."
Of course, if he wore a couple ring, it would be genuine white gold and diamond.
And just like that, her great day was wiped away from her memory. Couple ring. He used a couple ring.
He finished eating and she took the bowl and plate.
"Thank you so much," he said.
She just bowed and turned around, going out from his room as quick as she could without having to look like she wanted to run.
She forgot Lotte World. Or Jin Yang. Or their couple mugs. Or the roller coaster ride, the haunted house, or the fireworks.
All she could think of was Lee Myung Hwan and that ring he wore. She fell asleep crying again, for the countless time.
She told herself not to, but she kept asking herself and wondered. Who is it that wear the other couple ring. Is she the same girl I saw on his graduation day? What have they done together? Does he love her so much?
And when, oh when would she get over this pain of longing for him though he's so unreachable? When would this feeling stop? How much more should she grow up, to be able to not feel anymore sadness like this?
**********************************
Author's Note :
Ga Eun is trying to move on. She tried to go out with Jin Yang because she wanted to feel how it would be to be liked.
I think girls do that a lot. Going out with someone they don't deeply like to get over their pain.
It's okay as long as nobody gets hurt I guess.
So tell me what you think about this chapter. Or tell me your personal story that might be related with Cruel Oppa. Or recommend me a song that you think fits this story? That would really inspire me.
Twitter/X Account: luna_priestess8