Chapter 14

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, can we meet now?"

"What? Y-you mean now?

"Yes, I'll come there."

"No, no. I can just say it here-- hello? Choi Jungsik-ssi? Woah, what was that?" Jangmi checked her phone when the other hung up.

She wasn't sure if Jungsik will really come or not, it was already late when she check the time. Besides, why would he even come all the way to meet her in the middle of the night anyway?

"Wait, what if he's annoyed that he got all those problems because of me? He's not going to say he want to cancel my work too, is he?" she paused to shake her head, "no way, no way. That can't be. Then why would he want to meet me now?" she sighed as she lie down on her bed.

Will he really come? This late? That's what keep her from closing her eyes, she couldn't even sleep until she got a call. But why did she smile when staring at the name on the screen? Where did the little happiness and excitement come from? But she just shook them off with a deep breath and answered the call.

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, I'm in front of your house. Can you... come out? For a while?"

"Already?" she quickly get down from her bed, running towards the window to open the curtains, and just then, her eyes fell on the person standing in front of the gate with his back resting on his car and smiled when he saw her, waving his hand while his other hand still holding the phone.

"Please wait a second," she smiled and hung up the call before closing the curtain quickly. She clutched the fabric of the curtain tightly, her hand placing over her chest, as if it could stop her rushing heartbeats she couldn't control. The excitement she shook off before beamed up again out of nowhere, but why? Why would she even feel this way now? She tried asking herself but before she could find the answer, her feet were already on their way to the door, then down the stairs until she reached the gate, where someone greeted her with a smile.

And for some reasons which she can't figure out, she couldn't speak a word until he took a step forward towards her. "Choi Jungsik-ssi, you didn't have to come here? Isn't it late now?" she tried looking away.

"You said you have something to say?"

So he came all the way just for that?

"Yeah I did, but I didn't ask you to come here. I could've just say it over the phone."

"Shall I go then?"

"NO!" she gasped at how she just said it without realizing. But what made it more embarrassing was the other's chuckle after that. "Uh, I mean... we ca--"

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, if you don't mind, shall we go somewhere and talk?"

"Huh? Now?" she tilted her head while the other just nod. She scratched the back of her neck with an awkward smile, "But going now is just--"

"Are we just going to stand here and talk then?"

Then she realized, she made him just stand there when he literally came for her. "Uh, sorry about that. Let's... let's go somewhere and talk, yeah," so she ended up agreeing to go with him, she can't just invite some man in her house in such late hour, and she didn't want to wake her sister up either.

She sighed when the Jungsik smiled but, "aren't we just gonna take a walk? I mean, are we going somewhere? Like, somewhere far?" she asked when the other opened the passenger seat of his car.

"Well, kinda? Would you like take a walk instead?"

"I mean,-" she looked at her simple oversized white hoodie and a loose comfortable grey pants, "with this?"

"Hmm? What's wrong with that?"

"No, I mean, I think I should go get changed first if we're going to go somewhere," she let out an awkward smile.

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, you don't need to. It's late so I thought it would be better to go in car. Don't worry, we'll go just somewhere around here," he paused for a second, "and besides, I think Kim Jangmi-ssi look cute with that outfit."

Jangmi just stood there in daze after what Jungsik just said. Wait, what? Cute? But why? Out of nowhere? Why would he say something like that now?

"Kim Jangmi-ssi? Shall we?"

She flinched a bit when she realized she's still standing, maybe she's just thinking too much because the other was being too gentle to her? But him closing the door for her after she get in the car, the way he smiled after he made sure to remind her to fasten the seat belt, the way his eyes look at her in the most gentle way, it all always give her reasons to think more of his actions, even if she don't want to.

"Choi Jungsik-ssi, where are we going?" she asked when the car drove along the street.

"I don't know any good place here so I'm just driving around. Do you have anywhere you want to go?"

Jangmi just chuckled. He said they'll go somewhere to talk but doesn't even know any place, yet he's just still driving around? "Ok? Then, umm... what about Amusement park? There's one nearby."

"What? Amusement park? Kim Jangmi-ssi, are you serious?"

And she just ended up chuckling when she turned towards the other, he looked surprised to hear it, "I'm just kidding, Choi Jungsik-ssi. We can just go somewhere else."

"Hmm, okay?" he just nodded with a smile, and without any word, he just focused on his driving, well, not sure if he's actually focusing on the road because, rather than at the road, his eyes were busy taking short glances to the person beside him.

Jangmi turned towards him when she realized the place he stop the car, the amusement park she was talking about earlier. He really brought her there? "Seriously?" she said but anyone can tell how excited she looked to be there. But,

"It's already closed?" she dropped her shoulders. Of course it would be closed, it's almost midnight anyway.

"Kim Jangmi-ssi? Will you wait here for a second? I'll be right back," that's what Jungsik said before getting down from the car leaving her inside the car and she just sit and wait as she was told to until he came back after few minutes and opened the door for her.

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, let's go."

"Huh? Where?"

"There. Inside."

"But it's closed. How are we gonna enter inside?"

"We'll sneak inside."

"Huh?" and before she could even think of what he was trying to say, she was dragged out of the car.

"But it's not good to sneak inside like this without any permission," she paused to whisper when they stood in front of a door at the backside.

"Sometimes, it's fine to break some rules too, don't you think so?"

Would you call it surprised or funny if someone says the least expected word? Or would you rather call it both? Because she find it surprising yet funny to hear those words from someone like Jungsik. "What if we get caught?" she asked again, but this time, she find it kinda thrilling to think about sneaking in. Maybe, it'll be fun to break the rules sometimes.

"It'll be fine. Just trust me."

She smiled looking at the hand landing out for her to hold. Trust him? Can she really do it? Maybe, at least this time, yeah. "Okay," she smiled and held his hand, for the first time after they shook their hands on the day they first met, formally.

They succesfully sneaked inside, thank god the door wasn't locked and nobody was around.

But she, could never notice Jungsik smiling and winking at the person standing in front of the main gate with his thumb up promptly, and she'll never know the fact that Jungsik literally managed to take the permission to enter the park already from that person.

* * *

"Over there!"

Jungsik turned to look at where Jangmi was pointing her finger, "Carousel?" he chuckled when she nodded. But seriously? Of all the other things, she wants to ride carousel? "Kim Jangmi-ssi, isn't that for kids? I don't think it'll be fun," he looked around until he saw the giant rollercoaster and point his finger at it, "let's ride that instead. It'll be more fun."

"Uh? T-that?" her eyes went wide when she saw the rollercoaster, "Choi Jungsik-ssi, I'm sorry but I really can't ride that."

"Why? It'll be more fun."

"No, I mean-" she cleared her throat, "to be honest, well, it's a bit embarrassing but... I'm... scared of heights, so..."

And he just smiled at that. Just how much more cute can she be? And this side of her, it's something he have never seen before, and it somewhat felt like a part of him just urge to do anything to protect this side of her from the thing that scared her.

"It's ok. If you are scared, you can look at me. Only me."

Something, a new unfamiliar tingling sensation churning up her chest, what would she call this feeling? Excitement? Or happy? Or something else? What she just heard was a few simple words, but when those words gathered together to form a sentence, those simple words sound special enough for her heart to skip a beat when it comes out from his lips. She found no word to reply, just staring at those bright eyes piercing deep through hers felt like a better reply, that she'll look at him if she's scared, only him.

"Uh, well, you can ride the one you like. We'll see the other rides later," Jungsik looked away, so as the other.

She breathed in, "uh, well, yeah, thanks," just laughing off to reduce the heat on her cheeks as she walk towards the carousel. But of course she didn't get to see the way he smiled looking at her.

She paused to turn back, "Choi Jungsik-ssi, would you like to join me?" she chuckled when the other shake his head as a no, so she walked towards him, "You know, Choi Jungsik-ssi, there's this special thing about riding a carousel. You said it's for kids, right? Yeah, you're right, kids enjoy riding them. But do you know why is it for kids and why they enjoy riding them?"

He didn't say anything, but just stared at her looking fondly at the carousel in front of them.

"Kids, they like it when it's simple, without much twist and turns, with a cheerful music playing as they simply spin around, eventhough it last just for a while, it's something you can always enjoy without worrying about when it'll get twisted like the big rides. And we always have the fear of any unpredicted twists that'll come in our life, don't we? As we live, we adults have so many problems in our lives and sometimes, we all just end up wishing if our lives were a bit simpler and free as that of a small kid. And I feel, even if we become an adult, the kid is always in us, the kid who likes simple things. But we don't usually let that kid out of ourselves when we get older. Riding a carousel when they become adults, it feels like they're trying to find the kid hiding inside them to let it out of themselves even if it's just for once. I think it's really a special feeling and a way to live happily."

She sighed and turned to the person standing next him with his eyes still staring at him, "so, Choi Jungsik-ssi, would you like to ride the carousel? With me?"

Jungsik nodded, "yeah," and smiled when she made him sit on one of the horse next to her.

Her smile growing as the carousel accelerates its spin, she glows to the colorful lights when they reflect on her skin, her hair blowing messily with the wind, she's beautiful, that's what he said to himself while staring at her.

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, are you scared?" he asked when he notice her shaking a bit and closed her eyes shut when their cabin start moving.

They were sitting inside a cabin of the Ferris Wheel by the edge of the park where they could see the night view of the city from the top of it after he asked her to try it.

He hesitate a bit before but just moved a little closer to her when he saw her trying to hold her breath, "Want me to hold your hand?"

She opened her eyes to see his hand landing out, she didn't say anything, more like she didn't know what to say. She was scared of the heights, she did want to hold onto something, yet she didn't know if she can really hold his hand. But while she was still thinking, the same hand held hers, it was warm and comforting when he gently traced his thumb over her almost dried abraded skin.

"Does it still hurt?" he lifted his head up to look at her who was already staring at him.

"No. It's just a slight abrasion, but, yeah, it does hurts, a little bit," she simply grinned.

"I'm... I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Why?" her eyes looked confused, as if she's asking why is he suddenly apologizing.

"Because I made you hurt. If I was little more careful, if I didn't bump into you--"

"Choi Jungsik-ssi, why would you apologize for something like that? It's nothing compared to what I've done to you. In fact, I'm the one to be apologizing, not you."

"Why is it you then?"

"Because, uh, I, actually I've heard everything from Minseo. If I didn't call you that day, you wouldn't have come to meet me and you wouldn't have miss the meeting. I heard it was something important and it's causing you some problems. That's why I called you to apologize earlier but we came here instead and I'm really sorry for not saying anything till now. I'm the one who troubled you but..." she couldn't believe she completely forgot why she even called him when he had to even drive till her house at this hour.

"No. You have nothing to do with this, Kim Jangmi-ssi. This is not your fault. In fact, I was already in front of your shop that day and I wanted to see you--" he paused when he realized what he just said.

"Huh?"

Jungsik cleared his throat, "uh, I mean... I wanted to meet you... umm, for... for the work. Yeah," he could only wish his excuse work.

"Oh, is that so?" she nodded, "but I still--"

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, please don't say sorry anymore. It's not your fault. If you say it again, then I'm really gonna feel guilty for hurting your hand too."

"Okay. I won't say it again," she replied really quickly and he smiled looking at her.

Both stared at each other, neither of them willing to take their eyes off, just enjoying the little moment together, with no clue of why it felt so pleasing to be beside each other. But she was the one to look away first, because she felt something strange, a strange feeling in her heart, and this feeling might sway her away if she continue to admire the way his eyes look at her, because this feeling is something that could turn wrong eventhough it felt so right.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she smiled as her eyes look at the city lights through the glass of their cabin, that's when she realized they were in the top of the Ferris Wheel.

It was already midnight, and they were the only one in the park, but she don't even remember when her fear of heights vanished. Was it when he held her hand? Or maybe the strange feeling in her heart was powerful enough to lull her fear?

"Yeah. It is. It's really beautiful."

She heard him replying, she felt the gaze from his eyes looking at her when he said it but she pretend to unnotice it.

She would have to admit it, the strange feeling, it was pleasing, it always felt so endearing whenever he look at her with the most affectionate way, it was comforting when he held her hand, and it almost sway her away, but she wasn't daring enough to welcome this feeling, because it scares her, that she might get too used to this comfort which won't even belong to her.