Chapter 8

Bathed in the contrasting glow of streetlights, vehicle headlights, illuminated billboards, and the vibrant hues emanating from storefronts, Imogen and John strolled through the bustling city streets.

"What a wasted evening," Imogen remarked with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

John chuckled, momentarily covering his face with his hands. "I still can't believe what you did to him. His junk won't be the same," he quipped, sharing a laugh with Imogen.

"Apologies that the evening didn't meet your expectations," John offered sympathetically.

"Ah, it's no bother. He wasn't quite my cup of tea, even if he were ordinary. Apart from his attire and timepiece, he lacked the qualities I seek," Imogen responded with a shrug.

John grinned, impressed. "You certainly have discerning tastes. Nevertheless, let's salvage the night. There's an amusement park just across the street. How about we have some fun before heading home?"

Imogen playfully nudged John's chest with her shoulder. "Oh, look at someone, becoming my favorite already. Not a bad suggestion," she teased, a giggle escaping her lips.

Making their way across the bustling sidewalk, the amusement park came into view, teeming with joyous adults and children reveling in the thrill of rides and games.

"Let's go on the roller coaster!" Imogen exclaimed with childlike excitement. "Can we ride it?"

John flashed a smile and casually slipped his hands into his pockets. "Sure thing! Just hope you don't get queasy afterward," he jested.

Imogen rolled her eyes playfully. "That's absurd. I might have to rethink you being my favorite!"

Chuckling, John gently corrected her with emphasis, "You didn't say I was becoming your favorite, you said 'someone.'"

"Hmm..." She looked at the distance, "let's make a race out of it. The second one to reach the roller coaster foots the bill," Imogen proposed, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

With a burst of energy, they raced towards the roller coaster, and John arrived first, earning a victory grin as Imogen playfully pouted. As they settled into their seats on the roller coaster, the safety belts snugly secured them in anticipation of the exhilarating ride ahead.

The roller coaster surged upward, gradually gaining speed until it reached its maximum velocity. Various sounds filled the air, with some voices expressing excitement while others revealed nervousness about the possibility of the roller coaster's straps coming loose and causing them to plummet from the ride.

As the roller coaster slowed down, the overwhelming effects subsided, allowing them to hear their own voices instead of their screams. Coming to a stop, Imogen and John sat still in the rollercoaster, experiencing a fleeting moment as if they had a genuine connection beyond simply sharing familial blood.

"Why have you never gotten married?" he inquired curiously.

"I'm not sure. It's challenging when you can't find someone who shares your interests," she replied.

"I understand," he nodded. "But is sharing common interests really that important?"

"I suppose that's how it goes. Otherwise, your father and my sister wouldn't still be together," she remarked.

"True!" he chuckled.

"Believe me, my sister can be quite a handful. She can be quite nagging," she continued.

"Shut up!" he turned to her with interest. "Tell me more. She truly nags a lot."

She laughed. "It's been like that since we were kids."

There was this one incident when I was eleven. My mother refused to buy me a necklace, but Piper had one. I wanted it badly, but she wouldn't share it with her little sister. So, at school, I wrapped a tissue paper around my neck, pretending it was a real necklace. I ended up looking like a rabbit with a napkin around its neck and went to the cafeteria where she was having lunch with her friends.

The other kids and her friends started laughing. Feeling embarrassed, my sister dragged me out of the cafeteria and scolded me all day long, not even hearing the end of it. But she still wouldn't give me the necklace.

John laughed. "That's just mischievous!"

She chuckled. "Come on! I was just a kid. I didn't realize I was embarrassing her!"

"It seems like you did intend to, otherwise, you wouldn't have deliberately gone to the cafeteria where she was having lunch with her friends," John remarked, his laughter still lingering in the air.

"Oh, come on, it wasn't intentional!" Imogen protested, playfully slapping his shoulder with a slight grin.

"It was! You always have your ways," John insisted teasingly.

Imogen let out a small grunt. "You make it sound like I'm a troublemaker."

"Well, in a good way," John quickly interjected, trying to soften his words upon catching her mischievous gaze.

"So, I'm a good troublemaker," Imogen teased, raising an eyebrow.

"No, that's not what I meant..." John began, but was interrupted by Imogen's sudden burst of giggles.

"Why should I even care?" Imogen waved her hand in amusement, dismissively.

"So, you do confess that you did it on purpose to her," John pushed, a knowing look in his eyes.

Imogen hesitated briefly before admitting, "No..."

"Ah, but you do!" John countered with a playful grin.

"Okay, fine, I did it on purpose," Imogen finally conceded, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

John bumped his fist in a gesture of triumph, exclaiming, "I knew it!"

John chuckled heartily. "That's downright mischievous!"

Imogen let out a scoff. "Come on! I was just a child. I had no idea about the extent of the embarrassment I caused her!"

John nodded thoughtfully. "She really does have a talent for nagging. I have to give her that. It's like a never-ending cycle. Which reminds me, I'll be heading off to the army soon."

Imogen's expression shifted with surprise. "The army?"

"Yes, indeed! I submitted my application, and I'll be leaving anytime," John revealed.

"But why wasn't I informed about this?" Imogen's tone carried a hint of disappointment.

"Well, it seems my parents didn't think it was a big deal, and they might have overlooked mentioning it. They were quite hesitant about the idea, expressing concerns about the risks involved," John explained.

"Ah, it stings a bit to realize I'm not kept in the loop. She always complains about being out of the loop regarding my life, yet she kept this from me!" Imogen expressed her frustration.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Aunt Imogen. I don't think my mother thought much of it," John tried to reassure her.

Imogen brushed off her disappointment. "Well, congratulations! This must be a significant milestone for you."

"Yeah, it definitely is," John affirmed, wiping his hands on his shirt absentmindedly.

"I'm genuinely happy for you," Imogen said warmly.