19: A Feeling Like A Rollercoaster Ride

It is the day. Saturday.Or so. Satur-date.The very weekend."Operation: Raven's Happy Ending."'Now just like my plan, I earned a lot of Estelle's savings and decided to use it to buy three tickets yesterday. But, like every cliche romance, I decided to call mine off as I tell Raven and Nero I'm busy at the apartment. Which is half true, but I only went ahead and grab my key card and check if my door is okay.'I think to myself before my head perks up behind the bushes as I look at the plaza, keeping an eye on Raven who is waiting by the fountain.'Raven wanted to cancel it all over all, but I managed to convince her that the tickets would be a waste if they didn't go. Both of them were reluctant but.. it worked out in the end. But, I feel bad for guilt tripping them though. Ugh, trust me guys! This is for the sake of your happiness!' I try to convince even myself for the plan."But.. Nero sure is running late." I mutter to myself before looking at Raven who's still waiting.Raven stands at the fountain, her eyes fixed on her surroundings. Her hands are clasped in front of her, fiddling nervously as she looks around.'She looks like a pretty girl waiting for her boyfriend..'My gaze softens at the idea.Imagining myself to be the one getting Raven while she waits.But then as I catch myself thinking of that, I shake my thoughts away.I watch her from my hiding spot behind the bushes, feeling a pang of guilt for lying to her. But I remind myself of the plan and why I'm doing all this.'This is for her own good.' I think to myself, though the guilt still gnaws at me."Hey!" I hear Nero as he arrives by the spot, waving to Raven who looks up to see him."Hey." Raven says as she and Nero stands in front of each other."..."They both remain quiet.'God, this is painful to watch.' I think to myself, then suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder."AAH-" As I scream in surprise, I covered my mouth and fall down on the ground, hiding away from Nero and Raven who probably looked into my direction.".. Oh, sorry." It was Rogue who is bending over as he hides with me."W-w-why are you here?" I ask him, surprised to see one of Raven's supposed love interest in the plaza."Well.. I thought I saw you.. so I.. just.. came to check." Rogue shyly averts his gaze as he blushes.'Ugh.' I can't control the disgusted look on my face as he gets all mushy around me."Wait." I turn back to the direction where Raven and Nero are.As I watch Raven and Nero awkwardly standing in front of each other, the realization sinks in. Rogue's presence could potentially ruin everything.'I need to get rid of him.. now!'I turn to Rogue, a forced smile on my face."Hey Rogue.. I actually have something to tell you." I start, my voice as casual as I can make it."What're you hiding from?" Rogue asks innocently, completely unaware about Raven and Nero.'He's a quick one, isn't he?' I jolt slightly as he immediately cuts me off with a question.I force a laugh, trying to sound nonchalant."Oh.. well, I'm just.. um.. observing something. But that's not important right now." I stammer, trying to deflect his question as quickly as possible.Rogue's eyes narrow as he looks at me, clearly not buying my excuse. But before he can say anything else, I cut in."But listen, I-i am really busy right now.""On?" Rogue asks, tilting his head as he gets curious on me.'Ugh, this guy is like a thorn on my side!' I mentally say as I cringe.Raven and Nero seemed to have go on ahead with the tickets in hand.'Crap, I'll lose them!' I panicked and looked back at Rogue."S-see, there's this really nice place I wanna go to- but, I only brought the ticket online! So.. I was hoping you could show me?" I turn back to Rogue."Hmm? 'Enchanted Wonderworld'?" Rogue reads the ticket as I show him."Yeah! That's the place!" I say excitedly, trying to act like this is all a big coincidence.Rogue seems to fall for it, his eyes widen as he looks at the ticket."Woah, this place is like really expensive. Who's going with you?" He asks, his attention entirely on the ticket now."H-huh--? Uhh.. I'm alone.. so." I look away as I answer.'I definitely can't tell him that Raven is on a date with someone else and I'm watching over them.' I think to myself."Eh? Really? Can I join?" Rogue happily asks me, his eyes sparking with excitement.I mentally curse as Rogue immediately suggests joining me."Umm, well.. it's kind of a solo thing." I try to think of excuses on the spot, but nothing comes to mind.Rogue looks at me, his eyes pleading like a little puppy.'Damn it.. I really don't want him to come along.. but what choice do I have?'"Look, you don't even have a ticket, right?" I ask him."That's okay. I have ways." Rogue answers with a cheeky smile, showing his shark-like teeth."Oi." I frown at him.But Rogue chuckles in response as he replies casually. "Haha, it's okay. Its only bad if I get caught. So, let's go."'This guy really.. isn't sane, is he? He's okay with breaking the law with that smile of his.' I gulped nervously and sigh."Ugh.. fine.." I reluctantly agreed along."Yesssss!" Rogue exclaims happily, his eyes gleaming with excitement.I mentally curse again, but I know there's no turning back now."Alright, let's get going then." I say with a resigned sigh, knowing that I'm stuck with Rogue for the rest of the day now.As we walk towards the entrance of the Enchanted Wonderworld, I can't help but feel a mix of frustration and resignation.'This is not how I planned this to go at all.'"Where should we head first?" Raven's voice echoes nearby and I turn to hide by the pole as I watch her and Nero looking at the area."Well, I'm not really big on rides, so we can go to where you want." Nero replies."Huh.. well, Estelle would've probably gone for something wild, wouldn't she?" Raven says with a slight chuckle."She seems like the type. " Nero replies again, keeping the same nonchalant manner.'At least it isn't as awkward as when they meet--' Just when I was in my thought process, Rogue grabbed me by the shoulder again which made me jolt once more."Dude--! Stop doing that and just call me-- wait, where'd you get in?" Though I was surprised, I was immediately shocked to see him inside without trouble."By the emergency exit." Rogue answers with a smile."I.. ugh, alright. I won't ask more of your illegal ways." I mutter."Wow, it's really fun here! " Rogue says as he looks around, excited like a dog.'So carefree.. ' I watch him as I turn my gaze back to Raven and Nero who are already far away."Well, I'll go walk around this direction." I casually say as I make my way to the direction Raven and Nero went to."Okay!" Rogue says happily as he joins along with me.As we slowly approach closer to where Raven and Nero are, I try to stay hidden to avoid being noticed. But Rogue, on the other hand, seems like he doesn't care at all.'Well, at least he doesn't notice Raven and Nero.''But.. this guy sticks out like a sore thumb, with his messy black hair and tall figure.''Ugh, he's gonna end up attracting attention and ruining everything.' I think anxiously.As Raven and Nero goes on to the rollercoaster attraction with a long line, I follow along, with Rogue sticking close by, still unaware of Raven's presence at least.We watch Raven and Nero stand in the queue for the rollercoaster. I try to maintain a fair distance, still keeping my presence hidden from them."Do you like rollercoasters, Raven?" Nero asks Raven politely as she turns her attention to him."Ah, well.. I do. What about you, Nero?" Raven asks Nero who thinks for a moment before responding."I'm not really a fan." He responds with a shrug."I get a bit queasy on rides, to be honest."The line slowly moves forward as the two continue to chat casually."Eh? But.. you should've said so earlier!" Raven says, her smile turning to a worried one expression.She looks for a way to leave the line since they are next but Nero speaks again with a nonchalant yet gentle tone."No, no, it's fine, really. I can handle it." Nero reassures her."It's not a big deal, don't worry."As they reach the front of the line, the attendant signals them to get on the ride.Raven glances at Nero, still seeming a bit concerned."Don't push yourself, okay?" Raven tells Nero gently."I'll be fine, I promise." Nero reassures her with a small smile as they get into the rollercoaster car.I watch as they buckle in, wondering how Nero will handle the upcoming ride."Hey, we're being told to ride too. " Rogue interrupts me as he is eating a popcorn."Umm.. food isn't allowed in the ride.. " One of the attendant tries to tell Rogue but just from his figure and gaze alone, they froze."... " Rogue seemingly looks threatening as he just stares down at the attendant, he looks upset by the idea of his popcorn being taken away, so he frowns.".. N-never mind.. " The attendant nervously says as they back away slowly and nervously."Since when did you get time to buy popcorn while we were waiting. " I tell Rogue as he looks back at me."A couple gave it to me while they were in line, they left just now. " Rogue answers nonchalantly."... D-did you threaten them or something?" I asked, worried for what he just did over a popcorn."Eh?! No!" He denies, completely offended and surprised by my assumption."... Okay.. " I mutter as I look at the rollercoaster car.Me and Rogue follow along to the ride while he holds his popcorn and eats it.Though since Raven and Nero are the front, we were at the furthest back.As the ride starts, the thrill starts to build.Raven and Nero are in the front car, blissfully unaware of our presence behind them. I try to maintain my focus on them, occasionally glancing at Rogue who is enjoying his popcorn, completely unbothered by the situation.As the ride gains momentum and starts its first ascent, I brace myself and grip the safety bars tightly.The rollercoaster climbs higher and higher, reaching its peak before plunging down suddenly.Raven and Nero let out screams as the ride takes a sharp turn.As we follow behind them, Rogue's popcorn flew away leaving nothing but the bag of it and eventually flying off as well as we all scream from the rollercoaster ride.The ride continues its wild journey, taking us through loops and spins, each more dizzying than the last.Throughout the entire ride, Raven and Nero are in view, their reactions and excitement mirroring the thrill of the ride.'This is.. fun.. ' I think to myself as I let loose and scream with the top of my lungs happily."..." While I was unaware of Rogue staring at me in awe, the ride continues and eventually it has come to an end.As the ride comes to a halt and the car stops, I sit there for a moment, catching my breath and trying to calm my beating heart."That was intense!" I exclaim, adrenaline still coursing through my veins.I look over at Raven and Nero, who look a bit shaken but are also adrenaline pumped from the ride. I can still hear them talking as we approach the exit."You're smiling.." Rogue mutters softly as he keeps his gaze on me.I glance over at Rogue, noticing his gaze on me. I realize that I had a smile on my face and immediately try to compose myself."Y-yeah, well, that was pretty fun, I guess." I reply, trying to act indifferent.I quickly look away from Rogue and focus my attention back on Raven and Nero, who are walking towards a nearby bench."It was fun, but.. are you okay?" Raven smiles happily before turning back to Nero who she pays close attention to."Yeah.. I'm okay. It was.. something, but.. can we try a much calmer ride, next time? I.. I feel like throwing up.." Nero says, clearly looking pale from the rollercoaster.Raven's expression gets more etched with concern and worry as she speaks softly to him. "Okay. Let's go. Can you stand on your own? ""I.. feel dizzy.. but I'll.. try.. " Nero says as he tries to walk carefully, but his movements were wobbly.I felt bad for him as I watch from the distance, and though they still don't see me and Rogue yet, I still keep a long distance, just enough to be able to see them properly.I watch Raven reach out to Nero with her hand as she looks at him with a soft expression."... Alright, hold my hand. " Raven says gently.Nero looks up at Raven, his expression still pale and anxious as he looked at her hand."... Okay.. " He replies as he takes her hand."... " There was nothing but silence in my ears as everything blurs out.'They are.. holding hands.' I think as I watch Raven and Nero holding hands together.'Even though I was the one who pushed them to date. ''Even though I was the one expecting them to have a happy relationship by the end of this.'My eyes focused on them as my heart and every part of my body internally feels like they dropped harder than when the rollercoaster did ups and downs in the ride.'I didn't like it.''I didn't like Raven holding anyone's hand.'TO BE CONTINUED