Rift and Rollers

Rift what?!

"I, Eunseo, the guardian of the Rift Bridge, summoned you here to explain how you got back in your world." The lady in a traditional hanbok spoke, her pale complexion giving her an ethereal presence. I felt a twinge of fear—not of ghosts, but of the unknown.

"Do not be afraid, my lady. I am just here to let you know, you can go back to Valeraine," she reassured me, guiding me into a gazebo adorned with traditional tables and floor seating.

As she poured me tea, I studied her face. Her features seemed familiar, though I couldn't place them.

"The Rift Storm will happen again, but it will take some time. Currently, we are in the Rift Bridge, a nexus connecting different realms. Unfortunately, Rift Storms have become more frequent lately due to imbalances caused by life forces from various realms continuing their activities without harmony," she explained as I sipped the tea cautiously. Is this poison or potion?

"It's an ordinary tea, you don't have to worry about anything. Rest assured it is safe to drink," she added, as if she could read my thoughts. I nearly spit it out in shock.

"What should we do then? And why am I the only one you called here?" I asked. If it's about the Rift, I-seo should be involved too since it's based on her novel.

"Remember when Lady I-seo used you as a reference for the character of the Saintess?" she prompted. I nodded, recalling I-seo's stories.

"It's the 7th cycle of your life now…." 7th what? Before I could respond, I jolted awake, furious. How could she leave me hanging like that? If she summoned me, maybe I could summon her back—through incense, a Ouija board, or even a strongly worded text message? Absurd, but given recent events, nothing seemed impossible.

__________

Days passed, and we returned to work, and since that confusing dream. Thankfully, our company was lenient enough to let us back despite our two-day disappearance, since a week in Valeraine equals just one day here.

As I continued working, a commotion erupted near the elevator. I glanced at I-seo, silently asking, "What's going on?"

We approached and to our shock, two towering figures—Luke and Amiel—stood inside.

"Since when are they in the elevator? Are they stuck? Or maybe here for business? Has anyone in Valeraine returned to Korea as well?" I murmured beside I-seo who was confused as well.

Their eyes met ours, and they began to move toward us with shocked looks on their faces as the elevator doors closed abruptly. Were they playing with the buttons or lost?

"Sena," I-seo whispered as we watched the elevator descend and ascend repeatedly.

"I think it's the same as the day your car door was amputated. Thankfully, the elevator door is still intact. But why are they here?" I facepalmed, realizing the potential chaos if others noticed.

"I think it will take a while for them to reach our floor. Look," I pointed out the floor indicator—it was stopping on every floor. We were on the 53rd floor of the Lotte World Tower, so they'd be here soon.

While others returned to their desks, I-seo and I waited for Luke and Amiel, referring to them as "those two Wackadoos" instead of morons.

As we overheard other colleagues commenting on how tall and strikingly handsome Luke and Amiel were, I-seo and I exchanged amused looks. After all, I-seo had described their divine features in her novel, making their appearances no surprise.

Almost an hour later, Luke and Amiel reappeared, looking dizzy and queasy.

"Senaaaaaa! I-seoooooooo!" Amiel shouted loudly with a whining look that was about to hug us and draw attention. I pinched his ear and dragged them back to the elevator. Our colleagues looked at us, confused. I was sure that by the time we returned, we would be flooded with questions about these two.

I-seo was laughing, while Luke looked like he was about to throw up. I released Amiel's ear and asked I-seo to press the basement button so we could drive them home.

"What are you two doing here and how did you know we're here?!" I demanded, frustration evident. The building's security was tight; how did they bypass it?

"We followed you. We're afraid something like how we got back here will happen," Amiel replied, sulking. I felt like the bad guy—how could I be mad at that puppy face? Meanwhile, I-seo was checking Amiel's ear which I had pinched, noticing how close these two are.

"Hey, you two. Is there something you want to tell me?" I asked, noticing I-seo's determined expression.

"It's been a while now, my dearest best friend. We were about to tell you but you seemed busy because of someone ehehehe," I-seo teased, giving Luke a mischievous look.

"Hello. It's Director Park, please cancel my meetings for the afternoon today. I got an emergency matter." I just shrugged while I talked to my assistant, Myeong.

"You got a lot to cancel, boss! Have mercy on me! I have to reschedule everything again," Myeong said on the other side of the line. I massaged my forehead as we waited to arrive in the basement.

"You're not even in the office. Just let them know it will be rescheduled tomorrow. They can't do anything about that," I said with authority. I knew it was a bad habit to just do something like this in my power, but if I didn't, for sure there would be a greater cost than me rescheduling all my meetings just to assist these two Wackadoos.

When we finally reached the Amusement Park instead of going to the basement to drive these two home, we found Myeong with Eunwoo by his side, looking both worried and slightly annoyed as they saw us here.

"Director Park! You said you have an emergency matter! What is this? And you too, Ms. I-seo?!" Myeong exclaimed, placing his hands on his chest and acting like a damsel in distress. Eunwoo hugged him tightly, glaring at Luke. Luke, feeling a mix of jealousy and protectiveness, stepped between us to block my view of Myeong.

"Should I expel these two?" Luke muttered under his breath, feeling conflicted.

I immediately moved to block Luke's sight of Myeong, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "No! Luke, don't," I whispered fiercely.

Myeong, still clutching his chest, looked between me and Luke. "How dare you threaten me, muscled man or whoever you are? If you're so protective of your girlfriend, you don't have to worry! I'm gay!" he squeaked dramatically, eyes darting back and forth.

"Hey, Myeong! You got it all wrong!" I said about the part of me being Luke's girlfriend. My goodness! The misunderstandings are getting out of hand.

I-seo and Amiel watched in confusion as Myeong tried to maintain his composure, Eunwoo standing protectively beside him. I-seo glanced between Myeong and me, clearly puzzled.

"What is happening here?" Amiel whispered to I-seo, while Luke glanced at me apologetically.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Myeong, this is not what it looks like. We just… ran into each other here and I-I am not his g-girlfriend." I said making my voice as low as possible.

Myeong scoffed, though Eunwoo's supportive grip on his waist kept him from escalating further. "Well, Director Park, next time you have an emergency date, maybe choose a less... crowded location?"

I-seo couldn't help but laugh, while Amiel looked equally amused and bewildered. Luke looked torn, still unsure how to respond.

Before things could get any more awkward, I-seo stepped forward, grabbing both Luke and Amiel's hands. "Alright, guys, let's all just relax and enjoy the park. We've got enough chaos without adding office drama to the mix."

Eunwoo gave Luke a stern look but nodded, releasing Myeong's hand. "Come on, Myeong, let's ride that new roller coaster you were talking about," he said, tugging him towards the rides.

Myeong huffed but followed Eunwoo, giving me one last reproachful glance. "I'll see you Monday, Director Park. Don't let me catch you again in these ridiculous situations."

"Hey, Myeong, why don't you just join us instead? You and Eunwoo," I asked, since we're already here, why not just enjoy the moment?

I let out a huge sigh, turning to see I-seo and Amiel staring at me like I had three heads.

"What?" I asked with a shrug. "He's my assistant. We both lied to get out of work. Guess we're even now."

Luke, still trying to process the whole scene, finally relaxed his stance. "I… apologize for suggesting we expel them," he mumbled, cheeks reddening a bit. "I thought they were—"

"I know," I patted his arm. "Just remember, we're in Korea and not in Valeraine, and we don't 'expel' people for crossing our paths."

He nodded solemnly. "Understood."

I-seo snorted. "I'd definitely put this on my inkstagram."

Amiel gave me a small, bewildered smile. "Your world is more complicated than I expected. But in a fun way."

I managed a laugh, the tension draining out of my shoulders. "Yeah, fun. Let's go ride a roller coaster before my assistant decides to check on me again."

As we walked around the park, Myeong was just behind us, eyes occasionally darting toward Luke and Amiel. The moment he spotted us again, he approached with a critical gaze.

"Director Park, if you don't mind my asking, who are these two towering giants with you? Standing next to them makes me feel like a preschooler!" Myeong quipped, flipping his hair dramatically. Eunwoo nodded in agreement, comparing Luke and Amiel's heights with a rueful smile.

Luke and Amiel exchanged puzzled looks, not entirely sure how to handle Myeong's theatrical personality. Sensing the tension, I-seo cleared her throat.

"Let me do the honors," she said, grinning. "Myeong, Eunwoo, meet Luke and Amiel."

I-seo placed a hand on Amiel's shoulder, pride evident in her eyes.

"This dashing guy here is my boyfriend, Amiel. Straight out of the best fantasy, if you ask me." She winked, causing Amiel to blush slightly.

"And those two… well, let's just say I'm not sure if they're still in the 'dating' stage or if there's already a secret wedding planned." Then, she shifted her gaze to Luke and Sena with a mischievous smile. 

"If you ask me, it's only a matter of time before they start writing sonnets to each other." She let out a playful snicker.

"W-What are you talking about?!" I protested, my cheeks burning.

Luke, equally flustered, coughed into his fist. "We're—uh—just traveling companions." He avoided eye contact, causing I-seo and Myeong to share an amused grin.

Myeong arched an eyebrow, the corners of his lips curving into a smirk. "Ah, traveling companions, I see. You two remind me of those drama leads who start bickering but end up eloping."

"Myeong!" I hissed, mortified.

Eunwoo nudged Myeong gently. "Don't tease them so much. Come on, let's go enjoy the park together."

With introductions complete—and Luke and Amiel thoroughly embarrassed—we proceeded to explore the park in one big group, comedic tension diffusing into friendly banter.

Feeling adventurous, I-seo suggested we tackle the "Haunted House of Horrors" next. The sign was ominous, but the excitement in the air was contagious.

Inside, the air was thick with fog, and eerie sounds echoed through the corridors. Flickering lights cast long shadows on the walls, and the scent of damp earth and old wood filled our noses. We reached a particularly scary section with animatronic scarers ready to jump out and frighten visitors.

"Ahh! What the—" Amiel was the first to react. He let out a scandalous scream as a giant spider sprang out from the darkness, its legs twitching unnaturally. I-seo quickly grabbed his arm, pulling him outside to safety.

"Amiel, calm down! It's just a fake spider. You're not afraid of the dragons and monsters in Valeraine, but here you are trembling in fear of animatronics," she chuckled, trying to hide her amusement.

Meanwhile, Luke, driven by a mix of curiosity and anxiety, held onto my sleeve tightly as we approached the next scare.

"I-I can't believe we're doing this," he whispered, eyes wide as the next scare actor emerged from behind a curtain, his face painted grotesquely.

"Relax, Luke. It's all in good fun," I reassured him, though my own heart was racing.

As we navigated the haunted house, Amiel, still recovering from the fake spider scare, couldn't help but join in the theatrics. Standing beside I-seo, he shouted exaggeratedly.

At the same moment, Myeong and Eunwoo found themselves in another intense scare site. Instead of verbal reactions, they simply screamed in unison, their voices blending with the cacophony of other terrified visitors. Their synchronized screams were so perfectly timed that passersby couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected humor.

"You two are something else," I-seo remarked, shaking her head between giggles.

Luke, still clutching my sleeve, couldn't help but grin despite the scares. "Well, this is definitely a first for us. Surviving haunted houses—it's a package deal in this world."

As we exited the haunted house into the cool evening air, breathless from the mix of fear and laughter, I-seo slapped Amiel on the back. "See? Nothing to it. Maybe next time, we can try something less... spooky."

I took a moment to catch my breath, watching as Myeong and Eunwoo energetically discussed their experience inside. Myeong was animatedly gesturing about the scares, while Eunwoo chuckled, shaking her head at his antics.

Our next stop was the rollercoaster. Seeing how Luke and Amiel reacted with shock as they saw how steep and high the loops were, I could see their gulps. I laugh at the thought of them screaming while we ride. So I gestured to fall in line for the rollercoaster together with the other visitors.

As we ride the rollercoaster, with Luke beside me, I-seo and Amiel on our back, and Myeong and Eunwoo on the next seats. The rollercoaster started and I could not suppress my emotions to laugh upon seeing Luke's face. His eyes closed and pursed his lips to make sure no screams would burst out of his mouth. This is entertaining, that's what I have in mind.

"I will never poke a bald man's head again! I will never hurt mother nature again by using leaves to wipe my butt!" His dramatic declaration had I-seo laughing uncontrollably beside him, tears streaming down her cheeks from sheer amusement.

I enjoyed the part of being with them and hearing them scream in unison together with the other people. Myeong and Eunwoo were still screaming in unison on every loop, while Amiel was still in his dramatic moments, shouting nonsense like earlier.

"Next time! I will mimic dolphins instead of ducks! Mother! I want to go down now!" His antics were a little scandalous, to think he's a grown man.

As the ride was finished, Luke held onto my sleeve while the rest were seated on the nearby bench. I-seo was assisting Amiel who's currently throwing up, while Myeong and Eunwoo were on their lovey-dovey moments.

I looked at Luke whose face was pale so I offered a menthol candy, for me it helps when I am feeling nauseous.

"It's too spicy..." Luke said nonchalantly. Poor thing, I thought he was already used to some things here in Korea, but I guess not.

"Here," I gave him the tissue so he could spew it out. He obliged and threw it out. Now I realized something I have never done before...

"I think we're getting the hang of this," Luke and Amiel nodded in agreement, their earlier apprehensions now replaced with a sense of adventure.

As the night sky filled with fireworks, we found ourselves sitting together on a bench, watching the colorful explosions light up the darkness. The vibrant display reflected in our eyes, creating a magical ambiance. The air was filled with the sweet scent of caramel popcorn and the distant sounds of laughter and chatter from other park-goers.

"You know, this turned out to be a pretty good afternoon," I-seo mused, nudging me playfully. Her laughter was infectious, making me feel more relaxed than I had in weeks.

Luke smiled, looking genuinely relaxed for the first time since arriving. "Yeah, it's been… fun. Thanks for bringing us here, Sena."

Amiel nodded, adding, "Definitely better than being stuck in the office or anything like that."

Just then, a soft voice interrupted us. "Director Park,"

I looked up to see Myeong and Eunwoo approaching, their earlier tension replaced by smiles. Myeong was holding a small bag of snacks, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Thankfully, we had joined you. After all, it's not every day we get to see our director having fun with two Greek-like gods and you," Myeong said, flashing a charming smile. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he waved the bag of snacks in the air.

I-seo laughed, nudging me. "Looks like we're on a triple date now."

Luke and Amiel exchanged surprised but pleased looks. "Well, this is unexpected," Luke said, chuckling.

Amiel nodded, adding, "But in a good way. The more, the merrier."

Myeong, ever the life of the party, began narrating our adventures loudly, making exaggerated comments about each ride.

"Look at us, conquering Ferris wheels and defeating haunted houses! This is better than any data spreadsheet or dashboards," Myeong proclaimed, drawing amused glances from passersby. He gestured grandly towards the towering Ferris wheel in the distance, his arms wide open as if he were conducting an orchestra.

Eunwoo, always supportive, added, "And don't forget the epic roller coaster showdown. I think we've earned some ice cream now."

I-seo giggled, snapping pictures of everyone's antics. "This is definitely going into my next chapter." Gladly, she was taking pictures and videos again.

Her being the one who compiled everything helped us before, so it might help us again in the future. But, for me, this one will be treasured deep in my heart forever. I have never been this happy in my life before.

We all laughed together, the absurdity of our situations making the day even more memorable. Myeong's loud and flamboyant nature kept everyone entertained, ensuring that our triple date was filled with laughter and lighthearted fun. His ability to turn even the simplest moments into grand performances added a delightful charm to our group dynamic.

As the fireworks continued to light up the sky, I felt a deep sense of camaraderie and friendship that transcended realms and worlds. Despite the chaos of Rift Storms and the complexities of our intertwined destinies, moments like these reminded me of the importance of connection and laughter.

"And to think, this all started with a Rift Storm," I whispered to myself, a content smile on my face. "Life is never boring, not with all of you by my side."