Withered - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Chaeng is at my house, just watching baseball with dad again. Sana unnie and Momo unnie are out with the other two kids, look like they getting close these days.
"Chaengie" I call out to him.
"Yeah?" he answers with eyes still locked to the television screen.
"Wanna go out?" I ask, settling down next to him. I already completed my homework doing some revision and now I'm bored.
"I'm watching Minari, later"
"Ahhh~please~~" I whine, holding his arms as shake it. He let his body swayed left and right before he finally looks at me.
"Father! Look at her whining, please do something" He rebukes. I quickly throw a dirty look and glare at my dad, signalling him to take my side.
"Mi----" Dad press his lips then awkwardly laugh "Haha just go with her Chae, she really has her mother death stare"
"What? Urrgg alright let me go first" He says pushing me away by flicking my forehead. And that's hurt but never mind, I won't be mad since he agreed. I'll let it pass.
"Where are you going?" I ask when he suddenly stands and walks away.
"To the bathroom, Why? Wanna join?" He smirks.
I don't answer but blush crazily. He got me,  geez, I hate it when it happened.
"Look at your face! It's like a toma--"
He laughs earning a smack at the back of his head from my mom.
"Wha-? Mother~ ouch"
"Stop teasing her, " Mom says as she put the tray full of fruits on the table then sits beside me. I stick my tongue out at him who glaring at me. Dad really doesn't care and just continue watching the game. Good job dad
"And you----" Mom adds, turn around to face me
"Yeah?"
flick
Geez not again. Why? Arrgh my forehead hurts. It's exactly at the same place where chaeng flick it earlier. "Mom?! Why me?!" I cried, rubbing my forehead. I bet it's super red now.
"You already grow up. Don't force Chaeng to come with you" Mom scolds.
Seriously?!
I can see him at the corner of my eyes making stupid faces mocking me behind my mom back. I wish I could punch him and get rid of that annoying smile.
Errgh I hate him.
*  *  *  *
I stand stoned to the view in front of me. Heat crashing down on me like an ocean of lava. I can hear the thick clanking of rides moving, the shuddering of rails and tracks, and the screams of their passengers as they are whipped around.
Theme Park.
My greatest nightmare. My eyes shiver as I snap my head to Chaengie who's paying our entrance ticket. How do we end up here? Both of us bickered about where to go until we came out with a conclusion, to play the Pop Up Pirate Barrel Roulette Game. And I lose, I'm good at games but that doesn't mean I'm lucky.
"Chaeng, I can only ride the Carousel. That's it" I noted. The Cub laughs and pushes me to enter.
My stomach fills with even more butterflies of nervousness as we approach the ride, the screams of the passengers making me want to disappear. "Come on, Pingu, let's have some fun." Chaeng nudges me in the side, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
"Yeah, fun." I breathe feeling oxygen leave my body as we walk closer to the lady with the headset. I look at the ride, raising my head up and up, and up, and up then realize, it's a freaking Drop Tower. I harshly tug Chaeng's leather jacket in panic "Are you deaf!? I said Carousel, Merry-Go-Round. What are you doing!?"
"Having fun?" He tilts his head. I scoff and starts to escape. This is ridiculous. I still wanted to live. But before I could, the lady grabs my arms and smile as she guides me to my seat. I'm speechless. Chaengie chuckles and sits next to me. I feel like I want to rip his mouth for laughing at me.
More passengers get it and the ride begins. I let out a shuddering sigh. The rumbling sounds monopoly my conscious as the gondola drags itself up with effort. I'm strapped into my seat tight but I'm still worrying. My hands tighten on the bar and my breath quickens in fear. Chaeng peek at me "It's awfully high isn't it?" He laughs nervously, no not because he's afraid of the ride but because of me. I'm sure my face has turn green.
I try not to think about what happens when we reach the top. I look around to distract yourself, and for a moment I can see an entire kingdom of laughter and food and swooping machinery, then...I feel Chaeng sneak in and intertwine our hands, giving it a little squeeze of assurance. Although my hand is trembling, I clutch at his fingers anyway. In case if I indeed fall from the gondola, I'm bringing him with me. I won't die alone!
Soon, the gondola drop. It happens so fast, all I can make out is a blur of colour. Yellow, blues, and reds stream pass me up and down as blinding speed. All I can hear are the ear-splitting screams around me. Even my own are buried in the cacophony of sound erupting from the gondola. After it's all over I hurriedly got out with a stumble and starts walking out like a drunken penguin. I crouch when my legs give in, clutching my chest as I take a deep breath.
Chaeng crouch next to me, caressing my hair. He has the expression of a father who has just lost his child, that concern and fear face. He then supports me to stands and drags my lost soul to the nearest bench. He hands me mineral water which I drink instantly. "I'm going home or I'll just watch you play" I blurt. I really start to regret asking him out, now I just want to sleep and rest after one life-threatening ride. I'd enough.
Chaeng shakes his head and lightly pinch my cheeks "No no. We'll just gonna take the light one from now on, I promise. How 'bout Carousel the one you like the most or the Ferris Wheel or Bumper Cars?"
I lift my gaze to him. It's always like this. Theme park is one of the things we are contrasted with. He likes extreme ride while I can't ride those. I'm always sorry that because of me he restrained himself from having fun. If I asked him to ride by himself while I'll just watch outside, he will refuse saying that he don't want to leave me alone in the crowded area.
"Alright, but please no more scary ride" I plead.
"No more scary ride" He smiles.
Before we go to the family theme rides he stops and hit himself, saying that he forgot to buy that. And I don't quite get what is 'that' he asks me to wait for him as he runs to nowhere then come back after a few minutes, holding a headband. Ahh, he meant a headband. He gives me one with a cat ear and a devil looking horn for him, really suits him so much. After an exhausting day, we proceed with lunch.
"So, where next?" he asks as he drinks the lemon juice he ordered earlier.
I hum then remember something "Umm, do you still remember the park we always go when we're a child?"
"Yup, let's go there then"
*  *  *  *
After finishing our lunch, Chaeng drives us to the park where we first met. The sun is setting and there are only a few swallows left in the sky. Sitting there with my head rested on the Cub's shoulder, I finally relax staring into this beautiful act of nature. The sunset is glorious, all rosy and salmon pink.
"It's been…..ten years right?" he asks as he trails his finger at the bench, the exact bench where I once sat and cried because I lost my way.
"Yeah, time pass really fast" To count from the first time we met until now, we've been friends for over ten years and I'm glad to have him as my best friend, enemy and at the same time my younger brother.
"Say mina, do you remember the big tree?"
"Oh, the treasure box, we bury it next to the big tree and plan to dig it when we….umm" I tilt my head.
"Turns twenty-five" he cuts in.
"Yup, I'm still wondering tho what did you write in your letter? We kinda write our biggest secret right? And stuff our diary"
"Yeah, how about you? What did you write?"
"Let's find out when we turn twenty-five. Can't break the promise" I grin while snuggling closer to him.
"Hey, mina?"
"Humm" I only hummed in respond, closing my eyes, feeling the soft breeze that caresses my face.
"My dad calls me yesterday and seems like I need to go to America for a while after our graduation"
Upon hearing that I lift my head and face him with a shock expression. I mean that's so sudden and why would he go there? "W-why? When?" I ask, stuttering.
"He needs my help to sort things in his company, to be exact two months from now, I'll leave Korea. I won't be long tho" He explains smiling widely at me.
How come he just smile like that
"How long?"
"About a year?" he says avoiding my eyes.
"What?! You kidding me aren't you?" I raise my voice and watch him dropping his head but weirdly enough he lifts his chin and smirk. Anger and disappointment churned within me.
What the heck Chaeyoung?
"Why? Are you going to miss me?" He teases.
Urrgh I'm really not in a mood for this. I erupt in my furious state. I know that this feeling will pass, but while it hasn't, I'm well aware I could not function hurt or think properly now. So I escape. I stand up and walk away leaving him.
*  *  *  *
I go home by myself riding a bus. As soon as I arrive, I climb upstairs ignoring my mom who keeps asking me about Chaeng and why am I alone. I close my room door and flop on the bed. Thinking why I am mad? Why is it a big deal to me? Geez, whatever I'll get bald if I keep reckoning about it. Then I fall into sleep as I'm thinking of not thinking around it, ends up stressing myself.
The next day, Chaeng come over my house or you can say directly to my room. Knocking my door with that familiar and annoying rhythmic knock.
"What?!" I shout with my soft voice because he just interrupts my sleep.
"Morning!! Hug time!" He suddenly pulls me into a tight hug while I'm still processing of what just happened and when I do, I quickly push him and cross my arms across my chest, throwing a glare that could melt bone.
He smiles showing his dimple and pulls a bar of chocolate from his pocket, handing it to me. I don't fall for his trap although it's a chocolate, I still don't feel like to talk to him. When he realizes his plan doesn't work, he runs downstairs without saying anything leaving me dumbfounded. After a few seconds there he is again in front of me who still wearing my pyjama because of a certain Cub. I stare at him as he gestures me to look down at what he's holding. A plate with omurice (fried rice omelette) and Heinz ketchup on top that write 'I'm sorry' I could feel my tears but quickly wipe it. I lift my head staring at him as his expression and that bright smile of his changes into a sad one.
I hold his chin and lift it as he only staring at his feet. We look at each other and I smile weakly before taking the plate and ask him to wait outside. I wash, change my clothes, open the door, hug him tight then walk to the kitchen with the omurice in hands.
We eat our breakfast at the dining table and Chaeyoungie is there too. As I'm eating the omurice my mom then tells us that Chaengie comes to our house early in the morning and asks my mom to help him cooked the omurice. I laugh and smile at him who shyly looking down in embarrassment. He then opens up about his leaving after our graduation, which definitely shook my parents.
After breakfast, Chaengie and my dad go out to somewhere while unnies keep mocking and teasing me about Chaengie. Seriously, for the nth time, I'm repeating my words that there's nothing between us but this squirrel and this big eater couldn't stop but to laugh at me.
I really have an annoying sister.
I only shake my head and backfired them using Tzuyu and Hyun, surprisingly they shut their mouth and smiling shyly. There's definitely something between them. I laugh at them then continue playing my games.