My Ex-Girlfriend Regrets Dumping Me

48 – Tremor (2)

“…”

Ha-yeon and I slumped onto the bench.

No wonder, this roller coaster in this amusement park was the highest in Korea.

From the get-go, it’s not that scary to like an amusement park.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. But you don’t look okay.”

As we ask each other’s well-being with no soul in our voices.

I grabbed my trembling legs and put on airs.

“Oh, it’s nothing. They say it’s the highest roller coaster in Korea.”

“For that, your voice is shaking. Yul-ah.”

“You acted tough at first. But when you dropped, you screamed a lot.”

At my provocation, Ha-yeon, as if she was scratched, raised and lowered her eyebrows.

Ha-yeon tidied up her voice and said casually.

“It’s not that; it’s fun to scream while riding.”

“Well, well, of course. Your voice is all worn out. It must be so much fun to scream while riding.”

So we face each other.

With tingling, glaring at each other, we realize our faces are a mess.

Ha-yeon’s silky hair has become a mess.

“Phew”

We both burst into laughter as we look at each other’s face.

The laughter didn’t stop for a face that looked worse than usual.

Shivering, we collapsed back onto the bench.

“It’s really so scary. Haven’t ridden it in a long time.”

Ha-yeon revealed her true feelings first.

Following her, I put aside my pretense and confided.

“So. It used to be okay when we went often. But 2 years make it worse.”

When I used to go out with Ha-yeon often, it wasn’t that scary.

It would be a lie to say it wasn’t scary at all, but at least it wasn’t this exhausting.

“… Is your throat dry from screaming so much?”

I asked Ha-yeon.

As if she caught my intention, Ha-yeon smiled and replied.

“If you ask like that, you’re trying to buy me something.”

“Right. Actually, I’m thirsty. No, I mean my throat hurts.”

“I’ll go quickly and buy it. I don’t mind anything.”

I stood up from my seat at Ha-yeon’s words.

Eating alone was a bit awkward.

Besides, I already knew most of Ha-yeon’s preferences.

Whether it’s canned drinks or cafe beverages.

So she probably said that to me as well.

I took a pamphlet and went to find a place nearby that sells drinks.

…

…

…

I found a franchise cafe nearby and was heading back to the bench sooner than expected.

With cool drinks in both hands on a hot day, a refreshing sensation spread through my fingers.

I could see the bench where we were sitting in the distance.

“…Who is that?”

And next to it, a man was standing next to Ha-yeon.

For some reason, it felt like they were having an argument, so I quickened my pace.

Finally, I started to hear their voices gradually.

“Stop it! I’ve already told you. I don’t want it.”

“Hey, why are you getting angry? Wrinkling that pretty face. Instead of that, if you don’t have a boyfriend, how about me—”

As I approached, Ha-yeon’s dark expression brightened for a moment.

And hesitantly, she rushed towards me.

Forming the shape of an apology with her mouth, she stood by my side and said,

“I have a boyfriend. This is my boyfriend. Is that enough now?”

“…Is he really your boyfriend?”

The man looked at me suspiciously.

It seemed like he was being hunted.

Certainly, Ha-yeon’s appearance was noticeable.

It had happened occasionally even when we were dating.

…There was nothing else I could do.

Those little brats were overflowing with stubbornness, not easily shaken.

Before I got more annoyed, I gently leaned my arm on Hayeon.

As Hayeon saw me do that, she looked at me with eyes like a rabbit.

“Yes, right. Since he’s your boyfriend, let’s go now. Teacher.”

When I said that and hid Hayeon behind me, the guy turned his face into a sour expression and walked away.

And as if he wanted to be heard, he mumbled loudly.

“Tsk. Such a waste of a girl’s face. Why would you date a guy like that?”

“Hey! What did you just say?”

My heart ached a little at those words, but I stopped Hayeon, who was angrier than me, by her side.

It’ll only give me more headaches if I get involved in a needless argument.

Just endure it like a decent person.

…Still, my face wasn’t that bad.

It just looked that way compared to being next to Hayeon.

I felt slightly unjust.

And even the person who said it didn’t seem all that good-looking.

“…To look like that and mock someone’s face. Seriously.”

I bear with Hayeon, who vents her anger instead.

Anyway, Hayeon’s worries took precedence over anything else.

“Are you okay? Did something happen?”

“Yeah. Thanks for coming quickly.”

I briefly examine her appearance.

She doesn’t seem hurt or in any trouble.

“…Thanks. Yura. For helping.”

“It was nothing. Really.”

It wasn’t that difficult.

Just a few words would be enough.

But what bothered me more was the sensation of Hayeon still holding onto my arm.

“…Can you let go a bit for now? I can’t give this to you.”

“Ah… Yeah… sorry.”

I set down the coffee cup I had been holding while letting go of her.

A sigh, tinged with regret, escaped her lips. Perhaps my comment had embarrassed her. Hayeon’s face reddened slightly.

Before the atmosphere became too awkward, I handed her a drink and asked, “By the way, am I really that ugly?”

It was just a joke, a self-deprecating humor inspired by the comment the man had made earlier.

“Not at all. In fact, you’re quite handsome. Ignorant, though.”

But my attempt at humor fell flat.

Contrary to my intentions, Hayeon looked very serious.

“Oh…really?”

…Of course, that didn’t make me feel bad.

*

Like trying out a new character in a game.

Like immediately trying out the new expansion or DLC.

The next attraction for Hayeon and me was the newly renovated haunted house this summer.

“It says here that they’ve upgraded it to be even scarier than before.”

It would only make it scarier if we tried it, though.

“It’s even scarier now. Are you sure you want to do it? You’re not a fan of scary things.”

“…I still want to do it.”

“Okay. Do what you want.”

Honestly, I didn’t understand why Hayeon was so fixated on the haunted house.

She wasn’t someone who typically enjoyed these types of things.

She couldn’t watch scary movies and didn’t like anything gruesome.

So, when we usually went to amusement parks, we avoided the haunted house.

But for some reason, her stubbornness was uncharacteristically strong today.

*Gulp*

Even while we were still in line, she was nervous.

We could hear the sound of people swallowing their saliva all the way from here.

When it was our turn, with the help of an employee, we accepted our flashlights and entered the haunted house.

– Kki-ee-eeg. Thud!

As soon as we entered, the door shut with a strange sound.

Ha-yeon stopped in her tracks as if she’d been shot.

I chuckled lightly at her reaction.

“Should we just give up now? They said they’ll let us go if we give up.”

“I don’t want to give up.”

Ha-yeon was stubborn, and I knew I couldn’t change that.

Honestly, I wasn’t opposed to scary things.

Haunted houses or the like could be quite entertaining, after all.

“Well, then, I’ll go first?”

“No way, you can’t ditch me now. We came together, so we have to stick together.”

As I turned on my flashlight, Ha-yeon hurriedly stuck close by my side.

She twisted uncomfortably as if afraid of being left alone.

– Snap

Suddenly, red light shone before our eyes, revealing a large hand behind the glass.

Although it was inside a glass container, it looked so real.

“Hee-hee-hee! Why did the light suddenly come on … Why?”

Trembling, Ha-yeon looked at me.

Her pupils were shaking violently.

I immediately felt like teasing her some more.

I pursed my lips and asked, “Ready to give up?”

She bit her lip and shook her head.

“That thing over there looks like it has something in it.”

We moved forward and soon saw a narrow path.

It seemed ominous because of holes here and there.

However, since we couldn’t turn back, we had no choice but to push forward.

And when we took three more steps forward in the narrow passage…

– Thud

Something sprang out and grabbed my arm.

…Could it be Ha-yeon?

I looked around nervously.

But it wasn’t Hayeon who grabbed my arm.

“Hic!”

Because Hayeon was also held by some arm, she stopped in her place again.

Hayeon, looking at me with teary eyes, let out a scream that shattered eardrums.

“Ki-yaaah! Help. I’m sorry… Please help me!”

And hands started popping out from holes everywhere.

Startled, Hayeon tightly held onto me.

While the scent of gentle shampoo filled the air, it wasn’t the moment to notice it.

Unable to withstand the creepiness, I dashed out of the passage with Hayeon.

Of course, as soon as we passed through the passage, I realized it wasn’t the end.

“Gyeeh!”

“Hi-yaaah!”

A strange-looking ghost sprang out from somewhere beside us and chased after us.

It truly felt like a real ghostly experience.

Yelling along with Hayeon, I ran away.

“I’m sorry… I was wrong… I’ll live diligently… I hate this!”

Even though she pleaded with someone unknown.

…She never let go of both arms, tightly hugging my arm.