episode_0029

When you think of flowers at amusement parks, what comes to mind first?

A merry-go-round that anyone can spin comfortably? A gyro drop where you can enjoy an exhilarating thrill?

Of course there are those, but most people think of this.

“…!?”

“It’s okay. Because it’s not that scary.”

I held Ran’s hand tightly from the side, as she was so scared and cowered.

Our current location is 40m in the air.

It was about 10 stories tall.

The rattling vibration sound of a roller coaster going up the rails made the hearts of those who were still still.

Roller coasters aren’t that scary when you go down, but it’s quite thrilling when you go up.

For reference, even as I was saying this, the roller coaster was slowly increasing its altitude, little by little.

“Hibbung.”

Ran, who took courage in my words and raised her head for a moment, hiccuped.

There were already a few tears in her big eyes.

“…was it a bit harsh.”

I was sweating profusely.

For someone who is new to rides, the hurdles for a roller coaster may have been too high.

But it’s already too late to regret it.

Because once you ride a roller coaster, it doesn’t stop until the ride is over, no matter what happens.

“…”

“I said I was sorry.”

After finishing the ride, I was desperately apologizing to Ran who was sitting on the bench.

As a result, I couldn’t see Ran screaming like I thought.

Instead, all I could see was a look in their eyes that seemed very resentful of me.

I know I shouldn’t think like this, but Ran glaring at me while crying was quite cute.

“Aren’t you going to see your face?”

“…”

When I put on the straw hat I was holding while fixing Ran’s long hair that had become scattered due to the strong wind, he looked at me for a moment, but immediately turned his head again.

“If you forgive me now, I will give you this.”

This much was already expected.

Once the youngest child in our family gets upset, it tends to last for quite a long time.

And he is confident that he has mastered the art of soothing a upset Ran.

“…!”

Ran’s mouth widened when she saw the items I had just bought at a nearby store.

“Ice cream that can only be tasted here. Do you want to try it?”

I scooped up the contents with the spoon I was holding and brought it to her mouth.

Tiny, colorful beads were sparkling on top of a small pink plastic spoon.

One of the snacks that forms the two major mountains of churros at amusement parks.

It was beaded ice cream.

Well, as everyone knows, the power seemed to be very powerful.

If you look at Ran eating ice cream with a happy smile, as if you’ve never been upset.

Then, feeling playful for a moment, I asked Ran.

“Do you want to ride the roller coaster one more time?”

puck.

A small fern-like hand hit my leg.

Looking at him with his cheeks slightly puffed out and glaring at him, it seemed like his pout had not gone away at all.

Well, I actually had no intention of burning it again.

There is no need to bother Ran any more as long as we have confirmed that she is not screaming.

After that, I played with Ran on a fairly standard course.

We comforted Ran, who was traumatized by the ride, and put her on a merry-go-round, and in the afternoon, we went to Safari World and looked at animals together.

Although the roller coaster was scary enough to make her cry, Ran’s face was filled with a happy smile throughout the tour, as if she wasn’t that scared of the lion.

Currently, I was riding the Ferris wheel and looking at the scenery of the amusement park with Ran.

The scenery outside, illuminated by the red evening glow, was quite charming.

“What are you looking at?”

“…”

I asked that, but there was no answer from Ran.

It wasn’t because he couldn’t speak, it was because Ran was busy looking at the scenery outside the window.

Ran’s face was beautifully flushed as he watched the people who had become the size of ants clinging to the window.

The Ferris wheel was higher than I expected, so I was worried that I might get scared like I did on the roller coaster, but it seems I was unfounded.

Surprisingly, the next time you go on a roller coaster, you might ride it well.

As I was thinking this, Ran suddenly turned his head and was glaring at me with his sharp eyes.

“I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll definitely ask Ran and get on it. Promise.”

I released the hand I was holding tightly and held out my little finger, and as if I had been waiting, Ran’s finger, which was much smaller than my hand, followed.

If this happens, is it confirmed that I will come to the amusement park with Ran again?

“…”

“Did you have fun today?”

“…!”

Ran smiled brightly at my question.

Even without a cumbersome tablet or being able to hear it in person, I could always hear Ran’s story.

‘very! I enjoyed!’

This is what Ran was clearly saying to me right now.

**

When I got off the Ferris wheel, it was nearing closing time at the amusement park.

The square full of beautiful flowers, which had been full of people all day, was now deserted.

“What should I do?”

I was troubled for a moment.

Even if things go back like this, Ran will think she had a fun day without any complaints.

However, one thing has been on my mind since a while ago.

All of the rides and attractions I rode today reflected my intentions.

So, like with Jin-ah yesterday, I wanted to do one last thing that Ran really wanted to do.

While thinking that, I turned my gaze towards Ran, who was holding my right hand tightly, and Ran had a worried look on her face, as if she already knew what I was thinking.

Just as I could indirectly know what Ran was thinking, Ran was also similar.

There have been more than once that he caught my intention one step faster than others.

Am I perceptive? Or maybe I’m the type of person whose facial expressions show right away.

After a moment of groaning and looking lost in thought, Ran took my hand.

“Where do you go?”

“…”

In the dark space where the lights were turned off, Ran’s transparent eyes shone.

As I followed the light shining in the pupil, a space filled with colorful lights, as if the last fireworks were burning, came into view.

“The night parade starts at 19:30! Customers, please be careful not to cross the line!”

An amusement park employee dressed as a clown was shouting loudly.

Looking around, I noticed that all the guests remaining in the amusement park had all gone in this direction, and quite a lot of people were gathered in groups of twos and threes waiting for the upcoming event.

“Parade?”

Inside the large circular line, people wearing colorful makeup looked nervous.

The sight of people dressed as pirates, fairies, Alibaba, and dancers waiting for their turn made me feel like I was in a fairy tale book.

“Over there! Dragon!”

“Wow…”

Around the parade, children who appeared to be around the same age as Ran were exclaiming in exclamation, looking forward to something dreamlike that would happen in the future.

“Shall we go see it?”

“…!”

Nod.

Ran nodded vigorously, and her eyes were sparkling more than at any other moment today.

Soon, the event that would mark the end of the day began.

The sound of cheerful music rang out first.

Employees with bright smiles showed off the dances they had prepared.

As one child said, a very large dinosaur let out a loud roar through the speaker.

Ran was surprised, but soon smiled happily.

It was such a cute smile that I, too, smiled when I saw it.

“…Hmm?”

While watching the parade, I noticed something a little strange.

Unlike the other people who stayed as close to the line as possible to watch the parade closer, an elderly man stood at a distance as if he was exploring the surroundings.

If it had been up to that point, I wouldn’t have felt that much discomfort.

It wasn’t that uncommon for a grandfather to come out to play with his grandson and granddaughter.

The problem was that those who looked like the grandson and granddaughter were also not visible.

It seems a bit out of the ordinary for an elderly person to be standing alone in an amusement park where everyone is having fun, with no one around.

In a pleasant space where everyone, employees and customers alike, had happy smiles, his presence alone in the darkness kept catching my eye.

“…”

The eyes of the old man and I met.

I immediately turned my head again.

There is no reason for me to care if there are people who are a little unusual.

Amusement parks are places where thousands or tens of thousands of people come every day.

“Are you enjoying the parade?”

As I was thinking that, the old man came up to us and said hello.

When I saw him up close, he was a person with a soft appearance who could be seen anywhere.

“…!”

Ran, who had been concentrating on the parade, immediately went into alert mode due to the appearance of a stranger.

“…What’s going on?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I think I caused some misunderstanding. I am an official here. I was taking a look at what the newly organized parade was like.”

I lowered my caution when I heard him say he was an official.

However, we did not completely let down our guard.

Because we still don’t know why he approached us.

“So, I would like to briefly ask you how this parade was. Could you please cooperate?”

He always maintained a polite attitude.

“…I think that would be a bit difficult.”

The person he wants to ask about his impressions is Ran, not me.

Usually parades are made for children, not adults.

When I expressed my disapproval, the old man made a perplexed face.

“It’s a really simple question. It would be nice if you could just answer what you liked.”

“Well, there are some circumstances here as well. I am sorry.”

“…Circumstances?”

“Not much.”

I hung up with a short answer.

For some reason, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was being persistent for no reason.

“Please ask people other than us. I’m sure you’ll answer well.”

“…”

The old man’s gaze turned from me to Ran.

I don’t know why, but those dark eyes were filled with very complex emotions.

“What is the little girl’s name?”

“…”

Ran’s head turned.

She showed extreme rejection to strangers other than me.

“I hope you don’t approach my sister anymore.”

“…I feel sorry for the young people, but it’s a pretty important issue to me.”

The old man’s tone changed suddenly.

The soft atmosphere from just moments ago suddenly condensed into something as sharp as a knife.

“Isn’t this child’s name Choi Ran?”

“…!”

Ran was surprised and I was also surprised.

Foreign names are not that common in Korea.

Still, he had a half-confident expression on his face.

“…I see, sorry, but excuse me for a moment.”

He reached out between me and Ran, who was embarrassed, and tapped Ran’s shoulder.

“…!”

Then Ran was startled and took a step back.

“…What is the young man’s name?”

“Do I have an obligation to tell you that?”

“That’s right too. Well, it’s probably not something to talk about in a complicated place like this. Let’s talk again in a calm space soon.”

The old man, who was watching me and Ran with serious eyes, soon disappeared with the same calm steps he had when he first arrived.

“…Are you okay?”

“…!!”

Ran lashed out with a pale face.

What on earth happened in that short period of time?

The date with Ran, which must have been so enjoyable, ended in a chaotic atmosphere.