The Nerd (In Progress)

-9-

I wonder what Jisung is doing right now. I bet he looks really handsome no matter what he's up to. I miss him. Maybe he's in his bed watching something funny or-

"Tickets please."

Hyunjin presents the apparently 'super cheap' tickets because they were having a 'discount on tickets today', to the worker. He explained that they costed about as much as toilet paper, even though I know that Lotte World tickets are not as cheap as toilet paper. If that was the case, I'd be here every month.

"Next."

We enter the park.

"Hyunjin please let me pay you back."

"Iseul please don't worry about it, it's all on me. And like I said, they cost nothing."

"I don't want to owe you money."

"No!"

"Ok! Fine."

My eyes land on a cotton candy stand and I suck in a loud gasp.

"Cotton candy! I have to go get some I'll be right back."

I squeal and speed walk away with Hyunjin trailing close behind. He laughs and says something that sounds like 'poot' but I'm too distracted to confirm it.

I leave the stall with a heaping cloud of pink on a stick. I immediately begin devouring it.

"You didn't get any?"

"I'd rather have one of those."

He points to a stall of funnel cakes.

"Funnel cake? Those are soo good. You should go get some."

"I think I will."

He leaves after promising me to be right back and I take the time to soak in my surroundings. A big twisty sky blue roller coaster. I can hear the screams of terror from here.

A small carousel with children sitting happily on their respective creatures. A tall spinning torture device made by satan. I will be going on that. I'm a sucker for an adrenaline rush.

I watch Hyunjin pick out his toppings and pay from a distance. I use the time to sort the mess called my life out. You're hanging out with Hyunjin! I wonder what people will say.

I am proud, in a way, that I have risen up to Hyunjins' rank. And you're warming up to him. Maybe this is the start of some amazing friendship.

That thought sparks a flame of hope somewhere deep inside me. Friends with Hyunjin. I could cry. I feel important. He's taking the time to hang out with me. I've never felt important in the way that someone might want me as a friend.

I turn up to the sky head on and immediately regret it. I hiss through gritted teeth.

Bright ass sun, are you trying to blind me? I picture the sun looking down at me in answer and saying "Well I just might be! Hehehe!", and for some unknown reason, that sets me off laughing.

"Iseul! Are you ok?"

The worry on his face is even funnier, and now I'm sucked into a full blown case of the giggles.

"Oh, you're laughing. What's so funny?"

I make eye contact with him and can't control the obnoxious laughter coming from my mouth. He seems to be catching the giggles, too.

"Your- *HAhah* face!"

Now he's laughing with me.

"I agree, my face is so shockingly handsome isn't it?"

He sweeps his hair back with one hand for effect and 'models' his handsome face with a sexy pose. At first I focus on his charms but I soon begin wheezing because it's all just too funny for no good reason. He laughs loudly with me earning a few concerned looks from passerbys.

And we stay like that for a minute or two, laughing ourselves weak. And I just feel so happy.

--------------------------------

"I HATE YOU!!"

"LOOK, I'M NOT TOO HAPPY EITHER, OK?"

*tick* *tick* *tick* *tick*

The track rapidly ticks like a bomb. I convinced a scaredy Hyunjin to go with me on the twisty roller coaster. Seeing him completely vulnerable like this compared to his usual tough vibe has been quite amusing. I, however, am peeing myself.

Not literally.

"WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN!"

We're up about sixty feet in the air. The wind is drumming right in my eaars so I have to scream if I want anyone to hear me.

"I KNOW!!!"

The contrast in our expressions is laughable. I'm smiling way too widely and Hyunjin is about to cry. His next move catches me totally off guard. He quickly grabs my hand right as we tip over the peak.

He's holding my hand? Don't get me wrong, it's pretty romantic but I'm sure he's just scared. Besides, I'm not looking for romance with Hyunjin when I have Jisung.

We both emit the loudest bloody murder scream straight outta a horror movie and fly nearly straight down. I quickly forget about his hand in mine due to the horrific sight in front of me. Down. Down. Down.

"AAAAHAAAAAAAH"

After a few terrible but fun twists and drops, we rise again to a small stop on the rollercoaster. You become tricked into security of the pause, but soon you will be flung about just as hard. I love the fun of it. Then I remember Hyunjin's hand in mine. His hair has flown back in to a mane, he's crazed on the adrenaline.

My voice is to tired to scream at the moment.

"Hyunjin!"

"This is so fun!"

"Hyunjin why are we holding hands?!"

"Because I like- AAAHAH"

Our car jerks forward and sends us flying downward again. Likes what?

--------------------------------

When we exit the rollercoaster I feel like I've been chugging energy drinks and have the zoomies. Hyunjin ran to the bathroom because he was gonna pee himself. I also can't stop thinking about what he was going to say. I must ask. He likes what??

"That was crazy!"

He walks out of the bathroom buckling his belt back together which turns me on because, well, because that's hot.

"Wasn't it fun?! That was just a warm-up. Next we'll go on that one."

His eyes follow where I'm pointing and his jaw drops.

"Iseul, honestly I might be sick if we go on that."

"You'll be fine."

I had pointed at a tall ride that slingshots. Honestly, I might be sick too.

"Do you want to get a drink? I'm pretty thirsty for a lemonade or something."

"Yeah, me too."

"Ok come on."

He takes a few steps before I stop him by tugging on the sleeve of his shirt.

"Hey, Hyunjin. Wait."

Oh no. What am I doing? He'll be nice about it, don't worry.

"Umm... "

His pretty eyes pierce mine. A hint of a sly grin, as though he's reading my mind.

"I was just going to...um. Nevermind."

A smile reaches his eyes.

"Earlier? I was saying that I like you-"