The final lecture of the day had finally ended.
Yerin closed her notebook with a tired sigh and leaned back in her chair.
"I don't think my brain works anymore."
Across the table, Min-jae looked up from his notes.
"Mine stopped working about three hours ago."
Emily laughed.
"That's because you spent most of those three hours drawing in the margins."
Min-jae quickly covered his notebook.
"I was thinking."
"You were drawing a dinosaur."
"A very thoughtful dinosaur."
Yerin laughed.
Even Do-hyun, who had been quietly reading through his notes, smiled.
They had been studying together for hours.
With the final exams approaching, everyone had become slightly more serious about university.
Or at least, they were trying to.
Yerin stretched her arms above her head.
"I need a break."
Emily suddenly looked up.
"I have an idea."
Everyone looked at her.
She smiled.
"Amusement park."
Yerin's tired expression immediately changed.
"Yes."
Min-jae raised his hand.
"I'm in."
Do-hyun looked between them.
"No."
Yerin turned toward him.
"You didn't even think about it."
"I don't need to."
"Why?"
"Because I know where this is going."
Emily laughed.
"We're going."
Do-hyun sighed.
"I have studying to do."
"So do we," Yerin said.
"Exactly."
"Which is why we deserve a break."
He stared at her.
She stared back.
A few seconds passed.
Finally, Do-hyun closed his notebook.
"Fine."
Yerin smiled.
Min-jae stood up.
"Let's go before he changes his mind."
The four of them walked out of the university together.
Emily was already discussing which rides they should go on.
"We're starting with the biggest one."
"No," Do-hyun immediately said.
Yerin looked at him.
"You haven't even seen it."
"I don't need to."
Min-jae laughed.
"Wait."
He looked at Do-hyun.
"Are you scared?"
Do-hyun's expression remained completely serious.
"No."
"Then why are you refusing?"
"I don't like rides."
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"Any rides?"
"Most."
Yerin smiled.
"So you're afraid."
"I'm not afraid."
"Then you'll go."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"That's not how logic works."
"It is today."
By the time they arrived, the sky had already darkened.
The entire park was glowing with lights.
Music played from different attractions.
People moved between the rides carrying food, drinks, and bags of prizes.
Yerin looked around with a huge smile.
"This is perfect."
Emily grabbed her arm.
"Come on!"
The two ran toward the first ride.
Min-jae followed them.
Do-hyun walked behind at a much calmer pace.
Yerin turned around.
"Do-hyun!"
He stopped.
"What?"
"Come!"
"I am coming."
"You walk like you're going to a business meeting."
"I'm walking normally."
"You're forty years old."
"I'm not."
She laughed.
"Come on, grandpa."
He shook his head but followed.
They went through several rides.
Yerin and Emily screamed.
Min-jae laughed at them.
Do-hyun mostly stood to the side.
Until they discovered the arcade.
Yerin watched him walk toward one of the games.
"You like this?"
"No."
She smiled.
"You do."
"I just wanted to try it."
Five minutes later, Do-hyun had beaten Min-jae's score.
Min-jae stared at the screen.
"Again."
Do-hyun shrugged.
"Why?"
"Because that was luck."
"It wasn't."
"Again."
Yerin laughed.
"You two are ridiculous."
Another game.
Do-hyun won.
Another.
He won again.
Min-jae finally stepped away.
"I'm done."
Do-hyun looked at him.
"Giving up?"
"I have dignity."
Yerin covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Do-hyun, you look way too happy."
He immediately returned to his usual expression.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
She smiled.
"Sure."
Later that evening, they reached the Ferris wheel.
The huge structure turned slowly above them, its cabins glowing against the night sky.
Emily looked up.
"This one."
Yerin nodded.
"Definitely."
Do-hyun immediately shook his head.
"No."
Yerin turned.
"Again?"
"I'm serious."
"You can handle an arcade game but not this?"
"Arcade games stay on the ground."
Min-jae laughed.
"He's actually scared."
"I'm not scared."
"Then get in."
Do-hyun looked at Yerin.
She was already smiling.
"Come on."
"No."
"Do-hyun."
"No."
"Please?"
He sighed.
"Fine."
Yerin smiled triumphantly.
The four climbed into their cabins.
Emily and Yerin sat together.
Min-jae and Do-hyun sat opposite each other in the next cabin.
As the Ferris wheel began moving upward, Min-jae pulled out his digital camera.
Do-hyun looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking pictures."
"Of what?"
"Everything."
Min-jae pointed the camera toward him.
Do-hyun immediately turned away.
"Don't."
"Too late."
The camera clicked.
Min-jae laughed.
"You look terrified."
"I'm not."
"Your face says otherwise."
Do-hyun looked out the window.
Below them, the amusement park looked completely different.
Tiny lights covered the ground.
The city stretched into the distance.
For a moment, even Do-hyun forgot about everything else.
Across from them, Yerin looked through the glass.
She smiled.
"Beautiful."
Emily looked at her.
"Yeah."
Yerin glanced toward the other cabin.
Do-hyun happened to look at the same moment.
Their eyes met through the distance.
He gave her a small smile.
She smiled back.
Then the cabins moved apart again.
Later, Emily and Min-jae went to get something to eat.
Yerin sat alone on a bench.
She leaned back and looked around.
She hadn't felt this relaxed in weeks.
No hospital.
No exams.
No family arguments.
Just lights, music, and people enjoying themselves.
She smiled to herself.
"Finally."
A few minutes later, Do-hyun appeared.
He stopped when he saw her.
"Yerin."
She looked up.
"Hm?"
"Give me your hand."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"Your hand."
"Why?"
"Just give it to me."
Confused, she slowly held out her hand.
Do-hyun gently took her wrist and turned her arm slightly.
Yerin frowned.
"What are you doing?"
He looked at her elbow.
There was a small cut.
A faint line of blood had dried against her skin.
His expression changed.
"You're bleeding."
Yerin blinked.
"What?"
She looked down.
"Oh."
"How did you not notice?"
"I don't know."
"Doesn't it hurt?"
She shook her head.
"Not really."
Do-hyun shook his head.
"Wait here."
"Where are you going?"
He didn't answer.
He disappeared into the crowd.
Yerin looked after him.
"What was that?"
Several minutes later, he returned carrying a small first-aid packet.
He sat beside her.
"Give me your arm."
She hesitated.
Then held it out.
He carefully turned her arm so the injury was visible.
"This might sting."
"I'm fine."
He opened the antiseptic.
The moment it touched the cut, Yerin flinched.
Do-hyun immediately stopped.
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
"Does it hurt?"
"A little."
He looked at her.
She smiled slightly.
"You're worrying too much."
"I'm cleaning an injury."
"Same thing."
He shook his head.
Then carefully continued.
This time, he was gentler.
Yerin watched him silently.
There was something strangely comforting about the way he concentrated on such a small thing.
When he finished, he wrapped the bandage around her elbow.
"There."
Yerin looked at it.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
"Try noticing when you're injured next time."
"I'll try."
"Good."
They sat quietly beside each other.
Neither noticed Emily and Min-jae approaching.
Emily stopped.
Min-jae stopped beside her.
They both looked at the bandage.
Then at Do-hyun.
Then Yerin.
Emily smiled.
"Interesting."
Yerin immediately looked up.
"Oh, no."
Min-jae laughed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Do-hyun said.
Yerin quickly added,
"I hurt my elbow."
Emily looked at the bandage.
"And he just happened to disappear and come back with first aid?"
Yerin became quiet.
Do-hyun looked away.
Min-jae grinned.
"Very convenient."
"Stop," Do-hyun said.
Emily laughed.
Yerin's face felt warm.
"Can we please just eat?"
Min-jae handed her the food.
"Of course."
Emily sat down beside her.
"But we're definitely talking about this later."
Yerin groaned.
The teasing eventually stopped.
The four returned to the rides.
They ate together.
Min-jae took countless pictures.
Emily insisted on taking group photographs.
Yerin laughed more that night than she had in weeks.
At one point, she looked around at the three people beside her.
She realized she wasn't thinking about anything else.
She was simply happy.
Do-hyun stood beside her, holding a drink.
"You look tired."
"I am."
"We should leave soon."
Yerin nodded.
"Yeah."
She looked at the lights one last time.
"I had fun."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Me too."
She smiled.
"Even though you were terrified?"
"I wasn't terrified."
"Right."
He rolled his eyes.
She laughed.
It was late when they finally returned.
Yerin and Do-hyun entered their room.
Both looked exhausted.
"I can't feel my feet," Yerin said.
"That's because you walked around for hours."
"You walked too."
"I know."
She picked up her clothes.
"I'm changing."
"Okay."
They went to change separately.
A while later, Yerin returned to the room.
Do-hyun was already there.
She looked at the bandage on her elbow.
Then at him.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She climbed into bed.
The day had been long.
But somehow, it had been worth it.
Within minutes, the room became silent.
The next morning began normally.
Yerin and Do-hyun arrived at university together.
But the moment they entered the main building—
something felt wrong.
People were staring.
Not just one or two.
Almost everyone.
Yerin slowed down.
"Do-hyun."
"Hm?"
"Why is everyone looking at us?"
He looked around.
"I don't know."
A group of students whispered as they passed.
Another student glanced at them and immediately looked away.
Yerin frowned.
"What is happening?"
Do-hyun's expression became serious.
"I don't know."
Emily and Min-jae appeared from the other side of the hallway.
Emily looked confused too.
"Have you noticed everyone staring?"
Yerin nodded.
"Yes."
...To Be Continued...