Broken Deal | Choi Jiung

21

ba ram couldn't believe her eyes seeing all these rides in front of her. ji ung matched his pace with hers before pulling ba ram to the front counter to buy tickets for the both of them.

"i didn't know you will be this excited on a date with me."

"i am excited!"

ji ung was flustered as he was clearly joking but he got a positive response instead. ji ung was smiling widely until ba ram decided to cut it for him. "since you are so kind to bring me here, i should be kind too so that you won't leave me alone on those rides."

ji ung handed her the tickets that gave them access to all the rides where she gladly accepted. "are you scared?"

"since it's my first time, maybe a bit?"

"don't worry, ba ram. this oppa right here will protect you from all the danger. just hold onto me." ji ung patted his shoulders, puffing his chest to look like one of those bodybuilders. ba ram stared at him for a while before pulling him to one of the nearest ride.

"i want to ride this one first then!" they stood in a line in front of the big pirate ship. the moment they were seated, secured with the safety belts, ji ung's face was obviously pale with a bit of sweats running on his forehead. it was not unnoticed by ba ram so she held his hand with hers and wait until the ride started.

ba ram was screaming happily when the ride started swinging higher and her hold on ji ung's hand also tighten. she took a peek at the guy next to her to see him shutting his eyes shut and no sound was heard from him. ba ram laughed at him loudly alongside enjoying the first ride.

when the pirate ship finally stopped moving, ba ram helped ji ung with the belt and held his arms as they walked away from the platform. ji ung was still silent but the colours seem to find its way back to his face.

"ji ung, can you help me?" ji ung looked at ba ram's face for a long minute without blinking. ba ram waved her hands in front of him. "ji ung?"

"w-what?" ji ung finally came back to his sense and blinked. "did you say something?"

"yeah, i was wondering if you can help me with something?"

"anything."

"you know, I'm just wondering where is that strong oppa who can protect me from all the danger in this world. i was protecting myself on that pirate ship earlier." ba ram said, smiling cheekily as she saw a tint of blush appearing on his cheeks. "i mean, I'm just asking, it was fun though with you."

ji ung let out an embarrassed chuckle. "i admit i was very scared."

"you should tell me! we can go on something less scary!"

"but you wanted to so... and you seem to like it! i am fine as long as you are enjoying it, I'm enjoying it too." ba ram was too flustered to say anything this time and suddenly hiccuped. ji ung giggled and patted on her head. "you know, my mom told me if someone hiccuped, that means they are still growing. I'll treat you to good food and drink, cutie."

the day went by with the two of them enjoying all the rides they managed to go on. or maybe it's more suitable to say that ba ram was the only one enjoying it, ji ung on the other hand, was holding on to his dear life and praying that he will be fine before and after the ride. ba ram was having the time of her life laughing at ji ung for the whole day.

it was 6 p.m when they finally decided to end the day. they bought a smoothie and enjoyed it during their quiet walk to the car. ji ung was the one who broke the silence first.

"ba ram, i know i told you to not be pressured by what i said the other day but I'm just wondering if i actually have hope?" ba ram looked at him confused.

"hope?"

"will there be a time you will look at me as something more than a friend?"

"you have always been more than a friend, ji ung." ji ung would not lie that he was shocked at himself who just huffed a loud gasp. ba ram chuckled at that. "you didn't know?"

"what do you mean, ba ram? do you l-like me?"

"I'm upset you didn't know." ba ram pouted as she looked around, avoiding his eyes. "wasn't it obvious?"

"do you like me?"

ba ram sighed, "yes, ji ung. i do like you. i don't know why but my heart feels like it's coming out everytime you are near, everytime we make a small contact, everytime our eyes met and everytime you smiled... it's weird but in a good way of weird. i would think of a topic to talk to you at night before i go to sleep but would lose the ability to speak whenever i see you. i am normally shy but i guess I'm not when I'm with you. you want to hear more? i can keep going."

ji ung was silent the whole time ba ram was talking, expressing her feelings. all her words absorbed in his brain but the only thing he ever cared about was the fact that the girl in front of him that he admired for a long time, like him back.

"it's okay for me to do this, then."

before ba ram could answer anything, ji ung cupped her face in his palms and pulled her in for a kiss.

the world seems to stop moving and the time paused for a while as the two of them shared the intimate moment.

ji ung gently moved his hand to the back of her neck to deepen the kiss while the other hand went to her waist, pulling her closer to him. their lips move at a slow comfortable pace, as if it was carved to match each others. 

when they finally pulled away, their chests moved up and down, reaching for the air they seemed to forget during the kiss. ba ram let her head fell on ji ung's chest and ji ung took this as an opportunity to wrap his arms around her, face snuggled in the crook of her neck, hugging her tightly.

"you have no idea how many times i wanted to just hug you every time i see you, ba ram. i guess i can hug you anytime now." ba ram wrapped her arms around his waist and slightly pinched on his side.

"don't be silly, ji ung. just because i like you doesn't mean you can do anything to me."

ji ung moved away a bit, only to look at her face that's bright red. "i will ask for permission next time. i was too giddy few minutes ago." ba ram swore she would cry out of embarrassment thinking of the sudden kiss.

"o-okay. give me a warning next time... let's go home?" ji ung chuckled at her and hugged her again, spinning their bodies around, getting a slap on the back from ba ram. "ji ung!"

he finally pulled away from the hug, holding her hand with his before continuing their walk to his car.

"thank you, ba ram. i will not let anyone or even myself hurt you. i promise."