"Let's go on the Ferris wheel," Seungcheol said, his eyes lighting up as he pointed toward the ride. His enthusiasm was almost boyish, and it might have been endearing if Aerin weren't currently glaring at him. She didn't move an inch.
When her silence stretched on, he sighed dramatically. "Alright, how about this? I'll buy you anything you want after the ride. Food, drinks—whatever your heart desires."
Her head snapped toward him at the mention of food, her stomach betraying her resolve with a loud grumble. She hadn't eaten much that day—just a cereal bar for breakfast—and the hours of walking, scheming, and debating with Seungcheol had left her starving. He smirked, clearly aware of her situation.
"Bribery, really?" she muttered, folding her arms.
"Call it persuasion," he replied smoothly, his grin widening.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. But only because I'm hungry. Not because I like the idea of being trapped in a tiny capsule with you."
"Noted."
With a huff, Aerin walked past him and took her place in the short line. Seungcheol followed, victorious grin firmly in place. She pretended not to notice, staring straight ahead as if he didn't exist for the next ten minutes.
When the couple in front of them boarded their capsule, Aerin stepped forward, dragging Seungcheol along. A cheerful attendant greeted them with a smile that bordered on too enthusiastic.
"Hello! Right this way," the woman chirped, guiding them into the capsule and making sure they were secure before adding, "You two are such a cute couple. Enjoy the ride!"
The door shut before Aerin could correct her. She blinked, then turned to Seungcheol, who was already settling in and pushing his sunglasses onto his head.
"Seriously?" she muttered, exasperation clear in her tone. "Why does everyone keep assuming that? What happened to boundaries? Social norms? Basic observational skills?"
Seungcheol chuckled, clearly unbothered by her mini rant.
"And you," she continued, narrowing her eyes at him, "what's up with you today? You don't strike me as the spontaneous type. You're supposed to be the responsible leader."
He leaned back in his seat, a small smile playing on his lips. "Well, I guess you don't know me that well, do you?"
"Fine." She crossed her legs and rested her elbows on her knees, tilting her head slightly. "Let me get to know you then."
His brows lifted, surprised. "What?"
"You heard me. Tell me about yourself, Seungcheol."
He looked at her for a moment, an amused glint in his eyes, before leaning forward slightly. "Alright. What do you want to know?"
"Let's start with the industry. Why'd you join it?"
Seungcheol let out a soft breath, his expression shifting to something more thoughtful. "A friend convinced me at first. I thought, 'Why not? It could be fun.' But even after all these years, I'm still not entirely sure why I stayed. Don't get me wrong—I love being in Seventeen. I love what we've built. But sometimes I wonder what my life would've been like if I'd chosen something else."
Aerin didn't look away, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. "Do you regret it?" she asked quietly.
"No. Never." He met her gaze, his voice steady. "The things I've experienced, the people I've met, the moments I've shared with fans—it's all worth it. And, of course, meeting you was a bonus."
Aerin scoffed, running a hand through her hair as a laugh escaped her. "Oh, please. We've only known each other for a month, and we've talked, what, three times?"
"Five," he corrected, a teasing grin spreading across his face.
"You've actually been keeping track, Cherry?" she quipped, her tone laced with playful sarcasm.
Seungcheol froze, his grin faltering for a moment. "Cherry?"
"Well, yeah. It's probably one of your nicknames, right? You like cherries or something?"
He leaned back, the grin returning as he looked at her with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "I see someone's been doing her research."
"I haven't!" Aerin shot back, flustered. "I just... heard it somewhere."
"I like it," he said simply, his voice warm. "You should keep using it."
The way his gaze lingered on her made Aerin's breath hitch, but she quickly masked her reaction with another eye roll. She turned her attention to the window, where the city lights sparkled like scattered diamonds below them.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. But the silence wasn't uncomfortable—it was something else entirely. Something Aerin wasn't sure she was ready to name.
