Unspoken

CHAPTER 18 : Behind the deserted rides

THIRD PERSON POV

The fairground unfolded before them, a place caught between decay and something unspoken that tugged at Y/n's heart. The air was still, thick with the scent of rusted metal and damp earth, and every creak of a forgotten ride felt like an echo from a time long gone. Y/n's eyes roamed over the skeletal remains of booths and the faded carnival signs, their chipped paint whispering stories of laughter and life that once thrived here.

She couldn't explain it, but there was something about the way the fairground stood in its desolation—quiet yet full of possibility—that made her chest tighten. It was like the place had been left behind but wasn't entirely lost. Each broken piece felt heavy with meaning, as if waiting for someone to notice it, to feel it.

"This place feels..." Y/n started, searching for the right words as her steps slowed. She trailed her fingers along the edge of a dusty ticket booth, its surface cool and rough beneath her touch. "I don't know. Like it has a heartbeat you can barely hear."

Mikha glanced back at her, her hand still clasped firmly around Y/n's, and gave a small, knowing smile. "Keep going," Mikha said softly, guiding her forward.

As they moved deeper into the fairground, Y/n felt the stillness begin to shift. The faintest hints of sound reached her ears—laughter, music, the rhythmic clinking of bottles. It was subtle at first, like a whisper, but it grew stronger with each step. The air seemed to change, warming as they left behind the skeletal remains of the fairground's past and stepped into something vibrant and alive.

Then they turned a corner, and the scene before Y/n stole her breath.

The heart of the fairground was pulsing with life. Strings of lights wove through the air like a constellation brought down to earth, casting a warm glow over the crowd that bustled below. Stalls painted in bright, inviting colors lined the pathways, each one brimming with movement and energy. Vendors called out cheerfully, their voices blending with the laughter of children holding sparklers that fizzed and popped against the night sky. The air was thick with the scent of fried food, sweet candy, and something else—something Y/n couldn't place but made her feel a pull deep in her chest.

It was overwhelming and beautiful, but what struck Y/n most was how the fairground wasn't entirely polished. There was a charm in the uneven cracks of the pavement beneath her feet and the slightly faded colors of the tents. It wasn't perfect, but it was alive. The blend of the old and the vibrant felt like a bridge between two worlds, and Y/n found herself drawn to every detail.

"It's... I don't even know what to say," Y/n admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze flicked from the glowing lights to the lively crowd, then back to Mikha. "It's like the place hasn't given up. Like it refuses to stop being what it was meant to be."

Mikha's smile deepened, a rare softness in her eyes. "Not everything that looks abandoned is gone," she said simply. "Sometimes, it's just waiting for someone to see it."

Y/n's heart swelled at Mikha's words, and she realized something: this fairground, with all its flaws and hidden beauty, was more than just a place. It was a reflection of something larger, something Y/n couldn't quite name but felt deeply.

As Mikha gentlytugged her forward, Y/n let herself be drawn into the vibrant world hiddenbehind the facade. The place enveloped her senses, filling her with a feeling that felt almost other worldly, though she couldn't quite put it into words. It was something deeper, something real and undeniable—like stumbling upon a forgotten part of herself that had been waiting to be rediscovered.

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I know this is a short chapter, pero I just want to say thank you. We've reached 1,000 reads, and I'm so grateful sa lahat who gave this story a chance. Your support means the world to me, especially since ito ang first story ko. I hope you continue to enjoy the journey ahead!