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CHEN MEI XING
"oh," was all i said, i was speechless. i didn't know how to respond to a reply like that. i didn't expect him to say that, actually. he looks up and notices that we were at the fair already.
"we're here, let's go in." he says gloomily, his eyes shifting over to mine. i didn't say anything and just stared off.
i was still shocked from his response, i didn't know that losing a best friend could affect a person that much, after all, i forgot all about my experience about having one.
he shook me on the shoulder lightly, disturbing my thoughts. "is this awkward now? ah, i shouldn't have told you about it then." he scratches the back of his head nervously.
i shake my head, "no, no. it's not awkward, i was just thinking. let's go." i grab his arm, pulling him towards the entrance.
we both enter the booth, i hand my money to the ticket-seller. justin raises his hand to object but i put his hand down and shake my head. he sighs in defeat.
the ticket-seller hands me the tickets and waves us goodbye.
"we could've split, you know?" i laugh. he tilts his head at me, confused as to why i was laughing.
"okay, so i've come up with a solution. i pay he entrance fee and tickets and you pay for the food." he places two fingers under his chin and pretends to think about it.
he looks at me and nods with a smile plastered on his face.
"i wanna go on the ferris wheel!" justin shouts excitedly. i shake my head, stopping him.
"nope, we always go on that specific ride last. it's basic knowledge." he pouts at my answer.
"instead, we should go on a roller coaster." i jump happily, smiling. i pull onto justin's arm and drag him to the nearest rollercoaster line.
as i was happily thinking to myself how awesome this ride is going to be, justin stared at me with an unexplainable look on his face.
"what? why're you looking at me like that?"
he shakes his head, "i haven't seen you smile in a while, it's refreshing."
i furrow my eyebrows in confusion, "in a while? haha, what do you mean in a while? i just met you on monday, it's wednesday."
"look, it's our turn to get on the ride! hurry." he pushes my back and the people open the gate for us. i have long forgotten about the small situation.
i jump into an empty seat, buckling myself in. justin sits next to me, fidgeting nervously.
i look at him, "are you okay? we still have the chance to get off if you're too scared."
he looks at me, "i'm not scared." confidence dripping throughout his voice.
"okay, then." one person rushes over to us, checking if the seatbelts were secure. they run off, leaving us alone.
"i'm so ready! i haven't been on one of these things in a long time." i grin, looking around me.
"how long has it been?" he asks me. i shrug, "i don't remember, but i know that i've been on these things a lot when i was younger."
he chuckles softly, "yeah, you loved rollercoasters. i hated them but i always went on them because you begged me to."
i look at him confusedly, "what're you talking abo-" the ride started, causing me to scream. i fling my hands into the air, screaming happily.
i look to my side with a smile, justin was holding onto the bars for dear life. i pry his hands from the handle bar and lift them up, pestering him to have fun with my eyebrows.
he shakes his head, and instead holds my hand. i felt a surge of energy run throughout me. suddenly, i see the same two people at a fair.
it was younger me and minghao, again. but we looked around 8 years old at this time.
"c'mon, i just wanna go on this one ride with you. it'll be fun!" younger me latches herself onto him.
"it doesn't look safe, mei xing. i don't think it's a good idea." he eyes the rollercoaster up and down. younger me 'hmph's' and stomps her foot on the ground.
"buzzkill." she muttered underneath her breath and walks away. minghao catches up with younger me and grabs ahold of my arm and pulls me back.
i run to them, at least, 5 ft away from them, and continue to watch their conversation.
"what?" younger me glares at minghao. he sighs, "let's go before the fair closes."
i was really childish, spoiled, and mean when i was younger, huh?
she embraces him tightly, minghao wraps his arms around her. even when i was being a little bitch, he still remains unbothered by my bitchiness.
i get back to reality and the ride is already over, i blink a couple times. i unbuckle myself, staying quiet.
what're these things am i getting? snippets of my past with minghao?
"time to get out!" they yell as i climb out of the ride, forgetting about justin. he struggles to get out of the ride, tripping on the stairs down.
i started off at the distance, completely oblivious to the fact that justin already got off of the ride. he tapped my shoulder.
"you good? you looked out of it for most of the ride."
i shake off my thoughts, "i'm good, let's go on the other rides." he nods, following me.
two hours passed and we've basically rode all of the rides. all except one. the ferris wheel.
it was dark. dark enough to see the moon and the stars. minghao hands the last of our tickets to the ticket-handler and we both climb in on opposite sides.
the ride starts and we go up. i look down at everyone, they look tiny. i look back at minghao who was already staring at me.
"you're irritating." he says.
"you act as if you aren't irritating." i roll my eyes.
"i have to tell you someth—"
the lights on the ferris wheel flicker then stop. the ride comes to a halt, the mini passenger component swings back and forth. we were at the top of the ferris wheel, we just had to stop at the top!
the people at the bottom scream something to the top but i couldn't these anything over the beating of my heart.
i look at justin panicky, "we're stuck up here! what is my mom and dad gonna say? they're going to kill me."
"calm down!" he grabs my shoulders.
the little doors at the sides continuously close and open because of the wind. i push him off of me carefully because i didn't want the compartment to swing.
"what're we gonna do? i'm scared out of my mind!" i pull on my hair, slumping onto the seat.
"where's you're phone?" he asks me calmly.
"it's dead, i used it for pictures." i scrunch my eyes shut frustratedly. "where's yours?"
"broken." he said simply, frustration laced in his voice.
"we're stuck up here until the police come which is probably 30 minutes!" i throw my hands into the air.
