* * *

When they arrived at the parking lot Secretary Yang had informed them about, a substantial number of cars were already parked. It seemed many had come despite it being a weekday afternoon.

Jingyeom, who usually only commuted between his house and his part-time job, was immensely delighted just by the fact that he had traveled far by car.

Seeing him turn his head back and forth, taking in the sights, Jinwoo reached out and created a shadow over Jingyeom’s face with his hand.

“Let’s buy a hat on the way. Your face will get sunburned like this. Did you bring sunscreen?”

“It’s in my bag. I put on a lot when I went to work this morning.”

“You know it’s almost 5 PM, right? Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours.”

Unless he wanted to spend the entire day with aloe soothing gel, he had to manage his skin well to avoid it turning red.

“Apply it often so you don’t get sunburned.”

“Got it. I’ll put it on later. Let’s look around first!”

Initially, when Secretary Yang mentioned a company dinner, Jingyeom thought they were going to a BBQ place like the ones he saw in dramas on YouTube.

Since he spent a lot of time at home, Jingyeom learned about the world he didn’t know through videos.

“What fun conversation are you two having? Let me in on it.”

When Soohyuk approached, Jinwoo subtly stepped in front of Jingyeom. It was a noticeable move.

Soohyuk didn’t make a big deal out of it. He couldn’t be bothered to react to every little thing. He knew it would be his loss to clash every time something like this happened.

To Jingyeom, Baek Jinwoo was family, while he was an outsider.

Soohyuk stepped to the side to shield Jingyeom from the sun.

Thanks to Soohyuk’s tall height, Jingyeom’s entire body was shaded, and he wiggled his fingers as the heat suddenly disappeared.

It seemed like Soohyuk had been looking after him since yesterday. Jingyeom felt a tingling sensation all over his body and shivered.

Seeing people who usually wouldn’t come to such a place, Secretary Yang unknowingly smiled but quickly dropped it.

Soohyuk squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight.

“Secretary Yang. What’s next?”

“Just a moment!”

In fact, Secretary Yang had another option that was closer to both the cafe and the company.

But out of curiosity, he chose this place while searching for locations.

He wondered if Wonbeom, who preferred quiet, less crowded places, would willingly follow them here just because the group had grown by one person.

‘I didn’t think we’d actually come here.’

On the way, he pondered a lot about how not to get scolded by his boss.

‘If they complain, I’ll just run away.’

With two people to use as shields, he planned to escape without looking back.

With a bright smile, Secretary Yang spread his arms wide.

“Shall we ride the rides first?”

Jingyeom remembered the Viking ride he saw first upon arriving here.

Looking around at the other rides, he asked Jinwoo.

“Have we ever been to an amusement park together?”

“…No. We haven’t.”

Jinwoo shook his head as he replied.

It wasn’t just amusement parks. They had never been anywhere together until now.

They had gone on family trips when they were very young.

Though he didn’t remember, they might have gone then.

“Then today is the first time.”

Jingyeom smiled brightly and pointed at the Viking ride.

“Let’s ride that!”

Seeing his sparkling eyes, Jinwoo firmly said no.

“Why not!”

“Those kinds of rides put a strain on your heart. …I’m sorry to keep saying no, but it really isn’t safe.”

“It’s just a few swings back and forth, though?”

“It raises your heart rate when you get excited. It could be dangerous for you.”

Jingyeom felt a bit downcast about not being able to ride the amusement park rides right in front of him after coming all this way.

But he knew it wasn’t Jinwoo’s fault, so he grabbed Jinwoo’s arm and forced a smile.

“Alright. Don’t make that face.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault that my body is sick. Then you ride it for me.”

“…What?”

The choice went to the four people excluding Jingyeom, who wanted to ride the Viking the most.

Jinwoo was naturally in favor of riding. Secretary Yang also immediately agreed.

“Of course, we should ride. I’ll ride hard for Jingyeom too. I’ll sit at the back, so watch me well.”

“Yes!”

Jingyeom just nodded with an eager face.

“These rides are for kids.”

“Director, what are you saying! This is for both kids and adults! Kids ride that one over there.”

Secretary Yang pointed to a mini Viking ride for children next to the big Viking.

Seeing it, Soohyuk laughed and joked with Jingyeom.

“If you can’t ride this, how about riding that one? Your heart rate won’t go up with that, right? Ah… but it’s for kids, isn’t it? No, you are a kid.”

“…I’m not a kid!”

Jingyeom glared. He wanted to ride the Viking, but not to the extent of taking a children’s ride away from them.

Moreover, recalling Soohyuk’s gaze reaching the top of his head, he looked at the four men with sharp eyes.

It was because of their tall heights that he seemed smaller. He was just slightly below average height.

“Aren’t you going to ride?”

“Not interested. In things like that.”

“Are you scared?”

“…Are you serious?”

When Soohyuk asked in disbelief, Jingyeom nodded. He had never said anything insincere until now.

Soohyuk let out a short laugh and raised the corner of his mouth crookedly.

“A kid can’t ride and asks an adult to ride for him. An adult should oblige, right?”

“…”

“I’ll tell you how it was after riding. Don’t feel too bad.”

Jingyeom pursed his lips, realizing who Soohyuk was referring to as a kid.

He furrowed his brow and turned his head sharply towards Wonbeom.

“What about you, Director? Aren’t you riding?”

“Do you want me to ride?”

“Of course! It’s always more fun to ride together. Even if I can’t…”

Jingyeom spoke in a sullen tone. His gaze on Wonbeom dropped to the ground, and his lips jutted out. He seemed disappointed that he couldn’t ride.

Without intending to, Wonbeom uttered words that he didn’t mean.

“Since you want it so earnestly, I’ll ride.”

Though he wasn’t particularly earnest, Jingyeom’s spirits lifted at the prospect of everyone riding. He intended to find satisfaction even through vicarious enjoyment. That alone seemed sufficient.

As Jinwoo headed to the ticket booth to buy passes, Jingyeom craned his neck back to follow the giant Viking swaying back and forth.

Feeling something supporting the back of his head, he turned to see Soohyuk.

“Your neck will get stiff.”

“Looks fun, doesn’t it? It really looks fun…”

His voice was full of longing.

Knowing why Jingyeom couldn’t ride, Soohyuk simply supported the back of his head without saying anything.

“It’s not that fun. It just swings back and forth.”

“Have you ridden it before?”

“Long ago.”

Not in Korea, though.

Jingyeom looked at Soohyuk with envy.

“I’ve never ridden it before!”

“What would you remember having done? You’re practically a newborn.”

That was true. With all his memories erased, everything was bound to feel like the first time.

Soohyuk pondered over what he had just said.

With no memories, perhaps the world seemed more delightful and innocent.

---

The Viking ride ended quickly.

Only Secretary Yang raised both arms and screamed, while the other three remained expressionless no matter which way the ride moved.

Even as the operator increased the ride’s movements out of spite, Secretary Yang was the only one who was excited.

When Jingyeom, watching from outside, waved and took pictures with his phone, Jinwoo and Soohyuk smiled for him.

Jingyeom checked the photos he had taken until the Viking ride gradually slowed down and stopped.

“It looks like the Director looked at the camera too.”

He thought he wasn’t looking, but Wonbeom was caught staring at the camera.

The photos perfectly captured how different each person was. Even though he wasn’t in the photos himself, having a new memory was precious.

The Viking ride marked the end of the amusement rides. The three people, excluding Secretary Yang, only rode it because Jingyeom wanted to, not because they wanted to.

As Jingyeom couldn’t take his eyes off the Viking, Jinwoo gently offered his opinion. It was the same as what Soohyuk had said earlier.

“You were good on the swings, so it should be fine to ride the small Viking. The speed isn’t that fast, and it doesn’t take long. Want to ride?”

“Why are you saying that too?”

“You wanted to ride it, didn’t you? It’s no big deal, and no one’s going to say anything. It’s not like it says adults aren’t allowed.”

Although it was a Viking for children, it wasn’t prohibited for adults to ride unless they were too heavy or too tall.

In the end, Jingyeom found himself standing in front of the mini Viking, led by Jinwoo. He felt a bit embarrassed but also expectant.

Five adult men gathered in front of the mini Viking. Among them, the exceptionally fair-skinned Jingyeom stood out.

Four of them were in suits, drawing glances or outright stares from passersby.

As Jingyeom sat in the back seat and fastened the safety belt, his heart started pounding from the moment the operator came to check.

“Wow…”

He thought he wouldn’t be nervous because it was so small. Originally aiming for the big Viking, he thought this smaller one might be boring.

That was a misjudgment.

He was fine until he boarded, but suddenly his heart rate skyrocketed.

He blinked quickly and checked his watch on his left hand. It wasn’t an illusion. The numbers on the screen were steadily rising.

It was fortunate that Jinwoo couldn’t see his watch. If he had, he would’ve undoubtedly told him to get off without hesitation.

* * *