Lie Again! Chapter 92

<Chapter 92. Happily Ever After (1)>

 

For spring break, Jin and her friends planned a trip to a famous theme park in Florida.

 

It was the result of everyone siding with Joey’s argument that if they missed this break, they’d be facing exams, and after exams, a scorching heat wave capable of melting a person awaited them; it was now or never.

 

Based on big data from Florida-born-and-raised residents, they carefully selected a date they hoped would be the least crowded. The planning for the theme park outing—deliberating which attractions to hit first more seriously than they did their own futures—seemed to be progressing smoothly.

 

What they hadn’t anticipated, however, was the fact that Jin now officially had a boyfriend—and the truth that this boy, who had acted so distant and composed before becoming her boyfriend, was actually quite the jealous type.

 

One day during lunch, breaking the unspoken rule to eat separately, Evan had approached with a tray and plopped down next to Jin. It was less than two days after she had told him she was going to the theme park with her friends.

 

The other kids, who were busy ranking the rides they absolutely had to go on, stopped talking and stared at the uninvited guest who had cut in without warning.

 

Before five gazes filled with question marks, Evan smiled—a beautiful smile, though one that made no effort to hide his irritation.

 

‘Can I come too?’

 

The result was the scene playing out now. Joey had set a condition for his inclusion: he had to drive them to the park in his car. Aside from Amanda, the rest of the group didn’t miss the chance to ride in a classic car they had previously only admired from afar.

 

“Ugh, this car is great and all, but the ride quality is terrible.”

 

“Pretty things are always uncomfortable.”

 

“If we’re so uncomfortable, how do you even hang out with me?”

 

“Joey, you’re the most comfortable, best friend in the whole world.”

 

Arriving at the theme park parking lot, the kids got out of the car and stretched their stiff backs, each tossing out a comment. Jin watched as a thumbs-up from Evan Ruth earned him a smack from Joey, then she turned her head back.

 

The boy, looking exhausted before they had even entered the park, was locking the car doors. Finding it both pitiful and cute, Jin giggled, approached him, and stood on her tiptoes.

 

“Let’s sneak away together when it’s time to go home.”

 

“…That’s a promise.”

 

Only after Jin hooked her pinky with his did Evan smooth his furrowed brow.

 

* * *

 

10:48 AM.

 

Stuck in the long admission line, Jin turned on her phone’s lock screen to check the time.

 

With a thirteen-hour time difference, it was close to midnight in Korea. Calculating the time in her head, Jin hovered her finger over the number at the top of her contact list.

 

However, her thumb, which had been lingering over the green call button, eventually dropped without pressing it.

 

It was definitely a time when they would be awake, but she worried they might have fallen asleep early from exhaustion. She didn’t want to wake people who were tired.

 

The call she had made when she left the house early this morning—when it was still late evening in Korea—had gone to voicemail, and there had been no return call.

 

Thinking they must be busy, yet unable to shake a small seed of worry, Jin hesitated before leaving a message. 

 

[Are you busy? I’m having trouble reaching you.]

[It’s spring break at school now. I’m at an amusement park with my friends.]

[It feels like summer is right around the corner here. It’s probably still a bit chilly in Korea.]

[I’m doing really well right now, but I miss the sound of Mom and Dad’s voices.]

[Call me when you see this message.]

 

After hitting the send button on the last text, Jin raised her head and looked forward at the sound of Joey shouting excitedly.

 

A double-decker ferry was just pulling into the dock. To enter the theme park, they had to take the boat across the massive lake that blocked the way to the enchanted castle.

 

“This is such a waste of time.”

 

“I told you, this is the romantic part!”

 

Amanda shook her head in disbelief as she followed the line moving forward, but she couldn’t stop Joey’s excitement. Joey, who had already taken out and put on the character headband she brought, moved forward with a spring in her step.

 

Amanda, Dustin, Evan Ruth, and then Jin and Evan followed in a line behind her.

 

Laughing amidst the noisy, anticipatory atmosphere of the park, Jin suddenly noticed the glances people—especially the women nearby—were throwing their way. They were touching their hair or talking to their own companions while repeatedly stealing looks in their direction.

 

Jin looked around with puzzled eyes, only to realize that all those gazes were directed at the boy next to her. Jin paused and looked at Evan with fresh eyes.

 

He wore a white T-shirt that occasionally revealed his collarbones as he moved, topped with a denim jacket. His sleeves were slightly rolled up against the heat, revealing forearms that drew the eye with every lively movement.

 

In short, he was a rare specimen of beauty who possessed both a great physique and a stunning face.

 

‘Why did he dress so well today?’

 

Realizing once again that Evan wasn’t just handsome to her but to everyone else as well, Jin scanned her surroundings anxiously and took a step closer to him. On top of that, she slipped her hand into the gap of his crossed arms.

 

Evan, who had been looking at the ferry with a bored expression, turned his head toward her. Jin pretended to look straight ahead.

 

However, Evan, quickly reading the situation, let out a smirk and lowered his head to whisper in Jin’s ear.

 

“Are you jealous?”

 

“Be quiet.”

 

Jin squeezed his forearm as if to tell him to shut up before letting go, but instead of pulling away, Evan giggled with his head buried against her shoulder.

 

As the low laughter tickled her ear, Jin narrowed her eyes and pointed her elbow sharply.

 

Before her elbow could poke his side, Evan lightly caught her arm and pulled her closer. His lips parted and brushed against the top of her white earlobe.

 

‘I’m yours.’

 

“…”

 

Instead of answering, Jin moved her feet to hurry after their friends, who were gradually getting further away. But her ears, visible through her hair, were bright red, and Evan, walking behind her, finally let out a playful laugh.

 

“Whoa!”

 

“It’s been so long since I’ve been here.”

 

As soon as they stepped onto the ferry, the kids moved quickly to secure seats on the second floor with a good view, looking around with excited faces.

 

Soon the motor rumbled, and the boat began to cut coolly through the wide blue lake.

 

“Say hi!”

 

Joey’s camera, which had started capturing the pink castle in the distance, slowly panned in a circle. Knowing that Joey wouldn’t take the phone away from their faces until they waved, the kids lazily raised their hands and waved.

 

Just as she was capturing everyone one by one, Joey—who had been debating whether she should ask Evan, who was playing with Jin’s hair, to wave—muttered blankly as she saw the faces caught in the corner of her screen.

 

“…Wait, what?”

 

She narrowed her eyes and looked at the people on the screen two or three times, but no matter how many times she looked, they were definitely familiar faces.

 

As she hurriedly lowered the camera, people she never expected to see here were vividly etched in her vision.

 

“Why are those guys here?”

 

A slack-jawed Joey muttered toward the three men and women who were tiresomely familiar.

 

They were Jonathan, Emily, and Olivia.

 

Standing at the very front, Emily Gwen’s eyes met Joey’s as she looked around as if searching for someone. Two pairs of blue eyes clashed in the air, sending sparks flying.

 

“How gross.”

 

Joey and Emily whipped their heads away simultaneously. Judging by the way Emily Gwen’s lips moved, she seemed to be muttering something similar.

 

Joey, feeling as though cold water had been dumped on her excitement, went back to her seat and sat with her arms crossed. Resolved to pretend she hadn’t seen them until the end, she didn’t share the foul news with anyone.

 

How does this even make sense? Overlapping in this exact spot, on this exact day, at this exact time? Talk about bad luck!

 

“Wait, isn’t that Gwen?”

 

“Forget it, just pretend you didn’t see her.”

 

When Dustin, oblivious to Joey’s efforts, spoke up in recognition, Joey quickly reached out and covered his mouth.

 

But it was no use. Contrary to Joey’s resolve to never acknowledge them, Gwen had approached right next to them as if to show off.

 

Joey bared her teeth and growled at Emily, who was looking down at them with a haughty face.

 

“Do you have some business with u—”

 

“Yo, what’s up.”

 

Jonathan, suddenly popping out from behind Emily, waved energetically. Giving up on pretending not to notice, Joey whipped her head toward Evan.

 

“Did you invite them?”

 

“I was about to ask the same thing.”

 

Evan shrugged. At the appearance of his old friend, his face grew even more tired. Great, now there’s one more person who talks too much.

 

“Then how on earth did they know to come here!”

 

“It just looked like fun, so we followed along.”

 

It was Jonathan who answered Joey’s indignant question. Not missing the opportunity, Emily quickly cut in and pointed at Jonathan.

 

“I followed him.”

 

“What? Em, you were the one who—ack!”

 

Jonathan turned to look at Emily as if to ask what she was talking about, then screamed like someone who had just been pinched. Taking advantage of the moment, Olivia, who had been standing by quietly, spoke up.

 

“Since we’re all here, let’s just hang out together. It’s more fun with more people.”

 

“What? Absolutely not!”

 

“Isn’t that just McCoy’s solo opinion? You should ask the others too.”

 

As Olivia gestured toward the group, Joey let out a triumphant, scoffing laugh.

 

“Fine, then let’s put it to a majority vote!”

 

But you have to promise to accept the result without whining or being clingy.

 

There were six of them and three of the newcomers. Even if Evan Butterfield took their side, it would still be five to four. Joey wore a confident smile, relying on the simple math she couldn’t possibly lose.