PTT - 50

Si-heon had wagered a “wish” as the prize for their bet. Though it felt childish, Ra-on accepted confidently, certain of her victory.

After all, these weren’t real ghosts—just actors performing stunts. Yet, barely thirty seconds into the haunted house, unease began to creep into Ra-on’s expression.

It was the front person’s job to shine the flashlight and lead the way. As soon as they stepped into the space themed after an abandoned hospital, chills ran down her spine. Acrid smoke clouded her vision, and the sharp, unpleasant scent of disinfectant stung her nose.

“…They’ve done a great job with the interior.”

“Already scared, Yeon-ah?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What about you, Senior?”

Not a single ghost had appeared yet, but her feet felt glued to the floor as if adhesive had been smeared on her soles. After a brief hesitation, Ra-on adjusted her grip on the flashlight and moved forward. Every step onto the creaking wooden planks sent shivers down her spine. To greet her, blood-soaked bandages hung ominously in the narrow hallway.

‘Why am I trembling over something like this…’

Her pride as an NIS agent was starting to take a hit. Clenching her lower lip, Ra-on stopped walking.

“…This path is blocked.”

“There’s a door. Aren’t we supposed to open it and go through?”

“Isn’t this a sign to turn back? Looks like an emergency exit to me.”

“It says ‘Operating Room,’ Yeon. Shall I open it for you?”

Though she couldn’t see his face from behind, there was no doubt Si-heon was smirking arrogantly. The playful ease in his voice confirmed it.

With her wounded pride, Ra-on forced herself to appear calm as she reached for the doorknob. In that instant, she reflexively screamed.

“Aaah!”

The moment she tried to turn the knob, a bloody hand shot out of nowhere, grabbing her wrist. Shaking off the fake-blood-soaked hand with force, Ra-on stiffened and spun around.

“…Pretend you didn’t see that.”

“To give up and leave now… wouldn’t that hurt our honor?”

“Haa. Fine, I’ll open the door again.”

She wanted to bite her tongue—or better yet, bite Si-heon’s tongue to shut him up.

With trembling hands, she pushed the door open, eliciting a loud creak from the hinges. Less than three minutes in, and she already felt like she’d lost 2 kilograms.

Suppressing her instinct to flee, Ra-on stepped into the operating room set. Suddenly, a zombie doctor in tattered scrubs burst out of a closet with a clang! In its hand was a scalpel coated in dried “blood.”

Eyes wide, Ra-on instinctively slipped into combat mode, her body tensing. Watching from behind, Si-heon couldn’t help but chuckle, gently unclenching her fists.

“You’re not planning to get arrested for assault here, are you? Let’s keep those fists down, okay?”

“Ha, seriously… Do you find this fun, Senior?”

Her suppressed frustration bubbled over. Intellectually, she knew everything was fake, but primal fear paralyzed her body.

It was laughable how fearless she was facing actual criminals or corpses, yet here she was, reacting so strongly. Stomping her feet in place, Ra-on looked up at Si-heon.

His relaxed expression was unbearably infuriating. She wished he’d show some fear, some discomfort. Determined, she lifted her chin slightly and ventured further into the hospital corridor.

Drip, drip. The amplified sound of IV fluid hitting the floor assaulted Ra-on’s eardrums. Surely, they were at least halfway through. Just a little more, and they’d reach the exit. Though embarrassed by her earlier reaction, escaping would still feel like a win. Comforting herself with this thought, she cautiously scanned her surroundings when another ear-piercing scream escaped her lips.

“Aaah! Shit…”

A string of curses she rarely used spilled out naturally as fake spiders burst forth from an automated device on the wall with a loud pop!

While ghosts didn’t scare her, even small bugs made her recoil. Reflexively, she spun around and clung to Si-heon’s waist. Pressing her cheek against his warm chest did nothing to calm her racing heart.

Looking down at Ra-on, who had suddenly thrown herself into his arms, Si-heon chuckled softly. What was he to do with this adorable woman? Gently stroking the back of her head, he whispered teasingly, though he sensed pushing her further might lead to trouble.

“I’m too scared to continue. Should we give up and leave?”

---

By the time they exited, dusk had fallen, signaling the park’s closing hour. The amusement park had grown noticeably quieter. Their final destination was the Ferris wheel.

After waiting in line for what felt like ages, their turn came quickly, and the two boarded the round gondola.

It was the most classic and romantic ride. Sitting on the modest bench, Ra-on gazed out the transparent window at the scenery below.

The descent back to the ground would take about ten minutes. Within moments, people and attractions shrunk to toy-like proportions, and a smile spread across her face.

The rides, illuminated by lights, twinkled and rotated. Unlike the cityscape of Seoul at night, this place radiated happiness and warmth. Surrounded by joyous laughter, she felt an overwhelming sense of wonder, as though dreaming.

Watching Ra-on beam brightly, Si-heon brushed back his bangs. If he’d known she’d enjoy it this much, he should have brought her sooner. A pang of regret for not visiting five years ago lingered.

“Your expression is completely different now, Yoo Ra-on.”

“…Well, I don’t have acrophobia.”

“They say people are scarier than ghosts. But you seemed pretty scared of those ghosts.”

“Come to think of it, those actors playing ghosts are people too.”

Discovering unexpected sides of someone you care about is always thrilling. Whether it was seeing her drunk and mischievous or stunning him with her perfect marksmanship, piecing together the puzzle of Yoo Ra-on felt rewarding.

How much of the picture had been completed? He couldn’t tell, but the process of uncovering it was enjoyable in itself.

Ra-on fidgeted with her earlobe, looking sheepish, then turned to Si-heon.

“So… what’s your wish?”

“Wish?”

“Yes. We made a bet earlier. If I failed to escape, I promised to grant your wish.”

“Hmm… but technically, you didn’t give up—I did.”

Ra-on snorted softly, shaking her head. She knew full well he had suggested quitting to save her pride. Still, her ego was bruised either way. Despite that, she felt grateful for his consideration.

“Enough with the excuses. Tell me your wish. Anything except asking me to buy you a house.”

“A house? Why? Can’t afford one yet?”

“…You’re far richer than me, Senior. It’ll take me at least another decade to pay off my current mortgage.”

By now, the Ferris wheel had ascended toward its peak. Si-heon shifted from across to sit beside her. The cramped space pressed their bodies together, creating an unexpectedly warm sensation.

Leaning his head on her shoulder, he closed his eyes. His crescent-moon smile was irresistibly charming.

Ra-on had always loved his scent. Hard to describe in words, it carried a mature, sexy allure that wasn’t entirely gentle—perfectly fitting for an adult.

A wish, huh? What could Baek Si-heon possibly desire? Fidgeting with her fingers hesitantly, Ra-on finally raised her hand to softly brush his forehead.

“…So, what’s your wish?”