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Minji throws open the curtains, letting the sunlight in. The blue sky is cloudless, and the sun is warm against her face. She can tell that the day is going to be a good one without even looking at the weather report. It’s the perfect day for a trip to the amusement park — a day she’s been planning for a stressed-out Yoohyeon.
Turning toward the bed, Yoohyeon stirs as the light shines across her face. She mutters something under her breath before rolling away from the window. Part of Minji wants to let her sleep after the long week of finals she just had, but the other part has different plans. If they want to make the most of celebrating the end of Yoohyeon’s finals, they need to get moving.
Without another thought, Minji jumps onto the bed. The force bounces Yoohyeon into the air, and Minji laughs as Yoohyeon whines and groans about how early it is.
“Come on, Yoohyeon,” Minji says when Yoohyeon turns to throw a half-hearted glare at her. Minji brushes a strand of Yoohyeon’s hair out of her face. “It’s already 9:00, and you’re usually up by now.”
Yoohyeon rubs her eyes, knowing that she won’t be falling back asleep anytime soon — not with the way Minji is smiling at her. “But I had three finals yesterday. I want to sleep for the next five days.”
“Nope.” Minji pulls the comforter and sheets from the bed as she stands. Yoohyeon whines again and curls up on herself. “We have plans today! We’re celebrating the fact that you’ll never have to take another final exam ever again!” She throws her arms up and jumps around the bed in celebration. “Think of this as your early graduation gift.”
This seems to get Yoohyeon’s attention. One eye opens just a crack as she eyes Minji suspiciously. “Graduation gift?” she asks, not sure if she’s heard correctly.
With her hands on her hips, Minji stands tall and (just a little) proud. “Yup,” she says with a grin. Then she deflates just a bit and Yoohyeon’s other eye opens, watching Minji carefully. “But I guess if you don’t want it, then I could just return—”
“No!” Yoohyeon shoots straight up and scrambles out of bed. “Don’t return it — whatever it is! I want your gift!”
Minji grins happily. Hook, line, and sinker. She knows exactly how to work her girlfriend.
It takes them almost two hours to get to the amusement park, and Yoohyeon asked Minji a hundred times where they were going. Not telling her was the best choice Minji could have ever made because Yoohyeon’s reaction is priceless.
“Oh, my god!” Yoohyeon throws her hands up in the air and turns to Minji with bright, excited eyes. “I can’t believe you remembered!”
Minji simply laughs because how could she forget? Yoohyeon had been so excited about the new roller coaster that opened up that she hadn’t stopped talking about it for an entire week. By the third day, Minji had already started planning the trip.
“That I did. Come on.” She takes Yoohyeon’s hand and leads her toward the entrance. “Let’s get our tickets.” Minji winks back at Yoohyeon. “I also have a little surprise.”
“You got us fast passes?!” Yoohyeon squeals as she grasps the tickets and wristbands like her life depended on them. She spins and pulls Minji into such a tight hug that Minji grunts at the force. “You—” Yoohyeon pulls back just enough to look at Minji’s face. “You’re perfect.” Then she plants a kiss on Minji’s lips.
Minji laughs and pinches Yoohyeon’s cheek. “I wouldn’t say perfect, but I’m pretty damn close,” she teases.
Grinning from ear to ear, Yoohyeon all but drags Minji toward the gates with the counters. “What should we do first?” she asks, pushing through the metal bar once her ticket is scanned.
“Yoohyeon, this is your day,” Minji follows her through. “We can do whatever you want to!”
Yoohyeon frowns. “But—” she begins to say but she’s silenced by a look from Minji. Yoohyeon fidgets on the spot. She looks out at the crowds of people, the food stands, and the roller coasters reaching into the sky like steel snakes. She turns back to Minji — still unsure. “Are you sure?”
Always thinking of others , Minji thinks with a small sigh. “Promise. I’ll go on whatever it is you want.”
A bright smile returns to Yoohyeon’s face. “You really are perfect, Minji.”
Minji jokingly rolls her eyes, but there’s a smirk on her face. “Sure, sure,” she mumbles. “Now,” she turns toward the park with her hands on her hips, “where to first?”
Yoohyeon takes Minji’s hand and laces their fingers together. “This way!”
Yoohyeon mercifully starts out things slow by going on the swings. It’s probably because she knows Minji likes the way it feels like they’re flying without the drops and loops of the roller coaster.
Minji laughs as the wind whips at her hair and the swings start to move outward. She cheers as the force pulls at her body and she can see the ground just off to the side of her. The feeling disappears all too quickly when the ride slows and they’re both sitting upright again.
As they exit, Minji feels Yoohyeon’s fingers in her hair. “Your hair is everywhere ,” she says through a laugh. “Let’s sit somewhere so I can braid it.” Minji lets her and it’s then that she realizes that Yoohyeon’s hair has already been pulled back in a high ponytail, keeping her hair mostly in the right spot.
Minji hums as Yoohyeon carefully untangles her hair. Just twice does she feel a slight pull as Yoohyeon masterfully twists her hair into a French braid. “There,” Yoohyeon whispers, finishing off the braid. It’s barely audible over the screams and cheers of the amusement park. “That should help a little bit.”
Minji runs a hand over the plaits with a smile. “Thanks, Yoohyeon. Now,” she looks out at the park, “where else should we go?”
“Everywhere,” Yoohyeon replied immediately, making both of them laugh. Yoohyeon stands and offers her hand to Minji. “Why don’t we just walk and whatever looks appealing, we stop and enjoy?”
Taking the outstretched hand, Minji pulls herself to her feet. “So long as we have time to do everything you want. This is your day, remember?” Yoohyeon rolls her eyes. “We’re celebrating the end of finals for you! We have to at least make it to that one roller coaster.”
Threading their fingers together, Yoohyeon and Minji begin walking through the throngs of people. Yoohyeon swings their hands back and forth. “You don’t have to go on the roller coaster if you don’t want to,” she says.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Minji chuckles at the serious look on Yoohyeon’s face. “I can handle a roller coaster or two.”
By the time midday rolls around, Minji and Yoohyeon have effectively made it about halfway through the park. They went on all types of rides that looked interesting to one or the other. Sometimes both of them stopped in their tracks and excitedly announced they’d be going on this ride or that at the same time, making them fall into a fit of giggles.
It’s been pleasant for both of them. Minji can tell Yoohyeon is happy by the serene smile on her face and the way she keeps swaying their hands back and forth. Minji, herself, has a pleasantly happy buzz radiating under her skin and knows it’s the love she feels for her girlfriend of three years.
However, the one thing Minji has realized is that they haven’t gone on one roller coaster yet. They begin to walk by a section that leads to a wooden roller coaster. Even from a distance, Minji can hear the clacking of the metal and wood and the cheers of people as the carts race over dips and turns. “Why don’t we go on that one?” Minji asks, knowing Yoohyeon’s inherent love of all things roller coasters.
Yoohyeon hems and haws. “I don’t know,” she mumbles slightly. “I’m not the biggest fan of wooden roller coasters. They’re too bumpy and rough.”
“Really?” Minji raises an eyebrow when Yoohyeon nods. “But we haven’t gone on any roller coasters yet.” She narrows her eyes into slits. “You’re not avoiding them for my sake, are you?”
“Of course not!” Yoohyeon shouts — too quickly if you ask Minji. She’s the worst liar. Minji just stares at her. “Fine.” Yoohyeon looks around (spinning once to see in all directions) before she points at the nearest roller coaster. It’s not the biggest or fastest, but it’s also not the tamest. “That one,” she declares. “We’ll go on that one before lunch .”
Minji isn’t sure why going before lunch is so important to Yoohyeon but she shrugs it off. She wants her girlfriend to enjoy this little gift of hers. If she wants to ride a roller coaster before they eat, that’s what they’ll do.
To say Minji isn’t at least a little nervous is a lie. She hasn’t been on a roller coaster since she was young and that had not been the best experience overall. But she’s also excited because Yoohyeon is excited!
Minji smiles softly at Yoohyeon as she bounces on the balls of her feet as they inch closer to the front line. Yoohyeon is all pent-up energy by the time they slide into the cart and pull the safety rail over their laps, making sure it fits nice and snug.
“Here we go!” Yoohyeon shouts excitedly and then continues to mumble the words as the roller coaster jerks into motion.
The chains pulling them along clink rhythmically as they rise higher and higher into the sky. They’re about halfway up when the nerves really start to hit Minji. She grips the safety bar for dear life. Their cart is situated nicely in the middle. It means that Minji isn’t the first to see the drop but she can clearly see the other carts begin to disappear over the crest of the hill.
Her breath hitches when she sees the drop. It takes a moment for the weightlessness to kick in for the drop and Minji manages a small, “Oh, shit,” before she screams and her stomach swoops with the fall. The nausea hits her almost instantly.
Throughout the ride, Minji’s teeth remain clenched and her hands ache from their hold on the safety rail. Her eyes stay shut as the ride pulls her body left, right, up, down… Yoohyeon, on the other hand, is having the time of her life. Hands thrown up into the sky, she cheers and laughs like a giddy little kid.
Minji would have enjoyed the sound and the sight of her girlfriend having the time of her life if she wasn’t concentrating on keeping her stomach in check.
The ride seems to take forever, but eventually, the cart comes to a jarring stop as it taxis its way back into the loading area. Minji is in a daze — a very, very nausea-induced daze. The moment the bar lifts, she scrambles out of the cart behind Yoohyeon and dashes for the exit ramp.
She distantly hears Yoohyeon call her name, but she’s too focused on finding a trash can and finding it fast . And she decides, as she nimbly avoids groups of people and families, that the dance lessons she finally took Bora up on were worth it if it meant she could get to a trashcan faster.
Minji isn’t sure how long she spent bent over the trash can before Yoohyeon caught up to her, but it was long enough to know that the mere smell was enough to make her gag. No wonder Yoohyeon wanted to go on the ride before lunch. This would have been a much worse experience if she’d just eaten something.
Thank god, she listened to Yoohyeon when she did.
“Here.” Cool condensation pressed into the side of Minji’s neck. A peace offering from her girlfriend in the form of a cold bottle of water. “Oh,” Yoohyeon winces just a tad when Minji looks up at her.
“That bad?” Minji grumbles but takes the water bottle appreciatively. Part of her wants to chug the drink, but she also knows that will just end in disaster and has to force herself to only take a sip at a time.
Yoohyeon rubs a soothing circle on her back. The gentle gesture and the refreshing drink calm her stomach and her frayed nerves. “You’re just a little green around the edges,” Yoohyeon assures. “Nothing bad.”
They stand beside the trash can but far enough away that the smell won’t make Minji hurl anytime soon. Eventually, the clammy feeling resides and she’s able to take a deep breath. “Want to find somewhere to sit?” Minji asks, standing up a little straighter. “Maybe find something to eat?” Even though she’s not sure her stomach would appreciate that yet, it would be nice to sit and relax for a bit.
Yoohyeon seems to have similar thoughts, but after scrutinizing her girlfriend for a minute, she nods. “Let’s head back to where we saw all those little restaurants and food booths!” Yoohyeon says, sliding back into her excited self which further cured Minji’s nausea and nerves.
Holding each other’s hands, they walk slowly and take in the sights and sounds. So much joy in such a small place, Minji thinks. As they near the food court in the center of the park, she mentions off-handedly that they should get a picture to commemorate the day. She doesn’t notice Yoohyeon’s hand gripping her cross-body bag or the nerves in Yoohyeon’s laugh when she agrees. Minji is all too focused on the now enticing smell of the park food.
The rides after lunch are much calmer than the roller coaster. Minji knows Yoohyeon is doing it on purpose because although this is her gift to Yoohyeon, Yoohyeon also wants Minji to enjoy their time together. Yoohyeon’s care is just one of the reasons why Minji loves her.
“You know,” Minji begins as they exit the merry-go-round, “you can go on more roller coasters. I’ll just sit out.” Yoohyeon doesn’t look convinced so Minji nudges her a little. “Go! Have fun! I’ll be right here waiting for you and getting some snacks.” She eyes one of the stands selling sweets. “Okay?”
It takes Yoohyeon five seconds to agree. She leans in, places a kiss on Minji's cheek, and races off. “I’ll be right back,” she yells over her shoulder. Minji laughs and gets in line to buy something to snack on.
She makes it to the roller coaster in time for Yoohyeon’s group to go and she laughs at the picture of her girlfriend on the screen. There’s so much happiness in Yoohyeon’s eyes that it makes Minji smile - warmth and love blooming in her chest. She definitely buys the picture and sticks it in her bag before Yoohyeon exits the ride.
Minji watches as Yoohyeon walks down the ramp with windswept hair and a peaceful, happy smile on her face. Then she watches as that same small smile grows twice the size when Yoohyeon finally finds her in the crowd.
The rest of the day is much the same. Minji and Yoohyeon go on various rides. They decide together after munching on some churros, that they’ll go on the Ferris wheel last. Specifically, the only thing Minji really wants to do on this trip is ride the Ferris wheel while the sun begins to set. The park isn’t open much later once the sun sets anyway. She thinks it’s the perfect way to end the trip.
“Sounds nice to me,” Yoohyeon says earnestly. “Do you think we can go on that roller coaster right before it?”
Minji knows “that roller coaster” means the one Yoohyeon’s been excited to ride and has yet to get on. Minji also notices the word “we” thrown into that sentence when the last couple of hours Yoohyeon has very clearly asked if she alone could go on the roller coasters. “Together?” she asks — a little surprised at the request.
Yoohyeon looks a little bashful in asking, probably because of Minji’s reaction to the one ride before lunch. “Please?”
“Are you sure you want me to go with you?” Minji blinks in confusion. “Wouldn’t it be more fun without me screaming the whole time?”
“No!” Yoohyeon shouts. Her hand tightens around Minji’s hand in emphasis — like the very idea of going on this long-awaited roller coaster ride without her was the most absurd thing she’s ever heard. “Everything is always better with you there with me,” she insists.
Despite her apprehension about roller coasters, the love she feels after hearing Yoohyeon’s comment overrules her fear. “Okay, if you insist,” she says with a sigh but there’s already a smile pulling at her lips while Yoohyeon cheers happily.
Bad idea. Terrible idea. Oh, my, god .
Minji is, for a lack of a better word, freaking out. Wholeheartedly, freaking out. While Yoohyeon bounces happily on the balls of her feet and swings their intertwined hands back and forth, Minji feels absolute dread inside. Especially now that she’s close enough to see the twists, turns, and loops of the ride.
She’s going to die.
What has she gotten herself into?
Sensing her nerves, Yoohyeon pulls her into a hug. “It’s going to be fine,” she assures her, but Minji is dreading the fact that she’s been snacking since lunch. This time her stomach will not be empty when nausea kicks in. Plus, they’re in the fast pass lane and it’ll only be one or two more rides before it’s their turn. Yoohyeon begged Minji to let them sit up front this time, and Minji is already regretting it.
She needs to say goodbye to her friends and family before she gets on this thing.
“You can just cling to me the entire time!” Yoohyeon is much too chipper about that and if Minji wasn’t lowkey panicking, she would have picked up on it. Yoohyeon moves them down the line. “This is a really fast ride, but it’ll be over before you even know it.”
Minji focuses on those cheering around her. The happy ones — not the ones screaming like she will no doubt be doing. “You’re lucky I love you,” Minji says into Yoohyeon’s shoulder. She must admit, she does feel better holding onto Yoohyeon like this. She breathes deeply, letting Yoohyeon’s faded perfume relax her nerves. “How do you smell this good after sweating and going on so many rides?” Minji randomly asks in an effort to distract herself from the impending doom. It results in Yoohyeon snorting with laughter as their turn comes about.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Minji mumbles. Her hands shake and she feels a clammy sweat break out down her back. I can do this , she tells herself, but then the roller coaster begins its trek upwards. I can NOT do this!
Yoohyeon’s arm wraps around Minji’s shoulder as they get higher. “It’s gonna be fine,” she yells over the machinery as it pulls the cart higher. Minji’s arms wrap tightly around Yoohyeon’s waist. It’s uncomfortable with the bar pushing her firmly into the seat. “Just hold on and enjoy the ride!”
They reach the top. The chain continues pulling the cart upward — click, click, click — and suddenly Minji has an unobstructed view of the drop. Her body slides forward as the cart angles downward and she unconsciously grips Yoohyeon’s waist tighter.
Then there’s a pause — like the ride has just suspended in the air — before a loud clunk fills the air and suddenly they’re falling. The ride drags Minji down, leaving her stomach way up on the top of that first hill. She clenches her teeth as they pick up speed — unable to scream or do much of anything besides hold onto Yoohyeon, who is laughing with her arms thrown into the air again .
Minji is barely aware of a flash of light as they take a bend, curling into the first loops. She has one eye closed as they spin wildly, spinning left and right, dropping down and rising up so quickly that Minji’s stomach disappears more than a few times on the ride. Then comes the final loop. Minji gasps as the world inverts and she feels herself momentarily hanging before the weight of the cart pulls them back upright.
Her heart hammers in her chest as they go through a couple more turns and drops. She squints as the wind whips at her face and she half buries herself in Yoohyeon’s side. Then, after a couple of small jerks, the ride slows to a crawl and Minji can breathe though she doesn’t untangle herself from Yoohyeon until the bar in their lap releases.
“You did it!” Yoohyeon laughs at the distraught look on Minji’s face. “And you’re not running for the trash cans!” Minji swipes lightly at her with a small smile pulling at her face.
“Brat,” she mumbles but follows Yoohyeon on legs that feel like jelly. Maybe it’s because she knew what to kind of expect, but this time she doesn’t feel like she needs to hug a trash can for the next ten minutes. “All I want is to sit down…” They pass the pictures that were taken during the ride and Minji groans. Right there for all to see, is her desperately holding onto Yoohyeon for dear life while Yoohyeon looks like she’s having the time of her life. “Oh, god…”
Yoohyeon turns to her with bright eyes. “We have to get it.” Minji moans, but she just stands there and lets Yoohyeon order a large print of the picture. It’s Yoohyeon’s present after all. “It’s perfect,” she whispers looking at the picture of them.
“Okay, okay.” Minji tugs at Yoohyeon’s shirt. The sun had started to set already. “You promised we’d go on the Ferris wheel.”
“Right.”
After the last ride, the Ferris wheel’s height no longer seems daunting. Honestly, she feels at peace when the door closes and they begin to slowly move around the wheel. She curls into Yoohyeon’s side and sighs in relief.
The light of the fading sun sets the park alight in hues of orange and red. Even the trees have taken on a fiery presence. “This is nice,” she says as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon and night creeps across the sky. She can just barely make out the first stars shining through the darkening blue.
“It is.” Yoohyeon’s arm wraps around Minji’s shoulders and pulls her tight. “Thank you for this gift.”
“Did you have a good time?” Minji asks, even though she knows the answer.
“The best.” There’s a lot of emotion in Yoohyeon’s voice and they fall into silence as their little cart reaches the peak of the wheel. “It was very thoughtful and thank you for going on that roller coaster with me. I had so much fun today.”
“Better than sleeping for the next five days, right?”
Yoohyeon laughs loudly as she recalls her earlier comment first thing that morning. “Much better.” The pause again. “Can we frame the pictures we got today?”
Minji frowns. “Pictures? Like more than one?” She knows she has one that she secretly bought of Yoohyeon on her own, but she didn’t think Yoohyeon knew about it.
“I may have bought the picture from our first roller coaster.” At least Yoohyeon has the decency to sound embarrassed.
Laughter bubbles out of Minji’s throat. She can’t be mad at Yoohyeon. Not when she also has a picture of Yoohyeon, though Minji does wish the picture of her looked a little better than whatever disaster that first roller coaster ride was. “I bought a picture of you going solo,” she admits. She turns to look up at Yoohyeon. “How about we take a selfie to print out later and call it even?”
Yoohyeon grins brightly. “Sounds good to me!”
Two weeks later, sitting on their bookshelf are numerous pictures. At the front are two graduation pictures — one from Minji’s graduation and one from Yoohyeon’s. Surrounding the two celebratory images are wholesome and silly pictures, many of which came from Yoohyeon’s graduation trip to the amusement park. If you ask Minji, the best one is of them on the Ferris wheel with their faces lit by the setting sun but she knows Yoohyeon’s favorite is the one from their last roller coaster ride.