Jay-jay's POV
"Horror house, let's go!" Ci-N and the others shouted.
"You guys go! I'm out!" I replied.
These animals! So over-the-top, coming here and following us. And now they're acting jealous because I didn't invite them.
"Killjoy! You're coming!" they yelled.
I rolled my eyes at them. Even though I hate horror houses, I had no choice. These guys wouldn't let me off the hook.
"Do you believe me?" David whispered to me.
"O-yes... You have instincts." I answered him and smiled.
All we needed now was the right moment to talk to Denzel.
My gaze drifted to Yuri, who had been unusually quiet. He still seemed embarrassed from earlier, though none of us could figure out why.
At least we all agreed to just hang out together for the rest of the day. As if they expected us to pay for everything.
Yeah, right! I'm mooching off them too!
My eyes landed on the giant Ferris wheel. It was still pretty far from where we were, but it was so huge I could see it clearly from our spot.
"Let's ride that later..." I said while pointing at the Ferris Wheel.
"No! Let's go home after the Horror House!" Keifer said.
I looked at him with a frown. "Go home if you want! I'm going to ride it!"
"Tss."
There it was, that mysterious "Tss." This guy is so annoying. His brain's always got some weird glitch.
When we reached the horror house, I already wanted to leave just from the entrance. Damn it! I know it's all just people and machines in there, but... but there's something else I'm scared of.
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Yuri's POV
Over Acting!
I couldn't control myself earlier. I don't know, but I had this weird feeling in my stomach, and I just got mad instantly.
So annoying!
Now I can't even look at Jay-jay. I'm embarrassed—she might think something weird because I was so over-the-top.
We were already lined up at the horror house entrance. They said we had to wait 10 minutes before they'd let another group in.
I tried to glance at Jay-jay. She looked so scared?—No! She looked so bothered. Like she was deep in thought.
I wanted to approach her, but I was worried about what the others might think.
The Horror House crew signaled for us to go in. We were still in line. Jay was in the middle of all of us.
Right at the first hallway, everyone started freaking out. They suddenly screamed, nearly bursting my eardrums.
Itai! (Ouch!)
I tried to check on Jay-jay, but I couldn't see her. Then they all decided to run because of something.
Are these guys cowards or what?
I tried to stay put because I wanted to go to Jay-jay. The problem was, I couldn't see her, and the path was too narrow, so I got swept along by the others running.
We stopped in a slightly wider hallway. I caught my breath first. It was hard to breathe in this place.
"Guys! Where's Jay-jay?" Ci-N asked.
I quickly scanned around, but she wasn't there. I couldn't see David or Keifer either. Denzel and Eren were missing too.
"Where'd they go?" the others asked.
I tried to backtrack to the hallway we came from, but the door was already closed.
Crap!
"We can't go back! We have to keep going!" they said.
But I need to get back! What if David goes through with his plan from earlier and tries to kiss Jay-jay?
Fuck! Why do I feel this shit?! Why do I have to feel this?!
I feel like I'm going crazy. This isn't normal! Am I… Am I feeling jealous?
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Jay-jay's POV
I couldn't move. I felt like someone was about to charge at me or hurt me. I didn't know why I was feeling this way. But I didn't like it!
"Get up!" Keifer shouted at me.
I don't want to!
"Stand up already!" he yelled again.
"Get up from there!"
There it was! It's starting again! I wasn't even sure where the voice was coming from! Not from Keifer, not from this horror house, and not from anyone else.
"You useless freeloader!"
From… from my own thoughts?
"Worthless brat!"
No! No! No! Stop it!
"You'll pay for this!"
"Jay-jay! Get up!" Keifer shouted again.
Suddenly, he grabbed my arm and pulled me up. Panic surged through me, and something inside me made my body tremble.
"Please don't hurt me!" I screamed at Keifer.
I didn't even know where that came from. It just came out of my mouth on its own.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, tightening his grip on my arm. "…Why are you shaking? What's going on with you?"
"L-let's get out of here… Please," I pleaded with him.
"O-okay…"
He was about to let go of my arm, but I quickly grabbed his hand.
"What?" he asked.
"Don't let go of me!"
I knew he was confused. Even I was confused. He held my hand and intertwined our fingers, and I instinctively moved closer to him, clutching his arm with my other hand.
I couldn't help it. It was all because of the fear I was feeling. I just needed to get out of here—I was never coming back.
We started walking and entered a new hallway with a different setup.
"Jay…" Keifer called out. "…C-can you back up a little?"
I didn't understand why, but I didn't do it. I was still scared—not of the ghosts in this Horror House, but of the ghosts in my mind.
"Jay…" he called again. "I'm uncomfortable."
Even though I didn't understand, I backed off. I couldn't tell if it was just the lighting, but his ears looked red.
Tsk!
As we walked, I suddenly heard a group of guys shouting. It sounded like Ci-N and the others. That meant they were nearby.
"That's Ci-N and the others!" I said, letting go of Keifer's hand. I was about to run to the next hallway when suddenly, the door behind me slammed shut, separating me from Keifer.
"Jay-jay!" Keifer shouted from the other side.
"Keifer!" I called back, and tears began welling up in my eyes.
"Step away, Jay! I'm going to kick the door down!" he shouted.
I stepped back slightly and heard the loud thud of him kicking the door. But the door didn't even budge or move an inch.
"FVCK!!" Keifer roared.
"Keifer! I'm scared!" I cried as tears streamed down my face.
"No! Don't be scared!" he shouted back.
I tried kicking the door myself, but it was useless.
"Jay… I will search for another way!"
"What?! N-no! Don't leave me here!"
"Jay! Nothing will happen if we just keep talking through this door! I'll find another path! I'll come for you!"
I'll come for you!
Hearing him say that somehow eased the fear I was feeling. Though I didn't know why.
"Jay! Do you hear me?!"
"Yes!"
"Okay! I'm going now!"
His voice faded away. Left alone, I sank to the floor.
He said he'd find me. So I shouldn't be afraid.
I glanced around. The walls were lined with creepy masks and fake cobwebs.
Sure, it was scary—but what terrified me more was what might happen to me. I didn't want to hear those voices again. They felt like fragments of my past, but I couldn't remember anything.
I heard shouting from a group of guys again. I wasn't sure if it was still Ci-N and the others, but it only meant one thing—they were nearby.
Even though I didn't want to leave my spot, I forced myself to stand and walk. I moved slowly until a mannequin fell in front of me.
I was a bit startled but didn't let it stop me. I needed to find that group. Then something suddenly pushed me.
I got scared and started running. I darted through random paths, even stumbling into a room with a headless body that looked like a funeral setup, so I had to rush out and keep running until I bumped into someone.
"Ow…" said the person I collided with.
I got up and looked at who it was. I sighed in relief when I saw that it was Eren.
"Eren!" I exclaimed and immediately hugged him.
"Easy…" he said, gently pushing me away.
He stood up right away and helped me to my feet.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Y-yeah…" I scanned the area, looking for the others, but they weren't there. "…Where are they?"
"That's the problem. I got separated from them."
Shit!
I started panicking again. The fear I had earlier was creeping back.
"It's better if we just look for the exit. We can wait for them outside," Eren suggested.
Right! It was bright outside. I wouldn't feel this scared anymore.
"O-okay… Let's go," I said and started walking.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Eren asked.
"Y-yeah…"
"You can hold onto me if you wa—"
"JAY-JAY!" someone suddenly shouted.
We both turned around to look behind us.
Keifer!
He ran toward me quickly. I'll admit, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. The fear vanished instantly. It was like a thorn had been pulled out of my skin.
The second Keifer reached me, he crushed me in a tight hug.
"Fvck! I thought I'd never find you!"
Thud-thud Thud-thud Thud-thud**Thud-thud
My heart was racing. This wasn't normal! W-why? Why did I feel like this?!
Why had Keifer said that? Was he... scared? Scared he wouldn't find me? But why?
I was so confused. Part of me wanted to push him away, but my body refused to move.
"Are you two dating or something?"