Lost memories: A mafia romance

🍄 Chapter ¹⁰: To be mine

She suddenly turned to Taehyun. "Hey, sweetie, do you want to go on another ride?" she asked—louder than necessary.

Taehyun snapped out of his pizza daze. "Another ride?! Yesss!"

Seojun gently handed the puppy back to the woman, who smiled at him before walking away with a wave. "Thanks again!"

"Bye, buddy," Taehyung whispered to the dog, giving him one last head pat.

He turned back to the table and raised an eyebrow at Jiwoo's sudden change in tone.

"Where do you guys want to go?" he asked, sliding back into his seat, picking up his slice, and taking a thoughtful bite.

Jiwoo's eyes sparkled as she looked at the glowing sign above the ride entrance. "There's a spooky cave ride here. Let's go!"

Seojun raised an amused brow, glancing at her. "Spooky ride? Didn't peg you as the horror-loving type."

She scoffed. "I'm not scared of some fake skeletons and plastic bats."

Taehyun clapped excitedly. "Let's gooo! I'll protect you, momma!" he declared, puffing his chest out like a brave little knight making Jiwoo chuckle.

The entrance to the ride was a cave-like arch carved out of faux stone, dimly lit with flickering lanterns and eerie purple light. As they stepped inside, the temperature dropped, replaced by cool air and ambient spooky sounds echoing through the hollow walls.

Seojun instinctively picked up Taehyun and held him close while Jiwoo walked beside them, arms crossed to seem unfazed—even though her eyes flicked nervously with every distant creak.

"Nothing to worry about," she whispered to herself. "Just fun… definitely not terrifying…"

Just then—THUD!

Out of nowhere, a life-size skeleton with glowing red eyes dropped from the ceiling, dangling by a thin wire and letting out a shrill cackling laugh.

Jiwoo let out a tiny shriek, barely audible—but her reflexes acted before her mouth could. Her hands shot out and latched onto seojun's arm like it was the last branch on a cliff.

Taehyun burst into giggles from Seojun's arms. "Momma got scared! Hahaha!"

Jiwoo straightened, still gripping seojun's arm tightly, eyes darting around. "No, I didn't! I was just... stabilizing myself."

Seojun chuckled under his breath, his eyes warm. "Sure. Stabilizing. Totally believable."

Her grip remained firm as they moved deeper into the dark tunnel. Animatronic ghouls popped out of hidden corners, ghostly howls filled the air, and bursts of fog puffed from hidden vents. Despite claiming bravery, Jiwoo inched closer to Seojun with every step—until they emerged from the other end of the ride, greeted by sunlight and cheerful park music.

"Jiwoo," seojun said softly, chuckling, "we're out. You can open your eyes."

"No way. You're pranking me. You'll scare me again," Jiwoo mumbled with her face still buried in his chest.

"Mommaaa," Taehyun giggled, wriggling in his father's arms, "appa is telling the truth! Look!"

Jiwoo cracked one eye open hesitantly and blinked at the sight of cotton candy stands, people taking selfies, and the bright sun overhead. She let out a dramatic sigh of relief.

"Oh thank god… I seriously thought there was another jump scare coming…"

But then she realized something else.

Her arms were still around Seojun. In fact, she was clutching him tightly—her body nearly glued to his side, her cheek brushing against the fabric of his shirt.

Like a koala. Like a very clingy, red-faced koala.

Her eyes widened, and she immediately jumped back, pretending to smooth her hair while internally screaming. "I—sorry—I didn't realize—uh—"

Seojun was smirking.

Taehyun was giggling again.

"What's so funny?!" she asked defensively, eyes narrowed as she brushed invisible dust off her jacket.

Seojun gave her an exaggerated shrug. "I just find it funny how someone who clearly doesn't like spooky rides was the one to suggest it."

Jiwoo looked away, cheeks puffed slightly. "I just… I thought I'd give it a try. I didn't expect that level of jump scares!"

Taehyun beamed, his grin as wide as the park's carousel. "Even I wasn't scared, momma! You're a scaredy cat!"

Jiwoo threw her hands up. "Fine! I admit it. I'm a scaredy cat."

Seojun chuckled again, this time softer. "You're a brave scaredy cat, at least."

She rolled her eyes, though the corner of her lips tugged upward in a smile.

"Now," Seojun clapped his hands, shifting the mood, "I say we celebrate surviving the haunted tunnel with something sweet."

Taehyun gasped. "ICE CREAM?!"

"Of course," Seojun replied.

"Yayyyy!!!"

Jiwoo smiled, brushing her fingers through Taehyun's hair gently. "Alright, let's get you a double scoop, brave knight."

Taehyun raised his tiny fists in victory. "Double scoop! Double scoop!"

As they walked hand-in-hand toward the nearest dessert stand, Jiwoo looked at the two boys beside her—Seojun gently guiding Taehyun, who was bouncing with excitement, and herself in the middle, heart strangely full.

For a moment, it didn't feel like just a fun day out.

It felt like a family outing.

And that thought scared her more than any skeleton ever could.

---

At Jiwoo's apartment…

Faint moonlight filtered in through the sheer white curtains of Jiwoo's bedroom, casting pale silver shadows across the walls. Her room was quiet—almost too quiet after the day she'd just had.

She lay curled up under her comforter, her phone resting on the nightstand. Her hand tucked beneath her cheek, yet her eyes remained wide open.

Jiwoo's POV:

I spent the entire day with Taehyun and Seojun… laughing, eating, going on rides… and now, lying here alone in the dark, I don't know why I'm missing them already.

It's strange.

I've only known them for a day—just one day—and yet there's this… warmth lingering in my chest.

My lips curved slightly, remembering the way Taehyun's small arms had wrapped around my neck when he hugged me like I was someone precious to him. Like I had always been his.

And then there was Seojun.

I groaned and turned to the other side, pulling the blanket over my head like it could shield me from my own thoughts.

Why is it that I remember all the embarrassing things when I am about to sleep?