Chapter 43

It's not unusual for Carla to be asked by Edmalyn to go out and hang out together whenever her day off is scheduled during weekends. Edmalyn's work is from Monday to Friday only, so she makes sure that she can be with her best friends when their days off fall on a weekend. And usually, Carla accepts Edmalyn's invitation. But that time, Carla declined. She already made plans with Joshua beforehand. 'Sorry Besh, but I already have plans," Carla said to her best friend. 'Hmn? Where?" Carla can feel Edmalyn scowling at what she said. The thought made her smile. 'There's something that I was meaning to tell you," Edmalyn said. 'If you want, we can meet tomorrow. It's still my off." 'Okay," Edmalyn said. 'So, where are you going?" 'There's this new amusement park in San Manuel," Carla answered. As much as possible, she doesn't want to tell the details to Edmalyn because she might divulge who she's going with. Which is exactly what Edmalyn asked next. 'Who are you going with?" Carla paused. How can she answer that question? 'Can I come?" Edmalyn asked. 'If it's your colleagues in TGH, it's okay. They already know me, right?" It's not just once did Edmalyn joined Carla's colleagues in TGH. 'I was just asked to go for free. I don't feel it's right for me to take someone," Carla said. 'Is he a guy?" Carla can feel that Edmalyn is teasing her. 'And what do you mean by that?" It's her time to scowl. 'That's usually what happens to romcoms, right? It's the usual amusement park scene. Especially in Kdramas." Carla might not be an expert on romcoms and Kdramas, but she's quite aware that it's one of the writers' favorite scenes. It's one of the romantic dates of the main lead couple. 'Are you implying that this is a date?" She sounded vexed, and she's aware of that. 'Isn't it a date when a guy asked a girl to go with him in an amusement park?" 'It's not a date!" Now, she sounded defensive. 'He just wants to… give back something. I mean, a favor I once gave him. He just wants to make it up to me." 'If that's what you say," Edmalyn just said. But because of what Edmalyn said, Carla totally felt worried. Does it really look like she's having a date with Joshua? Is that what others would say if ever they found out that she went to the amusement park with him? She felt like she doesn't like that connotation. 'What if I tell him that I can't come?" Carla asked, talking to herself. Her call with Edmalyn has just ended. 'What if I tell him that there's an emergency that I need to attend to? Then, I'll go hang out with Tats instead… He probably wouldn't be suspicious." She looked at her cellphone and searched for Joshua's mobile number. But no, Carla wasn't able to refuse Joshua's invitation. At exactly 2:30PM, Joshua arrived at her house to pick her up. She did not invite him to their house anymore. She just went out to meet him. Upon going out of their gate, she saw him standing by his car, leaning by the passenger's seat. She stopped on her tracks when she saw him. Why does this scene suddenly look so familiar? The guy waiting by his car for a girl he's about to meet. Joshua leaning handsomely on his car like that gave Carla that feeling she gets whenever she watches romantic movies. And it's something that she should not feel right now. She shook her head to clear her mind. That's when Joshua looked at her. He smiled and stood up properly. Carla smiled back as she continued approaching him. 'Hi!" Carla greeted him. Joshua smiled. 'Let's go?" He opened the door to the passenger seat. Carla got inside the car. Joshua immediately followed, and after a few moments they are already driving to their destination. The travel time would be an hour or so. It's okay, though, if only those ‘unwanted' thoughts don't come popping up on Carla's mind. She finally realized that yes, the two of them really looked like they are dating. 'Hope we can get there immediately," Joshua said after ten minutes of awkward silence. Truth is, he's beginning to feel uncomfortable that's why he started that conversation. Carla did not answer, but she looked at the man beside her. 'I hope there's not much traffic," Joshua added. Carla smiled. 'Are you that excited to try all the attractions on the park?" Joshua chuckled at what she said. 'Not really. But since it's free, might as well consume it. Also, I'm kind of thinking this amusement park is a fancy one." 'Have you seen the park?" asked Carla. 'Not yet," Joshua answered. 'I'm not even aware that there's a new amusement park there. I just assumed because it's Ria who gave me the tickets. Is there something about Ria that's not fancy?" Carla giggled. Even Joshua smiled at what he said. 'Good thing it's already in Waze even though it's still new," said Joshua. 'If ever it's not, I wouldn't know how to get there." 'What is the place called?" asked Carla. 'Dae-bak Amusement Park," answered Joshua. Carla frowned. 'Dae-bak?" 'I think it's Korean," Joshua said. 'I'm just not sure why the name of the park is Korean." 'Maybe the owner is a fan of Kpop," Carla guessed. 'Or of Kdramas, that's why." 'Maybe," Joshua agreed. Carla thought that Ria's friend, the one who owns the park, might be like Edmalyn who's a fan of Kdramas. Or maybe that friend of Ria is more addicted than Edmalyn, because the friend even named the park based on his or her addiction. They arrived at the amusement park less than the usual travel time. Before going out of the car, Joshua put on a baseball cap. 'Well, someone might recognize me," he explained shyly. Carla kind of realized that. People might recognize Joshua and blind items might be written about him dating a woman who's not deserving to date an A-list actor. She kind of felt offended by that unintentionally. 'There might be fans who could still recognize me," Joshua added when she did not react at what he said. 'I just don't want them to disturb us, especially because you're not used to that." Carla kind of felt embarrassed to herself with what he said. So all this time, Joshua has been doing that for her. She even thought bad about him, thinking he doesn't want to be linked to someone like her. 'Let's go?" Joshua asked her. Carla nodded, and together they got out of the car. They finally realized why the place is called a such. Upon entering, they were greeted by a Korean village inspired location. 'Annyeonghaseyo!" said the staff who greeted them at the entrance of the amusement park. 'Welcome to Dae-bak Amusement Park. Can I have your tickets, please?" Joshua gave the tickets to the girl. 'So you have VVIP tickets, Sir," the girl said. 'This means you have special privileges here in the park. Aside from the full access of the rides and attractions, you also have free consumable on the restaurants." 'As in free food?" Joshua asked, obviously amazed. 'Yes Sir," the girl answered. 'Only VIP and VVIP access have those privileges. For VIP customers, they have 1,500 pesos consumable to any restaurant here in the park. If the amount was not consumed on a single restaurant, then it can be applied to another restaurant, for as long as the limit was not reached. For VVIP customers, the limit is 3,000." 'Wow!" Joshua looked at Carla. 'I don't think we can consume the entire 3,000, right?" Carla giggled at his question. 'Well, I'm not that hungry, but how about the cost of the food here?" 'The food here are very affordable, Ma'am," the girl said. 'And since you presented two VVIP tickets, then your limit in total is 6,000. I guess that would be enough for your date." Carla felt herself blush at what the girl said. 'Actually, it's not like that," Carla said, trying to explain that she and Joshua are not on a date. 'We're not really…" But the girl is not listening to her anymore. She has proceeded into processing their entrance. She then gave them two bracelets made of thin cardboard. 'Just present these to the entrance of the attractions you want to try," explained the girl. 'Make sure to keep the bar code intact for you to avail the free consumables." Carla and Joshua put on the bracelets, and then they proceeded into entering the park. 'This is a very good idea," Joshua said as they were walking inside the park. 'Even the food is fully provided. I wonder how much these VVIP tickets are." Carla did not answer. She still could not get over with what happened at the entrance of the amusement park. Why does everyone think that she and Joshua are on a date? Just because they are together, does that make this a date? Can't they be just two friends who want to hang out with each other? But then, there's this thing called friendly date, and Carla does not know anymore. 'Carla!" She was surprised by Joshua's call. But she was more surprised to realize that she is already alone. She looked around for Joshua and found him standing a few feet behind her. Joshua went closer to her. He smiled and Carla suddenly felt embarrassed. She looked away. 'Sorry," Joshua suddenly said. Because of the confusion on what he said, Carla looked back to him. 'I was quite amazed by the view," Joshua explained. He then looked at the direction behind Carla. Carla followed his gaze, and when she found out what he meant, she was amazed as well. Standing in front of them is a replica of the Gyeonghuigung Palace.