Bab 14: The Haunted Ride
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Chapter 14:
The weekend buzzed with excitement. A traveling amusement park had set up just outside campus, and Sarah was determined to drag Emily along. "There's a haunted house ride, and I swear, it's the best one they've ever had!" Sarah exclaimed as they walked up to the gates.
Emily had hesitated at first, not quite in the mood for loud rides and crowds, but the bright lights and sounds lifted her spirits. Besides, it was a welcome distraction from her thoughts—particularly of Max and Oliver.
"Look who else made it!" Sarah pointed as they entered, waving at Alex, who had just arrived. To Emily's surprise, Oliver was with him.
"Great," Emily muttered under her breath. But before she could say anything, Oliver spotted her and walked over, his eyes lighting up.
"Emily! Didn't think I'd see you here," he said, his tone too friendly. "I heard you weren't into amusement parks."
Emily gave a small shrug. "Sarah insisted," she said, glancing at her friend, who was already pulling Alex toward the bumper cars.
Oliver fell into step beside her as they wandered further into the park, and she couldn't shake the unease that always seemed to come with his presence. She still didn't quite understand why he kept reappearing, especially after she had made it clear she wasn't interested.
They stopped near the haunted house ride, a rickety structure decorated with ghosts and dim lights casting eerie shadows. Emily was about to suggest going elsewhere when Max walked up, his hands shoved in his pockets.
"Hey," he greeted, looking mostly at Emily. "Didn't expect to see you here, either."
Emily felt a rush of warmth at his presence, and she gave him a smile. "Guess we're all full of surprises tonight."
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The Haunted Ride
Sarah, ever the instigator, took one look at the four of them and grinned. "Okay, it's a double-seater ride, so it's perfect! Alex, you're with me." She looked between Max and Oliver with a mischievous smile. "Emily, you pick who you want to ride with."
Caught off guard, Emily hesitated. She glanced between the two guys, both watching her, though Max's gaze held a note of nervousness, while Oliver looked expectant. After a moment, she turned to Max, whose tense expression softened.
"I'll go with Max," she said, ignoring the flash of disappointment in Oliver's eyes.
As they boarded the ride, she felt Max relax slightly beside her, though he remained silent as the car clinked forward into the dark. Shadows flickered across the walls, eerie sounds echoing around them, and Emily's heart raced—not from fear of the ride, but from the anticipation of being alone with Max.
"Thanks for picking me," Max murmured, breaking the silence. "I thought you might pick Oliver."
Emily looked over at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. "Why would I? He's… well, I barely know him anymore."
Max seemed relieved, though he quickly tried to mask it. "Good," he said quietly. Then, with a sigh, he added, "Sometimes I don't understand why you even talk to me. I feel like I'm always half-in, half-out… maybe even holding you back."
Emily shook her head, her hand resting briefly on his. "I talk to you because I want to, Max. I care about you." Her words hung between them, and she could feel his eyes on her, searching her expression.
Just as the car hit a sharp turn, Max's hand found hers and held it. She looked down, her heart thudding in her chest, and gave his hand a squeeze.
"Emily," he began, his voice low, but just then, the car jolted forward, pulling them into another series of dark, twisting turns. She could see his reluctance—his desire to say more, held back by whatever fears he carried.
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On the Midway
When they exited the ride, Emily found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. She looked over at Max, who seemed equally affected, though he quickly pulled his hand away when Oliver approached.
"Emily," Oliver called, waving her over with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I was thinking we could check out the Ferris wheel. Sarah and Alex are already there."
Emily glanced at Max, uncertain, but he shrugged, giving her a faint smile. "Go ahead. I'll catch up with you later."
She watched him walk off into the crowd, feeling a pang of disappointment. But Oliver had already started talking, filling the silence with stories about his family's visits to amusement parks when he was younger.
As they reached the Ferris wheel, she could see his excitement, but his closeness felt stifling. She still couldn't shake the feeling of their awkward conversation weeks ago and wished he would understand that things had changed.
The wheel took them high above the park, and as they paused at the top, Oliver looked over at her, his gaze intense. "Emily, do you ever wonder what would have happened if you'd given us a chance back then?"
His question hung heavy in the air, and she hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Oliver… we were different people back then. I don't think it would have worked, even if I had given us a chance."
He looked away, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. "I just feel like you never really gave me a fair chance."
Her stomach tightened as the wheel started its descent. She felt the weight of his gaze, but she avoided meeting his eyes, trying to mask her discomfort. "I'm sorry, Oliver, but you can't change the past."
As they exited the Ferris wheel, Oliver's expression softened. "Maybe not, but I'm not giving up on the present, either."
Emily gave him a tight smile, but her thoughts were already drifting back to Max, to the warmth of his hand in hers, and the things left unsaid.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone