Episode 7- Not So Fearless Day
597 Words
The café buzzed with the usual afternoon rush. Behind the counter, Mark and Noah took turns making drinks and wiping down tables.
Mark leaned over and said, “One more month and we’re outta here—graduation, baby!”
Noah nodded, though his smile was faint. “Yeah… feels crazy.”
Mark eyed him. “You don’t sound excited. What’s up?”
Noah hesitated, then sighed. “I don’t know if I can even go to college. Money’s tight at home. I’ve been trying to save, but it’s just not enough.”
Mark looked concerned. “Noah…”
Before either could say more, their manager, Mr. Reyes, who had overheard the conversation while pretending to rearrange a pastry tray, glanced over thoughtfully.
Just then, the café bell jingled as Mika stepped inside, practically glowing with energy.
“Noah! Let’s go somewhere!”
Noah blinked. “Huh? Where?”
“You’ll see!” she grinned. “Ask your manager if you can leave early!”
Mr. Reyes waved him off with a smile. “Go. Have fun.”
---
An hour later, Noah stood frozen at the gates of the amusement park, staring up at the massive roller coaster spiraling into the sky.
“I… I don’t know about this,” he said, tugging at his shirt collar.
“Oh, come on!” Mika said, grabbing his wrist. “It’ll be fun!”
It was not fun.
The roller coaster took off like a rocket, and Noah screamed like a dying goose. By the time they got off, he stumbled away like a newborn deer, face pale, legs wobbly.
Mika handed him a bottle of water. “You okay?”
Noah nodded weakly—then promptly turned and threw up into a nearby trash can.
Mika blinked, then laughed so hard she almost joined him.
“Noah! You looked like your soul left your body back there!”
Noah groaned, wiping his mouth. “I think it did. It’s probably still on the loop-de-loop.”
But Mika was merciless. “Come on, let’s do the spinning cups next!”
“No,” Noah moaned. “That’s a blender, Mika. A blender of doom.”
“Fine,” she grinned. “Ferris wheel?”
“Does it spin?”
“...Yes.”
“No.”
---
Later, they sat on a bench by the fountain, and Noah looked like he’d aged ten years in two hours.
Mika sipped her soda, giggling. “You screamed louder than a kid with a bee in their shirt. I think the ride operator was concerned.”
Noah gave her a side-eye. “I'm glad my near-death experience entertained you.”
“Oh, definitely,” she said, smirking. “But hey, you were brave. Kind of. For like… the first five seconds.”
“I’ll have you know I only screamed because—uh—there was a bird flying at my face.”
Mika burst into laughter again. “Sure, sure. Next time we go, I’ll bring earplugs and a barf bag.”
Noah laughed, finally relaxing. The tension he’d carried for weeks melted away.
As they got up to leave, Mika turned and said, “Let’s do this again tomorrow.”
Noah hesitated, then smiled wide. “Only if we stick to bumper cars.”
“Deal,” she said, linking her arm with his.
And just like that, Noah walked home with a lighter heart, excited for tomorrow—not about college, not about graduation—but about another day of terrible rides and unforgettable fun with Mika.
To be continued.....
- Writer
