This Crazy Rich Boy

"What's eating you both?" Miguel says. Because since they left the rollercoaster platform, Gabriel and Claire have fallen silent.

Claire smiles. "What do you mean?"

"Did that rollercoaster ride traumatized you?"

Gabriel laughs. "No, it was fine. I just thought…well, it made me feel certain feelings." He glances at Claire, who looks away.

"Fine," Miguel says. He turns to Claire. "Are you hungry? Would you like to take a bite?"

Claire shrugs. "Sure."

They blend with the amusement park crowd, but Gabriel stands out. He's still wearing his Armani suit, and people are staring at him, like they've seen a celebrity. After a while, he borrows the giant teddy bear from Claire. "What for?" she asks. "I'm using this as cover," Gabriel says, holding the stuffed toy in front of him in such a way that it hides his face.

"Don't worry," Miguel says, "nobody's going to ask for your autograph, man." He grins.

Gabriel "gets" the sarcasm. So he returns the toy to Claire, who accepts it, confused at what's going on.

They pass by a crowd milling about some attraction's entrance. Miguel looks up and realizes they're standing before the façade of the classic horror booth. His face lights up. "Hey," he turns to Gabriel, "remember this place?"

Even Gabriel has to laugh. "Yeah, this was a riot. Remember how Mom screamed her lungs out?"

"I wonder if this could still scare the shit out of me," Miguel says.

Gabriel says nothing. Of course he knows the answer to that question, because just a few months ago, he tried getting into this booth, and everything he had remembered from childhood—the scary white witch, the mummy, the demons, even the zombie babies—had gotten stale and boring when seen through the lens of ȧduŀthood. He just went there for nostalgia's sake, and for that he wasn't disappointed—everything was still in place, including all the smallest jump scares. But he doesn't say anything about this to keep up with the pretense. Instead, he says, "Yeah, I wonder if that white witch would still be as scary, now that we're all grown-ups."

Claire is looking at Gabriel, then at Miguel, with that bemused expression. "This should have been a 'date' between you brothers."

"What do you say to a quick revisit to the booth of bottomless terror?" Miguel says.

"I'd love to try that out," Claire says. "Gabriel?"

"Maybe I can just wait for you here outside," Gabriel almost says. Almost, because in the split-second his mind had thought about saying that, the other half of his brain quickly reckons, "That would be like giving her away to your brother, who would have free rein in that dimly lit place."

So what Gabriel actually says is, "I'm down for some jump scares, you guys!" He's actually grinning, trying to hide what's really on his mind.

"Awesome!" Miguel says.

They make a beeline for the horror booth, but apparently, there's a new rule about going in batches of seven. But since they're the last to arrive, they have to wait for their turn. Gabriel looks around—he quickly calculates that, if no other visitors arrive, then their batch would only include the three of them. Hmmm. It seems things are being too contrived for their situation tonight. But at least, he can quietly watch over her and make sure where Miguel keeps his hands.

After Miguel pays at the booth, the attendant issues three red-colored tickets, which he solemnly hands over to Claire. "Here's your passage to the seven circles of Hell," he says in mock-monster voice.

The entrance to the horror booth begins deceptively quiet. They enter through huge double doors, which theatrically creak as they open. The icy blast of air from some hidden airconditioner greets them, setting the mood for what's advertised as a "bone-chilling experience."

"This seems different from what I remember," Miguel comments. "There was a man wearing a skeleton suit that immediately tries to grab you by this door, if I remember it right."

"Yeah," Gabriel says, keeping up with the pretense.

Claire seems quiet, but Gabriel could see she's alert, her eyes gazing at everything. If she was brave enough to withstand that horrendous rollercoaster, then this silly childish horror booth should be a walk in the park. The amusement park, that is. But then again, maybe her courage on the rollercoaster track was due largely to the delicious distraction of that kiss. The truth is, Gabriel is baffled by Claire's behavior. One moment, she seems open to anything; the next moment, she acts as though she's ashamed of what she'd done. What is it about women? Is this how all "virgins" behave? Gabriel has no idea. But as she gazes at her from behind, he tells herself he'd do his best to be patient.

Suddenly, Claire screams—the "rock" she apparently stepped on is a severed head of some man. In the darkness, the "head" looks realistic enough, except when Gabriel reaches down to touch it, it's obviously made of foam and dried paint.

"That's the severed head of the former janitor here," Miguel mutters, "killed by some serial killer on the loose."

Gabriel snickers at that. "Is that written on the brochure?"

Claire doesn't speak, but she stops and waits for Gabriel, who has been trailing behind. But Miguel notices her, and so he grabs her by the hand.

"Let's go, Claire, I'll show you all the sights of the most hellish parts of this place," he says in sing-song.

With Miguel holding her hand firmly, Claire has no choice but to let herself be led down the path.

Meanwhile, Gabriel is taken aback when he sees Claire and Miguel holding hands. What in hell is this? As he walks a few paces behind them, Gabriel sees the "couple" seemingly enjoying each other's company. Miguel would even sometimes whisper something in Claire's ear. Are those whispers of sweet nothings? Is Miguel doing his legendary moves now? Are they setting up what they're going to do later, where they're gonna go? Damn it. Gabriel quickens his pace to catch up until he's abreast with them.

Miguel is whispering to Claire's ear when they notice Gabriel. "Oh, hey, there you are," Miguel says. "Don't walk too slow, man. Or else the bogeyman might get you." He laughs.

"I'm just enjoying the sights," Gabriel says, glancing at how Claire and Miguel are holding each other's hands.

Claire is aware of it. She has been trying to pry her hand off Miguel's grasp, but the man insists on holding her, "just for safety and fun." And being a "nice" girl afraid of giving offense, she allows him, although deep inside she senses she's being taken advantage of.

Then round a bend on the path, all the three of them stop: before them, a few meters away, is a huge man, or the shadow of a man, and he's holding something like a huge knife. He's very calmly walking towards them. While others in demon masks tried so hard to scare them in silly ways, this one seems different. He's calm. Yet he has that sinister air about him. And the fact that they couldn't clearly see him made Gabriel stop.

"Is he still part of the horror booth?" Claire mutters.

"I don't know," Gabriel says. He's not sure if this man was part of the attractions when he last visited the horror booth. "But I guess we're about to find out."