His Untold Lies

Chapter 42 Amusement Park

KIA

The rustling of leaves brought a sense of calm as I lay on the leather couch with my eyes closed. Even the occasional thunder didn't rattle my nerves. The gentle patter of rain added to my serenity. What's more, the approaching weekend promised sunshine.

"Mars is engrossed in work again," I murmured, burying my face in the couch.

My boredom needed to be vanquished. There's an amusement park a couple of miles away, Enchanted Kingdom. It's quite popular here in the Philippines, often abbreviated as EK. Situated in Santa Rosa, Laguna, about 39 kilometers from Manila, it spans 25 hectares, promising a plethora of thrilling rides.

I grabbed my phone and dialed up my two best friends on Facetime.

"Hey, girls!" Marcy greeted with a grin.

"Hi, besties! What's going on?" Miaree chimed in.

"Any plans for tomorrow?" I inquired promptly.

Their expressions changed as they squinted at me. "Why? Are we hitting a bar? I know a place where we can flaunt our hot, sexy selves-"

"No, no bars!" I interjected firmly.

"What?! Why not?"

Miaree shook her head. "Well, Marcy, our little miss perfect here is talking about her wifely duties seriously..."

"I just want to avoid any misunderstandings, and honestly, bars aren't my thing-"

"But we should try it at least once, Kia!" Marcy interrupted.

"Hmm... I might consider it if we bring him along-"

"No!"

"Eww! No way!"

Both of them vehemently disagreed. I chuckled at their reactions.

Marcy crossed his arms. "Don't you have a life of your own, girl?"

"I do! That's why I'm asking if you're both free tomorrow to visit Enchanted Kingdom. It's more fun than dancing at a bar and getting drunk."

"Ugh! Amusement parks? I'm scared of heights and rides. How about a trip out of town instead? What do you girls think?" Marcy suggested.

"What? You're scared of rides but not... other things? Seriously, Marcy?" Miaree retorted, exasperated.

"Girl, you're just jealous that I've experienced it, while you were still a virgin. I guess you'll stay a virgin, never tasting what's under a man's pants-"

"Eww! Gross! I'd rather stay a virgin than have a mindset like that!" Miaree exclaimed, pretending to gag.

I burst into laughter. I couldn't tell if they were best friends or sworn enemies. They bickered like a cat and mouse, and I felt like the room they were chasing each other in.

"Okay, that's enough. Save it for tomorrow; you can't harm each other on Facetime. Back to my question, are you two free or not-"

"I'm totally free! Marcy, you better show up tomorrow, or my day won't be complete without punching your face," Miaree declared without hesitation.

"Don't worry, girl, I'll be there. But before you can even lay a finger on me, you'll end up in a trash can," Marcy teased, sticking out his tongue at Miaree.

I thought I was in for a peaceful time with them, but I was clearly mistaken. Nevertheless, we were finally having our first get-together this year. I made sure to get Ares' approval, and since he gave the green light, our outing was set for tomorrow.

The morning was chilly as I woke up, eager for an adventure with my best friends. While packing my trusty brown bag, I made sure to include all the essentials for a great day. As I headed to Miaree's place by car, the designated meeting spot, my chatty half-Japanese friend, Miaree, called me on the phone.

"Hey, girl! Where are you? Why is everyone running late again? Marcy isn't here yet either. I called him, and he said he's on his way. How about you?" Miaree asked, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"I'm on my way too," I replied. Ares had insisted on driving me to our meeting spot, and since I couldn't wait for a bus, I agreed.

"Alright, take care! Don't be too late, okay?"

"Got it! I have to hang up now. See you soon!" I said, ending the call.

As I reached Miaree's house, I bid farewell to Ares and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll pick you up at 4 p.m. If anything comes up-"

"If anything happens, just call my husband! Yes, I understand, dear!" I interrupted, and he smiled at me.

He was about to kiss me when a sudden knock at the door interrupted us. Ares quickly opened it to reveal Marcy and Miaree.

"Hey, let's get going!"

I stepped out of the car and waved as Ares drove away. Excitement filled the air as we all piled into Miaree's car. It was a thrilling moment for me, as I had never experienced anything like this before. We headed down the SLEX to reach Enchanted Kingdom.

"Kia, have you met the new guy in the IT department?" Marcy inquired.

"New guy, huh? Miaree probably already knows everything about him, including his life story!" I chuckled.

"I didn't!" Miaree protested, defending herself from my teasing.

Both Marcy and I exchanged amused glances.

"Fine, I might have done a little background check-"

"I knew it! I told you, Marcy!"

"Wait, let me explain!" Miaree interjected. "I saw him at the library, and he asked for my help. Before I knew it, I was curious about him and wanted to learn more, so I did a little digging."

Marcy covered his mouth in surprise. "Oh my God! What did you find?"

"Well... honestly, girls-"

"What?" Marcy and I chimed in.

"Okay, okay! I found nothing substantial. He's quite mysterious, I guess. I might need to use some connections to find out more," Miaree admitted.

"Don't bother, Miaree. It's probably a waste of time."

With haste, I approached the park's gates. The sight of a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and a snack bar greeted us. Our excitement soared as we entered the renowned theme park, taking pictures of the entrance gate and the waving mascot.

"Say cheese, everyone!" Marcy shouted, holding a camera.

"Cheese!"

Enchanted Kingdom boasted a plethora of thrilling and relaxing attractions for all ages. We decided to tackle them all at once, starting with "Anchors Away," which happened to be the closest. Then we moved on to the Ferris wheel. Standing in line, I felt a tinge of nervousness due to my fear of heights. Despite that, we explored our favorite ride, the exhilarating EKstreme rollercoaster. As we descended on the ride, I couldn't help but scream and shut my eyes. We endured the sweltering Filipino weather and long queues for the "Rio Grande Rapids" ride, getting thoroughly soaked but thoroughly entertained.

"Wait, let's take a picture!" Marcy suggested, positioning his camera. Naturally, we snapped some group photos and individual selfies to share on our social media accounts.

Despite being dripping wet, we decided to wander around Enchanted Kingdom, capturing moments and taking pictures of ourselves. This was shaping up to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life, strolling and laughing with my friends.

One thing about Enchanted Kingdom is that it never gets boring. Once you start playing a game, you can't stop until you win a massive stuffed toy. As we walked, we came across a game where you had to shoot a ball with a gun. I wasn't sure what it was called, but there was a giant panda plush prize that looked irresistibly cuddly. I positioned myself and focused on my aim.

"Go, girl! You've got this!" My best friend cheered me on.

I needed to shoot twenty balls to win the prize, but the game proved to be quite challenging for me. Perhaps if I had pursued criminology in college instead of psychology, I might have had a better shot at winning that adorable giant panda toy.

Time passed swiftly, and when I checked my phone, it was already 3:30 p.m. Since our clothes were still wet, we decided to spend another thirty minutes at EK and hopped on the Grand Carousel. The line was short, and we wanted to dry off quickly, so we joined the kids and a few supervising adults in enjoying the carousel ride. It was delightful to feel like an eight-year-old again, riding the brightly colored horses.

As the day drew to a close, the beautiful moon and glittering stars adorned the sky. A gentle breeze caressed my skin, sending a chill down my spine. However, Marcy embraced me, and I immediately felt comforted, a sensation I would forever associate with my friends. I noticed all the visitors forming lines and preparing to leave after a tiring but joyful day. They appeared exhausted yet content, reminiscing about their adventures. Our group felt the same mix of fatigue and happiness. This unforgettable day had left us elated.

"I feel so much better after a day of fun. We should hang out more often, don't you think, girls?" Miaree suggested while stretching. Suddenly, I felt unwell. My head throbbed, and my body trembled from the cold wind.

"Kianna, are you okay?" Marcy asked, concern in his voice, as they both rushed to check on me.

"I... I'm fine. Maybe I'm just tired from all the rides today. I feel a bit dizzy," I replied.

Miaree held my hand and said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you weren't feeling well. It's my fault."

"It's okay. Ares will be here soon. He's picking me up."

"How can you be okay looking like this? You're so pale! We're taking you to the hospital right now. Can you stand up?"

"Yes, I can," I replied, attempting to stand, but I lost my balance and blacked out.

---

"Kianna!" Kianna's best friend cried out as she suddenly fainted. Luckily, Ares arrived just in time to catch Kianna before she hit the ground.

"You're Kianna's husband, right?" Marcy asked.

"Yes, what's wrong with my wife? Why does she look so pale?"

"I think she got sick from the rides we went on today. Please take her to the hospital," Miaree suggested.

Ares quickly removed his suit jacket and placed it over Kianna. "Thank you for making her enjoy the day. I'll take her to the hospital. Is it okay for both of you to head home on your own?"

"Yeah, that's fine. We can manage. Besides, we have a car, so don't worry. Just get Kianna to the hospital as soon as possible!" Miaree assured him. Ares nodded and held Kianna securely as he headed towards his car, leaving Marcy and Miaree anxiously watching their unconscious best friend.