Deep inside the Amusement Park's haunted house, eerie blue-green lights illuminated the fake cobwebs strewn across the floor and a battered doll lying in pieces.
Ririko and Jerome sat side by side on a dusty bench.
Two open takeout boxes lay before them, holding burgers and a family bucket of chicken nuggets, along with two large cups of ice-cold cola.
Ririko took a bite of her burger and swallowed with a frown.
She turned to survey their surroundings. Skeletons hung on the walls, fake blood dripped from pipes, and piercing screams played on a loop over the speakers.
"Why do we always have dates in places this ridiculous? This doesn't even count as eating. This is performance art."
Jerome took a huge bite of his burger, leaving mustard along his upper lip.
"The atmosphere's better here. Besides, it's Thursday, and a fast-food place was giving away limited-edition clowns," he said, showing her the charm hanging from his phone.
Ririko reached out, caught his chin between her fingers, and turned his face toward her.
"Don't you just want me to play with you at the Amusement Park?"
She squeezed his cheeks with her thumb, pushing his comical red lips into an exaggerated pout.
The corners of Jerome's mouth curled up, and he smiled through the mustard:
"The Amusement Park's great. Once you come here, anything that makes you sad just melts away."
His eyes suddenly grew earnest, as though he had recovered the innocence missing from his childhood.
Ririko wiped the mustard off his lip with her thumb, then wiped it on a napkin.
"Is there something you want to say today? Stop beating around the bush."
Jerome lowered his head and stared at the burger in his hand, silent for a few seconds.
"Do you love Jeremiah more?"
Ririko raised