When you're scared of falling and you're at 1,512 feet above sea level, it would ultimately feel like the death of you. It would be like riding a ferries wheel and the wagon you were riding on was suspended in midair, just about a mere angle away from the topmost point of the circumference, counterclockwise, because more people were filling in on that one empty wagon below. And when the operator decided to push the button, he had forgotten that somebody's wagon was suspended in midair but decided to make the wheel turn in full speed, anyway. And you screamed with your lungs out and would cry like crazy, and you'd felt like all your intestines and all of your visceral were spilling out from your body you'd soon be wishing for death to just come inside your wagon and take you because you felt like you're already dead anyway,  and there was really no need to prolong your agony.

That was exactly what Jennie was feeling while she and Lisa were on their way to the Mireuksan Mountain. Only, she wasn't screaming and crying loudly like a maniac. She was too scared to open her mouth, anyway. And that was aside from the fact that she felt like puking and opening her mouth to scream would mean that she might actually puke and that would a total shame. Especially when there were two kids riding with them and they didn't look scared or tearing up at all. What a bunch of strong human beings.

The cable car that they were riding on was made of thick fiber glass, rubbers and metals and was loaded with eight people. Four adults, two children and then Jennie and Lisa. They were transported from the Hallyeosudo Cable Car towards the Ropeway, where the observatory was located. Where they were heading.

The cable car ride should only last for ten minutes maximum, having to cover the distance of two kilometers  from the cable car station to the Ropeway. But Jennie already felt like the whole ten-minute ride would last until eternity. Until her heart would stop beating and all her insides were already revealed on the cold floor--dignity included--when in fact they we're still going halfway.

She was keeping her eyes tightly shut and was holding on the side railings for support because she was feeling really dizzy and her knees were wobbling and about to give up any second.

Lisa, on the otherhand, was standing casually beside her. She was leaning on the thick glass nonchalantly and was looking at Jennie with a concern look on her face. She did not even took her camera out to take some snaps because she was more worried about Jennie and the possibility that Jennie might pass out in front of her amd to be honest, she had absolutely no idea what to do if that happens.

"Jen, are you okay?" Lisa asked.

Jennie shook her head. She hadn't said a word eversince she and Lisa hopped inside the cable car. And the worst part of it was that it was really her idea to try the cable car ride because she wanted to see Tongyeong City from a different perspective. She wanted to bravely climb the peak of Mireuksan Mountain when she saw an ad poster about it when they passed by Jungang Market, after she and Lisa had spent an entire hour wasting Lisa's rolls of film all over Dongpirang Village.

"You might want to open your eyes, Jennie," Lisa suggested encouragingly. "The view is breathtaking. You seriously don't want to miss this."

"I c--an't, Lis--a. I'm...basi...phob--ic,” Jennie mumbled incoherrently due to fear. Her breathing was hitching up and down and up and up and plummeting downwards until she could no longer breathe properly.

She was shaking all over. Her head was spinning round and round until she felt like throwing up all over the floor of the cable car. What made her think that she could endure a ten-minute cable ride four hundred and sixty-one meters from the sky when she couldn't even survive being on carnival rides, Jennie didn't know. But she was really looking forward to the adventure the cable car ride would offer her that she had forgotten the one crucial fact that she was basiphobic.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here," Lisa said almost delicately as she touched her hand on Jennie's tensed shoulder.

"How...c--ould I e--ver have fo--forgot--ten that I...I h--ate this k--ind of th--ing!" Jennie said, her breath was now sharp and uneven and she was turning pasty every passing second. She was even furiously sweating amid the cold interior of the cable car and the wintery air outside while her hands were getting colder and clamier by the minute. "Oh my g--od! I fe--el l--ike p...pa--ssing o..ut al--read...y!" Jennie was mumbling and shaking on the spot she was standing. Her panic attack was getting worse every passing second.

"Jennie, it's okay. Come here. I got you," Lisa said,and gently took Jennie by the hand and pulled Jennie's quivering body closer, paying the least bit of attention to the six people they were riding with; the two children were looking at Jennie funnily.

Jennie unknowingly allowed Lisa to do what Lisa was thinking of doing because she could not think straight anymore at the moment. Her fear was already taking over her entire system and thinking straight was the least bit of her concern.

Jennie felt Lisa's body shifted around her and was now standing behind her a second after. Lisa's hot breathing was blowing at the back of her neck, making the tiny hairs on her nape stood erectly. She still couldn't open her eyes due to fear and dizziness. But she knew that something else was taking over her whole system, slowly but surely overshadowing whatever fear and nervousness she was feeling.

Jennie held her breath when she felt Lisa's hands smoothly gliding on her arms and laced their fingers together in an intimately intertwining manner. She finally lost all her wits when Lisa gently pulled her body closer and Lisa's arms wrapped around her waist warmly, hugging her from behind. Providing her security and assurance that everything was going to be okay and there was really nothing to fear about.

"Now, open your eyes, Jennie. I can't let you to miss the view," Lisa whispered on Jennie's ear.

The sheer sensation of Lisa's warm breathing touching the sensitive skin on her earlobe was more than enough for Jennie's fears to fade away. She felt hot and warm and fuzzy and slowly turning into a jelly while being inside Lisa's reassuring embrace.

"Oh my god!" Jennie gasped as soon she allowed her eyes to marvel at the sight below her.

Everything Jennie saw was a sea of luscious green sprinkled unevenly with little white snows, like powder sugar on top of Christmas cookies. Thick fog was obscuring some parts of the mountain, making the landscape view a living representation of a painting on a canvass. It was so beautiful!

Jennie looked around and finally saw Tongyeong City from the sky. Lisa was right. The view was breathtaking!

The bluish white ocean surrounding the harbor and the neighboring islands was a sight to behold. Dots of islets were scattered clumsily like little breads on the surface of the ocean and the grayish white clouds were so low it seemed almost reachable by the bare hand from the aerial perspective.

On the overlooking view of the distant harbor were dozens of fishing vessels and private yacht lining up at the dock, moored with thick ropes to keep them from drifting away. The minute version of the people in the harbor looked like little working ants from bird's eye view. Shuffling and scurrying with their businesses. 

The area where the traditional market was located still looked lively and busier even from the aerial view. And as Jennie tilted her head a little upward, she saw in awe the towering and intimidating peak of Mireuksan veiled with fogs and haze, looking grand and proud.

"Don't look down now, Jen," Lisa whispered and started dragging Jennie away, gently and carefully, from their spot so Lisa could take her on the other side of the cable car. Where all Jennie could see was the vast ocean. Where the legendary navy man named Admiral Yi once navigated his fleet of turtle ships and sunk down more than a hundred Japanese war ships.

"How are you loving it so far?" Lisa asked.

Jennie could hear the smile on Lisa's voice. It was warm and tender. It soothed her nerves. It made her feel comfortable and secure. It felt like a distant long forgotten lovely feeling slowly resurfacing back again, reminding her of something once special. It felt like home.

Sure, she was still feeling a little dizzy due to motionsickness caused by the moving speed of the cable car and her insides were still twisting a little. But all of that was shrouded by the fact that her heart was seriously beating fastly and madly against the wall of her chest because of how Lisa was holding her at the moment. It was calming her agitation due to her unnecessary fear.

"I love it so much!" Jennie answered and leaned the back of her head on Lisa's shoulder. Finding the perfect spot for her head to lay comfortably "Thank you, Lisa," Jennie muttered.

"You're welcome," Lisa whispered on Jennie's ear, touching her chin on Jennie's mane that smelled of strawberry.

Jennie then felt Lisa's warm embrace tightened around her body. And she felt her body reacting to it. The shaking have subsided. The dizziness and the nausea were ebbing away. The anxiety and the fear, that unknown fear of falling into an abyss, of plunging a thousand feet in a free-all gravitational fall from the sky, have evaporated. And all that was left was the now-steady and slow rhythm of her heart while she was snuggling comfortably on Lisa as they were both marvelling at the vastness of the world around them. Jennie was suddenly wildly thinking of birds and how liberating it would feel to be up in the sky and fly and not scared of falling and crashing with broken wings. Because in that moment, Jennie felt like she was flying.

"How are you feeling?" Lisa asked.

"Better," Jennie answered with a shy smile on her lips.

"That's good enough to hear. You honestly scared the hell out of me a while ago, you know that?" Lisa said.

"I'm really so sorry, Lisa. I got too excited to ride a cable car that I've totally forgotten that I panic easily when I ride something like this," Jennie said ruefully.

"Haven't you tried a cable car before?" Lisa asked curiously.

"I did. Once, when I was a kid. And that's when I realized that it's not good for me."

"And yet you're here. It's so brave of you, Jen. That's something to be proud of, really," Lisa said, smiling. Congratulating her for something that she knew would never be possible if it wasn't because of Lisa.

And in that moment, something hit Jennie square in the face that left her dumbstruck and in awe. A sudden realization.

She knew that it was still too early to decide on things, to conclude hastily about things. But she knew and she understood it now why she missed Lisa when she wasn't around. And why her heart would skip a beat everytime she looked at those soft, round eyes. And how her heart would gush warmly whenever Lisa would smile at her. Her soul, she knew now, have finally found what it had been looking for all this time. All those years she spent searching and waiting for that one thing that would excite and calm her soul at the same time.

How was it possible, Jennie could still not fathom. It was beyond her imagination. Beyond all that was written on the textbooks about love.

Love? She sniggered at the idea. She's not in love, wasn't she?

Was she???

Jennie asked herself as she was feeling Lisa's steady heartbeat against her back. Tu-dud tu-dud tu-dud. It sounded like all the normal heartbeats in the world. Slow, calm and steady. But there was something about the calmness of it that sent Jennie into a sudden frenzy. The resonance of it was reverbrating through her entire being. She wanted to be a part of it, she ascertained.

"Alrighty, we're finally here," Lisa proclaimed as the cable car hit the platform of the Ropeway. It was their cue to get off from the cable car.

"Already?" Jennie asked in confusion and let out a groan. She was so lost on her train of thoughts that she did not notice that the skyride she swore she would never get into again after today, a while ago, have finally made its stop. She didn't want it to stop anymore, she realized.

"Already," Lisa replied, as the other six people riding on the cable car with th have started to fill out. "Come on. Let's get moving or we won't get a good spot outside," she said and loosened her grip around Jennie's waist.

Jennie wanted to protest. She wanted to pull Lisa's arms instinctively and wrap it back around her. Her soul, her spoiled chaebol soul was stomping its feet. Protesting and whining. Wanting to tell Lisa to not let go of her. She particularly loved the snuggle.

But before she could form her mouth into a pout, and before she could even release her breath, marred with protest and complain and indignation, Lisa's hand was already holding hers. Intertwining their mittens-wrapped hands between them. Warm and gentle and comfy and fuzzy. It melted Jennie's heart again. Like a hot cheese in a fondue. Deliciously warm and tempting. Jennie could no longer suppress her grin.

"How long are we going to stay up here?" she inquired chirpily, despite the chilly air. Despite the anxiety that was slowly bubbling up inside her again now that she fully realized that she was literally standing in the sky and the wind pressure was stronger.

"Hmm. As long as you like," Lisa said with the warmest smile painted on her beautiful face and pulled Jennie towards the pavilion that served as an observatory for visitors like them.

"Don't spoil me, Lisa. This is only the second time that we hang out and yet you've been spoiling me a lot already," Jennie said and permitting Lisa to guide her.

Lisa laughed and shook her pretty head.

"I'm not. I just thought you deserve it because you were brave enough to conquer your basi-something," said Lisa and started sprinting towards the railings, pulling Jennie with her.

The smell of pines, hotdogs and hot drinks and the chattering and laughters of the people of differrnt race and colors filled the air.

"No, Lisa! Wait, wait!" Jennie protested but couldn't stop herself from laughing while sprinting along with Lisa. They earned curious looks from the other visitors.

"Alrighty! Here, stand on this spot. This is a going to be great," Lisa said and positioned Jennie in the farthest end of the pavilion, her back was leaning on the railing behind her while the majestic view of Tongyeong below was serving as her background. The dry and chilly February air blew yet another breeze.

Lisa was about to let go of Jennie's hand to take her camera out but Jennie was gripping it tightly.

"Don't. Please," Jennie said, looking vulnerable all over again as the wind blew a little too harshly, causing her to fumble and sway a little on her spot.

"Jen, hey, it's okay. I'm just here," Lisa comforted Jennie.

But Jennie's panic attacks were back at it again to torment her. She couldn't even move her body anymore because she was afraid that one wrong move might make everything she felt worse.

"No, Lisa! Don't let me go, please? I...I'm sc--scare--d!" she was practically begging now. The Jennie Kim who never begged for anything to anyone in her life was now holding on to Lisa as if her dear life was depending on it.
Lisa took a huge step forward and instinctively hugged Jennie tightly.

"Hush, now, Jennie. I got you," she whispered, running her hand up and down on Jennie's back to console Jennie's hysterics "I got you. I'm here. I'm just here."

Jennie clung to Lisa and buried her face on the soft garment of Lisa's overcoat.

"I'm so sorry if I'm such a mess right now, Lisa," Jennie said. Her voice was barely audible for Lisa to hear.

But Lisa heard her clearly. And Lisa nodded and snaked her arms around Jennie a little tighter.

"No, you're not. You're just scared, Jennie. It doesn't make you anything less," said Lisa.

"I think I ruined the mood already," Jennie said regretfully. "This should have been a beautiful day for you, Lisa. I'm sorry that you have to see me like this."

Lisa pulled herself a little from Jennie. She looked at Jennie with those soft, round eyes of hers and smiled.

"You've set the mood, alright," Lisa said, nodding. "But you don't have to be sorry about it, Jen. Honestly. We all have our bad days."

"You really have to let me pay next time, Lisa. I mean, not for anything, but I think that's the only way I can repay you for all the good things you've done for me today," Jennie said.

Lisa squinted those large, round eyes of hers. The corners of her mouth was twitching and half-forming between a smirk and smile.

"You know you really don't have to, Jen. But if you insist, I think I know exactly how you can do that," Lisa said.

"What? Repay you? How?" Jennie asked and started looking at the stalls and snack bars erected at the other side of the observatory. "What would you like to eat?"

Lisa laughed out loudly.

"I wasn't talking about food, silly," Lisa said and fished out the small Polaroid camera from the deep pocket of her overcoat. "I'm talking about this. Let's take a picture together."

"Oh," Jennie muttered while staring at the Polariod cam.

And before she could ready herself and smile for the camera, Lisa was already taking the shot. She released the shutter before Jennie could even say a word.

"This is going to be great," Lisa said while shaking the Polaroid film between her fingers with enthusiasm.

"Can I have a look?" Jennie asked.

But Lisa shook her head, laughing.

"No. Not yet. I'll give this to you when we call it a day later," answered Lisa.

Jennie groaned in protest.

"Ah, but I don't want this day to end, though," she said before she realized that she was giving herself away too much already.

Jennie expected Lisa to feel awkward about it. But instead, Lisa grinned widely. Her brown eyes sparked with glee. And Jennie could only assume that maybe, just maybe, Lisa didn't want this day to end too soon, too. Because as far as she was concerned, today was one of the best days she's ever had since her father's passing. She's happy. Her heart was full.

"Can I take you somewhere else after we're done here, then?" asked Lisa, her voice was hopeful and excited.

"Where? No crazy altitudes and cable cars required?" Jennie asked jokingly.

Lisa laughed and nodded.

"Definitely no crazy altitudes and cable cars required. I don't want you to go all pasty and clammy in front of me ever again," Lisa said. "You might pass out next time and I honestly don't know anything about first aid."

"That's not funny!" she said with a pout and pinched Lisa in the arm.

Lisa responded with a laugh that echoed across the observatory.

"God, how come you're never not cute?" Lisa whined jokingly.

Jennie pouted even more and looked at Lisa with piercing eyes.

"Are you trying to tell me that I looked cute a while ago when I felt like almost dying, Lisa?" she asked with her eyes squint.

"Honestly? Yes, Jennie. I would have told you that when you were all white and about to drop dead in front of me a thousand feet from the sky, but I thought that would be inappropriate since you were in a very bad state," Lisa answered, laughing.

"You're so mean!" Jennie pouted.

"Oh, god. Don't tell me you