Chapter 7

The rest of Joyce's friends agreed with Natalie's suggestion, even chiming in with their reasons. Neal listened to their half-hearted explanations but didn't expose them. In truth, Corey had been the one screaming in fright as they solved puzzles and overcome obstacles. Even if Neal was genuinely afraid of ghosts and couldn't play the groom's role, leaving Corey as the only option, the other women could be the bride. It didn't have to be Joyce. Joyce didn't agree or disagree. Just then, Corey spoke up. "I don't think that's a good idea. Neal will get mad if Joyce and I play the bride and groom." He sounded like he was disagreeing with the suggestion, but he didn't release Joyce's hand as he spoke. He even gave Neal a challenging look. The latter, who'd been silent this whole time, finally moved. When he did, Natalie and the others thought he was mad again. They started mocking him. "It's just a game. Why let it bother you?" Neal snorted internally but pretended to look confused. "What are you guys talking about? We need a witness for the wedding, right? I'll play that role." He moved to stand where the witness was supposed to be and gestured for Joyce and Corey to get into position. Everyone was surprised by his reaction and exchanged looks. Then, they urged Joyce and Corey to get ready since Neal had already given his permission. When everyone was ready, Neal started reciting his script. Things proceeded smoothly until he announced that the bride and groom could kiss each other. Joyce faltered. Instead of asking why, he moved to stand behind her before pushing her toward Corey. She staggered forward, her lips pressing against his cheek. Once that happened, a video started playing on the screen behind them. The story was told from the male protagonist's point of view. It talked about how he'd been tricked by a woman and died on his wedding day. His soul had remained in this world out of resentment, and he'd turned into a violent ghost after being trapped in this place. He'd vowed to kill all the cheating women in the world but had ultimately been touched by the "true love" displayed by the players. He would move on from his obsession and be reincarnated. The final door opened when the video ended, and everyone filed out. They had mixed feelings about the "true love" mentioned in the video. Neal was the only one who looked unbothered. It seemingly hadn't left any impression on him. Joyce started, "Neal, Corey and I were just—" She wanted to explain, but Neal cut her off before she could get any further. "I understand. It was just a game." He looked composed; she remembered how he'd pushed her. "What did you mean when you pushed me?" Why would a man push his girlfriend toward another man? Joyce scrutinized Neal, wanting to detect any clues from his expression. To her surprise, he chuckled. "What else could I have meant? I wanted to overcome the final obstacle and leave that place." She wanted to say something, but Corey hurried forward to stand beside her and hold her hand. "I'm hungry, Joyce. There's a restaurant ahead—let's eat there!" At his words, she checked the time and realized it was noon, which meant it was time for lunch. She nodded and started walking toward the restaurant. Natalie and the others waved their hands. Someone said, "We should get going. We'll leave you guys to it." Another said, "My girlfriend will probably start looking for me if I don't head home now. " Then, they gave Corey a thumbs-up to encourage him. After bidding Joyce goodbye, they turned and headed to the exit. Meanwhile, Neal, whom everyone had ignored, glanced at Joyce and Corey. He said, "You guys go ahead. I have something to attend to, so I should get going, too." He turned and left without waiting to see their reactions. He wasn't just making up an excuse—he'd earlier applied for a passport and could collect it that day. After leaving the amusement park, he took a cab to the governmental department's office to collect his passport. Upon getting it, the first thing he did was take a photo of himself holding it and his offer letter up. He shared the photo on his social media, writing, "Here's to a new path in life!" He made sure everyone other than Corey, Joyce, and their friend group could see it. His intention was to share his joy, but he received an unexpected call three days later due to the photo. The call was from his old college advisor, Sherman Doyle, who had guided him for four years. They hadn't spoken since he'd chosen to give up his career for Joyce's sake. In hindsight, Neal figured Sherman had probably been upset with him for doing something so stupid. He asked, "To what do I owe this honor, Mr. Doyle? Why are you calling me?" Sherman said crisply, "I heard you're leaving the country to pick up jewelry design again. There's an alumni reunion tomorrow—how about you join us? We can take the opportunity to give you a proper farewell." Neal didn't hesitate to agree when he thought of how long it had been since he'd last seen Sherman and his classmates. That night, he hit the sack early, choosing to sleep in the guest bedroom. He didn't even know when Joyce returned.