𝐕𝐈

Y/n and Minju began their aquarium date, their faces lit with anticipation as they entered the underwater world.

The aquarium was a breathtaking sight, its vast expanses of azure waters teeming with a dazzling array of aquatic life. The gentle hum of the filtration systems and the soothing splashes of the creatures swimming by created a tranquil ambiance, inviting visitors to lose themselves in the captivating world beneath the surface.

Minju's eyes sparkled with wonder at the sight of a stingray gliding gracefully and a vibrant array of fishes swimming around.

"It's been so long since I last went to an aquarium. I guess that was when I was in elementary school," Minju said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

As they continued walking, an interesting aquatic species resembling a shark entered Minju's line of sight. "Is that a shark?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Y/n responded, "Oh, that's a bullhead shark. In Japanese, it's called 'cat shark' because their head and eyes look like a cat's. It's from the order Heterodontiformes, family Heterodontidae. It's a kind of shark that's not very violent." He spoke monotonously, sharing his knowledge about the shark.

Minju was amazed and awkward at the same time. 'Wow, he knows a lot!' she thought, her gaze softening as she stared at Y/n, who was intently watching the group of aquatic animals through the glass. His figure seemed to shine from Minju's perspective. 'Looks like he's having fun,' she mused.

"Oh," Minju muttered, catching Y/n's attention. "I know that one!" She pointed at a singular creature swimming along the azure water. "I think... um..." She thought hard for a second. "It's a remora, isn't it? The one that sticks to sharks." She turned her head to Y/n, who was staring at her with a slight smile. Minju's heart fluttered under Y/n's gaze.

"Oh, what? Am I wrong?" A bead of sweat formed on Minju's cheek. Her question snapped Y/n out of his trance.

"No. I mean, you're right," Y/n reassured her.

"I guess... I'm too excited since this is our first date," he confessed, standing side by side with Minju, keeping his eye contact with her. "I just couldn't take my eyes off of you."

Minju was surprised, caught off guard for a second. She quickly turned her head away, hiding her blushing face. 'I didn't see that coming!' she thought, her heart beating rapidly, flustered by Y/n's sincerity.

They continued their aquarium tour, watching a sea lion show, examining different sea cucumbers, with Y/n sharing fun facts while Minju intently listened and admired him. They also marvelled at countless jellyfish side by side.

Finally, they arrived at the aquarium's tunnel. "It's pretty here in the tunnel," Y/n said, enamored by the beauty of the aquatic world around them.

"Right," Minju responded.

"Minju-ssi," Y/n called, turning his head behind.

"You're keeping your distance, aren't you?" Minju was shocked, like a deer caught in headlights. Minju felt herself tense up, her heart pounding in her chest. "What?! Am I?" she exclaimed, caught off guard by his perceptiveness.

Minju tilted her head down, clutching the fabric of her turtleneck shirt. A tint of red marked her face as her mind was in a state of frenzy. 'I don't know when Y/n will say something embarrassing again... and my heart won't stop pounding!'

Y/n watched as Minju tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, standing in the middle of the tunnel, blending in with the crowd. He took a step closer, his footsteps echoing in her ears, drowning out the other sounds around them.

"Minju-ssi," Y/n called, causing Minju to tense up. He reached out, his hand brushing along hers before carefully grasping it. Minju's eyes widened as she looked up into Y/n's face, who was gazing at her intently before starting to walk, holding her hand.

Minju looked at Y/n's back. "Wait. Y/n!" she called out, causing Y/n to turn around and stare back at her. "What's wrong? I feel like you'll get lost... and..." His passionate eyes countered Minju's stare, full of doubt.

"I don't want to let go of you."

Minju's mouth slightly opened from the sudden burst of emotion she felt after Y/n's words. Her ears and cheeks turned crimson, her heart racing.

Y/n's hold on her hand tightened, mirroring his sincerity not just through his words.

'My heart is so loud.'

Thump.

'When you look at me in the eyes like that...'

'I can't...'

'I CAAAN'T!!'

Overwhelmed by her emotions, Minju instinctively swatted Y/n's hand away from hers.

"Ah."

Y/n's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. Minju, in a state of horror, realized she had messed up. She flailed her hands around, trying to explain herself. "Uh... I'm good. I'm not a kid. I won't get lost or anything, I swear!" She rambled, avoiding Y/n's eyes.

"Well... uh, let's go!" She said, walking past Y/n.

Y/n's gaze followed the fleeting figure of Minju's back as she slowly walked along the pavement. He unconsciously put his fingers on his chin, perplexed by her actions.

Minju gloomily stood in front of another aquarium display, her figure looking doomed. She stared at the bottom of the glass, reflecting on what she'd done.

'I hurt him. Is he sick of me now? I just can't get used to it. On top of that...'

'What I'm doing is so not cute.' Minju saw her downcast expression through the reflection of the glass.

Thmp.

Just then, Minju felt a presence behind her. A hand pressed on the glass panel, causing her to flinch from the sudden sound.

"Tropical fish, huh? They're colorful and pretty."

"..!" Minju was surprised, but her embarrassment from earlier hadn't dissipated yet. She averted her eyes from Y/n, who was looking at her with concern.

"Is it boring with me?" Y/n asked.

Minju was caught off guard by his question, quickly turning her head around. "No! No way..." Her tone faltered under Y/n's unreadable gaze. Minju's lips pressed into a thin line.

"It's not you," Minju spoke up, looking back into the water. Her hand clutched her other elbow, showing vulnerability. "It's just... a matter of how I feel. I'm sorry." She looked down, not wanting to see Y/n's reaction.

"... I see."

"Minju-ssi, you mean...

...that's what they call... love-shy, isn't it?" Y/n said, looking at her as if solving a riddle. Minju looked back at him with a deadpan face.

"HUH? EH? Love-shy? What the hell is that?!" Minju asked in confusion, not expecting this reply.

"Right. Love-shy." Y/n placed his index finger under his chin, recalling the earlier events. "You've been seemingly cold today, though you've been blushing a lot."

'What?'