The water was cold. A bone-chilling freeze, especially in the early morning. The temperature matched the outside waves crashing into the concrete pillars of the aquarium. A light fog had slowly crept in, but the sun had risen, casting pale gold light across the bay.
Y/n adjusted his wetsuit and oxygen tank. He had unfortunately gotten the task of cleaning the open ocean tank, his streak of six weeks without drawing the short straw finally coming to an end.
He gave one last tug on his mask before stepping onto the maintenance platform overlooking the massive exhibit. Below him, schools of anchovies drifted together like living clouds while rays glided gracefully across the sandy bottom. Somewhere deeper inside the enormous tank, one of the nurse shanks lazily circled.
“Try not to get distracted this time,” one of his coworkers hoked, handing him the magnetic cleaning brush.
Y/n chuckled. “Last time wasn’t my fault.”
“It was absolutely was. You spent ten minutes waving at toddlers.”
“They waved first.”
His coworker rolled his eyes dramatically before patting him on the shoulder. “Just go earn that paycheck.”
“Fine,” he sighed as he climbed over the railing and eased himself into the freezing water.
The viewing glass was sparkling. Y/n guided the magnetic scrubber across another stubborn streak of algae while fish occasionally investigated his gloved hand. Visitors had slowly begun filling the aquarium, children pressing the palms(and sometimes faces) against the giant viewing window as they excitedly pointed at sea turtles and sharks.
He hadn’t really noticed them. He had a routine: clean, scrub, float, repeat. Well that was his routine until a certain someone interrupted said routine.
It was two hours into his shift when it happened. He noticed some movement near the front row that caught his attention. It was a woman. She had blonde hair that was hidden inside a blue baseball cap. She was also wearing large sunglasses and a familiar oversized hoodie.
It was one of the worst disguises Y/n had ever seen. Even with her face half hidden, Y/n had recognized his girlfriend immediately.
It was Huh Yunjin. The loudest member of Le Sserafim. His loud box, jukebox, lifetime yapper, and of course, the love of his life.
She looked left. Then right. And then, with the biggest grin imaginable, she unfolded an absurdly bright pink poster.
It had: SARANGHAE AQUARIUM OPPA!!❤️❤️ written on it, tiny whale doodles all over it, and glitter. A lot of it.
Y/n froze and just stared. Around Yunjin, people noticed the sign and they started giggling. His coworkers watching from the upper platform burst into laughter. One even gave him an exaggerated thumbs up.
Y/n closed his eyes for a second. I am never living this down.
When he opened them again, she was bouncing excitedly while proudly holding the sign against the glass. He couldn’t but smile. Unable to speak through the regulator, he simply lifted one hand and made a tiny finger heart.
She shoulders visibly shook with laughter while she clutched the sign dramatically against her chest as if she witnessed the greatest romantic gesture in history.
Then she made a heart signal with both hands. And blew him a kiss.
Y/n shook his head with an embarrassed smile before returning to clean the glass. Behind the mask he was already planning on how to get even later.
An hour later, he was finished with the cleaning and he was going to lunch.
“I’m off to lunch!” he shouted to his coworkers.
“Hey! I heard your girlfriend was in the cafeteria!” shouted a fellow coworker.
“Go get your kisses lover boy!” shouted another.
He flipped them without a second look but he was smiling himself.
The aquarium’s restaurant sat on the upper floor, its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay. Sunlight danced across the water while boats and canoes lazily drifted in the distance.
He spotted Yunjin instantly. I mean, what blonde haired idol pretends to hide behind a menu while waiting for her boyfriend?
She was already in their favorite table by the window. It even had an honorary placard with her signature when she visited and boosted aquarium visits by 70%.
He walked up to her and tilted the menu down. “Hello Ms. Huh. Is this seat taken?”
She smiled. “Of course it is. It’s for my boyfriend.”
“Well, I’m him so I guess I’ll take this seat.”
“I guess so.”
They gave their orders to the server. He had ordered a shrimp pasta while she ordered a clam chowder bread bowl. After ordering, he just looked at her.
“So…you gonna explain yourself?”
“Explain what? Me coming all this way to support my hardworking boyfriend?”
“Support? You came all this way to publicly embarrass me.”
“Well…well…yeah that’s true”
Y/n laughed as he moved to the seat next to her instead. She wrapped him in a hug, arms wrapping around his waist. His hair smelled faintly of chlorine but she didn’t care.
“You used glitter.”
“I wanted everyone to know.”
“Well you certainly accomplished your mission.”
She looked entirely too pleased with herself. Their food arrived a few minutes later. Without saying a word, she scooped up a spoonful of chowder with her spoon.
“Say ahh.”
“Seriously?”
“Mhm.”
“Do you enjoy publicly humiliating me?”
She gasped dramatically. “How did you know?”
With an amused sigh, Y/n leaned forward and accepted the bite. She smile triumphantly.
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