DanBi pressed the number on her speed dial and put the phone on her ear, waiting for the person on the other line to pick up. It took her four rings until SungMi picked up her phone. DanBi immediately brightened when SungMi finally answered the call and chuckled to hear SungMi’s yawn as the greeting. “Helloo ? DanBi ah ?” SungMi said in her sleepy voice.

“Morning, SungMi. Still sleeping, are you ?” DanBi asked. She was currently in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed. She was all dressed up and was ready to go out but decided to ask whether SungMi wanted to come along. Her mother was already out for work even though it was a weekend and DanBi didn’t want to stay at home all day.

There was a silence for a few seconds before SungMi answered, “Huh ? Oh. Yeah, I am. What can I do for you ?” SungMi asked and DanBi could imagine her finally sitting up or still laying on the bed. With a smile, DanBi said, “I just wanted to ask you whether you would want to come with me to Coex Aquarium. I’ve never been there before.”

“Oh. Coex Aquarium ! It’s where the fishes are ! I love fishes !” SungMi exclaimed and in her voice DanBi could sense excitement which she hoped meant that SungMi was interested to go. DanBi laughed at her remark and nodded to herself, “Yes, SungMi. It’s where the fishes are. So do you want to come with me ? It’s going to be lonely to go on my own, though.” She added.

There was silence again and DanBi wondered whether SungMi had continued sleeping. Before she could call her name again, SungMi spoke again. “I’d really love to join you, DanBi. But I’m sorry, I can’t.” She said and the excitement in her voice had vanished.

DanBi’s face fell hearing SungMi’s answer and found herself pouting, “Awe, really ? Why ?” She asked and felt a little disappointed. She really wanted to spend the weekend with SungMi though.

“I’m a bit under the weather today. And I have to help my mother to refurnish an empty room here, which she insists that I help. My eldest brother is coming home soon.” SungMi said in a little annoyance and DanBi could sense that she wasn’t happy about helping her mother. But she was more worried when SungMi said she was feeling a little bit unwell.

“But are you okay ? Have you gone to the clinic ? If you’re unwell just tell your mother that and she won’t make you help her to refurnish the room. I know how much work it takes to set up a room.” DanBi said and at the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but to question herself. SungMi’s eldest brother ? Coming home ? Isn’t her eldest brother is already staying there ?

As much as DanBi wanted to ask, she decided not to and just assumed that SungMi must’ve forgotten to tell her about her eldest brother. Which was weird because it wasn’t something that one will forget about. But then again, this was SungMi. Weird for other people to forget to mention one of their siblings, but may not be so for SungMi.

Feeling touched at DanBi’s concern, SungMi said with a smile on the other line, “Yup, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ve taken the meds but I don’t think it’s necessary to let my mother know. But I’m so sorry that I can’t come with you. You will still go to the aquarium right ? I haven’t been there too so you can tell me all about it later. If it’s nice, we can go together next time.”

DanBi was about to cancel the plan as she thought it was no point to go alone but then she had nothing to do at home either. DanBi shrugged to herself and sighed a little, “Yeah, I guess I’ll be going anyway. I’ll come to your house afterwards if I can. I’ll give you a call. Whatever it is, don’t tire yourself so much okay ?”

SungMi laughed a little and answered, “Yes, omma ~ Have fun at the aquarium okay ? Don’t get eaten by the shark !” She joked and DanBi snorted. “That ain’t going to happen. I’ll bring the shark straight to your house for your dinner !”

And so, since SungMi wasn’t able to join her, DanBi took the train to Coex Aquarium alone. In her mind, she kept reminding herself to buy SungMi something at the end of the tour before going to her house.

She got down the train and found herself in Gangnam. Gripping her purse protectively, DanBi walked towards one of South Korea’s largest Aquariums. She was just walking alone towards the entrance when someone called her name from behind.

DanBi immediately turned and her eyes widened to see DaeHyun ambling towards her, hands in his pockets. She looked around to see if the rest of his friends were there but DaeHyun was alone.

“Oh, DaeHyun-ssi ! Funny to run into you again. What are you doing here ?” DanBi asked when DaeHyun finally fell into step beside her. DaeHyun lifted his shoulders a little and said, “On my way to the Aquarium. You ?” He asked then.

“To the Aquarium as well,” DanBi said.“I invited SungMi along this morning but she was a little unwell and needs to help her mother at home. So here I am alone. Where are your mates ?” DanBi asked, feeling weird not to see DaeHyun with his friends. Usually she will see him with the rest of the boys together and it was rare to find one of them to be alone.

DaeHyun pursed his lips and replied, “I invited them too, but all of them chose to sleep in. I’ve always been interested in sea creatures but the rest of them don’t find it interesting. So here I am too, alone.” He said with a dramatic sigh.

DanBi nodded in understanding and then said nonchalantly, “Well, might as well go together. If you don’t mind.” She suggested as it wouldn’t hurt for them to go together. Unless DaeHyun wanted to go alone but she couldn’t help but just to ask first.

DaeHyun tipped his head to the side and thought about it but not more than five seconds later, he shrugged again and said casually, “Okay. I don’t see why not. Come on then, let’s buy the tickets.”

With that said,  both DaeHyun and DanBi walked to the entrance and bought tickets for the both of them. They were lucky that there were not many people that time. DanBi had always heard that the Aquarium was always full and packed with tourists and locals.

But she sighed in relief that the Aquarium was not as packed as what she expected. Keeping the ticket in her purse and with DaeHyun standing beside her, she said in amusement, “This is a very big Aquarium, huh.” She looked around and the place with her big eyes.

DaeHyun nodded too and looked at the leaflet they got as they entered, “Yup. It is a big Aquarium. There are 40,000 creatures from over 650 species. And .. the Underwater Tunnel is over there.” He said as he pointed towards the direction where the Underwater Tunnel was.

DanBi nodded and they both walked towards the Underwater Tunnel, where they could see fishes from all around then. On their right, on their left, and even above them. DanBi couldn’t help but to look at them with such amazement that at times DaeHyun will laugh at her. And as the result of that, DanBi will whack him lightly on the arm or just ignored him.

They continued their journey to the Amazonia World, where the man-eater fish was, the piranha. Not only the piranha, but there were also pirarucus, electric eels and otters.

DanBi pointed towards the piranha excitedly and said to DaeHyun, “Oh, look, DaeHyun ! That’s the piranha ! I’ve always been scared to piranhas to the point that I will never go to any beaches. Who knows they might appear all of a sudden and start to eat me.”

DaeHyun frowned a little and looked at her in disbelief, “But piranhas can only been found in Amazon Rivers, DanBi. I don’t think they can swim all the way here. You’re watching too much movies.” He said and DanBi only grinned sheepishly.

DaeHyun looked a bit more closer to the fishes in the tanks and said, “As you had mentioned just now, they eat people. I wonder how long will it take for them to eat you. Could be a few seconds only before all that is left of you is bones. I reckon they would need 20 clons of you to satisfy their hunger.” He teased and received a cold look from DanBi.

DanBi whacked him again and said, “You’re so mean. If I happen to have a nightmare tonight of being eaten by piranhas, I will hunt you in your dreams next with them.”

DaeHyun laughed out loud and only shook his head before they continued walking. Throughout their tour DaeHyun couldn’t stop teasing DanBi about her getting eaten by sharks or any scarier fishes, causing DanBi to whack him more and more.

They saw the otters along their tour and DanBi automatically said, “Hey, DaeHyun, they look like you ! Are they your long lost relatives ? They’ve got a spitting image of you.” She pointed towards the otters and DaeHyun’s face scrunched. “Urgh, you’re comparing me with them ? Looks like someone is trying to get a revenge huh.” He said and knocked her head lightly.

DanBi simply shrugged it off as if she hadn’t said anything and they continued walking. The walk then led them to the Mangrove and Beach area, a beautiful landscape where the river meets the sea and the Seven Seas place. It was also where the Nemo fishes were, along with other beautifully colored fishes.

DanBi jumped in excitement and said, “Oh, it’s the fish from Finding Nemo !! It looks so cute just like in the movie !!”

DaeHyun laughed and said something that ruined her excitement then, “But the one in the movie was a cartoon, DanBi. How can you compare the real one with the cartoon ? It doesn’t make sense.”

DanBi rolled her eyes and answered casually, “Whatever it is, they are still the same fish. It doesn’t matter whether this one is real while the other is cartoon. They’re still the same as it refers to the same thing. Both of them refer to the fish Nemo.”

DaeHyun shook his head persistently and replied, “No, they aren’t. Cartoon is cartoon, real life fish is real life fish. If you want to compare the cutenes