Weekend Date with Na-ri

I arrived at the department store to meet Na-ri for our weekend date. I immediately turned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on my smartphone. The screen showed the location we'd agreed on yesterday. I scrolled up to review our conversation from then.

It was a simple exchange like that. I headed to our meeting spot and soon spotted a familiar face. It was Na-ri. She was sitting on a bench, reading a book. I glanced at her once, then checked the time. 9 a.m. An hour earlier than we'd agreed.

What's going on? Does she have another appointment? I looked around. People just passed by her without a word or glance. As I pondered what was up—

"Hey, got a minute?"

"If you're alone, wanna hang with us for a bit?"

A pair of guys approached Na-ri. They didn't seem like anyone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she'd planned to meet. She just looked up at them.

"Oh, that's a yes?"

"I'll treat you, so let's move somewhere else."

But I knew better. Her eyes were trembling—it was a clear sign she wasn't interested. Still, the two kept pressing. Things looked dicey for her, so I stepped between them.

"Sorry, am I late?"

"......"

Na-ri stared at me in surprise. She probably hadn't expected me this early. But the duo completely misunderstood my intentions.

"What the hell, cutting in?"

"If you're hunting, do it somewhere else."

They thought I was trying to hit on her myself. I shot Na-ri a look that said help me out here, and her hand shot out.

"It's not hunting. He's with me..!"

She grabbed my hand and pulled me close. The guys clicked their tongues.

"Tch, shoulda said so sooner."

"Let's go. Day's off to a bad start."

They muttered nonsense and left. From the way they'd been crowding her, it didn't look like they'd given her a chance to speak. But right now, something more important mattered.

"You got here early."

"So did you—earlier than planned."

"It's my first time coming this way... I miscalculated the time."

Na-ri said shyly, clenching and unclenching her hand, her tension obvious. I smiled at the sight.

"Same here."

"Did you mess up too, Sung-hoon?"

"Yeah, first time for me too."

"What... so we both look like idiots."

Na-ri said that and let out a small laugh. We were both idiots who'd shown up an hour early—maybe that wasn't so bad. Looking at her, I asked,

"Got any plans set already?"

"I was thinking... wander the department store, then grab lunch."

She checked her watch. With the extra hour, time was hanging loose. It seemed unexpected for her; she looked unsure. I showed her a place I'd searched on my phone.

"How about here?"

"The aquarium?"

"It's in the basement. Time fits perfectly. What do you think?"

"Sounds good! Let's go!"

Our next stop was decided. Na-ri was unusually excited, and we headed to the aquarium.

"Welcome!"

The staff greeted us right at the entrance. Na-ri and I nodded back and approached the desk.

"Which course would you like?"

"Hm... give us a sec."

I looked up at the options.

Standard's safe, I thought, glancing at Na-ri. Her eyes weren't on the courses—they were glued to the VR deep-sea demo on the screen. She was hooked. The staff noticed and jumped in.

"Special course? We have a couple's discount right now!"

She pointed to the couple's deal—30% off, pretty generous. But Na-ri looked at me instead, her expression asking what I thought. She seemed to want me to decide.

"Couple's discount, please."

"Oh my! A couple, huh? You two look great together!"

The staff fawned as she processed payment. Na-ri murmured softly, a bit embarrassed.

"Do Na-ri and Sung-hoon really look good together?"

I didn't catch it. Payment done, she handed us heart-shaped badge pins and paper wristbands.

"Wear the badges, attach the wristbands, and you're good to enter!"

With her enthusiasm, we helped each other with the wristbands.

"Wow...!"

Na-ri's exclamation came from beside me. The moment we stepped in, blues enveloped us. Gentle wave sounds lapped, a faint watery scent filled the air, and dim lighting created an underwater feel. Na-ri walked slowly, observing the fish one by one. Massive tanks held fish gliding gracefully. Colors shimmered with the ripples as small fish darted through. Then—

"Hey, that one..!"

Na-ri stopped abruptly. Her finger pointed to a small orange-and-white striped fish.

"Isn't that Nemo?!"

Her eyes sparkled. The tension from before was gone; she was fully excited. I checked the info plaque nearby.

It read: This species is not Nemo—it's a white domino! with a cute emoticon.

"Says it's a white domino."

"No. It's Nemo."

She was firm. I chuckled. Na-ri gazed at the giant anemone hiding "Nemo."

"First time seeing one for real... Smaller than I thought."

She pressed her face close to the tank, staring intently. Her head followed the fish's every move.

"Doesn't it get boring swimming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠around like that?"

"Doubt it."

"Huh? Do you know something?"

Na-ri turned to me. I said casually,

"You're looking at Nemo right now, right?"

"Yeah?"

"So Nemo's looking at you."

"Y...eah?"

Na-ri paused. She got it.

"Nemo sees new people every day."

"Right? Must be exciting for Nemo too."

"...Yeah."

She nodded, convinced, and turned back to the tank. I smiled softly at her.

....

"Next up: feeding experience!"

Following the signs, we reached a small demo area with otters in the tank. Through the massive glass, they swam leisurely, enjoying the water.

"Whoa... real otters..!"

Na-ri's voice was even smaller now, her face awestruck. The staff handed us food and explained, opening a tank slot and pointing to a small cylinder below.

"Lure them right, and you can hold an otter's paw."

"For real? We can actually hold it?"

"Of course. Wanna try?"

Na-ri hesitated, tossed some food in a few times, then steeled herself.

"I wanna try holding one!"

She maneuvered around. After a few tries, she succeeded in luring the otter's paw near the cylinder. It grabbed her hand with its tiny paw.

"Gasp—!"

A short intake of breath. Her eyes widened.

"I got it..!"

In disbelief, she turned to me.

"Look, I got it..!"

Her expression was so pure, I smiled faintly.

"Yeah. You did."

The otter casually took the food and ate. Na-ri held on to that paw for a while. For the record, I tried too. Unlike her, I lured from outside the tank—but nailed it on the first go. The paw was surprisingly moist and soft.

"Th-there was a way like this.."

Na-ri was stunned too.

....

A bit deeper in, we hit a glass-floor section. Below—

A massive shark swam slowly.

"..Huh?"

Na-ri froze.

"This... safe to step on, right?"

"Probably."

"But it's scary... What if it breaks.."

"You'd make the news and become a celebrity."

"Don't want that..."

She said that but gingerly stepped forward. The shark passed under the glass.

"Eek..!"

Na-ri flinched briefly—and naturally sidled up to me. Just a little. Barely noticeable unless you were paying attention.

"Scared? We can skip."

"No... gotta see it..."

Her words were bold, but the closeness stayed. I didn't pull away. The shark tunnel wasn't long, so it ended quicker than expected.

....

"Look at that! That one!"

Na-ri had her energy back, pointing everywhere, bustling about. The earlier tension vanished.

I followed, responding now and then.

"Not amazed, Sung-hoon?"

"It is, but something's more fun."

I smiled slightly. Na-ri looked puzzled.

"More fun? Where?"

Her voice showed curiosity. I looked straight at her.

"You. Watching you is the most fun."

"...Me?"

Na-ri stopped. She mulled it over. Then—

"......"

Her face slowly turned red.

"Ah, no... my embarrassing side.."

Her hands fidgeted. She floundered. Finally—

"Th-there's VR...! Let's do VR!"

She veered off suddenly, running like fleeing. I watched her back—

chuckled.

"In a rush."

I murmured quietly and followed.