🎶: 'Peach Blossom (ft. sokodomo)' by Yuju
An entire week passed.
The weekend was here, and once again, Soobin, Taehyun and Juhyeok were going out.
This time, Soobin kept it a surprise for Juhyeok. He would've also kept it hidden from Taehyun, but when he saw the handcuffs attached to his belt for work, he decided it was not a good idea.
Juhyeok played the guessing game with Taehyun the whole way to their destination, that he didn't even realize it when they were there.
And he squealed seeing the colorful sign.
"I've always wanted to go to the aquarium!!" Juhyeok exclaimed.
"Then it was a good idea coming here," Soobin praised himself.
"You'll also see many other animals aside from fish," Taehyun added.
"Really?!"
"According to the website."
"YAY!!"
Soobin paid for their fare at the reception desk, and kept the tickets in his jacket pocket, while Taehyun took a map of the aquarium.
"Look Juju, there are sections for every continent," he said, showing the map to his son.
Juhyeok gasped.
"Ooo, can we go to the South American quarter?"
"Of course."
"Lead the way," Soobin added.
Juhyeok couldn't keep his excitement and instantly looked for a sign showing him the right direction, before running off, closely followed by Taehyun and Soobin.
After finding the South American exhibit of the aquarium, with a happy squeal, Juhyeok ran towards the tropical fish, pressing his hands on the glass to observe them more.
"Dad, look at these fishies!"
Taehyun joined him and looked at the little creatures swimming around the water.
"They're so bright and colorful!" Juhyeok exclaimed.
"I know; look at that red one."
Juhyeok gasped.
"Waaahh!!"
Taehyun's eyes followed a clownfish that was in front of him, suddenly remembering the time he watched Finding Nemo in the theaters.
I never understood Martin before, but now I do.
The brunette didn't realize that his feet took a mind of their own and started walking as he followed the clownfish, until he realized it blended with its school of fish, probably friends, around the tank.
And suddenly, he spotted Soobin on the other side of the glass, looking at him with a soft smile.
Taehyun could feel his cheeks color rosy out of nowhere, but that feeling was soon replaced with being mildly offended, as Soobin began laughing.
"What?" he asked, walking to his side.
"A fish circled your face perfectly when you were gawking at me. Almost like it wanted to frame you," Soobin explained.
"Ohh..."
Taehyun blushed.
"I thought you were making fun of me."
"Of you? Never."
"Haha, very funny."
"Also."
"What?"
"You seem to really like the DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet," Soobin commented.
"What makes you say so?"
"I was walking past the fish tank, just as you, and stopped when you did. And you looked at me."
Taehyun scoffed.
"You're cheesy."
Before Soobin could reply, Juhyeok had tugged on his sleeve.
"I wanna see more!!"
"Anything you want, Juhyeok."
The little boy pulled on both adults' arms as they walked through the South American section of the aquarium, finding many other kinds than just tropical fish.
Some were really huge, almost the length of Taehyun's arm, and some were so incredibly small, you would need a telescope to see them from afar.
"I can't imagine being that small," Juhyeok remarked.
"Well, before you were born, you were— OW!"
Taehyun had punched him in the ribs.
"Choi Soobin!"
"What?"
"He's a kid!"
"I didn't say anything age inappropriate! It's not like I said—"
The brunette clamped a hand over Soobin's curved lips, having to stand on his toes as he couldn't reach him otherwise.
"Shush!!"
Juhyeok silently giggled.
I would love to see more of this; they look so funny.
Soobin took Taehyun's hand off his lips.
"Now now, we don't want any special attention, don't we?" he teased.
Taehyun glanced out of the corner of his eyes to see a few visitors eyeing them suspiciously. He simply scoffed and took Juhyeok's hand.
"Let them look I suppose," he sassed before continuing walking.
Soobin smiled smugly.
That's more like it; stop paying attention to unnecessary others.
The trio moved into the North American section, which interestingly kept crocodiles.
"Since when do you keep crocs in an aquarium?" Soobin asked.
"Beats me."
Juhyeok stood on his toes to look over the railing at the crocs below him. One was a baby, and he cocked his head up at Juhyeok when he spotted him.
Before he could give a wave, Taehyun wrapped his arms around his middle.
"I don't want you to fall and become crocodile food," he said.
"Like this I won't," Juhyeok laughed.
Taehyun kept his son tightly in his hold as he waved at the baby crocodile down below, who bobbed his snout up and down, showing his sharp canine teeth.
Soobin found the sight so adorable, that he had to snap a quick picture of them. Taehyun didn't notice, as Soobin has his flash and shutter sound off.
"The baby croc is so cute!" Juhyeok exclaimed.
"He won't be if he grabs your leg."
"Daaaad!!"
Taehyun laughed and tousled his hair.
"I'm kidding."
Soobin chuckled as well and took Juhyeok's hand.
"Come on. Let's go find the penguin section."
"Oooo, we're gonna meet Uncle Kai's family!!!"
The black haired glanced at Taehyun questioningly.
"Juhyeok thinks Kai is like a penguin."
"Yes he's so cuddly, and sometimes walks like one! Uncle Gyu is lucky to have him!"
"Wow, my cuddles mean nothing?"
"That's not what I meant— Daaad come back."
Taehyun giggled as he began walking off, and Juhyeok joined in, while Soobin only smiled, glad to see him so happy.
Juhyeok walked beside Soobin, holding his hand to not get lost in the big crowds, and they headed to the penguin section.
He watched them through the looking glass, seeing some swim in the water using their feet at rapid speed, and some sliding down on the ice and snow with their bellies.
It was a good exhibit, with plenty of room to swim in, and from the window pane, Juhyeok could tell that it was nice and cold.
"See? Like Uncle Kai!" he commented.
"I'll take your word for it," Soobin added.
Taehyun took out his phone, and snapped a few pictures, changing the angles to get different perspectives.
And the pictures all turned out very good.
I'll send them to Kai later.
"Apparently, they also have a dolphin show that starts in twenty minutes. Do you wanna see it?" Soobin asked.
"Of course!!"
So that's where they headed to next.
The dolphin show was thankfully free, so neither Soobin nor Taehyun had to worry about paying extra money.
They got spots in the second row, which gave them a perfect view, and watched from there the dolphin show.
The trainers and keepers were so fun and friendly; they shared many facts and knowledge they knew about dolphins, and cracked a few jokes here and there to keep it entertaining.
Which was the case, as many people in the audience couldn't stop laughing afterwards, especially Juhyeok.
And the dolphins were incredible and so much fun to watch as well; they leapt flawlessly across the spacious provided pool, performing different tricks they learned over time, and let out cute clicks.
Everyone gave huge showers of applause every time they finished an act.
Juhyeok couldn't sit still and he giddily jumped up and down while clapping his hands.
"Your eyes are so sparkly; you must be really enjoying this," Soobin said midway through the show.
"Of course!"
"He has that habit from me," Taehyun answered.
"I can tell."
"Thanks for taking us here Soobin; I really really am loving it!"
"No problem kid."
Juhyeok glanced back at the show, sighing right after.
"I would love to do something like this with Yerim if I can."
"Have you asked her parents?" Soobin asked.
"Not really...."
Soobin's almond eyes met Taehyun's doe orbs peering at him.
And that was all the confirmation he needed.
"One day you will," Soobin replied.
"Really?" Juhyeok asked.
"Mhm. I promise."
+x+
🎶: 'In the Rain' by David Russel
The three stayed at the aquarium up until 7:30pm, when the visitor site closed for the day and the animals needed rest.
It had been an eventful and fun day for Juhyeok, which naturally wore him out and made him feel drowsy. So it was no surprise he fell asleep in Soobin's car, especially as the leather of the seats was so soft and cushioned that any tired soul would ache to find rest in them.
But he was happy, otherwise he wouldn't be smiling in his sleep, and even giggling quietly enough for only him to hear.
So it was just Taehyun and Soobin now.
It was quiet between them, except for the hum of the wheels, other cars passing by, the occasional blinking sound of the controls, and the radio playing some chill music.
They stopped at a traffic light after being on the road for ten minutes.
"Taehyun."
He looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Is it true?"
"What?"
"That Yerim and Juhyeok have never hung out together?"
Taehyun glanced at his folded palms with an ashamed expression.
"Yes..."
Soobin exhaled.
"Why?"
"I'm not home in the afternoons frequently."
"And?"
Taehyun sighed.
"I... still have thoughts of worry. What if Yerim leaves Juhyeok and ends their friendship? What if her parents begin sneering at us, without knowing the truth, because who will stop to ask?"
"I did."
Taehyun fell silent.
"You sure do worry a lot about things that haven't happened yet."
"I know, thanks for reminding me."
The traffic light at that moment turned green, so Soobin pressed the pedal to continue driving.
"So I guess you're still affected by the kindergarten situation."
It wasn't stated like a question, but more like a fact.
"Mhm..."
"Ah... care to share what really happened?"
"Not tonight. We had a happy day... I wanna leave it off like this."
"Fair."
Taehyun exhaled.
"I'm really trying to change but... it's hard. I feel like... all my past experiences and trauma are still holding me back."
It fell silent for a moment, as Soobin had to turn.
"Can I say something?" he eventually asked.
"What?"
"Yerim would never do that to Juhyeok. I'm not saying this to reassure you, I'm stating it as the truth. She cherishes him so much as a friend; why else would she be so thankful to have him defend her from that kid who pushed her in September?"
Right... even her parents mentioned that... ugh, my head is just so blocked that I keep forgetting to acknowledge... the good side.
Soobin looked at Taehyun, who glanced back.
Their eye contact lasted for a moment before they spoke again.
"You met her parents at the back-to-school night, right?"
"I did."
"Did you find them nice?"
"I did."
"And with such nice parents... don't you think the daughter will be the same?"
"Juhyeok's no longer at that kindergarten... so let him make new friends and connections. Let their parents interact with him too. And you should also get to know them better instead of immediately convincing yourself they will say anything bad about you or him."
"I suppose."
"Exactly. So, there's nothing to fear. In fact, I'm sure she'd be too happy to question anything if she gets to hang out with Juhyeok. They can also hang out at her place at first, if you're really not comfortable with her seeing your house."
"You're... right..."
Another one of Taehyun's bad habits: never considering other possible options when the head is caught up in worry and other negative emotions.
At that moment, the two heard the quiet patter of rain against the window pane, and it didn't take them very long to see the droplets of water gather on the plexiglass.
With the light coming from the street lamps and traffic lights hanging above... it oddly looked beautiful.
At least from a visual perspective.
"I hate driving in the rain," Taehyun muttered.
"Why?"
"I grow anxious when I drive through this weather."
"Ah."
He fiddled with his sleeves.
"Well, luckily for you, I don't. I love driving in the rain, because it's a reminder of how you can navigate through tough moments in life."
Taehyun fell silent, his words making him think. He truly was poetic with them.
Soobin smiled reassuringly at the brunette.
"I'll make sure to get you and Juhyeok home safely, okay?" Soobin softly said.
"Okay."
"Do you trust me?"
"I... I guess I do."
That question and answer held a deeper meaning than they thought.
____________________________________
A/N: I don't really talk a lot about her but oml Yuju has an amazing discography; she definitely deserves more appreciation and attention for her solo career. Peach Blossom is such a cheerful serotonin boost; it always puts me in a good mood. And In the Rain is legitimately one of my all time favorite love themes and tunes; it does something to my heart and soul. Does anyone watch Miraculous here? If so, what were your thoughts on Season 5?
Till next time dear lovelies 🫶💞