Talking to the moon

Chapter 7

"Ms.Yunjin?"

"Just Yunjin."

Eunchae ignored her yet again, gripping onto Yunjin's hand a bit tighter as they shuffled down the small line. It was mid-afternoon and the aquarium was starting to get a bit busy, it wasn't that bad just more people than both Yunjin and Eunchae were used to. The detective could tell the child was starting to get a bit nervous, gripping onto Peng like if she let go she would never see him again. Eunchae was wearing a slightly larger crewneck hoodie, jeans, and her hair tied up in a messy ponytail. Yunjin mimicked her in outfit, wearing her old Jeju university sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, her hair down. "Where are we?"

"We are at an aquarium!" Yunjin cheered, motioning to the entrance. Eunchae seemed less than enthused, furrowing her brow, "It's where fish live."

"Fish?" Eunchae looked at the building and then back at Yunjin, "But fish live in the ocean."

"That's true, but they also live in that building. So we're going to go say hi to them and then maybe feed the rays, doesn't that sound fun?" Yunjin asked, crouching down giving the girl a smile. Eunchae seemed to think it over, a smile spreading across her face as she nodded her head eventually. Yunjin should really be used to it by now, but it still took her by surprise when Eunchae would wrap her arms around her, hugging tight. She hugged back, before standing up, digging the two tickets out of her pants. After giving the tickets and getting two blue wrist bands, they were in.

Yunjin had been to this aquarium before, it was just big enough to have a lot of exhibits but small enough not to be overwhelming. Eunchae reached up like she wanted to be picked up, so Yunjin obliged. picking up the girl and placed her on her hip, Peng under Eunchae's arm. They walked through the entrance, and Yunjin turned to watch as Eunchae took in the sight. Her mouth slightly open as she looked at all the tanks and size of it. She looked up at the ceiling, where the bones of a blue whale were hanging mouth open at the size of it. Yunjin took them over to one of the big tropical tanks.

Eunchae had both hands wrapped around her neck, staring up in wonder at the different fish. A little yellow fish swam by, and Eunchae couldn't help the little gasp of amazement squirming a little in Yunjin's arms as she leaned in to get a closer look. The tank was pretty, Yunjin had to admit, but the look of just pure joy on Eunchae's face shined brighter than any of the fish in the tank. She had this big smile on her face that Yunjin had never seen before, her eyes crinkled slightly, a little sliver of gums showing as she giggled and watched the fish swim. Completely carefree, just like any kid her age should act.

It almost choked Yunjin up a little.

"Yunjinnie! Look at that one!" Eunchae pointed to a big turtle swimming by, "It's a turtle!"

The child didn't realize Yunjin was currently having heart palpitations over the nickname. Yunjin looked in the direction that Eunchae was pointing at, humming and following along with every new fish Eunchae pointed out in wonder. Eventually, she wanted to be let down, and Yunjin obliged, letting Eunchae lead her through the building, stopping to stare at particularly interesting fish.

Much to the detective's dismay, Eunchae seemed to be enamored by a big tank full of sharks. Pressing her hands up to the glass, looking up into the tank with her big wide eyes, "Yunjin! Yunjin! Look!"

"I'm looking alright."

"Aren't they so cute!" Eunchae gushed, turning back to see if Yunjin was looking before locking her gaze back into the tank, "Look at their little teeth! And their lips, and how they swim!"

"So cute,"Yunjin relayed, a bit unsure. Sharks were in Yunjin's top five things that kept her out of the ocean, they weren't cute, they were downright terrifying. But Eunchae was excited, so Yunjin would suck it up and if that means Eunchae still got to be happy. What she didn't expect was for Eunchae to put both hands above her head and wiggle a little bit, as if she was a shark. It was just so out of nowhere, the laughter that was coming out of Yunjin was loud and high-pitched, holding her stomach as Eunchae started to laugh along with her. "What was that?"