Ren took a deep breath. His mind has been messy this lately. He need to get a grip. He isn't type of person who overthinks stuff's then why he is now?
They moved on to the sharks, their sleek bodies cutting through the water. Rose leaned over the railing, mesmerized, and Ren stayed a few steps behind, silent, watching her watch them.
"You ever think," she asked, her voice quieter than usual, "that sharks are kind of... misunderstood?"
Ren tilted his head. "All predators are misunderstood in some way. But they don't really care what you think of them."
Rose laughed softly, shaking her head. "You always have to make everything sound like a metaphor for life, huh?"
"You always overthink it," he shot back, but his lips quirked in a smile.
For a while, they wandered in silence, occasionally exchanging comments about fish or exhibits. Rose found herself subtly adjusting her pace to match his, almost without realizing. Each time he would hand her a map or point out a species, a tiny warmth grew in her chest-a feeling she hated to admit.
Finally, they reached the touch pool. Children squealed as they gently patted stingrays.
"Ugh... why is everyone so loud?" she muttered,
Ren, standing beside her, leaned casually on the railing. "You get used to it... eventually. Or you become the scary adult everyone avoids."
Rose shot him a glare. "Maybe I am the scary adult"
Rose looks at those stingrays.
"do you want to touch them?"
"No" she replied quickly
"You scared?" Ren asked, noticing her stiff posture.
"I'm not scared," she snapped, though her voice wavered.
"Then... try touching one," he challenged.
Rose glanced at him, eyes narrowing, before slowly extending her hand. Her fingers brushed the stingray's smooth back, and a small gasp escaped her.
"There," Ren said, watching her carefully. "Not so bad, huh?"
Rose looked up, her scowl softening. "It's... fine."
Ren chuckled softly, the sound low and soothing. "Your 'fine' looks suspiciously like enjoyment."
_________________
The exit was in sight, but the crowd moving through the aquarium had turned the wide corridor into a mass of people. Rose groaned, her arms crossed, shoulders tense.
"This is... awful," she muttered, trying to sidestep a family with three screaming kids.
Ren's voice was calm behind her. "Stay close."
Rose spun around, frowning. "huh?"
"I said stay close," he repeated, his eyes scanning the crowd like a predator calculating the easiest path. "Or you'll get lost."
"I-" she started, but before she could finish, someone bumped into her shoulder, almost knocking her sideways. Reflexively, Ren slid his hand over hers, fingers curling around hers firmly.
Rose froze, staring down at their entwined hands. Her face heated, but the crowd jostled them forward, and he didn't let go.
Rose opened her mouth, then closed it again. Because of course he was right. He guided her through the crowd like it was nothing, stepping a little closer than necessary, fingers still laced with hers.
They moved past the final exhibit, her hand still trapped in his, their shoulders brushing occasionally. Every time the crowd jostled them, he tightened his grip slightly.
Rose wanted to yank her hand back, wanted to glare, wanted to scowl-but a small, reluctant part of her didn't want to let go.
Finally, they burst out of the crowded hallway into the open sunlight outside. Ren released her hand, letting it drop to her side.
"See? Not so bad," he said, flashing that infuriating smirk.
Rose shook her head, muttering under her breath.
"I will hate myself if I admit I enjoyed that..."She mumbles herself
"Did you said something?"
"Nothing"
Ren stopped short the moment when they reached the car. One look, and his jaw tensed.
The front tire sagged, completely flat.
“...You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered under his breath, crouching down to inspect it. The tire wasn’t just flat—it was ruined, a sharp shard of glass wedged deep in the rubber.
Rose crossed her arms, leaning against the car. “What happened?”
“Tire’s done,” Ren said shortly, pulling out his phone. “I’ll call for service.”
She tilted her head, the corner of her lips twitching. “Guess luck doesn’t like you today.”
He shot her a side glance. “Guess it doesn’t like us. You’re here too.”
She smirked faintly. “Touché.”
He shot her a sidelong look. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little,” she teased, her tone light. “So… what now, Mr. Responsible?"
“They’ll take a while. We can’t wait here it’s getting late.”
Rose shrugged. “Then let's take the bus.”
That made him pause. “The bus?”
“Yeah,” she said simply, already walking toward the street. “You act like I said we’re hitchhiking.”
He blinked, watching her. “You—take the bus?”
“Yeah,” she said easily. “I used to take them when I wanted to sneak out and not get caught by the maids.”
That made him glance at her properly, just for a moment. Something about the casual honesty in her tone the way she looked a little nostalgic made his lips twitch. “Sneaky,” he murmured.
“Resourceful,” she corrected with a smirk.
When the bus arrived, it was half full. They found two seats near the back. The soft rumble beneath their feet filled the silence.
Rose leaned her head against the window, watching the city roll by shops, streets, faces blurring together. “Feels weirdly nice,” she murmured.
Ren glanced at her reflection in the glass. “What does?”
“This,” she said, eyes still on the passing view. “its been really long I had visited my favourite childhood place.”
Ren didn’t answer, but his gaze slid toward the window watching their reflections side by side in the glass. The hum of the engine filled the silence between them, the city lights flickering across her face.
Ren turned his camera once more hesitated and then, almost without thinking, captured her reflection in the window.
She didn’t notice.
He smiled faintly. Yeah, he thought, this was better than driving.
And Ren found himself wishing the bus would slow down just a little.
A/N: HAPPY READING!
YOU ARE READING
PERFECT (F4 THAILAND)
Fanfiction"Something on my face, or are you just admiring my good looks?" "Neither, I was just zoned out and your ugly face just happened to be in my line of sight." She replied
