Boundless

제 10 장

Athena's POV

Jae's hand, warm and strong, held mine as we wandered through the serene depths of the aquarium, where the world seemed to dissolve into soft blues and tranquil silences. The water shimmered around us, alive with the graceful movements of creatures from distant oceans. The glow of the tanks cast a delicate radiance on Jae's fair skin, making him look almost otherworldly—his face glowing like an ethereal painting under the gentle light.

I stole a glance at him, my heart fluttering in my chest. His eyes were alight with the blue of the water, a sparkle in them that seemed to reflect the endless horizon of dreams. I smiled, the corners of my lips lifting without thought, and slipped my arm through his. He returned my smile, and in that moment, time felt like it slowed, my pulse skipping to an erratic rhythm, as if my very being was attuned to him, to this moment.

He led me to a tank teeming with tiny clownfish, their bright orange and white bodies darting between coral reefs.

"In America, these fish always reminded me of that movie—the daddy fish looking for his son," Jae said, his voice rich with fondness as he pointed toward them.

I laughed softly, charmed by his sweetness. "They're clownfish, Jae, and I think you mean Finding Nemo."

"Clown pish?" he asked, confusion furrowing his brow.

I suppressed a giggle, my lips twitching, biting back laughter as I looked at him. The way he said it was so endearing, with his accent softening the edges of his words. "Clown fish," I repeated, the mispronunciation still lingering sweetly on his tongue.

His brows furrowed. "Pish?" he repeated, and I couldn't hold it in any longer. The sound of my laughter rang out through the tank's echoing quiet, pure and unrestrained.

"Don't laugh," he murmured with mock indignation, but the corner of his lips tugged into a mischievous grin. "Not very good," he teased, wagging a finger at me, though his eyes sparkled with affection.

"I'll stick to Korean, my dear," I retorted playfully in his language, teasing him back.

His face grew serious, though his eyes still danced. "When you choke, I'll laugh at you," he said, his voice low with that teasing edge, before turning and walking away, heading toward another exhibit. I followed, intrigued by his next favorite.

He pointed at a group of sharks, their sleek forms gliding through the water. "This is my favorite," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice.

I grinned, my thoughts racing. "I like shark soup."

His eyes widened in horror, and he threw his head back in laughter. "You ate shark? You are cruel," he teased, his voice full of disbelief. The sound of his laughter, warm and rich, filled the air between us.

I bit my lip, trying to suppress my amusement. As if sensing my mischievousness, he crossed the space between us, leaned in, and kissed me softly on the lips. His hand cupped my face, and for a fleeting moment, the world around us ceased to exist.

"Every time you bite your lips, I just want to kiss them," he whispered, and with those words, he carved a deeper space into my heart—one where only he would fit.

Still holding my hands, he pulled out his phone, his fingers swiping across the screen as he set up for a picture. He held the camera above us, snapping a photo with a grin that could light up an entire room. After inspecting the image, he looked at me with gleaming eyes. "Let's take more," he said, his voice laced with excitement.

Before I could reply, a voice interrupted us.

"Mr. Min!"

We turned in unison to see a woman approaching with a wide smile. Her steps were light and carefree, and she beamed at Jae as she trotted toward him.