Traveling With Junmyeon
A MoodBoard Series
Last Moodboard: Sleeping under the same sky
Junmyeon holds his phone up and arches his neck back to capture every motion of the Tiger Shark swimming above him. He snaps as many photos of the Shark as possible until it swims away, and then starts taking pictures of the other sharks inside the tunnel. Other tourists are respectfully quiet underneath the tunnel since sharks are sensitive to underwater sounds. And you watch Junmyeon become fascinated by the sharks as you’ve never seen him this way before.
Junmyeon doesn’t like Aquariums. He only brought you to an Aquarium because you love them so much. But you noticed the wondrous gleam in his eyes and a smile etched upon his lips. He would usually be bored watching fishes all day, but he seems to be enjoying this exhibit as much as you are. Maybe even a little more. You nudged his shoulder so that he knows you are standing you smiling at him, and he smiles back before snapping a surprise photo of you, making you widen your eyes with surprise.
You roll your eyes, amused, and shook your head as Junmyeon beams. He lowers his phone and watches the sharks again. “This is so cool.”
He whispers.
You wrap an arm around him and hum. “Yeah.”
Aquariums are one of your most favorite places to visit. Earlier this morning, Junmyeon mentioned having a great surprise for you after breakfast, and you were confused because you thought this entire trip was the surprise. He refused to give you hints about the surprise during the ride over. He wouldn’t even give you one tiny little detail when you pleaded.
It wasn’t until you looked outside the cab window and saw a building decorated with starfishes, bubbles, and sea lions, did you know where you are. As soon as you realized where you are, you felt your heart leap inside your chest.
You never thought about visiting an aquarium here, much less knew if there was one nearby.
Both of you had visited an art museum, the science museum, the history museum, and a mummy museum. And although that museum sent chills down your spine, it was fascinating and you loved it. All of them were museums you would love to visit again, and would surely recommend them to anyone who considers visiting the country.
However, once you found out the surprise was an Aquarium, you squealed and hopped off the cab like a little girl at a candy store. As you waited in line, you tugged onto Junmyeon's arm, smiling eye to eye as you tell him about how excited you are to visit an Aquarium after so long.
Junmyeon knew you would be thrilled and was proud of himself for making you feel this way, although it made him feel a little embarrassed. He was hoping for a reaction as such ever since he found this one the night before, so he regrets nothing. Aquariums are a place of nostalgia for Junmyeon too, so he was ready to spend the entire day here with you.
You love Aquariums. Especially the ones which were designed to give off a true under the sea atmosphere. This Aquarium was larger, more dimensional, and much more mesmerizing compared to the ones back home. There was a skeletal display of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling and an outdoor exhibition for Sea Lions, Otters, and Dolphins. The tanks were wide enough for Octopuses, Seahorses, and Globe Crabs to move around. And an outdoor exhibit filled with Reptiles and Tropical birds.
The staff offered you to go snorkeling with sharks, but you politely refused while Junmyeon mustered up his courage and went all in for it. You preferred snorkeling with the sea turtle instead. You fed the birds and recorded a video of Junmyeon having a laughing contest with an Australian Kookaburra. And he took photos of you holding a Boa Constructor around your shoulders with the bravest face you could disguise. It felt silky and scaly and chilly, but you weren't afraid of it lunging towards you since it wasn’t looking towards you.
Once again, this has been the most fun you've had on this trip.
The most unexpected and wonderful surprise of all was seeing African penguins waddle up and down the halls. You were feeding young stingrays when a staff member announced to take caution because penguins were coming. You turned around, and as soon as you saw them, you were floored to the ground. Junmyeon recorded a video of them, smiling, as you were hiding the awed grin behind your hands. When it seemed as though nothing could be able to top that moment, you find the Jellyfishes exhibit.
There was something beautiful about Jellyfishes that had always attracted you. To this day, you could never found out the reasons why they snatch your attention. Maybe it was because of the way they float eloquently like a wedding dress in the water. Maybe it’s because they are calming behaved creatures and yet are one of the most intimidated. Or probably, because they remind you of your favorite childhood book.
For whatever reason, you become transfixed by them every time you see them. You feel wonder filling in your eyes, becoming dazed, and a smile was etching onto you. It was gorgeous. This Aquarium could have as many great descriptions as it does have many species of sea creatures. It was the best surprise yet and has been the most heart-warming thing since the little girl presenting you with a flower. You were having so much fun; a lot of fun.
The child-like excitement you developed this morning will soon shrink into gloominess, and you already feel upset just thinking about it. You do not want to go back to the hotel afterward. There is still so much of the day left to be spent and enjoyed. Hopefully, you will be able to visit someplace else.
Junmyeon looks at you adoringly and scoots closer beside you, placing his hand over yours. “Y/N.”
You turn around and Junmyeon leans forward to kiss you. Your breath hitches, eyes flutter shut as you lean into the kiss. His top lip rested over your noggin and you wish it lasted longer when he pulls away. You smile at each other as you intertwine fingers together.
You whispered, “Thank you for this Myeon.”
“You're welcome, babe.” He whispers.
You turn towards the Jellyfishes again without saying anything. It has been a while since you visited an Aquarium and you couldn't believe Junmyeon found one as extravagant as this. He found it while you were showering this morning and was trying to find an alternative after having his original plan be postponed.
“Do you know why I brought you here?” He asks.
You shake your head.
“An Aquarium was where we started talking.” He said.
At first, you don’t understand what he means until you remember a few years back. You raise your eyebrows. “Oh, that’s right we did!”
The last time you've been to an Aquarium was when you met Junmyeon again-the second time. By then, you still didn't have a good impression on him. Sehun and Chanyeol were your mutual friends, and they invited you to hang out with them during the holiday weekend. They invited Junmyeon too without notifying you. Since you already met once, you know his name and face.
The four of you had dinner and drinks at the same restaurant you had seen Junmyeon. You had all gotten bored with the Cinema and thought about which other places you should visit next. The place you suggested was an Aquarium.
“When you said we should go to an aquarium, I thought it was a random suggestion.” He says, “I wasn’t even into aquariums at the time.”
You gasp at him and he goes on. “I thought they smelled awful, and they used to bore me until I'd fall asleep.”
“Babe, you fell asleep on a go-kart ride at an amusement park! Thank goodness you were okay!”
He chuckles down at his feet, embarrassed by how you still remember that. You never forgot about the time he fell asleep on a go-kart and you bring it up anytime he wants to complain about you falling asleep during movie night. You would watch them late at night, and your eyelids would become heavy with sleep. You couldn’t help it, even if a scene was interesting.
“Anyway, while Sehun and Chanyeol agreed on going, I was against it because I disliked them, but I didn’t want to be rude.” He said. “You were excited about it and because I wanted to be nice, I went. I’ll admit though, I thought it was a little weird.”
“I thought you were weird for not liking aquariums. ” You shot back.
He may not be wrong since it was kinda weird of you to consider sleeping on the hotel roof, but then again, Junmyeon was the one who made that plan into action. He thought you were serious and you thought he was crazy for taking your sarcasm seriously. However, you had an amazing evening gazing upon the nightlife and doing the same things you do at home.
Maybe it's best to admit both of you are weird.
“The trip wasn’t bad and then I noticed you disappeared. I didn't know whether or not I should have, but I decided to go look for you that day.” On that day, you had left to use the restroom, and on the way back you found a new animal exhibit. Feeling excited, you searched for that new exhibit and found two new Beluga Whales. You overcome with awe and shortly after Junmyeon found you smiling at them.
He says, “I didn’t mean to scare you by the way.”
“You didn’t scare me Myeon, you scared the living heck out of me!”
Junmyeon was walking up from behind and you didn’t notice until you spot another strange figure along with your reflection. Though you couldn’t tell it was Junmyeon since his reflection was blurry, and your jump scare caused him to flinch in surprise.
He was embarrassed by the way that you shrieked, but mostly from scaring you. When you remembered you were in an Aquarium, you clapped your hands over your mouth and checked to see if anyone heard you. He remembers restraining a giggle when you did that.
“I wasn’t trying to.” He said.
You smirk at him. “Still, I thought you were a stranger trying to squeeze my hip.”
“I was just trying to tap your shoulder.” He said, “Besides, we barely knew each other at the time, so we pretty much were strangers.”
Nowadays, you are the one creeping up behind him and scare him. Only every once in a while in the morning when you need him to wake up.
“It was awkward at first watching the whales with you without saying a thing to each other. And then, you told me Beluga Whales could kiss and I was impressed by how much you knew about them." He says, "I knew you were smart, but you just kept impressing me that day.”
You become flattered. Junmyeon swears you are the intellectual and creative one, but you strongly deny that. He was the one with the wit and ambition in this relationship. And they were also some of the things that attracted you.
“No, babe. It was just me being my nerdy self.” You said.
“It further piqued my interested in you."
You restrain your grin. “Do you remember the whale that had a crush on you?”
The two of you were having a bit of small talk when one of the whales started whirling around and squeaking at Junmyeon. You giggled and teased him by saying the whale had a crush on him, and he decided to see if they really can kiss. It was just him trying to poke your funny bone the way you did with his. Junmyeon squatted down in front of the whale, and puckers his lips, and leaned toward the glass. The Whale approaches him with puckered lips until their lips touch the glass, and they share a kiss through the tank. Junmyeon made the little ‘chu’ sound and the whale started squealing out of glee which made him giggle. You never expected him to do something as heartwarming as kissing an animal, and it was also the first time you've seen Junmyeon smile genuinely.
You noticed how his eyes crinkle when he smiles, and his laugh lines appear as well as a single dimple on his left cheek.
A smile like that looked much better on him than the blank expression he had when you first met.
The whale urges Junmyeon for another kiss and he gladly does it again. The whale squeals once more and Junmyeon giggles before pretending to kiss the tank again. It was the cutest thing you have ever seen. And then suddenly, without thinking, you pulled your phone out and started recording him.
“When I saw you recording me, I got really shy.” He said.
When he mentions that memory, you begin cringing. “I should’ve asked if you would’ve been comfortable with it first. You said, shaking your head. Although it’s a sweet memory, you can’t stop cursing yourself for having made the sudden decision. Since you barely knew each other at the time, you had no idea if he was the type of person who doesn’t like being recorded. He didn’t even take photos of the last time you and your friends went out. When he caught you recording him, you remember thinking you had ruined an adorable moment and considered deleting the video. Until Junmyeon looked at you with that warm earnest smile and asks if you could send it to him.
“Y/N, if you hadn’t been recording me back then, I would’ve never had the chance to ask for your number.”
He asked if you could send him the video for you to switch numbers.
This man knew exactly what would happen when he asked for your number. When he went to look for you in the Aquarium and when he was making you laugh during your time alone. He learned about the deep and personal you rarely show anyone as if you had known each other before. This was the same person you never thought you would develop a personal relationship with. Not romantically or platonically.
If you hadn’t switched numbers on that visit to the Aquarium, you wouldn’t be sitting beside him in this one today. You could’ve erased his number after sending the video, but Junmyeon made you see him in a brighter light you didn’t know he has. You enjoyed your time together and knew you want to see him again. And when he asked if you wanted to hang out again, you said yes.
He could’ve given up and moved on from you for someone else who would give him attention. Except, he didn’t and you are grateful of him for that. You squeeze his hand affectionately.
“Thank you for not holding a grudge against me.” You whisper, looking at him with admiration.
He smiles, “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
Although he still can’t get over the smell, Junmyeon developed a soft spot for Aquariums after spending those brief moments with you. Since then, he knew there was some magnetic connection between you, and he knew he had to see you again. Maybe that was why he considers Aquariums to be romantic.
“So, the moral of the story is that I was right about Aquariums all along.” You tease.
“Yeah, you were right and I’m not gonna argue with you on that.” He laughs,
“Do you wanna stay, or do you wanna see the rest of the Aquarium?”
You shake your head. “No. Let’s just stay a little longer.”
The two of you sit in silence, watching the Jellyfish, and keeping your hands attached. That exact day must be why you consider Aquariums romantic. After the jellyfish, you move on to see the outdoor exhibits and found the Sea Otters and Dolphins. You found a life-sized checkered board game on the playground and played for at least thirty minutes until you won. Before leaving, you browse around the gift shop and try to convince Junmyeon to purchase a matching necklace for both of you to wear. Except, he huffs and turns stern.
“No Y/N, it’s too cheesy. We don’t need stuff like that.”
You sigh, “Ugh, all right.”
As soon as you walk out of the Aquarium, a little girl runs up to you and asks if she could take your photo. She had looked to be about twelve or thirteen years old and seemed to be an aspiring photographer. You both accepted and she steps a few feet away from where you are standing and points her camera at you. Junmyeon hugs you from the back, placing his chin on your shoulder, and you lean your head against his chest and hold onto his arms.
It turns out her camera prints photos as polaroids. She catches the photo before it could drop onto the ground and waved it until the picture clears up.
“Here.” She says, handing you the photo. “Thanks a lot for letting me take a picture. I’ve never seen grown-up twins before, so I wanted to take pictures.”
“We’re not twins.” You both said, bewildered.
The girl becomes shocked. “You’re not?”
“No,” said Junmyeon. “We’re a couple.”
“Oh.” Her expression is frozen. “I thought you were twins since your clothes are the same.”
You and Junmyeon looked up and down at each other and it turns out, you are wearing identical colors. He was wearing a white sweater and a navy beanie with jeans while you are wearing a white top and your blue coat with jeans. The young girl thanks you again and leaves to take more pictures leaving you and Junmyeon to scanning each other’s outfits.
How did neither of you notice until now?
"You're right babe.” You said. “We don’t need a necklace."