Time flies when a person is having fun.

Before I realised it, it was already August, and Summer was quickly coming to an end. The blistering heat was slowly being replaced by the cool breeze of Autumn, and the singlets and shorts were changing into long sleeves and jeans.

Speaking of Autumn, it was the one-year anniversary of Althea becoming my neighbour. Although we weren’t on talking terms back then, it was unquestionably one of our very special ‘firsts.’

To commemorate such an event, I suggest to Althea that we go on an all-day date. Coincidentally, the restrictions on outdoor activities were slowly being lifted. While people still had to wear masks, socially distance and limit their gatherings, the majority of our everyday life had been restored.

The World Health Organisation had released promising results on the vaccines being developed. At the same time, our understanding of the pandemic had deepened considerably. The virus wasn't airborne, and it wasn't fatal to anyone under the age of sixty.

And so…

“Hurry up, Desir! We’ll be late for the opening!”

“... The Aquarium won’t go anywhere, Althea. Even if we’re an hour late, they’ll still let us in.”

“But I don’t want to be late! It’s our first date in weeks, and I want to savour every minute of it!”

“Hah… You little lass...”

I sighed with powerlessness. Younglings these days, they’re overcharged with energy. My old bones can’t keep up with Althea’s endless drive to spend time together with me.

It didn’t take long for the two of us to reach our destination, a vast marine exhibit located in the heart of the tourism district. During the early months of the lockdown, this place was akin to a ghost town. No one could enter due to the government restrictions, and the Aquarium had been operating at a loss ever since.

To combat this issue, the government had given out vouchers to every single citizen in hopes of promoting visitors and injecting cash into these dying businesses. Althea and I were both given these vouchers, and fortunately, we were able to spend them before they expired.

“Hoh… They kept it perfectly in shape.”

I exclaimed in wonder as we stepped foot into the magnificent underwater paradise. The entrance was perfectly cleaned, void of any spiderwebs or dust that one might come to expect from a deserted place.

Walking two steps in, Althea and I were greeted by a colossal, cylindrical fish tank. It housed a plethora of exotic fishes, most of them smaller than the palm of my hand. There were even beautiful jellyfishes that wiggled their tentacles in defiance of gravity.

It really was a sight to behold.

“Have you been here before?” Overhearing my words, Althea asked curiously.

“Yes, just once,” I said plainly. “Back when Len was trying to hook me up with someone, he brought me here with Sienna’s workmate.”

“Ah, that...”

Althea’s eyes turned hollow the moment she heard I was here with another woman. Her grip on my arm tightened as she thrust her body deeper into mine. Like a lioness marking her territory, the girl ensured that everyone near us knew that I belonged to her.

… Is it just me, or has Althea become far more possessive ever since our first night together?

The Althea of the past would never show her desires so blatantly, particularly in public. In fact, her choice of clothes highlighted the change in Althea’s nature. I was wearing the black and white striped shirt that Althea chose way back in Spring. And as a result, Althea found a matching black and white striped blouse! Even our bottoms were synchronised with my long black pants and Althea’s black yoke skirt.

Even a child could tell that we were a couple just by looking at our clothes.

“Silly girl, nothing happened between her and me. In fact, I was so annoyed by her presence that I wasn’t able to enjoy the exhibits.”

“Still! The fact remains that you’ve been here with another woman!”

“Hah...”

What do I do in this scenario? Althea was jealous of a girl that I don’t even remember the face of! Woman, you already have taken all of my firsts! There’s no need to be envious of some random girl that probably didn’t even like me!

“I should ask Sienna to punish Len...”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing!”

Althea pouted and, with a harrumph, looked away. Haha, she’s even resentful of Len for something he did years ago. Jesus, why do women get so jealous?

I released my arm from Althea’s clutches, much to the surprise of the little lass. She looked at me, seemingly afraid that I was going to leave her in spite. But to counter her fear, I moved my arm over her shoulders and pulled her right into my chest.

“Listen. What matters is that I’m here with you now. So what if I’ve been here with another woman? I don’t even remember her name, and most of the time, I was just resenting Len and ignoring her. If you take that in account, this is actually my first date at the Aquarium.”

“I-I see...”

“Besides, our package is much different than the one I experienced back then.”

Althea and I used our vouchers to purchase the couple experience, which was unavailable when I first visited this place. We would be given a specialised tour, a lovers’ gift bag and finally a lovely meal in the fancy restaurant overlooking the glass tanks.

Compared to the time when I first came here with Len and some random chick, this was a far more romantic experience.

“So, Althea...” My arms wrapped around my girlfriend’s shoulders, and we gently cuddled for a brief moment. “Let’s enjoy ourselves today, alright?”

“Okay...”

Success!

Cheering mentally, I brought the appeased girl into the building as we began our first date in weeks.

❖❖❖

As anticipated, the Aquarium was filled with customers that had been longing for a day of relaxation. Couples, families, students on their breaks… The list of visitors was endless. Fortunately, the organisers abided by the social distancing measures and limited the number of people who could get in. And while I wasn’t happy that Althea and I won’t be having more private moments, I knew that it was out of my control.

There were just too many repressed citizens. The majority of us had been following the lockdown guidelines; thus, we had been locked inside our apartments for months now.

Now that the country is reopening, the number of people running to enjoy their lives had skyrocketed more than before the pandemic occurred.

“Wow… They really made a dining area in the middle of an aquarium.” Althea muttered out in awe as she turned to the glass window tank surrounding us.

Two hours into our aquarium date, we had largely completed our specialised tour. There were boundless amounts of aquatic life. Be it sharks, stingrays, exotic fishes… Althea and I saw it all.

But not all of the marine animals were given exhibits. The dolphin and seal shows weren’t available due to the high risk of virus transmission. And most disappointingly, the penguins were kept inside since it was technically still Summer. Which was a bummer since Althea had been looking forward to seeing the penguins all week.

Alas, since there was nothing else for us to do, Althea and I opted for an early lunch.

Luckily, the restaurant was far more private than the public area. Only couples that had signed up for the package were able to dine within the compounds, which was heavily limited due to the unique nature of the establishment.

Encased in acrylic, the cylinder-shaped restaurant allowed us to be given a panoramic view of the colossal fish tank that surrounded us. We were basically transferred into Atlantis as schools of fishes, and manta rays swam above and underneath us.

It was truly a sight to behold.

“I’m amazed at how big their tanks are,” I replied in wonder. “It feels like we’re really in an ocean.”

Looking up, I could see an assortment of special fishes. Breeds that I’d never seen before. No, since most of the fish I’ve seen come from the supermarket, I guess that was to be expected. There was even a type of blue lobster!

Soon a colourful fish swam next to our table, causing Althea and I to snap our heads towards it.

“Wow, it’s so pretty...” Althea said.

“... I wonder what it tastes like.”

“Desir!” Following my crass remark, Althea reached over the table and slapped me right on the forehead. “The fishes here are not for consumption!”

“Come on, can’t I just think of it?! Besides, doesn’t that fish look like a grouper? It would probably taste similar!”

“... I hate that I actually imagined what it would taste like.”

“See?!”

Good! Just like I’ve been dyed with Althea’s colours, my actions have also influenced the girl.

“Tch, to think that I’ve been corrupted by you...”

“Oh, don’t say that,” I laughed in jest. “You’re not corrupted, just changed for the better!”

“You still have the gall to say that!”

Exasperated, Althea turned away from my gaze and focused on the fish that swam by. It was a stunning sight, watching the girl I love encased in an overhead aquarium. If my imagination was any better, I could see her in a mermaid tail and a sultry seashell bikini. Noticing my lustful eyes, Althea’s eyebrows twitched and asked:

“What are you looking at?”

“You, my beautiful mermaid.”

“D-Desir!”

Althea’s ethereal white face turned crimson as her ruby lips turned ever pale.

“... I’ll take revenge later tonight.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing!”

The girl slammed her fork onto her plate as she continued to taste her five-star spaghetti. I was sure that the girl said something just now, but it was far too soft for me to pick up. In the end, I could only let it go. After all, I had a surprise up my sleeve.

As I watched Althea munch away like an adorable squirrel, I reached into my bag and pulled out a certain gift. Oblivious to my present, Althea sat focused on her food, giving me the perfect opportunity to place it without her knowing.

“Hmmm? What’s this?!”

Naturally, I couldn’t hide my gift for long. Althea’s eyes widened as she saw the plush penguin toy that I pulled out seemingly from nowhere and dropped her spoon.

“Miss Althea, would you please adopt me?” Acting like a venquilitrist, I used a high-pitched voice to mimic the soft toy in my hands.

“D-Desir! When did you get this?!”

Althea ignored my piss-poor acting and snatched the plushie from my hands. She brought the toy into her warm embrace, like a mother that constantly cradled her baby.

“I bought it at the gift store when you were in the washroom,” I said laughingly. “I know that you were looking forward to seeing the penguins, so I bought one to keep you company! Do you like it?”

“Like it? I love it!!! Thank you, Desir!!!”

If not for the table separating us, I was confident that Althea would have leapt into my arms. I remembered the face she pulled when the tour guide said that the penguin exhibit was closed. I bought this gift on a whim to hopefully cheer her up, and fortunately… It seemed like I made the right choice.

“... I knew it. I’m not letting you off tonight.”

“Hmmm? What did you say?”

“Nothing!”

Once more, I wasn’t able to hear Althea’s soft whisper. However, seeing her contented face, I guess it was nothing terrible.

I would come to regret that simple thought when we returned home in the evening.