Page 42 of GR8VITY

TRUST FALL

LIZ

I let us sit for as long as possible, allowing Yoon Ji to thoroughly enjoy the moment. Maybe one day I could manage to get us behind the scenes for him to actually meet one of the penguins, but that might be just a bit out of my reach of capabilities. Him being an idol would make it twice as hard.

When I notice the others starting to grow restless, I lift my head off Yoon Ji's shoulder and bump it with mine. "You about ready?"

"Not really, but yes," he replies easily.

Jae-un, having heard us, rises and reaches down to offer a hand to both me and In Se. On my feet, I do the same for Yoon Ji, promising, "We can always come back to visit."

He takes my hand, but doesn't actually let me do any of the work of lifting him. "I'd really like that."

The weight of the others’ eyes on me is practically a physical thing. I can't explain it, but I can feel it. Swallowing hard, I duck around the circle they've formed, trying to usher us back toward the side door we came through. I'd picked this way because if we took the regular route it would've taken us through some of the more educational rooms. Not like I'd skip those on purpose normally. I just wanted Yoon Ji to have more time with the penguins.

"Okay," I tell them. "We're going to go back this way."

I don't check to see if any of them are following before making my way back through the door and into the other room. None of them have caught up to me as I walk down a short dark hallway into my least favorite spot in the aquarium. At least I don't think they have, anyway. Coming around the corner, the reason for this being my least favorite room is pressed tightly against his glass, glaring at me almost like he knew I was coming. I've been here so many times and know exactly where he is, but it still doesn't stop him from giving me a jump scare being that close.

I jump back with a quick gasp of air and practically run Minsul over. He locks his arms around mine to keep me from falling, but I quickly work my way out of them to hide behind his back. I don't even care how childish it looks.

"What is this?" he asks, looking over his shoulder at me.

I can feel the grimace on my face. "I don't like the octopus."

This close, I can see every emotion he feels as it crosses his expression. From worry to confusion to humor. Then he starts chuckling. "He's behind the glass. It's not like he's going to get you."

"They're smart," I tell him quietly, still hiding. "He could escape."

"And what?" he asks still laughing. "Chase you down the hallway?"

I've already got my hands twisted in the back of his hoodie, so I just bury my face against him as I laugh with him. I know it's ridiculous and probably sounds even worse said out loud, but as a matter of fact, yes, that's exactly what I'm afraid of. Doesn't help that I had a bad nightmare that ended just like that recently.

Some of the others are laughing with us, but Yoon Ji calls out to me around them. "I got you, Lizzy. I'll keep him covered until we're past him."

Jae-un comes over to cut between me and Minsul with a serious expression, letting me know he wasn't one of the ones laughing. "Come on." Turning his body practically sideways, he keeps it as a barrier between me and the tank as we walk down the rest of the hall and turn another corner.

"Thanks," I tell him gratefully. "I know it's stupid, but that thing gave me nightmares one of the last times I was here. Now it's like I can feel his eyes following me every time I'm here."

"It's not stupid," he assures me in his gravelly tone. "I used to be afraid of crabs when I was younger."

"I didn't know that," In Se says, coming up next to us.

Jae-un nods. "One pinched my foot when we were at the beach one time. I was terrified of them for the longest time afterward. No one but my parents and my sister has ever known. She never let me live it down for the longest time."

"You're going to love his family," In Se says, distracted by the slight change of subject. "They love us like they raised us all and not just Jae-un. They're kind, like you are."

I drop my attention to the carpet with a smile. Compliments from these men seem to be my kryptonite. Never has my heart done a little flutter like it does when they say something sweet like that. This isn't the first time I've thought about the fact that I might need to go get it looked at. It's happened so many times over the past couple months with Kyung and then Dav En. I'm not even surprised that the ticker has the same problem with the rest of them as well.

We wait until everyone has caught up with us before we start our procession forward again. Yoon Ji comes up beside me, and I can't help but do something more taboo than resting my head on his shoulder in the penguin room.

Easing my arms around his waist, I glance up at him almost through my lashes. "You're my hero."

The tips of his ears turn pink as the same color tinges his cheeks.

Jae-un saves us both from any kind of embarrassment as he pouts at my side. "What about me? Am I not a hero, too?"

"You are," I tell him, giving him the same two-armed hug I just gave Yoon Ji. He grins as In Se lightly smacks him in the stomach and rolls his eyes with his own smile.