Up ahead, Ethan and Lucas walked side by side, while Madison and Alice trailed a few paces behind, engrossed in their own conversation.
"Ethan..." Lucas began, his voice dropping into a tense whisper.
Ethan glanced over. "What?"
"I'm nervous," Lucas admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ethan gave him a quick, unceremonious pat on the shoulder. "That's your problem, I think."
"What the hell, man?!" Lucas hissed. "I thought you'd at least give me some top-secret wingman advice on how to look confident!"
Ethan remained silent, staring straight ahead as they walked.
Lucas eyed him suspiciously, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "Ah... so you're still sore because I teased you about Madison back at the plaza."
"No," Ethan replied smoothly, keeping his face entirely devoid of emotion. "I'm just tired lately."
Lucas leaned in closer, inspecting Ethan's expression like a detective. "Really?"
Ethan offered a faint, pleasant smile.
Lucas let out a laugh, clapping Ethan heavily on the back. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry!"
Ethan gave a single nod. "Okay. Just make sure you never make a joke like that again."
Lucas's smirk instantly returned. "Yep. You were definitely angry about it."
PAK.
"Ouch!" Lucas winced, rubbing his shoulder where Ethan had delivered a lightning-fast jab.
A few steps behind them, Madison shook her head. "What are those two even doing?"
Alice giggled softly at the sight of Lucas massaging his shoulder. "I think Lucas is pushing Ethan's buttons again."
"How?" Madison asked, her curiosity piqued. "Tell me so I can tease him later."
Alice smiled knowingly. "Well... remember last time when you lost your balance and grabbed Alberto's sleeve for a second? Ethan saw it. Lucas was just teasing him, saying he looked jealous."
Madison blinked in surprise, a subtle, subtle smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Before long, the sprawling glass domes of the oceanarium loomed ahead.
"So, we're finally here," Madison said, taking in the grand entrance.
Ethan glanced over at her, giving a quiet nod.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Lucas said, leading the way inside. Alice followed close behind, with Madison and Ethan bringing up the rear.
They walked together as a group through the main concourse for a few minutes until Madison caught Ethan's eye and gave him a subtle tilt of her head—the signal.
Ethan immediately pulled out his phone, holding it to his ear as if answering an urgent call. "Ah, give me a second, I need to take this," he lied smoothly, stepping away toward a side corridor.
A moment later, Madison excused herself, slipping away to 'use the restroom.'
Left alone in the center of the walkway, Lucas and Alice slowed to a stop.
"So..." Alice said, looking around with a soft smile. "It's just the two of us left."
"Yeah... looks like it," Lucas replied, clearing his throat nervously.
Why do I get the feeling I just got set up? Lucas thought, sweat dropping.
VIBRATE.
Lucas pulled out his phone. A single text from Ethan lit up the screen:
Ethan: Enjoy your date.
Lucas chuckled silently, sending back a thumbs-up emoji before sliding his phone into his pocket.
"Shall we head further, Alice?" Lucas asked, offering a confident smile.
"Let's go," Alice agreed. She slipped her own phone back into her purse—having just received a text from Madison telling her to enjoy her time with Lucas.
From a safe distance near a decorative coral display, Ethan watched the two walk away together, conversing and laughing naturally.
"Seems like they're enjoying each other's company," Ethan observed.
"They really are," Madison's voice chimed from right behind him.
Ethan turned his head as Madison stepped up beside him. "We should give them some space," she added softly.
Ethan nodded. "Yeah. Hopefully, Lucas actually makes a move today."
"He will," Madison said with a smile. "So... what about us?"
Ethan shrugged lightly. "Well, since we're already here, we might as well look around."
"Good idea," Madison agreed. "Although I was thinking we could grab something to eat after."
"Works for me."
The two fell into step, wandering down the dimly lit, blue-hued tunnel surrounded by glowing aquatic tanks.
"Ethan, look," Madison said, pointing toward a large glass enclosure. "The species in this section have changed."
"You've been here before?" Ethan asked.
Madison gave a quiet nod. "Yeah... but it was a really long time ago."
"How long ago?"
"I was just a little kid," Madison murmured, her eyes reflecting the rippling blue light of the tank. "I still remember... my father came home from work early, one day, and brought me here."
So even Murphy has a heart in his chest. Only for his daughter, I guess... Ethan thought silently.
As they walked, Madison's mind drifted back through the fog of memory...
Murphy knelt down in front of a little girl, holding out his hand with, soft warmth in his eyes. "Madison... do you want to go visit the aquarium today?"
Little Madison nodded eagerly, and Murphy lifted her gently into his arms.
She remembered walking out to the driveway where a sleek Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT was parked. Standing by the vehicle were two men. In her memory, the figures were hazy—silhouettes against the afternoon sun.
One had snow, brilliant white hair, standing in quiet isolation. The other had dark, messy black hair and wore a worn leather jacket.
As soon as he saw her, the black-haired man ran over with a bright, easygoing grin.
"Oh, my goodness! Little Madison is growing up so fast!" he exclaimed, his face coming into sharp focus in her memory.
Unfamiliar with him, little Madison gripped her father's shoulder tightly, hiding her face.
"Don't be scared, sweetheart," Murphy reassured her softly. "This is my friend. His name is Damian."
Madison peeked out, carefully extending a tiny hand. "Hi, Mister..."
Damian smiled warmly, using one hand to gently pat her head while shaking her tiny hand with his other.
"You're far too smart for your age, little lady."
From behind them near the car, the white-haired man spoke up, his face still lost in shadow. "That's Murphy's daughter, alright."
Little Madison puffed out her chest proudly. "Yes! I'm my father's daughter!"
The men let out a chorus of hearty laughter.
"Ready to go, kiddo?" Damian asked.
When Madison nodded, Damian held out his arms. "Wanna ride with me?"
Madison looked at her father for approval. Murphy nodded with a faint smile, handing her over.
Damian lifted her onto his shoulders, playing with her all the way to the car while the white-haired man quietly took the back seat...
"Madison."
A hand gently touched her shoulder, pulling her back from the memory.
Madison blinked, coming back to the present. Ethan was standing right beside her, holding her steady.
"You were about to walk straight into that glass pillar," Ethan said smoothly, pulling his hand back.
"Ah... thank you," Madison said, regaining her composure.
As they resumed walking, Alice's words from earlier echoed in Madison's head. She glanced sideways at Ethan, deciding to address it directly.
"Ethan..." Madison began quietly.
Ethan looked over at her. "Hmm?"
"That time with Alberto... I just lost my balance," Madison explained, looking straight ahead at the swimming stingrays. "I only grabbed his sleeve to steady myself."
Ethan gave a slow, neutral nod, though internally his mind started racing.
Why is she telling me this? Did she actually think I was jealous?!
"So... it didn't mean anything," Madison concluded softly.
Ethan nodded again, keeping his expression totally composed.
So she have heard it.
"Madison," Ethan replied smoothly, "Lucas was just messing around. I happened to look in your direction when it happened, and his crazy brain turned it into a whole storyline."
Madison gave a small nod.
Lucas, you son of a bitch, Ethan cursed his friend internally, fixing his gaze on the fish ahead.
I wasn't jealous at all.