As the aquarium's closing chimes echoed through the empty corridors, Eesha felt a sinking realization wash over her: she was still inside. Panic surged through her as she raced toward the entrance, only to see the heavy doors locked tight. *No... they must've closed up without checking!*Just then, the aquarium lights began shutting off one by one, the grand aquatic tanks that had once seemed majestic now casting ominous shadows. Darkness crept closer, and her heart raced, sending a shiver of unease down her spine."Is anyone there?" Eesha called out, her voice trembling as she knocked on the glass door. "Please, open the gate! I'm still inside!" Silence answered her frantic pleas.Glancing back into the dark aquarium, she thought she saw a shadow moving toward her, blurred and indistinct in the dim light. The figure grew larger and more defined, approaching with unnerving speed. Eesha's breath caught in her throat, and fear clenched her heart.Stumbling backward, her foot caught on a supply box behind her. Just as she felt herself slipping, strong arms reached out, steadying her. She closed her eyes, frozen in fear, her heart pounding as she felt the warmth of someone's breath close to her face.Tentatively, she opened her eyes to find herself face-to-face with a figure who held her gently but firmly. Startled, she pushed him away. "Let go of me!" she yelled."Ow! What was that for?" he muttered, stumbling back, irritation and confusion flickering across his face.As he pulled out his phone and shone the flashlight, the bright light struck Eesha's eyes, forcing her to squint. *Wait...* She recognized him—the boy from earlier, the one with the mask. Relief flooded through her, but suspicion quickly followed. *Why is he here? Was he hiding from the cops or something?*"Can you turn off your flashlight?" he huffed, still slightly out of breath, squinting against the glare.Eesha took a step back, her instincts urging caution. *Stay calm,* she thought, reminding herself to be ready. "If he makes any sudden moves, just throw a punch and run."As he took a step closer, his voice turned faint, almost desperate. "Do... you have any water?"Eesha bristled, her fists clenching. "Stay back!" In a quick reflex, she threw a punch, landing it hard on his shoulder. He gasped, stumbling backward, and fell to the ground.Her eyes widened in realization. *Oh no... what did I do?* Rushing to his side, she checked for a pulse, panic rising within her. "Please be okay," she whispered, relief washing over her as she felt his faint heartbeat.Quickly, she reached into her bag, pulling out a water bottle. She glanced at the boy lying unconscious, noticing he couldn't drink with his mask on. Hesitant but determined, she carefully lifted the mask, revealing a pale face that looked exhausted and weak. As her fingers brushed against his forehead, she felt a wave of heat—he was burning up with fever."He has a fever too," she murmured, feeling his forehead. She quickly moistened her handkerchief and laid it over his forehead, hoping to bring his temperature down.Tilting the bottle toward his lips, she watched anxiously as he drank. With each sip, she felt a strange sense of relief. *He's not dangerous—just someone trapped here like me,* she thought.Once he'd finished, she laid him back down, covering him with her jacket for warmth. The aquarium was getting colder, and she shivered slightly, leaning back against the glass of the nearest tank, folding her arms around herself.As she adjusted the jacket, something small and white poked out of his pocket. Curious, Eesha pulled it out and froze. It was a sleeping pills, and only one pill remained. Her jaw dropped. *Who takes so many sleeping pills?"Are you an alien or a human?" she muttered, half to herself.*Eesha hugged her arms around herself, feeling the aquarium's temperature drop. She leaned back against the thick glass of a nearby tank, watching the colorful marine life swim gracefully in the large tank beside her."Beautiful," she whispered, feeling a strange sense of peace. The world around her was filled with quiet beauty, colorful fish and gentle creatures floating in a magical underwater world.She felt herself relax, the surreal sight of the marine life soothing her nerves. The peace she felt was like a balm, and slowly, she drifted off to sleep, surrendering to dreams of the deep ocean. In her mind, she floated among the serene creatures of the sea, lost in the tranquility of an underwater paradise.The boy stirred awake, a heaviness weighing on his head. Blinking a few times, he took in his surroundings, surprised to feel warmth wrapped around him. Glancing down, he noticed he was covered with a jacket. Confused, he looked around and spotted Eesha curled up nearby, fast asleep. She'd given him her coat, and now she was shivering slightly, folded into herself for warmth against the chill in the air.He pulled out his phone, the dim screen lighting his face as he checked the time—3 a.m. But just then, the screen flickered off."Dammit," he muttered softly, frustrated. "Had to die now, didn't it?"He stood up carefully, glancing at Eesha to make sure she was still asleep. She looked peaceful, her face framed by her hair, and he noticed how pure and innocent she looked, completely at ease despite the cold. Moving quietly so as not to wake her, he approached her and gently draped her coat over her.He lingered for a moment, staring at her face. There was a calmness to her expression, a softness that made her seem almost angelic. He felt something stir within him, a strange urge to keep watching her as she slept.But suddenly, she shifted a little, murmuring, "Mum... Dad..." Her voice was soft, childlike, as if she were reaching out for them in her dreams.He jerked back, startled, but she didn't wake. He let out a sigh of relief, shaking his head."Jeez," he whispered, glancing at his shoulder where she'd punched him earlier. "This girl almost shattered my shoulder. Probably could break my face if she tried," he muttered with a smirk. "Yeah, best to keep my distance."Eesha stirred awake, feeling something warm draped over her. It was a coat. She glanced around, confused, but the boy was nowhere in sight."Where did he go?" she murmured, a hint of worry lacing her voice. She rose to her feet, still a bit dazed, when a sudden, loud crash reverberated through the aquarium. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched the creatures around her—large, graceful fish and other marine life—dart in alarmed patterns, disturbed by the sound.Her instinct to calm them kicked in immediately. "Shh... it's alright, little ones," she cooed softly, her voice gentle yet soothing. Noticing the creatures were still on edge, she closed her eyes, drawing a calming breath, and began to sing a quiet melody. Her voice filled the vast aquarium space, carrying warmth and reassurance, and gradually, the creatures relaxed, their movements slowing, lulled by her song.Drawn toward the direction of the noise, she followed her curiosity, only to find the boy from before—leaning against a tank, clutching a bleeding hand. Concern flashed across her face, and without a second thought, she rushed to him.Taking his injured hand in hers, she ignored his attempt to pull away. "Let me help you," she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument. Unfazed by his resistance, she reached into her bag, pulled out a scarf, and began bandaging his wound with deft fingers."I can handle it myself," he muttered, attempting to keep his tough exterior, but his wince betrayed him as she tightened the bandage.Eesha smirked. "I *am* being gentle," she replied, tying off the scarf securely. Just then, a beam of light from the tank illuminated his face. She froze for a moment, her mind racing with recognition.*Why does he look so familiar?*Noticing her staring, he raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "So, how long are you planning to hold my hand and stare like that?"Eesha snapped out of her thoughts, her cheeks flushing. "Sorry," she muttered, letting go of his hand and taking a step back.Realizing the marine life had calmed, she turned, crossing her arms. "Were you the one causing all that noise?" she asked, exasperated. "You really scared the poor fish half to death!"He shrugged, unapologetic. "Just trying to find a way out.""You disturbed every creature here!" She expected an apology or at least a hint of remorse, but he simply looked away. "Hello? Are you even listening?"He rolled his eyes. "Do you ever stop talking? I'd rather be out of here than listen to this," he muttered, glancing around as if searching for a way out.*So rude,* she thought, storming off. *No one wants to be here with you anyway!*As she fumed, she checked her phone. "Only 4 a.m.? Great." Realizing she still had hours to wait, she took a deep breath, letting the peaceful ambiance of the aquarium wash over her. The glow of the tanks, the soft hum of water—it was all so serene.She moved closer to a tank and spotted a lone dolphin, pressing close to the glass. She knelt down, pressing her hand against the glass, a gentle smile forming on her face. "Hello, little friend... all alone in there?" she whispered, her voice softening. The dolphin tilted its head, its nose pressing against the glass as if sensing her words.A smile spread across her face. "Looks like I've got a new friend," she whispered, chuckling. "We're best friends now, okay?"In that moment, she felt a quiet bond with the dolphin, a strange yet comforting connection as it mimicked her hand's movement on the glass. Behind her, the boy paused, his guarded expression softening as he watched her. There was a gentleness in her he hadn't expected—her voice, her calmness, the way she bonded with the animals around her.Maybe, he thought, being stuck here wasn't so bad after all.The boy stood nearby, shifting uncomfortably before clearing his throat. His voice was low and cold. "Sorry."Eesha raised an eyebrow, pretending not to hear him. "Hmm? What was that? I didn't catch it."His expression tightened, and he repeated, a bit louder but still in the same cold tone, "I said, I'm sorry.""Are you apologizing or doing me a favor?" she shot back, crossing her arms. "Seems like you don't even know how to say it properly."The boy's patience waned, and he muttered, annoyed, "Fine. If you want to think of it as a favor, go ahead."Eesha smirked, shrugging. "Alright, fine, just don't let it happen again."Suddenly, the boy's expression changed as he felt a wave of dizziness. Weak from the injury on his hand, he slumped down onto the floor, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.Concern flashed in Eesha's eyes as she knelt beside him, holding out her water bottle. "Are you okay? Here, drink some water."He took a few sips, his hands slightly trembling. Eesha stayed beside him, worry etched across her face. "Are you feeling worse? You look really weak. Maybe you need to eat something... and definitely see a doctor."She rummaged through her bag and found a chocolate bar. Quickly peeling off the wrapper, she broke off a piece and held it up to him. "Open your mouth," she insisted. "A bit of sugar will give you some energy."Hesitating briefly, the boy opened his mouth, allowing her to feed him small pieces of chocolate one by one. Gradually, his eyelids drooped, and he drifted off to sleep. Eesha, watching his relaxed face, sat nearby and soon fell asleep as well.After some time, a soft light shimmered through the aquarium. The boy had shifted in his sleep, his head resting on Eesha's lap, while she leaned against the tank. In the quiet, serene setting, a dolphin swam playfully in the nearby tank, creating a magical atmosphere.The peaceful scene was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. An older man, who seemed to work at the aquarium, appeared and looked at them, wide-eyed. "What are you two doing here?"Eesha jolted awake, realizing the situation and jumping to her feet, which caused the boy's head to slip gently to the floor. Half-asleep, he groaned, rubbing his head, confused.Without thinking, Eesha grabbed his hand and pulled him up, whispering urgently, "Come on, we need to get out of here!"The two dashed toward the exit, with Eesha quickly waving goodbye to the dolphin. The old man watched them in astonishment as they hurried out of the aquarium.Once they were safely outside, the boy stopped, glancing back with mild irritation. "Are you out of your mind? Who wakes someone up by dragging them out like that?"Eesha turned to him, rolling her eyes. "If I hadn't, we'd have been fined for trespassing! It could've gotten a lot worse."She glanced at her phone and gasped. "It's 8 a.m. already?! I'm going to be late for class!" She turned back to him with a quick wave. "Alright, this is where we part ways. Bye—and do yourself a favor, see a doctor!"The boy looked at her, a bit taken aback. Just as she was about to leave, he called out, "Wait! Could I borrow your phone for a minute? Mine's dead, and I need to book a taxi."Eesha eyed him suspiciously. "No."He scoffed, looking incredulous. "People would do anything for me, you know. And yet, here you are, refusing to lend me a phone."Eesha raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Oh, poor boy. A whole world at your feet, and one person who won't hand you their phone. How tragic!"He paused, trying to keep his pride in check. "Please. I just need to book a ride."Eesha relented, feeling a bit of satisfaction at hearing him say "please." She handed him her phone. "Fine. But why a taxi? Can't you take a bus?"He gave her a flat look. "I prefer taxis.""Suit yourself," she said, rolling her eyes. He quickly booked a taxi. Just as she was waiting for her bus, his taxi arrived. He got in, and as it began to pull away, he glanced back and noticed her looking anxiously at her watch.The taxi slowed down, then turned back toward her. The boy lowered the window. "Need a ride? Get in if you want."Without a word, Eesha climbed in, and they drove off.After a few moments of silence, he glanced at her. "You sing pretty well, by the way."She looked at him, surprised. "When did you hear me sing?"He shrugged. "At the aquarium. Are you a singer?"She shook her head. "No. I just sing because I like it. It makes me feel happy.He gave a small smile. "Fair enough."Eesha noticed him adjust his mask and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you always wear that mask? You even had it on in the aquarium when you were struggling to breathe."He hesitated, then replied, "I just like wearing it."She smiled knowingly. "Just like I like singing, huh?"He chuckled softly. "Yeah, something like that."Silence settled over them again, but it wasn't awkward. The boy absentmindedly patted his pockets, his expression turning serious. "Oh no, my wallet... It must've fallen out in the aquarium."Eesha raised an eyebrow, amused. "Well, check properly. It must be somewhere around.""I've checked everywhere; it's not with me. It must have fallen in the aquarium," he said, his tone growing frustrated."Then you should go back to the aquarium to look for it," Eesha suggested."I don't have time for that; besides, it probably only had about $10,000 in it," he replied nonchalantly.Eesha gasped. "What? $10,000?!""Yeah. So will you pay for the taxi fare? I'll pay you back," he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.Eesha shot him a pointed look. "Why should I? The idea of taking a taxi was yours, remember? You were the one boasting about how you prefer taxis. So, pay for it yourself! I suggested the bus.""You're in the taxi too, so stop pretending like you didn't want this," he retorted."I only got in because you insisted!" she fired back."I insisted because you know there weren't any buses running, and you were running late too!" He rolled his eyes. "Will you stop with the bus thing? No buses were running there. Besides, someone was running late, and you would've been waiting forever.""Oh, right, blame it all on me," she muttered, crossing her arms.The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror, his stern face making them both fall silent."What's all the noise about?" he grumbled, sounding slightly menacing.They both froze. eesha gave an awkward laugh. "Nothing, sir. Just... talking."Eesha sighed and then added, "Fine, I'll give you the fare. Let's split the taxi fare; I'll pay for it now, but you need to pay me back on time. Don't forget."Eesha muttered under her breath, "Great. Now I'll have to use my scholarship money to pay for this taxi ride, all thanks to you."He looked at her, smirking. "I told you, I'll pay you back. No need to act so dramatic."He took her phone, unlocked it, and entered his number, giving himself a missed call to save her number."Alright, I've saved my number," he said, handing it back to her. "I'll pay you back, promise."Eesha sighed, pocketing her phone. "Fine. Just don't forget."As the taxi pulled up to their respective destinations, the boy climbed out first, glancing back at her with an expression that held both gratitude and a hint of mystery. She watched him disappear into the bustling city, her mind buzzing with thoughts of their unexpected encounter.The taxi pulled up to the boy's destination, and he climbed out. Eesha glanced out the window, taking in the stunning view of the unfamiliar area. After a brief exchange, she paid the driver and got out at her own stop, waving to the driver. "Thank you, sir. Have a nice day!"The driver nodded warmly. "God bless you, young lady."With a smile, she dashed toward her class, just in time to make it before the late for class.