The clock glowed 7:03 AM. She groaned, dragging herself out of bed like an unwilling zombie. Sana Lee, a 26-year-old office worker and self-proclaimed coffee enthusiast, faced yet another ordinary workday in her very ordinary life.
Her apartment, though small, was cozy, except for the glaringly empty fish tank sitting against the wall. "I'll get to you eventually," she muttered, brushing her teeth and staring at the tank through the mirror's reflection.
Fast forward an hour, Sana stood in her office's elevator, squeezed between her colleagues and regretting her choice of a slightly wrinkled blouse. But then he walked in.
Mr. Han, the company's ridiculously good-looking manager, stood tall and perfect, his sharp suit only accentuating his broad shoulders and impeccable jawline. Sana's heart skipped a beat– okay, maybe three. She felt her soul leave her body for a moment as she tried (and failed) not to stare at his perfectly styled hair.
As the elevator climbed, Sana's imagination took her hostage. What if he smiled at me today? What if he asked me to have coffee with him? Heck, what if– dare she dream– he proposed right here in the elevator?
But reality was quick to slap her. The moment the doors opened, a swarm of women surrounded him like bees to honey.
"Good morning, Mr. Han! Did you eat breakfast?"
"Oh, your tie is crooked; let me fix it for you!"
"Manager, you've been working so hard; let me bring you lunch!"
Sana sighed, stepping out unnoticed. A speck of dust– that's what I am. Just a measly speck of dust in a sea of beauties.
When she reached her desk, her best friend, Jina, was already seated and munching on a bag of chips.
"Did you talk to him today?" Jina asked, smirking knowingly.
Sana slumped into her chair, her face resembling a tragic meme. "Do I look like someone who could talk to that?" she replied dramatically, pointing toward Mr. Han's corner office.
Jina giggled. "Come on, girl. Who knows? Maybe you've got a chance."
Sana fake-cried, clutching her chest. "I'm not even a background character in his world!"
Jina shook her head, changing the subject. "Anyway, how's your new apartment? You said you were getting some fish or something?"
"Oh, yeah. I got the tank set up," Sana replied, taking a sip of her coffee. "It's huge. All I need now are the fish. But work's been crazy, so I haven't had time."
"You should invite me over once everything's in place," Jina suggested, grinning.
Sana shrugged. "Sure. You can come admire my single-person empire of loneliness."
"Love the enthusiasm." Jina rolled her eyes.
Sana leaned back in her chair, chuckling. Her life wasn't exactly glamorous, but it had its moments. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something– or someone– was missing.
Sana stretched her aching arms, her back protesting loudly as she finished the last report of the day. "I should've left hours ago," she muttered, glancing at the darkened office. The cleaning crew was already working their way through the building, a clear sign that she had overstayed her welcome.
Exiting the building, the chilly night air greeted her. She rubbed her sore shoulders, wincing slightly. All this for a job that doesn't even cover the therapy I'll need for my back problems.
As she walked, a strange glow caught her eye from a street corner. It was faint but mesmerizing, a soft blue light that seemed to pulse gently. Curiosity tugged at her heels, leading her toward the source– a quaint little pet shop she'd never noticed before.
Through the shop's glass display, a fish swam in elegant circles. But not just any fish. This one had scales that shimmered like sapphire under moonlight, with eyes like glowing blue gems.
Sana's jaw dropped. "Oh. My. God. It's perfect." She pressed her hands and face against the glass, oblivious to the fingerprints she was leaving behind. "You, my friend, are the crown jewel my tank needs!"
Determined, she marched into the store.
"Welcome!" an elderly man greeted her with a warm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Sana didn't bother with pleasantries. "How much for the blue fish in the front?"
The man paused, his smile faltering for a fraction of a second. "Ah, the blue one... It's a rare breed. Very special. ₩3,500,000."
Her jaw dropped for the second time that night. "T-three.. M-million.. and f?! That's my entire monthly salary!"
The man's smile widened. "It's worth every Won. But..." He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "I'll throw in the fish food for free."
Sana crossed her arms, glaring at the fish swimming mockingly in the tank outside. It's just a fish, Sana. A ridiculously overpriced, unimaginably beautiful fish. She sighed dramatically.
But then she looked at it again. Its glowing scales seemed to call out to her, and for a brief moment, it felt like the fish's gem-like eyes were staring straight into her soul.
"Fine!" she blurted, whipping out her phone and transferring the money. The receipt felt heavier than her dignity as she walked out of the shop, clutching the fish in its bag.
"I can't believe I just spent my entire salary on a fish," she mumbled, tearing up comically. "No more takeout for a month. Instant noodles, here I come." But when she looked at the fish again, she smiled. "Totally worth it. I mean, look at you! You're going to make my mornings ten times better."
Back home, she quickly set up the tank, pouring in the water, arranging the fake plants, and adding a little castle ornament for good measure. Finally, with an air of ceremony, she released the fish into its new home.
"Welcome to Casa de Sana!" she announced. The fish swam gracefully, its glow lighting up the tank in mesmerizing patterns. "You're the prettiest thing in this entire apartment, no offense to me."
She sat cross-legged in front of the tank, resting her chin on her hands. "You know, you're lucky. You don't have to deal with office politics or annoying managers who are too handsome for their own good. Or back pain. Just... swimming around all day. Must be nice."
The fish swam closer, as if listening.
"I think I'll call you... Blue." She frowned. "Okay, that's lazy. How about Aqua? No, that's worse. Hmm, we'll figure it out tomorrow."
Sana yawned, stretching. "Alright, new buddy, I'm calling it a night. Sweet dreams." She gave the tank a little wave and shuffled off to bed.
As the apartment fell silent, the tank began to glow brighter. A faint blue light seeped under her bedroom door, pulsing rhythmically, almost as if something inside the tank was coming to life.