Chapter 6: Rescue and Temptation

In a flash, Marcus had been gone half a month.

One evening, just home from work, I got a call from Marcus, sounding anxious:

"Bro, are you busy? I need your help, urgent!"

"What’s wrong, Marcus? Don’t worry, just tell me."

"If I take my time, my fish will die!" His voice rose. "My wife just told me the aquarium pump broke—the water’s so murky you can’t see the fish!"

"Crap... that arowana of yours is worth ten grand, right? If it dies, that’s a huge loss."

"Don’t jinx it! I’ve had it four or five years—I’m attached to it."

I quickly put on my shoes and took a Lyft to Marcus’s place.

Rachel let me in. She must have just gotten home, too—she wore loose loungewear, looking relaxed and charming.

I immediately checked the aquarium and gasped. The water was cloudy, and the fish was nowhere to be seen.

"Rachel, where’s the fish?"

"I don’t know—it was like this when I got home."

"Crap, maybe it jumped out."

I squatted and looked around. Sure enough, I found some scales under the sofa.

I pushed the sofa aside and saw the arowana stuck to the floor, still barely breathing.

My hands stank of fish and bleach, sweat trickling down my neck as I scrambled to save the stupid arowana. I quickly picked it up and put it back in the tank.

But it immediately rolled sideways, looking half-dead.

I rummaged around, found the oxygen pump, and plugged it in. There was a big jug of spare water outside.

I drained a third of the tank and refilled it with fresh water.

After half an hour, the fish slowly recovered.

I was exhausted, but at least the fish was safe.

I messaged Marcus that everything was settled.

As I was putting away the hoses, the wet floor made me slip. My head hit the edge of the cabinet.

My forehead throbbed. I touched it—blood.

Rachel rushed over and helped me to the sofa, telling me not to move.

She fetched alcohol and bandages, tending to my wound.

I sat while she stood, leaning over to dab my forehead with alcohol. She wore loose loungewear with a deep V-neck. From my angle, I could see right inside her shirt.

I realized she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. That half-curve left me dumbfounded.

My gaze was glued there, unable to move.

She noticed, but instead of being embarrassed, she giggled, using her hand to cover her collar.

My face burned. "Sorry."

She teased, "Guess I owe you an apology for the accidental peep show, huh?"

"No... no, it’s not that..."

I stammered, not knowing what to say.

She laughed again, her eyes sparkling, breaking the tension. I tried to focus on the TV, but my mind was racing, the hum of the aquarium filter the only thing filling the silence between us.