The Marine Biologist and Curious Octoman; Ink and Book

[Marine Biologist POV] My name is Elias Reyes. I’m 27. Marine biologist. My hobbies are dancing alone in my house, watching anime- I love esikai themes, reading books especially encyclopedias, and cooking (I really love eating what I cooked hehe). What I love the most is being underwater; seeing corals, fishes, and any living creatures at the sea as it makes my heart at peace. Anw, In terms of my personality I think I am an introvert kind of person😌. You know what? if you ask my coworkers in Manila, they’d say I’m “too quiet” and “spend too much time underwater.” They’re not wrong. (I love being alone underwater it makes me comfortable and at peace). For the past 142 days, my routine has been the same. Wake up at 5:30 AM. Coffee. Check the weather. Dive. Document coral health at Reef 7. Take water samples. Count fish. Write notes. Surface. Eat. Upload data. Sleep. Repeat. It’s peaceful out here. Just me, the ocean, and my clipboard. No emails. No deadlines. No people are asking me to “be more social.” The other researchers rotate every month. But I asked to stay. Reef 7 is special. The corals here are recovering faster than anywhere else in Northern Mindanao. And honestly? I like the silence. Today was supposed to be normal too. Depth: 12 meters. Visibility: good. Mood: calm. I was labeling a new patch of staghorn coral when I felt it. That prickly feeling of being watched. I turned. Nothing. Just blue. And bubbles. I shrugged and went back to writing. “Specimen 47-B. Growth rate: 2.3cm...”