JIMIN HAD A few stops before they got to the bookstall, and Tahani knew she was going to get an earful from Rowan back in the carriage for making her carry the bread. She didn't mind one bit.

"Do you two live far?" he asked now, having delivered food to about five houses already. Tahani noticed the way all the villagers treated Jimin. Utmost respect mixed with adoration and gratitude, pinching his cheek and fluffing his hair, they accepted the baking delights with such pleasant attitudes. She wondered how caring of a person he was to be welcomed with so many open arms.

"Yeah," Rowan replied when Tahani didn't, "We live pretty far. Don't really come here much. Tani and I usually stay in the pa-house all the time."

"Tani?" Jimin inquired, and the girl in question turned to him.

"Hmm?"

"Tani." Rowan pointed her chin at her sister, and Jimin formed an 'O' with his mouth.

"The next hou—" he cut himself off when his eyes caught sight of something behind them.

They both turned as well, only to see an old man in the distance, hobbling over his feet as he pushed a wheelbarrow of vegetables up the hilly terrain. The girls flinched as he did, ready to drop the crates of bread to rush across to help. But before they could, Jimin's figure had already zoomed past, jogging over to him.

"Grandpa," they heard him scold the man, "Grandpa, I told you not to carry all this stuff anymore! You're really going to break your back."

The elder smiled with gratitude, shaking his head, "I'm really fine, son."

Jimin didn't take that as a response, taking the handles of the wagon and hauling it up the slope himself. "I'm going to give Khaleb an earful," he told the man, "I made him promise not to allow you to overexert yourself anymore."

The man chuckled then, patting Jimin's cheek, "It's his one day off, I swear. Tomorrow it will be back to him breaking his back."

"Promise?" he asked, bringing his pinkie for the elder to wrap his own around.

"I promise, buddy. Now, don't leave those gorgeous ladies waiting too long," a wink accompanied that last bit.

"Okay, but I'll see you again soon, alright? I'll visit tomorrow."

"Of course," he said once more before the girls saw Jimin nodding, finally turning and hopping back over to them.

"Sorry," he panted slightly, "Sorry, where were we?"

"Heading to the next house."

"Ah, yes," he reached for the crate Tahani was holding and took it in his own hands, "We can switch now; my basket's almost empty."

"Wait—" she let out as he took it, "Wait. I can carry that."

"I know, I know," he shook his head, "That doesn't mean I'll let you. C'mon, if you want your sister to get to the book store before sunset, we're going to have to keep going."

She sighed and picked up the box Jimin had been carrying earlier. Then, trying not to let the relief she felt because it was much lighter show on her face, she joined him by his side, and Rowan followed.

A couple of houses later, they reached the bookstall, and Rowan's expression immediately lit up, the way Tahani knew it would. Dropping the crate at her feet, she scurried off to the table, earning a small giggle from both her older sister and Jimin. Tahani continued to watch her; affection painted on her face as clear as day. She absolutely loved when her sisters were happy.

Quickly turning to Jimin to ask if they had many stops left, the words evaporated from her tongue when their eyes met. He was already looking at her.

Feeling her cheeks burn up under the fond gaze he had pinned her with, she looked to her feet in an attempt to find her composure again.

"You love her heaps, huh?" he spoke finally.

"Sorry?"

"Your sister, you two seem close."

"Ah, yeah," she smiled sweetly at the thought of the ten sisters she'd grown up with. The sisters she'd get in trouble with, the sisters she'd learnt alongside with, the sisters she'd experienced all her firsts with. The sisters she'd fly to the moon for, grab the entire universe of stars to remind them that they mean the world to her.

"You're right," Tahani shrugged, "I love my sisters. All ten of them."

"That's so wonderful to hear," Jimin's voice melted into one of longing now, "I have a brother too; I haven't spoken to him in quite a long time now, however."

"Oh," she frowned, grief immediately filling both her tone and her eyes, "Does he live far?"

"You can say that," nodding, she saw the anguish wash over him, too, "I hope to see him soon, though. I miss him dearly."

Millions of questions started to swirl in her mind. Several potential reasons as to how they got separated on the tip of her tongue. But she didn't push him.

"I hope you're able to see him soon too, Jimin," she said then, "I'm sure he misses you just as much."

He chuckled a little, humourlessly, and Tahani felt her stomach churn at the action.

"I don't think he does, but the sentiment is appreciated; thank you, Tahani."

NOW THAT THEY had finished both crates of bread, they had resorted to wandering aimlessly along a nearby beach. Flats dangling from her fingers and her toes sinking into the sand, Tahani held her skirt up slightly with her free hand.

The pair dawdled, listening to the delicate chirping of birds in the distance, the quiet rustle of leaves in the wind and the soft waves overlapping against the shore.

This moment made her heart race, however. She knew she was trying to stall time, finding any distraction so that they didn't have to separate for the day. And Tahani wondered if that was what he was doing, too.

"Hey, Tahani," his smooth tone broke the silence, and she looked over at him, lehenga swinging against his leg faintly.

"Yeah?"

"When will you be back?"

She raised her eyebrows, to which he asked again.

"When will you come back to visit?"

"Oh," she froze. The thought of Jimin wanting to see her again filled her mind, and her heart soared. "Uhm, I'm not too sure yet. My sisters might have a bit of work for me to do over the next few days."

He nodded wordlessly, eyes falling to his feet, watching as he took one step in front of the other on the sand. Was her vision playing with her, or did he look... disappointed?

"But I might be able to come out during the night," she offered, hating the hint of defeat in his expression. And as soon as she said this, his face lit up.

"Really?"

Sneaking out didn't seem too hard anymore. Zoë did it every other day, didn't she?

"Yeah, really," she grinned, and he did too.

At that moment, Tahani felt something that she'd never experienced with anyone else before. Falling into those gorgeous irises of his, it was as though a million words had been shared between the two of them then. But they had said nothing at all.

When she came to, she realised how long they had been there, staring at each other like they had infinity on their hands.

She quickly shifted her gaze from him, eyes trailing to the setting sun over the horizon. But when she did, something else caught her eye. Hovering just above a cloud was the bright image of her favourite celestial being. Tahani's heart whirled in her ribcage, not entirely comprehending how she could be so infatuated with such a thing.

She often wondered if it was because she saw so much of herself in the moon.

For despite her little heart, her little being that held no light in itself, she wished to shine like the other stars in the night sky. She wished to be able to reflect the light of the sun and illuminate for all the world to see.

She could see how hard the moon was trying.

Still, it shone. It shone far brighter than many of the stars she'd see.

Realising she was daydreaming, yet again, she looked down to her feet. "My sister is going to kill me for making her wait this long."

And he laughed. The sweetest sound to ever escape a man's lips, Tahani concluded.

Oh, she was definitely falling for this man. The honey of his eyes, cups of warmth, sweet, sweet warmth. The peach of his lips that were parted now as he softly chuckled. Everything.

He held his hand out to her then, "Let's head back, then."

Pursing her lips together, she gently placed her hand in his. Before he started walking, she saw how his eyes traced up to her arm to take in the expanse of her bangles, eyes filled with awe, with admiration. There it was again. Another page painted itself with the different shades of his eyes, his skin, and his cheeks.

MORNING CAME THE next day, and the girls found themselves in the palace garden. Clover was showing some of them how to arrange certain flowers into vases for the best appearance, while the older sisters were seated on the edges immersed in their own work.

Finding Zoë sitting alone furthest from everyone else, eyes cast into a book, Tahani decided to join her.

"Hey, Liv," she settled onto the other seat under the umbrella.

"Good morning, sunflower," her sister glanced up from her book, "Slept well?"

"Kind of," she bit her lip, dropping her gaze as she felt her cheeks burn at the memory of her night. Tossing and turning in her mattress over the thought of seeing that golden-eyed boy again.

"What's been on your mind?"

"I told Jimin I'd see him tonight," she mumbled in response, looking up at Zoë from under her lashes.

The older girl smirked a little, tilting her head to the side, "Ah, who taught you this habit of sneaking out, Tani? That's not very responsible of you."

A giggle escaped Tahani, one which infected Zoë as they both laughed, "Anyway," she breathed between giggles, "I need your help to do that."

She gasped, pretending not to understand, "But I would never know how to sneak out of the palace."

"Shut up, Liv," Tahani giggled again, resting her head on her shoulder, "Were you planning on seeing your lover tonight?"

"I mean," she whispered, a playful glint in her tone, "It wouldn't hurt."

The pair heard shuffling from their left a second later and saw Kalliste and Estrella walking out of the palace to join them all.

"Ah," Kalliste sighed, "It's so beautiful out here."

Some of the girls nodded or hummed in agreement, Estrella starting to look around, "And quiet."

"Too quiet."

"Did we lose Ro?"

"Listen!" an exasperated yell sounded from the garden this time, "I'm not that bad!"

"So it's a plan?" Tahani whispered to Zoë while everyone was immersed in teasing Rowan.

"It's a plan."

thank you angels for reading this!! i hope you liked it!

let me know what you think of it so far!!