Don’t give up, Bisma. I believe in you. I don’t think there is any reality in which you will fail.
Your friend
Bisma hoped she would not fail, and, even as she worried, she refused to expose that worry to her sisters. Which was why she allowed Mei to do her hair every day.
‘Who am I trying to impress?’ Bisma asked, as Mei finished off a complicated braid.
‘Mmm, no one,’ Mei sing-songed, giggling. ‘There.’
Bisma ran her hand over the braid, which was perfectly neat. She wrapped a string of motia around the braid, inhaling the scent of jasmine.
‘I like Xander, by the way,’ Mei said, tucking her silky hair behind her ear.
Bisma gave her a funny look. ‘That’s nice … And why exactly are you informing me of this?’
‘No reason,’ Mei said, smiling.
‘I like him, as well,’ Luna added from her position on the sofa, where she was reading a book.
Bisma furrowed her brows. ‘It doesn’t matter if you like him; we’re only colleagues.’
‘Colleagues, right … right …’
Bisma narrowed her eyes at Luna. ‘Mei, love, why don’t you go check on the chickens?’ After Mei had gone, Bisma said to Luna, ‘Speaking of boys you like, I don’t think you should be ignoring Haru so vehemently.’
Luna looked up from her book to give Bisma a glare. ‘Just drop it.’
‘I’m not going to drop it,’ Bisma said, getting up. She went to the sofa, plopping down on Luna’s legs.
‘Ow!’ Luna cried, trying to kick Bisma off. ‘Baji, get off!’
‘No.’ Bisma settled in on Luna’s legs, reaching over to close Luna’s book. ‘Haru is such a sweet boy. Why are you living in fear? Put yourself out there!’
Bisma knew he wouldn’t hurt Luna; every time she saw Haru, he asked after Luna. He was clearly sad to not hear from her, and if he did not genuinely care about her, he would have gotten over her by now.
Luna’s mouth fell open. ‘Oh, that’srichcoming from you!’
Bisma flinched. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘Xander is so great—he’s sokind—but you don’t trust him!’
Bisma bristled. ‘That’s different.’
Luna gave her a superior glance. ‘Oh really? How?’
‘It just is.’
Luna was wrong—Bismadidtrust Xander, of course she did. Why else would she have gone to him for a cure and keep going to him? The problem was she did not trustherself.She had been wrong about Gregory, and she could be wrong about Xander, too.
But Luna saying that Xander was great did make Bisma feel a bit better. She trusted her sister’s judgment, and knew Luna only wanted what was best for Bisma, just like Bisma only wanted what was best for her.
Bisma groaned, sinking back into the pillows.
‘How about a deal?’ Luna said, sitting up. ‘If you let Xander in, I will let Haru in.’
Bisma narrowed her eyes. ‘Since when were you so conniving?’ Luna smiled. ‘Fine. Deal. As long as you uphold it.’
‘I will!’ Luna said, though she looked daunted and fiddled with the ends of her braid.
