‘Good. Because I’m going to town, so you’re coming with me.’
‘Ah, wait! I need to get ready first!’ Luna cried. She was immediately nervous.
Bisma smiled, getting off the sofa. ‘Mei!’ she called down the stairs. ‘We need you to do Lulu’s hair!’
‘Yay!’ Mei called back. She ran up the stairs, joining them, grinning with excitement. They went up to Luna’s room, and as Mei did Luna’s hair, twisting it up, Bisma pulled out Luna’s favorite dress with matching stockings and shoes.
‘Baji, pinch me,’ Luna instructed, sitting down in front of her mirror.
Giving her sister a strange look, Bisma reached over and pinched Luna’s arm.
‘Ow!’ Luna shrieked. ‘I meant my cheeks! I need a rosy flush.’
‘Oh.’
‘Should I slap her?’ Mei offered.
Luna gave her an arch look in the mirror’s reflection. ‘You focus on the hair, will you?’
Mei giggled, then Bisma pinched Luna’s cheeks until they were suitably flushed as Mei finished her hair. As Luna got changed, Bisma got dressed as well, chatting with Mei and Luna from the top of the stairs.
It was nice, even with just the three of them; their home wasn’t entirely empty.
When they were ready, Bisma and Luna left Mei in the Forest and went to town. Luna took measured breaths, but as they grew closer and closer to the bakery, Luna’s steps slowed, until she stopped entirely.
‘Oh no,’ Luna whispered. ‘My tummy hurts. Perhaps I should go back.’
‘You’re alright, Lu.’ Bisma held her hand and squeezed.
Luna squeezed back, her brown eyes wide. ‘I’m just so scared … If I don’t want him, then it’s my choice and I can live with that hurt. But if I reach for him and get rejected …’
Bisma released a breath. ‘I know … trust me, Iknow. But you—we—need to be brave.’
Luna shuddered and then took a steadying breath. ‘Yes. And we can be. We’re Unwanted Girls! The villagers fear us!’
Bisma laughed, and Luna joined her.
‘Go on,’ Bisma said, nudging her forward.
Bisma stayed outside and watched as Luna entered the bakery. At first, Haru didn’t notice; he was sitting forlornly with his chin in his palm, sighing as he stirred a bowl with his other hand. But then he did a double take, registering who was there before him, and he lit up. He was so happy to see her.
‘Luna!’ Bisma heard him cry. Without hesitation, he dropped what he was doing and went round the counter to greet her. Haru scooped her into his arms, hugging her. ‘I missed you.’
He pulled back. There was a streak of flour on his face.
Luna lifted her hand, brushing it aside, and he held her hand to his cheek.
‘I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you,’ she said.
‘Come, sit, let’s talk,’ Haru said, holding her hand.
Bisma left them, then. She knew they would be alright.
Luna had upheld her end of the deal, now it was time for Bisma to uphold hers. The prospect was only slightly nauseating.
Bisma went to the greenhouse, where Xander was happy to see her. She noticed it now. He was always bright and energetic, but when she arrived, he grew even more so. She felt like a hissing stray cat, while he was more like one of those adorable puppies rich people carried around in their baskets.
As they got to work and the day carried on, Bisma allowed herself to notice Xander more—how kind and considerate he was toward her. When they were working together, he always gave her a bit of space, not being invasive, and he was always glancing up at her in case she needed something, anything.
