The next day, I took Rayan to a hidden place I had discovered long ago—a perfect spot to disappear from the world.
I carefully wrapped his face in the kind of cloth that conceals but doesn't raise suspicion—the same way I do for myself. It didn't make him look mysterious. It made him look ordinary, invisible… safe.
Once he was ready, we moved through silent, forgotten lanes where even the air felt still. Not a single soul crossed our path. The world seemed to have paused for us.
And finally, we arrived.
What lay before us was like a hidden paradise—a quiet garden with a small, glistening pond at its center. Towering trees circled the area, their branches forming a natural canopy that shielded us from the outside world. The sunlight filtered through the leaves in gentle beams, and birds chirped in perfect harmony, as if celebrating the serenity of the place.
Rayan slowly removed the fabric from his face, and I could see the astonishment in his eyes. He stood there in silent awe. It was clear—this was the first time he had ever been somewhere so peaceful, so untouched… and alone.
He said, "Wow! It was worth coming here," a sweet smile lighting up his face.
Seeing that look on him made me genuinely happy too.
We wandered around for a while and shared our breakfast there, surrounded by calm.
Later, we decided to climb the trees. I was pretty good at it, but Rayan—he had clearly never done something like this before. He struggled with every step, slipping and hesitating. Watching him, I couldn't help but laugh a little before finally offering my hand. I supported him from behind, guiding him upward.
His face turned a little red with embarrassment, probably because the way I helped him would be considered "girly" by society's standards.
But in the end, none of that mattered. We made it to the top—together—and sat there quietly, admiring the breathtaking view spread out before us.
After some time, we decided it was time to leave—we had to reach home before the sun set.
But just as we were about to go, that boy—Rayan—suddenly pushed me into the pond and burst out laughing.
I wasn't going to let him get away with that. I went to the edge, grabbed his leg, and yanked him in too.
And that's how it began—a full-on water fight. We splashed water at each other, laughing like little kids, carefree and loud.
But in the middle of all that chaos, I noticed something. The way he looked at me—it felt soft, warm, and genuinely friendly. It wasn't like the way Mera looked at me. No, this was different. This was a look I'd never experienced before.
And just like that, Rayan—the annoying stranger—became my friend.
A few days passed after that. Yes, Rayan and I still argued over small things, but it wasn't serious like before—just harmless, friendly quarrels.
For the first time, I kind of had someone who waited for me at home when I returned. And that feeling... it was nice.
And the best part?
I earned my first coins!
But before I could fully enjoy this new chapter, there was someone I needed to talk to—someone I had to clear a few things with.
It was Mira.
I knocked on Mera's door. She opened it, and I barged in, shutting it behind me like it was my own home.
"I need to talk to you," I said, walking straight up to her. "You must've noticed I've been acting kind of weird these past few days. Well, it's because…"
I trailed off as I pulled out my shining gold coins and held them out in front of her.
Her eyes widened in shock. She quickly covered the coins with her hand and whispered in alarm, "Zera! You stole this much all at once?! Be careful—the royal guards are everywhere. Don't carry that money around so openly. You could get caught easily!"
I replied quickly, "No, it's not stolen money—it's earned!"
Mera looked at me, both angry and worried. "What?! Earned money? What did you do, Zera?"
I raised my hands to calm her down. "Oh no, don't get me wrong. Please, just stay calm and let me explain."
I continued, "There's a man staying at my place. He's hiding out for a while—seems like he has some family issues. He's from a wealthy background, and he's paying me well for letting him stay. This is my first real earning."
Mera's expression softened a bit. "Ohh… okay. But this man—he isn't suspicious, right? He doesn't seem dangerous or anything?"
"No, not at all," I said firmly. "He's actually a nice person. You can trust me."
She smiled. "Alright then. Good for you—I'm happy for you."
But then her smile faded just slightly as she added, "Still… I'll have to inspect him first."
I nodded and said, "Yes, of course! That's exactly why I'm here—to invite you. Come to my place. I'll treat you to something with my first earning, and you can meet him there."
She agreed, and we both left together.
When we arrived and the door opened, Mera saw the man—and her eyes widened in shock.
"Zera, he is…!"