One day was left. The countdown was coming to an end. The unexpected leap of fate of bringing those children together was meeting its end. They will have to go back to their original life again. Scattered across the globe.
It was the final day for Tari with her empathetic new friends. Everyone around her from her father to the maids were making the final preparations to depart to their homeland on the morrow.
The tight knot that was slowly growing inside her as this day got closer has finally reached its climax.
Despite hating to be apart from them, she was also happy to go back home. After all, there is no place like home, and we will all eventually end back there anyway.
But she started having that one thought, was home a place or it's people?
Here she had the people she wished to spend her life with but, back home was the place she grew up in and felt nostalgic towards.
"Tari." Someone called from behind her bringing her back from her daydream while she walked to give her goodbyes to these hallways and rooms for one last time.
"Oh, Jooni!" she cheerfully said as she looked in the direction of the voice. "What brings you here?"
"I came for you," he said with a straight face, "t-there is one last thing I would like to show you."
"W-what is it?" she tilted her head thinking of what that might be.
He didn't reply but took her hand in his and leaded her to the destination that he had in mind.
"You will know when we get there." He said over his shoulder.
Despite them being the same age, she still had to hold her head up to look at him. She didn't like the idea of being pushed around in general but, it wasn't that bad when Joon Wo does it.
It's because he was her friend, right?
They kept walking and walking, and she had a feeling that this way somewhat familiar to her, but she couldn't get her hands on where it leads.
The answer came to her not even a second after that.
"Woah! It's the lake!" she exclaimed looking out a sight that took her breath away.
In the golden hours that are passing now where the sun is low in the sky spreading its golden rays over the water making it shimmer like molten diamonds.
"You couldn't enjoy this the other day and I didn't like the idea that you will leave without seeing it." He said looking out at the view. No matter how many times he comes here, it has never failed to amaze him.
"I would've definitely regretted not seeing this." Her smile was at its brightest form.
He looked at her side view admiring her for maybe the last time for a long time. "There is something else that I want to show you."
She only looked at him with questioning eyes. Her hand was still in his, so he only had to walk for him to lead her again which he followed without a second thought.
He took her towards some bushes on one side of the lake. The more they got closer she saw a rage spread on something hiding it from view.
He let go of her hand and took off the rage revealing a small wooden boat.
"This is my second hide out in the palace." He met her wide winter-gray eyes with his own. "I come here mostly when I want to skip my lessons."
"You skip lessons!" her eyes went even wider.
He smirked. "Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to hear someone babbling about something that has got nothing to do with me."
"Huh?" she said, "of course it has something to do with you. You should gain knowledge!"
"Let's talk about this later." He chuckled not wanting to waste a moment talking about something that clearly was boring as hell and wasted the precious time they have left to spend together.
He pushed the boat to the water and once it was in, he helped her get in and joined her as well.
This place was like his little infinity, especially at this hour. That's why he waited the whole day to come show it to her when they were alone. Since they don't get much time alone because of his brothers.
So, in the morning he spent the time together with her and the others.
After all, they all loved her just like him, just in another way that he didn't know.
Who would blame him thought? He didn't even know himself.
It's in fact very few who experience such sensations at such a young age.
What he felt was pure friendship right?
That was the question that ran through his mind. Not only his mind but hers as well.
Joon Wo rowed them through the lake, the late evening wind helping the boat move smoothly in the water. Tari looking all around her, admiring the effect that the golden sunlight rays cause. And in turn Joon Wo was admiring her.
"When we are all apart again…" she said making him snap of his hallucination. "promise me that you will always write me."
She gazed right into his soul and he did the same.
"I promise." He said, "you have to promise to write me too okay?"
She grinned and nodded her head at him.
"There is one more thing," she said turning her head back to the scenery. "let's not change till we meet again. let's always keep the good in our hearts."
Her words are the complete opposite from what he was always told by his mother. She planted the seed of doubt inside him, making him doubt everyone he sees, especially his brothers. Not one happy memory they shared that he wasn't reminded by his mother's words changing his whole mood and ruining the moment.
"I won't." he faked a smiled. He knew that he won't be able to keep that promise, the palace was a place of plot and threats laying in every corner. It was no place for someone with a good heart. It changed everyone, bringing out the darkness that resides inside everyone giving it dominance over whatever goodness they had. It was the only of survival in this place.
"I hope time goes by quickly to the day we meet again." She said as she leaned down the boat allowing the water to tickle her fingers.
And as the sun went down, they turned the boat around and went back to their chambers together. Bringing their final moment to an end.
"You should go to bed early. It's going to be a long journey for you starting tomorrow." He said in almost a whisper.
She nodded. "Good night Jooni." She grinned sadly.
"Good night Tari."
And just as he turned his back to walk, he felt warmth on his back.
"T-Tari.?!" He stuttered not knowing what to say to her as she hugged him from behind with her fragile arms around him.
Saints be good, her father will be furious if he came across this…
"I will miss you Jooni." She said her voice faint, he felt the vibration on his back as she talked. "I'll miss all of you so much."
He dropped his head looking at the floor.
"Me too." he said. "Nefertari."
Wait what?
She raised her head to look at him from behind as her arms still around him. Not believing what her ears just heard.
"J-Jooni!" she tilted her head in disbelief.
He felt the blood that was starting to rush to his pale cheeks turning it a faint shade of pink. Sad that she couldn't see this because it was surly something to witness.
"I tried my best to say it. I asked Ashkan to help me with it." He smirked turning to look at her.
The moon light that was falling on both of their delicate bodies gave them an ethereal look that would blow anyone's mind.
"I hope we meet again Nefertari." He said but this time he didn't stutter or flush he said with a serious genuine face.
And the countdown was done. The most memorable month in their life has come to an end. They were now back in the place where everything started, the palace gates.
The same convey that made the grand entrance was now back on the streets but, this time they are marching in the opposite direction.
They are heading back home.
Everyone was back in their place in front of the palace gates, but this time they weren't saying their welcoming phrases but their goodbyes.
Tari was next to her father; she couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes. Akhenaton noticed that which broke his heart to see her this sad.
He has never seen her like this before, but he told himself that in a matter of days she would be back to her old self.
He didn't know just how deep the bond that was formed in this month was.