The girls’ room was already filled with chaos — makeup scattered, hair straighteners buzzing, and clothes all over the bed. Aarya stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her earrings while her friends debated what color suited them best.

Meanwhile, in the boys’ room, things were the exact opposite. Hiten sat calmly on his bed, tying his shoelaces while his friends were still searching for their socks. He stepped out, leaned by the doorframe of the girls’ room, and said with a teasing tone:

> “You girls take longer to get ready than it took them to build this fair.”

Aarya turned around instantly, raising an eyebrow.

> “At least we’ll look better than you in every picture.”

> “We’ll see about that,” Hiten said, smirking.

The small exchange drew laughter from everyone — that familiar, comfortable kind that always came when those two started teasing each other.

---

By the time they reached the fair, the place was glowing with life. Stalls lined both sides of the street, filled with colorful jewellery, glittering trinkets, and sweet fragrances from food carts. Wind chimes made soft melodies as the cool breeze moved past them.

Aarya’s eyes sparkled as she walked through the crowd, looking at every stall with childlike excitement. Hiten followed beside her, pretending to be uninterested but clearly watching her reactions more than the jewellery itself.

> “You’re really into these shiny things, huh?”

“It’s called appreciation, Mr. Boring.”

“It’s called wasting money on things you’ll lose in two days.”

“Excuse me! I’ve kept every gift you’ve ever given me.”

“Yeah? Even that keychain I broke?”

“Especially that one.”

She said it without realizing the warmth in her voice, and Hiten stopped for a moment — the noise around them fading just a little.

---

They stopped at a small stall run by an old man with a calm smile and hands roughened by years of craftwork.

Each bracelet and pendant shone differently, but one stood out — a simple silver bracelet with a faint blue stone in the center.

The old man noticed Aarya’s eyes lingering on it.

> “Every piece here chooses its owner,” he said, his voice calm but mysterious.

Aarya chuckled.

> “That’s a new way to sell things, uncle.”

> “You can laugh,” he said, “but if it’s meant for you, you’ll come back for it.”

She smiled politely, but her gaze stayed on the bracelet for a moment longer before walking away.

Hiten didn’t say anything, but his eyes had caught that look too — a small flicker of connection that only he noticed.

---

Later, the group stopped by a small food stall to grab snacks. They tried local sweets, fried dumplings, and fruit juice — each thing adding to the laughter.

Hiten sat by the side, watching Aarya playfully argue with a seller about getting one extra snack for free.

> “You charm everyone into discounts, don’t you?” he said.

“Not everyone,” she replied, giving him a mock glare. “You’re immune to my magic.”

“Maybe your magic works only when you’re not trying too hard.”

That line caught her off guard — his tone was quiet, not teasing. She blinked at him, then looked away, smiling faintly.

---

As the sun began to lower, the fair turned golden. Lanterns lit up one by one, and the smell of roasted corn mixed with the evening breeze.

They found a calm spot under a tree for lunch, away from the crowd.

Aarya unwrapped her food and said softly,

> “Sometimes I wish days like this could stay forever.”

Hiten leaned back against the tree trunk.

> “Maybe that’s why they feel special — because we know they can’t.”

The moment hung quietly between them — no jokes, no teasing, just a stillness that said more than words could.

---

As twilight deepened, music played from a nearby stage.

Aarya’s group went off to browse more stalls while she wandered toward the same jewellery cart again.

But this time, the blue-stone bracelet was gone.

> “Someone already bought it,” said the old man gently, smiling as if he knew something she didn’t.

Aarya forced a small smile, hiding her disappointment.

Before she could say anything, Hiten appeared beside her, handing her cotton candy.

> “Come on,” he said softly. “It’s still a good day.”

“Yeah…” she whispered, taking it.

The glow of the fair lights danced in her eyes as they walked side by side, the crowd slowly thinning around them.

---

As they reached the exit, Aarya looked down at her wrist and smiled faintly.

> “That’s fine. I already have one that you gave me months ago.”

Hiten glanced at her bracelet and nodded with a soft grin.

> “Yeah. It looks good on you.”

> “Why didn’t you buy anything for yourself?” she asked curiously.

He looked forward, voice calm, almost poetic.

> “I don’t like the shininess of other diamonds when I already have one with me.”

She blinked, slightly flustered, then broke into laughter.

> “You’re getting flirty day by day!”

He grinned.

> “Excuse me, miss — I’m a poet. Remember that.”

Their laughter echoed into the night as the fair lights shimmered behind them — like stars reflected on wet streets — marking the end of another beautiful day in Rainvale.