Moving to Whale Island, getting to know the residents—especially that one cute gardener, ahem—and gifting him your very first harvest. OR cooking that first harvest into a meal for him as a “thank you” for teaching you how to grow and cultivate your own crops
And slowly, over time, you grow closer. You start to develop feelings for him—to the point where nearly every harvest you gather turns into a meal made especially for him. You learn as much as you can about gardening, just so you can ask him questions you may or may not already know the answers to
Then one day, while sharing the lunch you made together, he asks you for help with something—and you realize..he doesn’t like you romantically at all. He’s always had his eyes on someone else
Someone who lives near a windmill, where the hills are covered in blooming flowers. Her hair is as pretty and fragrant as the blossoms, her kindness so effortless that it makes you feel like you were never even competition
So, you turn away. Slowly.
You visit him less. You ask fewer questions. You avoid him, offering excuses like, “Oh, I’ve been so busy lately, I didn’t even realize"
Those boxed meals you used to make? Gone. His cabinet, once filled with the meals you insisted he keep, now sits empty. His once lively mornings and afternoons grow quiet. Peaceful—just like they were before you came into his life
And then, one day, the silence becomes too much for him to ignore.
He realizes how long it’s been since he last heard your voice. Since he last saw your eyes looking at him, your attention focused solely on him. He realizes he misses your cooking, your smile, your presence.
Without quite knowing why, his feet carry him toward your home—only for him to stop a few paces away
Because he hears you.
Your voice—bright, vivid, full of laughter. The smell of your cooking fills the air, drawing him closer
And there he finds you
Your eyes shine like stars, your attention completely focused on someone else. Your cheeks are flushed pink, your eyes crinkling at the corners as you laugh. The man in front of you continues telling stories about his day
'What part of reeling in a fish is so fun?' he wonders. 'Is it really that interesting?'
He doesn’t understand why he’s thinking this. It’s not like him
