Knight Syndrome

Ren

They continue sitting at the campfire, gazing into the flame. He sat down next to Ameena who responded to the proximity with a polite smile.

He wanted to bring up the conversation she had overheard that day at his apartment when she came to see him about the photos on the campus blog.

"This girl Ameena is clearly interested in you. And you keep playing hard to get?"

As if it were a time capsule, Thyme spoke out loud what Ren had suspected for some time.

"I know that you're trying to be helpful, but I don't want to hear it."

And at the moment dimly, he sensed it. She is here. Very near.

Ren's heart was in turmoil. He didn't know where he stood in life and while he sorted it out he would play no games with Ameena's heart.

"I don't like her," he said sharply, loud enough for the woman standing outside the slightly-open door to hear.

They haven't spoken since then. The flames danced in her dark hair, casting a strange silhouette on her face.

Surprisingly it was Ameena who spoke first.

"Sorry to bring up work now. I have been looking for internships. Can you have a look at my resume for your ad agency?"

Everyone turned their attention to her.

"Sure." Thyme nodded and smiled giving a quick sideways glance at Ren not escaping Ameena's notice.

"My boss refused to give me a holiday for this vacation." Thyme's friend Rey laughed heartily before adding, "So I sneezed in front of his cabin and he granted me an entire week off!"

"Poor guy. Everyone was so terrified of getting sick from this pandemic."

Stories and more stories followed.

After a loud boom of thunder, they tripped over each other and ran. The sky turned dark in a flash. He covered his head with the jacket.

But Ameena didn't move. She stood transfixed, staring at the smoke from the extinguished fire. Ren, who was running, turned in her direction and yelled: "What are you doing?" before grabbing her hand.