The keeper of time

Chapter 20: The Push and Pull

The campfire had died down, its embers glowing faintly in the dark, leaving behind only the soft sounds of the forest. Aryan's lingering gaze made Anaya's skin prickle. She didn't know what to make of him. At times, he was infuriating—his teasing, his commanding presence that demanded attention, his maddening ability to stay calm in situations that sent her pulse racing. But beneath all of that, there was something else, something she couldn't ignore.

Aryan broke the silence first. "You've been unusually quiet tonight. That's not like you, Anaya."

She sighed, fiddling with a loose thread on her tunic. "Just... a lot on my mind."

He moved closer, and even though his footsteps were soft, Anaya could feel the weight of his presence. "I'm not much for heart-to-heart talks," he began, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "but you can talk to me if you want."

Anaya raised an eyebrow, not sure whether to believe him. "You? Listening to someone else's problems? That sounds out of character."

He smirked, settling down next to her. "Well, you're not just someone else. You've managed to make my life significantly more... interesting."

She shot him a look, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Oh, happy to be your source of entertainment."

He chuckled. "No, I mean it. You've got this way of getting under my skin—challenging me, pushing back. Not many people do that."

"Yeah, well, maybe you need someone to push back every once in a while," she quipped, though her heart was racing. His words carried a weight she hadn't expected.

Aryan turned to face her more directly, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Maybe I do."

Before she could respond, a rustling from the trees broke the moment. Arjun emerged from the darkness, his face still clouded with tension. He had clearly overheard part of their conversation, and his jaw tightened as he glanced between them. His feelings for Anaya were no longer subtle—they were written all over his face. But Aryan, for all his teasing, didn't miss a beat.

"Perimeter secure?" Aryan asked, his tone casual.

"Yeah," Arjun replied, though his voice was tight. "We're clear for now."

Anaya stood, sensing the friction between them once again. "We should rest. We've got a long journey tomorrow."

As she moved toward her small tent, she caught the look Arjun gave Aryan—one filled with barely disguised frustration and something close to jealousy. She sighed inwardly. This was getting more complicated by the minute.

The next morning, the group set out again. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the landscape, but Anaya could feel the tension from last night lingering in the air. Aryan was walking ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon, but his usual teasing tone was absent. Arjun walked beside her, quiet and brooding.

"So," Arjun finally said, breaking the silence. "What's going on between you and Aryan?"

Anaya felt her heart skip a beat, though she tried to keep her voice calm. "What do you mean?"

Arjun stopped walking, turning to face her. "You know what I mean. I see the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him."

She swallowed hard, glancing away. "Arjun, it's... complicated. We're just trying to survive out here."

"It's not just about survival, Anaya," Arjun said, his voice filled with emotion. "I've known you for years. I know when something's changed."

Anaya looked at him, guilt swirling in her chest. "I don't know what to say. Aryan... he's different. And yes, he gets on my nerves, but he's—"