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The sound of leaves falling trickled through the island's beachy noises. Her footsteps carried through, dusting through dirt and now crawling through into sand.
Ren exhaled, her body ceasing into the sand below. Her legs crossing into the powdery texture down below her legs and feet and having the ability to admire the sunset that appealed to her gaze through the sky. Thankfully, the challenge had ended earlier today—thankfully one that was built for his strengths—and they got the chance to relax tonight, after winning it.
Ren started to touch her fingers through the sand. Letting it drift around and pouring it like an hourglass. Relaxing her body in the process after jumping around on poles during the daily challenge they had this week.
“Hey.” A voice carried through the train of Ren’s alone time—“relaxing time” she called it though; she needed her own time from his team. But, this voice was firm. Strict. Not like the typical type of monologue you say when you're trying to be friendly, it’s more like when you want to ask something and want to receive an answer.
Ren turned around, her body moving with her head. There behold, Sam. Standing almost on the branch of the sand, not too close but not too far to start a conversation.
Ren’s voice broke the silence stretching between them, tone filed into questioning. “Uh hey…Did you need something, Sam?”
Sam stepped closer, feet brushing into the sand and his lingering pose dropping down onto his arms.
“I wanted to talk.” Sam said, further bringing himself into Ren’s space, dropping down next to them and looking over at the shore.
Ren’s mind dropped. Oh god. His mind was ruminating with several instances of what Sam could want. Although, his facial expressions conveyed nothing of worry. Best to keep it that way. What did Sam even want to talk about?
Ren looked over, they’re gaze titling towards Sam. He lifted his chin upward, resting her palm onto her cheek. Seeming relaxed on the outside but panicking building into the inside of her mind.
“Sure, What’s up?” Ren said, a smile reaching their lips—although, not fully.
Sam looked over, and his gaze was stone-cold. That kind of look that settled a pit inside of your stomach and got your heart to start racing.
He sighed, almost seeming like he was going to regret asking this—“I know.” Sam said, two letters said, but those two words crushed Ren’s entire world.
Ren’s face dropped. Her hand dropping down onto her side and her right hand clutching it instantly. Trying to play it off, Ren lifted their face once more, and talked in a lower but still friendly and warm voice.
“Uh..?” Ren said, chuckling. “What do you mean, Sam?”
Sam still looked still, glaring intently at Ren; like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.
Then, his voice got low. Danger low, the type you use when you keep a secret but want to bring alarm from how you know.
“Your idol. Messy game-play.” Sam said, clicking his tongue into a small chuckle. His tone lowered into a mocking manner. “Wouldn’t you say yourself, Ren?”
“H-How did you.. I mean- I was trying so hard to be-“ Ren murmured, stumbling over her words. Before Ren could have any denial through what Sam was saying, she felt his voice boom over her’s.
”I’m a risk analyst. I find things that people don’t see, it doesn’t matter if they are messy or not. Secretive or not, I always find out—messier people just make it easier for me.” Sam said, a small but noticeable grin rising onto his face. Like he knew that Ren couldn't do anything. Not only did he know, but they played on completely different sides.
Ren wasn’t a part of the majority, Sam was. He was aligned with the people who controlled the entire team's votes and sent both Enersto and Manu packing. Sam finding out about Ren’s idol was ruining his game-play. This was bad. Really Bad.
The silence between both of them stretched, but before Ren could say anything or deny anything Sam had said—Sam stood up. Ren’s face lifted upwards, looking up towards Sam.
Then, Sam’s hand reached out. Giving Ren a “helping-hand”— like he hadn’t just crushed Ren’s entire game and found out the one thing that Ren was trying to keep secret.
Although, even at their conversation, Ren took his hand. Clasping their palms together and Sam’s finger digging into Ren’s skin. Not hurtful, but firm. Firm enough to lift Ren off the ground.
Ren’s hand was still holding onto Sam’s even after getting pulled up by him. Her face flustered, a small tint of red brushing onto her skin lightly. Sam saw, his eyes looking towards Ren, his face mixed into something Ren couldn’t read. Not anger, sadness, or the charming smile he always had plastered onto his face but possibly endearment?’
“Sorry.” Ren said, chuckling under her breath, trying to break the awkward silence that was stretching through the night.
“It’s fine.” Sam said, tone voiceless. No emotion latched onto it.
Then, Sam turned. His heel lifting up and walking around. His arms crossed together and lifting his body. Ren watched, letting her eyes drift onto Sam’s body slowly leaving the premise of her alone night she planned to have.
But his voice carried through, once more. Scanty enough for only Ren to hear.
“I won’t tell. Ara, Finn, or anybody else. This stays between us, unless you tell somebody else. I’m just aware of what you have.” Sam said, his voice itching with maybe something of solidness but possibly regret?
Ren's eyes locked onto Sam’s body, he showed nothing. Just his body staying still—not fully reaching camp. Although he didn’t look like he wanted to fully leave, he looked like he wanted an answer. A confirmation.
Ren’s voice spoke up, a small crack in between his tone. “Yeah, I would like that.” She said, trying to ease the tension built between them.
Ren watched Sam. His shoulders dropped slowly—only small enough to notice if you were watching. His voice carried with his body, a small hum; it was the confirmation he was searching for—and that he found.
Ren watched Sam until he disappeared into the night. His face turned, facing back at night, like a mocking turn. ‘Oh how this night had turned out..’
She sat back down onto the sand, her body just sitting there. She just thought, thought about what happened. Sam’s body language, and how he knew. What she could do. Although, what could she really do?
Ren was left in the night, her thoughts consuming her resting time. The sand brushing in between her feet, her hands grasping at the sand—worry but relief mixed together—and the sounds of the island: the waves, leaves, and sea animals crawling around or pecking their way into their home. Drowning out any thoughts running through her mind, and keeping her mind from thinking. At least for now, she can relax. ‘I’ll think of a plan later—or figure out something to do. I suppose.’ She thought, before that last sentence spoke up for her inside of her mind and she felt the drift of her body and both of her eyes slowly shutting for the night.