22
The last three weeks have been very awkward. King has been very distant. After what happened between us, it’s like he’s trying everything he can to erase it from his mind and his life, me included.
He barely looks at me, and he’s always finding a reason to leave when I’m in the vicinity or stay busy even when he’s not. It hurts, not going to lie.
But whatever. He made his choice when it came to his religion and it’s who he was when I met him, so I don’t know what I expected.
My worry is that he wasn't going to stick to his guns and make up his damn mind. But to my chagrin he really is sticking to his guns.
Zoe and I have made up, which is good, but things still don’t feel exactly the same between us. But I still love the girl.
After I finish delivering some pastries, I notice her on her break coming over to the clinic.
“You good?” I ask.
“Yeah I actually came to talk to you,” she says.
“What's up?’
“... I wanted to know if everything was okay.”
“Yeah, it’s good. Why?” I reply.
“I feel like… I really messed up things between us,” she admits.
My heart softens right then.
“I like my friends that are honest with me when they have an issue. We wouldn’t be friends if you couldn’t feel free to talk to me that way and tell me what’s on your mind. So we’re good.”
She reaches over and hugs me. We hold that hug for a while.
And I mean it. I like that she’s honest. I’m glad she spoke up about it.
But at the same time, the things she felt about me, she held them inside until she was angry enough to blow up. So there’s a little part of me that wonders: will she let me know when she’s upset next time?
Or will she wait until the last minute, when she can’t take it anymore? I understand having small annoyances about people you care about here and there. But don’t hide behind my back and smile in my face while thinking something completely different about me.
I told her as much before.
I know time heals all wounds. I also have to remind myself to give Zoe a little grace. Since her father passed away, she’s been more on edge with people.
Later on in the day, the youth camp gets a lot busier. Kids are running around in groups, playing games on the fields, some doing arts and crafts under the big pavilion, others splashing in the shallow end of the pool with lifeguards watching.
Counselors are calling out instructions, passing out water bottles, and a few volunteers are setting up for the evening activities.
I spot King here and there, helping some of the men fix a loose board on one of the outdoor stages, lifting heavy boxes of supplies from a truck, or carrying stacks of folding chairs from one building to another.
Every time I see him, even just for a second, a little piece of my heart comes alive. I don’t want it to, but it does anyway.
A crackle comes over the walkie-talkies: Sister Paula lets everyone know there’s a meeting in half an hour. I head back to my cabin to freshen up, splash some water on my face, fix my hair, change into a cleaner shirt.
Zoe comes in right behind me.
“What do you think it’s about?” she asks.
“Probably just the regular milestones and directions on how everyone can run the camp better,” I reply.
She shakes her head. “She usually gives two of those a week, and she just did one yesterday.”
I shrug my shoulders. We finish up and head out together.
This time the meeting’s behind the admin building in the little courtyard area. It’s a nice setup: the white-sided brick building has cobblestone pathways leading out from the back doors, which then turn into dirt trails.
There’s a small porch with a semicircle of stone benches arranged around it, and two simple fountains on either side, one bubbling quietly on the left, one on the right.
It’s a peaceful spot, probably where the office staff takes their lunch breaks. The admin building itself is bigger than it looks from the front, stretching back with windows overlooking the yard.
Everyone gathers and sits on the benches or stands around the edges.
There are a lot of people here, mostly counselors and congregation members who volunteered to help run the youth camp.
Sister Paula steps out onto the porch, raises her hands, then lowers them gently to signal everyone to sit and quiet down.
Once it’s calm, she starts. “Valentine’s Day is coming up soon.”
People clap right away, a few cheers mixed in.
Sister Paula smiles and uses both hands to motion everyone to lower the volume.
“Now, hold on, hold on. We’re going to do something special this year.
Right here at the youth camp, in the main hall, we’re hosting a Christian singles and mingles event.
It’s going to be a chance for our single brothers and sisters to meet, fellowship, and see what God might have in store.
Everyone is taking part, unless you’re married.
All singles are expected to attend. We’ll have food, games, good music, and plenty of time to talk and connect in a safe, godly way.
Dress nice but modest, and come with an open heart.
This is about building community and trusting God’s timing. ”
While she’s talking, I glance over. Jun is sitting to my left. King is on one of the benches across the way, looking absolutely uncomfortable, shoulders tense, eyes fixed on the ground like he wants to disappear.
Jun nudges me with his elbow, smiling wide. Then he leans in and whispers in my ear, “Let’s see how much we have in common.”
I smile back at him. “Yeah, I doubt we have much in common except for one thing; we both like weed.”
Jun whispers right back, “We both like weed and we both like to fuck.”
My eyes fly open, looking around quick to see if anyone heard.
Sister Paula’s still speaking, and out here in the open air, sound doesn’t carry as far.
Chances are no one did. But when I glance to my right, King is staring straight at me and Jun.
His expression is hard to read with his jaw tight, eyes locked on us.
Sister Paula finishes up. “We’ll send out more details over the walkie-talkies and post flyers around camp. Thank you all for everything you’re doing here. Let’s keep lifting up the Lord.”
People start clapping again, and the group begins to break up.
I’m actually interested now, with this weird morbid curiosity.
I want to see exactly how Christians are going to handle mingling as singles.
From my experience growing up, anything to do with dating in church always felt cringey as hell.
The events were awkward, forced icebreakers, cheesy games that tried too hard to be “pure,” people acting overly polite and stuck-up, like they were afraid to admit they had normal feelings, like normal people.
Everyone pretended romance was this super-spiritual checklist instead of just two people getting to know each other.
It always came off fake and extremely uncomfortable, for me anyway.
My eyes roam back over to where King is. This time he looks away from me.
What I want to know is how he's going to handle this.
???