While the two were getting settled on comfortable pillows, a few waitresses floated in with trays of food and drink.

“Doctor, who’s this? Is it your visitor?” probed one of the young ladies with a smile and playful nudge.

“Is this a question you should asking guests?” asked Kamaria.

“Ah, Doctor, you’re so stingy with this handsome guy.”

Then the young women headed out of the room in a cloud of spicy floral fragrance and giggling.

“The Doctor seems quite popular,” finally said Sorin.

“I wouldn’t say popular. You know, you shouldn’t just follow people everywhere. I could be trying to kidnap you.”

There was chuckle from Sorin as he casually put some food into Kamaria’s bowl.

“Maybe I’m the one trying to kidnap you.”

Kamaria stared at him as if thoughtful but then slowly smiled.

“Well, if we’re trying to kidnap each other then who do you think is winning?”

“I’ll give you one point more just because you know the city better,” said Sorin.

Kamaria seemed satisfied and nodded before digging into her meal while the other could only watch the joyful expression, almost forgetting to put anything in his mouth until he was prompted by her.

There wasn’t much to hear beside the sound of crockery and cutlery but what little conversation they had just as nonsensical, but the two usually smart people didn’t seem to notice this phenomenon. Neither of them seemed very worried about their companions either.

The private rooms had screens doors, making sure the occupants could only be seen in shadow if at all, but they could still hear the music or play on the central stage. The meal was just done when there suddenly came a familiar voice from outside the room.

“My Lady! Don’t I even deserve a meal invitation for the festival?”

Kamaria paused and closed her eyes in exasperation.

“Clearly some people are bored,” she mumbled.

She crawled over the to the doors and opened a space wide enough for her eye to see the situation. The person speaking was downstairs and looking up at the room. He smiled a little more when he noticed the doors had moved.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to my love rival?”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Kamaria wore a chiffon half veil that was held by her hairpins making it cascade down her back. She pulled one side and conveniently draped it across to cover the lower half of her face before pushing open the screens so she could look out.

“Obviously I didn’t hear that properly. Which unfortunate soul would like you in the first place?”

“Ey, even young ladies should take responsibility these days.”

The customers laughed, enjoying the show of this strange couple or rather an admirer and the one being chased. The young man was a little rough looking to put it lightly, it was clear why this young lady was running away.

“I’m a physician, who cares about your broken body?”

The people suddenly understood the situation. There was no way for a physician to treat someone with their eyes closed was there?

“You know what. I’ll give you a chance. You can come up if you’ll pay for my room.”

“That’s too easy,” replied the young man and then Kamaria closed the doors.

She looked at Sorin and shrugged, then started putting her shoes on.

Although it was quite noisy, if he focused Sorin could distinctly hear the new heavy footsteps headed towards their room and was just about to ask Kamaria the situation when he noticed the room was empty. Just by turning to look at the door and she had disappeared? He smiled when he saw the open window and put on his shoes.

When he looked down, he noticed that she was already halfway through climbing down the side of the building. Creeping plants hugged the wall, but she clearly knew where to find the solid lattice to climb down. He didn’t ask any more questions and skilfully jumped out the window to find a way down.

Kamaria almost launched an offensive when she felt someone pull her away from the wall when she had almost reached the ground. The feeling of both her feet hanging in the air made her unsteady.

“Relax, it’s me,” whispered a familiar voice.

She was distracted by a familiar but almost forgotten scent, but their posture brought her back to the moment.

“What are you carrying me for? Let me down before you end up with a back injury,” Kamaria complained.

Even though she felt the firm grip under her legs and on her back, it didn’t make sense to her that anyone would try to carry her like this. Sorin tilted his head to look at her in his arms.

Although it was a little dim, the outdoor lamps and the lights from the windows provided more than enough light for him to see her bewildered and surprised expression. She protested being carried but quickly held on tightly to his sleeve when he turned around.

Her words also made him realise that she wasn’t resisting their physical contact, but she was uncomfortable due to her concern of being heavy. He didn’t want to drag an issue that upset her so he could only try to ease the conversation.

“I think I know my own limits Doctor,” he gently assured before adjusting his arm strength by lifting her up a little more.

“I told you before that I’m completely healthy, didn’t I?”

“This hooligan,” said Kamaria with a small smile as she looked up at him.

The hair hanging in his face made her hand itch, but she managed to behave herself.

The young man who supposed to join them in the room came across this nauseating scene when he looked out of the window.

“Young people are full of vigour these days even outdoors,” suddenly came a voice above them and they both looked up.

Kamaria rolled her eyes as Sorin put her down and then adjusted herself.

“I’m going to tell your brother!” she shouted while looking up before promptly running away from the scene, the veil fluttering behind her and Sorin not far behind either.

“Ah, that brat,” said the young man at the window but a playful smirk still crossed his face.

There would be other days.