Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Jemimah

SINCE the night I dreamed about Roam transforming into a dangerous beast who preyed on me even when I begged him to stop, I kept my distance from him. I avoided him in any way possible. I dodged his worried stares, and shut my mouth whenever he was trying to approach me. It's all because of that fear I felt because of that dream, yet everytime he's letting out a frustrated sigh, my chest would feel heavy.

How long had it been? A few days? A week rather since I stopped speaking to him? I couldn't remember. I already lost count anyway, but there's one thing I was sure of. 

My heart was not happy with what I was doing to him...

I hugged my knees tighter when I heard his footsteps approaching the room. He stopped but didn't knock as soon as he reached the door, as if he was hesitating to do so becausee he knew I would not bother answer.

My eyes watched the small gap under the door. He was standing outside for almost a minute before I heard something getting put down on the doorstep. He then walked away without knocking nor saying anything, and my chest felt like it was being punched again because of it.

I swallowed hard, trying to ease away the heaviness I was feeling. This wasn't right. I knew I wasn't supposed to feel this way. My mind said I must fear him but my heart would often disagree.

Stupid muscle! My Biology teacher said the heart was the strongest muscle in the body. Then why did mine felt so weak towards Roam?

I clutched onto my hair. "I swear, Mrs. Lewis. If you were lying, I'm gonna ask for an A plus." I blew out my cheeks and jumped out of the bed. I was starving but since I wanted to avoid Roam, I decided not to leave the room.

Carefully, I pulled the door open. There went my stupid heart again, banging inside my chest like a wild animal asking to be released. And where would it even ran into if I'd free it?

I swore I heard Roam's name inside my head. Jesus, was I still normal? 

With a heavy breath, I peeked outside to see if Roam was there. When he wasn't, I picked up the tray of food and went in, closing the door behind me. I placed it on the center table as I settled on the couch, but the moment I rested my back on it, I realized it was the same spot where Roam was seated when I first woke up here.

This wasn't good. I need to find a way to get rid of this heaviness or I would suffer from stockholm syndrome. The last thing I would want right now would be to suffer from a mental illness.

I shrugged and picked up the fork. Roam made me scrambled eggs matched with some bacon, two slices of bread, and a glass of... milk? What did he think I was? Seven?

Rolling my eyes and feeling defeated by my love for coffee, I stood up and stormed out of the room to make myself a cup. Damn it. Roam should not find out that the easiest way to make me get out of the room was was a caffeinated drink or else that would be the end of me.

When I reached the kitchen, my eyes popped open and I immediately hid behind the wall when I saw Roam pouring a freshly brewed coffee on a cup. The aroma filled the room and I almost shut my eyes. Good God. How would I resist this temptation when coffee would smell this satisfying?

Two points for coffee. My eyes shut as I savored the smell of it. I suddenly forgot about my fear towards Roam when the smell became stronger as if it was getting closer and closer.

I didn't even realize I was already moaning as it lingered in my nose, but when I felt something hitting my thighs, my eyelids slowly opened and shock hit me like an overspeeding car when I saw Roam's face, less than a feet away from mine. There was an inward smile plastered on his lips and his brow arched while his arm was resting against the wall, right above my head.

He cleared his throat and then sipped on his coffee while staring at me. My mouth watered, not sure if it was because of the coffee he was drinking or because he was so sexy while doing so.

Of course it's because of the coffee, right? I wasn't attracted to this man? Not even when he was... oh my god and his seven holy archangels, how could a monster look so luscious while licking his lower lip? 

"So why exactly are you avoiding me, hmm?" he asked in a low, sexy tone. Fine, it was a normal tone that sounded sexy to my ears. Seriously, what was wrong with me? Did I got rabies when he attacked me in my dream?

Okay, that's irrational but... I groaned mentally. This wasn't good.

I looked away before he could read my mind. With my hands behind my back, I answered him. "M--Me? Avoiding you? N--No."

His warm, minty breath with a mix of coffee scent fanned my cheek as he lowered his head, the tip of his pointy nose almost brushed against my skin. God, I almost shuddered. Oh, wait. I freaking did.

"You don't?" he asked, our proximity was starting to suffocate me. My heartbeat was acting like a festival drum; wild and so freaking loud.

I swallowed hard and met his eyes. I gasped when our lips almost touched as I stared at his expressive rims that reminded me of a gloomy forest that hid all the beauty of the unknown. Oh, I wished heaven would forgive me for getting mesmerized by a devil, for I didn't think I could still look away as we locked eyes. My heartbeat was already louder than my thoughts, and the longer I stared back at him, I get drowned into the depths of something I knew was dangerous.

"I could smell your lies, Ahuvi." His gaze drifted down to my slightly open mouth, making me bite my lower lip unintentionally.

I saw how his jaw moved in a dangerous manner. His adam's apple bobbed up and down as his eyes reflected nothing but raw desire to kiss me... and no matter how embarrassing it would sound, I knew it was the same thing that he would see in my pools once he looked at it again.

I breathed in a shallow breath, trying to regain the control over my now heated body. With a now raspy voice, I spoke. "I'm... I'm not lying."

Our gaze met again for a couple seconds before I looked away. Feeling defeated, I bowed down while my face was turned to the side. "Fine. W--What do you expect? You... You scare me..."

My chest tightened when I felt him froze with my words. He didn't move for a moment, and when he took a step back, my knees almost gave up if only I wasn't leaning against the wall. 

I kept my eyes from looking at him again, scared I would do something stupid once I see his expression because honestly right now, I didn't know anymore if I was scared of him more than my own heart.

Roam let out a heavy sigh before he took another step backwards. "I know," he uttered under his breath before he rubbed his nape. He looked up and shut his eyes as if I hurt him more than I expected. When he walked into the kitchen again, I almost fell on my knees. My muscles weaken and all I could do was purse my lips as I felt the searing pain in my chest.

Wherever this pain came from, I could not tell anymore. All I knew was it's too much, as if it wasn't just entirely mine.

I realized I no longer wanted what I went down here for. When I regained my senses, I tried to take my first steps towards the stairs but Roam called me. "Come here, Jem. I won't hurt you." 

Hesitating, I looked over my shoulders with my lips pressing hardly with each other. His eyes turned gloomy when he heaved a sigh as if his chest felt heavy, too. "I promise."

A lump formed in my throat and the pain clawing my heart gone worse. I knew it would not ease away unless I would follow my heart. Stupid heart. Someday, I would probably die because of it.

But maybe, just maybe... not today.

Gathering all the strength left in my body, I face Roam again and walked slowly towards him. His expression brighten as he watched me as if he was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after a never-ending journey in the dark.

"W--What do you want?" I tried to ask with a fake cold facade.

Roam walked towards the fridge and took out a round mocha cake. My eyes blinked as I watched him shut the fridge with his elbow and then returned to me. When I saw what's written on top of the cake, warmth wrapped around my heart like wildfire. 

Happy 18th Birthday, Ahuvi.

I wasn't a cry-baby but his unexpected gesture brought tears to my eyes. When I looked at him, his eyes were twinkling as it stared into mine like I was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on, and I would lie if I'd say it didn't melt my heart.

His lips curved into a sweet, tiny smile. "Happy birthday, Jemimah."