ESCAPING THE SPOTLIGHT

"What!" Thompson asked, eyes wide in confusion as he stared intently at Roseline like she was some psycho stranger.

"I feel like I was here yesterday," Roseline continued, her eyes shaky and unfocused as they flickered around the space.

Thompson scoffed, slightly shaking his head.

Breathing in deeply, he replied, "Come with me, Roseline," walking past her and into the room, the wheels of the travel box dragging across the floor noiselessly.

Roseline's shoulders stiffened, and her lips trembled against each other as she watched the bedroom door slowly open to reveal only about half of the clean, brown-polished king-sized bed frame, the black-colored duvet tucked in neatly around the soft, bouncy mattress fitted to it.

Her comfort space in the entire house—probably because Thompson had changed the bed frame to something bigger and better just before she moved in with him.

"Italian wood. Solid. I can't wait to get used to it with only you," he had said to her the day she noticed he changed the bed in the room. Not sure why, but that statement had remained with her ever since.

Aside from that, of all the corners of the huge mansion, she felt most comfortable in that bedroom.

She enjoyed her trip to Cameroon, but one of the things she looked forward to while at it was returning home for a good sleep, cuddled up in bed with her fiancé inside their own room.

But then, standing there, heart beating a little faster than normal, eyes heavy, she stared through the open door, not sure she wanted to be in there.

Suddenly, everything in her sight blurred in. She saw figures. Two shadowy figures that looked like they were that of a man and a woman inside the room.

Roseline felt her legs weaken, like she was slowly melting into the floor. The figures in front of her were moving now, but really slowly. She wasn't sure, but it looked like the female figure was sitting on the bed and the other was trying to climb over her.

A strong migraine charged across her skull, forcing her to grab her head with both of her hands. Because of this sudden movement, her body lost balance.

Staggering backwards, her legs betraying her as support, she wobbled downwards, but before she met the floor, Thompson grabbed her arm, saving her from the fall.

Without a single word, he stared steadily at her, his hand still holding her arm and his eyes cold with silent anger.

"Thank you," Roseline muttered, barely looking at Thompson, her heart still pounding in her chest uncontrollably.

"Do you need to get to the hospital? I can drive you," Thompson said slowly, his words pulling a mask of concern over how he was rather pissed by Roseline's attitude since the hotel.

"No, I don't think I need a doctor," Roseline stuttered, her eyes weak from the pain she felt in her head.

Turning his face away from her, Thompson rolled his eyes.

"I will fix you something to eat. For now, just freshen up and get some rest," he spoke, letting go of her arm and turning to walk down the stairs.

"Thompson!" Roseline called out, reaching to grab the edge of his shirt, but then, she was a bit too fast, causing a button from the line to come loose.

Together, without any word, they stared at the tiny black button as it danced around on the floor before finally settling on one of its sides.

"Is there something you are hiding from me?" Thompson spoke first, looking up at Roseline, his temper rising.

"What do you..." Roseline made to speak, but he cut her off immediately.

"Did anything happen in Cameroon?" Thompson continued, his voice heavy with anger, his feet vibrating where he stood.

No reply.

Disappointed at the way Thompson was reacting to it all, Roseline swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, refusing to speak.

"I think there's something you are not telling me, and I don't know why you're not," Thompson spoke with a calmer tone after a deep sigh, his attempt at masking his irritation.

Roseline bit down on her lower lip. The throbbing pain in her head still hammered against her skull. Her stomach rumbled noisily, reminding her of how she had not eaten for heaven knows how long.

Her legs still felt like jelly; she dared not try to move from where she currently stood. In all these, her mind continued to race anxiously from not understanding why she was feeling the way she was.

"Roseline. C'mon, you have to say something," Thompson pressed further, shifting closer to where she stood to put his hands on her shoulders.

"I need to rest," Roseline said simply, freeing herself.

"You have to tell me why you are being like this, Roseline," Thompson spoke without blinking, his voice hoarse, the veins of his neck stretching against his skin, showing how he wasn't willing to take it anymore.

Alarmed at his cold comment, Roseline slowly got up from where she sat. Head heavy and eyes wet, she began.

"Really?

Is this all you have to say, Thompson?"

Her voice cracked as she fought back the tears that were threatening to escape her eyes.

"What would you have me say when after your trip, you come back acting all strange, like a totally different person from when you left?" Thompson spoke to her face, his eyes widening with the sound of every word.

Roseline continued to stare at him in disbelief, her heart broken from the feeling of not understanding her own mind, and breaking even more from Thompson's insensitive reaction.

"You know what?" Thompson scoffed.

"You never allow me the liberty of understanding what you think, and then you blame me for flaring up," he continued, turning away from Roseline.

She sniffed. Her body was vibrating terribly now, and she felt dizzy. She wanted to close her eyes, but she was scared of those confusing thoughts returning to her head.

She wasn't sure of what she wanted to do next, but she knew she didn't want to keep listening to Thompson's hurtful words.

Just then, Thompson turned around to face her again, but without thinking twice, she turned away from him, making her way up the stairs.

"I think you are hiding something from me, Roseline," Thompson beckoned angrily after her.

"What exactly is wrong with her?" he cussed under his breath, which had become hard now.

"Wait! What if...?" His eyes widened and darted toward the stairs.

"No way," he snapped, then speedily proceeded to go up the stairs too.

"Roseline!" he yelled, his voice thick with anger.