When He Hugged Her, I Ended Us

While we were playing an escape-room game, the non-player character or NPC in the haunted house scared my best friend Romilly Sinclair and me so much that we both threw ourselves into my boyfriend Amias Kensington's arms at the same time. Without a moment's hesitation, he pushed me away and held Romilly tightly in his embrace. He dropped a kiss on her forehead and comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." Then he turned around and locked me and the NPC inside a room. I was trembling all over with fear. We were supposed to get married in just a few days. He had always said that Romilly was the person he disliked the most. For the four years since we met and fell in love, I have always regarded him as the only redeeming light in my life. For his sake, I had kept giving way. But at this moment, I finally understood... It's time to part. ***** When everyone suggested going to a haunted-house escape-room attraction, I actually wanted to say no. "I'm not very brave, so maybe I'll just sit this one out…" My classmates started teasing me. "It doesn't matter if you're easily scared, your Amias will be there, won't he? Just stick close to him…" Another classmate laughed warmly, eyes sparkling with mischief. "That's right! You two are practically married already. Come to think of it, you're going to be the very first couple in our graduate class to tie the knot!" I lowered my head, feeling a little shy. Amias Kensington, however, stayed silent for a long time. I looked over at him and noticed that his gaze was fixed intently on Romilly. Romilly looked as though she were about to cry, her eyes red as she met his stare. As they looked at each other from across the room, they seemed exactly like two lovers the world would never accept. A quiet sense of unease began to rise inside me. When Romilly had forgiven her unfaithful ex-boyfriend for the umpteenth time, Amias had told me that he despised people as foolish as her. Yet right now, I could not find the slightest trace of dislike in his eyes. Before I had time to think it through any further, the escape-room game began. I stayed close behind Amias the whole way, but he always remained at a careful distance, near enough to Romilly that she would see him the moment she felt afraid. My unease grew stronger with every step. Eventually, we stepped into one of the chambers. An NPC hiding beneath a bed suddenly leaped out. I screamed in fright and instinctively reached to throw myself into Amias's arms, only to see Romilly rushing toward him too. In that split second, Amias did not hesitate. He caught Romilly in his embrace and shoved me violently aside. My shoulder slammed hard against the wall, leaving a dark bruise. I cried out in pain and looked at him, bewildered. Then I watched him stroke Romilly's hair gently, as though soothing a frightened fawn, before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. Every movement was as natural and practiced as that of a devoted lover. I stood frozen in place, numb with hurt. At that moment, I could not tell whether my shoulder or my heart ached more. I pressed a hand to my shoulder and sank down against the wall, unable to stand. Amias did not so much as glance in my direction. He simply carried Romilly out of the room and locked the door, trapping me inside with the NPC. Tears streamed down my face. A person's true feelings always show through in a moment of crisis. It had taken me until this very day to realize what had been right in front of me all along. He had loved her all along. Seeing me crying, the NPC looked completely at a loss and kept apologizing. I blinked back my tears and looked at him. It was then that I truly understood. I was merely an extra in their story. ***** When the game ended, the staff unlocked the door and let me out. I looked deathly pale, not a hint of color in my face. My friends hurried over to ask what had happened. "You've always been timid, why on earth did you let yourself get locked in there alone?" I lifted my gaze. Standing not far away was Romilly, looking back at me with a guilty expression. "Oh? Did I lock her in?" Romilly hurried over to me, eyes wide and pitiful. " Aveline, are you all right? I'm so sorry, I was just so frightened back there, I didn't know what I was doing…" One of the other classmates spoke up quietly. "That's not what happened at all. She was the one who locked the door. Just now she was claiming Aveline had gotten herself locked in on purpose…" I stared coldly at Romilly. For the first time in my life, I felt nothing but disgust towards her. "Romilly, does it feel so good to kiss my boyfriend?" Her face turned bright red then pale, and she stammered helplessly. "I… I didn't mean…" I looked past her to Amias, standing just behind her, and spoke in a voice taut with suppressed anger. "We're done. It's over between us."