chapter 36: accompany

[ i apologize if there would be any errors ( grammars, spellings and such more ).

ROMEO'S POINT OF VIEW

It's been six months since Travis went to his military school, and it is finally summer break in our state. Me and Lauren are happy, but at the same time, sad. Juliet, in the other hand, kept overthinking on how Travis is in military school, since he hasn't communicated with any of us ever since.

Right now, Lauren and I are preparing for Juliet's little surprise birthday party to cheer her up. We prepared yellow decorations, her favorite foods and so much more. After three hours, we have finally finished decorating and preparing. Then, we started our plan to make Juliet think that we forgot her birthday, but once she receives our mysterious letters, she would lead to the venue of her surprise birthday party.

"It's been 30 minutes, Juliet must've been in here right now." Lauren sighed as she looked at the clock.

"Have patience Lauren, I'm sure Juliet will be here anytime." I said as I patted her head with my hand.

"And you will tell her how you really feel about her?" She asked as she smirked.

"What do you mean, Lauren?" I asked as I scoffed.

"Oh come on, you don't have to lie infront of my face, besides we have already moved on from each other." She said as she scoffed and looked at me.

"I know we have already moved on, but what do you mean by I will tell her how I really feel about her?" I asked as I frowned then she sighed and stood up.

"The moment you and Juliet hanged out after our breakup months ago, I knew that you are slowly falling in love with her. And with Travis gone, I noticed that you have been doing anything to cheer her up." She said as she rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but isn't that a way on how to treat your friend?" I asked as I sighed.

"I am friends with the both of you, I had experiences with this lovey dovey stuff and I used to date you, so of course I know the difference of you treating a girl more than a friend and your 'just a friend treatment'." She said as I looked at her.

"Well guess what, the treatment I am showing or acting towards Juliet is your 'so-called just a friend treatment'. Besides she is still dating Travis, and I would be a bad friend if I ever fall in love with her." I said as I sat down.

"Calm down Romeo, I'm just teasing you. Sheesh, you are still the same kind of serious type person." She said then she scoffed then I playfully rolled my eyes.

After that, I suddenly remembered the first memory Juliet and I shared in the library when we were kids, the night where I ask for her help, and most especially the day when Travis said that she secretly likes me. I would've love to talk to Juliet about it again, but I wanted to respect her and Travis' relationship. Besides, what if Travis made it all up just to get Juliet embarrassed right infront of me and Lauren?

Then, Lauren and I heard a knock on the door. We immediately turned off the lights, and hide in our respective places.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Juliet shouted as she enter the room.

"Oh no, please don't tell me this scenario is happening just like the-" Juliet whispered then we cutted her off.

"Happy birthday Juliet!" Lauren and I shouted as I turned on the lights and Lauren waved at her then she gasped and flinched.

"You two!!" Juliet said as she chuckled.

"I thought you two have forgotten my birthday." She continued as she playfully rolled her eyes.

"Why would we forgot your birthday, miss Juliet? You kept mentioning every 20th of the month ever since." Lauren said as she scoffed then all of us laughed.

"Thank you so much for this little celebration, it really means a lot to me." Juliet said as the three of us sat down on our chairs.

"Your welcome Juliet, its the least we can do to cheer you up after Tra-" I said then Lauren cutted me off.

"To cheer you up after all the memories we had as friends, right Romeo?" Lauren asked as she glared at me.

"Y-Yes, of course, sure." I nervously replied as Juliet looked at us with her confused face.

After hours of talking and eating, Juliet decided to walk back to her home since Julia isn't at home these days because of her work, Lauren agreed and decided to walk back to her home as well. But for me, I thought that I would keep Juliet an accompany so I asked if I could stay at her house for some time. She hesitated to agree, then all of us went to separate ways. At first, there was an awkward silence in between us both, I don't know why but my heart is beating faster than ever. Luckily, Juliet decided to spoke up.

"S-So, why did you wanted to stay at my house for a bit, Romeo?" Juliet asked as I looked at her.

"U-Uhh, I just thought that you needed some accompany especially today is your birthday." I nervously replied.

"Are you sure this isn't about what Travis said months ago about how I like you?" She asked as I frowned.

"N-No, I even forgot about that moment until you bring it up." I replied as I opened the front door then we went inside.

"Are you sure? We are friends remember, you can be honest with me, Romeo." She said as I closed the door.

"Well honestly, I have been waiting to talk to you about it but you seemed very- uhh.. a-anxious on how is Travis in the military school." I said as I stuttered.

"We can talk about it now, to get things off in our chests. But I just want to remind you that this topic will be only discussed once, and it must remain between the two of us." She sighed as she sat down on their sofa.

"O-Oh okay, so i-is it true? You like me ever since?" I nervously asked as I sat down beside her.

"Well, the word is liked. But I realized my feelings for Travis and it turned out that I was blindly in love with him, besides I know you still love Lauren back in the days and I didn't want to confess to you." She said.

"Thank you for your honesty Juliet, but I wanted to ask on wh-when did it all started? I mean, if you are uncomfortable asking the question, I wouldn't mind." I said.

"Honestly, the memory is super clear in my mind and it was back in 3rd grade, we were once at the library together. I remembered we argued about who will use the book first, the book you read when we cross paths months ago. After that, I realized that I like you, but it took me years to find you once again, but it happens that we are on the same highschool." She chuckled.

As Juliet mentioned about the library, the memory suddenly went back into my mind.

Flashback

YOUNG ROMEO'S POINT OF VIEW

"Romeo? Come on, let's go home. Mom's waiting for us." says the girl who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh yes, I will be there Elizabeth." I replied then I looked at young Juliet.

"I guess you will be the one who will read it first after all." I chuckled as I stood up and stared at her.

How can this beautiful moment end quickly with the girl I have a crush on? She's so pretty. Maybe I do wanna marry her now, wait no, that is too early for a young man like me. Don't worry I'm sure I will find her once I grow up, because out of billions of people in this world, she will be the prettiest girl with black colored hair in my own eyes.

"I love you, and I will find you in the near future, I promise. If I won't, it would be one of my biggest regrets." I mumbled as I walked to the door.

Present

When I remembered what was missing in the past I saw in my mission for the Magicias, I zoned out and realized everything. I knew there was something in Juliet, from the day I met her months ago. She could be one of the reasons why every time she accidentally touches my wrist without my Magicia bracelet, because in our very first moment together, we did the exact same thing. Lastly, the headache is not some ordinary headache, but it symbolizes a memory we shared in the past.

"Romeo? Romeo, are you okay?" Juliet asked as she waved her hand infront of my face then I zoned out.

"O-Oh yes, everything is fine, really." I nervously replied.

I immediately thought, on what would've happen if she touches my wrist once again. But no, it sort of sounds wrong especially with the girl I realized that I loved for so long, but taken with another man in her life.

"Don't worry, you can tell me what you thought about the confession I just made. I wouldn't mind at all even though you will say something bad." She said then she chuckled.

"J-Juliet, d-do you still like me?" I asked then she flinched and my eyes are wide open.

Why did I just say that out loud? Of course, I know that she doesn't like me more than a friend, she is already in love with Travis right now and I should respect their relationship.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" I said then she cutted me off.

"I'm sorry Romeo, but I love Travis now. You know that we both know that, do you?" She asked as she sighed.

"O-Of course, right. I swear that just came out from my mouth, I'm sorry." I nervously replied then we sighed.

Then, I feel like my heart is shattering into pieces even though I knew from the beginning that she loves Travis now. How could I be so dumb to realize that the girl I was supposed to love and waits for the next years, likes me when I was loving the wrong person? No offense to Lauren, by the way.

"I better be going Juliet, I don't want to disturb you with all my nonsense." I sighed as I stood up and walked to the door.

"I-I thought you will stay-" She said then I cutted her off.

"Don't think of it in the wrong way, but I cannot bare staying in here with you and continue to say some nonsense things." I said as I felt a tear dropping from my eyes.

"Your house is 10 minutes away, you can visit anytime you want if you need me." I continued.

"What is the matter with you, Romeo? Of course I need you, and in fact I do need you right now a-as my friend, please stay." She said as she walked towards me.

"That's what I've thought of you before Juliet, it seems like the tables have turn for this scenario right now." I sighed then I opened the door and walked out.

"I-I don't understand Romeo, please just talk to me!" Juliet shouted as I continued to walked out.

~ mj <3