Not your Romeo and Juliet

s i x

I've been waiting for Romeo the entire night. He didn't come. I lost all hope and went back to my bed to cherish some sleep before the dawn.

Just before the Sun rose, I heard a knock on my window. With sleepy eyes, I looked up and noticed a silhouette which I instantly recognised as Romeo's.

I heard the knock again. I rose up and checked my appearance before opening the window to my balcony.

"Apologies for being late, my love. I had some matters to attend to. I received your note a bit late into the night by Mercutio." He explains.

Only Mercutio and Benvolio know about our love. And now, much to my dismay, Matilda does too.

"What happened?" I ask.

"A fight broke in one of the taverns. I went there to sort it out."

"Or to engage in the fight?" I take a closer look and slightly touch the bruise near his eyebrows which the darkness of the night hid. He flinches at my touch.

"I've promised you I won't fight anymore, my love. And because I didn't fight back, I got hurt."

"I told you not to begin a fight. You can always use self defence. At this rate you might get killed!"

"You never mentioned it that way."

"Now I did." I answer.

"Well, why did you summon me, darling."

I blush at his remark. He has never called me darling before.

"Ah-uhm." I stammer and try to recompose myself.

"Matilda found out about us." I begin.

"What?" All the colours fade out of his face.

"Yes, she did. And she warned me about the consequences."

"What are those 'consequences' ?" He asks with utter curiosity.

"Sh- she convinced my father to send," I pause, hesitant to continue. "- to send a marriage proposal to the-" I sigh deeply.

Romeo urges me to continue through his gaze.

"To the Prince. And I've received the reply today. He wants to meet me. I've made it to his final list of prospective brides. I don't wish to marry him, Romeo. Please find a solution. I've always loved you." I complete breathlessly.

Instead of answering immediately and showing displeasure, Romeo thinks for a while, analysing the situation.

"You can explain it to him." He says after a while.

"Are you out of your mind? If he finds out about our affair, he'll inform it to our parents."

"No, my love. Not if you marry me." He replies.

"What are you trying to say?" I ask him.

"We'll get married tomorrow. Then you can put our case in front of him when you meet him. If we get married, he can't break our bond. He's a considerate person. He'll understand and support us. Our marriage will end the hatred crept into our families' heart since many years." He completes.

"But we can't marry so soon. How will we convince our parents?"

"We won't. We'll inform them after our marriage. Then, they won't be able to separate us, ever." He replies.

"Who will marry us?" I ask.

"My friend, Friar Laurence." He answers.

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