I will get you back for this, Romeo.
She remains silent, her focus on the road as our house looms into view.
"Mom? Please, say something," I implore.
It feels like a ticking clock; if we reach home, I'll lose my chance to confide. It's now or never.
She offers a wry smile. "Why not explore both options?"
"Mom!" I exclaim, aghast.
"Okay, okay, I understand. You haven't been intimate with either, right? I trust you've been safe—"
"Mother! This is serious," I insist.
Her laughter fills the car.
"Your expression was priceless."
I sigh, arms folded. This is why I hesitated to tell her. She finds humor where I seek earnest counsel. I suppose I inherited that trait.
Her hand finds mine, signaling a shift to sincerity.
"Follow your heart, Julie. It's strange hearing such confusion from you. But I see my little girl is maturing, contemplating stability, something real. I may not know these boys, but choose what your heart yearns for. Forcing love is futile; it leads to self-deception and hurts everyone involved. Be true to yourself."
"But Zed is everything I've wanted in a boyfriend."
"Exactly. But does he resonate with your heart? He may check all the boxes, but if he doesn't stir your soul, then what's the point?"
She's right. Zed offers security, affection, joy, and brings out my best, yet I crave more than a predictable journey. I yearn for someone who can drive me to the brink of madness, only to pull me back with an embrace of love. I desire a rollercoaster of emotions. Even if Romeo might reject me post-confession, at least I'll have taken the leap rather than cower and let the chance slip away.
Zed is right for me, but perhaps I'm not right for him.
"Thanks, Mom," I say, grateful.
"Always here for you, darling. So, skipping the party?" She might have forgotten I am grounded and I don't blame her. Another matters might be in her head at the moment.
I wrinkle my nose. Facing potential drama isn't on my agenda. I need space to strategize—how to gently break it to Zed and approach Romeo without alarming him. Though, I doubt anything could rattle Romeo.
My gaze instinctively drifts to where my little brother should have been nestled. A sense of certainty washes over me; he would have been a boy. The pang of his absence, the lost chance of welcoming him into this world, slices through me. Yet, I trust there's a divine reason behind it all.
You would've been cherished by the best mother, my little brother.
The moment my feet touch the ground, I sprint to my bathroom. An urgent need to change consumes me—it's the most repulsive experience I've ever endured.
I will get you back for this, Romeo.
YOU ARE READING
Romeo and Juliet
HumorSHORT CHAPTERS ------ He rips my phone from my hand again and puts it behind him. "Tell me how it works then." "We have to kiss." He looks at me for a few seconds, then grins. I recognize that smile. He's thinking of something mischievous. "A kiss?"...
