Title: Jerkmeo and Juliet.
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Romeo and Juliet met when they were young. It was summer when they first both laid on each other’s eye. Unlike the old version of Romeo and Juliet, their parents are both in good terms. In fact, they made a conspiracy on why their names were made for each other. Everyone believes that they were meant for each other. Jules, on the other hand, thinks that Romeo sucks and he’s the biggest jerk in the planet. Why is that so?
When they met, summer 1997, Romeo cut Juliet’s doll’s dress that made Jules cry a river. They were only 5 that time. He was laughing his ass off when their parents came and asked Romeo to apologize. In which, he ran and left Jules crying without any apology. Jules started to despise Romeo even with this silly reason.
When they were transferred into pre-school, Romeo would get Jules’ recess and eat it for himself. Jules being Jules, would cry again and tell their teacher Romeo’s misdoings. Romeo laughed and didn’t care about Jules crying for the second time. In additional, every solitary day, Romeo would call Jules fat. That made Jules hate Romeo more and more each day.
When they were elementary, Romeo snuck a frog in Juliet’s bag. Turns out, Jules is not afraid of frogs. So, Romeo made Juliet kiss the frog; Juliet believed in the Frog Prince after all. Romeo used his camera and recorded Jules’ first kiss. Besides from Jules getting sick, he played the tape when they graduated from Elementary during Jules’ valedictory speech that made everyone laugh at poor Jules. Romeo was not able to get his diploma afterwards.
When they were in high school, Jules decided to fly to America to avoid that jerk. However, fate played a trick and Juliet almost screamed when he saw Romeo on the plane where she boarded. Turns out, Romeo will also be with her.
When they were in America, instead of Romeo throwing pebbles in Juliet’s window, he directly hit Juliet with pebbles. After that incident, Juliet swore that Romeo is a jerk in every bruise that she had.
Now that they’re back for college, she was forced to live with Romeo in a house.
She sighed while reminiscing how they met and how they ended up here. “Oh cruel fate, what have I done to deserve this?” she uttered while eyeing Romeo with fire in her eyes that burn into his soul. Romeo winked and flipped the pancakes he was cooking for their breakfast. He smiled and patted Juliet’s head.
Jules knew what Romeo did. She shrieked in terror. Romeo did just put bubble gum in her hair. He laughed while she tried to untangle most of her hair. Bad habits die hard.
However, Jules and Romeo swore that they will never fall for each other. Promises are meant to be broken, aren’t they?
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They left for school while Jules was throwing dagger looks on Romeo’s head wishing he would die right at that moment. “Hey baby Jules, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Instead of giving Romeo attention, Jules continued walking and rolled her eyes away from Romeo’s face. He held her hand for him to catch up. Jules’ heart was beating so fast that she was afraid that he might hear it. She didn’t know why but her hate dispersed easily when she met Romeo’s gaze. Her heart skipped a beat when Romeo drew her closer. He tucked her hair in her ears and smiled. “Your face is epic. Tell me, do you like me, Jules?” and let out a huge smirk.
Her smile disappeared quickly and hit Romeo in a place where it would hurt the most. She ran as fast as she could, leaving Romeo numb with pain down there.
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During Literacy subject, their teacher was discussing about the undying love of Romeo and Juliet. All of their classmates where smirking like lunatics in their direction. She felt uneasy while butterflies fluttered in her stomach, how lovely is this girl when inlove? She slowly turned her head to Romeo’s direction to find out that her prince charming was sleeping. She used her heels to kick his leg and Romeo began to perk up slowly.
When Romeo fully woke up, he gave Jules dagger looks. She smiled in her head on how cute groggy Romeo is. She wrote on her journal while covering her writings for the fear of Romeo peeking in the corner, “Today, Romeo looks fascinating even if he put gum in my hair.”
She scanned the pages to see how her overview on Romeo had changed. It was a small notebook with flowers printed all over. On the first page, there was a picture of them happily sitting under a tree—which I believe was impossible. She smiled at the sweet notes she had on her journal. Truly, love was in her heart yet she decided to ignore.
She closed the notebook and looked at the board. "For never was a story of more woe; Than this of Juliet and her Romeo,” their teacher stated. Romeo mouthed, “boring,” and Juliet stuck her tongue. With that, the bell rang and they hurriedly went out of the room for lunch.
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During lunch break, Romeo asked for Jules notebook in Algebra for he will be copying today’s lesson about polynomials. Jules handed out the notebook with flowers printed all over the page and smiled. She took a hamburger and went out of the cafeteria because she was called by her mother in the guidance office.
When Juliet left, Romeo read what was written in the notebook. In his surprise, he found several things about him and a lot about Jules’ infatuation. “He’s no Romeo and I’m no Juliet but together, I hope we’ll live forever.”
Juliet, forgetting about buying a drink, returned to the cafeteria and saw Romeo browsing her notebook while smiling like a lunatic. The thought sipped in and she knew what he was reading—her journal. She ran as if she was a fugitive. Wiping her tears, she ran as fast as she could without hearing Romeo’s statement for her secret admiration was revealed.
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Juliet went home early and rested for a while. That’s it. She has to admit that she likes Romeo even if he was a jerk. For the truth is there was a certain part of her heart that yearns for Romeo no matter how stupid he might be and no matter how hard is it to forgive Romeo for all the misfortune he gave to Jules.
Romeo, of course, read all those things written in the notebook.
Jules didn’t know what to do but on the other hand, Romeo did know what to do.
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Jules went home to her parent’s house for she was embarrassed on what happened a while ago. She left a note saying she’ll be going home not to mention she’s avoiding her Romeo.
When Romeo saw this, he took the car keys and drove 90 miles to see his Juliet.
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It was raining that night. With his raincoat, he kept the notebook inside his inside coat pocket and the box he had especially for Jules. The downpour actually made Romeo feel cold. But rain or shine, he must continue.
He threw pebbles by her window, just like Romeo did in Shakespeare’s novel. However, his first try wasn’t fine. He hit the pot resting in the edge of the terrace and the daisy fell. That, made Jules walk outside to see who did such mischief to find out Romeo waving sheepishly to her. He coughed while his hands sweat like crazy. Anxiety runs in his blood.
“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night,” Romeo shouted while Jules gave out an innocent look. “Romeo! It’s raining!” she shouted with concern in her eyes. Romeo frowned. Spell, major epic fail, right? But he might as well take the offer. Who would want to be confessing in the middle of the rain, right?
“Now that you’ve mentioned it, can I come inside?” Romeo said then smiled. Jules hurriedly came out with a towel and her raincoat, leaving the anxiety of the accident of that afternoon. She stormed outside the house and wore her raincoat.
“Gee, why did you come at time like this?” she said. It was 9pm and seeing Romeo at this time of the night would actually freak Jules away. He smiled because he know that Jules must care about him, that much. He then took Juliet’s hand and went inside they ran like a bunch of lunatics in the midst of the rain. She was feeling something bizarre, again. Everytime Romeo would hold her hand; she knew her heart would skip a beat.
She carefully opened the door so she won’t make any sound to awake her parents.
“Hey, you didn’t answer me,” she said when they reached the house. She drew the chair next to the sofa so they can talk closer.
Close enough to make Juliet’s heart shout with glee, again. “It’s because you forgot this,” he smiled then took the small journal from his coat’s pocket. The print started to fade because it was unfortunately soaking wet.
“Y-you read it?”
He nodded. He would actually say something sarcastic at times like this, but yet, he smiled for times like this needs sincerity. They remained clueless about each other’s feeling not until tonight. For affection ran between their stares and their hearts yearn for each other.
“So…” she tried to break the silence.
“Hey Jules, can I ask you a favour? Since you already confessed, let me tell my side,” he said without breaking their stares. She nodded while her heart broke loose due to nervousness.
“Remember when I ate your recess? I want you to reduce weight that time. I want you to show them that you were someone worth loving.” He paused.
Jules remembered. When they were young, she was fat and that was true.
“Remember during your speech? Why I played the video? It’s because they think I wasn’t good enough for you since you are perfect. That’s why I ended up playing that video,” he explained. She didn’t know what to say, for she was shocked on what she heard. This is the most immature thing that a guy would do to show affection, she thought. Romeo is also aware of Juliet’s thought. He smiled.
“Remember when I followed you to America? That’s not because I want to piss the hell out of you but that’s because I won’t like to be without you. Even in the young age, I knew I can’t live without you.” He chuckled. God knows that Jules was blushing like a ripe tomato.
“Lastly—“ before he can continue, Jules raised her eyebrows. “Okay, that wasn’t true for I have more mischief done,” he gave up and smiled. Jules, too, smiled and appreciated how lovely their moment was.
“Now, Juliet. I know you love me too. You already stated it, with a diary entry or two,” he uttered, helf Juliet’s hands and smirked. She sat frozen. Butterflies had festivals in her tummy. Her heart, too, jumped with excitement.
“Now listen, all the mischief I’ve done, was all because I love you. It might not be a valid reason, but hell Jules, I freaking love you. I read what you feel. I know that’s real. Now tell me, would you marry me? Not now but who knows? Forever should be marked as of today.” He held her hand tighter and they both felt the spark. He let go for a while and let himself fall in his knees and let out a ring.
Jules smiled and nodded, trying to suspend her tears, for another mystery was solved. She’s going to marry her Romeo. Before anything else, he drew Jules closer for a kiss. Without a word, she responded and sparks continue to burn. Gasping for air, she uttered, “Jerk.”
His name is Romeo, her name is Juliet. For not only their names were made for each other, but also their hearts, they were meant to stay forever.
“For this story wasn’t about their woe; but this is how Juliet found her Romeo.”
-FIN-