A Simple Life

The journey from home to school was the most dreaded thing that Juliet has been expecting this last few weeks before the school would start, and she hated every second of it. She sulked on the front seat of the car looking straight ahead as she tries to ease the beating of her heart. Juliet’s mother drove her and filled the whole car with her non-stop rants about the traffic. Juliet looked wearily ahead and said nothing. Her mom glanced at her way, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Juliet gave her a shrug and continued to gaze ahead.

“Are you feeling sick? Should we go back?” her mom asked her again.

“Mom, I’m fine.”

Juliet wanted to scream so bad and tell excuses, so she could go back home but her brain seemed to forget how to function properly. Juliet wasn’t even that sick to go back but her chest was making it hard for her to breathe. The thought of going to school after 3 months of summer vacation was making her stomach lurch the unusual way. What she felt was a mixture of excitement and dread. In order to shake off the feeling, Juliet gazed over the scenery on her right-side window try to divert her attention.

The countryside view slowly passed by as buildings and houses dotted the field, one by one. Juliet knew that the journey was nearing its end as buildings clustered to one another and the traffic began to thicken. She heaved a sigh as the car turned left on an intersection heading toward her school. The car entered the gate of the school and was greeted by a beaming guard. Juliet’s breathing became erratic, and her heart pounded wildly on her chest.

“Damn,” she thought.

She reluctantly picked up her backpack from the backseat and stuffed her phone hastily on her pocket. The car came to a halt in front of a green-painted building and Juliet was nervous from head to toe. She opened the car door and gave her mom a kiss, along with good-byes and take cares. Closing the door shut, she slung her bag on her back and approached the building, dreading each step. Juliet took a left turn on a hallway and head towards the stairs. She felt her heartbeat drumming against her chest loudly as she took each step, climbing up.

“Why the heck should I be nervous?” Juliet thought as she took the last step of the stairs and felt the wooden floor thud under her foot.

As she looked ahead, and her stomach somersaulted inside her at the sight of the last person she expected to see, William. His back was facing the top of the stairs, but she knew him quite well to forget his silhouette. It was early in the morning, so what did she expected. He is a morning person and came in early, that is why she avoided being early as much as possible. It has been a couple of months since she last saw him and the sight of him was making him more nervous that the usual first day of school.

His black hair was still sticking in different direction and his back, facing her, was as broad as when she had last seen them. Juliet took a step on the wooden floor with a dull thud, which made William turn around at her direction. He was surprised as she was, and an uneasy silence spread across them. Juliet was not sure why the hall suddenly became hot or her face became red. She paused in front of him not knowing what to do.

“What should I do? I can’t just speak to him!” she thought as she bit her lip.

“Hi, long time no see,” William spoke for the first time and gave her a friendly smile.

Unable to decipher the moment, Juliet blinked a couple of times not believing any word he said. “He spoke to me?” Juliet thought, still in shock. Her brain wanted Juliet to move away from him but her heart said otherwise. Not knowing what to response, she quickly shuffled inside the classroom without saying anything, leaving William taken aback. William stood there for a moment with his gaze following the girl who ignored him for six months. Did he made a mistake on talking to her? Questions filled his head but decided not to pursue it any further.

~*~

“He what?” Elaine exclaimed sending few people glancing her way.

Juliet covered her face from the embarrassment, her friend was making. Elaine has this tendency to shout at public places especially if she was excited. Sitting at the cafeteria with an excited Elaine is a bad idea.

“Keep it down!” Juliet hissed to her friend.

“Could you say it one more time?” Elaine asked in hushed tones, inching forward to her friend across the table.

Juliet let out a sigh and said, “He spoke to me,”

Elaine screamed and began shaking Juliet on her chair. People began staring at their direction and Juliet turned beet red. She shook Elaine’s hand from her shoulder and let her brown hair covered her face. Elaine happily giggled in her seat, flicking her hair from side to side and made an I-told-you-so face.

“Laney please, stop it! People are already staring at us!” Juliet exclaimed.

“Who cares? I am happy right now! Don’t even ruin it!”

“Urgh! It was not even a big deal!”

“Yes, it is! You, two had a major fight and had been giving cold shoulders on each other and then suddenly he talked to you like all those months were nothing? Come on, Jules. This can’t be just saving-our-friendship step and so it is a big deal!” Elaine proved her point but Juliet shook her head.

She must agree with her friend that it was a progress between the two of them, considering what went on for months but Juliet knows she ruined the opportunity of making up to William. Six months has passed since the heated conversation between her and William took place. They were best of friends back at those days and their friendship took a twist when William broke off with his girlfriend. Juliet sipped on her juice, staring blankly at her plate of lasagna while her friend is happily giggled in her seat. Seeing Juliet’s face, Elaine heave a sigh and sat straight in front of her.

“Jules, I really don’t get it, okay. Number one, you started to act indifferent when his girlfriend broke up with him. Number two, you were the one who started that fight. Number three, Will tried to ask several times for you guys to talk it out but you did not. And now, he spoke to you after several months but you gave him the cold shoulder.” Elaine said and started munching on her sandwich.

“One, he is a player. Two, I have to reprimand him as a friend and three, there is no point of talking it out.” she answered plainly. Elaine glared on her friend. Juliet shrug her shoulders off and began to eat her lasagna. Elaine placed her sandwich on the plate and pinched Juliet on the face. Juliet drastically dropped her fork on the plate and swatted her hand.

“Ouch! What is that for?” Juliet exclaimed angrily and rubbed her sore cheeks.

Elaine smirked at her and said, “Duh! Are you even sane by saying that he is playing with girls? The last time I checked, his ex-girlfriend broke off with him for another guy!”

“No, she didn’t. It was William’s fault. He was the first one who cheated,”

“Seriously, Julie! You know that wasn’t the reason you avoided him! Do you really want me to tell him the reason?” Elaine exclaimed.

Juliet glared at her friend and resumed eating her lasagna.

“Why can’t you just say that you are afraid?” Elaine added finishing of her sandwich. Juliet looked puzzled.

She stopped eating and blurted out, “Why would I be afraid?”

Elaine did not say anything and giggled. Juliet looked at her friend irritatingly and stabbed her lasagna. Her thoughts were flooded with doubt and anger as she recalled the last conversation she had with William.

It was a sunny afternoon and Juliet was finished with her afternoon class and decided to stay at the library to finish her homework while waiting for Will. The clock was ticking silently behind her as she plugged in her earphones worked her way through Trigonometry. Few minutes have passed, Juliet was engrossed with her work when a thud on the table startled her, breaking her concentration and forcing her to look up. It was William. He pulled out a seat across her and sat, staring at her.

“Hey, you are a bit early than usual. I guess I have to finish this at home.” She said and began pulling out her earphones and fixing her things.

William did not say anything but continued to stare at her.

“Are you okay? Did you and Claire fight again?” Juliet said, and William sighed. Will was definitely not on his mood. “If you want, I can go home, and you guys can fix it up. I can ask Elaine to accompany me back,” Juliet placed her stuff on her bag. Still William kept silent. “Look, if you’re just gonna sit there doing nothing, you won’t fix your problems with Claire, okay? Fix it. I’m leaving. Good bye.”

She slung her backpack and turned around to leave but William quickly get om his feet and grabbed her arm. Juliet felt her heart stop at his touch and turned to face him. William was staring at her intently, holding her arms and alarm signals were hay wiring her brain. “This is not good,” she thought.

“I broke up with Claire,” William said and his grip on Juliet’s arm tightened. Juliet blinked several times before reality hit her and the worse-case scenario she could ever think was happening in front of her. She took a step back from William trying to keep her calm face. His grip loosened on her arm and shock was plastered on Will’s face.

“Why?”

“Why, what?”

“Why did you broke up with her?”

“Why? You are asking me why?” William said bewildered, “You know she cheated on me! And you are asking me why I broke up with her. It is supposed to be obvious, right? You wanted this to happen.”

“What! What the hell, Will? Are you blaming me? It is not my fault she cheated on you and I am just doing my job as your best friend not be the school’s laughingstock! I never wanted this to happen to you!” Juliet exclaimed upon hearing his words. She is infuriated beyond she can imagine. She crossed her arms and glared at Will. Juliet wanted to slap her best friend so hard for throwing her false accusations but restrained herself.

“I’m sorry, okay? I – I don’t mean those things. It’s just that I’m so confused right now,”

“Confused? Why would you be so confused?” Juliet said, puzzled with her best friend.

William did not answer her but paced back and forth, with fingers running through his hair. He though hard and long for his answer ignoring Juliet’s glare and puzzled look. If he wanted to set things right and be true to himself, he has no other choice but to tell the truth. With all his courage gathered, he stopped in front of his best friend and held her by the shoulders. Juliet’s eyes widened, as if she read his mind. He can see her bewilderment, shock and fear through her brown eyes but willed to say the words he should have said a long time ago.

“I love you. For a long time, I waited to say this.” He felt her breath stopped with his words and her eyes brimmed with tears.

“No, no, no. This can’t be happening!” her brain screamed

“Will, don’t do this. I-” Juliet protested but William cut her.

“It is the truth. Whether you want this or not, I can’t just ignore this.” William stared at her with all the passion he has been keeping all those years hoping she could feel that what he is saying is the truth.

“William, you can’t place me in this!” Juliet exclaimed, releasing from his hold. She took several steps back with tears flowing down uncontrollably. “You broke up with, Claire and now you come around confessing to me? You’re an ass! You know that!” She turned her back and walked away but Will caught her hand.

“Juliet, wait! This is not what I meant to do!” William panicked.

“Then what do you want! You want me to feel happy?” Juliet said angrily. “For how long have you been cheating her with your feelings? You could have told her the truth long before she realizes you love somebody else and started cheating on you!”

“How did y-” William was shocked. That conversation was supposed to be between Claire and him only.

“How did I know?” Juliet scoffed, wiping her tears. “That day when I told you about Claire and Matt cheating on you, I accidentally walked on the two of them on the science room. Claire begged me not to tell you, but I know it was too late. You were already looking for her that time. We heard footsteps outside and I assured her I won’t tell you and hid myself on the equipment cabinet. And the rest was as you know it.” William was speechless. He stood in front of Juliet not knowing what to say or to do. He let her hand go as she backed away once again and left him staring at her back as Juliet left the library.

Juliet was not afraid. Why would she be afraid? Her decision was firm on that day. She would avoid William at all costs. He was just another player. Another guy. But why is it she began to doubt her decision? Was she really that afraid? If yes, then what is she afraid of?

Elaine tapped the arm of Juliet, slapping her back to reality. Juliet stared wearily at Elaine and said, “What now?” Elaine pointed at Juliet’s back and Juliet followed her finger. Her face became hot and felt blood rushing her face at the sight of the man she loathe. She quickly returned her gaze to Elaine who chuckled at Juliet’s face.

Juliet glared at her and hissed, “Are you doing that on purpose! You know I don’t like seeing him!” Elaine continued to chuckle despite the protest of her friend.

“Okay so I have a deal with you. You just need talk to William -” Elaine held her hand before Juliet could protest. “- and be friends with him again. If you won’t do it I will tell him the reason you responded that ugly that day was because, long before he started going out with Claire, you kept your status being the best friend and you were afraid he would fall in love with you,” Elaine said smugly and wiggled her eyebrows. Juliet gaped at her friend’s threat.

“You’re kidding right?”

“DUH!”

“Come on, you can’t do that,” Juliet laughed nervously.

“Really? I can’t?”

Without another word, Elaine stood up and waved her hand frantically to catch William’s attention. Seeing what she did, Juliet tried to drag Elaine back to her seat, but she just pushed Juliet away as she exclaimed, “William!” Juliet watched in horror as William headed on their direction. She tried going out of her seat, but Elaine glared at her nailing her down. “What a great friend she is!” Juliet sat down grumpily waiting for the incoming footsteps. She tried calming her heart by breathing gulps of air. Elaine on the other hand giggled at her friend. Juliet seriously needed to end this feud once and for all.

William was surprised to see Elaine calling him. Last time he checked, she loathe him just like her friend, Juliet. Seeing no harm done, He headed to her direction to see what the fuss is all about. He though Elaine was all alone but was surprised to see Juliet there. It even made him puzzled.

“Why would Elaine call him out if Juliet was there?” he thought. He can see from afar that Juliet was hunched on her seat trying to cover her face. She did a pretty good job covering it, but her ears still showed how embarrassed she was. William smirked at the sight of her embarrassed before him. He on the other hand, can’t understand why he casually walked to them. Maybe he was excited and happy to see Juliet once again, but it doesn’t change the fact that she avoided him.

“What is it?” William asked the beaming girl in front of him, as he approached their table.

“Well, Juliet here wants to talk to you but didn’t have the courage so I will talk in her -” Elaine was still blabbering those words when Juliet dragged her down.

“No! That is not what it is!” she said at the same time.

William raised an eyebrow at her direction and Juliet flushed bright red seeing William so close to her. She slowly let go of Elaine’s arm and sunk in her seat. William sighed, brushing his black hair with his fingers, irritated by their actions.

Elaine giggled and said, “I think I have to buy some drinks,” and left the two. Juliet sank lower on her seat and let out a sigh. She can’t believe that Elaine left her here on the most awkward situation. William is standing there just a hair’s breadth from her and she was there sitting like a fool. An internal turmoil began to build up in side Juliet as she weighed out the options of talking to him or not. William breathed out and turned to Juliet. He stared at her not knowing what to feel whether to be angry or to be happy.

“Is this some kind of a joke?” It was his turn to be irritated. He was humiliated a couple of times by this same girl and this time it was enough. William knows that he still valued the friendship but enough is enough. Juliet clasped her hands together and breathed. This is now or never.

“I’m sorry,” Juliet said quietly. William blinked upon hearing those words. He can’t believe he was hearing. This stubborn and egoistic girl said sorry to him? It doesn’t seem right. Is his mind playing tricks on him?

“What did you say?” William asked leaning towards her. Juliet glanced at her side and saw him looking intently at her. Her heart suddenly beat like crazy. Okay she was nervous like she was gonna die! Without further noticed, William took the seat across Juliet looking attentively at her. Juliet looked back and saw the same black eyes of her former friend. She wondered if William changed at that span of time that she avoided him.

“Sorry if I was a jerk to you. I just don’t want to be caught up by you and Claire.” she said, fiddling with her fingers.

“No. I should be the one who is sorry. I-” Before William can say anything, Juliet held up her hand and said, “No, Will. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. Without even hearing your proper explanation. I guess I am afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

Juliet heaved a sigh, “Afraid that you would fall for me as I have fallen for you,” she said it in a whisper. Juliet dreaded his answer more than anything right now, biting his lip doesn’t even do well. William smiled at her and let out a sigh of relief.

“I was scared we would graduate without fixing this,” William said, “I made things clear with Claire before breaking up with her, but you didn’t give me a chance to explain it. You did not break up our relationship. It was just me.” He smiled at her for the first time in months and it was breathtaking. She realized how much she missed William, her best friend.

William stared at Juliet for the longest time and realized how much he missed her company. It was not because she was beautiful but she got something more than what meets the eye. The way she bit her lip when she is nervous, the way she flicked her hair and those mesmerizing voice seemed to have an effect to him. For a moment in her smile, he saw a glow on her face. The round brown eyes she got complements the brown locks of her hair making her beautiful than ever.

“I missed you, Yulie,” William said as he stretched his hand across the table. Juliet looked up to him and beamed upon hearing her old nickname.

“I missed you too, Will,” Juliet replied and took his hand and gave it a squeeze.