Romeo
Romeo had never seen his father look so angry before. His usual composed demeanor had been replaced with something cold and cutting, his voice sharp as a blade. His mother sat rigidly beside him, her expression unreadable, but the tension in her posture made her stance clear—she was just as furious.
"We've been patient, Romeo," his father began, his gaze unwavering. "We've ignored the whispers, the way you disappear for hours, the distracted look in your eyes. But we are not fools."
His mother's fingers tightened around the edge of the table. "You've been seeing her, haven't you?"
Romeo swallowed hard, keeping his face neutral even as his heart pounded. Lying was useless—they already knew. Still, he wouldn't betray Venecia, not now, not ever.
His father exhaled harshly. "This end. Tonight."
"No." The word slipped out before Romeo could stop it. His father's eyes darkened.
"No?" His voice was eerily calm, but Romeo had spent his whole life recognizing the storm brewing beneath.
"I'm not leaving her," Romeo said, his voice steadier than he felt. "I love her."
His mother inhaled sharply. "Love?" she whispered, as if the very word was poison.
His father rose to his feet, his chair scraping against the floor. "You are playing a dangerous game, boy. If you continue down this path, you will lose everything. Your name. Your place in this family. And yourself. Do you understand?"
Romeo clenched his fists beneath the table. He understood perfectly. But nothing—not wealth, not security, not even his parents' approval—meant more to him than Venecia.
"I won't stop seeing her," he said, voice firm despite the fear curling in his stomach.
His father's jaw tightened. "Then you are no son of mine."
Silence fell over the room, suffocating and heavy.
********************
Elsewhere...
Venecia's mother sat on the edge of the couch, her brow furrowed in worry. "She's different," she murmured, more to herself than to her husband. "She's hiding something."
Her father, ever the skeptic, sighed. "Teenagers hide things, love. It's what they do."
But her mother wasn't convinced. Venecia had been slipping away at odd hours, her laughter had softened into distracted smiles, and worst of all, she never let anyone see her bare shoulders anymore.
The mark.
She turned to Liana, who was perched stiffly on the armrest, looking as if she'd rather be anywhere else.
"You're her best friend, Liana," her mother said carefully. "Tell me the truth. What is she hiding?"
Liana hesitated, chewing on her lip. She knew the truth—of course she did—but betraying Venecia wasn't an option.
"I... I don't know," she lied.
Venecia's mother narrowed her eyes, and for a moment, Liana thought she might see through her. But then she sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples.
"If she's in trouble, I need to know," she whispered.
Liana swallowed hard. She is, she wanted to say. You have no idea how much.
**************
That Night...
The risk was greater than ever, but Romeo and Venecia couldn't stay away.
They met beneath the cover of darkness, their hands immediately reaching for each other. The moment they touched, the world melted away—their fears, their families, the impossible weight of their circumstances. None of it mattered when they were together.
"I hate this," Venecia whispered, pressing her forehead against his. "I hate sneaking around. I hate that they don't understand."
Romeo brushed his fingers down her cheek. "Then we make them understand."
She let out a shaky laugh. "And how do we do that?"
"We run," he said, the idea forming the moment the words left his lips. "Just for a while. Get away from them. Just us."
Venecia's heart leaped. It was reckless, impossible. And yet...
Her lips found his in a desperate kiss, and for a moment, nothing else mattered.
Then—
A branch snapped behind them.
They froze.
Romeo turned, muscles tensing, Venecia gripping his arm.
A shadow moved in the darkness and what came out was a squirrel.
**************
Aww, love is sweet, don't you think so? What is going to happen to them?