Finale
Graduation Day
The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the grand courtyard in golden light. A sea of graduates, draped in robes of deep blue and gold, filled the space. Laughter, cheers, and the occasional sniffle of teary-eyed parents created a symphony of joy. Romeo adjusted the tassel on his cap, his fingers lingering on the smooth fabric. This moment—this future—was one he once thought he'd never live to see. He turned his head, his gaze finding Venecia standing a few feet away. She was radiant.
The sunlight kissed her skin, her dark curls spilling over her shoulders. She caught him staring and smirked. "What?" "You look good in that robe," he said. Venecia rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "So do you. Though, you do have that about-to-get-into-trouble look on your face." Romeo grinned. "That's just my face."
Before she could fire back a witty remark, the headmaster's voice echoed through the speakers. "And now, our graduating class of this year! Congratulations!" The crowd erupted in applause as caps were thrown into the air. Romeo felt the weight of his past lift with his cap, watching it spin into the sky, as if the curse that once bound them was truly gone. Venecia turned to him, her eyes shining. "We did it." He reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Yeah. We really did."
******
The night breeze was cool against their skin as they walked along the quiet path outside the venue, away from the lingering crowd of graduates and their families. Fireflies flickered between the trees, and above them, the sky stretched infinitely, speckled with stars. For the first time in forever, they could just be.
"Do you ever think about what would've happened if we'd chosen differently?" Venecia asked. Romeo didn't answer right away. He had thought about it, of course. The possibility of forgetting her, of being free but incomplete. The idea of another life where they might have been reborn only to repeat the same tragedy. But here they were—whole, together. "I don't think it matters anymore," he finally said.
"We chose this, and we're still standing. That's what matters." Venecia squeezed his hand. "Yeah. I guess you're right." They walked in silence for a while, listening to the distant sound of laughter and celebration from the banquet hall. "I want to travel," Venecia said suddenly. "Go places I've only read about. See things beyond this town." Romeo smirked. "And here I thought you'd just want a quiet life."
"I do." She turned to him, her expression filled with quiet determination. "But I want to live first. I want to make my own choices. Without fate. Without curses. Without anyone deciding for me." He understood. For so long, their lives had been dictated by something beyond their control. Now, they were free. "Then let's do it," he said. "Where do you want to go first?"
Venecia grinned. "Somewhere with good food. And no ancient prophecies, preferably." Romeo laughed. "That's a solid plan."
******
As they returned to the banquet hall, their parents were waiting. Lord Ardan and Lord Aldric stood near the entrance, their wives beside them, their expressions unreadable. Romeo felt Venecia stiffen slightly, but he held onto her hand. This was different. They weren't the same people they were months ago.
Ardan was the first to speak. "I suppose this is the part where we pretend like we didn't spend years hating each other." Aldric sighed. "Or we could admit that we were idiots and move forward." A pause. Then, surprisingly, Ardan chuckled. It was bitter, but real. "We wasted so much time." Phina, Aldric's wife, shook her head. "Time we can't get back. But time we can make worth it now."
Elara, Venecia's mother, smiled softly at her daughter. "We were wrong to keep you two apart." Venecia's eyes shimmered with emotion, but she held her head high. "You were. But we're here now." Aldric nodded. "We'll do better. If you'll let us." Romeo glanced at Venecia. This was their moment—their choice.
She exhaled, then nodded. "We will." And just like that, the wounds of the past didn't disappear, but they began to heal.
*****
Later that night, long after the celebrations ended, Romeo and Venecia sat on a rooftop, looking up at the sky. No curses. No fate. Just them. Venecia leaned her head against Romeo's shoulder. "Do you think we'll ever get used to this?"
"To what?" "Not having to fight for every moment we get?" Romeo thought for a moment, then kissed the top of her head. "Maybe. But I kind of like the idea of getting to rediscover each other. Without all the extra chaos." Venecia smiled. "Me too." They sat there in peaceful silence, fingers intertwined, as the stars watched over them.
For the first time, their love was truly theirs.
For the first time, their love wasn't a secret anymore.
THE END.