"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?"~ Marianne Williamson, Return to Love

~'~

Stratford, England. Shakespeare's hometown.

"I'm so very happy!," Agnes chirped. "Even though I don't read many books, I'm a great fan of Shakespeare's plays"

"Off course, author," Jason smiled at her.

"I'm not an author yet. Not everyone who writes can be called an author. Only those who give a moral, who inspire their readers and who truly succeed in making people look up to the characters and hence themselves, can be called 'authors'," Agnes replied.

"That's exactly why I called you one, Cherry," Jason said. "Exactly why"

"Ahem ahem," Akane smirked. "Did someone say something r-o-m-a-n-t-I-c?"

Agnes shook her head at her. "No, no one did," she said, walking away.

Shakespeare's home was rather small, but pleasant. It was small house with a long chimney in the side. There were trees with long, thin barks around it and small bushes bearing colourful flowers along the pavement.

The house was surprisingly well-preserved. They were surprised to see everything there - Shakespeare's bed with yellow curtains behind. His room had a small furnace beside his bed and a cradle in front of it. The kitchen was a little larger with small jars and pots for cooking. His dinning table was nothing but a single small table with wooden benches on either side. The house otherwise had wooden flooring.

"Even though the house looks small now," the guide began, "It was the second largest house in the town in his time"

Jason and Agnes looked around the place with keen interest and utter admiration for this great man.

"Shakespeare penned a curse for his grave. His epitaph was:

Good friend for Jesus' sake forbear,

To dig the dust enclosed here:

Blest be the man who spares these stones,

And curst be he that moves my bones," the guide recited.

"Interesting," Agnes grinned. "Let's dig up his grave"

"Don't be silly," Jason said, shaking his head.

Then, suddenly Akane and Takumi rushed in from behind.

"Hey!," Akane said, grabbing their attention.

"THEY NEED A ROMEO AND JULIET FOR THE PLAY!," they shouted in unison.

"So?," Agnes said, glaring at them. They better not drag us!

"So both of you spell perfect!," Takumi smiled. "Come on!"

"Oh no no no no no! The costumes are not available, we don't know the dialogues, we are not ready!," Agnes said, shaking her head vigorously, hyperventilating.

Akane and Takumi pulled both of them without even caring to listen to their defence.

"Wait--," Jason began.

"Here," Akane smiled. "They are ready"

"Oh by God's grace! Thank you so much for arranging a Romeo and Juliet in such a less time!," the manager gave them a grateful smile. "You both just have to act, alright? Since you obviously don't know the dialogues, just move your lips and hands. Don't worry about the rest"

"But, please listen to us--," Jason and Agnes said, panicked.

"Go! Change!," Takumi and Akane pushed them into their changing rooms.

Utterly shocked and panicked, Agnes and Jason were made to change.

~'~

"Sit down on your knees and move your lips. Agnes will appear from the window above. Its the famous scene," the manager whispered to Jason. How did I land up acting?

The red curtains slowly opened, displaying the stage settings. Akane and Takumi clapped the loudest. Agnes appeared from the window above Jason. His knees slightly slipped, losing their balance when he saw Agnes.

How beautiful she looked in that pink dress. He smiled and controlled himself from falling. The audience cheered and then the dialogues began.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east and Juliet is the sun"

Agnes let out a smile as she looked at him. He looked so handsome. How she was controlling her budding emotions was beyond her understanding.

"She speaks:

Oh speak again bright angel! For thou art
As glorious tho this night, being o're my head.."

Jason moved his mouth and hands in a dramatic manner. The crowd cheered. Akane andTakumi felt a flower of happiness blooming inside their hearts.

"Romeo ! O Romeo! Wherefore thou art Romeo?"

Agnes acted with her hands, moving her lips slightly. And the scene went on. However, the drama had just begun.

~'~

"You have to hold are hand, alright? And then kiss," the manager said.

"WHAT IN THE HOLY NAME OF GOD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?," Agnes screamed at him. Jason was shocked at the ease with which the manager told this. He shook his head.

"But.. its really necessary," the manager pleaded.

"What if we were brother and sister?," Jason questioned.
Agnes raised her eyebrows at him, clearly disappointed.
"I'm just saying," Jason whispered to her.
"But are you?," the manager questioned.
"No-"
But it was too late. He had to rush as the curtains opened. Agnes felt her heart beat faster with each second. Jason looked into Agnes' eyes, assuring her that it would be fine. She nodded imperceptibly.

He took her hand as the dialogue said,

"Your hand is like a holy place that my hand is unworthy to visit.
If you are offended by the touch of my hand, my two lips are standing here like blushing pilgrims to make things better with a kiss"

Agnes' eyes dilated. Oh god, I just hope.. A few dialogues followed. And then, it happened. Jason bent towards her slowly. Her heart was beating so fast, she felt that it would come out. But Jason kissed her forehead lightly. Agnes looked at him, relieved. He smiled and nodded at her.

The crowd cheered and rose as one, applauding. They filled the air with laudatory comments. Akane and Takumi whistled and screamed. Agnes and Jason smiled and bowed at the crowd. They didn't stop cheering, they enjoyed every bit of the program. Their chemistry worked wonders.

How could I think Mr Lecturer could ever do something wrong? Agnes felt so safe and protected with Jason. When she was with him, she felt invincible. She looked at him. He was perfect.

~'~

"You both were great!," Akane and Takumi said.

"And you both are insane!," Agnes replied, glaring at them. "What was all that about?"

"We thought you both would make the perfect Romeo and Juliet! And guess what? We were correct," Takumi winked.

"Yeah yeah"

Jason smiled and folded his arms across his chest.

"By the way Jason I saw that," Akane smiled.

"Saw what?"

"Saw that you slipped when you saw your Juliet arriving"

"Oh that," Jason said, scratching his head. Agnes giggled.

"You both look great and I mean it," Akane said, seriously this time. Agnes smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you, both of you"

She smiled and shook her head. "Don't be silly," said Akane as she lovingly hugged her back.

"Goodnight then," Takumi said, after a while an went into their rooms.

But before Jason left, he leaned closer to Agnes and whispered into her ear, "You looked beautiful today, Agnes. You got me on my knees"

She smiled, flushed. What was this feeling she felt for him? So strong, so intense?

"Goodnight, Cherry"

"Goodnight, Mr Lecturer"

Because just like Shakespeare said,

"Here's what love is : A smoke made out of lover's sighs. When the smoke clears, love is a fire burning in your lover's eyes. If you frustrate love, you will get an ocean made out of tears. What else is love? It is a wise form of madness. It's a sweet lozenge that you choke on"

And what else is love? Jason and Agnes.

~'~

:D Sorry for the late update! *-* too much of Shakespeare in this chapter, isn't it? I'll update soon.
Thank you for reading this. The next chapter : Take care, Fidel. I miss you ( Jason's sister meets us here!)

~'~