And oh yeah, since this is my first time posting about this family here (I think), I'll be making a separate post introducing them, their references and infos.
"Juliet hunches down on the table, resting her jaw over her arm. She picks up a crumpled paper ball, rotating it as she examines it with drowsy eyes. And then she looks at you, with her clear blue eyes behind her round glasses, curling a soft smile."
This is not a game btw 😂 I just thought of making this illustration, and kinda turn it into a visual novel style for funsies
Sometimes opposite attracts, sometimes it doesn't 😆
(Juliet is still giving her the silent treatment after that one joke she didn't like)
There can be times where Aires' jokes or silly attitude can be endearing to Juliet, aaand there are times where she's too serious that it annoys her. Or she's just being a tsundere who knows hehe.
But yiee, they can argue over serious disagreements, or just trivial nitpicks.
But no matter what, it's hard for her to ignore Aires.
[Setting: Just near the exit to the Guild's training/track field. Afternoon]
*****************
After a short restroom break, wiping her hands with a towel, Juliet walks through a dim hall, luminated by the sunlight creeping in from the wide open gate to the track field she's approaching to, when suddenly a figure bolts straight to her direction.
"Jyuls, there you are!" It's Aires, immediately hugging her once she was close.
Juliet was surprised by this since she wasn't paying attention on what's ahead. "Eh? A-Aires?" She starts to become flustered again, her cheeks blushing in light pink.
"Ah, I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry!" She say frantically.
"E-eh?"
"I must've done something stupid to annoy you or I offended you. S-Sorry if I wasn't watching my actions."
"Uh, n-no it's nothing like that--"
"Whatever it is, please don't be mad at me." She withdraws and bows her head in front of her.
"What? N-no it's fine. I-I just got carried away is all."
"How about I buy you a meal to make it up to you." She looks back up to explain her compromise.
"Wha--It's okay Aires, I'm not mad." Juliet awkwardly say.
Right? She doubts.
"I've... just been dealing with something personal, that's been keeping me up lately." She excuses herself, trying to slide away from a discussion she fears is gonna happen.
"Eh? What is it?"
"Uh, it's too personal. I-I can't explain the details." Juliet continues to hide what's been really happening. "Just... It's nothing to worry about." She brushes it off with an awkward smile, waving her hand to signify it being trivial.
"But, it carried to our training session, and you were ignoring me more frequently. Are you sure it's not something I can help with?" Aires says, looking concerned with one brow up and another one down. That made Juliet panic inside Oh no, she can tell! W-was I making it too obvious? She tries to think of another way to cover it, another reason that'll hopefully be the end of the growing suspicion.
"I-I just couldn't take my mind off it, that's all." Juliet say, answering a bit awkwardly with a bit of franticness in her tone. She can already fell the sweat appearing from her face to her neck, it's getting a bit warm for Juliet. It's not a complete lie, but it's broad enough to not make any further assumptions.
"But what about during our sparring session? You were kinda aggressive back there." Aires scratches her head. "Is this persnal issue of yours upsetting? Is someone upsetting you?"
That made her panic even more, the blush in her cheeks becoming red, and the temperature in her body getting warmer. That fake smile of hers is starting to fall off, trembling. She didn't get to the truth of the first question but now she's starting to take a different route to it. "Uh no..." Juliet tries to deflect, "Since you were my opponent, it'll be hard for me to hit you, s-so I tried to think of it as hitting a criminal instead." Juliet remarks, making an impromptu lie on the spot.
"Eh? A criminal? I feel like that's a bit too high of an opponent." Aires is surprised by that response. "No wonder why you were hitting so hard."
"Hehe yes..." Juliet takes a sigh of relief, internally, glad that she took that answer. Her body is cooling, calming down now.
"But, heh, do warn me next time." Aires awkwardly say, "I'm kinda not used to see you upset like that."
"Huh?"
"It's just...when I think about you, all I can see is your cute and pure personality." That surprised Juliet, that blush appearing once again, but not out of nervousness. "And maybe sometime you're tsundere side too, which is also cute!" She close her eyes with a bright smile.
Eh? What's with this sudden compliment? Juliet thought.
"Hopefully, those hits earlier wasn't serious. And don't worry, they didn't hurt me seriously either." Aires added, saying with a delighted tone. Juliet doesn't utter a response, just an awe stare at her friend.
"And hopefully, that personal issue of yours will be resolved soon, so you won't be thinking about it again." She remarks.
Juliet is surprised by that. Even when she doesn't know what it is, or that it's about her, she still wishes good things for Juliet. She ponders if it's even possible to resolve this issue of hers, it feels like it'll stuck with her forever. The feelings she has for her friend, the admiration, gratitude, adoration, but the frustration, will it disappear eventually? But how, and when?
"Uh, yeah. Thanks Aires."
She giggles, "no problem.", and moves towards her again for a hug.
Juliet's eyes widen as Aires arm stretch around her, surprised and flustered. Her cheeks blushing in red again as her embrace makes Juliet's heart flutter, her body becoming warm once more. The frustrating thoughts begins again.
This feeling..., Juliet thought, whenever Aires feels this close to me, my body feels tense. Is it because I'm nervous? Or that it's just being cautious that she might do something to me, but she already is. She's making feel like this. She can feel her heartbeat becoming more and more loud, quicker and quicker as minutes go by in her embrace.
There it is again. She listens to the heartbeat inside of her. Lightly touching her chest where it beats.
*Dum dum, dum dum*
Why is it acting like this? Am I scared? Am I happy? Why does her hug feel so comforting yet I wanna reject it?
Juliet has been feeling this for a while now. Everytime Aires tries to be affectionate towards her, she wants to deny it, but she's still confused why she's doing so.
When Juliet started becoming aware of what she was feeling, she already had certainty of what's happening between them and their relationship. She already knew that Aires has feelings for her, and she's growing feelings for her back. She already accepted that fact. But as time went on, the doubt kept crawling back, that what if her conclusion is wrong. What if she eventually confess, it'll be revealed that she was wrong the whole time, that the feelings were just one-sided. Or, what if Aires have alterior intention, hence why she's so nice to her. She's only kind to her just to get something out of her one day. Whenever Juliet thinks of that assumption she always thinks of those story plots where a couple confesses their love to one another and have a great romantic relationship only for it to end up being an abusive one just because one of them finally got what they wanted in the relationship, which usually happens between married couples. Now that they know everything about each other, one might use it against the other. She reasons with herself that those scenarios can't possibly happen, it's isn't in Aires' nature to do that. But then again, she's fearful that future might come to her too, it's just not obvious yet.
Am I really afraid? Of rejection? Being manipulated? But why is that when there's no sign of that in Aires. Her kindness and light-hearted personality is consistent, and she has told me a lot about her and her life. She tries to discuss things in her head, like her thoughts are trying to answer the most difficult and contradicting math problem; they already have the values in hand, but each one is applicable to different formulas. Or is it--Am I afraid of falling too hard? Her eyes widen from that conclusion. I never dated nor had a crush on anyone before, perhaps I'm afraid that if this doesn't work out, I'll be devastated about it, or I'll be disappointed if it doesn't work at all, how much that will affect me. Her train of never-ending assumptions continues.
Juliet knows everything about love and relationships from the many books and dramas she has read and watched, so she knows what to expect, she has prepared herself for it. But at the same time that knowledge backfired on her, making her grow doubt instead. The fear of uncertainty. It makes her frustrated, but not towards Aires, but... just herself.
Even though I try to point my frustration to Aires I'm just projecting it to her. She finally had that realization. I...I shouldn't be doing that to her, but at the same time, why is it so difficult for me to express gratitude instead? Am I... really suppressing myself that much? To express what I truly feel towards her? To like her?
*Du-dum du-dum da-dum* The beating in her heart grows faster. She reaches out and takes a hold of Aires' long-sleeved top, and resting her head on her.
I-I don't know how to tell you this--I don't even know where to begin! She cluthes the arm surrounding her on front. Her face becoming red and sweaty, nervous eventhough there's no reason to. She expresses dread in her eyes yet wanting to feel comfortable. B-but, do I even want to? To finally make it stop? My heart beating this much, my doubts and fears? But what if you don't like me back-- She blinks her eyes and stops that train of doubt running again.
"A-Aires?" She meekly calls.
"Hm?"
"It's fine. You didn't hurt me too much. Besides, I'm more stronger than normal folks."
"Uh, I'm sorry for hitting you so much earlier." She say, "I didn't mean all of that."
Finally confessing what she feels yet still not saying the full truth, but it's enough for her to make a first step. She leans her head more to her, trying to snuggle on her.
"Hm, yeah."
"Plus, maybe it's good for you to hit hard like that." Aires continues, "If you were thinking about real criminals then I think you'll be a real hero hitting that ruthless." Juliet is surprised by that further compliment. She can feel Aires withdrawing, and starts to panic once more. "But your training can't be just about hitting, you need to--", once Aires' eyes moves back to Juliet she can notice her acting very shy. Her shoulders raised, her head down so she won't see her flustered red face, and the slight panic in her body language. But before Aires can respond Juliet immediately rush in to hug her, wrapping her arms around her out of panic to hide her flustered face, tightly like being a bear trap. She hides her face deeply on Aires chest.
Ah wait! I-I didn't mean to do this! She say in her head while thinking of how to get out of this situation next.
Aires begins to blush about this as well, flustered from that sudden action of her friend. "Uh... Jyuls?" The flustered Aires asked.
But Juliet doesn't hear it, she's still discussing on her own in her head. Ah, I guess this is a good start... She turns her head to the side, giving herself air to breathe, still closing her eyes looking uncomfortable on this predicament she put herself in. M-maybe if I do gestures like this--like what Aires does--maybe I'll be comfortable about it and eventually share my feelings. Her embrace tightens.
But this is so embarrassing. Her pride joins in her group of thoughts, still wanting to play things cool and show that she's a witty and composed person. Then she feels a light touch on the back of her head.
"If that issue of yours is effecting you this bad, I'm sure you'll get through it." She gently slides her hand on Juliet's soft peach hair, slowly petting her. "But if you ever need help, you can always call me." She warmly says with a soft smile. She still has no idea what's going on with her friend but she assumes it's something dire with how she's acting. She can't do much if she doesn't want help, but she still insist in offering one.
She feels more pathetic now, stupid even, that the first time someone is truly affectionate to her, relentlessly affectionate to her, she still doesn't reciprocate the kindness and friendship, but rather she deflects it. Not because of annoyance but doubt. Not because of Aires, or others, but because of herself. She begins to blush again, but not because she's flustered, but because she's embarrassed.
Juliet's flusteredness takes a hault from that, now expressing awe at her words of service. Uh, it's okay Aires I--this isn't your problem to deal with. A slight feeling of patheticness has risen, knowing that she had to be affected in this even though she's oblivious of what's truly going on. With a furrow in her eyes she begins to reflect on how she's been acting as of lately. She must've been cold towards her friend, being so fixated on her doubtful thoughts, and being harsh without giving her a visible reason why which must've made her so confused even though she tries to act so friendly. Is this how years of isolating herself has done to her? She thought, reflecting back to her younger days. Juliet knows she can act kindly and friendly towards others but when others tries to express their feelings, and friendship towards her, she knows how to act, but she doesn't know how to do that act, to respond. She realize that now.
She flashes back to days where classmates would always ask her to help them with their activities and find the answers, projects, and other tasks; she is one of the smartest in her class and she isn't stingy about it. But when it comes to casual talks like offering her to hang out with some of them, her only responses are variations of modest rejection. Only thinking of her wants without considering others nor being with other people.
She finally lets herself go, distancing herself abit from Aires, with her head still lowered. She sticks her arms close to herself, feeling small, gripping on of them tightly.
"Have I...ever been rude to you, Aires?" She suddenly asks.
"Eh? Rude?"
"When I ignore you or not listen to whatever you're saying..."
"Oh, not at all." She shrugs, "I just think you're being introspective or thinking about something."
"Eh? But don't you think that's being dismissive?" She finally turns her head up, in disbelief of Aires' answer. "When someone wants to talk to you but they don't care?"
"I don't think you're that kind of person." Juliet is taken aback. "I'll just wait for you to get back to Earth." Aires' words leaves Juliet confused yet intrigued with her answer. It seems so naive yet it shows that she doesn't have negative feelings towards her. "Although it is concerning sometimes when you take too long." Aires adds.
"I...I didn't mean to be lost in thought so often." Juliet looks back down once more, feeling ashamed of her habits.
"It's okay, Jyuls. I know introverts always do that, so I'm alright with it." Even knowing what kind of person Juliet is makes her heart skip, and the fact that she's so patient of her despite of her temperament shows her gentle heart.
Aires takes out her phone from her pocket and turns it on, the light from its screen luminating her face. "Ah, it's already past 30 minutes!", She's surprised that it's already passed their break time. "Come on, Daniel would give me 20 pull-ups if we're 10 minutes late!" She immediately grabs Juliet's hand and pulls her as they run towards the entrance. But before they would come out into the bright light of the outside, Juliet slows down and Aires notices it, pulling her to a halt.
"Aires can you...remind me next time if I'm being rude to you?" She timidly asks, still averting her eyes from her.
"Huh?"
"As your friend, I need to know if I'm doing something wrong." A blush begins to appear, She furrows her eyes, but all of what she expresses is obscured by her glasses becoming opaque.
"Yeah, sure." Aires replies before beginning to sprint again, with Juliet being dragged by her, following her pace. Juliet focuses on their hands interlocked, she can feel Aires is holding her so tightly, that sense of sincerity even if it's just urgency, feels so interesting to Juliet. Even for the fact that they're late, she didn't rush in on her own, she took Juliet with her so they would both be on the same pace, and arrive at the same time. Those thoughts solidify her certainty about who Aires is and what her intentions are, turning those fogs called "doubts" that cloud her mind into a light haze. Atleast, she wants it to be like that starting now, so maybe one day, Juliet can finally share what she's feeling. And if anything does go wrong, atleast she'll know that she was right, but that's what future Juliet will have to get through of.
For now, for the present, she wants to try being true and honest to what she's feeling, and soon, express it. She smiles at those thoughts, somewhat still embarrassed but glad that she's finally resolving this issue of hers.
Thanks for being patient with me, Aires. Just give me a bit more time to sort out my thoughts.
