"I'll be fine, Mum. Just need some coffee," I said, attempting to brush it off.
Mum nodded, handing me a steaming cup.
As I sipped my coffee, my mind wandered back to the dream.
Why Romeo?
Why that intense gaze?
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog.
"Selina, eat your breakfast," Mum reminded me, breaking the spell.
I took a bite of toast, my thoughts still elsewhere.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
Emilia's text flashed on the screen:
"Hey, what's up? hanging out today or Still thinking about Romeo?"
My heart skipped a beat.
How did she know?
"Nothing, just had a weird dream," I replied, downplaying the encounter.
Sofia chimed in:
"Spill the beans! What happened?"
I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to share.
But something about the dream lingered, unsettling me.
"Meet me at the café at 2 pm," I typed.
"We need to talk."
The day passed in a blur.
At 2 pm, I walked into the cozy café, spotting Emilia and Sofia already seated.
"Hey, what's going on?" Emilia asked, concern etched on her face.
As I sat with Emilia and Sofia at the cozy café, I couldn't shake off the lingering feeling from my dream.
"Guys, I had the weirdest dream last night," I confessed, taking a sip of my coffee.
Emilia's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Tell us!" Sofia urged.
I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to share.
But something about the dream unsettled me.
"Okay, but promise not to freak out," I said, glancing around the café to ensure we were alone.
They nodded in unison.
"I dreamed Romeo was in my room, staring at me intensely," I whispered.
Emilia's brow furrowed.
"That's creepy."
Sofia shuddered.
"What did he do?"
I took a deep breath.
"He walked towards me, called my name, and...that's when I woke up."
Emilia placed a reassuring hand on my arm.
"Maybe it's just your subconscious processing yesterday's encounter."
Sofia nodded.
"Yeah, or maybe you're just stressed."
I nodded, hoping they were right.
As we chatted, lost in conversation, the café door swung open.
My heart skipped a beat.
For a moment, I thought it was Romeo.
But a group of laughing teenagers entered instead.
I exhaled, feeling relieved.
Emilia noticed my tension.
I blinked, my crystal-clear watering eyes focusing on Emilia and Sofia's concerned faces.
"I'm sorry, guys," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't finish telling you about the dream."
Emilia's grip on my arm tightened.
"Finish telling us, Selina," Sofia urged.
I took a deep breath.
"There's more," I continued. "In the dream, Romeo stood up and walked towards me. He whispered my name, 'Selina,' and...and his face was so close to mine."
Emilia's eyes widened.
"What happened next?" Sofia asked.
I swallowed hard.
"That's when I woke up," I said, my voice trembling.
The cafe fell silent, the only sound the gentle hum of the espresso machine.
Emilia broke the silence.
"Selina, that's seriously creepy," she whispered.
Sofia nodded. "Do you think it means something?"
I shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe it's just my subconscious messing with me."
But the memory of Romeo's intense gaze lingered.
Emilia glanced at her watch."We should get going," she said.
Sofia nodded. "Yeah, we have studying to do."
As we gathered our belongings, I couldn't shake off the feeling.
Romeo's face haunted me.
After the weekend, the amusement park adventure, and the unsettling dream, I returned to school with a mix of emotions.
Monday morning dawned, and I stood outside the school gates, exchanging greetings with Emilia and Sofia.
"Hey, guys," I said, adjusting my backpack.
Emilia smiled.
"Hey, Selina! Ready for another week?"
Sofia nodded.
"Let's get through this day."
As we walked into the school building, the familiar sounds and smells enveloped me.
Lockers creaked, students chattered, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the cafeteria.
We headed to our lockers, exchanging books and catching up on the weekend's gossip.
Just as I opened my locker, a figure caught my eye.
Romeo. Standing across the hallway Watching me.
My heart skipped a beat Our eyes locked For a moment, time froze.
Then, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Emilia noticed my distraction. "Selina, what's wrong?"
I hesitated. "Romeo," I whispered.
Sofia's eyes narrowed."What did he do?" they asked looking around.
I shook my head. "He just looked at me."
Emilia placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry, we've got your back maybe he was just passing by and his eyes glance at you."
But the memory of Romeo's gaze lingered in my head.
Our teacher, Mrs. Johnson, walked into the class, a warm smile on her face.
"Good morning, class," she said, setting down her bag.
The room fell silent as we greeted her in unison.
"Today, we're going to discuss Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet," Mrs. Johnson announced, writing on the blackboard.
I couldn't help but think of Romeo, the school's handsome senior, whose gaze still lingered in my mind.
Emilia, sitting beside me, nudged my arm.
"Hey, are you okay?" she whispered.
I nodded, focusing on the lesson.
As Mrs. Johnson began to teach, I found myself drawn into the tragic love story.
But my mind kept drifting back to Romeo. how he and Priscilla left that day, with Priscilla hugging his arm.
Suddenly, Mrs. Johnson called my name.
"Selina, can you summarize the scene for us?"
I hesitated, scrambling to recall the details.
"Um, yes, ma'am," I stammered, trying to compose myself.
I took a deep breath to calm my nervousness.
"Romeo and Juliet," I began, "is a tragic love story about two teenagers from feuding families who fall deeply in love."
As I spoke, Mrs. Johnson's gaze narrowed, her eyes scrutinizing me.
"They secretly marry, but their families' hatred for each other ultimately leads to their downfall," I continued.
Mrs. Johnson's expression turned skeptical, her lips pursed.
"And in the end, Romeo's impulsive decision to poison himself in Juliet's tomb seals their fate," I concluded.
Mrs. Johnson's gaze lingered on me, her eyes searching for fault.
"Interesting summary, Selina," she said finally, her tone dripping with disapproval.
I sensed a hint of criticism in her voice.
Emilia, sitting beside me, nudged my arm.
"You did great," she whispered.
But Mrs. Johnson's gaze still lingered, her eyes boring into me.
"However, Selina," she said, "your summary lacked depth. You failed to analyze the themes and symbolism."
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Johnson," I replied.
As the lesson continued, Mrs. Johnson's gaze repeatedly snapped to me, her expression critical.
I couldn't shake the feeling that she was searching for something to criticize.
Romeo's face flashed in my mind, and I wondered if Mrs. Johnson's behavior was connected to him.
Did she know something about our encounter?
Was she trying to intimidate me?