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Benvolio had not seen Mercutio for a while. He wandered in street, hearing the cries among the market, his heart would not feel a slightest slice of peace. For a few days ago, he just parted Mercutio and Tybalt, a bad-tempered young man from the house of his nemesis, and now Romeo was gone with no sight to see.
Along the road, he saw those servants running around among the vendors. A raven landed on the top of an apple stand, but was immediately shooed by the owner. And then there was Mercutio, sitting in the tavern drinking.
“Mer! Isn’t Romeo with you? I cannot find him anywhere. ” Having not rising his head, Mercutio yelled, “No, but I assume he went to see Rosaline again, that girl from the nunnery. Anyway, any ideas of where I have been? ”
Benvolio shook his head as he should.
“I went to the Capulets, with Paris! And guess what?”
“What?” Benvolio at once started to listen as carefully as he could.
“Marriage?” Benvolio shrieked. Mercutio gave him a confusing look, and he stopped. It turned out that young Count Paris wished to enter matrimony with the lovely daughter of the Capulets, Juliet.
“But I thought she was too young.”
“She’s almost thirteen. Our mother got married with our father when they were thirteen.”
“But how come Paris suddenly wants to get marry? You should know, you are his cousin.”
“Why making such a fuss, Ben?” Mercutio leaned back and reclined leisurely in his chair. “You know I always do not get along well with Paris-I don't think much of his manners. Besides, it is their business, not ours. I’d love to see him suffer from marriage anyway.”
Benvolio was speechless. At last the most painful mountain came upon him and overwhelmed him. His body seemed to be thrown up high and hit the ground hard, and every inch of it was shattered into dust.
“Who is that boy over there, Mer? Why doesn’t he come and play with us?” Benvolio saw a boy, a little older than him, reading something alone indoor.
It had been a long time ago, when they were all children playing in the garden of the Prince’s estate, it was the first time that Benvolio lay his eyes on Paris.
“That’s my cousin. You should all ignore him for he’s the most boring person in the world.” Little Mercutio snorted.
Romeo didn’t give any attention to this brief interlude, still busy messing with his toys. He was a bit younger than the other two, and boys at this age focused only on food, toys and other simple things. But Benvolio felt sorry to leave that boy alone, for it was a pity for a child to read there with no buddy to play with. Most kids at his age had already grew up with empathy and many other things, and Benvolio was such a nice boy with manner that even Lord Capulet would pat him in the head sometimes.
So he got up on his feet, wiped his hands clean and ran into the house to find him. But the house was too large, and also too empty, that he couldn’t find the room. He got lost, and he couldn’t find either the boy or the way back to his friends. He was so worried that he was about to cry.
“What are you doing here, little boy? You do not seem like an Escalus.” Benvolio turned around, and that boy in white was right behind him, with no dust or dirt on his coat.
“I… I’m sorry. I am lost.” He answered with hands clenching the corner of his clothes. “I’m Benvolio, from the Montagues. I came into this huge house to find you.”
“Why me? I do not know you in particular.” The taller boy seemed a little confused.
“Because you were all alone in that room with no one to play with, and it seemed so sad and… I want to play with you. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t come to you in this rush.”
The boy smiled with warmth in his eyes, reaching out one hand to sobbing Benvolio. “Well, I am Paris Escalus. Now that we know each other, I would love to play with you, Benvolio from the Montagues. ”
And they did. Paris flew kites with Benvolio. They even dueled, but with fingers. Ben didn’t go home until Mercutio found him in the back of the garden, waving toward Paris in joy. After that, they played together almost every time when Benvolio wanted to. He had been so nice a companion.
To be frank, this didn’t damage the comradery between him and Mercutio since Paris gradually had to either learn something or run errands for the prince, for he would be a Count in no time. And as time went by, they all grew up to become gentlemen, at least for Benvolio and Romeo. As for Mercutio, he was just Mercutio himself.
“Any plans after becoming a Count?” Watching Paris writing letters, Benvolio leaned across the desk and cocked his head to look at Paris. He didn’t know what it would be like to be a Count though it definitely seemed to have to follow a lot of rules and dogmas.
“Well, I will be 20 in four months, and my uncle said I still need to learn so much more. I am afraid that whether I can be a proper nobility like him, but I assume it is my time to be an adult and take responsibility.”
“Will we have time to hang out again?” Benvolio asked with hands clenching in fists. “Like this? I mean, you’ll obviously spend more time on your usual business and…your spouse for sure.”
“Of course, Ben. For you are forever my beloved friend and brother.” There was still so much tenderness and smile in that young man's eyes, but Benvolio felt like he was falling into ice.
And all of these happened only a few months ago.
No wonder he hadn’t seen Paris for this long-for he was getting married. How could he never know this? Although he was aware that this day would come at last, but… He had not properly prepared himself. Now that he knew, he was happy for him, that was god’s honest truth.
“Why calling me out this late, Paris?” Benvolio sat in the exact tavern as when he knew the mews from Mercutio, and Paris sat across from him, eyes full of warmth and… expectation.
“I am sorry Ben, but it is an important matter.” Paris’s hands kept fidgeting, which made Benvolio feel a bit worried. “I must ask you, that is, Ben, your heart… Is it free at the moment? Are you in the middle of falling in love? Do you have any intention of entering matrimony… at the present?”
This series of sudden questions confused Benvolio-he thought Paris would have been continuously talking about him getting married. However, an impossible idea occurred in his mind that forced him to calm down and clear his head at once. “Well, I have no idea why you ask these but no, I am totally free at the moment.”
“Oh, that is marvelous. You see, Ben, you must have already known that I am getting married. And though I must appear to be incredibly joyful and happy, there is still this fear in the bottom of my heart which can only be cured by… you.
“After all these years, it is impossible that you have not noticed that I have been… that you have always been a very special one to me, the one without whom I cannot live in happiness. And till today I must tell you how I feel.”
Paris leaned forward slightly and pulled out a small box, handing it to Benvolio, who could not even say a word now. He slowly opened the box, revealing the thing inside-a ring. “Keep it safe till the day.” Paris said, putting the box in Benvolio’s hands.
“But… Paris, I… this is so important-” Before he could speak out the whole sentence, Paris stopped him. “Please, I need you so that I can get married. Make me the happiest guy in the world.”
Benvolio could not help but burst out crying and smiling. “So it is a yes?” Paris asked gently. Benvolio could not say a thing but nod. “Oh Ben, I am so glad right now, and you must also be happy for me.” He firmly hugged Benvolio from the other side of the table, and gazed into his eyes, “For you will be my best man.”
And then the day came. I stood next to you, wearing the best man’s suit. I took the hand of the bridesmaid instead of yours. And I was covered in the shadow of you kissing your bride. You did not see me.
But I shall forever have this feeling for you, which you may never know. And I wish you live a happy long life, with or without me.