VENICE’S POV
Two weeks had passed since Bryan left the country. For that whole two weeks, I could say that we were not used to the absence of Bryan in our circle. We knew it was for the Lord’s glory, so he needed to leave, but we could not avoid being sad because we had that special bond with him.
* Tok tok tok *
I stood up from my bed when someone knocked on my door. Today is Saturday, and I decided to take a rest. I did not have any motivation to do something. Yes, my heart was still grieving. I regretted that I did not tell him what I felt, but I also knew that I could not.
“ Come in,” I exclaimed. I sat down properly when Grace and Monica entered my room.
“ Oh, until when would you stay here, Ven? The new school year is fast approaching. We will be 4th-year students, so maybe you want to enjoy the remaining days of the vacation,” Monica said while her hand was on her waist.
“ She is right, Ven. You looked so haggard,” Grace seconded.
“ I do not want to go outside,” I replied and lay on my bed again.
“ Stop grieving your heart already. You looked so broken hearted at the moment,” Grace commented.
“ I am not broken hearted, I am just lazy,” I responded.
“ Psh, let us go already, or else I will not give you what brother Bryan wanted me to give you,” I heard Monica threaten, which made me stand up.
“ What did he want to give me?” I immediately asked Monica after hearing what she said, which made them laugh. They sat on my bed, and Monica searched for something in her bag. When she found it already, she showed me a medium size box.
“ Here! You did not join us sending him to the airport, so he asked me to give it to you,” Monica explained and gave me the box.
“ What should I do there? That is a family farewell,” I answered.
“ Axcel and I were not part of their family, but we were there. You are actually the only one absent in our squad,” Grace spits out some facts.
“ Fine, fine. I did not come because I did not want to make some scene there, especially in front of his family,” I admitted before smiling bitterly.
“ But wait, two weeks had passed, then you are giving it to me just now,” I said to Monica while frowning.
“ Just be thankful that it is only two weeks. If brother Bryan did not ask me about it last night, I might not give it to you now,” she replied and started laughing.
“ Psh,” I replied, then looked at the box I was holding.
“ We would not know what is inside if you keep staring at it,” I heard Grace comment.
“ You seemed more excited than me,” I responded to Grace while laughing.
“ You are too slow. We will go somewhere,” She replied. I did not have any choice but open the box. As I opened it, I was amazed at the color and design of the bracelet.
“ Oh, wow. That is too beautiful, and it is not the same as what we received,” Grace commented, half amazed and half protested.
“ Did you have it too?” I asked in curiosity.
“Of course. What do you think of yourself, special?” Grace asked, then laughed. She also raised her left arm, showing her bracelet to me.
“ We have different color of bracelet,” I said as I noticed it.
“ Yeah, we can see that,” Grace agreed. Grace and I looked at Monica, who seemed quiet from the moment I opened the box she gave me.
MONICA’S POV
“ Is there a problem, Mon?” I heard Venice ask, which made me come back to my senses. I gently shook my head in response to her question. You are driving me crazy, self. This is not the right time for you to space out. They might notice something.
“ Are you sure? You seemed unusually quiet.” I heard Grace worriedly ask.
“ Yes, I just remembered something,” I answered.
“ Just wait, okay? I will just go to the restroom,” I added. I did not bother to wait for their answers as I ran towards the restroom immediately. After I closed the door, I immediately dialed brother Bryan’s number.
( Hello, Mon. Why? )
“ We are here in Venice’s house. About the bracelet….” I started.
( Did you see it already? Yes, it is different. )
“ That is what I am wondering about. Why did that bracelet’s design mean for romantic waiting?” I asked.
( Lower your voice. They might hear you. )
“ I am here in the restroom, so they will not hear me. Now, answer me,” I firmly asked him.
( You know about it, right? I like her )
I heard him say. I wanted to giggle for them, but I knew I could not because his action might breach the rule of waiting.
“ But - “ He interrupted me.
( Look, you are the only one who knows about the meaning of that bracelet. So, just tell her that the same design was out of stock with you guys. Then, I had no choice, so I brought a different design )
“ But ---” He caught me off again.
( Mon, give me this favor, okay? I have to go, we will go to a town here )
Those words were the last words I heard because he had ended the call already. I let out a heavy sigh because of what he said. I also massaged my temple. Of course, I know she would believe whatever I say to Venice, but that also means I would lie to my best friend. Hayss, Lord, I repent.
VENICE’S POV
When Monica returned with many lines on her forehead, grace and I were talking about random things.
“ What happened to you, girl?” Grace asked in wonder.
“ Nothing, my tummy hurts,” Monica replied and sat on my bed.
“ You already wear it,” She added and pointed to the bracelet I was wearing.
“ Yes. It is so beautiful, but I am still wondering why my bracelet is different from you guys,” I replied in curiosity.
“ Ah, I remembered Brother Bryan mentioned that the same design we are wearing was only four left. So he had no choice but to buy you something different,” Monica explained. Ouch, no choice.
“ Ah, okay. Anyway, where are we going?” I asked to change our topic.
“ You are asking already, but you still wearing your pajama,” I heard Grace comment, so I jokingly rolled my eyes at her.
“ To the mall. Let us grab some milktea, so you can go outside,” Monica answered.
“ Will you treat me?” I childishly asked her.
“ Fine, so move faster already,” Monica replied, which made my eyes shine.
“ Okie, here I go,” I excitedly said and stood up. I immediately went to my cabinet to search for something to wear. Afterwards, I ran to my bathroom to take a bath.
MONICA’S POV
When Venice entered the bathroom, I heard Grace fake a cough which made me turn my gaze to her.
“ You lied,” Grace said out of nowhere.
“ Huh?” I asked in confusion.
“ You lied to Venice. The bracelet design means romantic waiting, right?” She explained, which made me gulp.
“ Grace, I ---”
“ Do not worry because I will not tell her about it. We value the waiting season, so it would be best if she would not know, so she would not have any expectations,” She said after she interrupted me. Her words made me breathe and relax.
“ And I think Bryan did not know that Venice like him, right?” she added.
“ They did not know what they feel towards each other, I became the intercessor,” I replied.
“ That is good especially there is someone interceding in their behalf. At least, there is someone taking care of their purity,” Grace said while smiling.
“ How about you?” I asked in a low voice as I worried about her feelings.
“ Me? I will be fine. That is life. It is not possible that there is three people in a love story, right? I think I could forget what I felt towards him especially he is not around,” Grace assuredly told me, but I could see the pain in her eyes.
“ I am sorry, Grace, “ I apologetically told her.
“ Do not be. Beside, there is someone for me,” she positively declared.
“ What are you talking about?” Grace and I were surprised when we heard Venice talk. Gosh, is she heard us?
“ You because your taking so long,” Grace said.
“ I apologize, but I am done. I will just comb my hair when we already in the jeepney. So, let us go,” Venice energetically said,
“ Are you not put something to your face to look beautiful?” Grace asked in wonder.
“ No, natural beauty it is,” Venice replied and laughed.
“ Okay, carry your own chair,” I jokingly said and stood up.
“ You are too mean. Are we do not best friends?” Ven asked while pouting.
“ Aish, let us go already before that conversation went somewhere else,” Grace said, grabbing the two of us towards the exit.
TO BE CONTINUED!