Chapter 7 NEW BEGINNING ( PART 1 )

VENICE'S POV

Several days passed after what happened between Jeremy and me. I am slowly accepting what has happened to the two of us. Maybe we just met each other but were not meant to be with each other until the end. There were a few times that Jeremy and I met in our school corridors every time he visited the new girl he loved. Of course, pain is still here in my heart, but I chose to be happy for him. It is not like I am a martyr, but I believe acceptance is the key to freedom.

I stopped overthinking things when my phone suddenly rang, which meant someone had texted me. I immediately stood up from lying on my bed and grabbed my phone from my study table. I actually think that my phone should not be beside me when I am preparing to sleep because if it did, I might end up sleeping late because of scrolling through my social media accounts.

Sent by Monica: ' See you tomorrow, beshy. I will be there early because we will have our rehearsal too, so prepare yourself early. See you tomorrow, good night! '

I automatically hit my forehead when I realized that tomorrow was Sunday. I only sent a message to Monica stating see you. I immediately went to my closet to find something to wear for tomorrow. It is also one of my habits to prepare my clothes the night before I go to other places to avoid hassle when I woke up the next day. After I had prepared the clothes I would be wearing tomorrow, I went back to bed, and everything went black.

***

The next day, I woke up early in the morning. I immediately got up and did my morning routine before I went downstairs to do the household chores I was assigned so that my parents would not scold me later when I asked their permission to attend church. I was shocked when I saw my mother and father in the living room when I was already downstairs.

" Good morning, mom, dad, " I energetically greeted my parents.

They looked in my direction and seemed shocked when they saw me. Maybe they were not used to seeing me woke up early, especially on a Sunday morning. It may be because, most of the time, I want to spend this day laying on my bed to rest myself and let my strength be restored again after an exhausting week.

" Good morning, Venice. Why did you wake up early? " my mother curiously asked after greeting me.

" I will be going somewhere later, mom, but I forgot to asked your permission, " I politely answered my mother.

" Why? It is too early for your date with Jeremy, " my father commented in wonder.

I got quiet because of my father's comment about Jeremy. They do not know yet what happened between Jeremy and me.

" Is there a problem, Venice? " my mother worriedly asked, maybe because I suddenly became quiet.

" Jeremy and I decided already to call our mutual understanding quits, " I answered before I sat down in the chair.

" Quits? " my father asked confusedly.

" Ahm, Jeremy stopped courting me already, " I explained in straightforward means.

My father put down the coffee mug he was holding in shock while my mother looked at me with worries in her eyes. In order to assure them that I was alright, I gave them a sweet smile to ease up their worries.

" How about you, mom? Dad? Why are you still here? " I asked to change our topic.

:" It is because your younger sibling stayed late last night watching the series, so she is still sleeping. Maybe we will go to church in the afternoon, " my mother explained, and I just nodded in response. Tsk, it seemed like my sibling became addicted again to watching the series.

" Venice, where are you going again? " my father asked.

" Ah, --- " I did not finish what I should have been saying because Monica entered the house.

" Good morning to my favorite parents of my bestfriend, " Monica energetically greeted and went to my parents to kiss their cheeks.

" Good morning, beshy. " she greeted and waved her hand at me.

" Good morning! You are too early, " I commented after I greeted her.

" Of course, I just want to make sure that you will get up early, " she said and sat down in the chair beside me.

" So, you are the one which Venice going with, " my mother said.

" Yes, the one and only, " she said energetically, which made my mother laugh at her.

" Are you going to the church? " my father asked.

" Of course. That is the only place I could bring Venice or else you will be angry to me, " Monica answered.

" It is good that you are accompanying your bestfriend to your church, miracles suddenly happened, " my mother said while laughing. She is trying to tease me.

" Mom, " I complained, but she just continued laughing.

" Come and join us, Monica. Let us eat breakfast together, so that Venice can prepare herself afterwards, " my father said, inviting Monica to eat with us.

" Of course, I will not say no to that, " Monica happily answered. We started eating.

After almost ten minutes, we finished eating our breakfast. I first helped my mother clean the table before I asked her permission to go upstairs to prepare myself. I left Monica in our living room and went directly to my room to take a bath.

Thirty minutes had passed, but still, I was not yet done fixing myself. I could not decide what I should do to my hair, if I would tie it in a ponytail or just let it be the way it is right now. After a while, my bedroom door opened, and Monica entered.

" Woah, I thought you were stuck in your restroom since you took so long to go back, " Monica said while smirking. She is probably teasing me.

" You are really short-tempered. I am almost done. I could not just decide what I should do to my hair, " I explained; then I turned around again to see my reflection in the mirror and finished fixing my hair.

" Why? To whom you are doing that for? " she asked, and I could see how she smirked at me through the mirror.

" Crazy, you are overthinking things, " I said and looked at her.

" I am already broken-hearted, then I would not take care of myself. Jeremy will be too lucky if that is so, " I told her, which made her laugh.

" Bitter! " she said while laughing.

" Are you really my friend? " I jokingly asked her.

" Ouch, you are so mean, " she said, acting like she was in pain.

" Whatever, " I said while chuckling.

" But, you know Venice, Aim to be better not bitter, " she advised.

" Yeah, right, Teacher Monica. Let us go already so that you will not be late to your rehearsal. I would not let you blame me, " I remarked and grabbed her until we reached our living room.

We just bid goodbye to my mother and father before we leave our house. After a few minutes, we already reached the church. When we entered, I noticed that only a few people were inside, and they were busy doing their own things.

" You should sit beside me in the front seat. Let us go. " Monica energetically said, which I just nodded in response. She also grabbed me until we reached the front seat near the stage.

" Oh, you are already here, little girl, " a man said, and I remembered that he was the one playing the drums set when I first came here.

" It is still early, Axcel! " Monica responded.

" Psh, sensitive! " I heard the man, which Monica called Axcel, whisper.

" Are you making fun again of my cousin? " Bryan asked while putting his arms on Axcel's shoulder.

" So protective, bro. It seemed like you are not getting used to us, " Axcel tried to defend himself.

" Psh, stop bothering Monica. You will be scolded if she is out of focus. And you will be the one would be the hardest to adopt later. " Bryan lectured him, and then he looked at me while smiling.

" Hi Venice, how are you? " Bryan asked.

" Hello, I am fine, " I replied to him while smiling.

" Oh, so your name is Venice. I am Axcel, the most handsome drummer here, " Axcel said, laying down his right hand.

" Venice, " I simply said and accepted his hand, and we do the shake hands.

" Psh, handsome, " I heard Monica whisper, making me laugh.

" Do you have something to say? " Axcel asked Monica while grinning. He is teasing her.

" Yes, I do, so what? " Monica bravely answered that made me scratch the back of my head because of the two of them.

" Stop it already, you will be scolded if you do not, " Bryan said to stop them.

Monica and Axcel immediately stopped after hearing what Bryan said. Also, Monica fixed herself. I noticed that the church slowly became full because of people. After a while, Monica was called to the stage to start rehearsing. So I was left alone in my seat while observing how they rehearsed. Their practice is so calm on my ears, and Bryan's voice is louder than the other. He is in the centre and holding a louder microphone in the microphone holder. He is singing while playing the guitar. He is indeed talented.

TO BE CONTINUED!