Venecia
The weight of everything was suffocating me. My parents' suspicious gazes, Romeo's family's disapproval, the fear of being caught—it all drained me. I barely slept or ate. Every time I sneaked out to meet Romeo, I had to be on guard, scanning for spies lurking in the shadows.
I knew Romeo felt the pressure too, though he never said it outright. He masked his exhaustion with smiles, carrying the burden of our love like a shield. But whenever I was with him, the world disappeared. He was my safe haven.
I knew Liana was worried. Mom had questioned her about my recent behavior, trying to pry answers out of her. But what could she possibly say? That I was falling deeper in love with a boy I wasn't allowed to have?
I just want to love freely. Is that too much to ask?
The curse. The rivalry. The expectations.
I hated it all.
A gentle tap on my shoulder broke through my thoughts.
"What's wrong, my love?" Romeo's voice was soft, concerned, as I stuffed my books into my locker.
"Just... thinking," I murmured.
"Come here." He opened his arms wide.
I hesitated, glancing around. "What if someone sees us?"
"Forget about everyone, my love," he whispered, pulling me into his embrace. "Everything will work out, I promise." He pressed a kiss to my forehead.
A small smile tugged at my lips. "Thank you, Meo."
His chest rumbled with laughter. "Meo? Is that my new name now?"
"Of course it is." I giggled, pressing my cheek against his chest. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"You're everything to me, my love. You complete me."
I squeezed him tighter. "Can I stay like this a little longer?"
"Anything for you."
But the moment was cut short by the shrill ring of the bell. As I pulled away, I felt lighter, as if his words had peeled away my worries. Maybe he was right. Maybe we should forget about the world and just focus on us.
Later...
Romeo
"Where the hell are we going, man?" I asked Damien as we strolled through the streets.
"Shut up and trust me," he grinned. "We're taking the girls for a walk-through town." I narrowed my eyes. "Did Liana put you up to this?" "Of course. She figured you and Venecia could use a break. Things have been rocky, and we want you two to have fun, just for tonight." His voice softened. "No matter what happens, I got your back, bro."
I clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it." "Now hurry up, you're walking like grandpas," Liana's voice rang out from ahead. "Guess the ladies are in," Damien mused. Then he nudged Liana playfully. "What's up, feisty miss?" "I'm not feisty, and don't touch me," she snapped, swatting him away.
Their usual banter continued, making Venecia giggle. I turned to her. "Hello, my love. You good?" She wrapped her arms around me, sighing into my chest. "Mhm... I missed you." I smirked. "Really? I'm glad then. But I missed you more."
I kissed the top of her head, inhaling the faint scent of vanilla. "Any idea where we're going?" I asked, intertwining our fingers. "Nope," she laughed, nudging her chin toward Liana. "We're just following that nutcracker." I chuckled. "Guess we're both in the same boat then."
We walked through town, talking about everything and nothing, tossing jokes back and forth like little kids. For the first time in a long while, we weren't Romeo and Venecia—the forbidden lovers. We were just us. Free. Eventually, we got tired and stopped at a cafe for some snacks. But as we left, something caught our attention—a crowd of teenagers moving toward a single direction. Curious, we followed.
That's when we realized we had stumbled into Talent Night.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Neon lights flickered, music pulsed in the air, and the makeshift stage in the center of the courtyard was packed with performers.
Then—
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I muttered, spotting our names on the performance list. Venecia's eyes widened. "Liana. Damien. What did you do?" Damien smirked. "We signed you up." Liana clapped her hands. "Surprise!" "What?" Venecia and I exclaimed in unison." Come on," Liana grinned. "You two are always sneaking off and being all dramatic. Why not put that tension to good use?"
I groaned. "And what exactly are we supposed to perform?" Liana handed us the song sheet. Secret Love. Venecia swallowed hard. Our eyes met. This song... it was us.
Our love, our struggles, our pain—woven into lyrics for everyone to hear.
There was no backing out now.
Onstage Scene
The stage lights dimmed, leaving only a soft golden glow on Romeo and Venecia as they stood at the center. A hush fell over the audience, a mix of students, teachers, and town residents, all waiting in anticipation. The first notes of the song filled the air, a haunting yet beautiful melody.
Venecia took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she lifted the microphone. Then, with her eyes locked onto Romeo's, she began to sing.
Venecia's Part
"When you hold me in the street
And you kiss me on the dance floor
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't it be like that?
'Cause I'm yours..."
Her voice trembled slightly at first, but as she continued, confidence took over. Her emotions poured into the song, raw and unfiltered.
"We keep behind closed doors
Every time I see you, I die a little more
Stolen moments that we steal as the curtain falls
It'll never be enough...
It's obvious you're meant for me
Every piece of you, it just fits perfectly
Every second, every thought, I'm in so deep
But I'll never show it on my face...
But we know this...
We got a love that is hopeless..."
The audience was mesmerized, but none more than Romeo, who watched her as if she were the only person in the world. When it was his turn, he took a step closer, his voice low yet powerful.
Romeo's Part
"When you're with him, do you call his name
Like you do when you're with me?
Does it feel the same?
Would you leave if I was ready to settle down?
Or would you play it safe and stay?
Girl, you know this...
We got a love that is hopeless..."
His voice carried heartbreak, longing, and a deep intensity that sent shivers through the crowd. Then, their voices blended as they sang together, their eyes never leaving each other.
Together – Romeo and Venecia
"Why can't you hold me in the street?
Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor?
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't we be like that?
'Cause I'm yours...
And nobody knows
I'm in love with someone's baby
I don't wanna hide us away
Tell the world about the love we're making
I'm living for that day, someday...
Why can't I hold you in the street?
Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor?
I wish that we could be like that
Why can't we be like that?
'Cause I'm yours, I'm yours...
Oh, why can't you hold me in the street?
Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor?
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't it be like that?
'Cause I'm yours ('cause I'm yours)...
Why can't I say that I'm in love?
I wanna shout it from the rooftops
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't we be like that?
'Cause I'm yours...
Why can't we be like that?
Wish we could be like that..."
As the final note faded into the silence, the air between them crackled with emotion. The entire room seemed frozen, caught in the magic of their song. Then, without thinking, without caring about the stares, Romeo reached out and pulled Venecia into a deep, desperate kiss.
The audience erupted into cheers and gasps, but at that moment, neither of them cared.
They were just two souls, hopelessly in love, stealing a moment in a world that refused to let them be together.
***************
Give an applause to Liana and Damien for being the best friends to Romeo and Venecia. And please go online and listen to the song they sang. The title is "Secret Love Song" by Little Mix.
What are your thoughts on this chapter?