Chapter 5: Heartaches and Heartbreaks II

"She sat there, smiling, listening to him talk about another girl… and with every word, her heart cracked a little more."

She was so happy after that interaction with Bunny. He did give her hints — or at least, she thought he did. She believed it was just a matter of time before he asked her out.

So when Bunny invited her to a café one afternoon, Venice was sure this was the moment. Her heart was full of hope, her nerves tingling with excitement.

They were sitting together, talking, giggling, just like always. Then, out of nowhere, he looked at her seriously and said,

“Venice… there’s a girl I like.”

At that moment, Venice’s heart started racing. She waited, holding her breath, for what he would say next.

“I don’t know how to tell you,” he continued. “And I don’t know how it’ll sound to you… I might be crazy for doing this. It’s kind of embarrassing…”

Venice leaned in a little, smiling. “Calm down, Bunny. You can tell me anything. Please, don’t be embarrassed.”

He took a deep breath and blurted out in one go,

“I like a girl. She’s your friend… her name is Danny.”

Then he let out a big sigh of relief, like a weight had been lifted.

Venice froze.

She just sat there, completely still. Her heart dropped, her mind went blank, and her emotions were all over the place. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even blink. She just kept staring at him.

Two… three minutes passed.

Bunny waved his hand in front of her eyes.

“Venice? What happened? Did you hear me?”

“Hey, Venice… are you okay?”

But she couldn’t hear a word. Everything around her was silent, like someone had muted the whole world.

Bunny kept calling her name, worried. “Venie… hey… please say something.”

Suddenly, Venice blinked and snapped out of it.

“Yes… yes, I’m okay. I-I heard what you said…”

Bunny gave her a soft look.

“I know it might sound crazy to you — liking your friend. But things happened… and here I am, in front of you, asking for your help.”

Venice stuttered, “H-h-help?”

Bunny nodded, smiling nervously.

“Yes. I want your help to pursue her… since she’s your friend, I thought maybe you could… you know, help me get close to her. Please?”

Venice repeated slowly, almost whispering,

“I… help you… pursue my friend… Danny… right?”

Bunny smiled brightly. “Yes! Your college friend Danny. Please help me. I’m head over heels for her. She’s so cute and beautiful — I really, really like her. You have to help me set things up with her.”

Venice didn’t speak. She just sat there, numb.

“Hello?” Bunny nudged her gently. “What are you thinking, Venice? We’ve been friends for years. You have to help me. You know you’re the only one I can ask. The only one I trust.”

After a long pause, Venice looked at him and forced a smile.

“…Okay. I’ll help you.”

Bunny lit up with joy. He practically bounced in his seat, smiling wide.

“Thank you, Venie! You’re the best! The best.”

Venice fake-smiled and told him to calm down.

The way he said Venie… it used to sound so affectionate. But now, it just hurt.

After finishing the coffee, Bunny said, “I’ll drop you to your dorm.”

But Venice quickly replied, “No, it’s okay. I have a meeting with a friend. You go ahead.”

“Alright,” he said. “Then this coffee and dessert is on me — in advance!” He smirked, paid the bill, and left.

The moment he walked out, Venice stood up, walked to the restroom… and cried her heart out.

She kept repeating, “Why… why… why?”

“Why, after all this… why?”

She sobbed continuously, unable to stop.

Then she picked up her phone and called Pamela and Grace.

In a broken voice, she said, “Can we meet up, please?”

Pamela and Grace panicked.

“What happened?! Venice?!”

Venice just kept crying.

“Please… just come. I’ll tell you everything.”

Then she hung up.

A little while later, Pamela and Grace arrived at the dorm. They saw Venice crying on the bed, her face puffy, eyes swollen. They rushed to her side as she told them everything that had happened at the café.

After she calmed down a little, Pamela gently asked,

“Venice… can I ask you something about Bunny?”

Venice nodded. “Yeah… I’m okay now. Don’t worry.”

Pamela held her hand.

“Venie… if you like him that much, why did you tell him you’d help him? Why are you helping him?”

Venice stuttered, her voice soft,

“M-maybe I love him so much… that I just want him to be happy.”

Pamela stared at her, heartbroken.

“But… what about your happiness? Doesn’t it matter to you?”

Venice looked down, confused, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know… I don’t know. I just… I just want him to be happy.”

Pamela and Grace sighed, their hearts aching for her.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Grace said quietly.

Venice, with teary eyes, whispered, “I know… I know…”

Pamela and Grace immediately hugged her.

“It’s okay, Venie,” they said. “Whatever happens… we’re with you.”

Then Pamela added with a smirk,

“If that bastard ever asks for your help again, just tell us. We’ll definitely beat his ass.”

And finally — finally — Venice laughed.

Pamela and Grace looked at each other, smiling silently.

We did it. We made her laugh.

The three of them stayed up the whole night — watching movies, talking, giggling, eating snacks, and making memories. It turned into the perfect girls’ night, even with the pain still lingering quietly in Venice’s heart.

💜 To be continued...

💬 Comment your thoughts — what would YOU do in Venice’s place?

📌 New chapter coming soon. Stay tuned!

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