It was a blissful mid-year day in the month of June, the birds were chirping, a calm rain was descending, followed by a gleaming double rainbow. How extraordinary of a day isn't it? Yes, because it was the day Venus was born into a beautiful and blessed family. They welcomed her with the best of they could. She had an older brother, Vance, who was just a year older. The family felt complete and content with Venus coming along.

Years passed and as she turned four, it was finally her time to start schooling. Venus, was always intrigued by the whole idea of having her own little backpack and packing lunch and carrying books, which seemingly contained interesting contents. She had watched her brother go to school for a year already and was beyond excited about her first day.

Her first day of school was almost as perfect as it could ever be. While all the other kids around her were busy shedding tears, she was jumping around with genuine optimism, looking forward to what the day had for her. She was a little ball of sunshine. Her teachers loved her. She was the picture-perfect student ever since kindergarten.

Which brings us to one such day, her mother was dropping her to school when she said “Ven, you need to take good care of yourself, only then will you find yourself a good prince of your dreams in the future.”

The four-year-old took that seriously and made it her mission to find herself a perfect prince. From then on, she started scanning through all the boys in her class to find the one. Soon she ended up scrutinizing two boys who she thought were cute. But after further investigation, she found out that one was quite trouble to the teachers and the other was another perfect student, good in school, very respectful, athletic and all that. The four-year-old Venus had an impressive taste in guys. And chose him as then one.

She was so proud of herself. That she went back home and announced that she has found herself a perfect prince, so no one has to have their concerns over that. To which her family broke out in laughter.

The next day though, she goes to school only to find out that he had transferred to another country. She was sad for a while, but forgot about it soon enough haha…after all she was four.

This was her first ever short love story, which didn't bother lasting.

THEN

at the age of 10, when puberty hit. She felt her hormones acting up and had a crush on a guy who was three years older than her. They lived in the same colony, opposite flats and also went to the same school and also during the evening played badminton together, and at night he tutored her math. It was so often the two of them were involved in each other's life that she gradually started liking him more than just friends.

A point to be noted about her is that, if she likes someone, it's done for. She stays as loyal and constant as she can. She never falls out of it.

At the age of 11 Venus and her family transferred to a different country, but she was heartbroken this time, because she used to feel like he was the one. And never even got to tell him her feelings which left her hanging for years, literally years passed, and she was still hung up on him.

At then, 16, she got into her high school phase. She had changed schools for her 10th grade and hoping not to get involved in any stupid feeling or infatuation or any of that. Not to forget, it had been five years since she met her old crush, she was still trying to move on.

Now this is when fate decides to play tricks on her.

She does FINALLY move on, but at what cost?

The journey she faced ahead of this alongside her best friend Shails. It was a remarkable one.

A whole rollercoaster.

And it all started with the entrance of a new friend in this new school

a friend or a foe?

It was my first day in school. I was anxious about changing schools all of a sudden, I had just made the absolute bestest friend I could ever ask for, Shail. She is my hype girl, my personal cheerleader, a therapist, a straight-up comedian at times and an all-in-one package of the most perfect friend. She is the standard. And now, changing schools was even harder because I had to leave her.

And making new friends somehow didn't seem like a palatable idea for me, I just wanted to get done with 10th grade.

And to make it worse, my parents were teachers in the same school! Which meant I'm going to be having absolutely no freedom.

With all these thoughts up in my head I departed to school, hoping it would not be as bad and hoped I could just stay in a corner of the class with absolutely no attention, just doing my own thing. But it seemed like fate had other plans written down for me.

It was a mixed school, but the higher secondary classes were not. Which meant I was in a class with only girls. And I thought of it to be a good idea. I lacked confidence in male interactions. I have always been awkward.

I slowly walked up inside my classroom and chose the seat in the corner of the class. Somehow, unlike many, I used to like sitting in the front bench. So I picked the front, but in the corner.

I was greeted by two very sweet girls, who asked me to introduce myself, and so I did. A part of the class seemed very welcoming, but the other seemed unkempt.

A little later a girl, with long luscious hair, who was very extroverted came up to me and sat next to my seat, trying to make an acquaintance.

I didn't want to seem rude, so I talked back with almost the same enthusiasm as her. She introduced herself as Rose, and that she had always been waiting for a new student so that she could finally have a close friend. She said she never has had a best friend before, and I felt bad, because she seemed so sweet!

“Venus, have you ever dated?” asks Rose.

“Uhm, no…” I replied,

“OMG really? Girl, you've been missing out on life!” exclaimed her. I didn't really care about dating, I felt like we're just too young for it yet. More over, school life dating barely lasts and besides, I don't want a time pass relationship.

I just gave an awkward smile to what she said, and then she started narrating her whole dating history and all of it. It felt weird because we just met, and she already opened up a lot? Perhaps it's because she felt comfortable around me? I couldn't really tell.

From then on, Rose started texting me every day, we talked a lot and in school she would always be with me. As time went by, we got closer and closer. We went on hangouts. In fact, my very first hangout with a friend was with her, because my parents usually never let me go out with friends. Her mom used to treat me to expensive food and gifts, we occasionally had sleepovers, and her mom used to help me with the subjects I found difficult. It was after all a good friendship, wasn't it?

Rose was always more interested in my love life than i myself was. She was so determined into finding a guy who's exactly my type.

And so she did.

She introduced me to this one guy in school. Who is super introverted, shy, barely talks to girls, very good at school and all that. She figured that we could make a cute couple.

She talked about him to me and me to him. She was very determined to make this work out. Though the two of us barely knew each other, and both of us were hesitant to start a conversation.

Will this ever even work out?

As days passed, with Rose trying to convince me to at least send him a follow request, I finally thought, “no harm in just sending a follow request isn't it?” and did it.

He accepted it, and followed back soon enough, but none of us were starting a conversation thinking it might just end up looking creepy.

We started texting out of random one day, a story reply. And the conversation was kept going. We started to get to know each other slowly, but progressively.

Though we were in the same school, we never showed the courage to meet each other. The maximum we did was random eye contacts, which were made during all the rare times we saw each other in school.

Rose was concerned, she wanted it to progress better, so she decided that we should definitely meet up during the upcoming farewell party of our batch. Though, the party was conducted separately by both girls and boys. It was taking place in the same venue.

“Ven, ill make sure you all finally meet tomorrow somehow!” said rose

“I'm SCARED, no.” I replied.

“He isn't going to eat you, woman.”

“He is pretty nice, but I suck at male interaction, Rose!”

“IT'S GOING TO BE FINE, at least come along with me, ill do the talking!” said Rose, absolutely fed up.

“Wait you know what, we should dress up for the farewell together, it'll be fun”  suggested rose

“you think my parents are going to let me do that?”  I replied.

“I'll make my mom call them, alright? Pls, let's just do this, it'll be so fun!”

“Okay, let's get it.”

The next day we were having our science model exam, yes, the same day as the farewell. It was the last exam, and we couldn't wait to get done with it.

As soon as the exam was over, Rose's dad came to pick us both up, and we went over to her place, to get ready for the farewell.

The excitement was so written on our faces. I was wearing a grape wine coloured sheath dress, whereas Rose was wearing a red cocktail gown.

“What do you think Devis will be wearing today?” asked Rose.

“How am I supposed to be knowing that?” I gave her a look.

“Aren't you excited to be finally meeting him in real?” she returned the look.

“I guess?” I replied, secretly smiling to myself.

“BRO, we are late we need to leave!” said rose and like that we left for the party.

We had the most grand late entrance for the party, the decoration was so classy and elegant, and the food was mouth watering. The venue was definitely well-chosen. And me and Rose were unarguably the most well-dressed duo on there.

After an hour of enjoyment with the girls, we slowly sneaked out. Rose had said earlier that she wants to introduce someone else as well, and that he's coming along with Devis to meet us.

My gut feeling says he's probably Rose's fling.

As soon as we stepped out of our hall, we saw that outside was filled with guys, and all of them were dressed in black and were very tall. I got so anxious, I stepped back and hid next to the wall. It had been ages since I had seen so many guys together all at once, it was overwhelming. I was very nervous.

Ad mist of all the crowd, I saw a tall guy in full black, we shared eye contact for a second before the two of us looked away, I just knew. I just knew, that it had to be him.

My heart started beating like never before, it was as if racing. I could feel it sink in a bit. I don't know if it was out of seeing a lot of them together at once, or if it was the short eye contact I made with him.

Whatsoever, I hadn't experiences anything as such.

The main reason behind Rose wanting to set me up with someone was for me to finally get over my crush, which had absolutely no progress for over 5 years.

Will I finally move on?

I hope so.

“Come with me.” said rose as she pulled me with her.

“W-wait, let me at least take a deep breath” I was just at this point trying to calm myself down.

“Alright Ven, they're waiting for us, we must make it fast.”

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Next to the elevator.”  with that, we started walking towards where they were waiting. Pacing fast, I was keeping my eyes on the floor as we walked past the swarm of tall boys.

I finally was able to breathe when I saw that we were away from the group. But now, when I looked up… I could see…

Devis.

Looking right at me.

Did I ever mention I am 4'11?