The sky was painted in hues of crimson and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. Venecia sat on a bench in the courtyard, a faint breeze playing with the tendrils of her dark, flowing 4C hair. She rarely let it loose, but today it cascaded around her shoulders in soft coils. The school day had been nothing short of chaotic. Whispers followed her everywhere—not that she cared, but today their weight felt unbearable. She tapped her notebook rhythmically, pretending to study, but her thoughts were leagues away.
She thought of Romeo, his piercing gaze earlier that day, the tautness in his shoulders, the way his fists clenched at nothing. The very memory made the mark on her shoulder tingle faintly. It had burned hotter in his presence, each glance a spark she struggled to extinguish. Even now, the memory made her cheeks flush.
"Necia?" a familiar voice called out.
It was Liana, her best friend and only source of respite in this madness. Liana slumped onto the bench beside her, sliding an iced tea into Venecia's hand.
"You looked like you needed this," Liana said, her smile tinged with concern.
Venecia accepted it but barely acknowledged her friend, her eyes still distant.
"You've been quiet all day. Want to spill?" Liana asked.
"There's nothing to spill," Venecia lied.
But Liana wasn't buying it. "Okay, fine. Don't tell me. But whatever it is, don't let it fester too long. You know how those rumors fly around this place." With a wink and a hug, Liana left her to her thoughts.
Venecia stared at the tea. "Should I even be feeling this way"? she wondered. A part of her wanted to run far, far away from Romeo and the storm he seemed to bring into her life. But another part—the stronger, more reckless side—pulled her back. She sighed heavily, placing the untouched tea on the bench before standing.
She needed air. Or rather, she needed him.
**********
Romeo paced restlessly in the clearing just behind the school building, the twilight shadows wrapping around him like an unwanted shroud. His family had practically pinned him down after breakfast, repeating their hateful declarations about Venecia. Every harsh word rang in his ears like a war drum.
"Stop seeing her."
"She's nothing but trouble."
"Obey your bloodline."
But what bloodline? What heritage? They refused to tell him anything, hiding truths behind vague warnings and endless demands. Every time they mentioned her name, it felt like a dagger plunging deeper into his soul. He clenched his jaw and stared at the mark on his shoulder, still faintly aglow from his confrontation with his father that morning. He knew the truth lay somewhere in the connection between them—he and Venecia. And dammit, he was going to find it.
The sound of footsteps snapped him from his thoughts. He looked up sharply, and there she was, emerging from the grove like a figure plucked from his dreams.
"You..." He didn't mean for the word to sound so accusatory, but it slipped out, nonetheless.
Her eyes locked onto his, and there it was—that unspoken pull. It gripped him tightly, luring him closer despite every logical bone in his body screaming to stop. She took cautious steps toward him, her voice soft.
"You looked like you needed someone to talk to."
Romeo exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. "Talking isn't exactly my forte right now."
Venecia frowned but closed the gap between them, standing so close now that the tension between them crackled like a live wire. "Maybe not but bottling it up isn't helping either."
Her voice was soothing, a balm to the chaos in his mind. Without thinking, he blurted, "Why can't I stop thinking about you?"
Venecia froze, her heart racing so fast she thought it might break free from her chest. The mark on her shoulder tingled again, and her breath hitched. She clutched it instinctively, but the faint glow only intensified.
"Romeo..." she whispered.
The pain in his eyes mirrored hers, and for a moment, they just stood there, bound by invisible strings neither of them could untangle.
"I don't want to fight this anymore," he said, his voice raw. "Whatever it is...you feel it too, don't you?"
Venecia nodded, unable to form words. She stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off him. Every logical thought screamed at her to walk away, but her feet refused to move. Her gaze flickered to his lips for a fleeting moment, and he noticed.
He took a shaky breath and raised his hand to her cheek. The touch sent a jolt of energy coursing through both of them, like lightning striking the earth.
And then it happened.
The marks on their shoulders ignited in a blinding glow, illuminating the clearing in a wash of golden light. They both cried out, stepping back as the glow intensified, but it was no use. The energy binding them exploded outward like a tidal wave, and in its wake came something neither of them expected memories.
Venecia staggered, clutching her head as images flooded her mind:
A golden kingdom. Two figures standing under a vibrant, starlit sky—him and her. A shared laugh. A promise whispered in the language of the stars.
Romeo wasn't faring any better. He saw himself kneeling before a girl bathed in moonlight, an ornate dagger pressed against his palm as he swore an oath. Her face was obscured, but her voice resonated with a clarity that sent chills down his spine.
"We are one, forever tied. No matter the time, no matter the trials. You are mine, and I am yours."
The light dimmed as suddenly as it had come, and they collapsed onto the soft grass, gasping for air. For several moments, the world was still except for the sound of their labored breathing.
Romeo was the first to sit up. He turned to Venecia, his expression filled with equal parts wonder and fear.
"Did you...?" he started, unable to finish.
Venecia nodded weakly. "I saw...something. Us. From a long time ago."
He ran his fingers through his hair, struggling to process what just happened. "This changes everything."
She looked at him, her voice trembling. "What does it mean? Why are we seeing these things?"
Romeo shook his head. "I don't know, but if we're going to find out, we need answers. Real ones. Not the lies my parents keep feeding me."
Venecia bit her lip, dread curling in her chest. "Do you think they know? About us?"
"They have to. There's no way they wouldn't," Romeo replied.
A heavy silence fell over them as the weight of their situation settled in.
Romeo stood abruptly and offered her his hand. "We'll figure this out together, Venecia. Whatever it takes."
She hesitated before taking his hand, feeling a newfound strength in his grip. They were no longer two individuals bound by circumstances—they were something greater, something ancient. And as he pulled her up, their faces were mere inches apart. Her breath caught in her throat as his gaze dropped to her lips. Slowly, cautiously, he leaned in, and she met him halfway.
The kiss ignited something deep within them. Their marks burned brighter than ever, bathing them in a golden glow that lit up the night. For the first time, the pull that had haunted them felt like home.
When they finally parted, breathless but exhilarated, Romeo smiled faintly. "No turning back now."
Venecia returned the smile, her heart racing. "No turning back. I need to tell you something Romeo. I...I didn't mean to keep it from you, but I didn't know how to tell you."
"What is it?
"It's about our family. I found out recently that your dad and mine were best friends in the past."
"What are you talking about? That's ridiculous."
"No, I'm not making it up. You can even ask Liana. I saw a photo of our dads in my dad's study, and I confronted him about it, but he shut me out. You've to help me find the secret our families are hiding. Please"
"I, I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try my best."
"Thank you."
******************
THEY KISSED. OMG, FINALLY, THEY KISSED. What are your thoughts? Did you like it? Don't forget to like and comment.