As the years passed, the summer vacations slowly began to change.
Everyone was growing up.
School became more serious.
Exams became more important.
The days of running around without a care, laughing endlessly with cousins, slowly started fading.
The group didn’t meet as often as they used to.
But strangely…
Venice and Bunny started talking more.
Not in person.
On the phone.
It started one random evening during vacation.
Venice was helping her mom in the kitchen, cutting vegetables, when the phone rang loudly in the living room.
Her mom wiped her hands and picked it up.
“Hello?”
On the other side of the line, Bunny froze.
“H-hello, Auntie…”
Her mom frowned slightly.
“Yes?”
“U-um… is Venice there?”
Her mom’s expression immediately turned suspicious.
“Why?”
Bunny suddenly forgot how to speak.
“I… uh… I wanted to ask something…”
“What?”
“…Homework.”
There was a pause.
“You two go to different schools,” her mom said, narrowing her eyes.
“…Right.”
In the background, Venice had already guessed who it was.
She quickly wiped her hands and rushed over.
“Mom, it’s for me.”
Her mom hesitated for a second but then handed her the phone, still watching her carefully.
Venice walked into another room, closing the door halfway, and whispered softly,
“Bunny?”
On the other side, he let out a long breath.
“Oh thank God.”
Venice couldn’t help but laugh.
“Were you scared of my mom?”
“I wasn’t scared,” he said quickly.
“You were stuttering.”
“I was not.”
“You were.”
“Okay… maybe a little.”
Venice laughed again, softer this time.
After that day, Bunny started calling more often.
Sometimes in the afternoon, when the house felt quiet and slow.
Sometimes late in the evening, when everyone else was busy.
And sometimes… for no reason at all.
Their conversations were never about anything serious.
“What are you doing?” Bunny would ask.
“Homework.”
“Liar.”
“Okay fine, I’m watching videos.”
“See? I knew it.”
Sometimes they talked about their cousins.
Sometimes they complained about school, teachers, and endless assignments.
Sometimes there were just random, meaningless conversations that somehow never felt boring.
And sometimes…
Bunny would randomly ask,
“So what are your plans for the future?”
Venice would pause for a moment… and then start talking.
About studying hard.
About building a career.
About doing something big with her life.
Her voice would change when she spoke about her dreams — more alive, more certain.
And Bunny would just listen quietly.
“Wow,” he said once, after a long silence.
“You really think about the future a lot.”
Venice smiled to herself.
“Someone has to.”
There were nights when their conversations stretched for hours.
So long that Venice had to lower her voice so no one would hear.
So long that she didn’t even notice how fast time was passing.
And slowly…
she started realizing something strange.
She began to look forward to his calls.
Even on days when they argued.
Even after silly fights.
She would still find herself glancing at the phone… waiting.
Waiting for it to ring.
Somewhere between those late-night conversations…
between laughter, teasing, and quiet pauses…
without even realizing it…
Venice had fallen in love with the boy who used to annoy her the most.
To be continued....
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