At the Karaoke Bar

Unexpected Decisions and an Unexpected Someone

Raul felt a pang in his heart after he himself said ; "we're just strangers" when really, it was the truth(he thought), they were just "strangers". 

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At 6:00 PM

Raul went downstairs into the living room since his parents asked him to come down; "Hey mom, dad, why did you want me to come down?" Raul asked his parents, "Oh, son..it's about college." Raul's mother replied. Raul was worried on how this conversation was gonna turn out. "wh..what about college, mom?" Raul was extremely scared on what's going on; "Raul, you're going to college in a few days. Me and your mother talked about this and we want what's best for you. you need to go to college." Raul was getting frustrated and did not want to discuss about college anymore. "Dad, I genuinely don't want to go to college! I'm not ready for it yet."  "RAUL YOU HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE. YOU'RE ALREADY 18. YOU CAN'T JUST STAY AT HOME AND BUNK HERE FOREVER." Raul's dad was FURIOUS. He looked like he was about to punch Raul. Raul was also getting furious. "DAD, YOU NEVER ASKED FOR MY OPINION WHETHER I WANTED TO GO TO COLLEGE OR NOT." "RAUL, I'M DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU AND YOU KNOW IT. I'M YOUR FATHER AND YOU DON'T GET TO TALK BACK TO ME LIKE THAT. ME AND YOUR MOTHER DOESN'T NEED YOUR OPINION AT ALL." Raul had tears in his eyes as he was trying his best not to slap his dad across his face. He really didn't want to go to college but his father was so demanding he couldn't do a single thing about it. Raul ran straight to the front door and stormed out of the house; slamming the door behind him. 

Raul was sobbing as he ran as fast as he could to a nearby place. He ran so faraway he was already out of his neighborhood. He was getting tired of running and crying at the same time so he stopped and looked around; "Huh? I ran this far?.. I'm gonna struggle when I get home...oh, well." Raul thought. As he stopped looking around when a certain Karaoke Bar caught his eye. He went inside out of curiosity, and plus, he wanted to get his mind off of things. When he got inside, he was too busy looking at the inside of the Karaoke Bar so he accidentally bumped into somebody. Raul fell into a certain someone's arms. When Raul looked up; he saw a guy around his age. He was stunned for a moment until finally speaking up; "...AH- I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you." Raul immediately got out of the strangers arms. Raul felt a weird feeling that he didn't know how to describe but he let it slide and focused on the current situation he was in. The taller stranger replied; "Oh, it's alright." with a smile on his face, or, well.."kinda good looking face" because, that's what Raul thought of first when he saw that smile on the strangers face. Raul didn't say anything since he was too busy looking at the random guys face, until he snapped out of his thoughts and decided to just look away and ask a question that he thought was stupid in this situation he was in. "Uhm, I know this is sudden but...can I possibly share the same Karaoke room with you?.. I just walked in here to get my mind off of some things... without any money. It's perfectly alright with me if you don't want to,  after all..we're just strangers." Raul felt a pang in his heart after he himself said; "we're just strangers" when really, it was the truth(he thought), they were just "strangers". The guy still had that warm smile on his face and replied lazily but nicely; "Of course. If it's to get your mind off of things, I don't mind at all." Raul was so thankful for this random guys kindness and willingness. "Thank you so much!" Raul replied, with all of his gratitude shown. The stranger just nodded and then motioned at Raul that he'll take him to his reserved Karaoke room. After a minute, they got to the strangers Karaoke room. As the stranger opens the door; 3 guys can be seen laughing and singing together. The stranger chuckles and speaks; "heh, sorry if you were expecting an empty Karaoke room. My friends and I wanted to have a Karaoke night together. I hope you don't mind them being here." as he laughs it off nervously. Raul smiled and said; "It's alright with me. You were kind enough to share a karaoke room with me so how could I possibly say that I mind your friends being here?" the stranger smiles back "Thanks for being understanding. I appreciate it." "haha, no worries! This is your Karaoke reservation anyway." the two of them had a heartfelt conversation as they finally got inside of the room. Raul awkwardly sat down on a seat in the room, as the guy sat beside him. The 3 other guys were too busy laughing and singing so they weren't paying any attention to the stranger and Raul. There was awkward silence between the two. Well not literally silent in the whole room but just silence between them. They didn't say a word at all. Until Raul spoke up; "So..what's your name? If you're comfortable on saying it, of course." the stranger replied; "Oh, my name? uhh...my name's Veronica..." Veronica muttered his name, Raul couldn't hear it at all, especially with the loud singing of Veronicas friends. "Sorry, I didn't hear you. Can you repeat your name?" Raul asked. "My name is Veronica! Okay?.." Veronica said his name much more clearer. Veronica looked away out of embarrassment. Raul was pretty surprised that a male would be named Veronica. But he didn't mind it at all. Raul smiled, "Hey, you..you have a really nice name! There really isn't anything to be ashamed of." Veronica looked at Raul in the eyes "I'M A GUY! NO GUY WOULD BE NAMED VERONICA!...sorry for the sudden outburst...I'm just not very happy with the name I was given." Raul understands Veronica's anger. "I'm sorry that you feel that way about your name, but, at least you were given one right? It's extremely common that people receive names but even some people don't have names, y'know?" Raul is trying to reassure Veronica about his name and...it seems to be working. Veronicas embarrassment and anger dies down and he starts to crack a smile on his face. "Thanks. You really do know how to make someone feel good about themself, huh...uh," Raul chuckles, as the loud singing and laughter is heard over their conversation,

"My name's Raul." 

"You have a great name." 

"Not as great as yours though."

"Oh, shut up."

          <3

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Authors Note(Nini):

FIRST CHAPTER IS HEREEE!!! This took a bit of time but I really like how it turned out.  Sooo, this chapter is only for Veronica. It's basically the introduction(???) for him. The next chapter will be about one of the other guys. Sorry if there are any grammar mistakes or spelling mistakes. When I backread this, I'll fix the mistakes. This book is also a joke type of book with serious writing. Thats why the character names are so random and why the book cover is so ugly btw. Anyways, thanks for reading this, whoever read this <333

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words: 1,225