Golden Fusion

6.

Ved's pov - 

"Where did you guys meet?"

"Maple" Josh replied.

"Wait, isn't this the same place where your hi-bye crush works?" Ahaan questioned again.

"Hi-bye. Totally." Sam snorted.

According to Joshua, there are multiple stages in terms of a romantic relationship. Stage one is an 'Oh, I find this person attractive'. Stage 2 is the 'hi-bye crush', which means you are at least in terms of wishing each other. Stage 3 is the 'crush crush' where you start liking them and thinking and imagining about them. Stage 4 is when you go on dates with your crush and talk to them every day before starting your relationship. Stage 5 is the relationship stage, where you end up dating them, and stage 6, the final one, where you end up loving that person.

"Why, what happened," I asked Samuel, amused by his reaction.

"Ask Joshua." He replied trying to hide his sneaky smile. So, I raised my eyebrows at Joshua silently asking him what was up.

"She's already dating someone." He spoke softly.

"And she's gonna get married soon," Samuel added, laughing

"Im đi! (Shut up!)" Joshua screamed in Vietnamese. He usually curses at us in Vietnamese when he's mad.

Ahaan and I ended up laughing super hard.

"So, you've had a downfall from stage 2 to stage 0." Ahaan continued laughing.

"But it's not like you had a serious crush on her, did you?" I asked.

"I mean, I was on stage 2, but I didn't see myself anywhere near stage 3, so I'm not really hurt." He replied assuring us.

Then they told us about how their friend Venom (that's what we call her since we've heard about how a snake bit her a few years back. We've used the name Venom so much that I've forgotten her actual name) hid it from them because she wanted to see Joshua's surprise on seeing his 'hi-bye' crush kissing her boyfriend.

"Dude she's evil, man," Ahaan spoke.

"Yeah, she needs to meet Samar," I added. "They could be long-lost siblings."

Joshua then told us how he had already taken his revenge on her, and how poor Samuel was a scapegoat. Joshua can be very random with his pranks. One minute you'd be sleeping and the next you'd be chasing him for cracking an egg on you.

"By the way, Venom's ready to make brownies for y'all." He informed us.

"Oh great! I love her brownies." Jake said suddenly entering the living room and turning on the TV and his gaming console.

"Bro, when are you and Sam making us meet her? I think she's the only girl I know whom I've heard so much about, but I've never seen her." Ahaan said and I nodded agreeing.

"We will soon, once we debut, so there's no issue with the company. But both of you, better not flirt with her. She's too good for you guys." Joshua pointed at Ahaan and me.

"Uh, excuse me, not like I'm planning on asking her out. I don't even know how she looks." I said offended.

"Whatever. Her favorite is Jake anyway." Joshua said and Jake just laughed.

"Who cares, if Jake's her favorite, she must be boring," Ahaan spoke rolling his eyes.

"I'd tell you how I really feel, but my middle finger is too busy holding the console to be seen by you," Jake said without even looking at Ahaan who just stared back at him with dead eyes, and Joshua, Sam and I laughed super hard.