Golden Fusion

17.

Vani was awakened by her phone's ringing. She wondered who could call her at four in the morning.

It was a video call from Samuel.

Instead of getting angry because he ruined her sleep, she couldn't contain her excitement from her best friend's call after a whole year. She tried to get out of the covers carefully so as to not trip over in excitement and switched on the lights.

As soon as she picked up the call, she saw a smiling Samuel and Joshua sitting next to each other as the phone was placed on a table in front of them. They didn't say anything and just smiled.

Vani herself couldn't place words in her mouth, and smiled widely at them with tears in her eyes.

"Don't cry." Joshua spoke up with a groggy voice and tears threatening to spill as he saw his best friend wipe her tears with the sleeve of her hoodie.

"You're crying too." Vani pointed out with a teary smile.

"How are you looking normal after waking up?" Samuel joked trying to make his best friends laugh.

"Shut up!" Vani said while laughing and Joshua laughed too.

"We're sorry." Joshua apologized. "Genuinely sorry, Vani. Now we have all our time for you. Whatever you want to do, we're here."

"No, please don't say sorry. I could've contacted you guys too. I've just been really busy with my work and there were numerous times where I could've called you guys but I chose to rest. I'm sorry." She let it out.

"Let's finish this once and for all and meet each other, what do you say?" Samuel asked. "It's been a whole year. Surely, you'll have updates about yourself and we've to tell you a lot too."

"Yeah, let's meet soon. I have so much to tell you guys."

"By the way, you're also gonna work with us, right? From Aubree?" Samuel asked with anticipation.

"What? No. What do you mean?" Vani asked back.

"Hold on, where are you working? Because the last time you had told us it was supposed to be at Aubree." Joshua asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"Wow, your memory is too good. But I rejected their offer. I'm working at Arnolds instead. The workplace is great and I've made some good friends." She explained.

"That's awesome! I was just asking because people from Aubree will be working with us from tomorrow for designing clothes and hair and makeup, so we thought you'd also come." Samuel said and Joshua nodded.

"Oh, no, I'm at Arnolds." Vani said shrugging. "By the way, congratulations on your debut and I'm sure you guys are doing great. Congratulate the other boys from my side too."

"What do you mean you're sure we're doing great? We are doing great. Have you not watched us or heard in the news?" Samuel asked in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, it was difficult to watch you guys or even be updated. My time after Paris sucked and work took over me. I had to get away from some thoughts and figured my work is helping me in that. I couldn't even think of anything else apart from working." Vani felt bad not being able to support her friends, but she knew she will now.

"Are you alright, Vani? Is something bothering you?" Joshua asked softly.

"There have been some things, but I'm much better now. I'll tell you guys everything when we meet." She assured her friends.

The three of them decided the next meeting at a place where Joshua and Samuel couldn't get be recognized. Once they ended the call, Vani smiled widely because she had just fooled her friends. It was obvious they would believe her because they had no updates about each other for a year. She was actually going to work in their company as a cloth designer.