Chapter 2

Josh's POV

I was playing my guitar in the music room with other friends when I remembered something all of a sudden one of my friends were taking pictures of the campus and had a camera hung on his neck. My thoughts immediately ran back to that pretty girl.

"Hey, why did you stop playing?", one of my friends asked. "Hmm...nothing. I have a class after 5 minutes. So I'll head to my class", I said and went to my department.

Huh...what the hell! Why am I not able to stop thinking about her? I don't even know her name, I silently told myself.

"Hey, Josh. Let me tell you something interesting", Leo came out of nowhere and startled me. "What is it?", I took a deep breath.

"You know, our Riya is walking with a female friend for the first time. I mean she never gets along with any girl in this college. That girl seems to be a new girl", he looked so excited.

"You must be joking with me. Riya, with another girl? Impossible!", I scoffed.

But then, right when she entered the class I was shocked to see that girl with Riya.

It was the same girl whom I can't stop thinking about. "Hey, what's up?", Riya patted my head.

And this brought me back to my senses.

"Hey, don't touch my hair", I frowned. "Um, come here. Why are you staying over there? We are friends now", Riya said and pulled that girl towards us. She looked so cute with an awkward smile.

"Meet my friends. He is Josh, my best friend", she said.

"Hi, we met yesterday. Do you remember?", I said.

"Hi... I'm Anna. Nice to meet you", she smiled.

"You met her yesterday?", Riya looked confused.

"Emm...those men yesterday were chasing her so I helped her", I said.

"Thank you so much, Josh. I don't know what would have happened to me if you weren't there", she looked so concerned.

"Ho ho..you should thank me. He was almost beaten to death by those drunkards. Thankfully I came there and beat those thugs. See that scar on his neck and a few bruises near his lips", Riya laughed.

"Hey, you are spoiling my image", I dragged her neck and whispered. "Haha, well I beat them too. It's just that she came there and helped me", I smiled awkwardly.

"Both of you are so sweet", Anna smiled and I like the fact that when she smiles, her eyes become so chinky that we can barely see her eyes.

"You can sit with me, let's go", Riya held her hands and took Anna with her.

"Oh my god, Riya must be really out of her mind. I never saw her being so sweet with any other girl as of now. She never liked any girl in this college. Did she hit her head when she fought yesterday?", Leo looked so amazed.

I mean like who would not be nice to such a sweet girl like Anna?

Timeskip

"Hey, Riya can you come here? I gotta tell you something", I said.

"Sure", she said and sat near me.

"Did you hit your head by the way? I mean while fighting with those men yesterday?", I asked.

"You kidding me? I didn't even get a scratch. Forget about getting hit on the head", Riya looked flustered.

"Then why are you being so nice and girly with her? I mean you never really hang out with girls. You are probably not girlish", I said.

"Actually, when I was on my way to college today...I happened to see one old lady not able to cross the road and cars were moving here and there. I went to help her but then a car almost ran her down before I reached there. Thankfully she saved her. And the owner of the car was so grumpy that as soon as he came out of the car, he started scolding her. That man almost hit her but I came in between and I almost broke his hands. Luckily she stopped me. She is too kind. I don't like most girls because I find them fake. But she is good. I like her", Riya said. Of course, who would not like her? Even someone like Riya likes her.

"Hmm...she is very sweet and kind", I smiled.

"And, from now on I'll act like a girl and become soft", Riya smiled.

"I didn't get you", I said.

"You like soft girls. So from now on, I'll not fight with anyone, I'll not argue with kids, I'll be friendly with all the people, I won't be reluctant and probably I'll act like a girl. A soft one", she smiled.

After hearing this, I kind of became speechless. I stared at her and she did nothing but smile.

End of Josh's POV 

...

The sky was clear and the weather was warm. Anna was feeling a little tired so she just sat in a random spot, closed her eyes, and inhaled the the fresh air. It was refreshing so she just smiled looking at the sky. And just at a 2-meter distance was Josh staring at this pretty girl. It was the first time he was feeling this way. An unknown feeling he never had before, but he knew one thing for sure, it was a pleasant feeling. Just seeing her from afar made him smile the brightest.

"Hey, what you doing here?", Josh e sat next to Anna. "I'm a little worn out. I just wanted to take a rest. This place is so calm and beautiful", she giggled.

 "Well, It's my favorite place. I come here often", he looked at the sky.

"Then did I disturb you?", she made a sorry face and he liked that a lot.

"Um? No...you can come here whenever you want", Josh said.

"Here, drink this", she handed over him a lemonade.

"Umm?", Josh was confused.

"It's for saving me yesterday. Thank you", Anna smiled as usual.

"Thanks", he smiled and drank the lemonade.

Both of them were simply sharing a great time. But what about that girl who was right behind them and silently watching?

Riya stood behind them with a lemonade in her hands. She wanted to give this to Josh. She didn't say anything nor went between them. All she did was simply watch them having a great time and look at the lemonade she held in her hands. All she did was look at how happy Josh was with her.

Riya's POV 

"Hey, what were you two talking about yesterday? I mean I happened to see you two laughing when I was heading home", I asked Josh.

"Well, it was a casual talk. She is sweet", he said.

"Hmm...she is. She is my first-ever female friend", I said.

"Hey Soyang, Good morning. Hi Wangmo, sup? Good morning Zayden", I said as I passed by a few girls. Josh looked kind of confused and amazed.

"Are you alright?", he placed his hands on my forehead and checked my temperature.

"Of course, I'm fine", I said.

"Really? I don't think you are alright. What are "Hi", "Sup", "good morning" and all? You never greeted anyone till now", his expression was kind of gross.

"I'm trying to be nice to all the people. I look sweet, right?", I smiled.

"Sweet? Are you kidding me? You look more dangerous", Josh laughed.

"Hey, you disrespectful person. Come here....come here", I said and he started running away. I chased him and it went till like that. We are slowly becoming best friends again like before. I hope he'll start liking me.

Anna's POV 

I don't know why, since the day I saw Josh, I couldn't control my heart from loving him. He is sweet and takes care of me. He is gentle and always makes me feel warm. Am I really into him? And even now, I'm waiting for him to come to the class so that I can talk with him, and see him smile again. I never felt such things before. It's my first time. Yes...I got my first love. He is my first love.

But, as I saw him coming with Riya...I felt like they liked each other. They have known each other for so long and Riya is such a wonderful and cool girl. He must probably like her. Even right now, they are so playful and comfortable with each other. I should control my feelings because I don't want to come between them. Riya came first in his life, I shouldn't be a third wheel.

Josh's POV

As soon as I entered the class, I saw Anna talking so comfortably with some other guy. She was smiling while talking with him. But why didn't I like it? We only met a few days ago. We are not that close. Is it that I have already fallen for her? Do I like her?

"Hey, Riya. Hey Josh", she said. "Hi", I was cold towards her. From her expression towards my answer, I knew she noticed I wasn't in a mood.

She didn't say anything.

"Josh? What was that? Why were you so cold towards her?", Riya whispered.

"Was I? I don't think she and I are close enough to always smile and do that and this every day", I said. Woah...I was really angry. Is it a sign of jealousy?

"Still then you shouldn't be like this to a sweet girl like her. Look at her, she was just so happy a moment ago. Now you made her upset", Riya said and I realized I was wrong. I was too harsh on her.

...

The classes got over and while I was heading to my music room for a practice, Riya called me.

"Umm... I heard people are gonna display fireworks today near this college area. So can we do it together? I wanna do it with you", she smiled.

"Umm? Sure...but be on time. If you are late, I'm gonna do it with others", I patted her head.

"Umm... I'll be on time", she smiled.

As she went happily past me, I took a deep sigh. "I wish Riya forgets me soon. I hope she finds someone better, someone who will love her back", I said and headed my way.

End of Josh's POV 

…

Riya wanted to make Josh see her as a girl, a soft and kind-hearted girl whom he wanted to protect. And for that, she has to look delicate. So she took help from one of her cousins and put on some make-up. Well, it was her first time putting on makeup and dressing like an actual girl. She looked pretty though. As she was on her way to college, she saw one lady all in blood at the corner of the road. It seemed like she was run down by the car. But the people around her were so modernized that instead of helping that lady, they were making videos of her in pain. She immediately rushed to help her.

Riya's POV 

"Are you okay? Don't worry, I've called the ambulance. They will reach here soon", I said and tried to block the blood from oozing more.

"Hey, are you all even human? Instead of helping her, you all are just busy trying to gain a few likes on social media. Hey, stop it. Put your phones down, god damn", I shouted. Few people looked guilty but few were still recording everything on camera.

The ambulance came and she accompanied the lady to the Hospital. While I was filling up the form and other formalities, the family of the injured lady came.

"Thank you so much young lady for saving my wife. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened to her. We'll do anything to repay your kindness", the lady's husband said.

"It's okay sir. Just make sure she is okay. I'll visit her tomorrow", I said. Just then she remembered about the plans I had with Josh. I looked at my watch and I was an hour late. He must be mad or he would have just left. I immediately ran towards the college.

End of Riya's POV 

"Why is she taking a lot of time? She should be here by now. Will she be okay? I hope she is safe", Josh thought in his mind.

Just then he saw Anna standing all alone. In his eyes, she looked so pretty that he couldn't stop smiling.

"Hey, why are you here all alone?", Josh Interrupted. "Oh...hah. No specific reason", she replied.

"Well, about this morning... I'm sorry. I was a little off", he said.

"It's okay I don't mind", she smiled.

"You are sweet", he said.

"Everybody says that...haha jokes apart", she laughed.

"But why are you alone? I saw you a few moments ago and you were alone too", she said.

"I'm waiting for Riya. We planned to display the fireworks together. But I don't know why she is taking so much time", he said.

"You must like her a lot. She is wonderful", Anna added.

"Wait wait...I like her but not that way. She is my best friend. I know she is wonderful and kind of cool but she is not someone with whom I want to share romantic feelings", Josh said and it kind of made Anna happy. She adored both Josh and Riya and didn't want to come in between them, but now that she knows he doesn't like her that way, she can relax.

"Then, what's your type?", Anna asked.

"You...", he said but right at that moment all the fireworks were displayed in the sky and Anna couldn't hear.

"What did you say? I didn't hear you", she said.

"Nothing, let's display the fireworks together ", Josh smiled.

"Hmm... I'm excited", she giggled.

"1, 2, 3...", and as the fireworks display in the sky, Josh finally realizes he like this new girl.

"It's beautiful, right?", Anna said and smiled looking at the sky.

"Hmm... It's very beautiful", he smiled looking at her.

Right at that moment, Riya saw the fireworks in the sky, and at a distance, she saw Josh smiling at Anna. She looked at her dress which was covered in blood and thought, she would never be able to do anything right. She could do nothing but stare at him from Behind.