Another friend

Zoe

Bridget’s smile faltered.

Then she recovered so quickly that if I hadn’t been staring at her, I would have missed it.

She laughed softly and folded her arms. Defense.

“Arman, come on. Since the accident.”

Arman didn't respond.

Bridget looked around the room and explained patiently, like she had explained this a hundred times already.

“Fans still don’t know your current condition. The last update we gave was carefully controlled. You disappearing completely worked in our favor because people got curious instead of concerned.” She smiled gently at Arman. “Your recovery, you relationship has to become private.”

Private.

I looked at Arman.

His expression did not change but I was beginning to realize that with Arman, the absence of expression did not mean absence of feeling.

Bridget continued. “You were confused after waking up. You weren’t ready. Your emotions were unstable and people notice these things. You're not ready to go back out there. Interviews, photos, public appearances—they all can become stories.”

She smiled. “I'm protecting you.”

Something about that sentence made me uncomfortable. She met my eyes as she said the words. We were the only two in the room that knew about Arman's memory loss.

Arman looked at her quietly. Then asked—“When did you last visit me?”

Bridget blinked. "You didn't want me around!"

That was true, Arman had kinda pushed her away since he woke up, but she couldn't say that because we didn't want the others to know more than they already did.

“I was working, I've been busy too." Bridget coughed, being a managers entails more than following you around. Besides, I lost my phone so it was a lot of work to regain all my contacts and your contracts details."

Arman nodded slowly.

Sonia suddenly clapped her hands lightly. The conversations had shifted from her and she absolutely didn't like it.

“Well! This atmosphere is becoming depressing.”

Her phone rang immediately after, like the universe had agreed.

She looked at the screen and sighed dramatically. “Oh no.”

Arjun appeared from somewhere behind us. His wife's voice was a siren that he would never resist. Their connection was... Enviable. “What happened?”

She stood up.b“Production emergency.”

Her expression shifted instantly. Work mode. The woman was a wonderful.

She turned Arman but wasn't really looking at him all her attention was on her phone. “We’ll stay longer next time.”

She kissed the air beside his cheek. Not his cheek. The air. I couldn't help but wonder if it was intentional.

Then she smiled at me. “It was lovely meeting you, Zoe.”

I smiled back. “You too.”

Arjun nodded once at Arman. “Take care.”

Then both of them left. Just like that and the house became quiet.

Too quiet.

Now it was Arman, Bridget and I left in the house and we were a very weird triangle.

I looked at the door after it closed. Hoping for someone to come in.

That was it. Arman's parents had come, seen him, taken pictures asked about work and left. On the superficial level, it was good enough, but in my dreams of a perfect family, unlike mine, the mother cared more, she asks how her child has been eating, checks the balance in his nutrition, goes through his fridge and stocks it with healthy food, makes his bed, shower him with kisses and long hugs.

Not.. this.

To my surprise, Arman hadn't seems surprised. It felt like he was... Used to this.

Bridget stepped closer to Arman. She softened her voice. “You shouldn’t think too much.”

This seemed like a usual charade. Sonia disappointing her son and Bridget stepping up.

Arman looked at her.

She continued. “Recovery isn’t only physical.”

Then she glanced at me, only briefly but enough. “Zoe, thank you for staying with him.”

She was reminding me of my position, why I was here.

I nodded. We both understood.

My phone vibrated. Rachel. I frowned and picked up.

“Hello?” Her voice came immediately. “Open the gate.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I’m outside.” She cheered. She must be excited to be in front of the house of a star.

I looked at Arman, he might not like this.

“Why?”

Rachel hesitated then said— “M.J. sent me.”

Something tightened in my stomach.

“Did something happen?”

She lowered her voice.

“I think he's trying to prevent something from happening." She joked. When I didn't laugh, she turned serious to match my tone." He wants you home. He said you’ve stayed long enough.”

I looked up.

Bridget was watching me. She had most likely texted M.J. it was her kicking me out.

Arman was watching me. I went to him and gave him a hug. The kind I wished my mother, my brother or even a friend would give me. A long quiet hug.

Finally I moved away. "I've got to go. Rachel is waiting outside for me." I explained.

"I'll come pick you when I'm going to Miss Riah's." He reminded me.

I nodded.

Things were unstable, I had no control over anything, but at that moment, Arman felt like... My friend.