"I was paralysed."
Stella's eyes widened.
"Y-you were…"
A pause,
"..h-how long? For how long?"
"Hmm, I guess 7 years or so." He said calmly, as if he was talking about the weather.
Stella quietly processed his words.
She wanted to say something—maybe comfort him, maybe apologise—but when she saw how calm he looked, she stopped herself.
She knew his personality.
If he was the same as before… then it was better not to say anything.
So she simply shifted closer and lay her head on his lap.
Lucian, surprised at first, let her rest.
His hand instinctively found its way to her hair, gently combing through it.
[Aren't you both too close to each other?] Akasha's voice chimed into his mind.
'She is my best friend, of course we are.' Lucian replied.
[Best friend? Am I on the same planet, or is your definition of best friends different?] She chuckled.
'What do you…'
[Oh, come on. You know exactly what I mean. You like her.]
He paused.
'I did. But now… I don't know.'
"What are you thinking?"
Her voice pulled him back.
He looked down at Stella resting on his lap.
"Nothing, just… It's been such a long time since we met."
She smiled softly.
They continued talking, but even then, she did not remove her head from his lap.
***
20 minutes had passed since they were talking.
Both had a smile on their faces.
Two old friends, separated by time and fate, were smiling like children reunited after years of loneliness.
Lucian had no friends during his paralysis.
Stella had many… but none real.
Most only stayed because of her status, her fame, her family name.
That was when a woman approached.
Dressed in crisp office attire.
"Young Miss."
Her voice snapped them from their little world.
"Julia? Why are you here?"
Stella asked. She removed her head from Lucian's lap and sat properly.
The woman, Julia, looked at both of them and smiled slightly.
"Miss, you called me to pick you up." She reminded her,
Then her gaze turned to Lucian.
"Is he the one? The boy you always talked about?"
Her gaze sharpened, evaluating him, weighing him, searching for any ill intention.
Stella had spoken fondly about him, but Julia wasn't the type to trust easily—not when it came to her.
"Yes! Let me introduce you. This is Lucian, my best friend. And Lucian, this is my caretaker, Julia."
Lucian greeted her politely.
After a while, Julia saw Stella's injury.
They moved to their car, with Lucian helping Stella to walk.
Julia didn't even try to help and instead asked him to do it.
Once Stella was settled inside the luxurious car, Julia turned to him.
"Thank you for helping her."
Her expression was genuine.
When she heard that a truck was about to hit Stella, it shook her.
Stella wasn't just a young miss to her—she was like her own daughter.
Lucian nodded.
"Take care of Star."
'Star?' Julia blinked, but then realised.
"Fufu, already calling by nicknames." She chuckled, amused.
"Don't worry. I will."
She then handed him a card.
"You can call me if you need any help."
Then she entered the car and left.
***
On his way home, Lucian stopped to buy some groceries.
'I did not know she was that rich.'
He looked at the card again– the card given by Julia.
He knew she came from a rich family, but he didn't think it would be this much.
Stella had also given her mobile number.
She even asked him if he needed money or any help.
Yes, she offered money to a friend she met after such a long time.
'Is she dumb?' He thought.
It might not seem much, but think about it for a moment.
You meet a best friend from your childhood after a long time. Do you offer him money so easily?
And she even tried to send him some money.
And 'some' means a million dollars.
Lucian almost thought that she was kidding, but was shocked to find out that she wasn't.
Still, he refused her offer.
Again, this might seem stupid to most, but it wasn't, at least to him.
He had his pride, and he wouldn't feel right to stomp on that.
***
Inside the spacious luxury car, Stella and Julia sat in the back.
"So he was your long-lost boyfriend?" Julia asked, casually.
Stella froze, then blushed slightly.
"What! What are you…"
Seeing her stuttering, Julia chuckled.
"So I was right? Don't worry. You have my approval. And he is handsome too."
Stella's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.
"It isn't like that. He is just my… best friend"
Her voice faded into a whisper at the end.