Kiana's teeth pressed against her nail, eyes drifting toward the lower floor—toward her bedroom.
Where Liend slept.
"By tomorrow morning…" she murmured, gaze fixed—cold, calculating.
Her hand rested beside the phone, fingers curled slightly against the surface.
"I have to do something… tonight," she whispered.
Then she turned—stepping out, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
-----------------
Inside one of the tall, glass-paneled towers of a certain company, Aria sat—struggling to keep her focus.
Her eyes flicked back and forth across the screen, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
She sipped from her coffee—again. And again.
Barely working. Just… enduring.
Across the room, the team leader stood from her chair with a tired sigh.
"All right, team. Good job today. Let's wrap up. See you tomorrow."
Aria leaned forward slightly—a polite nod of acknowledgment.
The team leader didn't linger. She quickly grabbed her coat and belongings, and marched out.
"She's sure been in a hurry these days…"
A co-worker beside Aria spoke up, stretching as she pushed back her chair with a light groan.
"Think she's got a boyfriend?" the woman beside Aria asked casually, sipping from her mug.
Aria didn't respond. She was deep in her own head, eyes fixed blankly on her screen.
"Mm?"
The woman—Geesa—tilted her head, turning slightly toward her.
"Aria?" she called, resting her chin on her hand as she waited for a response.
"Y–Yeah?"
Aria blinked, her name finally breaking through her daze. She straightened in her seat, stammering.
"W–What were you saying?"
She turned to face Geesa, forcing an awkward smile.
"Repeat that… please?"
Geesa raised an eyebrow, a confused look tugging at her face.
"You weren't listening?" Geesa asked, brow raised—genuinely puzzled by Aria's distracted demeanor.
She'd noticed it all morning—how distant Aria had seemed.
"You really do look lost in thought today…" Geesa muttered, rubbing her temple with a tired sigh.
Aria scoffed lightly, brushing it off with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Oh… it's nothing, really."
She turned away, shutting her laptop and gathering her things, the awkward smile still lingering.
Then, after a moment's pause, she asked, "Why don't we go to Green Note tonight?"
It was Friday after all—two days off ahead.
Geesa looked up, her expression softening.
"Hmm... Alright. Sounds good."
Aria stood, chair sliding back with a soft scrape. Her coat hung loosely over one shoulder, sleeves barely clinging to her arms.
She wore a relaxed-fit top and pants—comfortable, easy to move in.
Geesa just watched her—eyes unreadable—as Aria moved. For a moment, their gazes locked. There was something in Aria's eyes... like she wanted to say something—but didn't.
Instead, she sighed softly and stood, gathering her belongings.
Geesa followed with a sigh of her own, the tiredness evident in her eyes as she tilted her head slightly.
"I'll ask Rin and the others," she muttered, already turning—lips parting to call out.
But Aria reached out, a single finger hooking gently at the edge of Geesa's sleeve—right near her wrist.
"Mm?" Geesa glanced back.
"No…" Aria murmured, shaking her head.
"Can we go alone this time?" she asked—quietly.
Geesa looked at her, confused for a beat. Then something flickered in her expression—understanding.
She didn't ask. She just gave a soft hum... and smiled, the way she always did.
"Alright," Geesa nodded, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
Aria let go of her wrist, quietly watching as Geesa finished packing up.
"Just one moment…" Geesa said, arranging the last of her things. A moment later, she gave a final nod and smiled.
"All set."
She glanced at Aria with a calm, easy expression.
"You lead."
Still distracted—her thoughts circling back to the events from earlier—Aria simply nodded and turned, leading the way.
As they neared the glass door, a voice called out from behind.
"Oh, Aria—"
It was Rin, stepping out from his desk, nearly done packing up.
He slung his bag over one shoulder as he approached.
"Going somewhere?" he asked, his tone light. "Let's go together."
Before Aria could answer, two more coworkers—Mina and Helena—stood up beside him, still in the middle of their own conversation. They, too, grabbed their bags and glanced over.
"Where are we going today?" Helena asked, grinning as she gave a playful giggle.
"Bar, then club?" she suggested, her mood light and cheerful.
Aria hesitated, glancing toward Geesa.
Geesa caught the look immediately. She stepped forward.
"Um… Helena," she began, her voice polite but hesitant.
Helena turned, still smiling. "Hmm?"
Geesa shook her head gently.
"Not today. Maybe some other time?"
The three coworkers looked at them—confused.
"Why? What happened?" Helena asked.
Geesa gave a small smile as she began nudging toward the door.
"Me and Aria have something to do today. Just the two of us. Maybe next time?"
Helena blinked—then gave a soft nod of understanding.
"Alright. Okay…" she said, glancing at Rin and Mina with a shrug.
"But you'll be missing out if you don't come with us tonight," Helena called after them, half-teasing.
Aria simply shook her head and nodded.
"That's alright… we've got something important to take care of."
She smiled politely, then pushed open the glass door and stepped out.
"Have a good time, though," Geesa added, glancing back with a smile as she followed Aria out.
Rin watched them go, brows furrowing slightly.
"Wonder what that's about…" he muttered.
Helena and Mina moved in, each grabbing one of his arms.
"No need to think about others," Helena said with a playful grin, tugging at him.
"We've got our own plans tonight."
From Rin's other side, Mina leaned in closer.
"Why don't we try that tonight?" she purred.
Rin inhaled sharply, jaw tightening.
"No. Not tonight," he muttered. "You two have been draining me dry every weekend."
Mina only smirked, her gaze sultry as she pressed her chest tighter against his arm.
"And tell me you don't like it?" Mina teased, her voice low and smug, eyes glinting with mischief.
Rin sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Agh…" he groaned under his breath, not even trying to argue further.
The two women chuckled—Helena on one side, Mina on the other—as they led him off together, arms linked, pulling him along.