"Who said anything about telling his girlfriend?"
Aria asked—uncertain yet oddly assured, her expression soft and innocent.
Geesa stared back, her eyes wavering.
"Not… telling his girlfriend," she repeated under her breath, trying to absorb it.
"So…" Geesa murmured, gaze drifting to a far corner as she tried to understand.
"Friends with benefits?"
Aria opened her mouth—paused—thought for a moment, as though searching her mind for the right shape of the idea.
"N… no," she said finally, her voice unsteady.
"Not just that."
She swallowed, her voice turning softer—aching, almost trembling.
"I want him to care… about me," she whispered.
"The same way he cares for his girlfriend. The same love."
Aria's eyes lifted to meet Geesa's—steady, certain in their longing despite the haze.
"I want that same feeling," she said, her voice deepening with emotion."The same feeling his girlfriend has when she's with him… I want that too."
"I want the same tenderness..."
Aria's voice softened, eyes glimmering with a childlike ache—raw, vulnerable.
Geesa stared at her, overwhelmed—drenched in the weight of Aria's words, unsure how to even respond, as Aria continued, flooding her with emotion.
"Ugh!"
Geesa groaned, rubbing her forehead as if physically trying to push the thoughts away.
"Just say you want him to break up already," she muttered.
"That'd be easier to swallow than... whatever this is."
Aria looked up at her, eyes calm, head gently shaking. Her voice dropped low—almost a whisper.
"No... I don't want that," she murmured.
"He's happy with his girlfriend."
She paused—quiet, reflective.
"I want him to stay happy. But..."
Her voice faltered, heavy.
"I also want him."
Her gaze dropped. A breath slipped from her lips—a soft, aching sigh.
"It'd be too selfish to take him away from his girlfriend... just for myself," Aria said quietly.
"But I still want him to be with me—to care for me. That's all I really want... As long as he's with me, I don't care if he's with others too..." her voice trailed, vulnerable but resolute.
"I just want to be with him... too..." she purred, her eyes drifting to Geesa—searching her face, pleading for an answer.
Geesa met her gaze, then sighed deeply, placing her fingers over her temple as if holding back a wave of frustration.
"Aria—" she began, her voice hoarse with weariness.
"I don't know if I can really help you with this..." she murmured.
"Geesa..." Aria cut in softly, but Geesa raised a hand to stop her.
"But," she said, tilting her head, her eyes narrowing slightly toward her,
"I can make sure he gets hooked—on you."
Aria's eyes lit up instantly, a smile breaking across her face.
"Geesa..." she breathed, reaching out to hug her, but Geesa leaned away, dodging the greasy fingers.
"Don't," she said flatly.
Aria pulled back, still purring.
"Don't give me that," Geesa added, groaning again.
"I'm already helping you more than I should," Geesa said firmly.
"I don't want to be touched—again—or get my shirt stained by your fingers."
Aria blinked, then nodded quickly, recovering her mood.
"O... Okay," she murmured.
"Now tell me—fast," she added, her tone perking up with anticipation. She leaned forward, practically glowing with eagerness—ready to soak up every word Geesa might offer.
Geesa glanced at her—at the hungry gleam in Aria's eyes, the bright, expectant smile—and sighed. She placed her hand on the table, slowly bracing herself before beginning.
"Aria..." she said gently.
"From what I've gathered so far..." she paused, lowering her gaze,
"He's clearly not drawn to your... form." She gestured vaguely at Aria's body.
Aria's smile twitched—still listening, though the words stung.
"Not even that," Geesa added, her eyes flicking pointedly to Aria's chest.
"Which—let's be honest—would give most guys a rock-solid hard-on."
Geesa sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"Have you even tried it?" she asked, nodding toward Aria's chest.
"Y'know... showing that off?"
Aria tilted her head slightly, thinking.
"Mm..." she mused, tapping a finger to her temple.
"Yeah... every time, actually. I sleep in lingerie with him—most nights."
She said it so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Geesa blinked—stunned into silence. Her eyes froze on Aria, unblinking.
"Wait... just lingerie?" she asked, still processing.
Aria nodded, all innocence. "Yes."
"And he never—" Geesa leaned in slightly.
"He never got a boner? You never felt it harden… even through your bare ass?"
Aria's smile, wide just moments ago, slowly faded. Her eyes dropped. Her head lowered.
"...No,"
"Never... never felt it," Aria whispered.
Geesa looked at her—unsure, uncertain, words caught on the edge of her lips.
"I don't know if it's even possible then... Aria," she said softly.
But Aria didn't let it sink in. She reached out, grabbing Geesa's hand—tight, urgent.
"Geesa..." she pleaded, her voice trembling."You're the last one I have."
She stared into her eyes, holding her gaze like it was her last anchor.
"The last one who could help me."
Her grip tightened, fingers clinging, not letting Geesa slip away.
"Please... anything... anything that could work," she begged, breath hitching.
"There has to be something, Geesa."
Her voice cracked—barely holding steady.
"Something you know... about men. You've been married—you must know something."
Her words came fragile, full of trembling hope, searching for some thread to hold onto.
Geesa looked back—her expression wavering, eyes trembling, caught in the pull of Aria's desperation.
"Aria..." Geesa mumbled, voice low. "My hand..."
Her wrist was smudged—stained with food and traces of alcohol. The end of her white shirt had caught some of it too, and she glanced down at it, then back at Aria, eyes trembling.
"The shirt..." she murmured. "Just... let go of it first, please."
Her voice quivered, almost pleading now. Aria looked back, hesitating—uncertain.
"Will you..." she whispered, her fingers still trembling,
"Will you have any idea—any way to help... if I let go?"
Her eyes pressed hard into Geesa's—clinging, searching for promise, for something.
Geesa met her gaze, uneasy, caught between compassion and discomfort.
"...I might," she said finally—voice soft, breaking.
Slowly, Aria's grip began to loosen—just slightly at first, then completely—as she pulled her hand back. But her eyes didn't waver. She sat back, silent, gaze locked on Geesa—deep, searching, desperate for an answer that still hadn't come.