Years of knowing Aria, and then living with her for two years meant I knew how she tended to act. The way she was excited when she finished her homework faster than me. Or when she edged a win in our class rankings. She could even be petulant when I was the one winning in our childish rivalry. Our family mostly laughed and encouraged it for a while, for it was making us a fiend in studying and making things easier for them. We still ended up as friends though, in the end. 

We didn’t want to see someone else winning, except for the two of us. Was it healthy? I didn’t know, but that was something I crystallized on even when I was but a mere child. 

Nonetheless, that all meant I could see the way Aria kept herself smaller, the way her eye bags became even more pronounced—she even skipped her meals! For all my time of knowing her, she would never done that. Anything I cooked? Aria always grabbed it, even if I told her not to. I always cooked extra for her nowadays, but with the way she was acting… 

I nibbled on my lower lips, drumming my finger against the university’s chair. Class was going on right now, something about how to use the already analyzed data we did months ago and turn it into something concrete. Focus was a rapidly depleting resource, and I was using it for something else. I knew I should be doing it properly, what with this being one of my core classes. 

Aria filled my thoughts, though. Worry swamped my thoughts akin to quicksand, drawing everything else away, until what was left was my feelings. I just… 

“And that’s it for today! Don’t forget to read the next chapter before we are meeting again—We are all going to discuss it. Class dismissed!” He clapped his hand before walking away, leaving his teaching assistant to handle turning off the computer and everything else. 

Usually I would feel bad, but today I just gathered all my items and leave the classroom. Maybe I should go to the engineering department. Dig around gossips and anything else I could find out about Aria. Heck, I could even ask some of my classmates, right? Some of them seemed to know about the gossips somehow, without seemingly leaving the classroom. 

Just as I was about to turn around again, thinking that I should ask Diana or Felice, the two that I was at least tentatively friends with—when I heard three students walking by. They looked to be freshmen, their faces still looking happy and light, that only people who just started university could feel. 

“I couldn’t believe a senior in engineering could behave like that!” 

“Yeah… she looked kind and diligent when showing us around too. I hear that the engineering here is hard, so maybe…” 

“Still though, what use is there to cheat? Stealing another person’s work like that?” 

My heart beat so fast I could hear the blood rushing in my ears, even as I immediately whipped my body around, looking straight at the freshmen. 

“Who’s the senior you are talking about?” My voice sounded a little faint, breathy even. Everything was narrowing down, my sight and hearing not even able to focus on anything else except for these three. 

The two girls were backing their body away, and the only boy moved forward, keeping himself between them and me. Didn’t really matter though, not exactly. 

“Please.” My voice might sound a little hoarse, but my mind was running all over the place. Noise filling in where it shouldn’t be, cold sweat forming on my palms. 

The two girls looked at one another, before one finally walked forward a little. Still behind the boy, but she was looking straight at me. “Aria… something. I forgot, but that’s what people are talking about.” She said before shrugging. 

I could only murmur a soft ‘thank you’ as I backed away from them, feeling very dazed all of a sudden. Cheater? Aria? The one who studied so intensely whenever we have an exam, leaving me high and dry for our usual nightly calls? 

No. No way she did that. I didn’t notice as the three students walked away, all my thoughts were on Aria and the current situation. At first, I immediately thought that maybe I should go to the engineering department anyway. Ensure that people weren’t ganging up on her—but considering how big the gossip had become, that even freshmen knew… 

That would just be a disaster in the making, especially when I didn’t have any sort of reputation or pull in the student body to turn things around. Covering my face for a moment with my hands, I let loose a groan, feeling annoyed and hating myself for my inability to do anything for now. 

In the end though, the only thing I knew I could do was… go back to our apartment and wait for Aria. Maybe I could even cook something to cheer her up, because this was a lot. 

Aria might even be there, by now. 

There wasn’t anyone back in the apartment, so I ended up busying myself with making something warm and hearty. Just needed to chop a little meat and vegetables before throwing them all in the same pot. Not too hard, and it would be easy to keep it hot. 

Then it was just… waiting for Aria. Hopefully she would focus on coming back, and then we could try to talk it out. Find a way to make things better for her. I couldn’t think of much of an idea, but I was sure there would be something. Maybe complaining towards the faculties? Then again, I didn’t know what happened. 

I laid on the sofa in a daze, not even knowing how much time had passed ever since I came back. Hours, perhaps. 

All I knew was that I finally came back to the present when I heard the tell-tale click of the door’s lock opening, and I could hear the whine of the hinge as it was opened. I immediately stood up, shaking away the static in my thoughts as I walked towards the front door, hearing the click as it was locked again. 

When I saw her face, I knew it was bad. She was stormy, her jaws tight and pressed tightly against one another. Her brows were furrowed against one another, making her eyes narrow and furthering the angry look. Her whole body was tense, and I could see the way her fists clenching so hard I was sure her nails were digging right into her palms. 

“Aria?” I tried, just a word, done softly so she wouldn’t startle like an already tensed horse. Just a word away from snapping. 

She only seemed to realize I was there when I said her name, her body jerking slightly as she looked into my eyes. The storm was still there, darkening her blue eyes into a stormy sea. For a moment, there was silence between us. I waited, and she was keeping her mouth shut. 

Only when I was about to open her mouth, to see if she would answer me was when she finally moved. Not an answer or anything, but her hand grasped mine as she pulled me closer—and our lips were pressed together. Against one another. 

My eyes widened as I felt her softness against mine, even as Aria kept looking straight at me. She didn’t look away, merely pushing me closer even as I started to struggle against her hold. Her body was warm, but especially her hand against mine. 

A storm of feelings seemingly burst out from within me, swirling like a hurricane, taking all of me with it. I didn’t know what to feel, even as my body moved without me realizing it—which I only knew happened when she was finally off of me, both of my hands stretched forward, with me trying to use them as some sort of barrier between us. 

I was breathing hard, mind reeling, even as I tried to make sense of what happened. “What… what the fuck, Aria?” 

“Nothing matters anymore.” There were bitterness, thick and dark like a mug of coffee. “I’ll do what I want, and there’ll be nothing anyone can do to stop me.” 

A grin spread on her mouth, lips spread wide. 

My heart jumped in my chest, the beat becoming faster as I looked at her. The more she stared, the more the storm inside me seemingly coalesced into something else. Or maybe it was mine, looking into her. I couldn’t be so sure anymore. 

“What did you do?” I asked, not understanding what was happening. Aria came home and then she… My cheeks flushed as I remembered the kiss that happened just moments ago. She was my friend, and I never even had an inkling of romantic feelings towards her. And yet at this moment, as I gazed towards her—There was a heat inside my chest, my stomach. A flip, a flutter of butterfly’s wings. 

Aria’s bared teeth made her look even more dangerous than before, an unhinged feeling that sent shivers down my spine. Whether it was because I feared her, or because of the excitement seemingly forming in my stomach, I didn’t know. 

“Just finally taking the decision after that bastard Elizabeth decide to fuck me up.” She angered, and I could feel the same burning inside me. 

It wasn’t that I hated it, for that woman had hurt Aria—but the sheer intensity of it made me shake. My feelings were never that strong. A consuming pile of emotions that took in everything, only leaving anything stronger than it. 

At least the anger was easy to push away, for it was a feeling I never enjoyed to feed. Besides, I didn’t think Aria was in the best headspace right now. So if I also found myself compromised—well, at least calm enough I wasn’t frothing in the mouth with anger. It was still there, shimmering at the bottom of my stomach. 

“What have you decided on?” Maybe if I kept her talking, she would stop whatever she was doing. My heart was hammering now, a flush darkening my cheeks as she sidled closer—her anger not forgotten, but channeled into a more productive avenue. I would have encouraged her, if it wasn’t all aimed at me. At least this meant the shimmer was lowering, consumed away by this feeling she was raising within me. 

“To finally take you.” Aria whispered, and I felt as if the slots all fit into place. It wasn’t something I had realized beforehand, but the way she wanted to show off to me. The way she wished to ‘win’, staying with me despite not having a need to, how she took my food—I opened my mouth, about to tell her… the rejections died in my mouth, as I found myself unable to process it. “In some ways, this is all thanks to Elizabeth. Just a little betrayal, and then…” 

Aria stopped there, her eyes not really seeing anything. It was scarier than before, when all her attention was completely focused on me. Luckily, it was only for a moment, a long moment that made my stomach twist uncomfortably. Soon after she was once more looking at me, and I could feel the tell-tale of arousal stirring in my stomach. 

I didn’t think I would like to be looked… that way by her. To be seen as if she was undressing me with her eyes. I never liked it before, but with Aria? It felt comfortable. After all, she cared for me, someone I had been with for years. I couldn’t help but give her a slight smile, a stirring of embarrassment forming from how my body was reacting. 

“I love you, Thane. For so many years, I’ve yearned for you. To feel and touch you until you can only think of me.” She whispered, the words seemingly awakening the same within me. I felt like a mirror, an imperfect reflection and yet still feeling the same. One of her hands had grasped mine once more, and the other slipped under my shirt. 

A moan slipped out of me so easily, the good feeling easily spreading all over my body. Her touch was great and so wonderful, I wished for more—but Aria didn’t heed my wishes. Only hers, and it was to explore my body slowly, a ghosting touch across my skin that made me shiver and gasp. 

My head still churned with her words, rotating and tumbling as I tried to make sense of it all. What was constant was the arousal that continued to pool within me, the want and desire that was joining in, making me whimper and trying to press against her touch. “M-more…” 

As if hearing my plea, Aria’s hand slowly went downwards. She wasn’t content with merely my upper body—more. Every part of my body was free for her to grasp and caress. Every part she touched left my nerves to sing, not with pain but with pleasure. My limbs jerked, even as my desire was dragged ever higher. 

When Aria took down my pants, showing off my slightly wet panties—Parts of me screamed, scrambling and trying to stop what would happen next. I didn’t want to do this with her. That wasn’t what my feelings were with her, and yet despite that core surety, my heart fluttered wherever she touched me. Arousal piled up within this body, wanting her to do more, to make me gasp out her name. 

There were still gaps between what I was supposed to feel and what I was feeling right now, an incongruity I was trying to hold onto, even as it kept slipping out of my hands the moment I was distracted—I moaned, as Aria started to rub me down below, not even plunging her fingers into myself. 

Pleasure and arousal mixed together into a heady cocktail, one that made it easier to ignore how I shouldn’t be pressing myself against Aria. Her fingers slipped so easily into me, and I moaned again, trying to clench against her digit. She was surprisingly gentle, slowly moving deeper and sending more goodness all through my body, straight into my brain. 

“Good girl. I’m just slowly adjusting how you are supposed to feel—it’s not as easy as it looks like. But from the way you are reacting… I’m managing well, aren’t I?” She chuckled, a bit more derisive than she usually did when it was towards me. Usually she only did that towards others, the ones she met during her work, or during her class. And yet she still looked down at me with tenderness in her gaze. “You like this, aren’t you?” 

I should say no. Everytime I imagined doing anything like this, it would always be on bed. With someone on top of me, gently kissing my lips, my skin, and I would kiss them back. It would all be so sweet, and oh so proper, what with being on the bed and all. Not like this, standing in the middle of the dining room, my pants being thrown somewhere and me gasping and moaning like a whore. 

My dripping cunt told me the answer. Ensured I only had one choice, and one choice only. “Yes.” I flushed deeper, a thrill of excitement running through me. There was a charm, in the way Aria acted towards me. The way she handled me so gently and yet ensuring everything was the slightest bit of demeaning. 

Aria smiled again, her face so close I could see the way her cheeks dimpled slightly. So proud, so happy I was being like this to her. The arousal continued to build and burn, making me tremble, wishing for more Aria to surround and suffuse me until all I could see and think was her. She was halfway there already, the only exception being the way my mind was still trying to fight. Still trying to find a way out of this insanity happening between the two of us—and yet that curve of her mouth made me stay. 

I wanted her, so so badly. I tried to shake my head as she pulled her fingers out of me, wanting to say more. To perhaps stop this whole thing, or maybe I just wanted more? I didn’t know. We changed to kisses again, just her lips against mine, and I felt everything become just a little easier. Just easier if I lean forward as well, kissing her back and tasting her on my tongue. She let me do it, even turning a chaste one into a deeper, more intimate kisses that made me weak on the knees. 

The only reason I was still standing was how Aria was still holding me, letting my palms grasp her elbow. My mind was a jumble, of past thoughts and current one, all mixing together until I didn’t know which was true and which was fake. 

“I can continue here. Letting you fall to your knees…” The image that came from those words formed so easily, and I could feel my own desire burning hotter. “And you can start learning.” 

There was an obvious implication of what I would learn from there, one that would concern me burying my face between her legs. 

“Let’s go to bed.” She whispered, and this time, she finally let me go, walking towards her own bedroom. 

Looking at her back, I knew this was the only chance I could run. Just a little moment. It would be so easy to turn my head around, grasp the door knob and then… leave. She could. If only I could just look outside, see what I would be giving up— 

I followed her, in the end. 

Aria was sitting on the end of her bed, watching me standing, as I shuffled a bit nervously. I was still wearing my shirt, and panties, the jeans had long since been shucked away in the other room. 

There were appreciation flickering in Aria’s eyes as she took note of me, looking up and down as if I looked good. Despite the few stretch marks on my stomach and inner thighs. The way I didn’t really trim my bodyhair— 

“We can continue to the main event now, but…” Aria trailed off, eyes still dark and full of desire. My own body was a furnace, a volcano full of the same. “Strip for me, my love.” 

I shivered despite the temperature, the word of endearment somehow leaving my stomach churning even if it was said so sweetly. And yet, my hands still moved anyway, gripping the hem of my shirt. 

Did I want this, or was it because of her commands? It was so hard to separate these two by now, even though I remember when it was much clearer. When I look at her and know the feelings were fake—and yet just minutes later and all I could do was sigh softly and embraced them. They felt true, felt so real that I wondered if I had lied to myself in the past. Or maybe these were all what Aria did to my head. 

Who knows? 

Slowly, with no confidence I could call my own, I started to take off my shirt. Still flushing, I did it with care, inching it up and giving Aria teases of my own skin. The one she had been touching moments ago. My breath hitched slightly as I remembered what she had done outside, the little touches… 

“What are you thinking there, Thane? Tell me.” Her voice was a lifeline that let me focus back on the present, even if the situation was more of the same. I just didn’t want to let myself immerse back there. It might be a little breathless, a soft gasp coming from her, but I didn’t dwell upon those for too long. 

My hand twitched, almost dropping the shirt again. I kept it up though, gripping the hem a little tighter as I tugged my shirt up further—almost done. “Just when you were touching me outside.” Weirdly, my voice was breathy, the calmness I tried to project never reaching my throat. 

Aria hummed pleasedly, and I couldn’t help the thrum of excitement that rolled in my guts. 

I finally wrenched the shirt off, and I threw it elsewhere—uncaring where it would land. I should have, but at this moment, seeing Aria drinking the sight of my almost naked body… 

Embarrassment seemed to fill me all over as I lowered my head. Everything tingled, bits of pride because I managed to draw her interest formed, unsquashed by my other feelings. Those were hidden now, nearly inaccessible by layers and layers of whatever it was Aria did to my brain, my thoughts, until it was all twisted and unrecognizable. 

I knew they were still there, I knew what they were, but they wouldn’t be felt. Not anymore, not at this moment. Not until Aria untwisted my head—and seeing the way she looked at me? I didn’t think she would ever let me go. 

Her eyes were dark, and red dusted her cheeks like she had been wearing a blush. One of her hands had slipped into her pants, and I couldn’t help the blood that rushed into my own cheeks. Because I knew what had caused her to do these. 

“Gh-Good girl.” She gasped out—before she exhaled a relieved sound moments after, her body relaxing from the tension gripping her just seconds before. Aria pulled out her hand from her pants, and this time her grin towards me was a little softer. Less sharp and edged, ready to stab into me when I didn’t expect it to. 

Then again, there was no more need for that. Her influence had dug deep within me, until there was nothing that wasn’t hers. I shivered slightly from my own thought, the way it felt so, so good to think of her owning me. 

“Come.” Aria said, patting one of her thighs. 

There was a sense of trepidation as I did so, even as I continued to feel good from the way Aria looked at me approvingly. The way her eyes roamed over my body, full of desire to possess. Not merely looking from afar, no—she wished to own me, every part of me. 

I wished I could say that didn’t make me moan softly, just the very imagination of her showing her ownership on me—I shuddered even as I straddled Aria’s thigh, feeling it pressing against my entrance down below. She wasn’t moving yet, but I was sure she had some sort of plan. 

“Are you enjoying this, Thane?” Her voice was back to softness, full of kindness that reminded me that she did do everything because of her love to me. An all-consuming love that refused to leave anything behind. Even if she twisted me until I wasn’t myself—was it so wrong, when it was all done in the name of love, of a passion and attraction burning so bright everything was taken. 

Her hand gently roamed my body as she waited for me to answer, her thighs slowly digging upwards, letting me grind myself against her, even if it was only slightly. My breathing came rougher, clouding a bit of my mind with the pleasure. 

“Y-yes, Aria.” was the only thing I could answer her with. To refuse would mean to let go of all these feelings—and why would I? This was a better place for me. Being loved by Aria. TO be coddled and cared for, merely needing to love her as my payment… 

I leaned forward to kiss her, and I melted against her when she pressed back. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, the feeling so wonderful I wished I could just let myself be subsumed within it. Just a constant feeling of love, no more listening to the slam of my true feelings beneath layers and layers of control—I moaned into the kiss when Aria slipped her fingers into me once more. 

They were exploring, mostly inside, but occasionally she would pull them out to rub my clit. I gasped, pressing my body further against her. All the arousal that had been burning within me beforehand now seemed to return with vengeance, flushing my body and swamping me with all the wants and desires. 

I had no reason to fight it. Not anymore. I let myself be swept away, grinding myself against those fingers until—I screamed, as I was pushed over the edge. I held onto Aria tightly, my body arching as my whole body shuddered, the orgasm still wracking through my body.  

Everytime I thought I would be able to relax, Aria would play with my body more. She fiddled me like an expert, sending me further and further into the pleasure. Even when it started to become painful, my throat hoarse with all the screams coming out of it. She continued still, until I was half-begging for it to stop. 

That was when she finally did. 

All I could do was slump against her body, whimpering softly from the ache and pain. She soothed me, of course. Her hands wrapping around my body, pulling me flush against hers. She was warm and wonderful, and I held her tight. 

“I love you, so, so much.” Aria whispered, pressing her lips against my cheeks, slowly going down while doing so. “This is just the start… Your love to me is wonderful, but I have to ensure you can’t betray me.” 

Her words sent chills across my spine, but I couldn’t say anything. All I could do was loosening my grip, letting Aria have easier time to access my body, her kisses making me feel good. 

“So this is all fine, isn’t it?” 

A part of me slammed against the control so hard I could almost say no. But in the end, it was merely an ‘almost’. “Yes, Aria.” I smiled at her, because that was what she sought. She wanted reassurance, a belief that all of these were actually justified. 

It wasn’t. And yet, a part of me who remembered our relationship before wanted to reassure her—and for that, I couldn’t let all her control go. Because this was the only reason I managed to still smile at her, no guile at all behind my eyes. 

I leaned forward, kissing her again. A lone tear slowly falling from my eyes, one that Aria gently wiped. 

“It’s alright, I’ll take care of everything, just you see. There’s no need to worry, to cry.” Aria smiled, full of gentleness. 

Happiness filled me once more, and I pushed away everything else. This was the best choice. 

After all, I love her.