That night, after work, West didn't sleep immediately.
As he lay back on his bed and stared at the dim ceiling above him, West felt something unfamiliar settle into his chest.
Satisfaction.
Not arrogance or relief... just satisfaction.
Satisfied from moving forward.
He reached for his phone.
There was only one name on his mind.
Aria.
West didn't overthink it. Overthinking ruined momentum. He typed a simple message.
> You home yet?
The reply came less than a minute later.
> Yeah. Just got in.
Another pause.
Then—
> Can we talk?
West's lips curved upward slightly.
> Call me.
The phone rang almost immediately.
"Hey," Aria said.
Her voice was softer than usual. Quieter. Like she was curled up somewhere alone.
"I'm listening," West replied.
That was all it took.
She poured everything out.
Ross being late again.
Ross leaving without explanation.
Ross choosing gang matters over her, over and over.
"He doesn't even look at me the same anymore," she said bitterly. "It's like I'm just… there. Waiting. Always waiting."
West stayed silent, letting her speak uninterrupted. He could hear the frustration breaking through her words, the loneliness she tried—and failed—to hide.
When she finally stopped, he spoke calmly.
"You know what that sounds like to me?"
"What?" she asked.
"It sounds like someone who's been starved," West said.
She scoffed weakly. "Starved?"
"Yeah," he continued with a low tone. "Starved of attention. Of affection. Of being wanted."
The line went quiet.
Aria swallowed.
"…lonely."
"…Yeah," she admitted quietly.
West leaned back against the headboard, eyes closing briefly.
"That's not something someone like you should ever feel... not even for a second..." he said. "Not when you're that beautiful."
Aria laughed softly, embarrassed. "You always say that."
"Because it's true," West replied. "And because it's obvious you're being wasted."
Her breath hitched audibly.
"You're really bad for me," she murmured.
> [Cuck Points +2]
West smiled faintly, leaning back into his pillow.
"I'm just honest," he replied. "If I were Ross… I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off you after leaving you alone that long."
Aria's voice dropped. "West…"
"I'd treat you like someone who'd been waiting too long," he continued slowly. "Like someone who deserves to be… appreciated properly..."
Her silence stretched.
Then she laughed softly, clearly flustered. "You say things like that so easily."
"Because I mean them."
> [Cuck Points +2]
She shifted on the other end of the line. West could almost picture it... her sitting on her bed, knees drawn up, phone pressed to her ear, cheeks warm.
"I shouldn't be talking to you like this," she said.
"But you are," West replied gently. "And you sound better already."
"…I do," she admitted quietly.
West let a moment pass before speaking again.
"I'm here whenever you need," he said. "Someone to talk to. Someone to lean on."
She hesitated.
"And… more?" she asked, half-joking, half-testing.
"And more," West answered without missing a beat.
She chuckled with a nervous but pleased sound.
"But Ross would lose his mind if he knew," she said. "He'd kill you if he ever sees us together."
West didn't flinch.
"Who says we'd ever be seen?" he said calmly. "My place is always empty. My dad's barely ever home."
Her breathing changed.
"That's…" she paused. "That's dangerous."
"So is feeling unwanted," West replied.
> [Cuck Points +3]
Another long silence followed.
"I'll… let you know when I'm free," Aria said eventually. "Okay?"
West sent her his address and she didn't object.
The call ended not long after, leaving West staring at his phone as the system chimed softly in his mind.
> [Cuck Points +10]
West exhaled slowly.
---
He sat up and opened the system interface.
[MAIN STATUS PANEL]
Host: West Einstein
Age: 18
Tier: 0 — Dormant
Awakening Status: Locked
Cuck Points (CP): 65
Affinity: 1.7%
Reputation: None
Available Menus:
SHOP
QUEST PANEL
INVENTORY
SKILLS
(( Adrenal Control ))
---
[Sub Stats]
Strength: 9
Speed: 10
Agility: 9
Seduction: 9
Confidence: 11
Charm: 8
Aura: 8
Mental Resilience: 8
Stamina: 9
West studied the numbers carefully.
He had come a long way in a short time.
But not far enough.
He switched tabs.
> [New Quest]
Acquire five phone numbers of girls with romantic partners
West smirked.
"Already three," he muttered.
Aria.
Nina.
Lena.
Now he needed two more.
That night, he continued messaging Nina.
Light conversation.
Casual compliments.
Nothing heavy.
Enough to keep her thinking.
Enough to keep her smiling at her phone.
> [Cuck Points +1]
---
Elsewhere — A Dim Hallway
Caleb's grip on Lena's wrist was tight as he dragged her down the corridor with his steps erratic and breathing uneven.
"Now that I lost to your ex," he snapped as his voice shook, "you're going to leave me, right?"
Lena stumbled slightly. "Caleb, stop. You're hurting me."
"You think I don't hear them laughing?" he yelled. "You think I don't see the way people look at me now?"
She shook her head desperately. "I'm not leaving you. I chose you."
Caleb stopped abruptly.
"You chose me because I was strong," he hissed. "And now I lost to him."
His grip tightened.
"You're embarrassed," he accused. "You regret it."
"No!" Lena cried. "I don't!"
But the doubt was already eating him alive.
I lost to him.
That thought echoed in his head like a curse.
And it wouldn't stop.
'I must reclaim my dignity!'