"We probably have to check the safety protocols at the company because of the explosions at the HL2 central warehouse," she lied.

"I haven't instructed anything, but yes, that would make sense," said Jutta.

Both were thinking about free space, Jutta for Dieter and Karin for Jacques. Both were so preoccupied with their illusions that they didn't notice the change in the other.

But Jutta wondered whether what she was about to do with Dieter wasn't something like emotional adultery. She didn't have much of a guilty conscience about the love games in the Arfmeep, she was interested in finding out whether heterosexuality was still attractive to her and having pure sex. However, she clearly had pangs of conscience about this. But since Karin liked to use her erotic charisma more often and had recently started to do so again, she felt almost compelled to confirm her own feelings. Jutta wasn't sure about Karin's extramarital activities and repeatedly had the impression that Karin would occasionally seek and find some variety. However, she didn't want to let her jealous nature get the better of her now. The positive side effect of the Arfmeep visits back then was that she was usually able to take a more relaxed view of Karin's latent or overt, but always present, coquetry.

But what happened with Dieter could throw her feelings and her relationship with Karin into turmoil and fundamentally call their lesbian relationship into question. Especially now that she knew about her resistance to HL2. But Jutta's feelings for Karin were still very present, both erotic and platonic. Still.

Jutta went to a clothes store the next morning to dress appropriately for her visit to Poland. She had never had the right instinct for suitable clothing and had lost the rest of it over the years. There were few opportunities to dress in anything other than the now hated overalls anyway. Karin usually advised her. However, Karin grumbled about the tasteless stuff that was on offer. That's why she almost always upgraded the clothes she bought with her sewing machine, something she had become a master of by necessity. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible in this case, and she was convinced that she needed something new and suitable for the trip to Poland. She considered using clothes that Karin had already altered, but had emotional inhibitions about doing so. So, Jutta had to rely on the help of the salesclerk at the fashion store. She didn't do a very good job. Jutta let herself be talked into the clothes, unsure as she was. Objectively speaking, the clothes were hideous.

Karin thought feverishly about how she could use the time of Jutta's absence for Jacques and herself. Even though it probably wouldn't be love at first sight, they both felt a strong physical attracti