HERSHE - WINRINA

Friends

"Because it's not as easy what you're having with Sumin.."

Heeseung leaned forward, his arms against the edge of the table. "I know, but you can't keep yourself hurting like that. Is this because of your mom?"

Karina nodded slowly. "There's no way she will accept it."

"Maybe you and Winter could work it out in a different way? Have you talked to her about it?"

Karina shook her head. "She doesn't even know what I really for her. And she's been avoiding me since she found out that you and I have been going out."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Heeseung smiled apologetically. "Did I ruin it?"

Karina had a dont-worry-about it face as she shakes her head.

"Do you want me to talk to her to clarify things out?"

"No. There's no need for that."

"Why?"

"She might be already over me."

"That fast? That's impossible," said Heeseung, shaking his head. "If she's really into you there's no way she can get over you that instant. Maybe she's not really that serious about you?"

"She is." Karina answered with a sigh. "She confronted me a week ago about it. I was just confused. I didn't know what to say. I end up denying everything. I even told her I can't be with her. That's the last time we really talked. The next thing I knew is she was treating me like a total stranger."

"Well, you can't blame her for doing that to you. Can't you just approach her and talk to her again?"

"I can't. She's already going out with another girl."

"Going out like dating?"

"Maybe hanging out for now, but who knows. The girl is obviously enamored with Winter", Karina grunted, slightly rolling her eyes.

"And you're jealous." Heeseung concluded, snickering. "So, you're telling me you're giving up just like that?"

"That girl has no issues like me, seung. I can't blame Winter for that. She knows there's no hope in us."

"What if she still wants you but she's just avoiding you because she thought you didn't want to be with her?" said Heeseung, waving his fork again. "Or maybe she's avoiding you because she thought we're an item?"

Karina brought her hands up to massage her temples. "Uuuugghh..."

"One question, Rin: do you really love her?"

It surely sent a giddy feeling all over her body. Karina brought her hands down to look at him. She took a deep breath and weighed herself for the answer, the answer that she has not admitted even to herself until now.

"I'm scared, seung.."

"Scared?"

"I'm so scared.." whispered Karina, clenching her fist. "This is the first time I've felt something like this. I... I feel so vulnerable around her, so out of control, so helpless, like my very breath depends on her."

Heeseung reached out for her hand to comfort her.

"If I defy my mom now and be with her, will she be able to stand it with me? What if she'll leave me in the future? What would happen to me?"

"Shh.. you're thinking too much, Rin," said Heeseung, rubbing his thumb at the back of her hand. "Every relationship goes through something like that, like me and Sumin. But that's not what you should be thinking now. You're not even together yet for goodness sake. If you two have mutual feelings for each other I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be together."