Everyone in the group had noticed it.
Karina denied it every single time.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
But the evidence was impossible to ignore.
Winter casually mentioned she wanted iced coffee? Karina was already walking back with her favorite order before she even finished the sentence.
Winter complained that the practice room was cold? Karina quietly took off her hoodie and draped it over Winter's shoulders without a word.
Winter laughed?
Karina smiled like she had just won the lottery.
"She's so obvious," Giselle whispered.
Ningning nodded. "It's actually embarrassing."
One rainy afternoon, the four of them were relaxing after practice.
Winter was lying on the couch, scrolling through her phone, looking impossibly adorable.
Karina tried not to stare.
She failed.
Again.
"Unnie."
Karina immediately looked over.
"Yeah?"
"Can you pass me the blanket?"
Before Winter even finished asking, Karina had already unfolded the blanket, wrapped it around her carefully, and tucked the edges around her shoulders.
"There."
Winter blinked.
"...Thanks."
She smiled.
Karina froze.
She smiled.
At me.
Somewhere in the background, Ningning dramatically covered her face.
"She folded."
"So fast," Giselle sighed.
Later that evening, the members decided to watch a movie together.
The couch wasn't very big.
Somehow...
Somehow...
Karina ended up sitting right next to Winter.
Not that she was complaining.
Halfway through the movie, Winter got sleepy.
Without thinking, she leaned her head onto Karina's shoulder.
Karina's entire brain stopped working.
She's touching me.
She's actually leaning on me.
Don't move.
Don't breathe.
Don't ruin this.
She stayed perfectly still for nearly an hour.
Her shoulder had gone numb.
Her neck hurt.
She refused to move even an inch.
If Winter was comfortable...
That was all that mattered.
After the movie ended, Winter slowly opened her eyes.
"...Did I fall asleep?"
Karina smiled softly.
"Yeah."
"You should've moved me."
"It's okay."
"You've been sitting like that the whole time?"
"...Maybe."
Winter laughed.
"You're too sweet."
Karina looked away, cheeks burning.
"I just didn't want to wake you."
Winter stared at her for a moment before gently poking her cheek.
"Cute."
Karina.exe has stopped working.
That night, while everyone was getting ready for bed, Giselle walked past Karina's room.
She found Karina smiling into her pillow.
"...You're thinking about Winter again, aren't you?"
"..."
"...Maybe."
"You are so down bad."
Karina buried her face deeper into the pillow.
"I know."
At that exact moment, Winter peeked into the room.
"Karina?"
Karina immediately sat up.
"Yes?"
"I made hot chocolate."
"...For me?"
"For us."
Karina's smile returned instantly.
"I'll be right there."
As Karina walked out of the room, Giselle shook her head.
"There she goes."
Ningning grinned.
"The strongest leader..."
"...completely defeated by one tiny, adorable Winter."
Karina didn't even bother denying it anymore.
Because if being hopelessly in love with Winter meant making her smile every day...
She was perfectly happy staying down bad forever.
💙❄️
