W I N T E R
"Aeri, I don't know anymore," I groan as I smack my head on the table. I have been telling Aeri that has been happening between us. The hangouts in the old music room, to the places I've taken her, and I did not leave a single detail that felt like worth explaining about Karina.
"Minjeong-ah, you're in love." She simply says making me scowl at her.
"No, I'm not," I say, covering my face with my hands.
I can feel Aeri rolling her eyes. "Why are you even denying it?"
"beusshwntevrlkme," I say through a muffled voice.
"Win, I need you to take your hands off your face and talk to me clearly before I smack it out of you." She says and I sigh at her threat but followed anyways. We wouldn't want her beating me up.
"Because she won't ever like a person like me," I groan and went back to covering my face with my hands.
"You don't know that, not unless you try,"
"It's harder than you think,"
"It's never easy. But take this as an advantage, you're already lucky enough to be spending your free time with each other. You took her out twice! That rarely happens, especially that she's Yoo Jimin,"
I exhale, I should be lucky to be spending this amount of time with her. I have to make the most of it because I'll never know what happens next.
"But what if she isn't ready yet?"
"That's another possibility that you have to accept. You have to be prepared for whatever she says, the important thing is that you've tried. It gets harder if you keep looking back with the what-ifs. What if I told her? What if I tried? What if she likes me too? Take your time, you don't need to rush it."
"I won't," I heave a sigh. "I can't believe we're having these kinds of conversations Aeri," I groan but was glad to let out a weight. It was rare for me and Aeri to have situations like these because I never tried to actually want someone. It was always me listening to Aeri's struggles and thoughts when she dates.
"Thanks, Aeri,"
"You're always welcome Win," She hugs me. "I want you to be happy,"
~~~
NingNing
Something is weird about Karina and I'm sure I'm not the only one who notices this. But weird in a good way. She seems to be glowing or radiating a certain kind of aura. Yeji and Chaeryong noticed it too, we decided to shrug it off for a few days but it has been going on for weeks. My best friend is happier and whoever this person she's been meeting in the old music room managed to brighten her days in which I am thankful for. Of course, Karina told us but wouldn't tell us her name which is frustrating. It's not every day you get to see her looking so vibrant and we'd want to know who this person is.
"I swear to God you better tell us who she is," Yeji groans when we gathered together and Karina was smiling as usual. A very rare sight.
"You keep asking her when we could have just waited for the girl in the music room and see her ourselves," Chaeryong slips in, making Yuna smack herself for not thinking about it.
"Guys please, I'll introduce her to you soon," Karina says making us look at her with smirks plastered on our faces. It's not every day you get to see her introducing us to someone new.
"Anyways, I'll be heading to class," Karina waves before leaving us.
"Anyone wanna bet that she'll fall in love with music girl?" Yeji mischievously smirks. No matter what we'd do to get Karina to blurt out that girl's name, she wouldn't dare so and we decided to call the unknown person music girl.
"I doubt that's going to happen," Chaeryoung mumbles before thinking. "Not when she's still stuck with the past."
We sigh, a possibility that might truly happen. "Whoever the girl is, I believe that she can swoon our Karina. Let's leave it all up to them." Both of them nodded before getting up to leave for class.
~~~
Winter and Karina didn't expect to see each other in the music room at six in the evening. A loud sound created from closing the door too hard scared Winter who was sitting at the far corner of the room. Karina shrieked when she noticed that someone was inside. She was about to scream her lungs out when arms wrapped around her waist.
"Shhh... It's me! it's just me, Jimin." Winter calmly says when she felt Karina shaking. Winter turned the lights on and grew worried when she saw the latter with teary eyes.
"Did something happen?" She asks, cupping her face as she softly waits for her to speak. Never in Winter's life had she witnessed such a strong girl in the public's face looking so fragile in front of her right now.
Winter wraps her around her small arms, Karina's head softly tucked on Winter's neck. She proceeds to kiss the girl's crown and whisper comforting words. A minute or so, Karina calmed down and hugged Winter tighter. The soft strokes on her back comforted Karina and she couldn't help but bury her head further onto Winter.
Noticing the time, Winter had to take them somewhere else or they'll get locked inside the university. Winter wonders if her parents will come looking for her.
"Let's go somewhere else okay?" Karina nodded, not bothering to let go of Winter.
Taking a deep breath, Winter securely wraps her arms around Karina and leads their way outside to the parking lot. The walk to the parking lot was rather quiet and Winter didn't mind as long as Karina was comfortable to be taken away by her.
Winter opens the door of the car's front seat and helped the girl sit down. As Winter turned on the car, she looks over to her side and saw the quiet girl staring outside the window.
Where should I take her? Winter thinks for a moment.
"Do you want me to take you home?" Karina quickly faces her with a head shake. Not questioning further, Winter just smiles and nods.
I guess I'll be taking her out again. Chuckling lightly, Winter shakes her head and smiles when she got an idea of where to take the girl.
K A R I N A
Who would have thought I'd meet Winter again at the music room so late. I was going to stay inside the room and let out all the frustrations I've been holding inside for the past weeks. I was confused about whether I should be thankful or not that she was there. I didn't want Winter to take care of me this way. I had no energy to talk. I wanted to rest. And letting her see this side of me is giving me another set of thoughts of what she might think of me.
But seeing her so patient with me says otherwise. She's been so gentle and I couldn't thank her enough for that. I didn't know where we were going yet I was glad she asked me first if she'd take me home or not.
Compared to the past hangouts we've been going to, this is the first time she has lowered the windows. The view in front of us was beautiful. The city and their lights shining along with the stars in the night.
"Wow," I unconsciously gasp and couldn't take my eyes off the sight.
Time seems to go by so slowly. As I listen to Winter's playlist playing softly in the car. Why does it feel lonely, I don't know. But I keep moving somehow because I need to get somewhere right now. And Winter's there at the right time.
A few minutes later I realized where we were heading. She's taking me to Han River. When we got the car parked, we both went out. Before I moved a step towards the entrance, I look at her confused when she walks to her car's trunk. She grabs a few things out before standing beside me and walk beside me together.
My heart fluttered when I saw what she was carrying. Two blankets. She leads us to the grass and settles the first blanket like we were having a picnic. I sat down facing the river and I sigh at the peacefulness. Winter gives me the other blanket before facing her back to me.
"What are you doing?" I softly ask, confused by her actions.
"I'm giving you the time for yourself. It's much better than staring at a dark classroom." She says and lies down, arms over her neck.
"Some time alone means giving yourself a break from and pressure and stress in life." Not wanting to argue, I did what she told and silently hugged my knees as I stare at the river.
I wanted to be happy, just to be happy all day... They wanted me to be perfect but I couldn't shine properly. I was criticized silently and I was crumbling inside.
"Become perfect," My eyes are glazed over. Delicate glass tears blur my vision.
"Yes, I promise."
I feel the pressure of their achievements weighing me down. Hopes on me were high. The fear of failure was stealing my pride.
Tell me, are you hurting dear?
You don't gotta hide your tears
A soft voice behind me suddenly disrupts me from my train of thoughts. I didn't bother to turn around because I knew it was Winter singing a song.
I only want to hold you near
So you can put all your weakness on me
This time, you don't even have to try
I'm here to walk you through this life
So you can put all your weakness on me
Without even realizing it, tears were slowly flowing down from my eyes.
"Winter-ah," I call and she hums, waiting for me to continue. Her name rests between my lips like a prayer, or maybe something sweeter. "Thank you," She sat up and faces me with a smile plastered on her face.
W I N T E R
Night changes nothing when she's as beautiful during the honest hue of the day as she is to be bathed in moonlight.
"Anything for you beautiful,"
She then hugs me. An embrace, loving warm. I cupped her face, making her look at me.
"Are you fine now?" I ask in which she smiles and nods slowly.
She checks her phone and I couldn't help but take out my phone and take a photo of her. She's undeniably beautiful.
"If you want to take a photo of me, why not just tell me?" She says and I couldn't help but blush when she caught me. I look away when she smirks playfully at me.
"Win, take a photo," She says.
I shyly took a photo of her and look away again when she couldn't stop teasing me.
"Do-Do you want to bike around?" I ask and she raises a brow.
"We can?"
I nod, standing up. "We can rent a bike somewhere around here,"
"Let's go," She says but I didn't budge when I was looking at her from bottom to top making her self-conscious about my action.
"W-What?"
"You can't ride a bike with those clothes,"
"But I don't have any extra clothes,"
"Don't worry, I have some in the car." I smile before folding the blankets and grabbing her hand.
~~~
Karina and I rented a bike and took a ride around the Han river. I let her change inside the car since the glasses are tinted and thankfully my large clothes fit her perfectly. I let her wear my light brown pants and black sleeveless top.
I let Karina lead so I'll just follow her wherever she goes. I'm so happy right now that she's enjoying it. That wide smile on her face right now is all I want to see. She's like a little kid who just got out of the house and is now happily savoring her freedom.
From time to time we take stops which allowed me to take a picture of her. I couldn't get rid of the smile on my face when she was having fun.
I took off my hoodie and gave it to Karina when it was slightly raining.
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine. I'm wearing a shirt compared to you who's wearing a sleeveless top." I say and she complies, wearing my hoodie. I smiled even wider when I realized that she was wearing my clothes. I can feel the heat from my cheeks but I was glad Karina was too busy to even notice me gushing over her.
She looks even better wearing my clothes.
I checked the time and it was nine in the evening. I was worried because what if Karina's parents are looking for her? Will they get angry at me for letting their daughter stay out this late at night?
"Come on Win!" She yells as she speeds up making me worry.
"J-Jimin I don't think-" before I could even say anything to warn her. She speeds off making her lose control of the bike and thankfully lands on the grass. I sped up and quickly get off the bike not minding it hitting on the ground as I went to her aid.
"Are you okay!?" I checked her for any bruises.
When I landed on her face she was laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" I frown making her laugh even more.
"Don't worry Winpup, I'm fine," She says making me laugh as well.
But my laughter died down when I processed what she just said. Wait, what did she just call me?
"You called me what?"
"Winpup," She confidently says again making me glare at her. But I don't think that scared her when I was a blushing mess. She landed beside a light post easier for her to see me.
"I-I'm not a puppy," I avoid looking at her teasing face.
"You sure are. But my puppy." I blush even further at her words. "I mean, don't you think it's reasonable? You follow me around most of the time like a puppy-,"
I playfully slap her shoulder. "I do not!"
===
Question... Do you enjoy the music the story has been giving you? Moreover, what's your favorite song so far?
I apologize for any grammatical errors.
Don't forget to leave a comment and vote.
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