Hadongkwan Restaurant
The moment they arrived at the restaurant, Karina noticed how the staff welcomed Winter with big smiles. Most of them addressed the latter by her first name which made Karina think that Winter is a valued costumer in that place.
Most of the staff, especially ladies, were obviously captivated by their arrival.
Some are looking at Minho , some are thrilled over Winter. Karina feels proud to walk beside Winter at that moment with their hands intertwined. She can't help but smile to herself each time she sees some glare of disappointments from the female staffs.
Sorry ladies, she's mine tonight.
Karina doesn't care if some of those staffs are already killing her in their minds because there is a bigger fish that she needs to deal with. She's not sure if Minju is deliberately doing it but she feels like Minju is competing with her in some ways, especially if it concerns Winter.
They sat on the couch facing each other by pair. While waiting for their food to be served, the manager and the chef approached Winter. Karina noticed how glad the chef is to see Winter there. From what she heard, Winter hasn't shown in that restaurant for one month now. They even excused themselves to talk to Winter alone.
"I'll be right back." Winter squeezed Karina's hand as she was about to get up.
"Sure, enjoy yourself," said Karina . She felt like a baby when Winter patted her head before leaving.
Minho stood up from his chair too. "Okay, excuse me for a while ladies, I need to make a call."
Both the ladies nodded. And just like that, Karina and Minju were left alone at the table. They were silent, obviously feeling awkward at each other. Both are throwing quick glances at each other from time to time. Karina knew that Minju was feeling what she's feeling. Pretending to be Winter's girlfriend is not hard but being alone with Minju is really uncomfortable.
"It seems that the staffs here surely loves Winter a lot." said Karina , trying to start a little talk.
It made Minju smile. "If I'm not mistaken, Winter always goes here at lease twice or thrice a week. She's in love with the foods here. She always talks to those two each time we go here before."
Karina took it down in her mental notepad. She noticed how Minju keeps on pointing out the things Winter had done with her before.
"What do they usually talk about?"
"It's mostly about food and recipes, which I don't understand," said Minju , rolling her eyes. "They always try to get Winter's point of view on the food.
Sometimes it's the other way around, Winter is asking them about the food." Karina got curious in the newfound information. "Why are they doing that?"
Minju's eyebrow rose. "Hmm. Didn't you know that Winter is a good cook?"
"Really?" Karina suddenly remember the breakfast she had with Winter in the office pantry.
I told her that I always imagined myself being with someone who loves to cook. Oh my gosh!
"Yes, she loves cooking a lot. I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet," said Minju, chuckling a little. "If it wasn't for her love of photography I think she'd get culinary in college instead. Don't tell me she hasn't cooked food for you yet?"
Karina shook her head. "Well, she mentioned that she loves cooking but she only enjoys it if there is someone to share the food with. I've only gone to her apartment once and haven't tasted her cooking yet."
"For real? How long have you been together again?" asked Minju , looking more surprised.
That was an abrupt question. Karina wasn't prepared for an answer. "J-just recently."
Act natural, Karina.
"Recently? As in just this recently?"
"Y-yeah.." Karina hope that Minju won't ask Winter the same questions because they might give contradicting answers.
"You mean, you're not official yet when I came to her apartment last December?" asked Minju.
"Not yet," said Karina , shrugging. "I was just so drunk the night before after a little party. I passed out on our way home and she didn't know where my address is."
"So, Winter wasn't lying when she told me you're not her girlfriend." Minju murmured to herself. "Where did you guys met again, in the office?"
"Yes, we're on the same floor. Just different departments," said Karina , relating things as close as she can to reality.
"So, how was it? I assume there are other girls that are annoyingly trying to get close to her, right? Do you guys fight over that?"
Karina smiled at the thought of the fan girls in the office. "There are some girls that are crazy about her. So far, none of them has gotten on my nerves yet."
"I admire your patience and understanding there." said Minju , smiling slightly.
"One of the things I am so fond of Winter is her admirable kindness. She easily gets along well with strangers, with everyone. The funny thing about it is, ironically, that's what I hate about her too."
Karina chuckled realizing that she felt the same way somehow. "She can't just help being nice."
"Yeah, right? I don't understand how Winter grew up like that."
For the first time since they met, Minju and Karina have finally agreed on one thing.
"By the way, if you don't mind, I'd like to know how you two end up together. Did Winter court you or something?" asked Minju
Karina's profession is really helpful during moments like this. Writing contents repeatedly for her clients had given her the ability to easily come up with an impromptu story.
"No. We never went into that formal courting process," said Karina casually.
"Winter and I started out as good friends. And as time goes by, it grew deeper until everything was out of control. It didn't take long before we finally admitted to each other that what we're feeling is mutual. We decided to make it official when she called me on New Year's Eve."
Minju's mouth formed an O shape. Her brows creased slightly. Karina knew that everything she said had struck Minju . She intentionally did that, relating their fake love story to what happened with Minju and Winter because she wanted to find out what reaction she will get.
"How long have you known each other?"
"Five months."
Minju shifted her position on the chair, bringing her mouth against her closed fists. "Has Winter told you about me?"
Karina knew that a counter-attack was about to happen.
"Yeah, she did. We talked about you that day you came to her apartment."
"What are the things she told you?"
"Well, about your special friendship with her," said Karina , not wanting to lie.
She wants Minju to know that she's completely aware of their past.
"Oh. Doesn't it bother you to know that and be with me now?"
"No, not really," said Karina , smiling. "Winter is very open on her thoughts about you."
"Do you have issues about how Winter handles this?"
I don't have problems with that because I know that Winter is over you, Minju ."
A smile slipped from Minju's face. "Oh, really?"
Karina got confused with Minju's reaction. "Does she have alas card that she hasn't shown yet?"
Minju quickly run her fingers through her hair. "That made me think, Karina ."
"About?" Karina's elbows were resting on the table. She closed her fists, anticipating for a hard blow.
"Don't get me wrong here, okay? I'm just wondering."
"Go ahead."
Minju made eye contact with a fork and played on it. "Well, it has been only more than a year since Winter and I last saw each other. I'm pretty sure that you knew how long we stayed together in the past. Has she told you that?"
Karina nodded. "Mmm-mmm."
"I'm thinking of the possibilities that could've happened if I'd come back a bit earlier."
"W-what do you mean?"
Minju arranged back the fork to it's original setup before looking at Karina.
"Since you mentioned that you just got recently together, just like a week ago, the question that's been bothering my mind is, do you think you'd be together if I had shown to Winter's apartment a month earlier?"
Karina slowly moved her body away from the table to lean against the backrest. She didn't take her eyes away from Minju. The question was hard to answer: first, because WinRina isn't real; second, because she knows that it might have been really a different story if Minju had come back to lisa's life earlier.
Minju had surely paralyzed her with that question. Karina saw her opponent's lips lined a smile of victory.
"Hey, what are you two chatting about?" said Winter, approaching them in her best mood which eradicated the war ambiance in the area.
Karina knew that she doesn't need to respond to Minju's question anymore.
They knew themselves that whatever they've talked should stay just between the two of them. However, Karina isn't sure why she feels uneasy with what Minju said. It bothered her. She cuddled Winter's arm the moment the latter sat beside her.
Winter noticed that something is strange in karina's mood. "Is my baby, okay?"
Instead of answering, Karina nodded and embraced Winter's hand with hers.
Strangely, the warmth of that hand calmed her down. Her ears cannot refuse to adore the sound of Winter's voice calling her baby, and this time with a hint of possession with the word 'my'.
"Are you sure?" Winter asked her again with more sweetness in her voice. She even squeezed karina's hand.
That's enough to fix karina's mood. She nodded again and smiled sweetly, hooking her chin on Winter's shoulder.
Minho came back and shortly. Over dinner, they had a little discussion about some random stuff like modeling, photography, Singapore, and some throwback memories from Minju and Winter's college life.
"By the way guys, it's Minju's birthday next week. Do you want to go with us?" Minho is obviously enjoying Winter and Karina's company a lot that he's inviting them wherever they'd go.
"Where are you going?" asked Winter.
"In Gampo Beach. We're going to take an off in Ramada Hotel & Resort Gyeongju."
"Do you guys want to come with us? It'll be next weekend." said Minju.
"Uhm, no. Sorry," said Winter, turning to Karina for a second and turning back to Minho and Minju again, "Karina and I have plans too."
"Aw, that's too bad," said Minho, disappointed.
"Can't you just move the plan to some other time so you can go with us?" asked Minju . "Come on, Winter. I haven't seen you for a year and you're gonna ignore me just like that?"
Karina raised an eyebrow.
Winter doesn't want to drag Karina anymore into any of this. Whatever is between her and Minju , she knows they have to settle it for themselves.
Moreover, she also feels that the acting they're doing is too much favor for Karina. She doesn't want to look like she's just using that reason to take advantage of the situation.
"I'm sorry guys, can't cancel it."
"I guess we could come with them, Winter," said Karina out of the blue.
Winter immediately turned to Karina . "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, i haven't been there once. Besides, it's your old friend's birthday, right? You wouldn't want to miss celebrating it with her." Karina turned to Minju , flashing a sly smile, signaling that the game is on.
Minju answered with a lopsided smile.
Winter got confused. "But Kar—"
"Oh, come on, Winter. Karina wants to go too, don't be a killjoy." said Minju.
"Yeah, let's go with them. It'll be just over the weekend," Karina agreed.
Winter couldn't believe what she's hearing, couldn't believe what's happening with the two girls. It's like they already talked about it.
"Karina , this is not what we planned for," said Winter, looking straight into Karina's eyes, telepathically telling her that it is already outside what they've discussed earlier. Going with Minju and Minho will mean more acting for them.
"I know it's different with what we've planned but I want to go with them, Winter." Karina pouted like a child before touching Winter's chin. "Please, please, can we?"
Winter knew she cannot say no anymore. She turned her gaze to Minho and Minju and saw their triumphant grins.
----
They parted ways with Minho and Minju after dinner. Winter is currently driving Karina home, feeling worried because karina has been silent for a while now. She's trying to recall her acting earlier, asking herself if she overdid something that maybe made Karina feel uncomfortable.
"Are you sure you really want to go with them to Gampo?" asked Winter.
"Yeah, I told you, I haven't been there yet," said Karina, eyes at the window.
"Maybe we could just go there some other time with the other people in the office?"
Karina finally turned to her. "Why are you so afraid to be with Minju?" Winter felt that there is something wrong, she can't just determine what it is.
She kept her eyes on the road and said, "It's not that I'm afraid, I'm just worried about you."
"Worried about me?" Karina snorted. "Are you really worried about me or are you more worried about yourself?"
Winter didn't respond. She doesn't know what Karina is pointing out.
What's wrong with her? She was in good mood earlier, right?
Karina let out a loud sigh. "If it really hurts you to see them together then I guess we can cancel the trip with them."
Winter glanced at Karina. "It's not about Minju. You're thinking the other way around."
"Then, who is this all about, me?"
"'Yeah, it's all about you," said Winter, still shifting her eyes back and forth to the road and Karina.
"Okay." Karina reclined on the backseat and looked out the window. She doesn't sound convinced.
"I'm worried about you," said Winter, sighing. "Minju is a nosy person. I'm sure she'll ask you questions about me, about us. In addition to that, we still need to pretend that we're together if we go out with them. I don't want to drag you anymore with this things."
"Do you have issues with pretending? We seem to handled it well earlier, right?"
Yeah, it was good because I wasn't acting there, Winter thought. "I just don't see the point why we still have to go with them."
"You'd want to go with them, Winter, believe me. You're Minju, she's jealous of me."
"Huh? Where did you get that?"
"I'm not definite about it, but yeah, the way she asked questions earlier, I'm pretty sure that our little acting affected her."
Winter was lost for words. Although there's a part in her that still longs for Minju , she's sure that what she's feeling for Karina is way greater than what she feels for her old friend. But seeing karina act like what she does now somehow hurts her.
"Could you do me a favor, Winter?" Karina spoke up. "Can we just go with them next week and settle your unfinished business with her? I really think that you and Minju need to talk and finalize everything."
Out of nowhere, Winter's phone on the dashboard rang. Karina discreetly peeked on the screen and saw numbers instead of a name.
Winter answered the phone and put it in loudspeaker since she left her headsets at home. "Hello?"
"Hi, Minjeong. Where are you?"
"Oh, hey, Minju , what's up?" She threw a quick glance at Karina who's still looking out the window. "I haven't seen you in like thirty minutes, right?"
Karina laughed. "Good thing you haven't changed your number yet."
"I'm surprised you still remember mine."
"Of course, Winter, of course. By the way, I'm hearing some feedbacks, am I on loudspeaker?"
"Yup."
"Is Karina still there?"
"Y-yes.."
"Oh, hi there, Karina!"
"Hello, Minju!" Karina's voice was back to being cheerful again.
"So, why are you calling?" asked Winter.
Weird, is she changing moods like that all the time, or is it part of her acting?
"Well, Minho and I decided to visit Ning's bar tonight. Do you guys want to come over?"
Karina signaled her hand no. She needs to go home now since it's getting late.
"Uhm, karina can't go there anymore, Minju. Her mom is waiting for her," said Winter
"Oh, that's too bad. Well, Karina, is it okay if Winter will come with us after she drops you home?"
"Yeah, sure. No problem. Just make sure she's not drinking and alcohol tonight. She still driving home," said Karina in authoritative tone.
"Don't worry. I'll be the first person to scold her when she takes in alcohol."
"Thanks, Minju."
Winter smiled to herself, amazed at Karina's acting skills. "Okay. I'll be there in thirty minutes, Minju-ah."
"Sure. Call me when you're here, I'll meet you in the lobby, okay?"
"Got it."
"Thanks, Karina. I'll see you later, Winter." After that, Minju hung up.
Just few minutes after the call they arrived in front of Karina's house.
"Are you sure you're okay to go there alone?" asked Karina while unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Don't worry, Ning is there, we'll have fun," said Winter. "Besides, I don't want to bother you anymore for tonight."
"Okay. Just don't drink and drive, okay?"
"Yeah, I promise." Winter raised her right hand.
Karina was about to open the door on her side when she hesitated. "By the way, Winter... she paused and waited for the latter to look at her, "Minju believes that we're really together so don't do something stupid in there, okay?"
Winter didn't get it. "W-what do you mean?"
"Could you be faithful to me at least if Minju is just watching?"
Winter was speechless. Sometimes she doesn't know if they are just pretending because it feels like it's real.
"I just don't want her to think that you're not serious about me." said Karina , looking away.
"Oh. I got it. Don't worry, Ka - - I mean, honey."
Karina chuckled at that. "Hey, you better call me that more often when Minju is around. I'm telling you, she's jealous of me."
With pleasure, Karina , with pleasure. Winter just smiled at Karina.
"Okay, so, thanks for the ride." Karina motioned to open the door.
"Uhm.. Karina?"
"Yes?"
"I... uh... I haven't thanked you yet for what you did today."
Karina removed her hand from the knobbed and settled herself back on the chair. "Don't worry about it."
"I don't know why you are doing this, and I don't even want to ask why," said Winter, avoiding Karina's eyes. "I just want to thank you for everything. I appreciate it. I really do. Next week I'll try to settle everything with Minju . But I want you to keep in mind that we're not going there because of them. I want us to go there just to have fun, okay?"
A small smile drew on Karina's lips. "Are you saying that you're taking me out like a date?"
Winter felt choked. "Uh.. well.. call it whatever you like."
Karina chuckled again. "Okay, I gotta go now. Take care, okay?"
"Yup. Enjoy your weekend."
"You too." Karina opened the door halfway and stopped again. "Oh. I forgot something." She mumbled, closing the door again.
"What's that?"
Without saying anything, Karina turned to Winter and held her face with a hand.
The proximity filled Winter's nostrils with Karina's sweet scent as the latter was leaning closer to her. After that, everything just went blank.
....
....
....
Karina quickly strode out of the car and walked towards her house without looking back. Winter was left dumfounded inside her car, petrified.
What the hell happened?
It took her few more seconds before she decided to move - - or to even blink.
Winter touched her cheek with a hand. She felt her heart still pounding fiercely in her chest.
Did she just kiss me?
It all happened in just a blink of an eye. The last thing she remembered is the feeling of karina's soft lips on her cheek. It was just for a few seconds, but the sensation remained there. As far as she concerned, this is the best thing that has happened that night. She tapped the steering wheel with both her hands and made a fast drum beat.
Yes! Yes! YES!!!
....
Ning's bar
"I'm glad your girlfriend approved you being here," said Minju. She was already waiting in the lobby area when Winter arrived.
"Yeah, she knows Ningning so it's fine."
On the other hand, Winter can't get the smile off her face. She doesn't care if Minju and Minho will be sweeter this time around. She's on cloud nine and nothing or no one can erase the glee she's feeling.
"Well, you got one clingy girlfriend here, Win."
Remembering what Karina asked her to do, Winter rode along and said, "Yeah, that's what I love about her. She's really sweet."
Minju doesn't seem to know what to say anymore. She tucked her arm in Winter's. "Come on, Ning and Minho are waiting for us inside."
"Okay, let's go."
"Wait a sec, is that dirt on your face?"
Winter didn't move as Minju held her face. "A dirt?"
Minju chuckled. "What a sly girlfriend you have there, win."
"Why?"
"Nothing." said Minju , pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the kiss mark on Winter's cheeks.
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