"Is the pasta good?" asked Winter, twirling her fork into the mound of spaghetti.
"Mmm-mmm." Karina could only nod her head while chewing her food.
After the fireworks display, Winter suggested the nearby Italian restaurant for dinner. Karina agreed to it immediately because she's not in the mood to go home yet. They waited almost 30 minutes for the food to be served. Karina usually gets mad at the things like this but today it didn't bother her. Talking to Winter made her forget her hunger for a while.
Winter's phone suddenly rang. She took it out of her pocket and glanced at the caller ID before she smiled.
"Excuse me. I need to take this." Winter stood up to answer the phone.
Karina's eyes followed as Winter made her way outside the veranda. There, Winter stood with one hand in her pocket while talking to whoever on the other line is, occasionally laughing and giggling. Winter found a hanging paper cupid on the tree beside her and began playing by twirling it with her two fingers.
That's when Karina noticed the heart and Cupid designs hanging all over the place. She looked around the restaurant and read the tag on one of the posters:
Four days to go before Valentine's Day, who's your date?
Then it hit her: four days remaining. She usually doesn't mind going out alone or staying indoors but this is the first time she felt kind of excited about it. Her eyes jumped back to the person on the veranda who's still busy talking on her phone.
Hmm, should I give her a present? But what would I give her? Wouldn't it be awkward to give her something on Valentine's day?
Her excitement was drained when she saw Winter laughed heartily.
Disappointed, Karina pursed her lips.
Who could she be talking to? Please, somebody tell me it's not Yunjin again.
Yunjin's role in Winter's life is starting to bug her. Her curiosity about the real deal between the two is rising. The first and last time they met, Winter introduced Yunjin as a friend. But who knows what could have happened after that. The only thing Karina knows is it's not impossible for Yunjin to be a fan girl too.
After few more minutes, Winter went in and sat back in her chair. "Phew! Sorry about that. It was my aunt. She said she misses me."
"Aren't you visiting her?" asked Karina. The sour face from the misconception earlier turned into a sweet smile.
"I'm busy, she's busy," said Winter, going back to her pasta. "And I don't like her giving me free food every time I visit her restaurant."
"Restaurant?"
Winter hummed to agree. "Remember I mentioned before that I love going to Dining in Space restaurant? My Aunt Yaya owns that place."
Karina dropped her hand on the table. "Wow, really?"
"Yeah. The food their is quite expensive, but they are exquisitely great," said Winter, stuffing a forkful of spaghetti into her mouth. "I don't want my aunt going bankrupt just because my food is always on her whenever I go there."
"Well, you must be her favorite niece."
That made Winter smile. "Of course. I'm her only niece, Karina. She's my dad's only sister and she doesn't have kids."
"Oh, what a small family tree you have there."
Karina couldn't be happier. They've known each other for a half year now but this is the first time she heard other things about Winter aside from Minju issues before.
"Hmm, I guess Valentine's is already in the air, huh?" said Winter, getting distracted by the posters in the area.
"Yeah, for sure couples will line up at N Seoul Tower again," said Karina.
Winter chuckled, knowing that there's always an issue in that place during that time of the year.
"Their boyfriend's or husband's buy flowers or chocolates for them. In Japan and here in Korea, it's all about men. Women are the ones buying chocolates and giving it to their male friends and love ones. The tradition is kinda cute." said Winter, making small circles with her fork.
Karina didn't say anything but her mind is already processing that as a clue.
Winter's expression changed when an idea hit her. "Hey, what do you say about bringing you to Aunt Yaya's?"
Having no thoughts of playing hard to get, Karina agreed right away. "I'd love to. Why don't we do it next week?" She secretly hoped that Winter would take it as a hint for the Valentine's Day.
"Uhm," Winter scratched the tip of her eyebrow. "Unfortunately, I won't be here next week."
Karina's face fell. "Y-you won't?"
Winter smiled apologetically. "Yeah, well, it's my dad's birthday on the fourteenth so he'll be my date on Valentine's Day."
Karina felt a bit embarrassed thinking that Winter knew what she was pertaining to. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and changed the topic.
"So, where are you going this time?"
"Indonesia," said Winter. "I've filed vacation leave from 12th to 14th. I'll be flying tomorrow afternoon. Aunt Yaya called so I could pick up her gift for dad."
Karina focused her eyes on the spaghetti to hide her disappointment.
That's from Monday to Wednesday. I won't see her for three days straight. Uh, no, it's gonna be four days because it's only Sunday tomorrow.
Sigh... Can I survive that?
---
9:11 pm
"So... we're here.." said Winter, pulling the handbrake. They are already in front of Karina's gate.
Karina was so happy the entire day that the time flew fast for her. "Thanks. I had fun. Real fun."
"You had fun making fun of me."
Karina let out a sweet chuckle. "I didn't know you had a comedian side."
"Yeah, right."
Karina giggled. "You should be proud. It's not everyday I enjoy a date like this."
"Well, I'm honored, your highness." said Winter, bowing slightly.
"Thanks to my friends in the horror house, they made my day complete."
"Ugh. Until when are you gonna make fun of me?"
"Oh, come on, let me be, I won't see you for four days, you know."
A smiled slipped across Winter's mouth. "Awe. Does that mean you're going to miss me?"
"You wish."
"Oh, come on, I'm sure you will, right.. right...?"
Karina felt Winter poking her arm. "What makes you think so?" she asked Winter.
Winter scratched her head for an answer. "Uh, I don't know. Because it would be unfair to me? I'm surely gonna miss you, you know..."
"Aish. Why do you love messing your hair like that?" Karina reached her hand up to fuss with Winter's disarrayed hair. "And yes, of course, I'd miss you, Dumbo."
"Awe. I'm so touched."
"Crazy." Karina shook her head. She raised her hand, thinking of playfully slapping Winter.
It's a bad move. Winter grabbed Karina's hand out of reflex. Karina knows that she should pull back now but she can't anymore. Winter is already caressing her hand comfortably, giving her a calm and steady gaze, putting Karina into a trance.
Winter, still holding Karina's hand, brushed a strand of hair away from Karina's forehead. Karina felt how Winter's hand trembled, but she loved the feeling of those fingertips making the barest contact on her skin.
The next thing Karina noticed is Winter leaning closer, planting a soft kiss on her cheek. Karina suddenly felt a quivering ecstacy of joy when those soft lips were pressed into her skin, totally sending her heart into frenzy. Winter pulled back shortly but her lips stayed close. Karina can feel the irregular breathing on her cheek.
"Thank you," whispered Winter, almost inaudible.
Karina closed her eyes. She felt how Winter's lips slightly touched her skin in every movement, giving a tickling sensation. She smiled when she felt Winter was smiling too against her cheek.
It was oh so magical that she'd like to stay like that for a little while. However, they had to pull away from each other when a headlight from a passing vehicle flashed on them for a second.
"I, uh, I better go now," said Karina, hooking her bag on her shoulder. "I'll see you next week."
Winter just gave her a smile and nod.
Karina went out of the car and managed to sneak a peek before closing the door. "Take care, okay?"
"I will. Good night, Karina."
"Good night, Winter."
---
Karina wasn't aware how she managed to walk up to her room. Her knees were weakend with what happened inside the car that she collapsed onto her bed immediately. She was glad that her mom isn't home yet because it had saved her from the possible interrogation on how was the hangout with her 'friends.'
And now she's back to staring endlessly at the ceiling. She's no doubt happy, but at the same time, she feels scared of the changes she's feeling lately.
Sigh. Am I losing it?
As far as the dating game is concerned, Karina had always had her guard up; full gear defense. Yes, she goes out with boys but she's too cautious around them. Although the case is a bit different, because it's a girl this time, but Karina never felt things from previous dates before the way Winter had made her feel, or even made her do without inhibitions. She started mentally counting all the notable firsts she experienced that day:
First time I totally enjoyed a date.
First time I had chosen to ignore the fireworks display.
First time I made the first move to hold my date's hand.
First time I had eaten at that Italian restaurant.
First time I've thought of going out with someone on Valentine's Day.
She stopped for a moment before admitting one last thing on her mind. She touched her cheek, trying to recall how it felt earlier. Her heart flutters on the memory of it.
First time I let my date kiss me...
"Shit." she said in an exhale with her eyes darting quickly around the room.
This time she knows it. Whatever defense she had tried to established all throughout these years; that blockage has already been blown away.
I guess I've already lost it.
The battle for maintaining her sanity is over. Her guard is already torn down.
She just smiled at her realization because she never thought it was possible to get such happiness from one person only.
She knows it's useless to pretend to be strong anymore, because whatever mask she puts on to pretend how tough she is it will just boil down to one thing:
Winter had definitely conquered her.
——-
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