FIVE YEARS LATER
"Rina!"
Sakura, Chaewon and Wonyoung all enveloped her in a massive hug as they all bounced around, laughing. The four of them were meeting up a year after their graduation, and so much had changed since then, all since that one night in March at the dance.
Wonyoung had become a model, and her pictures were splashed across top magazines like Elle and Vogue. She had been voted first in the Top 10 Models of South Korea, and ranked fifth on TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of the Year. She had modeled for Versace, Dior, and was rumored to be signing a very expensive deal with Chanel to model their fall lineup. She and Yujin were actually still going strong, and had developed a very high-profile relationship, as Yujin had gone on to become a very popular basketball player.
Meanwhile, Chaewon had become a singer, and was known in many music circles as one of the best rising voices of the generation. Her songs were heard on radios across the country, and she had already won several awards. Yunjin had become a singer as well, and the two were considered the music industry's power couple, already having released an album together and gearing up to release a single that would become the song of the summer.
Sakura had become an actress and already featured in several popular shows and movies across the country and in global media. Kazuha was a professional ballerina, and although their relationship was notoriously on-again, off-again, the two were still as whipped for each other as they had been in high school.
And Karina?
While her friends managed successful careers in the entertainment business, Karina was there to help them all out. She'd founded her own entertainment company at the young age of 23, and since Chaewon, Wonyoung and Sakura were her best friends, they had quickly signed with her, attracting others to her business-managing skills and sharp mind. Her company was quickly propelled to the top of the lineup, and at first others doubted her because she was "young and impressionable," Karina's experience with her mother Tiffany's company made her sharp-eyed and clever, and she was able to negotiate only the most successful deals for her clients.
Her newest client, in fact, was her girlfriend, Winter.
Winter had become a songwriter, but then finally followed her passion for singing and signed with Karina. She had already released an album under Karina's company, and Karina couldn't be happier for her girlfriend. She was so proud of Winter and how far they'd come.
Another one of Karina's clients was actually Aeri Uchinaga. Aeri had signed with her as a designer and stylist, and so far she was very successful. Her fashion sense was top-notch, and she had an excellent eye for color and makeup that was priceless to Karina. Interestingly, Winter didn't seem to mind, and when Karina asked her why, Winter told her what really happened at the dance while Karina and Winter were so lost in each other.
While Ningning was waiting for Chenle inside, Aeri had slipped in, wearing a red dress that made Ningning's jaw drop (but she, according to Ningning, cleverly covered it with her hand.) She'd expected Aeri to go anywhere but her, but then Aeri approached her and asked to talk. Aeri had then proceeded to apologize for everything and explain that she actually liked Ningning also, but after the hookup, she was afraid that Ningning thought she was just another girl. So, she'd been walking, distressed, in the parking lot one day when Somi approached her. Somi had always liked Aeri, and in that second she looked so much like Ningning that Aeri kissed her. Aeri knew it was messed up, she said, but she'd made Somi so happy she didn't want to burst her bubble. But a week or two into the relationship she knew it was wrong, and so broke up with Somi, who promptly got herself a rebound which turned real (good for her, Karina had interjected here, earning herself a light smack from Winter for interrupting).
Conclusion? Ningning accepted the apology and the two had ended up going to colleges very close to each other, resulting in them starting up a relationship that was nearing its third anniversary.
Ningning wasn't one of Karina's clients, having started up her own business (it was a restaurant business, seeing as she was a massive foodie), but she worked closely with Karina for things like promotions. In fact, Karina's clients were more often than not frequents of Ningning's restaurants, which made the younger girl very proud.
"Wony, Chae, Kkura!" Karina grinned, embracing all of her friends, and they went to sit down in the restaurant. It was one of Ningning's, and it was the one she was at the most, so they weren't surprised to see her approach them, waving.
"What can I get you?"
"Wow, the famous Ning Yizhuo, serving us?" Kkura wisecracked and Ningning laughed. "In that case, can we all get the usual, if that's okay?"
"Sure, yeah," Ningning nodded, noting the order. "By the way, you guys have more guests, yeah? You can add more chairs if you want."
"Cool, okay," Chaewon agreed, pulling more chairs over.
Their next guest arrived a few minutes into the appetizers. Huh Yunjin strode in wearing a beige wool sweater, jeans, and glasses, which resulted in several embarrassing seconds of kissing between her and Chaewon. Chaewon then promptly stole the glasses off of Yunjin's face and snuggled into her arms during the rest of the conversation. (Yunjin had just returned from a long tour and hadn't seen Chaewon in a few months, so that was justified.)
An Yujin arrived a few minutes later, wearing a hoodie and shorts. Wonyoung slid over to make room for her, and Yujin gave her a light kiss on the cheek before energetically joining the conversation and high-fiving Yunjin.
Karina squirmed in the corner of the booth, waiting for her guest, earning herself an elbow in the side from Sakura. "You're not alone yet, Rina, Zuha's not here either. Oh, wait. I forgot we're off again," Kkura grumbled, banging her head on the table.
"What?! Why?"
"Something stupid," Sakura muttered, talking to the whole table. "I wish I could fix it."
"Tell us," Chaewon said, discreetly taking out her phone under the table. Karina noticed and tried to hide a smirk as Chaewon pressed the record button (clearly to send to Kazuha).
"It was at one of my premieres and the actor next to me kept touching my arm the whole movie. Zuha thought I was cheating on her, obviously, even though I tried to tell her that she's literally the only one for me and I couldn't care less who that actor is because she's hotter than every actor I've ever seen. Like, come on! I kind of get her reason, but like, has she seen herself? Does she really think I'd dump her for some plastic piece of trash like him when I could have Nakamura Kazuha?" Sakura shook her head and sighed gloomily. "I mean, we've broken up before, but it's never been as serious as this. I expected her to get jealous and angry, but not at me."
Karina smiled to herself as Chaewon urged, "If you love her a lot, you should tell her."
"I do love her a lot," Sakura sassed back. "More than anyone. But again, serious. She isn't replying to me."
"How much do you love her?"
"I said more than anyone ever, Chae. Why are you- wait." Sakura lunged forward across the table, and Chaewon pulled back, giggling. "KIM, DON'T YOU DARE-"
"Sent," Chaewon smirked, and Sakura banged her head on the table while everyone erupted in laughter. "I gave her the location too."
"Kim Chaewon, once this gathering is over, I will kill you."
"You'll thank me later," Chaewon smirked. Ningning arrived with the drinks, and once Wonyoung let her in on the joke, she cackled all the way back to the kitchen, causing everyone to start laughing again.
Karina grinned, but inside she was feeling worried. Where was Winter?
Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again, and Karina glanced up. Nope. But then her eyes fixed on wide-eyed Sakura next to her, and Karina had to keep from laughing to herself.
Kazuha had just walked through the doorway, wearing a cropped band tee that exposed her abdomen and slim-fitting jeans. Her hair was down and she had an unreadable expression on her face, but then she looked around, recognizing the restaurant, and grinned at Sakura. She approached their table, crossed her arms, and held up her phone. "You think I'm hot?"
Yunjin whistled, since the two had been friends since high school, but Kazuha didn't remove her eyes from Sakura, who had gone curiously silent.
Kazuha grinned again. "Hotter than any actor you've ever seen, you said."
Sakura just shrugged. "You're... not... so bad."
Karina and Chaewon facepalmed at Sakura's poor attempt to disguise herself.
Kazuha's smile only widened as she tapped her phone and it replayed Sakura's words. "...because she's hotter than any actor I've ever seen."
Wonyoung giggled, and Yujin smiled at her.
"Must've had it open to that exact timestamp, did you like hearing me say that?" Sakura asked boldly, basically confirming she'd said it.
Now it was Kazuha's turn to shrug. "So what if I did?"
Sakura averted her eyes, but the blush spreading brightly over her entire face said otherwise. "Uhh..."
"You're so clueless," Kazuha laughed, and then she'd slid in next to Sakura and the two were all over each other.
"Oh, ew, right in front of my salad?" Yunjin yelled, making Chaewon burst into laughter along with the rest of the table. "I mean really, guys. The sexual tension and then you go and do that?"
The girls didn't answer. Or, at least, Sakura looked like she would, but then Kazuha yanked her back and they were making out again.
While they did that, Karina checked her phone anxiously.
No messages.
Did she forget? Where is she?
Min, I miss you.
Just then the door opened, and Karina swore to God Winter walked in with a halo on her head.
She wasn't wearing anything special, just a hoodie and jeans, but in Karina's eyes she was the most gorgeous girl in the world. She was halfway into the door when Karina was already running towards her, and they collided in a mix of lips and arms by the doorway, stumbling around, their arms locked around each other as Winter laughed.
Karina had missed that laugh so much, even though it had only been a month since she'd last seen Winter. (Again, busy tour schedules.)
"Hey," Winter grinned, leaning forward to kiss Karina again as they walked back to the table, where Sakura and Kazuha had finally stopped and Sakura was now in Kazuha's lap as the younger whispered in her ear. "I missed you."
Karina scoffed playfully. "I missed you way more. You know, maybe I shouldn't have organized that tour."
"Aw, you're no fun," Winter teased, but gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "It's been really fun, though."
"Winter-yah!" the girls called to her excitedly, and she turned towards them as they laughed and all caught up together, sharing stories and gossiping. Aeri arrived soon after and she and Ningning came over to talk, while Karina sat back to watch her favorite people in the world, comfortably encased in her girlfriend's arms. This group of friends would be her lifetime, her lifeline, the people she could always go to when things went sour. She'd love them forever and always, and most of all, she would love Winter, who never gave up on her and helped her follow her dreams. Winter Kim, the person she always wanted to be with.
Winter Kim, who would become her future wife, the one by her side at her friends' weddings, the one at concerts and promotions and briefings and meetings, the one she would have a family with.
Winter and Karina, forever.
a/n: and that's the end, everyone. thank you all so much for reading, voting and commenting, and ik i say it a lot but it really does mean a ton. i hope you have an amazing day and that you enjoyed 'dot dot dot | winrina,' you've all made it one of my favorite fics to write. thank you and i love you all, have a great day <333
ps: below is the book tracklist, in case you want to check it out!
PLAYLIST
001. nonsense, sabrina carpenter, album: emails i can't send
002. dance the night away, twice, album: summer nights
003. last friday night (t.g.i.f), katy perry, album: teenage dream
004. connection, onerepublic, single
005. late night talking, harry styles, album: harry's house
006. attention, newjeans, album: new jeans
007. message in a bottle, taylor swift, album: red (taylor's version)
008. choices, le sserafim, album: choices
009. hold me while you wait, lewis capaldi, album: divinely uninspired to a hellish extent
010. off the record, ive, i've mine
011. cupid (twin ver.), fifty fifty, album: the beginning: cupid
012. what's your name, (g)i-dle, album: i made
013. killin' me good, jihyo, album: zone
014. flowering, soojin, album: agassy
015. i got you, twice, single
016. why can't you love me, wendy, album: like water
017. time after time, boa, wendy, ningning, album: 2022 winter smtown
018. darl+ing, seventeen, single
019. cut to the feeling, carly rae jepsen, single
020. what you waiting for, jeon somi, album: xoxo
021. fire!, alan walker, jvke, yuqi, single
022. symphony, zara larsson, clean bandit, single