The classroom buzzed with the hum of students wrapping up their day, but Winter's focus was elsewhere.

She hurriedly packed up her things, clutching Yeji's notes in one hand as she left. Once in her dorm, she quickly washed up, tying her damp blonde hair into a loose ponytail. She sat at her small desk, flipping open her notebook with determined resolve.

Her hand trembled as she gripped the pen, already sore from hours of scribbling, but there was no time to rest.

"Come on, almost done," she muttered to herself, her handwriting becoming slightly messier as she copied notes for Karina at lightning speed. She winced as the cramps in her fingers worsened but refused to stop. She wasn't going to be late tonight-not again.

Around an hour later, she leaned back with a tired sigh, flexing her aching fingers.

"Finally," she breathed, a faint smile breaking through her exhaustion.

Winter stood up, quickly freshened up, and changed into a clean outfit-a cream sweater and light blue jeans. Checking her bag one last time to ensure everything was in place, she headed out the door.

On her way, she stopped by a small flower shop. The sweet scent of fresh blooms filled the air as she browsed, her eyes settling on a bundle of white lilies. Winter smiled softly, imagining Mrs. Yu's reaction, and paid for the flowers before tucking them carefully into her bag.

The bus ride felt like an eternity, and Winter tapped her foot impatiently as she watched the familiar streets pass by. When she finally reached her stop, she hurried off, clutching her bag tightly. The sight of the Yu family's small shop came into view, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

But something was wrong. The shop was closed.

Winter's steps slowed as she approached, her brows furrowing in confusion. She stood in front of the closed shutters, her hand instinctively tightening on her bag strap as uncertainty crept in. Her head darted around, searching for any sign of Mrs. Yu.

"Looking for me?"

The familiar voice startled Winter, and she spun around to see Mrs. Yu emerging from the side of the shop, holding a small box in her hands.

Winter blinked, her heart racing from the sudden surprise.

"Ah, Mrs. Yu-good evening!" she stammered, quickly bowing.

Mrs. Yu didn't return the greeting, instead studying Winter with a neutral expression.

"Follow me," she said curtly, turning and walking toward the house.

Winter's heart sank, and her palms grew damp with nervous sweat as she followed silently. The sound of her own footsteps echoed in her ears as she stepped into the Yu household for the first time.

The interior was warm and welcoming, but Winter couldn't shake her nerves. She glanced around cautiously, her eyes lingering on the framed photos on the walls and the neatly arranged furniture. Everything about this place felt personal, intimate-and she was a stranger walking through it.

In the living room, Yun sat on the couch, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. Winter hesitated in the doorway, unsure where to go, until Yun glanced at her and tilted his head toward the opposite couch.

"Sit," he said simply.

Winter obeyed, perching herself on the edge of the couch like a student waiting to be scolded. Her hands clutched her bag tightly in her lap, her eyes flickering between Yun and the staircase. The silence stretched, and Winter could feel Yun's steady gaze on her, making her stomach churn with anxiety.

Mrs. Yu returned after a few moments, descending the stairs with an air of quiet authority. She took a seat across from Winter, her posture straight and her expression calm but serious.

The tension in the room was palpable, and Winter sat frozen, unsure whether she should speak or stay silent. The sound of footsteps on the stairs broke the silence, and Winter's head snapped up.

Karina.

Winter's heart clenched as she saw Karina. Karina looked... different, her usual radiance dimmed, her shoulders slumped, and her steps slow. Her eyes, once bright and full of life, now carried a dull sadness that made Winter's chest ache.

Their eyes met, and Winter felt a surge of emotion-relief, guilt, longing-all at once. She almost stood up, her body reacting before her mind caught up, but she stopped herself, her hands tightening on the bag in her lap instead.

Karina's gaze lingered on her for a moment before she turned away, descending the last few steps. Winter watched her intently, her throat dry as she struggled to find words, but none came.

Karina walked into the living room, her head slightly down, and sat down beside Yun without a word. Winter's heart twisted painfully as she took in her subdued demeanor.

She wanted to reach out, to say something-anything-but the weight of Mrs. Yu's presence kept her rooted in place.

Mrs. Yu cleared her throat, breaking the tense silence in the room. Winter straightened her back instinctively, her hands clenching together as Mrs. Yu's sharp eyes turned to her.

"So, uhh... Min Jeong?" Mrs. Yu began, her tone calm but edged with steel. "You've been coming to my shop for a while now. I assume you know why you're here tonight."

Winter swallowed hard, her throat dry as she forced herself to meet Mrs. Yu's piercing gaze.

"Yes, ma'am," she said softly, her voice steady despite the nerves bubbling under the surface. "I... I wanted to explain myself."

Mrs. Yu raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair.

"Explain?" she echoed. "Explain why you're dragging my daughter into this mess?"

Karina spoke up, her voice soft but desperate. "Mom, please-"

"Quiet, Jimin," Mrs. Yu snapped, her tone firm but not cruel. "You and I will talk later."

Karina bit her lip, lowering her head again as her hands fidgeted in her lap. Winter glanced at her briefly, her chest tightening at the sight of Karina so subdued.

Taking a deep breath, Winter turned back to Mrs. Yu.

"With all due respect, ma'am," she began carefully, "I don't think this is a mess. I care about Karina. Deeply. And I... I want to be honest about that."

Mrs. Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression unreadable. "And what does 'caring' mean to you, Winter? Do you understand what kind of pressure you're putting on her? What you're asking her to give up for you?"

Winter's hands tightened into fists on her lap, but she kept her voice calm.

"I would never ask Karina to give up anything, ma'am. I know she's important to you, and I know how much you've done for her. I just... I want to be part of her life, openly. Not hiding, not sneaking around. And I want to prove to you that I'm serious."

Mrs. Yu's gaze softened for a split second, but she quickly masked it with a frown. "Prove it? And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

Winter hesitated, her palms growing sweaty.

"By being honest," she said firmly. "By showing you I'm not just a fleeting distraction in her life. I want you to know that I'm willing to work hard to earn your trust."

Mrs. Yu leaned forward, clasping her hands together as she studied Winter intently.

"You're young," she said bluntly.

"Both of you are. Do you understand what you're asking for? Love is not just about holding hands and whispering sweet words. It's hard work. Responsibility. Sacrifice. Can you handle that?"

Winter nodded without hesitation, her determination shining through her nervousness.

"I can," she said simply.

Mrs. Yu sighed, her gaze moving to Karina, who had been silent the entire time.

"And you, Jimin?" she asked, her voice softer now. "Is this what you want?"

Karina flinched slightly, her fingers twisting in her lap as she avoided her mother's gaze.

"I..." She glanced at Winter, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I do, Mom. But-"

"But what?" Mrs. Yu interrupted, her tone laced with disappointment.

"You're already struggling, Jimin. You barely eat, you're distracted in everything you do, and now you want to throw yourself into something that could make it even harder? Do you think this is fair to you? To her?"

"I'm trying, Mom!" Karina burst out, tears spilling over with slightly raising her voice "I know I'm not perfect, but I love her. Isn't that worth something?"

The room fell silent, Karina's words hanging heavily in the air. Mrs. Yu's expression softened, but she didn't respond immediately. Yun, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke up.

"Mom, please?" he said, his tone calm but firm. "Jimin's suffering enough already. Working hard, making us proud. Let her have something that makes her happy."

Mrs. Yu turned to him, her brows furrowing. "And what happens when this 'something' falls apart? Especially this... this type of..."

Mrs. Yu's words hung heavily in the air as she leveled her sharp gaze at Karina. "Who's going to clean up the mess then? Who will be there to pick you up when you fall apart?"

Karina swallowed hard, her palms sweating as the weight of her mother's question settled on her shoulders.

"I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before Mrs. Yu could respond, Winter spoke up, her tone calm but resolute. "I will," she said firmly. All eyes turned to her as she sat upright, her hands clasped tightly together.

"I'll make sure it doesn't happen. I'll do everything I can to protect Karina and make this work. Please, Mrs. Yu... just give us a chance. Believe in us."

Mrs. Yu's sharp gaze softened for a fleeting moment, but she quickly masked it with a sigh. Without another word, she stood up and walked out of the room.

Karina slumped back into her seat, her shoulders sagging as she let out a shaky breath. Winter looked at Karina's, meeting her grazed but before either could speak, Mrs. Yu returned.

She carried a small stack of notebooks in her hands, her expression unreadable as she placed them on the table in front of Karina.

Karina blinked, her confusion evident. "Mom... what is this?"

Mrs. Yu didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze to Winter, whose face lit up with a small, knowing smile.

"You didn't throw them away," Winter murmured softly, more to herself than anyone else, ginning with almost sparkly eyes.

Mrs. Yu cleared her throat, and Winter immediately straightened, wiping the smile off her face as if it had never been there. She reached into her bag, pulling out the notebook she had painstakingly copied and the carefully chosen flower she had bought earlier.

Karina and Yun exchanged bewildered glances as Winter placed the items on the table.

"What's going on?" Yun asked, his brow furrowed as he looked between his mother and Winter.

Mrs. Yu pressed her lips into a thin line, her expression firm but not unkind.

"These," she said, gesturing to the notebooks, "are Jimin's notes from the last week. I kept them. And Minjeong..."

She trailed off, glancing at the girl who sat upright and attentive, "...has been trying to help in her own way."

Karina stared at the notebooks in disbelief, her heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and guilt. "Mom..."

Mrs. Yu raised a hand, cutting her off. "This isn't about whether I approve or not," she said firmly. "The world outside this house is not kind. If you two are serious about this... you'd better be prepared. Both of you."

Winter nodded solemnly, her resolve unwavering. "We will be," she promised.

Karina with a soft smile on her lips, glanced at her mother, then at Winter, her heart pounding in her chest. For the first time in a long while, hope flickered in her eyes.

_

a/n: Hello everyone, just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive! I apologize for not updating the story for the past few days. Unfortunately, our amazing state government has shut down the internet to control the ongoing protests, and it's still not fully restored. As a result, I may not be able to update tomorrow or in the near future. I apologize again for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Enjoy reading!