The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the college dorm hallway, and Karina barely had time to turn around before a familiar figure barreled into her.

“Karina!” Yeji cried, throwing her arms around her tightly. Her voice was shaky, and her grip was desperate. “I’m so sorry!”

Karina, taken aback, steadied them both with a soft laugh. “Whoa, Yeji, what’s wrong? You’re acting like you committed a crime or something.”

Yeji pulled back, her eyes glistening. “I didn’t mean to. I shouldn’t have let your mom in and—well, you know.”

Karina’s expression softened, and she rested a reassuring hand on Yeji’s shoulder. “Hey, it’s fine. I wasn’t mad or anything. Really, don’t worry about it.”

Yeji sniffled, her lips curling into a relieved smile. “You mean it?”

“Of course,” Karina said warmly. “You’re the best roommate, Yeji. And I'm back, aren't I?”

From down the hall, Ryujin and Lia approached, laughing at the sight.

“Looks like someone got forgiven,” Ryujin teased, crossing her arms.

“Drama resolved,” Lia added with a grin. “How anticlimactic. I was hoping for more tears.”

Yeji shot them a playful glare, stepping back to wipe her eyes. “Don’t start with me, you two.”

Karina rolled her eyes, shaking her head, laughing.

—

The next week passed in a steady rhythm, classes and routines filling the days. Karina and Winter settled into their usual pattern, balancing their studies with the time they spent together.

As the sun dipped below the horizon one evening, Winter sat in her dorm room, the warm orange glow casting a cozy light across the space.

Her thoughts wandered, and a soft smile spread across her lips as she thought about Karina—her bright laugh, the way her nose crinkled when she teased, and the warmth of her hugs.

“Thinking about her again?” Chaeryeong’s voice jolted her out of her daydream. She stood leaning against the doorframe, a knowing smirk on her face.

Winter turned, trying to feign innocence. “What? No, I was just—”

“Daydreaming about her,” Chaeryeong finished for her, winking. “It’s written all over your face.”

Winter groaned, but her smile didn’t falter. “Okay, fine. Maybe I was. So what?”

“So nothing,” Chaeryeong teased, turning to leave. “Just don’t get too lost in your fantasies. Just want to tell you, I might be late, I will be in the library.”

"Okay," Winter chuckled, shaking her head as Chaeryeong left.

Life felt so normal—peaceful, even. It was almost too good to be true.

Just as she was about to settle back into her thoughts, her phone buzzed on the desk. Winter reached for it, her brow furrowing when she saw the notification.

A text from an unknown number.

"Meet me at the roof. Don’t bring anyone or else."

Her heart skipped a beat, her fingers tightening around the phone. A moment later, another message arrived:

"You know me, right?"

Winter stared at the screen, uneasy creeping into her chest. The words felt both familiar and strange, as if someone was pulling at the threads of a memory she didn’t want to revisit.

She stood, her mind racing. Who could it be? And why now?

Her first instinct was to text Karina, but something stopped her. She reread the messages, feeling the weight of the warning.

“Don’t bring anyone or else.”

Winter took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. Whoever this was, they wanted her alone—and she wasn’t about to back down.

—

Winter's footsteps echoed softly in the stairwell as she ascended toward the rooftop, her heart pounding with each step. The air felt heavier, the faint hum of the building's electrical systems muffled by the anxiety clouding her mind. When she reached the rooftop door, she hesitated, her hand trembling on the handle.

With a deep breath, she pushed it open.

The cool night air greeted her, but it did nothing to ease the dread building in her chest. Standing near the edge of the rooftop were two figures, their forms illuminated by the pale glow of the city lights.

Her breath hitched.

"Karina?" Winter called softly, her voice cracking.

Karina stood frozen, her wide eyes filled with fear. Sei Eo was behind her, one arm wrapped tightly around Karina. Her other hand pressed a knife against Karina's skin, the blade glinting dangerously.

"Winter!" Karina gasped, her voice strained.

"Stop right there," Sei Eo snapped, her glare icy and filled with hatred. She pressed the knife closer to Karina's neck, making Karina flinch. "Don't take another step, or you'll regret it."

Winter froze, her hands trembling at her sides. Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"Okay, okay," she said quickly. "I'm not moving. Just- please, let her go."

Sei Eo laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that sent chills down Winter's spine. "Let her go? You think I'm just going to walk away after everything you've done to me?"

"What do you want?" Winter asked, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "What are you trying to do?"

Sei Eo's eyes burned with fury as she snarled, "What do I want? I want you to feel what it's like to have your life ruined. To lose everything!" She tightened her grip on Karina, making her gasp.

"My life is in shambles because of you two!" Sei Eo spat, her voice rising. "Everything fell apart! Everyone turned against me, and it's all your fault!"

Winter took a cautious step forward, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "Sei Eo, listen to me. You don't have to do this. Whatever happens, we can figure it out. Just let Karina go, and we can talk-"

"Talk?" Sei Eo cut her off with a bitter laugh. "I don't want to talk! I want to watch you both suffer, just like I did."

Winter's mind raced as she tried to think of a way to diffuse the situation. Her gaze flicked to Karina, who looked at her with pleading eyes.

"You thought it was over? Back in highschool? " Sei Eo continued, her voice shaking with rage. "No. This is just the beginning of your nightmare. All those years, I rotted in stupid hospital!"

Winter's heart dropped as she processed Sei Eo’s words. The sheer hatred in Sei Eo’s voice sent a chill through her, but she didn’t let herself crumble. Her focus remained locked on Karina, whose terrified eyes silently begged for help.

"Sei Eo," Winter said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "I know you're hurt. I know you're angry. But this isn't the way to fix it. Hurting Karina or me won’t make the pain go away."

Sei Eo’s lips curled into a sinister smirk.

"Oh, stupid Winter, you really think this is about fixing things? No. This is about justice. About me!" Her grip on Karina tightened, making the latter wince.

Winter’s fists clenched at her sides. "If you hurt her, there’s no coming back from this. You’ll lose everything. Please, Sei Eo, don’t let it end like this."

Sei Eo tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness before laughing—a harsh, hollow sound that echoed in the night.

"Do you hear yourself? Acting like you care. Like you’re the better person. You think you’re so righteous, Winter, but you’re just as cruel as everyone else. The only difference is, I’m not afraid to do what needs to be done."

Before Winter could react, Sei Eo’s expression twisted into something unrecognizable.

"Goodbye, Winter," she said coldly.

"NO!" Winter screamed, lunging forward just as Sei Eo shoved Karina toward the edge of the rooftop.

The world slowed as Karina’s body tumbled backward. Her wide, terrified eyes locked with Winter’s as she fell, a silent scream frozen on her lips. Winter’s outstretched hand grasped at empty air, her heart shattering as she watched Karina disappear over the edge.

"Karina!" Winter’s anguished cry tore through the night.

The sound of impact reached her ears seconds later—a sickening thud that made her stomach lurch. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed to her knees, staring at the spot where Karina had stood moments before.

Sei Eo stepped back, her face twisted in grim satisfaction.

"And now," she said, her voice devoid of emotion, "you know what it feels like to lose everything."

Winter’s head snapped up, tears streaming down her face. The despair in her eyes turned to fury, her chest heaving with ragged breaths.

"You... You killed her," she choked out, her voice trembling with a mix of heartbreak and rage. "You killed her!"

Sei Eo smirked. "Consider it payback."