Karina slumped in her chair, twirling her pen absent-mindedly as Mr. Lee went on and on about the history lesson.

As usual, it was the slowest part of the day, but today wasn't terrible-only miserable. The thoughts that cluttered her mind weighed her down.

Beside her, Giselle looked just as bored as usual, her head resting on her palm, eyes empty. She must have been counting down the minutes until she was allowed in the English classroom-one class she actually looked forward to.

Karina had no idea why she sat there, pretending to listen. Her brain was elsewhere-still running over the puzzle that Mai, Winter, and that weird blackout from last night posed. All the pieces felt important, but none of it made sense yet.

She sat up straighter as Mr. Lee started pacing the front of the room, going over key dates and events for the exam.

For a minute, Karina could return to him; indeed, that was when she felt it-something different, something little, but noticeable.

He was normally upbeat according to loop, at least marginally energetic for a history teacher, but today his face was more serious, as if weighted down by some heavy stone. His eyes were brighter, more keen, and his tone slightly harsher, before he covered it up again with his usual monotone.

Karina blinked, desperately trying to catch up in her mind with what she had just seen. But the solemnity was over and in its place was the usual dullness of Mr. Lee carried when talking about centuries-old wars and treaties.

Am I imagining things? she wondered, rubbing at her temples as a familiar headache began to throb.

It was as if class were dragging on. Time seemed to be moving at a snail's pace as the clock ticked forward. Karina's head felt heavy, her stomach knotted with all the stress she'd taken on. Her mind kept drifting back to yesterday-Mai's absence, Winter's mystifying aura, the lights going out as if on cue. And now, even Mr. Lee's subtle change was eating away at her.

She shut her eyes tightly for a second, hoping the throbbing in her skull would shake out of her, but the tension in her body just increased with the passing of each minute.

What is wrong with me? she thought as she didn't even catch Mr. Lee call someone to answer some question.

She cast her eyes to one side, observing how Giselle paid little more than lip service to the lesson, bored and disinterested as ever. Giselle hated history class. She barely even stayed awake for her second period English.

But for Karina, nothing mattered anymore. Not when the same day went on forever.

Karina stepped onto the roof, her footsteps loud, heavy-sounding, as if she hoped to tread upon the jumbled, confusing mixture of emotions inside her. Winter was already there, leaning against the shade wall.

Always, when Winter leaned against the shade wall, that expression with which she usually hassled her remained bored, but this time it changed the moment Karina appeared in view.

Something was off; Winter felt it at once.

They sat down side by side, but today the air between them wasn't quite as light. Karina was glaring at the ground, her jaw tight, and Winter, normally diverted by her elder's moods, was now worriedly troubled. She cleared her throat to break the tension. "You okay?

Karina met Winter's stare, and her sharp glare softened ever so slightly as she noticed the concern within Winter's eyes. She twitched, but that served only to irritate her more.

This sudden strain-this feeling of suffocation that had been clawing at her since morning-it was all because of Winter.

No, that wasn't it. It was all her own doing; it just happened because of Winter.

But all thoughts in Karina's mind were Winter now. The way heart was reacting on Winter's presence, those butterflies fluttering by rubbing the hands against Winter's each and every time, that very smile of Winter- this very stupid, perfect smile.

Now Karina knew what it was and that realization lay heavily over her chest, as if breathing was possible only with great difficulty.

It was torture, yet she couldn't help but reject it. She had to be.

Winter was just a kid, a junior she was supposed to guide, not... date. Wait, what?

Karina stopped in her tracks, her mind screeching to a halt.

Date?

What came out from there?

Her face must've betrayed her inner turmoil, because Winter was looking at her, amused but still worried.

Winter cocked her head, following Karina's expressions change from annoyed to perplexed to embarrassed. It was kinda cute, watching the normally composed president get all worked up without saying a word.

A small chuckle escaped her lips and before she could stop herself, she was laughing.

Karina snapped out of her spiraling thoughts as she felt her face burning instantly at the laugh from Winter.

She was not sure whether it was worse to think that she was making a total idiot of herself or that Winter was enjoying it that much. The embarrassment made her cheeks that much redder, and now Winter is laughing harder than she ever has before, breaking down the usually cool demeanor into a fully-out full-blown smile.

"Shut up," Karina muttered, fumbling to her words, panting wildly, as if she wanted to inhale a whole mountain to complete her breath. She covered her face with one hand trying to hide her embarrassment.

But even as she said it, she didn't feel quite light enough; the stress Winter's laugh had worked to chip away made her breathe that little bit freer.

But how was she going to fight for this?

How could she resist the temptations of Winter, with every smile, every laugh making her heart thump faster?

The thought only made her more frustrated, and she knew this battle inside her was far from over.