Karina and Giselle followed Mr. Lee down that deserted hallway, their expectation had built up and then burst forth as they found themselves again in front of the entrance to the classroom building.

Mr. Lee had gone back inside the school as if nothing at all had ever happened. Anger welled inside Karina, added to racing thoughts:

But wasn't something supposed to happen? she thought, with disappointment weighing heavy in her chest.

Giselle looked just as perplexed as she did, shutting her eyes to take in another look as to what was going on.

"Why is he just walking around the school like everything's fine?" Karina whispered to herself, feeling that something very important was slipping right past them.

Just as they would be able to take the topic to the fore, she and Ningning heard fast-approaching footsteps, and Winter and Ningning ran up to them, panting both.

Winter bent a little forward while catching her breath; Ningning stretched on her arms and held her hip out to catch air.
  
"We got something," Ningning panted between the words, her voice full of excitement.

After a while, they all sat on the rooftop, sitting in silence in a circle, as the afternoon class timings would be approaching soon. The pen and paper now lay in the middle of them on the ground, forming central focus attention for both.

Karina and Giselle both closely stared at them and their minds were working overtime trying to guess what the password was.

Winter gazed at Ningning, who looked contemplative. Finally she said,

"If anyone's going to know the password, it's you," she whispered. The voice was soft, but strong in persuasion.

"It says 'dearest friend,' and that has to mean something to you," she said.

Ningning let out a frustrated sigh, her gaze dropped from his to the pen gripped hard within her fingers. Hours had passed-they'd discovered it-and nothing fit.

"It just doesn't go," she groaned, the weight of the anticipation upon her.

"Try her birthday," Giselle urged, her tone strong as though clinging to any plausible solution.

Quick as lightning, Ningning pushed the red button and tried to key in Mai's birthday. The pen remained there doing nothing. Furrowed her brow, frustration set up in lines.

"What's your birthday?" Winter asked with a raised brow, eyeing Ningning closely.

Ningning did it again once more, this time moving keys to her birthday, but just as that, the pen was still not acting for it. A groan of frustration slipped out of her mouth as she rubbed her head entirely defeated by the riddle.

Watching the tension rise, Karina broke the silence softly to apprise Winter and Ningning of the happenings over lunch at Mr. Lee and Sei Eo.

"We followed them, but. Mr. Lee just walked into the school like nothing was wrong. I don't know maybe I'm just misconstrued," she admitted frustrated.

Winter listened, the soft line of her eyes seeping into her as it flitted over Karina. Lost in thought, she nodded, her mind fixed on the possibility:

"Maybe Sei Eo ordered Mr. Lee to do something secret. Maybe that's why he ripped up the swimming competition students list."

The swimming pool above caused a slight shiver remembering the previous moments with Mr. Lee.

She pressed her fists into each other with an unwavering hold, not even doing that silently trying to break free from the strange feeling, when Winter lightly squeezed her hand gently to pull her out of thoughts.

"Thanks," she said in a whisper, small and grateful smile to Winter.

Giselle felt that the tension of two of them and she cleared her throat. She was bringing the conversation back to their situation.

"We're still here. We'll figure this out together," she said with a small smile-the tone was meant to be lightening.

All of them exchanged glances but still, mystery clung above them yet reassurance from their friends brought the feeling of unity.

They knew they had to crack this code-and sooner or later. Time was not on their side, and whatever it was that Sei Eo and Mr. Lee were hiding it was only a matter of time before it would reveal itself.

The school day would come to an end, but Ningning hadn't made any proper discussion about it. She and her group didn't come up with a solution, so she couldn't keep her bottom on a seat.

She suggested going back to her house maybe going home might trigger her memory. Giselle knew how she felt and opted to take her home, saying that she'd grab something that caught her eye for the team anyway.

And with that, they left, and Karina and Winter were alone on the rooftop, as the deepening red sky gave a try at 4 PM.

Between them was a silence. Winter always had a radar for things that didn't feel right. She glanced over at Karina, who hadn't said a word since they returned.

"What's wrong?" Winter whispered, her voice as soft as the wind agitating the trees below.

But she never brought it back.

"It's nothing," she said, her voice tight and distant.

Winter said nothing more about the matter, and Karina didn't really open up the conversation on the topic either.

Instead, she smiled warmly, curling in closer to wrap her arms around Karina from behind, letting her rest her head gently against Karina's neck. The hug warmed Karina instantly, and she released a breath she hadn't known she had been holding.

It was the first moment that morning Karina felt the weight on her shoulders. Being at all with Winter, to smell the lavender fragrance she brought along, just relaxed the tensions that had tried to break free from her all day long.

She took a deep sigh and closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Winter's presence seep into her senses. Then she knew, as she often did, just how low she'd fallen for her.

However, lurking in the back of her mind is uncertainty.

When this strange loop ends and life returns to normal, what will happen to them? Will they ever again be just Junior and Senior? What will happen when she goes to college but Winter stays here?

The picture of her future without Winter hurt so much she began to tear up behind eyes.

Without warning, Karina turned to her and cupped Winter's face in her hands as she stared into the depths of Winter's eyes with shallow breathings and heaved heavier, unsaid fears.

Back behind her gaze heavy sorrow and uncertainty seemed to hang suspended in the air as Winter felt the emotion shift within her as she stared back at her, unspoken intensity of emotion for emotion.

Words were not required. The stillness of the moment enveloped them. Winter was slowly starting to shut in on a place that seemed like an eternity from their last, though she pressed her lips softly on Karina's.

Karina kissed her back, tears finally spilling over as she closed her eyes and let go in the moment. It was a slow kiss, tender, full of love—all the things they felt but just could not say yet.

They were kissing under the burning blue sky, birds flying above them, the scent of autumn carried in the wind. It was empty and quiet around them-the school abandoned-but they had forgotten the world outside for a moment.

Then, in this moment, it was only them-two of a piece, slaked in each other's warmth, their love and uncertainty retreating to one.

_

a/n: Hey everyone! I hope you're all enjoying the story so far! I'm excited to hear your thoughts. By the way, can anyone guess the password? It's really easy, I promise! If you think you know it, write your guess. I'd love to see it.