Karina took a deep breath, her hands pressed hard around Winter's.

Her eyes softened, but otherwise were serious.

"I'm scared too," she whispered, barely above a whisper. Winter's eyes widened a little as if bracing herself for the words.

"I don't want to be away from you, Winter. But—"

Winter's voice came quietly into her line of sight, finishing the thought.

"But things are different now." Her voice understanding but a shadow crept through corners of her eyes, fear hiding behind it.

"Right." Karina nodded, mouth biting shut as fingers rubbed Winter's with cool and reassuring calm. She anchored herself.

A small reassuring smile played on Winter's lips, which pressed Karina's hands tenderly strong.

"Whatever is going to happen," Winter said firmly but gently, "we have to talk. Communicate."

Karina blinked rapidly. Her head fitted snugly against Winter's neck, the angle perfect and she breathed deep, taking in the smell of Winter, familiar and comforting. Her arms were wrapped round her tightly, and she was under no circumstances to let go.

Winter hugged back just as tight, pulling Karina in closer like she was afraid that she might disappear. There was so much warmth between them, the unmistakable connection, that it felt almost overwhelming after so much time apart.

Soon they were pulling back slowly, their foreheads, one into the other's hair. No words needed them as they bent forward into one another. The stillness of the afternoon was just about settling down around them. They sat in that secret park-alla leaves all dry woods, quiet rustling of trees-but still, only the two of them in their little world again.

-

As the sky darkened, Karina went home with just a little smile playing on her lips. She ran past the living room, her feet light beneath her.

Warm from time spent in Winter's company, a quiet happiness settled upon her just as she reached her room at just the right moment to cut into the heavy air of the kitchen by her mother's voice, sharp and firm.

"Wait."

Karina froze; her heart leap-froged to her throat. She slowly turned toward the doorway where Mrs. Yu stood with arms crossed tightly over her chest and a stern look etched onto her face. Karina swallowed hard. A smile had died on her lips, and her eyes started darting downwards.

"Where have you been?" Mrs. Yu's voice was demanding but was, at the same time, calm, really sending waves of nervousness through Karina.

"I. I went to the park," Karina stuttered, her voice small. She fidgeted with her hands, the tension between them thickening as the silence stretched. Mrs. Yu's eyes bore into her, studying her intently, and Karina felt smaller and smaller under her gaze.

But it would also come with the salutary reminder in the form of Mrs. Yu's final words: Finally, Mrs. Yu let out a deep sigh. It was one filled with quiet disappointment. "You have to focus, Karina. Don't do anything stupid. You're soon going to college."

Karina nodded quickly, her head bowing even lower.

"I won't," she mumbled.

Mrs. Yu turned away leaving Karina there loaded with the burden of her mother's words. Karina caught her breath shakily now that Mrs. Yu is out of sight.

She dashed into her room, flopping herself on the bed. All signs of earlier nervousness disappeared because all thoughts could revolve around Winter. A smile returned to her lips. She tossed and turned, with a light heart, warm feelings of their afternoon together wrapped around her like a soft blanket.

-

Winter walked into her house, the eerie stillness settling around her like fog. Something was wrong. Because the slurred rants and groans of her father were always to be heard through the air, but tonight was silent.

Enough to make her heart skip a beat was the soft echo of footsteps on the wooden floor as she moved farther inside. There sat the man who made his home in her room, shambling out with a crumpled wad of cash clutched in his hand.

Winter exclaimed, her breath catching in her throat.

"No," she blurted.

"You can't take that!" She stretched for the money but he shoved her hard against the wall, and she felt a shot of pain jolt through her back as she struck against it and winced as tears stung her eyes.

"You ungrateful little wretch," Mr. Kim snarled, his eyes blazing as he gazed down at her.

"Hiding your money from me now?" He spoke in slurred, drunken rage, his eyes ablaze with fury.

Winter's view was foggy but she made herself stand.

"It's for school," she choked out, her voice trembling but steady. "I need it for tuition."

His face had become ugly, and before she could sidestep him, down came his hand, slapping her hard across the mouth. It hurt more than his insulting words: "You don't need to study," he sneered, waving the cash in front of her as if to make fun of the work. "Think you're better than me?"

Winter clasped her cheek that was on fire in her hand; her hands were shaking. But she didn't flinch in spirit.

"I deserved this," she screamed her voice cracking raw with pain. "It's mine. I have worked for it!"

But his anger fed off her stubbornness, his fists swinging blow after blow into her fragile body.

Winter curled up on herself, shielded her head beneath her arms as her father used her like a punching bag, unleashing his anger upon her. Every blow came with the wind knocked out of her; every word poured poison into the very skin itself.

When, finally, he was satisfied, the lad stormed out, leaving Winter crumpled on the floor, gasping for air because every inch of her body hurt.

The world was spinning around her in pain, throbbing through her limbs, but it was that weight in her chest, choking her, that actually hurt. She lay there, silent tears streaking her face as her fists were clenched too hard, the nails biting into palms.

She sat vacant, staring up at the ceiling. Her breath hitched in her chest as she felt him speaking through her, his words still locked within her. She could not stay on any more. She could not stay on anymore, and leave she had to. She simply could not take another day of that nightmare.

-

a/n: okay so, how is the story so far? I hope you like it and don't expect much, hehe. By the way, I'm still in writing so if you guys find it a bit much, I can always tone down, just leave a comment. And also if you guys have any questions feel free to ask. Enjoy!