Karina slipped out of the house.

She did not want to wake her mother, who was still asleep. The night was still fresh and cool. She pushed the door quietly, letting her breath get in front of her-a steam reminding her that autumn was slowly leaving for winter. There stood Winter with a so-familiar, soft smile under a dim streetlight.

"Hi," Winter said, her breath visible in the cold.

Her presence alone made Karina’s heart flutter, instantly warming the cold night. Karina couldn’t help but blush a little, admiring the soft glow that Winter seemed to have, even in the dim light. She looked like a dream, and as always, seeing her filled Karina with butterflies.

Karina greeted back with a bright smile, eyes twinkling with love but mixed with a certain sadness. The reality that this might be the last time they’d see each other for a while weighed heavy on both of them.

Karina had been accepted into KS University, her mother’s dream for her fulfilled, and she was proud—proud to make her family happy. Her mother would soon have her older brother Yun back from the military, so Karina knew she wouldn’t be alone after she left.

But leaving Winter behind? That felt like something else entirely.

Karina reached out and grasped Winter's hand in her own, but it triggered a wince. A flicker of concern crossed Karina's face. She jerked her hands back at once, worry filling her chest as she took in the sight of the bruises on Winter's hand.

"What happened?" she asked her, her voice laced with concern and a creeping sense of fear.

Winter smiled, that ridiculous smile she always did to put down something serious.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

But Karina didn't believe it. She puckered her lips and her eyes were getting stern.

Winter sighed, still smiling sweetly, "I just fell down."

Karina huffed out an indignant breath, not for a moment believing her, but let it go as Winter obviously didn't want to say anything else on the matter.

Instead, Winter slipped Karina's hand into her coat pocket, where the warmth from her palm would be a deep contrast to the chill of the night.

"Let's go for a walk," Winter suggested, and Karina nodded, her fingers intertwining with her as they walked down the silent streets of empty buildings.

The more she walked, the heavier her heart grew. She loved being around Winter but each step had something above their heads telling them of looming separation. Her breath quickened, agitated by everything - the cold, Winter's hand, unspoken emotions between them.

Winter stopped suddenly, turning to face her. Gently, she cupped Karina’s face, her thumbs brushing against her cheeks. Karina blinked in surprise, only then realizing that she had started crying. Winter’s touch was tender, wiping away the tears that kept falling.

Winter looked at her with such love in her eyes, but it made Karina’s heart ache even more. All the feelings Karina had been suppressing rushed to the surface.

The fear of leaving Winter behind, the uncertainty of what would happen to them, her love for Winter, her mother’s expectations, the suffocating pressure of everything she was feeling—it was all too much. The emotions overwhelmed her, and she broke down, sobbing in Winter’s arms.

Winter pulled her in, holding her tightly, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. She didn’t cry, but her grip around Karina was firm, as if she could hold them together, as if by hugging Karina tightly enough, she could keep the world from tearing them apart.

Karina buried her face into Winter's neck. Her wails echoed through the stillness of night, and she felt Winter's arms envelop her. Their bodies were pressed tight against each other, sharing warmth as well as aches that neither of them really wanted to give up.

Karina recoiled, her tear-stained face shaking as she wrung more sobs out of her lips.

"I don't want to go," she wailed through jagged fear.

"I'm afraid," she said, rising up to Winter with pleading eyes and wide beyond their frozen stare. Winter's heart turned to gruel at the sight, every beat of Karina's fear building in her own chest.

Winter was quieting her down by whispering "It's going to be fine" but her voice betrayed her, not quite confident to make the words ring true.

She said it this time hastily, insisting, "It's going to be okay."

Karina shook her head, still boiling with anger, took a deep breath and then spoke desperately honestly.

Karina shook her head, still upset, and with a deep breath, she spoke with desperate honesty, "It’s not okay."

Her voice cracked as she continued, "We’re not even together!"

The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and she immediately flushed, embarrassed, her tears mixed with a soft sniffle.

Winter's face froze for a moment before breaking into wide grin and twinkling, playfully mischievous eyes.

"Oh?" She teased wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

"So does that mean you want to be my girlfriend?"

Karina's face flared with embarrassment but went wide with incredulity.

"Winter!" she exclaimed, her voice both annoyed and flustered.

Without thinking, she swung her hand and smacked Winter on the arm, furious that Winter had the audacity to make light of such a serious moment.

Winter, ever the playful spirit, giggled and dodged, running around in circles to avoid Karina’s frustration.

"Come on," she laughed, teasingly light as she danced away. Karina could not help but be swept into the mood now and followed her in, being both determined and exasperated by the silly lover.

And finally, when she caught up to Winter, she slapped at her one last time, and Winter laughed, catching Karina's hand in mid-air before she could hit with another playful slap.

Their gazes met, and Karina froze, fighting no longer as Winter grins down at her, still grasping her wrist. The air around them almost grew still as Winter's gaze narrowed into an unnerving intensity.

Winter reached in so close to her face that Karina could feel the warmth of her breath against the skin, her face close.

"What is it?" she breathed softly, her pulse racing with nervously-anticipated excitement.

She pressed herself in as close as possible, feeling overwhelmed by the closeness of Winter's body to hers and the warmth going into her very bones.

Winter's smile curled into a serious face as she asked once more. Her voice has gone soft this time.

"President, I'm being serious. Will you be my girlfriend?" Her eyes locked with Karina's, so sincere, like she was seeing right into Karina's soul.

Karina's heart was going like a jackhammer inside her chest. She wanted to let herself become a limp noodle in the intense regard of Winter. She swallowed, her mind whirling with thoughts, scared and excited at the same time.