Winter's heart hammered inside of her chest as she walked down the KS University front gates, for the first time, eyeing every little thing that came to her scope.

Towering buildings, students walking, and the sharp smell of autumn hung so heavily in the air. Thus, she felt both overwhelming and fascinated.

Her feet moved with the quickness of eagerness but her eyes darted and shifted with shyness and excitement, for she saw nothing here that had familiar lines. The palms of her hand rubbed on the hem of her sweater in nervous fidgeting, but the second she spotted Karina rushing towards her, the whole world seemed to fade.

A glimpse of warmth touched Winter at the arrival of Karina, whose eyes were sparkling and steps as rapid as her wide, gleaming smile. No one had a word for anyone at that moment.

They simply just stood there, lost together in the presence of one another.

And Karina's arms flung open wide without a word inviting Winter into her; and Winter hadn't thought twice to be falling into Karina's embrace, her face against the soft material of the sweater, and her cheek inhaling the scent that felt so desperately missed.

Karina's gripped around Winter tightened, her fingers gently brushing against Winter’s back as if trying to memorize every inch. Winter could feel Karina's heart racing just as wildly as her own, each beat echoing between them.

They stood there for a long quiet, long moment, wrapping arms around each other, releasing weeks of tension and longing in the warmth of a loose embrace.

Karina stepped back just far enough to look into Winter's eyes, and in that instant, softened her gaze, silent but full of the weight of "I missed you."

Karina leaned forward wordlessly to reach for Winter's hand, her fingers interlocking through Winter's, warm and comforting. She dragged her toward the dorms; she walked fast but determined, as if she can waste no more time without Winter by her side again.

Winter looked up at the building as they approached; her shyness had fully returned. She hadn't thought she'd be this nervous, but this moment felt monumental, important, and she could feel her hands growing slick with sweat, though Karina's fingers grounded her.

As they stepped into the hall of the dorm, three faces snapped up and Yeji, Ryujin, and Lia by the door who were laughing because they had just caught a glimpse of Karina and Winter.

Karina’s friends were quick to notice Winter, and in an instant, their expressions shifted to a mischievous curiosity.

Winter suddenly felt small, her confidence faltering as she met their playful stares. She took a small step back, instinctively tugging on Karina’s hand, only to catch Ryujin’s smug smirk aimed her way, as if she had already guessed the thoughts tumbling through Winter’s mind.

Karina stepped forward, squeezing Winter’s hand in reassurance.

“Hey, guys! This is Winter, my girlfriend,” she said, her voice soft but filled with pride. There was a spark of protectiveness in Karina’s tone, a silent promise that Winter was safe here, with her.

Winter gave a shy nod, meeting each of their gazes in turn, though she couldn't quite shake the sudden tension winding through her. She felt her cheeks heating up as Ryujin's grin widened, that glint of teasing amusement never leaving her eyes.

Lia leaned in, giving Karina a quick nudge, but her gaze softened as she looked at Winter.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Winter! We’ve heard a lot about you,” she said warmly, her tone kind despite the hint of teasing beneath it.

But Ryujin was having none of that, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes all playfully.

"Karina's been counting down the days for you to visit, you know," she said with a wink, which made Karina roll her eyes and Yeji softly laugh at her.

Ryujin held out a hand, but with a smirk glint in her eyes that Winter could hardly avoid catching.

After a moment, Winter took to merely shake it, grip a little too firm, a little longer than necessary as if claiming some unspoken territory.

Ryujin laughed, her eyes sparkling amused at Winter's reaction.

The unspoken challenge made Winter’s jaw tighten, but she forced herself to keep her expression composed.

"Aight, 'kids'," Karina interrupted her, dripping with malice.

"Now that everyone knows her, let's play it cool and chill out, yeah?"

Yeji laughed, giving Karina an understanding nod as she gently looped her arms around Lia and Ryujin’s shoulders.

“Come on, let’s give them some space,” she said, steering the two troublemakers away.

But not before throwing a wink at Karina, calling over her shoulder, “Use your time wisely!”

Karina groaned, cheeks flushing as she waved them off, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.

As they disappeared down the corridor, Karina's face flared, and she gave little embarrassed laugh, ducking her head away from Winter's eyes as she escorted them into her room.

"Come on,” she murmured, leading her into the dorm. The quiet intimacy settled between them again as they walked, a silence filled with unspoken words, each step drawing them closer to the privacy of Karina’s room.

Once inside, the familiar sight of her cozy dorm greeted them. Karina closed the door behind them, and for a moment, they just stood there, the silence settling in as they finally found themselves alone.

Winter noted everything little in the space of Karina: books stacked on shelves, tiny plants planted under the window, and a faint smell of lavender. She felt a wave of affection wash over her.

"Homely", - she whispered to herself, looking around.

"Thanks. Want to go out for a bit? I can show you around campus," Karina offered, though there was a softness in her eyes that hinted she might be hoping Winter would suggest otherwise.

Winter's lips curled into a small smile.

"Actually… can we just stay in? I just… missed this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but the vulnerability in her words spoke volumes.

Karina’s smile widened, as she moved over, nudging Winter onto the bed beside her.

Winter looked around the room before realizing Karina stares at her; the gazed was so intensed yet warm it caught at Winter's breath.

Winter turned, her cheeks flushing as she dropped her chin, her fingers twisting tightly in her lap, until she felt Karina's hand reach over to graze across hers, grounding her.

The silence between them was thick, but not uncomfortable—each beat filled the space in the room and air was heavy with all that wasn't said yet.

Winter felt her lips dry; her gaze went toward Karina's face. Here, she found only the gaze of Karina upon hers, sipping all the details as if in an attempt to write this into memory.

Then, without a word, Karina leaned in closer to Winter. Her hand drifted ,up to touch Winter's cheek: her fingers soft but trembling a little with a gentle, almost like she wanted to reach out the last distance to Winter to lean in closer.

Winter eyes fluttered closed the second she felt Karina's lips brush against hers like soft warm kisses that ignited a familiar spark that had been missing for too long. It then became bashful, but as Karina melts into Winter.

The kiss started tentative, almost shy, as Winter felt Karina melt against her, the soft graze of their lips turned deeper, more urgent. Every suppressed feeling from weeks apart seemed to spill out in that one moment, a quiet, desperate need woven into each kiss.

Winter’s hands found their way to Karina’s waist, pulling her closer, her fingers curling tightly into the fabric of Karina’s sweater as though anchoring herself. The world outside this room faded, all the uncertainty, the nights of missing her—none of that mattered right now.

All that existed was Karina and the quiet, breathless sounds between them, the way Karina’s lips moved with a gentle hunger, her breath mingling with Winter’s, warm and intoxicating.

Karina's teeth grazed across her lower lip and Winter felt a soft, involuntary groan escape as her heart pulsed wild and her kiss deepened.

Winter held her grips tighter, pulling Karina close, and then, almost on instinct, she felt herself turning the kiss more forceful, pressing Karina against the bedside wall.

Her lips trail down from Karina's by drawing that curve of jaw to hollow of neck in a slow.

Winter could feel while caressing Karina's pulses beating on her lip sides, the hot ragged breathed air of her breathing with a quickness of Karina, beating for the heartbeat that lay beneath Winter's fingertips.

Then in a sudden impulse, she bit gently, nipped lightly enough, to feels Karina’s shudder beneath her.

But just as Winter felt herself getting lost in the moment, Karina’s hands came up to gently push her back, pulling them apart once more.

"W-Winter…" Karina's voice is breathy, encased in hesitation as she draws in a shaky breath, fingers lingering on Winter's arms like holding onto the intimacy they just shared even as she pulled away.

Winter's heart was still racing, her eyes snapping open when warmth turned to flicker of concern on Karina's face.

Her face dropped, her expression shifting from confusion to hurt as she stared at Karina, her eyes searching for an answer that she couldn’t quite put into words.

"Why…" Winter whispered in a voice that was painful yet low, as if something fragile between them snapped.

Winter pulled away, arms wrapped tight over herself as her gaze dropping as she tried to mask the sting of rejection, but the vulnerability in her eyes was unmistakable.

Karina's heart twists at the view and guilty feeling clawed at her as she reaches forward taking Winter's hands into her gently.

"I am sorry," she whispered soft, apologetically but firm in the silent air.

“It’s just…” She trailed off, gathering her thoughts, her thumb brushing soothingly over Winter’s knuckles.

“It’s not that I don’t want to… I just don’t think I’m ready yet," the words come slowly out with each one measured, if trying to find a truthful balance to keep from hurt, without inflicting another hurt upon Winter.

Winter looked at her, the initial hurt still lingering, but her gaze softened as Karina continued; her voice was incredibly soft, a mere whisper.

"I'm not saying I do not want you." Karina added, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’ve missed you so much, and being close to you—it means everything to me. But… I just don’t want to rush things. I want it to be right. For us.” Her thumb continued its gentle rhythm over Winter’s hand, her eyes searching Winter’s face, worried, waiting for her reaction, hoping that she hadn’t broken something irreplaceable between them.

For a long moment, Winter stayed silent, the hurt still visible but starting to shift into something softer, more understanding. She took a shaky breath, nodding as she processed Karina’s words.

“I get it,” Winter finally whispered, her voice low but sincere, her gaze meeting Karina’s with a flicker of apology.

“I… I just missed you so much, I guess I…” She trailed off, swallowing hard as she tried to explain, her own vulnerability on full display.

Karina squeezed her hands, a gentle smile tugging at her lips as she leaned closer, pressing her forehead against Winter’s, the gesture soft and grounding.

“I know,” Karina murmured, her voice laced with reassurance.

“I missed you too. More than I can even say.” She closed her eyes, breathing Winter in, her touch gentle as she brushed a thumb over Winter’s cheek, a silent promise in that small, tender gesture.

“This doesn’t change anything between us. Okay?”

Winter nodded, curling her arms back around Karina once more as she drew her close for another hold. The pain was now worn down to one level that was soothed by the gentle peaceful conviction that, regardless of everything else, they are here and this is enough.

They held on to the silence, wrapped together into each other's warmth as tension dissolved into them while finding their peace within closeness, needing no more than this quietness and steady closeness.

Winter softened into gentle slumber when her breathing, with head in the warmth of the shoulder of Karina where she lay content in the promise that surrounded their quietness; shifted closer and laid herself next to Karina placing her body close to it as she rested her head onto her shoulder, her embracing her with her arm, holding her waist together, embracing her while sleeping onto the bed.

Karina drew gentle, soothing circles over the back of Winter. There was warmth between them. They made every long hard minute worthwhile.

The flush across her cheeks flared and Winter glanced over to where Karina sat with a glitter in the eyes, a small pout, and all loving.

"You know." Winter said her voice still muffled as she snuggled deeper with a tinge of light frustration injected into her words.

"I really hate that Ryujin girl." She looked up attempting to seem serious and pouty, keeping her lips pursed up a little but the gentleness of her eyes gives her away.

Karina's face wracked up with an arched eyebrow; a faint smile worked its way to the mouth as she looked down upon Winter, and her amusement danced all through her eyes.

"Oh? And why's that?" She asked with a note in her voice laced heavy with amusement while not keeping a little charm over the jealous side of Winter.

Winter pulled herself up a bit higher, her chin dropping in to Karina's chest at such an angle that she gained a better view of the top of Karina's face to look up into her that way.

"She was flirting with you," Winter said, her mind flicking back to how smug and cocky Ryujin had looked in response to her own overtures when she had greeted her.

"And she's with you all day, every day, while I'm… home. Away from you."

Her words were softer on her face, flickering with a little sad note as she let them out, her voice lower.

Karina bit at her lip to prevent it from curling up in amusement. She watched as Winter pouted over the teasing by Ryujin, who was so seriously piqued.

"Hey," she said softly, brushing a few stray strands of hair away from Winter's face.

"Nothing going on with Ryujin. She's just... Ryujin. She likes to tease people, that's all." Karina's thumb rubbed gently against Winter's cheek, the touch soothing.

Winter's pout deepened, her eyes narrowing a little.

"But she is with you every day, flirting with you." Her voice has softened; vulnerability is seeping through the cracks of her armor.

"And I'm just... alone. Missing you all the time."

That time, Karina was smiling, the laughter warm and soft as she leaned forward, pressing a soft quick kiss on the forehead of Winter.

"Oh, dear Winter," she whispered, her smile growing wider upon her face, smiling up into Winter's warm, shining eyes.

“You really think she could ever make me forget about you?" she leaned deeper in that moment to capture Winter's mouth with small gentle kisses, full of reassurance she hoped Winter was gonna feel.

Winter recoiled a bit, screwing up her face at her in pretended annoyance, though her eyes danced with amusement.

"Not fair," she whispered, her voice barely audible, her face pushing into the hollow of Karina's neck as she pulled Karina close to her.

“You’re not allowed to laugh at me for this.”

Karina’s laugh softened, her arms wrapping more snugly around Winter as she pressed her cheek against Winter’s hair, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent she’d missed so much.

“I’m not laughing at you,” she whispered, her fingers brushing soothingly down Winter’s back.

“I just missed you so much, too. And it’s nice to know that you missed me this much.” She tilted her head, her lips brushing against Winter’s temple in a tender, reassuring kiss.

Winter melted into Karina’s embrace, her body relaxing, her heart finally at ease.

“I really did,” she murmured, a small smile spreading across her face as she nestled closer, her arms tightening around Karina. She closed her eyes, breathing in deeply, letting herself feel the warmth and love she’d missed for so long, all the while knowing that this, right here, was where she belonged.

a/n: I know this chapter is longer than usual but I'm sure you like it, hehe. I can't cut it in half. Sorry.