Bright noon sunlight poured into Karina's dorm room, casting soft, warm patterns across the floor.

Karina paced the length of the room, fidgeting with the hem of her pajama top and biting her lip, her heart pounding with anticipation. She hadn’t seen Winter in weeks, and the absence had carved out an ache she couldn’t ignore. Between Winter’s entrance exams and the distance she had kept to give Winter space, it felt like a lifetime since they’d been together.

She glanced at the clock again, her nerves sharpening as the minute hand ticked closer to noon.

Any moment now, Winter would be here.

The thought made her stop in her tracks, the reality of it—of her Winter, arriving today with her entrance exam results so close—flooding her with a jittery excitement.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to shake off the nervous energy, only for it to return twice as strong the next second.

And then, a soft knock.

Karina’s heart did a somersault. She rushed to the door, hardly giving herself a moment to breathe, her hand hovering above the handle. She turned it slowly, and there stood Winter.

The sunlight from the hall framed Winter in a golden glow, but Karina could hardly believe her eyes.

Winter’s hair, now more short and a striking shade of blonde, softened the angles of her face, yet somehow made her even more captivating. She was wearing a cream jacket over a simple pair of jeans, the understated look making her beauty all the more breathtaking.

Winter stood still, a gentle, almost shy smile touching her lips, and when her eyes met Karina’s, they held a warmth that made Karina’s chest tighten.

Winter’s gaze lingered, flickering with something unspoken.

“Hi,” she whispered, her voice soft as if afraid to break the delicate spell hanging between them.

For a moment, Karina couldn’t move, couldn’t even speak. She took in every detail—the way Winter’s cheeks flushed, the way her eyes, so full of tenderness, roamed over her. She felt herself sink into Winter’s gaze, soaking up everything about her, the way the new haircut framed her face, the blush rising up her neck, and the softness in her eyes.

“Hi,” Karina finally managed, her voice shaky. She swallowed, willing herself to act normal, to stop her heart from racing.

But as Winter shifted her weight, her lips curving into a bashful smile, Karina’s breath caught. Each tiny movement, every blink, every hesitant glance—they all drew her in, making her heart beat faster and the air between them crackle with unspoken anticipation.

Time seemed to slow, every second stretching out as if holding them in a moment neither of them wanted to end.

Karina shook her head, cheeks flushed, unable to contain the giddy smile tugging at her lips. With a soft laugh, she stepped aside, opening the door wider.

"Come in," she said, her voice gentle, trying to keep her excitement from spilling over.

Winter walked in, her gaze wandering around the room with a soft, appreciative smile. Karina closed the door, exhaling a steadying breath before turning to see Winter seated comfortably on her bed, her fingers idly brushing the soft fabric of the bedspread.

The bed dipped as Karina joined her, the closeness between them feeling both exhilarating and surreal. Without thinking, she reached out, her fingers gliding through Winter’s newly blonde hair.

“It suits you,” she murmured, her voice a mix of admiration and tenderness.

Winter let out a shy laugh, rubbing her nose, her cheeks dusted with a faint blush.

“Thank you,” she said softly, eyes flitting away for a moment before they met Karina’s again. Her gaze softened, taking in Karina’s face with a newfound awareness, and her breath seemed to hitch.

“You… you look beautiful, love,” she whispered, her hand coming up to rub her nose again, a nervous habit as her eyes darted away, unable to withstand the weight of Karina’s gaze.

Karina’s eyes sparkled, her intense, warm stare pulling Winter in, their closeness stirring up a flutter in her stomach, a feeling that seemed to grow with each passing second.

Winter tried to steady herself, but the way Karina looked at her, that quiet intensity, made her feel as if she were free-falling. She cleared her throat, her cheeks growing warm, and finally broke eye contact, looking around for something to say.

“So, uh, where’s your roommate?” Winter asked, casting a curious glance around, almost to distract herself from the soft brush of Karina’s knee against hers.

Karina leaned in just a little, her lips curving into a playful smile.

“Yeji? She’s gone. She won’t be back until next semester,” she whispered, her voice soft and full of warmth, the hint of her amusement reaching her eyes as she moved just a touch closer, her shoulder brushing against Winter’s, soaking in the familiar lavender, comforting.

Winter nodded, glancing down at her hands, trying to focus, but Karina’s proximity and the warmth radiating between them had her butterflies out of control. She looked up briefly, her gaze locking onto Karina’s once more, and all she could think of was how hard it was becoming to keep her heart steady.

Winter couldn’t quite understand why she felt so nervous, as if it were the day of their first kiss all over again.

Maybe it was the weeks apart, the teasing texts Karina had sent that seemed to promise more than words could say, or maybe it was just the weight of finally being alone together. Whatever it was, she felt her pulse racing, the warmth in her chest only growing as she looked at Karina.

Karina’s glow seemed even more captivating up close. She was carefree, her smile playful, and her eyes sparkled with that mischievous glint that always made Winter’s heart skip a beat.

Winter cleared her throat, trying to focus, and pulled out her phone, whispering softly, “The results…”

As she unlocked her phone, the screen lit up, and she caught Karina’s smile from the corner of her eye.

She felt her cheeks heat up, realizing Karina had noticed her home screen—a picture of them together, one that had always made Winter smile but now felt like it might give too much away.

Karina’s warm breath was close enough to send shivers through her, and she leaned in even more, resting just over Winter’s shoulder, waiting with quiet confidence as Winter’s fingers hovered over the results page.

Winter’s breath hitched, her leg bouncing anxiously as the seconds ticked down.

She didn’t know what was making her heart pound harder: Karina’s closeness, the softness in her gaze, or the reality that the results on her phone would decide so much of her future.

Her nerves felt overwhelming, her hand trembled slightly as she tapped on the notification.

But before Winter could overthink, she felt Karina’s hand rest gently over hers.

“Hey,” Karina’s voice was a quiet whisper, but it filled the air with warmth and steadiness.

“No matter what happens, I believe in you. I love you.” Her words wrapped around Winter, easing the sharp edges of her anxiety.

Winter gulped, nodding as she held Karina’s gaze, those eyes steady and sure, as if grounding her in this moment.