Karina slipped in through the back door, her smile lingering as the memory of her night with Winter glowed warmly in her chest.

She could still feel Winter's hand in hers, the taste of their kiss, the sound of their laughter tangled with the scent of cotton candy and the soft night air. Her steps turned into a soft skip as she entered, her heart lighter than it had been in days-until she stopped dead in her tracks.

Yun was there, standing in the shadowed hallway, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his face expression unreadable. Karina's heart dropped, the warmth of her evening instantly replaced by a cold prickling that ran down her spine.

She tried to swallow, but her throat was dry as she met her brother's steady gaze. The way he looked at her made her feel like her every secret, her every thought, was laid bare in front of him.

"Where have you been?" Yun's voice was low but firm, each word weighted. He didn't sound angry, but the intensity in his eyes made Karina's palms start to sweat.

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, the softness of the fabric grounding her as she struggled to find the right words. Her mind raced through half-formed excuses, anything to explain her absence and her attire without mentioning Winter.

She could feel her cheeks warming as she became acutely aware of her outfit-the short, pleated skirt, the fitted jacket, and the delicate necklace Winter had admired. She knew how she looked, and she knew her brother was noticing every detail.

Yun's gaze drifted down, landing on the small bear tucked into her bag. He raised an eyebrow, a spark of realization flickering in his eyes. "Who did you go out with?"

The words felt like a quiet thunder, striking through her, and Karina's throat tightened. She glanced down, unable to meet his gaze, feeling her mind tumble over itself for an answer.

Her thoughts churned with everything unsaid-the way their mother had reacted before when Winter's name even came up, the quiet ignore when she first mentioned. She knew she couldn't just tell Yun about her relationship with Winter, not yet. But she also knew she couldn't hide forever.

"Winter," she mumbled, her voice barely audible, eyes fixed on the floor. She could feel her heart racing, as if it might give her away even if her words didn't.

"Winter who?" Yun's voice sharpened, rising in a low demand. His brows furrowed, his gaze hardening as if he wouldn't accept anything less than the whole truth. The tension between them felt like it was stretched thin, ready to snap.

Karina took a breath, the air feeling thick as she forced herself to meet his gaze, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest. "Winter Kim... My friend."

Yun's eyes searched hers, as though he was measuring each word for truth, weighing the real meaning hidden behind her response. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but the sound of their mother's voice calling from the shop out front echoed through the hallway.

Yun's eyes flicked to the doorway, and then he gave a small, reluctant sigh. He gestured with a tilt of his head, silently dismissing her.

Relieved but shaken, Karina slipped past him, her legs carrying her to her room faster than she intended. She closed the door and leaned against it, her breath unsteady, her heart pounding like she'd just escaped something. She fumbled to lock it, as if Yun or anyone else might barge in and strip away her secrets.

She let herself slide down to the floor, her back against the door, mind racing. She quickly got up and changed out of her clothes, shoving them away as if the lingering scent of Winter's cologne on her jacket would betray her.

She sat in her bed for a long moment, her fingers still gripping the little bear Winter had won for her, feeling its soft fur and wondering what Yun had truly seen.

Did he know? Had he already figured out more than he let on?

Her thoughts churned with a mixture of anxiety and resolve. She wasn't sure what had held him back from questioning her further, from saying something more-and the fact that he'd chosen not to only made her heart pound harder.

She knew this wasn't the end, that this conversation with Yun was a temporary reprieve. She had to be prepared for whatever was coming next.

The next morning, Karina dragged herself downstairs to join her family for breakfast, trying to shake off the nerves lingering from last night.

As she stepped into the kitchen, her gaze met Yun's for a moment. He sat casually, focused on his phone, yet the memory of his demanding questions from last night replayed in her mind.

She braced herself, waiting for him to bring it up, but he only looked up briefly, his face unreadable, before returning to his meal. Mrs. Yu was humming softly, setting a fresh plate of toast on the table, seemingly oblivious to the silent tension hanging between the siblings.

Karina took her seat, her senses on high alert, but Yun remained silent. It was as if last night had been erased from his memory, and he wasn't going to bring it up here-at least, not yet. But the unease still lingered, and she found herself sneaking glances his way, hoping to catch even the smallest hint of what he was thinking.

She forced herself to finish quickly, trying to act natural, until her phone buzzed in her pocket-a notification from Winter.

A small smile crept onto her face, bringing a quiet reassurance that eased the tension in her chest. She finished her breakfast and excused herself, making her way upstairs and closing her door behind her. She let out a breath, pressing her back against the door, feeling the cool wood steady her.

In the privacy of her room, she lay back on her bed and checked her phone.

"Good morning," she typed, her fingers moving fast across the screen. Within moments, her phone vibrated with an incoming call. She quickly picked it up, her voice soft and a bit sleepy as she greeted, "Morning."

On the other end, Winter's voice came through, warm and playful.

"Morning, beautiful," she murmured, and Karina could practically see the smile on her lips. She felt her face warm slightly, glancing at the door as if making sure no one would burst in.

"You know... almost got caught last night," Karina whispered, feeling the weight of last night's events start to loosen now that she could share it with Winter. She explained how Yun had been waiting, his unreadable gaze and his pointed questions making her feel like her secrets were on display. Winter listened, letting out a low chuckle.

"So he's leveled up to 'interrogator,' huh?" Winter teased gently.

"Don't worry, we've conquered this level-we just have to make it through the next before the final boss."

Karina groaned softly, though she couldn't help but laugh at Winter's humor. "I'm serious! He saw the bear and everything-I thought it was over."

"I know, I know." Winter's tone softened, becoming sincere. "But hey, we'll get through it. We'll figure out brother, your mom... all of it. Besides, I'm not going anywhere."

Those words made Karina's heart skip, her pulse steadying in a way that only Winter's voice could manage. She lay there, letting the comfort seep in, the promise behind Winter's words grounding her more than she realized.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely a breath.

"Anytime. Now, go relax. We've got a semester break-let's enjoy it before the real chaos starts," Winter added lightly, making Karina chuckle.

As they continued talking, the worries from breakfast faded into the background, leaving her surrounded by Winter's warmth, a feeling she'd carry with her long after they hung up.