The SUV pulled up smoothly in front of the college dorms, the campus buildings casting long shadows under the morning sun.

Winter sat up straight in her seat, taking a breath as she absorbed the sight of the college that would be her new home. This was the place where she'd finally be able to take a real step away from the life she'd known, a fresh start she'd dreamed of for so long.

Giselle glanced over, catching Winter's thoughtful look, and grinned. "Hey, don't look so serious. You're just going to college, not a war zone."

Winter laughed, her nerves easing a little. "I know. Just... still kind of feels surreal." She turned to Giselle, her expression softening with genuine gratitude.

"Really, Giselle, thank you. I don't know if I could've done any of this without you. All the support, and the place to stay... everything."

"Oh, stop," Giselle teased, waving her hand like it was nothing.

"What else am I going to do with all this extra money? Plus, it's kind of fun having a little sister to spoil," she added with a smirk, making Winter feign a look of mock sadness.

"Wow, you only did it for the fun of it?"

"Oh, totally," Giselle replied, then softened her tone.

"But really, Winter-you can pay me back by never letting go of Karina. She's one of the best things that happened to me in high school, so seeing you two together... yeah, just don't let go."

Winter nodded, feeling the weight of Giselle's words settle over her. She didn't need to say anything more, just flashed her a small smile before giving a grateful bow and stepping out of the car. She watched as Giselle pulled away, the last familiar face she'd see for a while. Turning, she looked at the college dorms in front of her, her suitcase in hand, and took a steadying breath.

"I made it," she whispered to herself, savoring the feeling. The campus buzzed with life, but for Winter, everything felt quiet, calm-like the start of something new.

After locating the right building, she finally made it to her floor, just one below Karina's, which was perfect for a little bit of privacy but close enough to feel her presence nearby.

Finding her room, she took a deep breath and knocked, then realized the door was already unlocked and slowly pushed it open. Her roommate must have already arrived.

Inside, a girl with a friendly smile and long, soft hair looked up. She had a warm aura, the kind of energy that put people at ease.

They exchanged curious, cautious glances, each taking in the other, and for a moment, the silence lingered awkwardly.

"Hi! I'm Chaeryeong," the girl introduced herself brightly, her voice carrying a cheerful note. Winter, trying to match her energy but with a hint of shyness, gave a small smile.

"Winter. It's nice to meet you."

The introduction settled a bit of the tension between them, but it left room for a faint, endearing awkwardness. They both glanced around the room, noting the two unclaimed beds, each waiting for one of them to make the first move.

"Uh, so... do you have a preference for beds?" Chaeryeong asked, her voice slightly uncertain but genuinely interested.

Winter blinked, taken aback. She hadn't expected the question to come so quickly.

"Oh, no, not really," she replied, glancing at the beds again. She didn't want to intrude or seem pushy on her first day.

Chaeryeong gave a small laugh, glancing down at the beds too, as if the choice had suddenly become the most complicated decision in the world. "You pick first, I'm good with either!"

"No, really-you go ahead," Winter insisted, a soft laugh escaping her.

Chaeryeong bit her lip, pretending to look serious as she contemplated the beds.

"Alright, how about this one?" she asked, pointing to the bed by the window.

Winter nodded, grateful for the lighthearted moment.

"Perfect," she replied, finally setting her things down, and the two of them relaxed, the initial shyness settling into a budding familiarity.

Winter began unpacking her suitcase, her movements careful as she tried to get comfortable in the space. Every so often, she'd glance up, noticing Chaeryeong doing the same as they both moved about, slowly settling in.

"So... first time living away from home?" Chaeryeong asked, her voice friendly yet tentative, as if testing the waters.

Winter nodded, offering a small, slightly self-conscious smile. "Yeah, actually. It's... exciting, but a little nerve-wracking, too."

Chaeryeong chuckled, nodding in understanding. "Same here. But hey, at least we're in this together, right?"

Winter felt a warmth spread through her, feeling a little less alone. "Yeah," she agreed softly.

_

Karina stepped into her dorm room, her heart still humming with a pleasant warmth from the day. She'd gone her separate way from Winter, both of them careful not to stir up unnecessary suspicions, yet the memory of their goodbye lingered, making her smile faintly.

As she closed the door, Yeji looked up from her bed, a teasing spark already dancing in her eyes.

"Welcome back, lover girl," Yeji quipped, her voice light but laced with curiosity.

"So... how was it with Winter?"

Karina's cheeks instantly flushed, but she gave Yeji a small, deflecting smile, biting back the grin that wanted to escape.

"Good," she said, trying to sound casual as she moved to her bed, setting down her bag and beginning to smooth out the sheets. She could feel Yeji's gaze, playful and prying, but she focused on her bed, pretending not to notice.

"Uh-huh," Yeji drawled, clearly unconvinced. She stretched out on her own bed, propping her head on her hand as she watched Karina fuss over her bedding.

"Come on, Karina. Don't think I can't see that little glow. You and Winter must've had a great time."

Karina shook her head, her smile finally breaking through.

"It was just... nice, okay?" she admitted, feeling her cheeks heat up again as she thought of Winter's laugh, the feel of her hand, the way they'd been so close, as if nothing else mattered. She cleared her throat, attempting to steer herself away from those thoughts, and continued to fix her bed, grateful for the distraction.

Yeji settled back on her pillow, watching her with a mischievous glint before letting a comfortable silence drift between them.

Karina's hands moved in a steady rhythm, tugging the sheets and smoothing down the comforter, but something in Yeji's expression shifted, her playful demeanor fading to something quieter.

"Hey, did you hear about Min Sung?" Yeji asked, her tone soft and careful, as if the words themselves were fragile.

Karina's movements stilled. She looked over at Yeji, her senses suddenly on high alert.

"No," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

"What about him?"

Yeji sat up, her expression a mixture of concern and unease. She glanced down at her hands, pausing as if considering how best to phrase it.

"Well... he's not here anymore. Got kicked out of the program," she said, her voice lowering.

"Apparently, he got caught doing drugs or something... at some party. The college found out, and there's an investigation now. He's, uh... completely out."

Karina absorbed the words in silence, feeling an odd mix of emotions. She lowered herself to sit on her bed, exhaling slowly as if a weight she hadn't fully realized she'd been carrying was finally beginning to lift.

A sliver of relief uncoiled in her chest, mingling with a kind of cautious optimism. Min Sung had cast a shadow over her first year here, his gaze always watchful, his presence always unsettling.

The thought of him being out of her life, truly out, brought a slight smile to her lips, a hope she hadn't dared to entertain before. She looked over at Yeji, who was watching her with understanding, the kind that only came from having seen her struggle.

"Maybe... this year will be good to us," Karina murmured softly, almost as if she was talking to herself.

She thought of Winter, the steady strength in her eyes, the way they'd held each other's hands as they looked forward into this new chapter together. She could only hope that college, this place that now felt more like home than ever, would be a place where she and Winter could finally breathe freely.

Yeji smiled, her gaze softening.

"Yeah," she agreed, a hint of encouragement in her tone.

"Maybe it will."