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Karina wakes up to the feeling of warm breath across her cheeks and a wet touch to her neck and jaw line. Her eyes crinkle and she turns a little towards the touch, squinting her eyes open to peer through the dim room, disorientated. Something warm and moving is beneath her fingers, with short, tightly curled hair and she leans up on her elbow, eyes darting down and widening in surprise when wide, black eyes stare back at her, a long pink tongue lolling from the mouth of the fluffy grey dog lounging on her bed, tail thumping softly against the mattress as it wags.

"Um, hello."

It's vaguely ridiculous and the dog shuffles forwards, sniffing at her hands in enquiry until she gives it and rubs her fingers through its fur, scratching behind its ear to appease it.

"Alright, let me just..." she edges out of the bed and the dog sits up but doesn't move from the tangle of blankets to follow her.

Hurriedly, Karina pulls the pair of jeans she wore the day before from the back of the chair in the corner and yanks them on, tugging out a sweater from her suitcase to pull over the old band shirt she wears to bed. There's a thin crack of light coming through the gap in the curtains and when she pulls them back the bright sun on the sparkling snow startles her, making her squint and frown. It's clearly later than she thought and when she goes to grab her phone from its place beneath her pillow- watching the dog cautiously as she does- she realises that it is past eleven am.

Tugging nervously at the sleeves of her sweater she rounds her hair into a tangled band at the back of her head and pats her knee experimentally, watching with grateful eyes when the dog jumps obediently off the bed and trots after her when she leaves the room.

Downstairs there is an unmistakable smell of bacon frying and the dog hurries ahead of her through a wide doorway and into a large, homely kitchen; all wood floors and white countertops, plant pots filled with wilting herbs lining the windowsill and reminders scribbled onto pieces of paper stuck with magnets to the fridge. A few Christmas cards are taped to the doors and Karina lingers in the doorway for a moment, watching the figures inside move around one another with smooth experience of people who know each other well.

Mino is arguing with Jennie, who is perched on a countertop in sweats and a beanie, about the cereal she is eating, meanwhile Kai is manning the bacon frying over the hob while Winter potters around in only shorts and an old over sized hoodie that Karina recognises from her bedroom floor. Winter must have only just got up, Karina has noticed that that particular garment acts more as a robe than anything else, to be thrown on over pjs.

The thought makes her blush and she's glad that they notice the dog who bounds into the room before her, giving her time to gather herself.

"Hey baby!" Jennie completely cuts off her brother to slide from the counter, abandoning her cereal to wrap her arms around the dog when it jumps up at her. She rubs her fingers around the dog's ears, pressing kisses to its face and Kai raises an eyebrow, leaning around Mino to look at her with affectionate disgust.

"You know I have to kiss those lips as well, right?"

" Please , I know my priorities." Despite her words Jennie rises to squeeze a hand around his hip and kiss him on the cheek, smiling when he pretends to wrinkle his nose.

"Hey Mol," Winter reaches down a hand to rub at the dog's head when she approaches, tickling her gently and her eyes brighten when she sees Karina in the door. "Rina, hi!"

"Hi Karina," Mino holds up a hand, gesturing to the frying pan curiously, "you want bacon?"

"Um, sure thanks." She steps inside, still hesitating near the threshold, "have you guys eaten breakfast yet?"

"Of course not," Winter laughs softly, shaking her head. "We don't do early mornings here."

Her eyes twinkle when Karina looks back at her and suddenly she can't help but think of 8am classes where she's had to all but bully Winter out of bed.

The smile that lingers on her lips is only disguised by her downturned head, distracted by the dog that wanders over to sniff at her some more.

"Oh, that's Molly," Winter explains and Mino moves towards the kettle as it boils to pour it into the waiting mugs. "She's ours."

"Yeah, she was in my bed this morning," she cocks an eyebrow and Winter blushes, shaking her head.

"Oh god I'm sorry, she tends to claim that room as her own. Just push the door properly shut tonight and she won't be able to bother you."

"No, I actually kind of liked it." She laughs softly as she pushes back the dog's ears playfully, "She's cute."

"Coffee, Karina?" Mino is hovering over a mug uncertainly, looking to her for an answer but Winter opens her mouth to reply before Karina can.

"Milk, no sugar."

Mino blinks at her in surprise, eyes darting from Karina to Winter and back again as he waits for Karina to say something. She barely manages to regain her sense in time, looking to Winter as the girl realises her mistake and begins to blush.

"Um, yeah actually."

"How did you know that?" Mino's brows are furrowed but he has gone back to pouring the water so he doesn't see the glance that they exchange.

"Lucky guess?" Winter offers, weakly and Karina barely suppresses the urge to roll her eyes as she takes the mug from Mino with soft words of thanks.

Been lovin' you for quite some time | WinrinaWhere stories live. Discover now