HUNTER (WINRINA AU)

CHAPTER 11

Karina found Winter sitting alone under a tree, just chilling by herself, eating some snacks.

"how's your wounds?" Karina sits beside her.

Winter looks at her. she just happened to be thinking about Karina somehow.

"it's healing okay." Winter rubs her chest. "your leg?"

"like nothing happened." Karina smiles, showing her leg at Winter. "it's a small cut. I thought you're gonna kill me."

"nah, it's fine." Winter looks down, stifling a laugh. "it's fair."

"I brought you something. Hopefully you can heal faster." Karina shoves a paper bag at her.

"a bread?" Winter scoffs. "we can get this every day." Winter eats it anyway.

"It has some healing herbs. I baked some for my teammates too."

"it's nice. You must've spent a lot of times at the library." Winter looks at her.

"you can say it like that."

Winter feels a lot more relaxed around Karina. Usually, she'll be annoyed but today Karina has a different vibe.

"how old were you when you got here?" Winter asked.

"I've been refusing for years but my parents got tired of my exploding power. So I just got here when I was eighteen."

"so, recently? That make sense." Winter nods.

"where are your friends?"

"training. Giselle is probably in the library."

"she's a nerd." Karina commented.

"that helps with a lot of things. it's a good kind of nerd."

That's how they spend their time. getting closer with each random conversation. Winter got comfortable around her. not like her other friends, there's some kind of different feelings towards her.

"look. The sunset is pretty." Karina looks away. "you like the sun, right?"

"yeah. It's pretty when it rises and sets. We tend to appreciate them when they're up there." Winter said, staring at the tangerine sky.

"should we go have dinner?" Karina stands up.

"no. I'll be in my room." Winter said with a smile.

-

Winter struggles to sleep tonight. unlike the other nights, the thing that's bothering her is Karina. She's been occupying her mind lately.

"having another nightmare?" Ryujin asked since she can hear Winter tossing and turning on her bed.

"that's not the problem anymore." Winter huffs. "I'm gonna talk to Mr. Kim again."

"right... that day he came here trying to wake you up, he said that he'll wait for you to talk to him again."

"thank god we have a decent professor like him and professor Kang." Winter chuckles.

"what are you thinking about, anyway?"

"Karina."

"oh, I thought it's something important." Ryujin shrugs.

"exactly. Why the hell she's on my mind if she's not important? I wanna see her again." Winter looks at Ryujin. "I'm gonna see her, then I'll go to Mr. Kim."

"yeah whatever, pal. Enjoy your little crushing on Karina."

-

Just like what she said, Winter waits for Karina under the tree that they've spent their time a few days ago.

"Karina!" Winter called as soon as she saw her.

"hi!" Karina noticed her. she then approached the girl, sitting beside her. "your friends are practicing."

"I'm aware. I just wanna see you." Winter is getting embarrassed. "you have a bread on you?"

"yup. I'm just about to give them to my team." Karina takes out one for Winter. "I made some extra."

"oh, thanks." Winter then eats it without hesitation.

"does it still hurt?" Karina reaches for her chest, checking if it still has the bandage.

"no, not at all." Winter flinched. She's suddenly got excited. "It still has scars."

"okay, good." Karina smiles. "you changed the band-aid often, right?"

"well, if I'm not lazy."

Karina slaps her arm.

"you can get infected." Karina furrowed her eyebrows.

"chill out. we all have a healer inside us." Winter lifts up the last bite of bread. "and I have this." she then shoved it into her mouth.

"I won't be baking this forever." Karina sulks.

Winter's heart flutters at her cute act.

"what are you laughing at?" Karina looks at her. "I've never seen you smile like that."

"I don't know. I just want to."

-

Both Karina and Winter forgot the time. the other students are already going back to their dorm, resting, and just enjoy their free time.

"Winter!" Ryujin called her form the distance. She then approached the two. "you said you want to see Mr. Kim."

"oh, shit. Yeah. I forgot." Winter stands up. "I gotta go." She looks at Karina.

"okay, see you tomorrow, Winter."

Ryujin and Winter walks towards Mr. Kim's office.

"aye. I think you guys are dating already." Ryujin teased her.

"we're just close, that's all." Winter stifles a laugh. "you can go. I will talk to him alone."

"alright. See ya at dorm."