➪The Man|| WINRINA

𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

“You love me?” Winter wanted to be sure because Karina’s sudden declaration of love earned an exasperated reaction from their friends.



Xiaojun slapped a hand over his face, Hendery sat back down, Hyunjin chocked on whatever was in his mouth, Sunoo and Jungwon screamed before throwing Jungwon's phone at Donghyuck, Donghyuck howled in pain for getting hit in the face, and Yeonjun and Beomgyu stopped rolling around to look at the girl.



They looked disappointed Winter would like to point out.



“Karina?” She called the girl who was looking at her friends' reactions. She gestured them with her eyes to fix it.



“Oh yes,” Hyunjin sighed lazying, a hand flying to cup his own right cheek. “She loves you so so so much.” He offered a smile to winter, the entire row of pearly white teeth glistening with saliva, which he licked on before smiling.



Beomgyu scoffed, “So much she—ah!” Yeonjun bit the arm that was pushed against his lips. This in turn resumed their fight at the rolled toward Xiaojun, who moved to the side before kicking them back in the right direction— the door.



Xiaojun clapped his hands to get their attention. “Anyway, we'll think of something. By we, I mean Gucci gang minus silly girl over there, and Hendery. Now Karina, I'm giving you the task of letting Winter relax before her final day tomorrow at 7:30 in the morning.”



Donghyuck groaned. “I forgot tomorrow was the general assembly. Why do they have to have it so early? We're expected to be here by 7:10.” no kidding, the cadet officers were strict when it came to the late students. They wouldn't let them enter without doing 50 jumping jacks. The horror for anyone asthmatic.



“Winter could use some time to relax.” Hyunjin agreed, the ever so sane person in their group. “You guys can visit the park nearby, then have some dinner. ”



“You can also visit Sungchan's mansion. I'm sure he wouldn't mind the sudden entrance.” Sunoo chortled, finding the idea hilarious. Imagine Sungchan's shocked face when he sees Karina and Winter in his garden having a date. Sungchan was going to have a field day in whining.



“Just,” Xiaojun concluded with a light shake of his head, “Forget about what's going to happen a few hours from now. Act like reckless teens than problemizing adults.”



Winter scoffed, “That applies to you as well, you know.”



Hendery chuckled, making the heads turn to him. “It does, doesn't it?”













“I still wonder how Sungchan hasn't banned your from his place.” Winter chuckled, amused at how confident Karina and her strode into Sungchan's humble abode. The soccer player wasn't home (as shared by the head housekeeper Mrs. Liu, Yangyang's grandmother) and was only expected to be home once the clock strikes midnight.



Karina led her to the vast gardens of the property. They passed plenty of hedges, some full of moonflowers and some barren. They also passed landscape art of animals such as wolves, owls, and cats. Fountains that were full of coins at the bottom and gargoyle statues that Winter found horrifying but Karina assured her they do not move. But what struct her the most was the large white marble gazebo at the  center of it all.



It was big, bigger than one in their public park, and was surrounded by shrubs of moonflowers and white colored roses. At the center was a large round table made of silver and gold at the edges. The seats were made of silver as well and blue sapphires decorating the edge of the seat.



Karina jogged past Winter, pulling up a chair for the younger to sit. She gestured winter to sit down before pushing it ever so gently and pulled her own seat.



“Surprise?” Karina shook her hands in an effort to make it look festive. If she had more time, she would have asked the staff to decorate the place with banner and food served at the table. “How was your day?”



Winter laughed lightly, “The usual although I Jaemin didn't ask me to do anything and yeah, Kun.” She sighed, laying her head against her stretched out arms. “I don't know if I ever did the right thing.”



Karina’s  eyes fell onto Winter's fallen frame. “I get that feeling.”



“You do?” Winter muffled into her arm.



Karina nodded her head, bottom lip jutted out. “Yeah, I do. I mean, you saw how I broke my engagement with Sungchan. My parents were furious at that once we got home. They told me I was doing the wrong thing,” she cackled disdainfully, “But I felt like I've done so much more.” Like switching your admission with Shohei's. Who was Shohei anyway? “Sometimes I wished I didn't do those stuff but if that were to happen, what we are experiencing now would be different.”



“Have you ever fallen in love?” Winter didn't like Karina romantically. She rarely had moments with the girl, and if she did, it was brief.



“I think I did.” Karina muttered. Chenle made her realize that she was more obsessed with Winter than being in love. I mean, who in their right minds would hire a private investigator to look into someone during the enrollment period? “I fell in love at first sight.”



Winter snorted, raising her head slightly and gave a pointed look. “You? Believe in love at first sight?”



Karina nodded her head, pouting as she met another anti love at first sight. “What? It can be true. It only takes 15 seconds to fall it love.”



Winter snorted, “near sighted people can't relate. People with astigmatism can't relate. Hell, people who don't have 20/20 vision can't relate.” She can't relate.



“So what? That's my belief, and I stick to it. Don't tell me you're not a hopeless romantic?” Karina pointed at her. “I've been a hopeless romantic all my life. I hate it whenever Jaemin would bring Hendery around or sometimes when Jeno would being shotaro. I'm surrounded by couples all the time.”



“Then you should take it as a sign.” Winter chortled, sitting up and staring at the girl with a smile. “Do you feel lonely when that happens?”



Karina nodded her head sadly. It was hard being surrounded by couples. Even gucci gang, despite not being in relationships, managed to pair themselves up with someone. It was Yeonjun and Beomgyu, Xiaojun and Donghyuck, Sunoo and Jungwoo. She'd be paired with Hyunjin, but that narcissistic llama would rather ride solo than be paired up with her. According to him, he can't handle the idea of being straight and does a hair flip.



“Always. Sometimes I wonder if my cupid is lost or drunk. I mean, all the people I've liked either didn't roll the same way or were tormented enough to avoid me.” Karina wondered if her cupid was even around. She'd rather have Jaemin as he cupid. At least the bunny would make an effort to pair her up with someone, even if it's against his will. She snorted loudly, “I feel stupid about this already.”



“Love makes us stupid.” Winter mused humorlessly, laying her cheek against the cool surface of the table. “But isn't that what makes love exciting?”



“I guess it does.” Karina softly agreed, also laying her head against the cool surface. “I should probably give a second chance to cupid. Although it's been more than twice already.”



“You'll find someone who can hold you. Don't worry.”

🧑

Karina and Winter sat side to side, staring at the bright and starry sky. They had moved to sit in a flower field full of moonflowers. They had their legs up to their chest as Karina’s head rested on Winter's shoulder.



“Did I at least ease your mind?” She asked the younger, glancing at Winter's side profile. “Tomorrow is fast approaching.”



It was. It was already 11:05 in the evening of a cold Thursday. Her ride or die was fast approaching. Tomorrow would dictate if she would stay or if she would leave with her head hung down in shame.



“Do you rember the first time we met?” Winter asked Karina, readjusting her shoulder for another comfortable position.



At school, Karina wanted to answer but she knew it was different for Winter. “Yeah, at Jaemin's cafe. You called me Katerina.”



Winter snorted playfully. She laid her head above Karina’s. “I was slightly right. I just added the T-E. I still can't believe you order, an americano with six extra shots with no water. Who did you want to kill?” she joked at the end. Really, who did Karina wanted to kill that time?



“Jaemin.” Karina answered humorlessly. Silence replied to her before she burst out laughing. “I'm kidding! I may hate Jaemin's guts but I don't have the heart to kill him. He just like his coffee that way, but I heard he's been into other types recently.”



“I think I saw him drink a cup of hazelnut,” Winter replied, “He's been—ha~ doing better.” She yawned. She was tired. Physically, mentally, and emotionally tired.



“Close your eyes.” Karina told her softly, moving her head to rest on her lap. “I'll wake you up later.”



“You sure?” Winter's eyes were closed, hands resting on top of each other and on her stomach. She relaxed her breathing, taking the scent of Karina's perfume and the moist smell of grass and flowers. She yawned.



“Promise.” Karina ran a hand through her hair, humming a soft lullaby. “Sweet dreams, Winter.”











“Why are you telling me this?”



“Because I know it was never your intention.”



“What do I get in return?”



“Nothing but a clean conscience.”



“Why me?”



“Because you're not the villain, you're just the anti-hero.”

-𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝-