update no 2 cause i feel very generous🎀😃🌹

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The next day, Karina found herself in the training room. Seunghan was there, going through drills Giselle had set for him earlier. His movements were sharp, but there was a hesitancy in his stance that Karina recognized instantly. She watched silently for a while before stepping forward.

"Seunghan," she called, her voice firm but not unkind.

He froze mid-punch, turning to her with wide eyes. "Boss! I-I didn't see you there."

Karina gestured for him to sit, and he obeyed quickly, still catching his breath. She took a seat across from him, her piercing gaze softening slightly.

"I've been thinking about your... situation with Shotaro," she began, her tone measured. "You're young, Seunghan. Too young to be weighed down by this world's rules. And yet, here you are."

He looked down at his hands, fidgeting nervously. "I didn't mean to cause trouble. I just—he's... he's important to me."

Karina nodded slowly. "I know. And I don't want to take that away from you. But I need you to understand something." She leaned forward, her eyes locking onto his. "Feelings, especially in our line of work, can be dangerous. They're not forbidden because they're wrong, but because they make you vulnerable."

Seunghan swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "So, what should I do?"

"Feel what you feel," Karina said simply. "But don't let those feelings control you. Learn to separate your emotions from your decisions. If you can do that, you'll be stronger than most people in this world."

Seunghan nodded, a small spark of determination returning to his eyes. "I'll try."

Karina stood, resting a hand briefly on his shoulder. "Good. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow's another day."

As Karina left the room, she nearly bumped into Giselle, who was leaning casually against the doorframe. Her ponytail was slightly undone, and the ever-present mischievous glint in her eyes made Karina brace herself.

"You know," Giselle said, smirking, "if I didn't know better, I'd say you've been feeling pretty sentimental lately."

Karina rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on. First, the mysterious college girl you've been sneaking out to see. Now, giving heartfelt advice to Seunghan like some wise older sister?" Giselle grinned. "Who are you, and what have you done with Karina?"

Karina crossed her arms, giving her friend a withering look. "If you're done being annoying, I have work to do."

Giselle's laugh followed her down the hallway. "Sure, boss. But just so you know, it's nice to see this side of you. Don't bury it too deep, okay?"

Karina didn't respond, but her lips twitched into the faintest of smiles as she walked away.

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 Later that day, Giselle moved silently through the university campus under the cover of twilight, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. She had taken it upon herself to dig deeper into Winter—the girl who had Karina acting like a lovesick teenager. Not out of malice, but because Giselle needed to ensure Karina's world wouldn't crumble from trusting the wrong person.

After hours of subtle probing and stealthy observation, Giselle found herself outside Winter's small apartment. She stayed hidden in the shadows as she skimmed through the details she'd gathered. Winter's name came up in various places: her art portfolio submissions, an influencer profile that highlighted her skincare routines, and some deeply personal posts on an anonymous blog Giselle had managed to connect to her.

The blog painted a picture of a girl battling depression and anxiety, someone who masked her struggles behind a bright smile and well-crafted videos. Giselle felt a pang of sympathy, though she quickly shook it off. Emotions had no place in her line of work.

As she turned to leave, satisfied she'd gathered enough for now, Giselle felt a presence behind her. Her instincts kicked in, and she spun around just in time to block an incoming punch.

It was Anton, the leader of RIIZE, and his presence radiated authority. His sharp eyes glinted with malice as he smirked. "You're not very subtle, Giselle."

"And you're not very smart," Giselle shot back, stepping into a defensive stance. "What's a RIIZE member doing tailing me?"

"I could ask you the same," Anton countered, lunging at her with a knife. His movements were quick, but Giselle was quicker. She sidestepped, grabbing his wrist and twisting it until the blade clattered to the ground.

The two engaged in a fierce but brief fight. Giselle's experience and agility outmatched Anton's raw strength. Within moments, she had him pinned against the wall, his arms immobilized.

"You've got guts, I'll give you that," she said, her voice cold. "But let me give you some advice: rule number one—never fight someone higher in rank than you."

Anton glared at her, his pride visibly wounded. "This isn't over."

Giselle leaned closer, her grip tightening. "Oh, it's over. Unless you want me to finish this right now."

With a final shove, she released him and stepped back. Anton stumbled but didn't retaliate, realizing he was outmatched. Giselle adjusted her ponytail, brushing off the encounter like it was nothing, and turned to leave.

"Next time, you won't get off so easy," he called after her.

Giselle didn't look back. "Next time, you might not walk away at all."

Before disappearing into the night, she called over her shoulder, "Tell your leader that if RIIZE keeps interfering in AESPA business, we won't be so forgiving next time."

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When Giselle returned to the base, she was greeted by Karina, who raised an eyebrow at the slight tear in her shirt and the fresh bruise forming on her forearm.

"Rough night?" Karina asked dryly.

"Nothing I couldn't handle," Giselle replied, flopping onto the couch. She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Your girl's clean, by the way. But she's been through a lot. Depression, anxiety—the works."

Karina's expression softened, though she quickly masked it. "And the blood?"

Giselle grinned. "Ran into a kid from RIIZE. Don't worry, he learned his place."

Karina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'll deal with it. Just... stay out of trouble."

"No promises," Giselle teased, leaning back with a smug smile. "But you should know—this Winter girl? She might actually be good for you."

Karina didn't respond, but Giselle caught the faintest flicker of emotion in her friend's eyes. It was enough to make her smile as she rested her head against the couch, already plotting her next move.

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gtg btw will upadtwe the yeongyu tmr