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....

Yeji's house was located eight kilometers away from where Karina currently lived. She came with Ningning again that night, but this time they are going out without telling Winter about it. Karina won't risk knowing the truth when Winter tried so hard to cover it.

She pressed the bell outside the semi-big mansion a few times, and on her eighth time pressing the button, someone picked up the intercom from inside. Karina nervously introduced herself in front of the machine.

"Hi. My name is Karina Yu and I'm Hwang Yeji's friend in college. May I know if she's inside?", the actress said.

"Oh, it's you, Karina. Come in!", the voice of the woman from the intercom said before the clicking sound from the gate bringing the actress's attention that finally the gate was unlocked and now open for her to enter.

With curious feelings and nervous steps, Karina entered the house with Ningning. Her thoughts since hours ago about finally meeting Yeji make her nervous knowing how awkward will it be between them since it's been years already since the two friends lost contact with each other. Besides wanting to learn more about her old self, Karina also wanted to know why Yeji didn't try to reach out these few years.

As soon as they reach the main door, they were greeted by a mid-fifty woman who was smiling warmly at them and Karina couldn't help but smile back.

"Oh my god, Karina! It's been a while!", the older woman said before hugging Karina.

It's Yeji's mother, Karina guessed.

Karina hugged the older woman back, trying to push the awkward feelings of not knowing the older woman in front of her right now. After pulling them apart, Mrs. Hwang shakes her hands with Ningning before inviting them inside the living room.

Yeji's house is filled with a modern yet minimalist interior and it amazes Karina as she takes her first step inside the house. There's this big family portrait hanging on the wall and Karina was so sure that this house is the house of her long-lost friend, Hwang Yeji, who she saw once inside her memory flashbacks and numerous times from the pictures she saved inside the memory box at her house.

"What's with the sudden visit, Karina? I'm sorry to tell you that Yeji wasn't here right now because right after college, she started working with her father in England", Mrs. Hwang said when she ushered Karina and Ningning to sit on the couch. Later the older woman takes her seat across from them.

Hearing that Yeji wasn't here disappoint Karina a bit, but she didn't mind it that much since she knew now that she can find Yeji at her house some other days. Also, Mrs. Hwang seems to know about her based on how the older woman reacted the first time she saw Karina that night.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Hwang, you seem to know me but I can't remember you at all. Sorry to disappoint you", the actress said before the older woman widened her eyes in confusion.

"Really? What do you mean by that?"

"I had a car accident two years ago which led to having some sort of memory loss, and the reason I came here is to meet Yeji and to know more about myself that I didn't remember anymore", Karina smiled shyly while scratching her neck in guilty. The older woman was so nice to her, and it was bad that Karina couldn't recognize her much.

"I see. It's okay, Karina. It must be tough for you".

"Yes, it did", Karina sigh.

"Karina was hard with herself these days because she suddenly had some memory flashbacks but couldn't remember much from it. The thoughts of meeting Yeji is because she saw your daughter inside her flashbacks", Ningning said in Karina's place.

Mrs. Hwang nodded her head in understanding before flashing a warm smile toward the actress, feeling sorry for her.

"You are Yeji's best friend all four years in college. Yeji always told me about you, and that's how I somehow knew you", the older woman said.

"Why don't you come back here in the next two weeks? Yeji will come back home for a visit the next two weeks, and maybe you can come and meet her. I'll open my gates for you, Karina".

....

Karina realized one thing that she never did since the first time she start having her memory flashbacks.

SHE NEEDS TO SEE THE DOCTOR! Yet she forgot about it, and she felt so stupid.

She wanted to tell them that their speculations about her supposed to be permanent memory loss were wrong because so far she already had three memory flashbacks. Short yet confusing at the same time.

So, she did go to meet the doctor and the doctor said it was a miracle that she managed to remember. The force blunt and head trauma Karina received two years ago were pretty severe, making the doctor sure that Karina had no chance to remember anymore.

But Karina guess god's power can't be described. Right?

Karina came back home with the hope from the doctor that she'll remember more in the future. The doctor even told Karina to find people or things related to her in the past so she can regain her memory slowly.

Well, now she has Winter, who didn't want to tell her anything. She also has Yeji who will come back to Korea next week.

One week more.

Karina will know more about herself in one week more, and she can't wait for that day to come.

Today was the last day of Renthouse 2 filming and usually, the final filming day will be extravagant more than any other filming day. Why? Because it's the last day and everyone will show their gratitude by giving food, gifts, and other things to the actors and the staff.

So it wasn't weird to see that there were also Karina and Yuna's fans at the filming scene. Some brought flowers, some brought gift bags, and some brought food.

Every time the two actresses get something from their fans, they will say "OH MY GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH" out loud so that they can show off towards each other and annoy each other like any other filming day. Then they will try to swing their body just to attract each other's attention.

Winter feels bad that she needs to be there to watch those moments that somehow succeed to make her feel shameful as well.

"Don't they look like lovers to you instead of rivals? They tried so hard to have each other's attention", Key whispered to Winter and the bodyguard had no comments to say. Instead, she sighed heavily and shake her head in disbelief.

A fan approached Karina, different from any other fans who came forwards with smiles and giggles. This one strange man covered his face with a face mask despite the normal clothes he was wearing. Yet, he didn't say anything nor look at Karina for more than a second before handing the actress a box of gifts. Karina herself was taken aback by the weirdness of that man.

Winter was watching him three meters away from the actress, and she find him weird as well. But as long as the man didn't act stupid, Winter can bear it and stay still in her place.

The fan greeting session at the filming scene ended with Yuna and Karina flipping their hair towards each other more than ten times before walking away in such a weird-catwalk-way. Again, Winter was so embarrassed to witness that she don't know how much she facepalmed herself that day.

When Karina already get into her car with her hands full of her fans' gifts, she opened them one by one while waiting for Key to come. There's perfume, a jumpsuit, a phone casing, food, snacks, and more. But then this particular box attracts her attention the most.

The box that weird-looking man gave her just now.

Karina pulled the cover open, revealing a white colored envelope inside it. Curious, Karina opened the envelope and by surprise, the things she saw inside were only pictures.

But...

"Shit! What is this!", Karina threw the pictures on the floor immediately in horror.

There's a picture of someone's wrist bleeding probably from self-harm. A picture of a car from a car crash, burning and there's a cutted picture of Karina's face where glued on the car picture. A dead body picture with Karina's face again glued on it. A picture of someone's gravestone with Karina's name on it.

The pictures are enough to make the actress's hands shake.

A letter was attached to the last picture written in red.

Karina Yu was supposed to die.
She shouldn't be popular.

The actress immediately came out of her car, terrified. Key was out of sight, probably settling something with the directors and staff. Winter who was ten meters away seems didn't realize the panic state the actress is in right now.

Suddenly it felt hard to breathe.

And Karina doesn't know the reason why.

"W-Winter....", Karina called for the younger woman but her voice was so low. Soon enough, the actress already squatting on the road, calling Winter's name again and again.

"W-Win... ter..."

Karina's head is dizzy. Her mind is filled with flashbacks of where the black car hits her car again two years ago. But this time, more severe that she could feel the pain she felt that day.

The sudden vivid memory of how her car was T-boned, flipped three times, and broken glasses rained onto's Karina unstabled body. There was a lot of blood on the road and Karina couldn't move at all.

She remembered that day two years ago, the moment before she lost consciousness, the name she keep calling out in her heavy breathing.

It's also Winter.

"W-Winter...."

Gladfully this time, Winter turn her head around by chance.

"RINA!", Winter's eyes widen in shock, rushing towards Karina when she saw the actress already lying on the rough road, trying so hard to catch her breath.

"Fuck!".

Winter cupped Karina's cheek as she tried to check her out. Despite the heavy breath from the actress and the fact that Winter knew Karina was physically fine, Winter cursed herself again.

"Fuck, Rina!"

Karina's hands suddenly held onto Winter's arms tightly. The actress face become pale and that's when the bodyguard decided to hold Karina inside her embrace. Winter didn't even care anymore about the tears that were already rolling down her cheeks.

"W-Winter..."

"What happened to you, Rina?", Winter hugs Karina tighter inside her embrace, sometimes hushing the older woman and caressing her head gently in panic.

"I'm here, Rina. I'm here"

Karina's slowly lifted her hand up. Unsure of what the actress trying to tell her right now, Winter followed Karina's finger until the actress pointed her index finger to her car. Winter was confused for a second but immediately catch up with the message Karina's trying to tell her with her heavy breath.

The already open car door revealed a few pictures on the floor and Winter's hand managed to grab those pictures while still holding Karina in her embrace.

Winter widened her eyes, terrified. She let go of the pictures and held Karina closer to her.

It happened again.

Someone wants Karina to die and it happened again.

History repeated as it did two years ago.

"I'm here, Rina. I'm here for you. I'll be here for you...", and Winter is determined from this moment, she'll never let go of Karina again.

....

Winter put the actress to rest on her king-sized bed. Her sleeping pills work and somehow Winter decided to stay at the actress's home for the night.

Winter sighed heavily, looking at Karina's sleeping face. She smiles in guilty while caressing her thumb on the actress's cheeks. She also fixes Karina's hair with her slim fingers before fixing the blanket on Karina's shivering body.

It's been two years since the last time Winter saw Karina sleeping this close. Not the closest like she's ever witnessed before, but this is also considered close than they should be right now.

"I'll stay by your side this time, Rina. I promise...", Winter said one last time before giving a soft kiss on Karina's forehead and heading to the living room.

This house is too familiar to Winter. She's been to this house since she was 14 when the two women are friends. This house is almost like a second house to Winter.

Winter put the pictures on the coffee table and take her seat on the couch right next to it. Examining the pictures one by one, the bodyguard is sure enough that it wasn't the same person who did this to Karina two years ago. This time it wasn't a person who was holding a grudge against Winter but suddenly released their anger on Karina. That person is already in jail for his crime.

This time, the threat is really on the actress. This person wants the actress to die at all costs.

Sighing in defeat and anger, Winter fully takes down all her walls to keep a line between her and Karina. This is such a serious matter and Winter won't let this happen.

She will be by the actress's side at all costs, even tho the actress will question her for her purpose.

Winter doesn't care anymore.

She will always be by Karina's side.

She will protect Karina this time.

Even tho she knows her identity from Karina's knowledge is on the line.