"Hey, Rina. Did you get yourself a new... friend?"

"Huh?", Karina was startled by Aeri's sudden question, yet confusing her at the same time.

"It's just that- you know? These few days people keep talking about you being 'clingy' to this particular girl. Is it right?", Aeri continued. Karina then realized who her friend was talking about as her eyes became wide open and the blush was so visible on her face. Luckily, her friends got what the idea was all about.

"Really? That's amazing, Rina! So now you have a new friend? That's really not like the Karina Yu I knew", Yeji laughed together with Aeri, only making Karina turn her head away in embarrassment.

"Well... It's not a bad thing tho! I know it's kind of breaking my life principle for not approach people first. But-- she is different!", Karina said to them, somehow trying too hard to hide her burning red face from being seen.

"Oh my, oh my", Aeri teased.

"Oh, my, gaaaawd... Are you really our friend, Karina Yu??", Yeji giggled by herself as she saw how much Karina changed this past few days.

"Speak of the devil, you said once that you need to meet someone. Is that someone... her?", Aeri asked and Karina replied with her timid nods.

"Woah! She really isn't Karina Yu anymore!", Yeji teased Karina more. "Bring back our friend, you impostor!", Aeri continued with the tease.

"No! I'm still that rude, arrogant, and stubborn Karina Yu-- to everyone! Well... maybe except for you guys, and her".

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..............................................

Winter had nothing to do as always. Every day she had to do the same thing, that is watching Karina from afar. For Winter, even tho this was her job Winter felt that she didn't want this job to end. She doesn't know why but watching Karina might be the best thing she ever did in her life. Strange isn't it?

Since Winter was the only child, without a mother in her life, and also a father who was busy keeping South Korea in peace, Winter had no one with her 24h 7d a week. But with Karina, suddenly she felt someone with her all the time, every day.

Winter didn't know that Karina felt the same too. Since Winter appeared in her life, Karina finally felt someone existence in her life, who was always there to look after her, making sure she was safe every day. Karina felt that she wasn't alone anymore in this world. In fact, Karina knew Winter was the healer making her feel less lonely cuz she knew, Winter was there with her all the time.

Karina did feel something was happening to her heart, and the cause of all of this was Winter. She often feels needy, longing for Winter. So, she always disturbed Winter first every time she saw her at their campus. Because Karina missed Winter, or maybe more?

Suddenly one day Karina came up with a CRAZY, IDIOT idea, to test herself if she really does longing Winter more than just a 'healer-mission' relationship. Also, she wants to know if Winter was really there for her without her knowing about it.

Karina took a cab to Han River that night. Gladly the waves and wind weren't strong so Karina thought this might be a good chance for her to do her experiment.

Karina then stands right next to the edge of the river, closing her eyes tight and lifting her arms up somehow like the scene you saw in Titanic. Then Karina took a deep breath.

"If she really gonna come, I'm gonna declare and surrender myself..."

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Karina jumped into the river.

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".... to give my heart for Winter Kim"

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Drowned.

That's what Winter thought when she saw Karina jump into the river. Winter hurriedly came out from her hiding place, 15 meters away from Karina. Without wasting much time, Winter jumped inside the water to see...

"WHAT THE HECK?"

To see Karina was just diving inside the water, with her eyes wide open looking at Winter in shock. Winter was doing the same. Both of their eyes widen while looking at each other, inside the water.

30 seconds later, both panting heavily and swimming out from the river. Winter didn't know that actually Karina knew how to swim. Winter just sighed heavily, knowing that she was tricked by Karina.

"Heck... Karina Yu...", Winter mumbled by herself when both of them came out from the river, soaking wet. Winter walks ahead leaving Karina behind her.

"W-Wait.....", Winter suddenly frozen in olace when she thought of something. Her eyes widened again and she lifted her head. No way... did Karina....

Hug!

Karina ran and hugged Winter from behind, leaving Winter in great shock. Her stomach was full of butterflies and her heart beat 2 times faster than before. She could hear Karina breathing so close to her, and also how their body was in contact like this.

"I know who are you", Karina said while putting her head on Winter's shoulder. "I decided", she said before taking a breath.

"I decided that I want to be yours, Winter", Karina exhaled lightly, tightening her grip around Winter's figure. Winter still trying to process every bit that came out from the older girl's mouth.

"I like you, Winter Kim", she finally confessed.

Karina's last words make Winter's world turn, her head is dizzy and the way her heart is beating is crazy. She is too dumbfounded to say anything, can't react at all. It feels like the circuits to her brains is all numbed. What are these feelings? Winter thought inside her mind. Did she get nervous because she's afraid Karina might know she's the healer or... because Karina likes her?

Winter slowly turns her body around to face Karina.

Her hair was wet prettily. Her white shirt was wet enough for Winter to see that Karina was wearing a black bra inside, making Winter blush without her knowing. Karina was smiling sweetly at her. What kind of situation is this??

"D-Did you..." - Winter

"I like you, Winter. Not just because you are the healer. But also because you are my savior. I don't care if that was your job or not. I don't know who pays you that much to protect me. Now that I was like this, I found myself crazily wanting to be around you. I'm grateful to have known you. I want to be with you. Every day, I can't help myself to look around to catch a glimpse of you. Then, I'm telling you here, right now, that I decided that I'm totally gonna give all of my heart to you. I don't care".

The words were long enough for Winter to understand everything.

Karina do know she was the healer.

Karina likes her.

Karina allowed her to be by her side.

But also Karina makes Winter understand herself. Winter wasn't a stupid girl. She does know if she had these kinds of symptoms inside her right now, and after all that long explanation, then that means...

"Karina Yu...."

"Hmm?"

"Are you sure you're not gonna take back what you've said just now?"

"I'm pretty sure I will not", Karina smiled again.

That smile. Yes... that smile. Winter was sure about herself. She was sure enough when she saw that smile on Karina's face succeed in making her feel trembling inside again.

"Then...." - Winter

Winter held one of Karina's cheeks with her hand, somehow making Karina's eyes tremble while looking at Winter's dark eyes.

Winter then held Karina's other cheek with the other hand, looking straight at those eyes that succeeded in making her feel abnormal every time that eye was smiling.

"May I?"

Winter moved her head closer towards Karina's as the gap between their faces was just inches apart. The air between them slowly became thin, and that's when Karina knew what Winter was going to do next. Karina closed her eyes in reflex.

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Winter did it.

It was their first kiss.