The sun, high in mid-sky, filtered through the curtains, warming Winter's bed. She stretched lazily, content to stay under her blankets. The sound of footsteps grew closer, followed by Ningning's voice.

"Yah, get up, lazybones!" Ningning was by her bed, hands on her hips, poking Winter's arm. "Everyone else is up. You're still here, lazing like a queen."

Winter groaned dramatically, rolling onto her side. "I'm an injured queen, thank you. I deserve rest."

Ningning huffed, crossing her arms. "Your 'injured' wrist isn't stopping you from rolling around and whining. Get up already!"

"Nope," Winter mumbled, pulling the blanket over her head. "Leave me to my royal slumber."

After a few more futile attempts to pull Winter out of bed, Ningning threw her hands up.

"Fine! Stay here and rot, for all I care." With a defeated sigh, she left, muttering about lazy teammates.

Quiet settled again, and Winter smirked to herself. The warm sunlight was too good to leave behind. But it didn't last.

The delicious aroma of something savory and rich wafted in, making her stomach growl loudly. Winter's eyes snapped open. It smelled like grilled meat. Her stomach rumbled again, as laughter and chatter echoed from outside.

Winter scowled, annoyed by the noise but stubbornly refusing to move. I'm not hungry, she told herself. They can have their fun. I don't care.

Then, the door creaked open. Her body tensed, and she quickly squeezed her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. She heard soft footsteps approaching, the faint sound of someone moving in the room.

Curiosity gnawed at her, but she waited. The footsteps stopped. The room grew silent-too silent. Slowly, Winter cracked one eye open, her heart skipping a beat.

Karina stood at the edge of her bed, arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.

"Finally awake, huh?" Karina said, tilting her head.

Winter's face flushed crimson, caught in the act. "I-what are you doing here? Get out!" she snapped, her tone sharper than intended.

Karina raised an eyebrow, her smirk never faltering. "That's not how you should talk to someone who went out of their way to bring you lunch."

Winter blinked, her gaze flickering to the plate in Karina's hands. On it was a perfectly grilled piece of meat, steaming and glossy with sauce, with rice and a few side dishes. Her stomach growled again, making her cheeks burn hotter.

Karina rolled her eyes. "What, do you want me to feed you, too?"

Winter's pride flared, and she snatched the plate from Karina's hands. "I can feed myself, thanks."

As she stuffed a piece of meat into her mouth, Karina's smirk deepened. "Hungry after all, huh?"

Winter glared at her, her cheeks full of food, which only made Karina chuckle softly.

"Just eat," Karina said, turning towards the door. "And try not to choke on your pride."

Winter watched her leave, feeling both embarrassed and oddly flustered. She focused on the food, hoping the delicious flavors would distract her from the confusing warmth in her chest.

The warmth of the meal and the slow pace of the day lulled Winter back into a deep sleep, sprawled out on her bed. When she finally stirred, blinking against the dim orange light, she realized the sun was already setting.

It was unusually quiet.

Winter rubbed the sleep from her eyes, stretching before getting up. The silence felt strange, making her curious. She wandered out of her room, yawning as she peeked into Ningning and Yuna's space. They were both sound asleep, tangled in their blankets, clearly succumbing to a long afternoon nap.

"Lazy," Winter muttered, smirking as she quietly shut the door and continued her search.

The house felt oddly empty, the stillness unsettling. She checked the common areas, but there was no sign of Karina. Finally, she stepped outside, greeted by a cool breeze. She shivered slightly, wrapping her arms around herself as she squinted into the fading light.

And there she was.

Karina stood near the edge of the property, her silhouette outlined by the last golden light. Her hands were shoved deep into her pockets, her shoulders slightly hunched against the wind. She didn't move, her gaze fixed on the horizon, lost in thoughts so deep she didn't even notice Winter approach.

Winter tilted her head, studying the usually sharp and collected team leader. It wasn't like Karina to be this still, this withdrawn.

"Hey," Winter called out, her voice breaking the silence. "What's up, brooding queen? Planning your next move against the world?"

Karina didn't react, just sighed heavily.

Winter frowned, stepping closer. "What's with you? Did something happen?"

"It's nothing," Karina said, her voice flat, her eyes never leaving the horizon.

Winter rolled her eyes. "Right. Because you always stare dramatically into sunsets for no reason. Come on, spill it."

"Drop it, Private," Karina said, her tone sharper now.

Winter's brows furrowed. Karina never spoke to her like that. Not in that tone. "Whoa, what's your problem? I'm just trying to see what's up."

Karina's head snapped towards her then, her eyes blazing with something Winter couldn't decipher. Frustration? Anger?

"My problem," Karina hissed, "is you. You and your rich, entitled friends who think everything is just handed to them. You don't understand anything about what I've been through or what real sacrifice looks like, and you never will."

Winter froze, her mouth falling slightly open. The words landed like a punch to the gut, leaving her temporarily stunned. "What the hell, team leader? What's that supposed to mean? I didn't even do anything!"

Karina laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "Of course, you don't get it. You've never had to work for anything in your life. Everything has been laid out for you, hasn't it? People like you..."

Winter's shock turned to anger. "People like me? You're one to talk! You're just as privileged as I am, Karina. Don't act like you're some kind of martyr."

Karina's jaw tightened, her hands balling into fists. She looked like she was going to say something, but instead, she took a deep breath, her expression hardening.

"Forget it," she muttered, turning away.

"Oh, that's it? You're just going to walk away?" Winter called out, her voice rising. "You're a coward! Go ahead, run away! That's all you're good at!"

Karina paused for a fraction of a second, her shoulders tense, but she didn't turn back. She disappeared inside without another word, leaving Winter standing alone in the twilight, her fists clenched at her sides.

Winter glared at the empty doorway, her chest tight with anger and a confusion she didn't want to examine. "Unbelievable," she muttered, kicking a stray rock into the darkness. She thought they were starting to understand each other, but maybe not.