Day four started like any other, with a quiet breakfast shared between Winter and Karina.

It was like a familiar routine by now. Karina was happily devouring her food, completely at ease, while Winter poked at her own meal, wondering if this surreal arrangement would ever end.

But just then, a loud banging on the front door broke the calm, followed by two unmistakable voices shouting her name-Giselle and Ningning. Winter's eyes flew wide with panic. Karina, unfazed, simply continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Winter didn't even have time to think. She reached across the table, grabbed Karina's wrist, and yanked her up, sending Karina stumbling after her down the hall.

"Hey! I wasn't done eating!" Karina complained, stumbling as Winter hurried her into the guest room. Her protests fell on deaf ears, though, as Winter pushed her onto the bed, one hand clamping firmly over Karina's mouth while Giselle and Ningning's knocks grew louder and more impatient.

"Winter! Open up, or we're coming in!" Ningning shouted from outside.

Karina twisted around, trying to free herself, but Winter's mind was racing. She quickly pulled out a pair of handcuffs from her bedside drawer and snapped them around Karina's wrists behind her back. Karina, even in this situation, couldn't help but look amused.

"Do you keep these just lying around? All over the house?" she asked with a smirk.

Winter ignored her, instead pressing her down onto the bed to keep her from moving, her eyes darting around the room for a better solution. She froze as the sound of Giselle's voice grew closer. "Winter, we're coming in whether you like it or not!"

Spotting a roll of duct tape nearby, Winter grabbed it and peeled off a strip, fixing it over Karina's mouth. Karina raised an eyebrow, eyes twinkling with mischief even as she tried to smother a laugh. Winter took a deep breath, crouching down to whisper, "Stay quiet, be a good girl, and I'll reward you later."

Karina's smirk only deepened, eyebrows wiggling as she muffled something under the tape that sounded suspiciously like laughter.

Realizing the unintentional implication of her words, Winter flushed bright red before hurrying out, leaving a giggling, gagged Karina behind as she quietly shut the door just as Giselle and Ningning barged into the house.

Winter turned to greet her friends, her breathing heavy and her face flushed a suspicious shade of red. Giselle and Ningning exchanged confused glances, taking in Winter's disheveled appearance with raised eyebrows.

"Uh... Morning?" Winter offered weakly, an awkward smile plastered on her face.

Winter's heart was pounding as she attempted to steer her already suspicious friends down the hall and away from the kitchen. Just as she thought she was in the clear, a loud "Meow!" from Banana made her stomach drop.

"Oh, Banana!" Ningning's face lit up, and before Winter could react, Ningning darted toward the kitchen, Giselle following right behind. Winter gritted her teeth, but had no choice but to follow.

Ningning scooped up Banana, kissing the cat's head and cooing. But then Giselle paused, her gaze falling on the kitchen table.

"Uh... Winter?" she called out. "Why are there two breakfasts?"

Winter froze, her mind racing. "It's... uh, it's for Banana," she mumbled, forcing out the excuse.

Ningning blinked at her, then burst into laughter so hard she nearly doubled over, clutching Banana close as tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

"Banana gets a full breakfast now? You've lost it, Winter," she managed between giggles.

Giselle crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "Banana's a cat. You know, not much of an omelette fan, last I checked. Why didn't you just call us if you're this lonely?"

Winter sucked in a breath, trying to keep her cool as she steered her friends down the hallway and into her room, practically pushing them through the door.

"Thanks for your concern," she muttered sarcastically, closing her door firmly behind them.

Giselle flopped down onto Winter's bed with a dramatic sigh. "So, what's going on with your 'business,' anyway?" She asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Winter hesitated, caught off-guard by the question. She'd been hiding Karina without a real reason, but now, with her friends in front of her, the explanation felt tangled.

Sure, Giselle and Ningning knew she was trying her hand at... unconventional work, so a simple kidnap-for-hire wouldn't shock them. But the thought of her best friends knowing about this strange situation, the way she'd begun to question her decisions, sent a shiver through her.

Giselle and Ningning exchanged a glance as Winter drifted into her thoughts, clearly lost. Finally, she forced herself back to reality, shrugging as she sat down beside them on the bed.

"Actually... I took down my website," she admitted, sighing.

Giselle looked genuinely disheartened, slumping a little. "Why?" she asked, almost sounding disappointed.

Ningning, on the other hand, seemed relieved, nodding as she pet Banana, who had flopped onto her lap. "Honestly, good," she said. "It never really seemed like you."

Winter looked between them, unsure how to feel. "I just... maybe it's not for me. No clients, no jobs. Maybe I'm not really cut out for it."

Giselle's expression softened, sadness in her gaze, while Ningning just kept nodding, lost in rubbing Banana's head.

Winter watched in alarm as both Giselle and Ningning exchanged an almost telepathic glance before nodding decisively. Giselle clapped her hands together and announced with way too much enthusiasm, "Alright, we'll stay here for a while! You clearly need us."

"What?!" Winter's voice shot up a few octaves, her eyes widening. "No, no, no, that's not necessary."

But Giselle was already making herself comfortable on the bed, stretching out like she owned the place. "It's okay, Winter. We get it. First job didn't pan out, you've been all alone for months, probably super sad about it. And when's the last time we really hung out?"

Winter crossed her arms, forcing a tight smile. "I'm fine. Really. You don't need to worry about me."

Ningning, who was still holding Banana, suddenly put on the most exaggerated pout Winter had ever seen. She lifted the wiggling cat and, in a baby voice dripping with mock sadness, said, "Oh no, Banana. Winter hates us now. What did we ever do to her? Tell me, whyyyyy?"

Banana let out a disgruntled meow, squirming in Ningning's grasp, but Ningning ignored it, cradling him dramatically. Winter groaned, reaching to take her cat back. "Give him here."

The moment she had Banana in her hands, he turned and bit her finger-not hard, but enough for her to yelp and drop him. Banana immediately scampered to Ningning, who cooed triumphantly.

Winter sighed in defeat. "It's not like that, okay? I don't hate you guys. I just..." She trailed off, her thoughts straying to Karina.

But Giselle wasn't having it. She raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You just what? Need time alone? Please. You've had months of alone time, Winter. At this rate, you'll start talking to your furniture."

Winter pinched the bridge of her nose, realizing she was cornered. "Fine. Stay if you want." She dropped onto the bed beside them with a grumpy thud, crossing her arms.

Her two best friends cheered, clearly pleased with themselves, while Banana curled up smugly in Ningning's lap. Winter sat there, sulking, but deep down, she knew she couldn't really argue with them.

Winter can't imagine her life without them. Not that she'd ever admit it.