Winter has become addicted to coming to the library.

Meeting Karina regularly during her work time may be one of the reasons, but Winter's main reason for being there is to study because she has one main mission to accomplish as soon as possible.

The singer and the librarian had been friends for over a month now, and Winter knew that she needed to act fast. To understand Karina better, she needs to work harder. She needs to learn better.

She became a permanent member of Aeri's weekly sign language class, but when she had free time between her schedule, she would go to the third floor of the library and pick up that specific book about sign language for her to learn and practice at the corner side of the floor.

Thankfully, Karina is stationed on the second floor so she won't be able how Winter keeps messing up with her studies.

But sadly, the third floor belongs to Ningning. So, every time Winter came and went, the Chinese would always stare at her, giving Winter the same questioning look.

Winter got caught once by Ningning as she practised signing "Have you eaten?" by making mistakes signing "Have you got beaten?" instead. The Chinese laughed out so loud that day until the whole third floor could hear her dolphin laughs.

Winter really trying her best to learn the language. Despite her tight schedule, she was once back from a nine-hour album preparation but still managed to go to the library and stay there until night.

The librarian in charge of the third floor that night had reported to Ningning that the singer, Winter Kim was found sleeping (drooling) on one of their books during night hours.

Highly impressed by the effort, Ningning had reported Karina about the incident.

*****

It's two weeks since Winter started her learning spree, and she just got back from her five-hour schedule at the studio. She got on the escalator, headed straight towards the third floor. Like always, she never really bothers Karina during work, so she actually never tells the librarian that she comes there frequently.

Watching the taller girl from afar is enough for Winter, for now.

Her arrival on the third floor caught Ningning's attention despite Winter trying to avoid the Chinese at all costs. Ningning just shook her head,  "That girl is so persistent," before she sent her best friend on the second floor a text.

"Winter is here again."

*****

For one hour, Winter had been persistent in flipping the books as she tried to memorize every movement with their meanings. But as time passed, her eyes started to grow heavier. She just got back, dancing her ass off her comeback for five hours without a rest, and now she was back in the library to study for the sake of her friendship with Karina.

But, Winter couldn't contain herself from escaping a yawn.

But then, all of sudden, a cup of coffee, out of nowhere was handed to her desk. Surprised, Winter turned her head over only to find that one beautiful librarian smiling at her apologetically. "Karina?"

Winter's eyes blinked before Karina suddenly signed her, "What are you doing up here? You're supposed to go home and get some rest."

"W-Wait— That's too many things for me to remember. Wait a second," Winter shifted her attention back to the guidebooks, flipping pages by pages, trying to remember back what she had memorized and matching them up with what Karina had told her just now.

"Oh, okay. I got it." When the singer is sure enough, she turns her attention back to the taller girl. "How did you know... I was here?" she signed back carefully, trying not to make a mistake.

Winter always succeeded in surprising Karina every time they met. It seems like Winter's ability to do sign language skyrocketing so fast, and Karina is sure enough that the singer is working so hard learning them for her.

"Ningning told me," Karina replied, and Winter quickly rolled her eyes in annoyance, leaning her head to the back. "Gosh... that Chinese girl is no fun."

"You should go home, Winter. You told me this morning that you got a five-hour dance practice. Aren't you tired?" Karina's sign language was a bit too fast for a newcomer like Winter, sending the singer scrambling on her guidebook once again. "Wait, what did she say? Oh god, Winter. Be faster!"

Seeing how hardworking Winter is to understand her, Karina was about to pull out her phone from her pocket to make things easier for them, but then Winter caught her action, shaking her head hard. "No," Winter assures her. "I can do this."

Karina flashed the singer her apologetic smile. She doesn't know what she should feel. Deep inside her, she was slightly feeling guilty for putting Winter in this situation. But, on the basis of everything, Winter's effort makes her so happy, extremely touched by her hard work. Karina didn't know if she really deserved this kind of treatment from the singer.

It took Winter about a minute to turn her head back to Karina with a warm smile, "I am... tired, but I... want to... do this. Don't worry. I am okay."

Karina smiled. "My shift just ended. I'm going to sit here with you, is that okay?"

Winter widened her eyes, realizing that it was already five in the evening. Gosh, it was this late already?

Winter puts out her hands again, taking a peek at the book once before she signs back. "I may sit here... and learn... for another hour. Is that... okay with you?" Winter signed slowly. When she saw that soft smile on the taller girl's face before a soft "Yes" came out from her mouth, Winter couldn't hold her smile anymore.

Gosh, why is this woman so perfect?

Karina took the seat right next to Winter after grabbing a random book for her to read. She then shoved the coffee she bought for the singer into Winter's mouth, persistent in making the singer drink it. Winter is cute, but she's surprisingly stubborn as well.

Defeated, Winter drinks them as instructed with a sheepish happy smile. Karina then finally pulled out her phone from her pocket, typing something on them before she flashed the screen to Winter.

"It may be against the rule, but make sure not to let it drop on the books, or they'll cut my salary for that," Karina shook her phone slightly, tilted her head pleadingly and Winter quickly nodded her head, understanding.

Sure. Winter also doesn't want to bring trouble to the other girl.

*****

Winter was so deep into her books that she forgot how long she'd been here. She only realised it the moment she looked back to her right and saw Karina finally fall into a slumber with her head on the book she brought earlier. Her expression is soft, calming, and beautiful and it makes Winter's heart throb the moment she sees it.

"God. What kind of good did I do in my past life to know such a beautiful person..."

The singer decided to pull out her phone and quietly captured the other girl's sleeping face. With a smile, she tapped the capture button and quickly put her phone away.

The singer then looks to her left and her right, thankful that the corner seat is greatly hidden from the other people's view before she leans in closer to the sleeping girl, poking Karina's shoulder softly.

"Hey pretty, wake up. It has been two hours," Winter said softly with a small smile. Seeing how the other girl starts to stir in her sleep, Winter pokes again. "Karina, wake up. Let's go home."

After a few seconds, Karina's eyes slowly opened as her tiny hands rubbed her sleepy eyes. When Karina saw how Winter was looking at her with an adoring smile, Karina huffed once before she signed sleepily, "Sorry, I fell asleep. Did I make you wait long?"

Winter shook her head between tiny laughs. "No. I'm sorry... I took a while," Winter signed back only to receive a head shake from Karina. It's fine, Winter, that's what Karina tried to tell her between their gazes and smiles. "Let me send you home. It's already night."

Karina knew she was too sleepy to argue, and Winter would argue back if she did. With a defeated smile, the girl slowly nodded her head and Karina couldn't contain her tiny laughs the moment Winter made that tiny jump from excitement. Winter quickly took both their books and put them on a shelf before she put her face mask on, pulling the taller girl up and running downstairs with her towards her car.

Gosh, Winter is loving this.

Just maybe, Karina loves it too.

*****

It was another week and Karina was on the way back home after work. It's been three days since the last time Karina saw the blonde singer at the library, just because she's currently out of the country.

Karina kinda misses that stubborn girl, to be honest. But, it's fine. The singer will be back in two days, and she probably gonna be stubborn again, camping at the library's third floor, corner seat for hours.

Karina got out of the cab and signed her thanks, followed by a small thankful smile to the driver. She then stopped by the grocery mart to buy some ingredients for dinner. Scrolling down her phone, she saw an article about that blonde singer, and it immediately made Karina smile happily, with red cheeks and a soft gasp.

Singer Winter Kim surprised her hearing-impaired C-Fans with her sign language skills. 

This girl is really full of surprise, Karina thought inside her mind before immediately sending a screenshot of the news towards the mentioned girl. Seriously, Winter working so hard in sign language and practising it in her daily life would make Karina melt.

She put back the phone inside her pouch with a smile, pushing the trolley cart to grab a carton of milk and a loaf of bread. She goes to the meat section to buy a pack of pork belly and then grabs a pack of eggs. She grabs some types of vegetables before finally proceeding to the cashier counter to pay for her groceries.

Then, her phone vibrates.

"Oh, she replied?" Karina scoffed in her struggle to pull out her credit card.

Karina quickly settled with her groceries as the cashier gave her a big paper bag. Then, she walked out of the grocery store with one hand scrolling her phone, reading their chats. "Thanks to me, huh?" Karina laughs tinyly before typing back a reply to the singer.

Karina put her phone back into her pouch, now carrying the heavy grocery bag with two hands. "Gosh, why did I buy so much again?" Karina sighed, realizing she may be too excited about grocery shopping.

The way Karina walks down the street makes it so obvious to the people around her that she is struggling with the heavy bag. She walks like a baby penguin and low grunts keep coming out from her mouth.

Thankfully, her apartment unit finally was in sight. Karina sighed hopefully, "Finally, about a few meters away from—" when a harsh pull on her grocery bag stopped Karina from her monologue. "What the f—"

"Give it to me!" 

Karina's adrenaline spiked and her eyes went wide the moment she saw a man in poor clothing try to snatch away her bag from her. Struggling, the deaf girl tried to give a fight despite not being able to shout for help. "Let my bag go!"

Karina had no grudges against the poor, but stealing is always a wrong thing to do.

"Why the fuck are you so strong? Just let this go and give it to me, goddamn it!" the man shouted as his eyes wandered around anxiously, trying not to get caught stealing groceries from a weak-looking girl. Karina tried so hard to pull her bag away from him, even grunting between her struggles. Her legs slanted to the front, trying to put her body weight on her pull.

But it all changed when one of the grocery bag straps snapped.

Karina fell almost immediately on the pavement road with a loud harsh thud, head first on the ground. The man already fleeing away with her now 'one strap' groceries, leaving Karina on the rough pavements alone, grunting in pain.

Thankfully, some bystanders were there to help the poor girl to get back up. They pat the girl's flannel and palms away from the specks of dirt before one of the good samaritans asked her. "Miss, you got blood on your palms and forehead."

The other good samaritan said as she saw another one, "Her knees too. Are you okay?"

Karina couldn't hear anything. Her head is a bit dizzy. Her ears are ringing. Her legs are shaky. Hell, even her hands are from the shock. Her phone is buzzing. Did Winter reply to her? Now, her eyes start to squint.

"Miss, are you okay?"

"Miss, are you..."

"Miss, can..."

"Mi..."