HER BODYGUARD [WINRINA/JIMINJEONG AU]

PART.17

The stiff, cold breeze left her feeling as though her cheeks were being pierced by needles. An involuntary shiver ran over her, starting at the top of her head and rolling down all the way to her toes.

“Erghh...it’s cold,” she said as her teeth clacked.

“Just a sec,” Winter said as she pulled out a thin worsted wool scarf from her inside jacket pocket, grasping it by the edge and snapping, unfurling it’s full length in one quick motion.

She stepped in front of Karina and slipped it around the girl’s neck, just as she had taught her earlier in the week.

She felt the last dredges of pain and fear slip away as she watched Winter’s face, eyes set in concentration as she placed the scarf, lips pursed.

Everyone had always said she acted like a greasy hyung, but right now, in this moment, she felt like a princess in her girlfriend’s care.

“All set,’ Winter asked as she looked up, their eyes meeting, both suddenly breaking into nervous grins.

“Yes,” Karina said in a bright voice, face all smiles as Winter fell in beside her.

Fighting every urge to take the woman’s hand, they started up the wide, concrete steps towards the small cafe.

As they drew close, she could see the faces of her friends, almost pressed tight against the glass, peering at them with as they reached the door.

As Winter’s hand settled on the door, Karina quickly reached out to stop her.“What do i tell them,” Karina asked.

The question had been filling her mind all morning. She looked at Winter for direction, wanting to let her girlfriend’s experience guide her.

“That is up to you, Karina but the truth, or something close to it is always best.”

Biting her lip, Karina nodded and drew her hand back. With a swift motion, Winter opened the door, a wave of heat rolling out to wash them over, welcoming them in from the cold. Setting her shoulders, Karina stepped through.

Giselle jumped to her feet, the metal chair making a clatter as it skittered back, the girl’s moon shaped eyes closing to narrow crescents as her face turned red.

With a choking sod, she came scurrying around the table with small steps, the quick flutter of feet beneath the long padded coat she wore making her look like a toddler.

Flinging her arms wide, she engulfed Karina in a crushing hug that almost left the girl breathless.

Through tears, Giselle cried, “I was so scare!” Blinking, completely taken off guard, Karina returned that hug, gently lifting her friend off the floor.

“So was i, Giselle...So was i.”

Yeri and Yeji joined them, the quartet falling into a mangled of arms and hugs. They all took turns petting Giselle’s hair, letting the emotional girl calm down.

Finally breaking apart, they shuffled to the table and settled into seats. She felt Winter step up behind her, the woman’s presence like a safety blanket, and place a hand on her left shoulder.

Looking up, Karina offered a pleased little smile to her bodyguard, happy to see Winter crack a smile in return.

Head falling forward, she saw the girls sitting across from her, eyes narrowed, darting about.

“Okay, spill. What is going on here,” Yeji started as she looked from Karina, to Winter and then to Taeyong who had taken up a position by the front door, his hands clasped behind his back as she stood in attention.