mean it - winrina

two

The following week passed like a blur for the both of them. Karina and Winter found themselves wrapped up in work and daily obligations. By the time Friday evening rolled around, both were eager for the weekend. They had plans to meet Giselle and Ningning for dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant downtown.

The restaurant was bustling with activity when they arrived. The warm, inviting atmosphere was a stark contrast to the cool night outside. They found Giselle and Ningning already seated at a table near the window, chatting animatedly.

"Hey, you two!" Giselle greeted them with a wave. "We already ordered some appetizers."

"Perfect timing," Karina said, pulling out a chair for Winter before sitting down herself. "I’m starving."

The conversation flowed easily as they caught up on each other’s week. The food was delicious, and the laughter around the table was constant. It felt like the perfect way to unwind after a long week.

As the evening progressed, the topic shifted to their plans for the upcoming summer. Giselle and Ningning were excitedly discussing their beach trip, while Karina and Winter shared their own tentative plans.

"We were thinking about visiting Jimin’s parents for a weekend," Winter said, smiling at her partner.

"Yeah, my parents keep asking about Minjeong," Karina added, her tone affectionate. "They adore her."

Giselle and Ningning exchanged amused glances. "I bet they do," Ningning said with a grin. "Who wouldn’t?"

The conversation continued, but Winter noticed Karina seemed slightly distracted. She was more lively than usual, talking louder and making more jokes. Winter chalked it up to the wine and the lively atmosphere, but there was a slight edge to Karina's comments that was hard to ignore.

At one point, Ningning mentioned a recent project she was working on, and Karina made a sarcastic remark about how it sounded like "a lot of work for nothing." Everyone laughed, including Ningning, who took it in stride, but Winter felt uncomfortable.

Then, as the conversation shifted back to their summer plans, Karina turned to Winter with a teasing smile. "We should probably make sure Minjeong doesn’t forget to pack half the house this time. Last trip, she brought so much stuff we could barely close the trunk!"

Giselle and Ningning laughed, but Minjeong felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She managed a weak smile, trying to brush it off, but the comment hurt more than she wanted to admit.

Karina didn’t seem to notice Winter's discomfort. She continued to chat and laugh, completely unaware of the pain she had caused. Winter did her best to stay engaged in the conversation, but her mind kept drifting back to Karina's remark.

Eventually, the dinner wound down, and they said their goodbyes. Karina and Winter walked back to their apartment in silence, the night air cool against their skin. Winter's mind was racing, but she didn’t know how to bring up her feelings without causing a scene.

Inside their apartment, they went through their usual routine. Karina changed into her pajamas and settled on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV. Winter joined her, but her heart wasn’t in it. She couldn’t shake the lingering hurt from Karina's comment.

"Hey," Karina said, breaking the silence. "You okay? You’ve been quiet since we left the restaurant."

Winter hesitated, then forced a smile. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, I guess."

Karina looked at her for a moment, then shrugged, turning back to the TV. "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

As they settled in for the night, Winter tried to push her feelings aside. She told herself it was just a silly comment, that she was being too sensitive. But deep down, she couldn’t ignore the nagging sense of hurt.

The next morning, Winter woke up early, unable to sleep in. She quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Karina, and headed to the kitchen to make some coffee. As she waited for the coffee to brew, she replayed the previous night in her mind.

She knew Karina didn't mean to hurt her, but the comment had cut deeper than she expected. It wasn’t just about the teasing; it was the feeling that Karina didn’t understand how her words could affect Winter.

Karina joined her in the kitchen a little while later, yawning and stretching. "Morning," she said, giving Winter a quick kiss on the cheek. "What’s the plan for today?"

Winter forced a smile. "I was thinking we could go for a walk in the park. It’s a beautiful day outside."

"Sounds good to me," Karina replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Maybe we can grab brunch afterward."

As they got ready for their day, Winter tried to push her feelings aside. She didn’t want to ruin their weekend with a confrontation. But the hurt lingered, a shadow over her thoughts.

The walk in the park was pleasant, and for a while, Winter managed to forget about the previous night. They strolled along the paths, hand in hand, enjoying the warm sunshine and the vibrant colors of the blooming flowers.

But as they sat down for brunch at a nearby café, the conversation took a turn that brought everything back. They were talking about their plans for the rest of the weekend when Karina made another offhand comment.

"Maybe we should stay in tonight," Karina suggested. "After all, Minjeong needs her beauty sleep."

It was a light-hearted joke, and Karina's tone was playful, but Winter felt a lump form in her throat. She wanted to say something, to tell Karina how much these comments hurt, but the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, she stayed silent, focusing on her food and trying to hide her feelings. Karina continued chatting, seemingly unaware of Winter's discomfort.

The rest of the day passed quickly. They visited a few shops, went to see a movie, and ended the day with a quiet dinner at home. Winter tried to stay engaged, but the hurt kept resurfacing, making it hard to enjoy the moment.

That night, as they lay in bed, Winter couldn’t keep it in any longer. She turned to Karina, her heart pounding. "Can we talk?"

Karina looked at her, surprised. "Of course. What’s on your mind?"

Winter took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "It’s about the comments you’ve been making. Last night, and today... they really hurt me."

Karina's expression shifted to confusion. "What comments? I was just joking around."

"I know," Winter said, her voice trembling. "But sometimes, your jokes feel more like criticism. It makes me feel like I’m not good enough, like I’m always doing something wrong."

Karina's face fell, and she reached for Winter's hand. "Minjeong, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize. I would never want to hurt you."

Winter nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "I know you don’t mean to, but it still hurts. I just need you to be more mindful of your words."

Karina squeezed her hand, her expression filled with regret. "I promise I’ll do better. I never want you to feel this way. You mean everything to me."

Winter felt a wave of relief, mixed with lingering uncertainty. Although she was still hurt, she wanted to believe Karina. "Thank you," she whispered, leaning into Karina's embrace. "That means a lot."

They held each other for a long time, the silence filled with unspoken understanding. Winter hoped that this conversation would be a turning point, that Karina would start to understand the impact of her words.

Winter felt hope beginning to shine through as they dozed off. She knew their relationship wasn’t perfect, but she believed in their love and their ability to overcome any challenge. And in that moment, that belief was enough.