Sunday morning dawned bright and clear, but Winter's mood didn't match the weather. The conversation with Karina from the night before had left her feeling emotionally drained. Karina had been sincerely apologetic, but Winter still felt uneasiness within her. She decided to spend the day with Giselle and Ningning, hoping their company would lift her spirits.
She sent a quick text to Giselle, in which Giselle's response came almost immediately.
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Winter got dressed and quietly slipped out of the apartment, leaving Karina still sleeping. The walk to Giselle and Ningning's place wasn't long, but it gave her time to gather her thoughts. She needed to talk to someone about what she was feeling, and she knew Giselle and Ningning would listen without judgment.
When she arrived, Giselle greeted her with a warm hug. "Hey, Minjeong. Come on in. Ningning's making breakfast."
Ningning poked her head out of the kitchen, grinning. "I hope you're hungry!"
Winter answered with a smile. "Yup, I'm starving. Thank you for having me over."
They settled at the kitchen table with steaming plates of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The delicious smells and the cozy atmosphere helped Winter relax a little. They chatted about trivial things at first-work, movies, and their plans for the summer. But eventually, Giselle noticed the cloud hanging over Winter's usually cheerful demeanor.
"Okay, spill it," Giselle said, leaning her fork down and taking a deep breath.
"It's Jimin. We had a talk last night about some things that have been bothering me."
Ningning's eyes widened with curiosity. "What kind of things?"
"Comments she's been making," Winter explained, her voice trembling slightly. "They're meant to be jokes, but they hurt. I told her how I felt, and she apologized, but I'm still feeling unsettled."
Giselle reached across the table and squeezed Winter's hand. "I'm glad you talked to her about it. That's a big step."
Ningning nodded in agreement. "It's tough when someone you love hurts you, even if it's unintentional. Did she understand how serious it was?"
Winter nodded slowly. "I think so. She promised to be more mindful, but... I don't know. A part of me is still worried."
Giselle gave her a sympathetic smile. "It's natural to feel that way. Healing takes time, and it's okay to still feel hurt."
"Maybe. I just don't want her to think I'm overreacting," Winter said quietly, her voice filled with worry.
Giselle shook her head. "You're not overreacting. Your feelings are valid, Minjeong. Please remember that."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics after that, and Winter felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders. Spending time with Giselle and Ningning was exactly what she needed. They finished breakfast and moved to the living room, where they spent the day watching movies and chatting.
As the sun began to set, Winter realized it was time to head home. She hugged Giselle and Ningning tightly. "Thanks for today. I really needed this."
"Anytime," Giselle said with a smile. "We're always here for you."
Ningning nodded. "And if you need us to talk to Jimin or anything, just let us know."
Winter laughed softly. "I appreciate it. I think I just need to give her and myself some time."
She walked back to the apartment, feeling lighter but still aware of the challenges ahead. When she entered, she found Karina sitting on the couch, looking anxious.
"Hey," Karina said, standing up. "I was worried when I woke up and you were gone."
"Sorry," Winter replied. "I needed some time with Aeri and Ningning. We spent the day together and talked."
Karina nodded, her eyes full of concern. "Did you talk about... us?"
"Yes," Winter admitted, sitting down on the couch. "I needed to get my thoughts out and they gave me some good advice."
Karina sat down beside her, taking her hands. "I'm really sorry for everything, Minjeong. I hate knowing that I hurt you."
"I know," Winter said, squeezing Karina's hands. "And I appreciate your apology. But I think we need to keep working on this, like Aeri suggested."
Karina's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded. "If you think it would help, I'm willing to try. I want us to be okay, Minjeong. I love you."
"I love you too," Winter replied, feeling a flicker of hope. "And that's why I think it's worth doing whatever it takes to make sure we're both happy and understood."
They spent the rest of the evening talking about how they could improve their communication. Karina listened attentively, and Winter felt a sense of relief that her feelings were being taken seriously. It was a small step, but it was progress.
Over the next few days, Winter noticed Karina making a conscious effort to be more mindful of her words. She still teased Winter, but her comments were more thoughtful and less likely to sting. Winter appreciated the change, but she also knew that rebuilding trust would take time.
One morning, Winter woke up feeling refreshed and hopeful. She got out of bed quietly and made her way to the kitchen. As she prepared breakfast, she thought about the journey ahead. It wouldn't be easy, but she believed they could navigate it together.
Karina joined her a few minutes later, wrapping her arms around Winter from behind and resting her chin on her shoulder. "Good morning," she murmured.
"Good morning," Winter replied, leaning into the embrace. "How did you sleep?"
"Better than I have in a while," Karina said. "The previous days were very nice. It felt like old times."
"Yeah, it did," Winter agreed. "I think we needed that."
Karina nodded, planting a kiss on Winter's cheek before letting go. "What's for breakfast?"
"Just something simple," Winter said, smiling. "Eggs and toast."
"Perfect," Karina said, reaching for the coffee pot. "Let me help."
They worked together in the kitchen, moving around each other with ease. It felt like a dance, a familiar rhythm that they had missed. As they sat down to eat, Winter looked across the table at Karina and felt a renewed sense of hope.
"We've got this," Karina said, as if reading her mind.
"Yeah, we do." Winter nodded, her heart feeling lighter as she looked into Karina's eyes. They had faced a turbulent period, but moments like this reassured her that they were on the right path.
