mean it - winrina

seven

Winter sat on the couch, flipping through an old photo album she had found while cleaning. Memories of her childhood with Minju flooded back as she looked at the pictures. They had been inseparable, always together, sharing secrets and dreams. Now, Minju was back in her life, bringing with her a sense of nostalgia and comfort that Winter had missed.

Reconnecting with Minju had been a good distraction from the tension she has with Karina. Minju’s easygoing nature and genuine concern for Winter’s well-being provided a stark contrast to the strained atmosphere at home. However, what Winter didn't know was that her growing closeness with Minju was making Karina jealous and insecure.

As Winter reminisced, Karina entered the room, her eyes locking onto the photo album in Winter’s lap. "What are you looking at?" she asked.

Winter smiled, holding up a picture of her and Minju as kids, their faces smeared with ice cream. "Just some old photos. Minju and I used to get into so much trouble together."

Karina forced a smile, but Winter could see the flicker of jealousy in her eyes. "You two really were close, huh?"

"Yeah, we were," Winter replied softly. "It’s been nice having her back in my life."

Karina sat down next to Winter, her expression serious. "I’m glad you have someone to lean on, Minjeong. But I can’t help feeling a bit left out."

Winter reached out and squeezed Karina’s hand. "I don’t want you to feel that way, Jimin. You’re still the most important person to me."

Karina’s eyes softened, but there was still a hint of worry. "I know. It’s just hard seeing you so close with someone else."

Winter nodded, understanding Karina’s feelings. "We’ll work through this, Jimin. I promise."

Later that evening, Winter and Karina were sitting in their living room, trying to relax after a long day. Winter's phone buzzed with a message from Minju. "Hey, want to grab dinner tonight?"

Winter glanced at Karina, hesitant. She didn’t want to cause any more tension, but she also didn’t want to push Minju away. "Minju wants to have dinner tonight," she said carefully.

Karina’s expression tightened, but she managed a small nod. "Go ahead. I’ll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Winter asked, searching Karina’s eyes for any sign of resentment.

Karina forced a smile. "Yes, go. Have a good time."

Winter leaned over and kissed Karina’s cheek. "Thank you, Jimin. I’ll be back soon."

As Winter left to meet Minju, Karina couldn’t help the feeling of dread that settled in her chest. She trusted Winter, but the fear of losing her was overwhelming. She decided that she couldn’t just sit, wait, and lose over her. She had to make an effort to show Winter how much she cared.

Meanwhile, Winter met Minju at a cozy restaurant near the park. They chatted and laughed, the conversation flowing easily. Minju was just as she remembered: kind, funny, and always knowing how to make her feel better.

"How have things been with Karina?" Minju asked, concern evident in her eyes.

Winter sighed. "Complicated, but she’s trying."

Minju reached across the table and held Winter’s hand. "I’m here for you, Minjeong. Whatever you need."

Winter smiled, grateful for Minju’s support. "Thank you, Minju. It means a lot to me."

As they finished dinner and walked out of the restaurant, Winter felt a sense of peace she hadn’t experienced in a while. Minju’s presence was a balm for her troubled heart. But she knew she couldn’t ignore the issues with Karina. They needed to work through their problems together.

The next day, Winter woke up to the sound of clinking dishes in the kitchen. She walked out to find Karina making breakfast, a determined look on her face. "Good morning," Karina said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Morning," Winter replied, surprised. "What’s all this?"

"I wanted to do something special for you," Karina said, placing a plate of pancakes on the table. "I know things have been tough, and I want to show you how much I care."

Winter’s heart warmed at the gesture. She sat down and took a bite of the pancakes. "These are amazing, Jimin. Thank you."

Karina smiled, but there was still a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "I just want us to be okay, Minjeong."

"We will be," Winter said softly. "We just need to keep talking and understanding each other."

Karina nodded, relieved. "I know. I’ll keep trying."

That evening, Karina decided to join Winter and Minju for a casual get-together at a local café. She wanted to show Winter that she was willing to be part of her life, even with Minju in the picture. As they sat together, the atmosphere was initially tense, but Minju’s easygoing nature soon eased the tension.

"Remember that time we tried to build a treehouse and ended up falling out of the tree?" Minju recounted, laughing.

Winter laughed along, the memory bringing a smile to her face. "Yeah, we were such a mess."

Karina found herself smiling too, despite the jealousy haunting her. She realized that Minju wasn’t a threat, but a part of Winter’s life that had shaped who she was. Instead of seeing Minju as competition, she decided to embrace the situation and focus on her relationship with Winter.

As the evening progressed, Karina made an effort to engage in the conversation, sharing stories and laughing along with Winter and Minju. She noticed the way Winter’s eyes sparkled when she was happy, and it reminded her of why she fell in love with her in the first place.

When they finally parted ways, Karina and Winter walked home together, the night air cool and refreshing. "Thank you for coming tonight, Jimin," Winter said, her voice sincere.

Karina smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "I wanted to be there for you, Minjeong. I’m glad I came."

As they reached their apartment, Karina took Winter’s hand, stopping her before they went inside. "I know I’ve done a lot, but I’m trying to change. I love you, Minjeong, and I don’t want to lose you."

Winter’s eyes softened, and she leaned in to kiss Karina gently. "I love you too, Jimin. We’ll get through this together."

The next few days saw a noticeable shift in their relationship. Karina made a conscious effort to be more supportive and understanding, while Winter worked on being more open about her feelings. The presence of Minju in their lives became less of a source of tension and more of a reminder of the importance of communication and trust.

One evening, as Winter and Karina sat on their balcony, watching the sunset, Winter spoke up. "You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately."

Karina turned to her, her expression curious. "What about us?"

"About how much we’ve been through and how far we’ve come," Winter said, her voice thoughtful. "I don’t want to take that for granted. I want us to keep growing and understanding each other."

Karina smiled, feeling a sense of hope and determination. "Me too, Minjeong. We’ve got this."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Winter and Karina sat in comfortable silence, their hands entwined.