L'AMOUR DE MA VIE

Ep 22: Breaking the Silence: Standing Up for Karina

Winter's P.O.V

"Damn. I can't believe your father did that," Yujin says, taking a slow, deliberate bite of her sandwich. Karina could only nod, her eyes downcast, the weight of her father's actions hanging heavily on her shoulders.

"Does this mean he's homophobic?" Giselle asks, her brow furrowed with concern after hearing Karina's story from the night before.

Karina sighs, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I mean... I don't think so. He didn't say anything specifically about that, other than to stay away from you guys."

"He's such a control freak," I muttered, my tone laced with frustration against her father.

"Yeah, speaking of that, I gotta go. I see my babysitter coming into the cafeteria," Karina says sadly, her voice barely above a whisper. I could only look at her with a heavy heart, the sense of helplessness washing over me. She was talking about her bodyguard, James.

James stood at the entrance of the cafeteria, his imposing figure scanning the room with a practiced vigilance. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark suit meticulously tailored, making him look more like a secret agent than a mere bodyguard. His eyes, hidden behind dark sunglasses, were trained on Karina, a silent reminder of the control her father exerted over her life.

Karina's shoulders slumped slightly as she gathered her things, the usual spark in her eyes dimmed. She turned to me, her expression a mix of resignation and sorrow. She reached out and held my hand for a brief moment, her fingers warm and soft against mine, a fleeting touch that conveyed more than words ever could. As she stood up, her hand slipped away from mine, leaving a lingering warmth that quickly faded, much like the fleeting comfort of her presence.James began to move toward us, his stride purposeful and unwavering. Karina shot us a final, wistful glance before walking toward him, her steps heavy with the weight of her father's oppressive rules. As she joined James, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and sadness. The sight of Karina, so close yet so far, made my heart ache.

"What did we do for her father to say to stay away from us?" Ningning complains, her voice tinged with frustration. Beside her, Yeji and Wonyoung only pouted in sadness, their expressions mirroring the collective disappointment at the table.

Ryujin and Yujin exchanged glances filled with pity, their eyes following Karina as she walked away. The sense of helplessness was palpable, the reality of their friend's situation settling heavily on their shoulders.

Giselle, sitting across from me, clenched her jaw, her grip tightening around her sandwich. The look in her eyes was one of barely contained anger, her frustration at Karina's father's controlling nature boiling just beneath the surface. She seemed ready to smash her sandwich, her knuckles whitening as she squeezed it harder.

"This isn't fair," Giselle muttered, her voice low and fierce. "He's such a control freak. Karina deserves better than this."

The group fell into a somber silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on us. Karina's absence was a stark reminder of the invisible chains binding her, the reality of her father's dominance casting a long shadow over our small circle of friends.