MUTUAL FIXATION || WINRINA

CHAPTER 2

Winter's Point of View

The sudden knock on the door made me jump, and there was a slight twitch in my hand. I got irritated and paused the video I was watching keenly, pushing myself out of the bed groggily. Walking toward the door, I felt the lethargy drag upon me heavily.

The door spiraled open to feature my step-sister, Karina, standing there with her expression unreadable.

I couldn't help but scowl, "What brings you here?" I asked her in confusion.

She then arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing on the lips. "Are you coming out willingly or do I have to drag you out?" she peppered back at me. Her perpetual need to provoke me was getting on my nerves really fast.

"What's it that you want, Karina?" I asked, irritation in my voice.

"Dinner's made. You either come out now, or I have to resort to other less pleasant alternatives," she announced in a casual tone.

Fuck that temper.

"The maid. You could've asked her. There was no need for you to have come here," I said and came out of my room to head downstairs. I could feel her dagger gaze on my back, and goosebumps literally raised.

"There is no servant with us," she informed me then, and I stopped in my stride.

"What?" I turned back, looking up at her from where I was standing a few steps down, my confusion evident.

"We're alone in this house, Winter. Stop asking questions when you've already heard the answers," she said, brushing past me as she walked on.

I wanted to shake her for being so indifferent. Why couldn't she make a simple answer?

"Why are we alone here?" I asked, sounding rightly impatient by now.

"Because there's no maid around?" she replied, her tone thick with sarcasm.

I shut my eyes, inhaled deeply to catch my breath and then proceeded to the dining area. This woman was going to be my demise.

I took my usual seat at the table and she did likewise. We were facing each other and one could cut the air with a knife. Her eyes were on me, but I just shrugged it off.

"Anyway your father and my mom have decided to extend their trip in Canada," she said, breaking the silence, her voice flat.

I raised my eyebrow. She should go on.

"So, we're stuck in this place alone for a week," she further said as my head tilted upward toward her.

"What about the maids?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"In their province," she replied, her tone indifferent.

"I meant when will they be back. I didn't ask where they were," I tried to explain, keeping my temper under wraps.

"You didn't ask clearly," she grumbled, barely audible.

I felt another wave of frustration at what seemed to be the increasing never-ending battle. Was I going crazy?

"Just fucking answer my question, Karina," not able to hold my patience any longer.

"Language," she tossed back at me, then in a superior tone.

I couldn't believe it. She had spent all those times cursing at me, and now she was lecturing about my language?

"You're in front of food, Winter. You don't have to curse in front of a blessing," the words tumbled through her mouth, deadpan.

I laughed right in her face. "Yeah, sure," I replied, my tone sarcastic at best.

I started eating, not really paying attention to her. After that, the silence between us was almost unbearable until we finished dinner. I offered to wash the dishes as she'd cooked. She just nodded and turned her back on me.

There I was, washing the dishes and humming to myself when, randomly, Karina appeared beside me, and I almost jumped.

"Could you please stop popping out of thin air?" I demanded, irritation in my voice.

She laughed, a sound I had barely heard from her.

"Your reaction is absolutely priceless," she said, her voice full of amusement. "And by the way, after you are done with the dishes, make sure to turn off the lights downstairs when you go to bed."

I just nodded and got back to my work.

"Answer me," she called out sharply.

"I just nodded, Karina," I said, irritation in my voice.

"Ah-huh?" she replied, mocking me.

I rolled my eyes and kept quiet. Again, I flinched when I felt her warm breath on my ear.

"Just so you know. I hate non-verbal responses," she whispered to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "If I ask you something, reply in words, not gestures. Do you get it now?"

I could feel my heart racing as she brushed her lips against my ear.

"Answer me, Winter. Do you understand what I said?" she asked, still with a whisper.

I felt my body go weak.

"W-What are you doing?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Hmm? I'm not doing anything, honey." she murmured.

I felt her hands resting on the edge as I was standing at the sink; effectively I was entrapped between her arms. It was simply impossible to make sense of all these overwhelming sensations; it was suffocating me, stealing my breath away.

"Karina..." I whispered.

"Hmm?" Her soft voice caressed my skin, and I winced again.

"Move..." It was all I could say in a low tone batedly.

"What was that? I did not catch it, honey." Why did her words have to sound so hard core sultry? Damn this chick. "Can you repeat that for your.... step-sister?" she added with a slight chuckle.

I nervously bit my lower lip; my mind had gone blank white page—I couldn't think shit.

"Turn around, Winter. Face me," she ordered, her voice stern, commanding.

I don't know why, but I turned around immediately when she asked me. My eyes locked with hers and hers didn't move from mine.

"Very good," she whispered, her lips curving up a little, my eyes drawn to them.

I couldn't shut my gaping mouth as I stared at her lips this close-up. They seemed…inviting.

No, Winter. She's your step sister. Get a grip!

I leaned back a bit and pushed her away, but my lame attempt at it stayed just that—an attempt. My hands refused to push between us.

Slowly, she pressed her thumb against my chin and tilted my face towards hers. But her eyes never left mine, which seemed to have scouted out every inch of my face and come to rest on my lips.

Her gazing was burning me from within.

She leaned in, and the last thing I knew was that her lips were already pressing mine.