Eyes That Cannot Lie | Winrina

None But Kim

The next day at school, Karina walked through the crowded hallway, her usual calm, poised demeanor masking the storm of emotions she felt inside. As she passed, heads turned to look at her—the glances were subtle but unmistakable. People admired her, whispered about her, and some even envied her. She was known for her striking beauty, her soft smile, and the effortless way she carried herself. To everyone else, Karina seemed untouchable—perfect.

But none of that mattered to her.

Ever since the incident with Winter, the attention from others felt hollow. Every time someone approached her with a confession—whether it was a shy girl with a crush or a confident guy hoping to win her over, Karina rejected them without hesitation. She wasn't interested in anyone else, not when her heart belonged to Winter. It always had. From the moment she saw her.

As she reached her locker, Karina caught sight of a familiar face standing near the door. A girl from her literature class, sullyoon, if she remembered correctly; was waiting there, clutching a small envelope in her hand. Karina sighed inwardly, already guessing what was about to happen.

"Hey, Karina," Sullyoon said shyly, her cheeks flushing pink as she approached. "I was wondering if you had a moment..."

Karina offered her a polite smile, already rehearsing her rejection in her mind. "Of course, what's up?"

Sullyoon bit her lip nervously, her eyes darting around before finally meeting Karina's gaze. "I... I've admired you for a while, and I—well, I wanted to give you this." She held out the envelope, her hands trembling slightly.

Karina's smile softened, but there was no hesitation in her response. "Thank you, Sullyoon. That's really sweet of you, but I have to be honest. I'm not interested in anyone right now."

Sullyoon's face fell, her shoulders slumping as she quickly tried to mask her disappointment. "Oh... I see. I kind of expected that, but I thought I'd try anyway."

Karina nodded, her expression kind but firm. "I'm really flattered, but I can't accept this. I'm sorry."

Sullyoon forced a smile, though her eyes betrayed her sadness. "No worries. Thanks for being honest." With that, she turned and hurried away, leaving Karina standing alone by her locker.

Karina sighed, shoving her books into her bag before heading to her next class. She wasn't surprised by the confession—this sort of thing happened all the time. But each time, it only reminded her of how complicated her own feelings were. No matter how much attention she got, no one could distract her from the one person she couldn't have.

Winter.

They had been close once—closer than anyone else at school. When Winter transferred to Karina's school, they had hit it off almost immediately. There was something about Winter's quiet, guarded nature that drew Karina in, making her want to understand her. And Winter, in her own way, had opened up to her, even if it had been slow and tentative.

But that was all before the incident.

Now, all that was left between them was tension, regret, and unspoken words. And despite everything, Karina's feelings for Winter hadn't faded. If anything, they had only grown stronger over time. She couldn't imagine being with anyone else—didn't want to imagine it. Her loyalty to Winter, even if unreciprocated, was unwavering.

As she sat in her next class, Karina's thoughts drifted back to their meeting from the day before. The way Winter had looked at her, the brief vulnerability in her eyes when Karina had confessed what she loved about them. It had stirred something inside her, something that wouldn't let her give up.

After class, Karina headed to the café where she and Winter had agreed to meet again. Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked, each step filled with a mixture of hope and fear. She knew Winter still harbored anger, and Karina couldn't blame her for it. But she also knew there was something unspoken between them—something that had been there long before the incident.

When Karina arrived, Winter was already seated at a small table near the window, her back turned to the door. The soft afternoon light filtered through the glass, casting a warm glow over her figure. Karina paused for a moment, taking in the sight of her. There was something about Winter, even in her quiet solitude, that captivated her.

Taking a deep breath, Karina approached the table. "Hey," she greeted softly, sliding into the seat across from Winter.

Winter glanced up, her eyes unreadable, though there was no trace of the anger from the day before. "Hey."

Karina set her bag down, trying to read Winter's expression, but it was like staring at a wall. Winter had always been good at hiding her emotions when she wanted to, and today was no exception.

"So," Winter said after a moment of silence, her voice clipped. "We should probably get started on the project."

Karina nodded, though her heart wasn't in it. She wanted to talk, to say something meaningful, but she knew pushing Winter too hard would only make things worse. "Yeah, you're right. I brought some more research we can go over."

They spent the next hour discussing their project, but the conversation was mostly business. Winter kept her answers short and to the point, and Karina struggled to find a way to bridge the gap between them.

Finally, as they were wrapping up, Karina couldn't hold back any longer. "Winter," she said softly, catching her gaze. "I know we're just supposed to focus on this project, but... I want you to know that I haven't given up on us."

Winter's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something Karina couldn't quite place. "There is no 'us,' Karina," she replied, her voice cold but not unkind. "Not anymore."

Karina's heart clenched at the words, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you, and I can't undo that. But I still care about you. More than anything."

Winter stared at her for a long moment, her gaze unwavering. Then she sighed, looking away. "You can't just keep saying that and expect things to change."

"I don't expect them to change right away," Karina said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I need you to know that I'm not giving up. Not on you."

Winter didn't respond, her eyes focused on something distant outside the window. Karina felt the weight of the silence between them, heavier than anything they had discussed about their project.

Finally, Winter stood up, gathering her things. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said, her voice flat.

Karina nodded, watching her leave. Once again, she felt the familiar ache in her chest, the longing for something that felt just out of reach.

As Winter disappeared through the door, Karina sat there for a moment longer, staring down at the table. No matter how many confessions she rejected or how much attention she received from others, it was Winter's acceptance she craved the most.

She would keep trying, she knows that it'll take time. The large gap between them is just temporary.

That's how she'll get her girl, never backing down until Kim Minjeong is hers.