Those Winter Days (A Winrina Jiminjeong Story)

Part 2 - CHAPTER 1

Tuesday 9:30am (1 month later)

Karina's P.O.V.

It was the start of another blissfully cold day and, as expected, the first few flakes of freshly fallen snow had begun to fall on yet another fine winter's day. It was a season of mystery, of alluring charm. To me it never failed to bring a sense of excitement in the sudden but bright arrival of festive lights and the warmth of roaring fireplaces that's enigmatic glow added to the sensation of bringing in the new year.

Yet that firey warmth was now merely an ember as I stared at the scene of the street below of my once beloved Winter happily chatting away in conversation to the annoying girl beside her. Sitting beside the bay window watching as she glanced at her illuminated phone screen, she bit her lip in contemplation before eventually simply letting it ring into silence.

In frustration at her ignoring me, I threw my phone onto the cushion beside me. We had once said that things between us would never change with fame but then why did it already feel as though it had. What happened to those amazing plans we'd been making together? For me, I was still here waiting for us to turn rhose dreams into reality. Lost in nostalgia, I was terrified by the thought of ever losing her and found only comfort in clinging to those beautiful dreams.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I continued to pout over my unrequited love only to be disturbed by the sound of Ning Ning's voice emerging from the hallway. "Aeri, my back hurts so much! Your room is literally the size of a shoebox."

Giselle chuckled lightly at her girlfriend's evidently grumpy tone. "You're exaggerating. It isn't that bad."

"Yes it is! We're staying in my room tonight where there's more space, end of discussion." Ning Ning said definitely as the 2 entered the lounge where I was sitting, surprised by my sudden appearance. "Oh Jimin? What are you doing?"

I kept my gaze on Winter outside whilst muttering boredly. "Staring out the window."

Ning Ning scoffed. "Well obviously, I can see that."

"Stupid questions get stupid answers." I replied bluntly, still refusing to take my eyes away from Winter who was smiling shyly in conversation.

"Wow. Well good morning to you too. Imagine if I'd asked something completely crazy like why are you staring out the window as if you're ready to pounce." Ning Ning yawned, clearly still tired from our busy schedule the past few days with TV performances and radio interviews to promote our new song.

"Morning Jimin, you're up and ready early. You know we're not leaving for the studio for another couple of hours yet? " Giselle asked with Ning Ning tiredly beside her as they wandered across to the kitchen, hand-in-hand but my attention was still vacant focusing on outside.

"It's been 20 fucking minutes! How long does it take to say goodbye and leave?" I was staring at the snowy scene below, watching Winter laughing and talking so casually to Lia of all people on the sidewalk.

"In case you weren't sure by now, she's in a good mood as usual." Ning Ning dryly said to Giselle with sarcasm while pouring water into the kettle to prepare her morning wake up call of a cup of tea. A warming start to a freezingly cold day.

I bit my lip, rubbing the glass of the window that was foggy to get a clearer view of the outdoors. "Sorry... I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

"Was it's Winter bed and it just so happened to be empty like yesterday?" Ning Ning chuckled, making me instantly glare in her direction.

"Are you trying to wind me up?" It was often like this between the 2 of us but we had become accustomed to teasing one another like this.