Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader]

Side 3. Rewind with Winter

The quiet in Y/n's room was only broken by the faint click of his keyboard and the occasional rustle as he shifted in his chair, trying to stay awake. The hour was late, but Y/n was deep into his work when his eyes drifted to a photo resting on his desk—an old, almost faded picture from school days with Winter, tucked in a plain black frame.

The photo brought a nostalgic smile to his face. They were standing under cherry blossoms, laughing at something he couldn't quite remember. Both of them looked so young, so carefree. He chuckled, realizing how different they were back then—but also how some things hadn't changed at all.

Just as he traced a finger over the image, a light knock sounded at his door, and Winter's voice called out softly. "Hon? You're still up?"

The door creaked open, and Winter slipped inside, blinking sleepily at him. She tilted her head curiously when she noticed the photo in his hands. "Oh my god, is that from high school?" She padded over to him, squinting as she reached for the frame. "I forgot you still had that."

"Of course I kept it. I'm sentimental, remember?" Y/n grinned, nudging her shoulder. "You look so young here, Jeong. All happy and carefree, dragging me through cherry blossoms."

Winter laughed, taking a seat beside him and leaning in to get a better look. "Oh, please. You loved it, don't deny it."

"Loved it?" Y/n raised an eyebrow, his voice full of mock horror. "Jeongie, you forced me out of my warm, safe bed at 6 a.m. on a weekend......just for cherry blossoms!"

Winter just chuckled, her gaze soft as she looked at the picture. "You know, I dragged you everywhere back then. I don't even remember why I felt like I had to."

They both fell silent, slipping into memories that felt both distant and oddly close.

-

It was a chilly spring morning, and Y/n was half-asleep as Winter practically yanked him out of his house. "Jeong, it's 6 a.m. What on earth are we doing here?" he groaned.

She grinned, pointing towards the cherry blossom trees lining the nearby park. "Just look! Aren't they beautiful?"

Y/n squinted, still groggy. "Yeah, yeah, they're nice and all, but I was having a dream about... I don't know, anything but this."

"Your dreams are probably boring anyway,"

"No it doesn't" Y/n defended.

"It totally isss" Winter teased, pulling him along the path. She twirled around, laughing under the pale pink trees, completely in her element.

Y/n grumbled but soon found himself smiling despite himself. There was something captivating about Winter's excitement. He pulled out his phone, snapping a photo as she threw her hands up in a swirl of blossoms. "Gotcha!" he said, grinning.

"YA!" Winter protested, but she laughed, not even attempting to swipe the phone away.

"That's a terrible angle, idiot! Delete it."

"Hell no. Evidence that you dragged me out here for 'appreciating beauty.'"

Winter just rolled her eyes. "Someday, you'll thank me for expanding your small head"

"My head is not small!"

-

Back in the present, Y/n chuckled at the memory. "I still think I could've done without the 6 a.m. part."

Winter smirked, nudging him. "Wouldn't be me if I wasn't making you miserable somehow."

He shook his head, eyes shining with warmth. "Oh, trust me, you can open a course with just that."