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Day four started like any other, with a quiet breakfast shared between Winter and Karina.
It was like a familiar routine by now. Karina was happily devouring her food, completely at ease, while Winter poked at her own meal, wondering if this surreal arrangement would ever end.
But just then, a loud banging on the front door broke the calm, followed by two unmistakable voices shouting her name-Giselle and Ningning. Winter's eyes flew wide with panic. Karina, unfazed, simply continued eating as if nothing had happened.
Winter didn't even have time to think. She reached across the table, grabbed Karina's wrist, and yanked her up, sending Karina stumbling after her down the hall.
"Hey! I wasn't done eating!" Karina complained, stumbling as Winter hurried her into the guest room. Her protests fell on deaf ears, though, as Winter pushed her onto the bed, one hand clamping firmly over Karina's mouth while Giselle and Ningning's knocks grew louder and more impatient.
"Winter! Open up, or we're coming in!" Ningning shouted from outside.
Karina twisted around, trying to free herself, but Winter's mind was racing. She quickly pulled out a pair of handcuffs from her bedside drawer and snapped them around Karina's wrists behind her back. Karina, even in this situation, couldn't help but look amused.
"Do you keep these just lying around? All over the house?" she asked with a smirk.
Winter ignored her, instead pressing her down onto the bed to keep her from moving, her eyes darting around the room for a better solution. She froze as the sound of Giselle's voice grew closer. "Winter, we're coming in whether you like it or not!"
Spotting a roll of duct tape nearby, Winter grabbed it and peeled off a strip, fixing it over Karina's mouth. Karina raised an eyebrow, eyes twinkling with mischief even as she tried to smother a laugh. Winter took a deep breath, crouching down to whisper, "Stay quiet, be a good girl, and I'll reward you later."
Karina's smirk only deepened, eyebrows wiggling as she muffled something under the tape that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
Realizing the unintentional implication of her words, Winter flushed bright red before hurrying out, leaving a giggling, gagged Karina behind as she quietly shut the door just as Giselle and Ningning barged into the house.
Winter turned to greet her friends, her breathing heavy and her face flushed a suspicious shade of red. Giselle and Ningning exchanged confused glances, taking in Winter's disheveled appearance with raised eyebrows.
"Uh... Morning?" Winter offered weakly, an awkward smile plastered on her face.
Winter's heart was pounding as she attempted to steer her already suspicious friends down the hall and away from the kitchen. Just as she thought she was in the clear, a loud "Meow!" from Banana made her stomach drop.
