Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
As the minutes ticked by, Winter glanced at her two best friends, lounging and chatting like they had all the time in the world.
Frustrated, she asked, “So... when exactly are you two leaving?”
Giselle raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting to something unusually serious. “Do you really want us gone?”
Winter blinked at the question, caught off guard by the sudden weight in her voice. Her mind wandered to all the times Giselle and Ningning had barged into her life, unannounced but always somehow bringing a chaotic sense of comfort.
She thought about how quiet her life had been before they showed up today. She whispered, almost to herself, “No...”
Giselle’s face softened, but before she could say anything, Ningning popped up from her seat and announced, “I’m hungry,” already heading toward the kitchen. Winter’s heart skipped a beat as she watched her friend saunter out.
Panic flared in Winter’s chest. She scrambled to her feet and rushed after Ningning, who was already opening the refrigerator. Her mind raced to Karina. She’s probably uncomfortable with those cuffs and the tape. She won’t be able to breathe properly. What if she...
Winter shook her head fiercely, trying to dislodge the thought. No. Stop it. Karina is just business. That’s all.
She reached the kitchen just as Ningning began rummaging through the fridge. “Why do you have, like, nothing in here?” Ningning complained, shutting the door with a dramatic sigh. “We need groceries.”
“I’ll order something later,” Winter mumbled, hastily grabbing plates to clean up the remnants of breakfast.
“Nope.” Ningning leaned against the counter. “We’re going out. It’s good for you.”
Before Winter could protest, Giselle appeared, all too eager to back Ningning up. “She’s right. You’ve probably not left this house in weeks. You need sun, vitamin D, human interaction. You know, life.”
“I’m perfectly fine without any of those things,” Winter countered, but Giselle wasn’t having it. She grabbed Winter by the wrist, ignoring her complaints, and dragged her toward the door.
As Giselle opened the door and tugged her out into the sunlight, Winter glanced over her shoulder and called, “Ningning, don’t do anything stupid in my house!”
“Me? Stupid? Never!” Ningning called back, smirking as she waved them off.
Winter wasn’t convinced, but she had no choice as Giselle yanked her further outside.
Meanwhile, back inside, Ningning wandered through the living room, boredom evident in the way she hummed softly to a tune playing on her phone. She looked around the sparse, minimalist space and plopped onto the couch, kicking her feet up.
With nothing else to do, she began tapping rhythmically on the coffee table, her hum growing louder as she searched for something to entertain herself.
The house remained silent save for her tune, but Ningning wasn’t one to sit quietly for long. The gleam of curiosity sparked in her eyes as she glanced toward the hallway.
“What secrets are you hiding, Winter?” she mused aloud, grinning mischievously.
Ningning paused mid-dance, her head tilting slightly as the sound came again—soft, almost imperceptible, but enough to make her stop. “Huh?” she muttered, glancing around the empty house. Nothing.
Shrugging, she went back to humming, her movements turning into a full-on twirl as she spun around the living room. But the sound returned, a faint noise like something shifting. She froze, her grin faltering as her curiosity sharpened.
Eyes narrowing, Ningning scanned the room again, slowly pacing around. Her gaze finally landed on the guest room door. It stood closed, as it always had, but now it seemed almost... suspicious. Her mischievous grin returned as she tiptoed toward it, every step deliberate.
“Let’s see what you’re hiding, Winter,” she murmured under her breath, hand reaching for the doorknob.
Before she could twist it, a sudden grip on her wrist yanked her back.
“What are you doing?” Winter’s voice was breathless, her face flushed as if she’d just run a marathon.
“Winter?” Ningning blinked, startled, then broke into a sly smile. “What’s in there?”
“Nothing!” Winter snapped, pulling Ningning back toward the kitchen with a forceful tug. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”
Behind them, Giselle caught up, panting lightly. “Why are you running everywhere, Winter? What’s your deal today?”
“Nothing!” Winter repeated, her voice a pitch higher.
Still skeptical but too lazy to argue, Ningning allowed herself to be dragged back to the kitchen, where the three of them began preparing lunch. Winter, however, was on high alert, moving quickly and doing most of the work herself, clearly trying to speed things up.
Giselle glanced at Ningning, raising an eyebrow, but they both shrugged and let Winter have her way.
By the time lunch was served and eaten, the two friends seemed satisfied. As they prepared to leave, Giselle leaned down to pat Winter’s shoulder. “Seriously, don’t overthink things. You’re not a failure just because your first plan didn’t work. You’ll find something better.”
“Yeah,” Ningning chimed in, grinning. “And call us if you need anything. You know we’re always here to help.”
Winter forced a smile, nodding as she ushered them toward the door. The moment it clicked shut behind them, she exhaled heavily, leaning against it. The silence of the house returned, and for once, it felt like a relief.
Finally alone again, Winter closed her eyes and muttered to herself, “I swear, they’re going to be the death of me.”
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
