The girls gathered excitedly on the parking lot. It was such a good day, the sun was up shining brightly. The government has lifted the temporary ban of any activities uphill. So they are all waiting now for the resort’s bus to take them to the area where they could finally ski.

***

Everyone found their happy place at the skiing area.

Yuri was helping Jessica how to balance herself on the board. It was fortunate that Yuri was good at skiing. She had been the adventurous and athletic type anyways so this kind of stuff would just be a piece of cake for her.

Taeyeon was initially finding it hard to stand on the board, but Tiffany had been a good teacher so she was progressing impressively. When Tiffany and Yuri were still together they have both loved adventure and trying out new things, and skiing was one of them. So Tiffany had much skills on skiing and is now trying to help Taeyeon.

The rest of the girls also had their own place of figuring things out.

“Yuri unnie!” Seohyun called out asking Yuri to help her.

Jessica agreed and gave Yuri the permission to leave her and help Seohyun.

“Tiffany unnie!” Yoona called out and pouted. Asking Tiffany for help on skiing.

Taeyeon agreed as she was already doing fine so she nodded for Tiffany to leave her and give Yoona a hand.

/////

Jessica was feeling proud of herself that she was able to make longer treads all by herself. But she suddenly lost balance and was about to fall on thick ice but someone caught her by the waist. When she glanced up she saw Taeyeon holding her tight preventing her from falling.

“Careful.” Taeyeon spoke softly still holding Jessica securely.

Jessica’s face immediately heated up. Taeyeon’s arms were around her waist and their bodies were pressed against each other. So close.

“I---uhh---thank you.” Jessica uttered.

Taeyeon felt her face also heat up. She saw a hue of pink crept through Jessica’s cheeks and she couldn’t hide hers also. Their position was too....close. Taeyeon slowly released the other girl and helped her to find balance standing again. It was fortunate that Taeyeon was not too far away from Jessica so when she noticed Jessica was starting to wobble she was able to catch her just in time.

////

“Yoona unnie! Look!” Seohyun excitedly called out while headed to Yoona’s direction. But then Seohyun began sliding faster and didn’t know how to stop it and was now headed straight to Tiffany’s direction instead.

“Tiffany unnie watch out!” Seohyun was alarmed.

Tiffany was busy tightening the strap of the board on her feet so she didn’t notice Seohyun earlier. When she glanced up Seohyun was already heading her way. She was expecting for a collision but nothing came. When she opened her eyes she saw Yuri lying on the ground…while she was on top of her.

“You okay?” Concern was written all over Yuri’s face. She was still holding Tiffany tightly in place. She was beside Seohyun while the girl was approaching Yoona so when she saw Seohyun heading towards the unknowing Tiffany she swiftly moved ahead and immediately pulled Tiffany out of the way.

“Y—yes. Thank you.” Tiffany uttered.

Both girls stared at each other for a moment.

“Yuri unnie! Tiffany unnie! Are you okay?” Yoona immediately came beside them.

“Tiffany unnie! Are you okay? I’m really sorry.” Seohyun joined them.

“Yeah we’re fine. Help us up please.” Yuri answered and gestured for them to help Tiffany.

Seohyun and Yoona then helped the two up.

“I’m really sorry unnie.” Seohyun bowed a couple of times.

“It’s okay Seo. Just be careful next time okay?” Tiffany smiled and patted the maknae’s head.

Seohyun nodded and hugged Tiffany.

/////

Not too far from them three heads were oblivious of the things going on around them. They were busy bickering.

“Why do you have such long legs?! I told you bend them a little!” Hyoyeon was getting impatient teaching Sooyoung. Hyoyeon happened to have knowledge on skiing so she ended up stuck with Sunny and Sooyoung for help.

“Look at Sunny, she’s learning quickly!” Hyoyeon pointed at Sunny who was successfully doing short treads ahead of them.

“It’s because her legs are short! It’s easier for her to balance!” Sooyoung retorted.

“Yah! It doesn’t have to do with the length of the legs!” Sunny shouted back. She could clearly hear what the two have been talking about behind her.

“Yah shut up! Just come back here and help me!”

“Why should I? I’m learning here!”

“But Hyo couldn’t support me alone!”

“Aish!” Sunny angrily turned and made her way towards the shikshin.

***

Everyone gathered around the bonfire. The girls had fun skiing during daytime and now they’re having a relaxing night under the beautiful night sky.

“Are you still cold?” Yuri took her blanket and scooted closer beside Jessica. She then draped the blanket on both of them and placed an arm around Jessica’s shoulder.

“There. Better?” Yuri softly spoke.

Jessica shyly smiled and nodded.

/////

Tiffany kept rubbing her palms together. She forgot her gloves and she was still cold despite the fire in front of them.

Taeyeon noticed this and took Tiffany’s hands and rubbed them against hers. She then blew air on it to keep it warm.

“Here. Wear this.” Taeyeon took off one of her gloves and wore them on one of Tiffany’s hand.

Tiffany stared at Taeyeon confusingly. Then Taeyeon took Tiffany’s bare hand with her other bare hand and placed them inside her jacket’s front pocket. Hands intertwined inside.

Taeyeon grinned while Tiffany smiled with cheeks wearing a hue of pink.

/////

“Aish! these love birds.” Sooyoung then threw stones at Yuri and Jessica then at Taeyeon and Tiffany.

 “What?!” Jessica glared.

“Stop all the lovey dovey. You still have friends that are single here.” Sooyoung motioned for herself and the rest of the girls who were sitting beside her.

“Yah! We aren’t doing anything!” It was Tiffany’s turn to protest.

Sooyoung rolled her eyes.

“Forgive her Fany-ah. She’s just envious that she doesn’t have anyone to act sweet with.” Hyoyeon laughed.

“Just leave the lovers alone shikshin.” Sunny joined in.

Sooyoung huffed dejectedly.

“Sooyoung unnie! Look a shooting star!” Seohyun pointed.

“Where?!” But when Sooyoung looked at the direction Seohyun was pointing, there was nothing.

“Aish!”

“You’re too slow Soo.” Sunny shook her head.

“Just enjoy the night sky instead. There are a lot of stars tonight. It’s so beautiful.” Hyoyeon added while glancing above.

“Sooyoung unnie, do you know what you call that bright star over there?”

“Uhhh…” Sooyoung shook her head.

Seohyun chuckled. “It’s what they call the Polaris.”

“Polaris?”

“Yes. It’s one of the most useful star to people. Long before the compass was invented, Polaris served as a navigational aid. It has been regarded as the “star of direction”. It is a star that is visible in all situations and provides a reliable indicator showing in which direction lay north.”

“Ohhh.” Everyone was listening intently at Seohyun’s explanation.

Taeyeon and Jessica happened to glance at each other at the same time but immediately looked away.

“In India it was a popular legend that the newly wed couple calls the Polaris to bless the marital home before even the onset is crossed.” Seohyun added.

“Wow. Jessica, don’t you think you and Yuri should also call upon it?” Hyoyeon spoke and glanced over at Jessica and Yuri.

“Huh?” Jessica was surprised.

“It’s too early Hyo. We haven’t even had any plans for the wedding yet. Calling upon the Polaris is done by newly weds right Seo?” Yuri chuckled and answered instead.

Seohyun nodded. “Yes unnie.”

“Oh okay. Just suggesting.” Hyoyeon shrugged.

***

The next day Sooyoung, Sunny, Hyoyeon, Yoona and Seohyun were gathered at the dining hall for breakfast.

“Where are the love birds?” Sooyoung looked around.

“Taeng had her arms and legs sore due to yesterday’s skiing. Tiffany is taking care of her.” Sunny explained.

“Jessica unnie is not lifting a finger to go out. She is dead tired from yesterday. Yuri unnie is accompanying her.” Yoona chuckled.

“.” Both Hyoyeon and Sooyoung spoke.

The girls just laughed it off and continued with their breakfast.

***

“Pain relievers please.”

Yuri lifted her head up when she heard a familiar voice. It was Tiffany who stood beside her on the counter of the resort’s pharmacy.

“Yuri?” Tiffany was surprised when she recognized the girl standing beside her.

“Hi.” Yuri smiled.

“H—hi” Tiffany greeted back.

“Pain reliever?” Yuri repeated what she heard of the girl said earlier.

“Ye--yeah. Taetae felt a bit sore from yesterday.”

“You?”

“Pain relievers also. Sica wouldn’t even lift a finger. She was dead tired from yesterday.” Yuri chuckled.

Tiffany couldn’t help but to also chuckle. When she was still learning skiing she was bed ridden for days. Her body also sored because of it.

Their meds finally came.

“W---would you mind if I walk you upstairs?” Yuri hesitantly asked. Their rooms were next to each other’s so she just would like to have company while walking back to their rooms.

“Uhhh. No. It’s okay.” Tiffany shook her head.

The walk back towards their rooms was quiet.

“So…this is me.” Tiffany spoke after reaching her door.

“Uhh. Okay. So this is me also.” Yuri scratched the back of her head.

“I’ll go inside now.” Tiffany smiled and turned the knob.

Yuri nodded and smiled before entering her room.

***

Jessica was woken up when she felt cold wind against her body. She opened her eyes and looked down to check for her blanket. She was surprised to see Yuri crouching over her legs.

“Yah! You !” Jessica squealed and hit Yuri with a pillow.

Yuri stumbled forward and landed on top of Jessica’s legs.

“Yah! What are you doing?!” Jessica kept hitting Yuri with a pillow.

“Oww! Oww! Ouch! What is wrong with you?!” Yuri finally managed to hold Jessica’s hands and stop her from hitting her.

“What are you doing?! Crouching over my legs?” Jessica glared at Yuri.

“I was putting these pads on your sore legs to relieve the pain! You were sleeping like a log so I did it myself!” Yuri retorted.

When Jessica checked she saw pads on her thighs and calves.

“Ohhh. Sorry.” Jessica gave a sheepish smile.

“Aish. This woman.” Yuri massaged her neck and moved to the other side of the bed.

“Yuri-ah. I said I was sorry. I was just surprised.” Jessica sulked.

Yuri shook her head. It was only seldom that she sees the ice princess sulk so she took the opportunity of getting some more.

“Pshh!” Yuri snorted and faced the other way avoiding Jessica.

“Yah! Yuri-ahhhhh. I was woken up when I felt cold and when I looked down to check for the blanket I was really surprised when I saw you bending over. I said I’m sorry.” Jessica whined still pouting. She was guilty of hitting Yuri and accusing her of erseness when in fact the other girl was just being thoughtful.

Yuri crossed her arms. She was really enjoying the sight of the sulking girl.

“Yuri-ahhh!” Jessica shook Yuri by the arm.

Yuri then glanced at the sulking girl. She stared at her for a moment while Jessica kept pouting asking for forgiveness.

Yuri grinned.

“Yah!” Jessica pushed Yuri after seeing the girl grinning widely.

Yuri laughed while lying on the bed. It was really such a cute sight. She didn’t know sulking, pouting and whining cutely can be associated with the ice princess. Good job Yuri. She mentally patted herself.

Jessica huffed. She her side and laid on the bed face down.

“Yah! Kwon Yuri! Put some pads on my back.” Jessica ordered.

“What?” Yuri stopped laughing and stared at her confusingly.

“You heard me. Put some pads on my back too. You were already putting some on my legs, then might as well do the rest.” Jessica used her iciest tone and glared. She was still mad of the little trick Yuri did earlier.

Yuri opened to protest but none came. She shivered at the tone and at the piercing glare. Moments ago the other girl was so cute sulking and now in a blink of an eye Cinderella has turned into the evil step mother. Yuri had no choice. She then scooted closer and obliged.

She bended over at the lying Jessica.

“Uhh…Sica…”

“Hmmff?”

“My ha---hands won’t fit in---inside your sh---shirt.”

Jessica then ed some buttons of her shirt while still lying on her stomach.

“There.” Jessica spoke again after resting her head back on the pillow.

Yuri’s face heated up. She gulped.

She slowly placed pads on the back of Jessica’s neck, on her shoulders and along her spine. Then she slowly lifted up her shirt to place some pads on her waist. She gulped again. She could see the girl was petite but she never knew Jessica had such small physique. And waistline.

When she was finally done she let out a deep breath. She wasn’t aware she was holding her breath the whole time. Her heart was racing and she could still feel her face heating up. She immediately moved to the other side of the bed and tried to calm herself.

She saw Jessica sat up. Her eyes unintentionally landed on the ed part of the other girl’s shirt. She immediately looked away and mentally scolded herself. For the Nth time she could feel her face heated up again and her heart racing.

“Uhhh… there are still pads. You might want to put some on your arms.” Yuri said but didn’t face Jessica.

“Oh. Okay.” She heard Jessica say.

Yuri waited for a while before turning back to face Jessica’s direction. The girl was busy putting pads on her arms. Then her eyes landed on Jessica’s shirt. The girl happened to skip a pair of ed ones. And Yuri could see the other girl’s bra. She immediately closed her eyes and looked away.

“Hey what’s wrong with you?” Jessica nonchalantly asked still busy placing the pads on her arms.

“N---nothing. I’ll go get a shower!” Yuri hurriedly stood up and dashed towards the bathroom without glancing back at the girl on the bed.

Jessica just tilted her head at how Yuri was acting so weird.

***

Taeyeon was woken up with something itchy on her face. When she opened her eyes she saw Tiffany’s face so close to hers. She blinked.

Tiffany has been observing Taeyeon while sleeping. She was amused at how Taeyeon was pouting while sleeping. So she took some strands of her hair and began tickling the sleeping girl’s face.

“Fany-ah?” Taeyeon asked groggily.

Which Tiffany responded with an eyesmile. She found the groggy Taeyeon a cute sight.

“Hey, I brought you some pain relievers” Tiffany then moved back a little.

Taeyeon slowly sat up. “Ohh. Thank you Fany-ah.”

“It’s okay.”

“I can’t believe I feel this sore now. My arms hurt. My back hurts. My legs hurt. My whole body is sore. I feel so old all of a sudden.” Taeyeon groaned.

Tiffany chuckled at the whining kid.

After taking the pain reliever, Taeyeon spoke. “Fany-ah?”

“Hmmm?” Tiffany was setting aside the meds and the water on the bedside table.

“Could you give me a massage?” Taeyeon sheepishly smiled.

“What?” Tiffany was surprised at Taeyeon’s sudden request.

“Massage.” Taeyeon grinned.

Tiffany stared at her incredulously.

“What? You gave me one when I helped you move in your things to my apartment.” Taeyeon sulked.

“But that was because you helped me carry my things.”

“I helped you carry your ski board.” Taeyeon pouted.

“But I didn’t tell you to work that hard to learn how to ski and to beat me.” Tiffany grinned. She was amused at how Taeyeon worked hard yesterday to learn how to ski. And now she ended up having her body all sore.

“Hffff.” Taeyeon crossed her arms.

“Ohh come on Taetae.” Tiffany was still grinning. She really found it funny thinking how sore must Taeyeon be from all the effort she has exerted yesterday just to learn how to ski.

Taeyeon turned her head the other way.

Tiffany nudged and kept poking Taeyeon’s arms.

“Yah! It hurts there!” Taeyeon whined. She was frustrated at how she ended up from being all giddy up of learning how to ski yesterday.

“Okay okay. Sorry.” Tiffany couldn’t help but laugh.

“Stop laughing.”

“I’m not laughing.” Tiffany tried to hold her laughter but her cheeks were puffing.

Taeyeon then plopped herself back to bed and buried herself on her pillow.

“Yah! Taetae.” Tiffany shook Taeyeon but the girl didn’t move.

“Hey are you dead already?”

Taeyeon still didn’t move nor answer.

“Fine. Fine. I’ll give you a massage.”

“Really?” Taeyeon’s head perked up.

“You want me to change my mind?”

“Of course not!” Taeyeon grinned.

Kid. Tiffany then scooted closer at Taeyeon. She motioned for Taeyeon to place her head on Tiffany’s lap. She wanted to massage first Taeyeon’s head.

Taeyeon obediently followed what she was told and comfortably rested her head on Tiffany’s lap.

Taeyeon thinks that Tiffany gives massage incredibly. She was really relieved that time when she was first massaged by the girl after moving in her things.

Tiffany slowly placed her hands on Taeyeon’s temples. Taeyeon was staring at her and it made Tiffany conscious.

“Yah! Stop staring.” Tiffany warned.

“Why?”

“Just stop it.”

“But I want to stare. You look really y when you’re too engrossed while working.” Taeyeon thought out loud.

Tiffany’s face heated up at what the other girl just said.