Winter was on her way home to her apartment so late at night after doing her last assignment that was due in 2 days with her friend Ningning. The final exams week of the semester is coming so there are a lot of assignments that need to be done before the due date to validate students to be able to join the exams week. The weather was kinda chilly and windy as there was heavy rainfall pouring for quite some time earlier. Walking down the alley, she passed some small stores that were still open and some were probably cleaning up to call it a day. While walking, she unintentionally hummed to a Christmas song that was playing in one of the stores she’s passing by. But once she had passed the alley, the silence engulfed the atmosphere – only the sound coming from her footsteps were heard. It was a few moments until she realized the sound of footsteps becoming double as it belonged to someone else. Trying to be calm, she slowed down her pace to check if it was just her footsteps or there was someone else behind her. 

Oh – please not with a creep... With the possible bad scenarios playing in her mind, she became more alarmed. 

After taking a deep breath she fastened her steps yet carefully trying to go unnoticed by the stranger. She was aware that the person whoever it was, was actually following her.

Okay Winter, calm down you're almost there.. until you're inside the apartment lobby, you'll be safe– wait! Why does he have the access?!– or perhaps he lives here too?

Preventing bad things to happen, she decided to find someone to accompany her taking the elevator and this someone caught her eyes.

A tall figure wearing a black training suit with blue-black hair tied in a messy bun was in the elevator area – waiting for one of the elevators to come down. As the elevator door opened and the woman was about to go inside, Winter jogged to the taller woman.

Just in time.

Without giving a second thought, she draped her arms around the latter's arm, "hey Karina! It's been a long time! Where have you been?"

Giving a weird look to the smaller girl, the taller girl questioned her with her eyebrows.

Who is Karina? Is she drunk or what?

Noticing the elevator was about to close, Winter pulled the frozen girl inside which unfortunately the guy that had been following her since earlier still dared to follow her by getting himself inside the same elevator.

Or perhaps he really does live here? Shaking her thoughts, she was suddenly aware of someone's dead stare thrown in her direction. 

Realizing the latter perhaps was demanding an explanation through her eyes, Winter with her pleading eyes begged the taller girl to cooperate with her first, not forgetting to give a side glance to the guy behind her.

Checking her digital watch, the taller girl sighed.

23.05

What did I do to be involved in this kind of situation... 

Keeping an act, she casually engaged in a conversation with the smaller girl, "I've been busy with stuff.. you wanna hang out for a bit?" She took a glance to see the latter's reaction.

"Ah, that would be great!" Winter smiled, silently conveying how thankful she was for the help.

xx

As a ding sound was heard, they walked out from the elevator to the taller girl's apartment door.

While she was unlocking the door, she stole a glance towards the elevator area to see if the man was still following them or not. , he is still.

The taller girl who was known as Yoo Jimin pushed the door open and held it while waiting for the smaller girl to go inside as well.

Once they were both inside the apartment, Jimin grabbed the smaller girl's hand and peaked through the intercom screen.

Noticing the guy was walking away, she faced the smaller girl with a skeptical look. "Tell me, is this some kind of pranks? Or were you both really trying to kill me? If it's the latter–"

"Ya of course not! I don't even know that guy.. and he was kinda suspicious earlier – following me home.."

Still feeling not being convinced enough, Jimin raised an eyebrow while crossing her arms.

"But well I don't know and I'm still not sure if he lives here too or not... but seriously! He was very suspicious– I meant even though he lives here, why would he walk behind me and–"

After checking the intercom once again while absent-mindedly listening to the smaller girl's explanation, she cut her, "alright, you can go now. He's no longer there."

This got Winter flabbergasted.

"W-w-what?!"

"You heard me."

It was unbelievable. How is this woman so rude and has no sympathy at all? Why?!

"Oh because you're a stranger too FYI."

Okay, Winter didn't mean to say it out loud. But yeah sometimes has its own brain.

Noticing the taller girl was so annoyed, and probably going to throw her out to be that guy's prey (she doesn't even want to imagine such things) she sighed and lowered her head in embarrassment.

"...sorry." not looking at the taller girl, she muttered while fidgeting with her fingers.

Checking the smaller girl from head to toe, she sighed. Seems like she's innocent.

"What's your name?" Karina asked with an intimidating voice, making the smaller girl feel smaller under the intense stare the taller girl was giving.

“I-It’s Winter...”

“Korean name?”

“Minjeong, Kim Minjeong…”

Silence filled the room. Winter didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to be under this woman’s intense stare yet she didn’t want to go out yet. But at the same time, she wanted to go home.

A nice shower and comfy bed… maa, I want to go home T-T

Thinking about the possibility of camping in this girl’s apartment or worse being kicked out already made her restless. She pouted without her knowing.

“Please let me stay for tonight… just don’t kick me out yet. I’m afraid he’s still lurking outside around the apartment. Unless you want to accompany me to my apartment.” Winter broke the silence as she looked up to face the taller girl with hopeful pleading eyes. She said the last part while looking away from the latter.

Jimin sighed and was in deep thought. She just couldn’t trust strangers easily like this, especially letting them stay inside her apartment. What if this girl was just putting an act and without her knowing she’s teaming up with the previous guy and will kill her in her sleep instead?

But sending this girl to her apartment room was also a big no-no. What if the girl was innocent and saving the girl from the creep only made her be the prey replacement? Jimin didn’t want that either.

After putting a lot of thought into the final decision she was gonna make, she sighed before speaking up, hoping I’ll come out from my bedroom door alive tomorrow, “Alright, I’ll let you stay here for the night. But you’re staying in the living room. I’ll get the front door, windows, and my room’s door locked. Don’t do anything stupid. And please give me your ID card”

Winter was amused, but she understood well why the taller girl was acting this way, if she was her, she would probably just going to run away from the scene and possibly avoid it as possible. Getting involved in a dangerous case like this is a big no-no... – but wait, did she ever mention her name yet? I still haven’t gotten to know her name though… what if she’s cooperating with the guy previously, leading me to go inside this woman’s apartment.

"Alright, thank you so much for your help,..." Winter halted, waiting for the taller girl to spill out her name as her hand handed out her ID card to the taller girl.

"What?"

"Umm.. your name of course. You already have my name, so it will be even if I have your name too." As Winter spoke, she could see the latter was giving her another look. Oh, how she shivered a little under the latter's gaze.

Expecting the mysterious girl wouldn't blurt out her name, she sighed and talked to herself who silently let the taller girl hear what she said. 

"Fine, seems like there's no other choice, I will be calling you Karina then." Then she rested her back on the back of the couch.

What a long night it will be… I will try my best to stay awake. Who knows she’s gonna kill me in my sleep.

xx

The rain was back pouring down heavily. With thunders roaring outside in the sky, made Winter woke up from her sleep. 

, I fell asleep. But thank God, I’m still in one piece. 

With heavy eyes, she checked her phone screen to see the time only to groan silently knowing it's only 3 AM. The temperature was getting colder and she had nothing to cover her frozen foot. Sacrificing her upper body, she got up and took off her hoodie to cover her lower part of her body. Good thing she wore a long sleeve shirt inside.

At least I will still be able to walk tomorrow…

Shifting a little on the small yet slightly warm couch, Winter spent her night staring at the ceiling above her. 

xx

Jimin on the other hand was woken up by the roaring thunders with the sky turning bright whenever thunder strikes off. She found it hard to fall asleep. 

Argh, seriously the misfortune is still going on.

Then suddenly she was reminded about the smaller girl named Winter outside.

The scenario, the atmosphere.. oh my god it's like in the serial killer movies!

Checking the time on the nightstand 04.23 Jimin planned on checking the smaller girl outside. She remembered she didn't lend her anything for sleep.

It must be cold outsi– 

*knock knock* Jimin was startled by the sound coming from her bedroom door – she jumped out from her bed.

"What the heck, chill Jimin… it's not like what you're thinking." Slowly she walked to her door and opened the door slowly only to be greeted by none. 

"Excuse me–"

"Oh god! You surprised me! What are you doing down there?!" Jimin who didn't see Winter was curling up hugging her knees in front of her door jumped in surprise. She didn't expect this coming.

"S-sorry.. didn't mean to wake you up.. but, can I borrow a blanket?" The smaller girl was looking up at her with hopeful eyes. It was starting to be obvious that her body skin color was getting paler due to the cold temperature.

Jimin looked away, she didn't say anything and just closed the door.

What a cold-hearted person! She doesn't even bother to say anything... I guess instead of dying from being killed by that creepy guy last night, I would be dying here frozen.

The feeling of missing her apartment and the sore feeling her body was getting took a toll on her – she cried while burying her face on her knees.

In the deafening silence, the bedroom door creaked open.

"Here– hey w-why are you crying?" Jimin was panicking.

Oh god, what did I do... why she's even crying...

Winter who just realized she just cried herself for nothing couldn't help but feel embarrassed. But if it's just going to make the latter act more friendly then it's worth the tears.

But Winter was really on the verge of cracking out laughter. To think of it, why was she so dramatic in the first place?