"Should we get there already?" Karina asked the freshly stir Winter. It had her more shakes before she was awoken from her state, responding to her question just in time. "Can we eat first, Karina? I'm hungry." Winter asked with her morning voice, rubbing her tummy in hunger. The two immediately left the hotel once the sun had lovingly ascended upon them, thus making the younger empty.

 

"We'll leave early for the bus tho..." The older stopped and turned to face the younger who was walking slowly behind her, taking small steps, dazed. 

 

"Let's have soup first, what about that?" Winter immediately raised her head upon hearing that, nodding her head in total agreement. 

 

"Come." Karina said gesturing the younger to come beside her, she immediately put her arm around the girl as the younger soonest walked forward to where she stood. They both smiled as they started walking in unison, leaving Dadaepo.

 

 

-----

 

 

As the two began a traverse across the long road to the bus terminal, they bumped into a diner wherein a few people take seat. An atmospheric noise invaded their ears once they stepped into the said diner, clinking sounds of glasses and utensils, rustling of youngsters, customers munching and slurping, and so people nonchalantly conversing.

 

"What do you want to have?" Karina asked the still sleepy Winter while she ties her hair up, leaving a couple of strands. It's her style. She feels effortlessly beautiful whenever her hair is up and styles it with few stray strands interfering her beautifully structured face. Winter stole a quick glance from her, smirking afterwards. She's just as beautiful as she is. Really. She thought, praising her undeniable beauty internally.

 

"They serve hot broths right now, as for sure.. It's morning." Karina informed Winter. The older lady mischievously pinched the younger's cheek. The lady looked at her in surprise. "You sound so low this morning. Didn't you sleep well last night?" Winter shrugged her shoulders in response. She did sleep well last night it's just that she wants to lie down for more, feeling her muscles tensed up after soaking in the sea yesterday, her shoulders and glutes feel so heavy and achy.

 

"I'm just hungry." She gave the one who asked a little laugh that sounded a bit up, upon answering to her, she gestured the other to have a seat in the vacant table right in front of them. The two took their seats right away. They immediately put down their large, heavy bags on either side.

 

A woman in her late 40s approached to ask for their orders. For how many times coincidental, they said the same thing again to the lady worker, telling her it's a- two servings for Dwaeji-gukbap. 

 

Winter yawned multiple times until the ordered broth arrived on their table. She took a sigh after sniffling the appetizing aroma of the smoking broth, the hotness and smell came through her nostrils and slid along to . Just inhaling it can make her full already, but a morsel until the very last will make her full for the rest of the day. Winter immediately took a nibble from one of the floating porks in her bowl. She supped up her soup delightedly,

 

Karina giggled in cuteness, Winty seems to be really hungry.

 

Karina started eating too. Her eyes never left Winter since the latter laid her spoon onto . Winter didn't speak. She was too focused on the soup, the pork tasted so good, personally, it seemed to be the most toothsome morsel she had for the past few months. Winter lifted her head and caught Karina staring at her, she felt conscious as she locked eyes with the lady across her.

 

"S-sorry... I was just too hungry." She apologized and wiped with a piece of tissue afterwards. Karina just laughed at her cute gestures. "Just eat. Don't mind me." The older said smiling. The younger then smiled and returned her handle to the spoon, she started eating again and so the older. Karina couldn't take her eyes off of Winter. She's cute. Very cute. She thought,

 

Winter finished her soup nearly gobbling. Apparently, her hunger showed in how fast she drained her bowl, she finished it in one sweep away, totally quicker than any other else who came to the diner the same time as them. Karina reached for the water and grasped onto the plastic cup, taking deep gulps from it straightaway,

 

Her gaze firstly landed at Winter once she lowered her head back to its normal level, she laughed at her image. "Let me wipe it off." Karina reached out for a piece of tissue, leaning forward to the younger one's face. Winter paused in a sudden bewilderment. "You left some strands of noodle. Are you a two year old baby, huh, Winty?" Karina asked as she circled the tissue around , gently and softly. Winter couldn't move an inch, Karina was too close and they could kiss if she'd stir herself to action. Her gaze was firmly set to Karina's heart shaped, reddish lips. She gulped when Karina's fingertips fortuitously touched a rim of her slim lips.

 

"I-is it gone?" Winter asked and took the tissue from the older's hand, she wiped it off for herself, roughly so she could get rid of all, at once. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to call you like that... I mean..." Karina halted for a second and got back to her seat, aligning it better to face the lady. "I didn't mean to offend you or something... You actually looked cute. I mean... you always were and.. you are, yeah." Karina clarified, stuttering. Winter just gave her a quick nod and drank the water from her glass. She wasn't offended or shy of whatever Karina called her with what, she was anxious of what she did, obviously, about the way she leaned closer and it brought her heart a panic alert because they almost kissed. Those kinds of romantic dining scenes only happen in movies. I never knew it could happen in real life. How did we become the main characters in a sudden?! Winter thought looking over the window, squinting her eyes, lips pursed.

 

Finally, Karina finished her meal. She glanced to her side and met Winter's holding up gaze. Karina just lifted her brows at her but with a smile, she reached for a tissue and gently damped it against , gracefully circling it in motion. Winter propped on one elbow and stared at Karina, Karina's movements became on slow-mo in Winter's eyes. She looks so hot even just breathing. 

 

"Are you done staring?" Winter came to her senses and leaned on her chair, scratching her nape afterwards. "Tsk. Don't be shy. You can stare at me for a lifetime." Karina said, leaving Winter frozen. She leaped up from her seat and darted into the cashier.

 

"What the hell..." Winter cursed under her breath, she shook her head sideways and took a grab on the glass beside her, pouring it with some drops of water and gulped it right away.

 

 

*****

 

 

"Are we not there yet?" Karina asked Winter who's now walking ahead of her. "We need to get in the bus and we'll be there." Winter answered in slight loud voice, they couldn't hear each other as people converse in jumbled language, making minimal sounds that made the words hard to understand. They were rushing to get in the bus as other passengers jostled against them. Karina held Winter by the hem of her sweater, Winter felt it and held her hand tightly. They stooped forward to the bus, hand in hand. Luckily, they found a vacant seat for two at the second row from the last. Winter took the window seat. I'm sleepy and watching the view outside might make me fall asleep easier. She reasoned out, thankfully, Karina agreed.

 

They were both very tired after their first ride at the subway. They're at Busanjin-gu already and are going to Winter's friend right now.

 

A few moments later, the bus moved.

 

Karina looked at her right, seeing Winter with her head down, swaying it from side to side. Karina smiled at her cuteness, she looks like a puppy with lifted ears. The older lady got her neck pillow from her big bag, she gently placed it around Winter's neck. The sleepyhead didn't move a bit, not even tickled. 

 

Karina carefully grabbed Winter's head and rested it on her shoulder. Karina felt her heart skipped a bit when Winter hummed the moment her hand touched the younger's puffy cheek. She stared at her for a second. She even moved herself to Winter just to see her in a clearer view. She bent down her head and took a long stare.

 

She's got long eyelashes... Her eyes look good even though they are closed. Her nose is just so perfect....

Her lips.... they seem to be so soft...

 

Karina thought, examining.

 

"Hmmm...." Winter again hummed. She moved her body and looked like she was disturbed. Karina carefully reached for her bag and got her earphones in hand. She pulled it to a stretch, straightening the curl and inserted the jack into her phone. The older lady played her recently most listened to song. Karina discreetly searched for Winter's right ear, she put her arm around her and put the ear bud into Winter's ear once she felt it. Karina adjusted her seat just as the volume.

 

Soon, Karina rested her head on Winter's too. Closing her eyes, listening to Avril Lavigne's Complicated while she rests her arm around the sleeping Winter.

 

 

*****

 

 

The bus stopped at its destination. 

 

Karina and Winter woke up from their slumber. Winter felt her head stiffed when she lifted up her head. She moved it from side to side, feeling her joints clicking. 

 

"Was my head too heavy? I'm sorry.." She turned to Karina who just spoke, apologizing for resting her head against hers. Winter was even shocked to hear that, she didn't realize that Karina slept with her head being rested on top of hers. She shyly shook her head. She also gave back Karina her neck pillow once she saw it being wrapped around her neck, she thanked her for that.

 

"Ahmmm... W-we're near there. Let's get down?" Winter queried in her sleepy tone, rubbing her eyes, waiting for Karina's response. "Let's hop down. It's getting late," Karina answered and held her grip on her big bag, Winter did the same to her travel bag. The two hopped down from the bus, they immediately stopped a taxi and headed their way to Winter's friend's place.

 

 

******

 

 

Two lady wal