Karina came to school with students looking at her weirdly. She rolled her eyes and ignored them before going to her locker. There, she saw her best friend was already waiting for her.

"Aeri."

"Rina. The cops are here for you, again."

Karina nodded her head while Aeri looked at her worriedly.

"Rina, we can't let this go on. I can't just do nothing when my best friend has been accused of something like this."

"I know, but I have to give my cooperation. I'll just continue to answer their questions. Nothing to worry about, okay?"

"Okay. I'll do anything to block your parents from finding out about this."

Karina smiled and hugged her.

"You're the best. Thank you."

 

 

...

 

 

"Karina. Are you sure this has nothing to do with you?"

"Will my answer change your mind? I feel like I'm wasting my time when none of you believe me." Karina sighed.

"The latest victim, Na Jaemin. You hit him with the ball, on his face."

"Accidentally." Karina said flatly.

"Right, but he got beaten up on the same day after that happened."

"Not my fault if he suddenly had to face such an unfortunate event."

"You're not showing any sort of pity right now. More reasons why we are suspicious of you."

Karina sighed heavily and shakes her head.

"I'm just annoyed that you keep accusing me. The boys were such a jerk, okay? They bothered me and all. But, do I care? Do I want to hurt them back? No. Well, if I have some kind of obsessed person having my back, is that my fault? I never pay them to do that. You should've done a better job and go find that person for you to interrogate instead of me." Karina explained herself frustratedly.

The cops looked at each other before clearing their throat while the principal just kept quiet.

"So, you really have no idea of who's behind this?"

"No." Karina mumbled with a frown.

"Well then, Karina, we would like you to stay away from the boys for the time being. We don't want anyone else to become a victim."

Karina scoffed and clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Really now? Shouldn't you go and warn the boys instead of me? Hah, how annoying." Karina said before excusing herself and left the room in anger.

"I'm sorry for her behaviour. She usually wasn't like that. Maybe she's feeling the pressure because of this interrogation. But, Sir, she is clean. I can assure you that. Karina Yoo is a sweetheart, she loves her friends and cares for her volleyball team. I really think she's innocent." The principal said.

"We want to believe that too, Mr Lee. However, we cannot be too sure until we catch the real culprit." Said one of the cops.

"I understand."

 

 

 

 

.....

 

 

 

 

Right now, all of the students have been called to gather at the university's main hall for an important announcement. So, everyone is coming in one by one and took a seat respectively. Karina was inside already, sitting beside Aeri who squealed immediately when she saw her girlfriend and took a seat next to her.

"Girls. Pay attention to me too." Karina pouted and glared at the lovebirds.

"How was the interrogation today?" Ning asked.

"Ugh, the same. Boring."

"Right. Are they going to continue asking you things you don't know?" Ning asked her again.

"Not sure." Karina shrugged.

"Hello. Is this seat vacant?"

Karina froze for a second before she turned her head so fast to look at her left and found Winter standing there, looking so tiny and cute.

"Can I sit here?" She asked again, but this time she looked at Aeri since Karina doesn't look like she's going to say anything anytime soon.

"Oh, please. No one sits there. You can have a seat." Aeri quickly said and gave her a wide smile.

"Thank you." Winter bowed her head before finally sitting down beside Karina.

Aeri pinched Karina's arm causing her to hiss and glared at her. Aeri mouthed "Don't be an idiot and talk to your crush."  Yet, Karina still glared at her and looked straight to the front. Ning giggled seeing how Karina looks like she doesn't know what to do.

"Ah. Hopeless." Aeri muttered lowly.

Karina tried to side glance at Winter secretly and saw the girl was crossing her arms while tilting her head, looking bored as hell with a blank face. Karina's mouth tugged upward slightly as she knows Winter probably preferred to study silently and nap in peace instead.

 

 

...

 

 

"Hey, Winter."

Winter turned around and blinked seeing Mark, one of her classmates jogged towards her.

"I saw you sitting beside Karina earlier. Aren't you scared of being near to her?" He asked.

"No, why?"

"Well, you heard the rumours right? No one's safe after an encounter with her."

"It's because they tried to hurt her, Mark. And I wasn't doing anything. I chose to sit there since no one seemed to want to sit beside her and you know that I don't like to fight for a seat with the crowd."

"I know. I just want you to be careful."

Winter smiled and nodded her head.

"I appreciate your worries, but I'll be fine. I have to go now."

"Yeah, sure. See you, Winter."

When Winter turned back around to walk home, she saw Karina with her friends, Aeri and Ning. She noticed that they tried to glance her way subtly, but Winter only pretended she did not see that.

"You should go walk her home."

"No, Aeri."

"Come on, be a gentlewoman for your girl."

"Are you crazy? No. Not yet."

"Not yet? When will you make a move?"

"It's my life, it's up to me!"

"Ugh, you're frustrating. You should go and make sure she gets home safely. Protect that cute puppy."

"Shh. Don't call her that. Only I can call her that okay."

"But she's not yours yet."

"Shut up."

Winter wanted to scoff and laugh hearing Karina and Aeri argued in a hushed whisper that she actually still can hear. They're so silly. She intentionally looked at their way and bowed her head politely when Aeri's eyes widened at her while Ning only smiled at her and Karina looked at her blankly.

She saw how Aeri nudged Karina and Karina nudged her back before nodding her head once and smiled slightly. Winter only smiled back before looking away and walking ahead to go home.

I'd do anything for that smile. Anything.