Lines Blur
Winter didn’t think it was possible for Karina to surprise her any more than she already had. Yet, as the days passed, Karina managed to chip away at her disbelief, one thoughtful gesture and baffling stunt at a time. By the fourth day of "Operation Winter," the line between annoyance and intrigue had started to blur, much to Winter’s frustration.
It started innocently enough that morning when Winter arrived at school. She opened her locker to find a neatly folded scarf sitting on top of her books. The soft fabric smelled faintly of vanilla and lavender, a subtle but unmistakable reminder of Karina. A small note was tucked under it, written in Karina’s elegant handwriting:
"Winter, I noticed it’s getting colder lately. Take care not to catch a cold. -Karina"
Winter stared at the note, then at the scarf. Her initial instinct was to return it, but she paused when she felt a draft from the open window nearby. It was chilly, and she had forgotten to bring her jacket.
“She’s relentless,” Winter muttered to herself, stuffing the scarf into her bag. She’d decide what to do about it later.
At lunch, Karina’s campaign continued. Winter had just sat down with Giselle and Ryujin when Karina approached their table, carrying two trays of food. Ningning and Yeji followed close behind, whispering and giggling.
“Here,” Karina said, placing one of the trays in front of Winter. The tray was filled with Winter’s favorite dishes, including a bowl of perfectly seasoned kimchi jjigae.
Winter looked up at her, eyebrows raised. “What is this?”
“Lunch,” Karina said with a grin. “I thought you might appreciate something warm on a cold day.”
“I already have lunch,” Winter said, gesturing to her plain sandwich.
“That’s not lunch. That’s survival,” Karina countered. “You deserve better.”
Giselle stifled a laugh, and Ryujin smirked. “She’s got a point,” Ryujin said. “This looks way better.”
Winter sighed. “You’re not going to stop until I accept it, are you?”
“You know me so well,” Karina said, her smile widening.
Reluctantly, Winter pushed her sandwich aside and picked up the spoon. She hated to admit it, but the stew was delicious. Karina watched her with a triumphant expression, clearly pleased with herself.
“Don’t get used to this,” Winter muttered between bites.
“We’ll see,” Karina replied, her eyes twinkling.
Later that afternoon, Winter’s patience was tested yet again. She was heading to the library when she heard someone calling her name. Turning around, she saw Karina jogging toward her, clutching a bouquet of fresh flowers.
“What now?” Winter asked, exasperated.
“These are for you,” Karina said, holding out the bouquet. The flowers were a mix of daisies and baby’s breath, simple yet charming.
Winter blinked. “Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful,” Karina said without hesitation.
The sincerity in her voice caught Winter off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. Karina took advantage of the silence to place the bouquet in her hands.
“You’re unbelievable,” Winter muttered, though she didn’t let go of the flowers.
Karina’s grin widened. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Before Winter could respond, Karina’s friends appeared, waving her over. Karina gave Winter one last smile before joining them, leaving Winter standing in the hallway with a bouquet in her hands and a strange fluttering in her chest.
By the end of the day, Winter was thoroughly drained. She walked to the school gate with Giselle and Ryujin, hoping for a quiet evening to collect her thoughts. However, Karina had other plans.
As they reached the gate, Winter noticed a sleek black car parked nearby. Karina leaned against the hood, her arms crossed and her expression smug.
“What now?” Winter asked as she approached.
“I’m giving you a ride home,” Karina said, holding up a set of keys.
“I can walk,” Winter said, shaking her head. “It’s not far.”
“It’s cold,” Karina pointed out. “And I’d feel better knowing you got home safely.”
“Karina, you don’t have to—”
“Get in the car, Winter,” Karina said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Winter hesitated, then sighed in defeat. “Fine. But only because I don’t want to argue in front of everyone.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Karina said, opening the passenger door for her.
Giselle and Ryujin exchanged amused looks as Winter climbed into the car. Karina waved at them before driving off, leaving her friends to speculate about what would happen next.
The ride home was surprisingly quiet. Karina didn’t bombard Winter with questions or try to engage her in conversation. Instead, she let the radio fill the silence, the soft melody of a ballad playing in the background.
When they arrived at Winter’s house, Karina parked the car and turned to her. “Thanks for letting me give you a ride.”
Winter raised an eyebrow. “Did I have a choice?”
Karina laughed. “Not really. But I’m glad you came along anyway.”
Winter opened the door, pausing before stepping out. “Why are you doing all this?”
Karina’s expression softened. “Because I think you’re worth it.”
Winter didn’t know how to respond to that. She mumbled a quick “thanks” and hurried inside, her heart racing for reasons she didn’t want to examine too closely.
Meanwhile, back at school, Ningning and Yeji were grilling Karina about her progress.
“How do you think it’s going?” Ningning asked as they walked to the parking lot.
“Better than expected,” Karina said, smiling. “She’s starting to soften up.”
“Are you sure?” Yeji asked. “She still looks annoyed half the time.”
“That’s just her default expression,” Karina said confidently. “Trust me, I’ve seen glimpses of something else.”
“You’re either a genius or completely delusional,” Ningning said, shaking her head. “But I’m rooting for you.”
“Thanks,” Karina said. “I’ll take all the support I can get.”
As they drove home, Karina couldn’t stop thinking about the way Winter had looked at her earlier. For a brief moment, she’d seen something in Winter’s eyes—something that gave her hope. It was just a matter of time.
That night, Winter lay in bed, staring at the scarf draped over her chair and the bouquet sitting in a vase on her desk. She’d told herself not to let Karina get to her, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep her guard up.
“What am I going to do with you, Karina Yu?” Winter muttered, pulling the blanket over her head.
Somewhere across town, Karina was asking herself the same question.