"So how was school? " Yujin jumps into Winter's arms excitedly after giving her unnie a hug. "Got any new friends?"

"Many!" the bear relies matching her enthusiasm as the latter holds her hand and starts walking. Noticing her unnie's quietness, Yujin quickly pulls out her other free hand to hold hers.

Winter being the Winter she is, saw them and immediately shifts her place, releasing Yujin's hand to stand next to Katrina and holds her free hand, making Katrina stand in the middle of the babies.

Katrina looks up from their intertwined pinkies to the bear's toothy grin.

Knots.

But she didn't say anything.

It's contagious, she couldn't help but to crack up a small smile despite her eventful day as they continued their way.

From scene went from parents holding their daughter's hands to a mother holding her daughters' hand real quick.

Down to a comfortable silence accompanied by Yujin's singing to a children song, Winter's grin never left her face. If spending a day at school struggling your way throughout all the attentions gained, rejecting people's offer to walk home (she told them that she'll be staying at Katrina's because she's close to Ningning) but ending with being able to experience this, maybe going to school is not bad idea after all.

73%

—

Or was it?

Because it's the same as yesterday and the day before as Katrina once again spent the rest of her night finishing her 'task', ignoring the fact that she once again denied Winter and her work.

Adding another page to Winter's pile.

"It's okay!" she said to herself, smiling, because Katrina did too all the time when they went home and how she did at school. As long as Katrina is happy.

Little that the bear know she was on cloud nine because of another bear she received as a 'present' for being 'helpful'.

When Winter had found out about the other bear, deep inside she wants to throw it away like Katrina's umbrella but her master seems to really like the key chain that she refrained herself from doing so. The only thing she can do is have a staring contest with it, hoping that it'll disappear if she won, which she never did because key chains don't blink.

Bears should be friends.

Jeno is another topic, Winter also doesn't get why her master likes him so much. To everyone's eyes he is the (typical) nice and responsible upper levelled student, being extra handsome(?) is definitely a bonus, at least that's what she heard from some students including Soyeon herself.

However, her chest burns in fury whenever her eyes meet hers in the hallway, the guts that he has to give her a wink when the person who has a crush on him is just literally walking beside him, the bear wants to go violent against him, but she had learned from a certain cartoon that violence is never the answer to any problem, full stop.

That's just some of the part, what really gets her is whenever Katrina speaks his name before dashing to her room.

She should be happy, she said to herself once again, because the next few days, all attentions are on her. Winter had shown a lot of skilled performance and her ability, very impressive to everyone indeed as she kept receiving compliments, fans, love confessions, even Choco milk.

Of course she only took the Choco milk.

Soyeon also has been a great company in the dance class. She enjoyed having her and Minnie around as well, though the other one rarely talks to her. They did had a decent conversation before about how's your day and stuff, but that's it, it never got more than 5 minutes. Winter just thought that Minnie was the quiet type so she shrugs it off. The bear didn't quite get why the trio would dislike them.

However, the pleasure she's receiving somehow bothers her and she always seems to space out whenever she thinks about Katrina.

Especially when the gummy boy is linked along.

Winter yearns for her attention, but to say that it's just attention is a little out of context. Sure, her master did give her some during class, for example, a glare or a mouthing when Winter keeps eyeing her while resting her cheek on her palm. Paying attention in class is something to be worry not for the exchange student.

"WINTER ARE YOU SERIOUS-" It took almost the whole period that Yuqi too got annoyed because she was sitting between Katrina's seat and Winter's sight.

Yeah, the yearning is real.

—

"Where are you going?" Soyeon asks as soon as Winter grabs her blazer and holds the doorknob with her bandaged hand, slightly sweaty.

"To Katrina, I need to confirm if we're going home together."

"Wait no!" Winter turns to look at her, tilting her head upon the sudden protest. "Why not?"

"I-I...Minnie here said she wants to talk to you!"

"Eh?" the said girl who's sitting on the floor shots her eyes up to her friend. "Me?" the latter nods signally, taking out her phone.

"No, I don't." she frowns but shrinks when Soyeon gave her a look. "I- Yes, I do!" she quickly changed her answer.

Winter stares at her for a moment before turning the knob, "Sorry friend, let's talk about it later I really have to go!" the bear waves childishly before disappearing.

"Katrinaaa!" Winter runs to her when she saw her but stops a few steps before reaching her. "....and boy." There it is again, the bear's dead-assed cold look spawning a raging bear-like aura around her when she notices who her master is walking with.

"Hm?" Katrina didn't hear the last part though, "you're sweating again..." she pulls out a tissue and daps it on Winter's face, already used to the situation, but Winter's eyes remain still at the boy. "Win?"

"Your girlfriend here is really cold, did I do something wrong?" Jeno laughs mischievously, earning a slap on the shoulder by her. "She's not my girlfriend."

"Maybe you did." Winter replies sternly, trying hard not to grit her teeth because Katrina once told her not to because it's rude to do it when talking to someone.

Just then Jeno's phone vibrates and Katrina just signals him to answer, and so he did making a distant.

"Don't be like that!" she looks over Winter and notices her hand, "Whoa what happened?" she lifts Winter's bandaged hand, her flinch went unnoticed.

"Oh this?" the bear finally snaps out of it, she was still glaring at Jeno. "I saw someone did this on tv and it looks cool." She lied.

"But there's so many bandages..."

"The more you put, the cooler it will be!" she laughs and the latter decided not to pry further. Winter is dense, expect the unexpected, she thought.

"Anyway, have you seen my keychain? I've been looking everywhere this morning and I can't seem to find it." Katrina whispers not wanting her crush to hear though he's busy on the phone. "You didn't take it, didn't you?"

"No? Why would I?" and it only made her frown deeper, scratching her nape trying to figure out where else did she put it before.

"Katrina?"

"Hm?"

"Are we going home together today?"

"Sorry Ms. Kim, Katrina will be staying back to study with me." A hand lands on Katrina's shoulder, Jeno ended his phone call, smiling at her.

67%

"What?" Winter turns her head to her raising her brows.

"Yeah.. I'm sorry, Winter. Jeno said he needs my help and-" the bear stops her before she could finish, surprising her.

"It's okay... I'll just pick Yujin up by myself later." Winter nods to herself before glancing at Jeno. "I'll go now." she smiles at her master and turns on her heels.

"Wait, where are you going?" Winter is being unusually unusual, the bear isn't the type to not cling at all, making Katrina curious. She turns.

"Dance class."

63%

—

It's not revenge, nor jealousy (maybe), but Winter came to learn that if you go against the assistant, bad this might happen to you. She wasn't actually worried about that, but Katrina is included in the scene.

"Where's Soyeon?" Winter asks while closing the door behind her when the girl is not in her sight when she entered.

"She said she went somewhere... I don't know where..." Minnie stretches her leg still in her sitting position before closing her eyes. "you're back so soon, have you found Katrina?"

"Uh, yeah." The latter settles herself next to her. "Oh by the way, what was the thing you wanted to say to me?"

Minnie opens her eyes and stares at their reflection on the mirror for a few seconds. She realizes that Winter isn't in her usual state as her body is about to give up and just sleep. "Winter," she starts.

"Yeah?"

Minnie didn't respond immediately making Winter raise her slumped head. "What is it?"

"Winter you," she breathes, checking the door, "you need to be careful."

"What do you mean?"

"Soyeon is kinda..." she bit her lips unsurely, "she's kinda greedy."

"Greedy?"

"Oh Winter! You're back!" the door suddenly opens revealing the girl in topic with a couple of water bottles in her hand, the two jumps in shock. "You look parched." She threw Winter a bottle which she easily catches.

Two bottle?

"How do you know?" the bear smiles thankfully, twisting the cap before chugging down.

"Just have the feeling." Soyeon grins, Minnie pinches the bridge of her nose mentally. Winter only chuckles.

Noticing her tired state, Soyeon settles herself next to Winter this time.

"You know Win, sometimes things didn't happen the way you wanted them to it's because you're on the wrong lane." Winter sits up, looking at Soyeon's reflection tilting.

"I know that look Winter, you don't have to worry." The latter makes an eye contact with her. "You're depressed over something am I right?" Winter isn't sure whether to nod or not, and so she remains. "I won't ask you why though, it's your privacy and I respect that."

"The thing is, if it's not working, maybe you should change direction."

What does she mean? Winter crunches her nose. It's almost the same as how Ningning said to her when she sleeps over at hers.

"Shall we dance, damsel in distress?" the blonde haired girl stands up, offering the bear a hand.

55%

—

"Baby bear?"

"Winter?"

"Baby bear, helloooo?"

Winter finally snaps when Yujin cups her cheeks, "Oh sorry, hehehehe. Just got out?"

"I've been here for almost 10 minutes ago." Yujin frowns and looks around. "Where's unnie?"

"Oh, she, uh, she's staying back to study." the bear smiles apologetically.

"Studying?" Winter nods. "Okay... Hey, wanna go and get some ice cream? " knowing all too well and only food is the answer to everything, Yujin suggests making the latter shots in excitement.

"Let's go!"

50%

—

"Is Winter related to you?"

Katrina sighs for the nth time that afternoon as Jeno kept throwing her questions related to the bear.

"No... "

"Then why is she staying with you when she's clearly related to Ning..ning?"

"It's Ningning and I don't know."

"Does she really live in Alaska?"

To think of it it's been almost 2 hours being in library yet they've only reached the 2nd page of their paperwork, Katrina began to feel frustrated. She doesn't know if she feels uncomfortable for herself or Winter.

"Jeno..."

"Wait! One more, how is the present? I didn't see you hanging it anywhere as an accessories." He leans forward, pouting while checking her bag placed on the chair beside her seat.

"Oh it-it's at home! I hang it in, uh, my room!" Katrina stammers. Luckily the guy only nods before her phone vibrates once more.

"Oh I got to go, thanks for the help! You're really nice, I like you!" Jeno swings his bag around his shoulder and waves at the latter, making his way out leaving her blinking.

"I NEED TO FIND THAT KEYCHAIN."

—

"YUJIN HAVE YOU SEEN MY KEYCHAIN?!" Yujin almost throw a cup of cooked instant noodle when her unnie suddenly burst in the kitchen, slamming the table.

"UNNIE! You scared m-"

"HAVE YOU SEEN MY KEYCHAIN???" she repeats ignoring the gap between her dongsaeng's lips formed.

"No." Yujin groans, peeking on her noodle to see if it was messed.

Noticing the lack of Winter's presence, Katrina couldn't help but to ask, "Where's Winter?"

"In your room." Her unnie then dismisses her and went to her room, slowly opening the door to peek if she was really there.

She is, asleep, back facing the ceiling as how Katrina sees from the small gap. She enters the room fully to have a closer look.

She notices that Winter is holding her pencil in her bandaged hand and is actually using her sketchpad as a pillow, she couldn't make out what she was sketching. "Are you this tired?" the latter breathes.

Winter's hair is all over her face except for her button nose, revealing the fading mark –or her identity- on her almost covered nape. It's a cute sight indeed, Katrina wonders how long has it been since she looks at her this close and careful.

Her position doesn't look that comfortable and so she tugs the bear a little to wake her up. "Winter" she pokes her waist, from the way her nose twitch, she's probably grimacing.

"Winter!" she whispers a little louder this time and the bear moves slowly, pushing herself up with her arms and still facing the bed, shooking her head and groaning before turning to whoever just disturbed her hibernation.

"Ah Katrina..." her face turns soft, there's a pinch of drowsiness in her voice. "I got it." She gets up and packs her stuff to drag her legs to the door.

"Where are you going?" the latter tilts confusedly, frowning a bit.

"I've grown accustomed to this, Rina. You need to be alone so you can do your work and study diligently.." Winter replies with her eyes closed, she is that tired.

Katrina would like to think Winter is just sleepy, which she is, and hungry, that Winter isn't being clingy as always. It somehow upsets her.

But then, about 2 hours later, Winter came knocking on her door with a cup of instant noodle in her hand.

"You still haven't eaten"

Katrina doesn't even realize that.

48%

—

It was the first day of exam week and Winter was told that for 'exchange students' they won't be taking any and was given the chance to either just stay in class minding their own business or wander around but only inside the school ground. She chose the second option. Katrina's eyes followed her figure as she excuse herself out, it worries her.

Winter actually has 2 reasons why she chose the latter option, one, so she won't be disturbing her master, as how Katrina told her she always did whenever the staring game starts, two, she received a letter from Minnie.

"Someone asked me to give this to you." What she informed her.

The letter doesn't speak from whoever it was, but it does tell her about Katrina's keychain was found. She doesn't think twice, so there she is now, making her way to the dance class.

Dance Class? Was it Soyeon? Which explains her absent today?

When Winter reaches the location, she sees no one. Not a single figure, not a single silhouette. She begins to think that she was pranked until someone locks the door after 15 minutes of looking around the room, making the bear jumps from her mini tour.

"Y-you!"

"Woah there, there's no need to point fingers, Ms. Kim" Jeno raise his hands with a smirk as he steps away from the locked door.

"Why are you- what about the keychain?!"

"I said there's no need to point fingers, that's rude." he laugh mockingly, "Oh the keychain? was a bait to get you here. I already know that nerd had lost it." he scoffs.

"What did you just say?!" If eyes were to burn holes, Winter's would have burn half of the room already.

"No need to worry, the stuff isn't important anyway" he walks toward Winter.

"Aren't you supposed to be in class." She steps back as an alert, holding back the urge to throw a tantrum as it'll might disturb everyone, disturb Katrina.

"Are you an idiot or something? I'm the 'Student Council' assistant, I have the option to take my exam earlier as to arrange other important stuff for the school." It was a full insult accompanied by a smirk.

"Wait..."

"That's right, baby. Thanks to your best friend for her help."

It only takes that for Winter to yank him hard by his blazer. "HOW DARE YOU?! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU TOOK FROM HER?!" Winter is furious, to think that Katrina had wasted her time for someone who was just using her. She doesn't care about getting into a huge mess anymore.

"I'm reporting you." She yanks him once more to the side to walk away only to be pulled by the wrist and pinned against the wall, hissing in pain.

"Wow, you really are an idiot!" tightening his hold while laughing, "No one will believe no matter how hard you do, there's no proof, everyone is in class" he nears her face. "Plus, I have a very high reputation here, you'll kill to have a couple of students to back you up.." his breathe ghosting her lips.

"What exactly... is your intention.." Winter can only whisper, her hands in pain.

"You should be lucky that you're pretty and caught my attention... Why don't you just play along with me for a while yes? Being hard to get won't get you anywhere, unlike those girls who are easy to please...including Katrina."

Jeno didn't know how Winter recovered her energy as she throw a fist across his cheek, hard, which she had been holding since the first day of school. The impact was too strong that the assistant stumbled flat on the floor, cursing while holding his most probably bruised face. Winter didn't hold back a kick either.

Noticing that he had passed out, Winter quickly runs out of the room and head to her class, not before turning the fire alarm making most student screams because of the loud siren, Winter thank the knowledge she gain about it.

Everyone was already panicking when Winter reaches her class, Katrina gaze fall on her, face full of panic. The bear immediately pulls her and her bag out of the class.

"Winter! What is going on?!" Katrina shouts as she is dragged between running students.

Winter had been called countless of times to explain, yes if the alarm rings, you have time get out of the class to a specified are, but not until you reach back home. "Winter, my wrist hurts!"

"S-sorry!" the bear realizes and lets her hand go.