Maybe it was the constant ringing in her ears caused by the trickling sound of the rain that falls on the roof of Jeon's resident?

Maybe it was the cold atmosphere from it that send chill down her spine coupled with the air conditioner set on medium level?

Maybe it was the food that Soyeon fed her during their quick out in the night market that is making her stomach feels slightly uncomfortable?

Maybe it has something to do with the way Minnie looked at her with a tint of disappointment that is unbalancing her whole nature?

Or maybe, just maybe, it was Katrina's action and words that are making her feel all of those waves of emotion at once?

Winter doesn't know.

Luckily for Katrina, the last event didn't end with a massacre as Soyeon was too focused on dragging Winter away from the rain, nagging her along for staring at nothing.

Nothing.

Also luckily for Minnie, she didn't get caught red-handed.

Back at the night market, where she was dragging her master away, it started to rain after a few causing the latter to throw tantrum for separating her and Winter.

Just imagine the heartbreak she went through.

However,

Unluckily for Minnie, she's not Winter. She can't leave.

The confused one isn't sure of what she's thinking at the moment or even what she's doing, it's like her state of mind is on autopilot. She could either be wondering around the house, or knocking on a serial killer's door.

Winter has been staring at the glass of water since they she had finish pouring it, since they got home.

The water somehow tempted her as if was a big mistake that she did.

"Winter!" a voice echoed making Winter jolt, finally piercing its way through her hearing between the noisy rain sound.

It was raining vigorously, somehow its disturbing Winter as if it is alerting her about something bad. She is worried without herself knowing why.

"Winter!" the person shouts again. It was about time for Winter to grab the glass but a part of her tells her otherwise. It's just a glass of water, why am I afraid? She thought. Shaking all the idea away, she quickly grabs it and makes her way.

Stopping at a door, she opens it revealing the bathroom, she got the wrong room. Speeding to another door, it is yet another wrong room.

"Eh?" Winter tilts her head looking at all the cleaning supplies in the storage.

"What is wrong with me..." she scratches her head while walking to another room, which is fortunately the right one as she opens the door revealing two figures inside. Minnie was sitting on the bed while Soyeon was working on something on her desk.

"Sorry..." Winter hands the glass to Soyeon who just turned her chair and smiles, "It's okay." she pats her cheek after taking a sip.

Winter felt warm, but it's not because of her doings.

"Now to finish off everything," when Soyeon turns back her chair, she grabs her phone and began typing something with a smirk. Winter notices a sketchbook and a few colored pens on her desk, she nonchalantly pokes them.

She looks over to Minnie who just shrugs as if she has no idea about anything, or just pretending? She knows her master well and all those intentions behind those smirks, and so she speaks, "I think it's time for you to go to bed."

"It's still too early."

"It's rainin-"

"Minnie" Soyeon gives a firm look, "I know what I'm doing, okay?" she turns back to her phone, "Plus, school is still closed. Thanks to one our dearest friend." there goes the smirk again.

"Soyeon.."

The said girl closes her phone and puts a hand on her desk rather loudly, it was enough to make the two startle. "Are you going to fight me now? In front of Winter? Really now??" Minnie shook her head, glancing at Winter.

Not missing anything, she calls for Winter.

"I think I have enough of you now, get out, Minnie." the poor girl can only nod and obey, leaving the room as told with her head hang low.

Winter was eye-ing her the whole scene, she felt bad for her, how down she looks until Soyeon cups her cheeks, turning her around.

"You, on the other hand, won't do that right? Going against things I wanna do?"

Winter swallows hard before nodding.

So Minnie had been stopping her? From what?

"Good." Soyeon closes the gap between their lips as Soyeon slides her hands down to hold Winter's. The latter feels odd to her stomach, "Good." she repeats before pulling Winter closer.

The bear unconsciously backs away, placing her hands on Soyeon's shoulders, she blinks rapidly, her guts telling that it's a mistake as she confusedly creates a gap back between them. Prepared on whatever was about to be thrown at her, maybe a tantrum, Winter shuts her eyes.

"Huh...I'll let you off this time." She returns back to her seat, continuing on writing where she left from.

She did let her off the hook, be that as it may, Jeon Soyeon wasn't famous for her temper and level of patience, because when the next thunderclap strikes, Winter's instinct had ruined her work.

—

Katrina isn't crying. No. She's simply recalling what happened back then.

To regret or not to regret?

Because nothing works, everything went downhill.

"I know this has effect on normal kinds but I don't know if it'll work on Winter. But it's best to take shot."

It didn't work. Katrina is on the edge of giving up. Minnie was their last hope, but if she doesn't have any further information, then what's there to fight for?

Her mind is tired, no matter how smart she is.

It's a hunt for one in a million.

The living room was like an out of bound area, she clasps her ears as a thunderclap booms, although its merely putting her hands on her ears, it wasn't Katrina who usually do it, at least for herself.

Feeling scared, she decided it's best to check up on Yujin although the little has no fears unlike her unnie, but it'll probably help to ease her a little.

Yujin already dozed off to dreamland. Her body was all rolled up with her Hello Kitty blanket. Katrina saw the twitches in her expressions, she quickly sits herself on the edge of the bed and caresses her hair in hope to calm whatever the little one is dreaming.

"Winter unnie..."

Katrina momentarily stop caressing,

Winter unnie? Did she just labelled Winter as an unnie?

She couldn't believe the amount of affection Yujin has towards the bear.

Katrina blames herself.

Just after she pecks her sister's forehead, her phone vibrated in her pocket signaling an incoming call.

She got out of the door as not to disturb Yujin, "Hello?" she answers while closing the door behind her.

"Katrina? You okay?" Aer gapes, "Ok that was a stupid question I'm sorry-"

"Nah, it's okay I'm fine.." she lies.

"Katrina!!" Ningning comes into the line, it sounds like she was struggling to grab the phone from Aeri.

"You idiot, I'll just put it on loud speaker, CALM DOWN WOMAN!"

A few seconds later, the sound of the rain can be heard from the other line.

"It's raining hard, are you sure you're okay? We can go there if-"

"No nono! it's fine, really!" Katrina smiles inwardly at how caring her besties can be never mind the fact how satanic they can get.

"Well, if you say so- OUCH DON'T ELBOW ME!"

"YOU SATAN- I mean, Katrina, have you heard?"

"Heard what?" she knits her brows.

"Someone actually sent the recording to the school's authorities and guess who getting suspended? that seahorse guy you had been crushing on- OUCH!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"DON'T BE LIKE THAT- but yeah, the recording someone sent you, it's gonna get Jeno suspended."

Katrina groans in annoyance, "I fucking hate him now and good for him."

"Aye, that's the spirit!" Aeri whistles.

"But wait, I thought the angle was giving out wrong impressions, how-"

"That's why, the news spread like wild fire! A few students and our seniors, or to be specific, Jeno's old 'targets' have finally stepped up and revealed the truth about his ill intentions, polluting his reputation rapidly like a drop of ink on a glass of milk." both of them snickers.

"Perfect." katrina grits her teeth.

"I KNOW RIGHT??"

"and, I'm pretty sure, this is all Soyeon's plan. I mean like, look at all this mess! Who else is to be blamed?"

Katrina said nothing after listening to Aeri's statement.

"Hold on, how can you be so sure? If Jeno founds out, he'll just tell on her to the school and they'll both get suspended?" Ningning questions the person beside her.

She's right, how can she plan something stupid that can back fire her easily?

"Ahhh, my friends, think about it!" Aeri shers them both.

"Jump into conclusion, please"

"By then, will anyone believe him?

Katrina was close to choking when Aeri actually outsmart them, she feels dumb.

"Plus, he's at the hospital now, someone just texted me that and there's a high chance he'll get suspended, like duh. These mean that his points will be deducted to negative and his position will be eliminated!"

"Dude..."

"I may be the most beautiful person you'll ever meet but that doesn't mean this face doesn't come along with any brain. Things like these are like common knowledge for me. Eheheuh"

"Then how do we get Soyeon?" though it's all over about the ownership, Katrina still can't get over that she's off the hook oh-so easily.

"That... I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it... she ranked high, y'know?"

"That's true... no one will ever bother if we were to told them that, for example, Soyeon just ran over a cat, we'll be a laughing stock."

Katrina clenches hard on her phone. It rages her, what have she ever did to receive such hate from Soyeon? If it was one thing she can think of, it's her ex who's now her bestie, but it's not her fault to start with.

But couldn't possible just be it.

On spur of moment, another thunderclap hits causing Katrina to drop her phone as she squats down and cover her ears.

"Kat? Katrina! Are you still there?? We heard the thunder, are you alright???"

Katrina reaches for her phone after it has passed and slowly bringing it back to her ear.

"Y-Yeah, I'm okay, just got startled that's all.." she takes a deep breathe, "I got to go...thanks for everything, guys."

"Uh..okay then, rest well! we'll visit again tomorrow!"

"Just call us whenever you need, mate!"

"Thanks, really..." she chuckles at their antics before hanging up.

Katrina was about to go to her room when suddenly a knock was heard, she turns her head to the stairs.

She gulps audibly, because who the hell would be knocking on her home under this heavy rain and at this very hour?

Katrina heads down stairs and haltingly approaches the door only to hold on to the knob. The knocks doesn't sound as if the person is in a hurry, it's simply calm and costive.

Could it be Winter?

Katrina scoffs, fuck your hope aiming for the impossible.

She bit her lips, gathering all her courage to just yell at whoever is at the other side bothering her when she's not in the mood.

"Who the fuck-"

Standing there, all drenched,

Winter raises her head and is...crying.

"Winter...?"

"From all I could remember, her master would never hit her no matter how careless she could be nor how terrible of a servant she is..." Winter mumbled.

Katrina was left clammed up and stoned as Winter looks her breaming eyes on hers, she notices the red mark on her cheek.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when it started raining..." Winter chokes up on her own tears, her body was frost bounded and her lips were shaking out of cold.

Shoving away all her care about the latter's physical state, Katrina throws herself into Winter's arms, breaking into crying mess as Winter replies with a tighter embrace.

"stupidstupidstupid bear.." Katrina muffles repeatedly in between cries on her chest.

"I'm sorry." Winter brings a hand to Katrina's nape, pulling her closer, she clutches firmer as if Winter is going to disappear and it's the last thing she wished for to happen.

And vice versa.

—

Winter hisses in pain and flinch from the bed when Katrina carefully place the damped cloth on her cheek, "Sorry...!" she jerks away but Winter is quicker to grab a hold of her wrist, guiding it to put back on her cheek, "It's fine."

"O-Okay." Winter smiles as Katrina taps on her cheek, "That asshole.." she mumbles but it didn't go unheard by the bear, she chuckles.

Winter had told her what happened, how she accidently (by instinct) hugs Soyeon when a thunder claps while she was writing and her homework got spoiled, WInter received a slap for that. And that's when everything floats back.

"Rina would never hit me."

Winter planned her escape when everyone was sleep but Minnie caught her.

Fortunately, she was there to encourage her, saying that she should be aware of what will come,

"Take care, I can handle from here." Minnie gave her a hug before they bid each other.

"Minnie said thank you and sorry about her master." they drop into a comfortable silent. Katrina can't help but to stare at the bear, her bear.

"Winter?"

"Hm?"

Katrina scoots closer and gently cups her cheeks "Don't leave me ever again?"

Winter notices that her eyes starts to bream, so she pulls her into a hug, "I promise."

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Katrina's mind start to work, "Wait," she pulls away "How can I be sure if you're the Winter that I know?" she furrows.

Winter tilts her head, eyeing Katrina, her eyes starts to wonder around the room as she juts out her lower lips trying to think of something, her eyes lands on the latter who's eyes brows are still furrowed.

"Are you angry?"

"Huh?"

"You look angry."

"I'm no-" Winter cuts her.

As how she always did when her master is angry. Katrina, as always is speechless every time she did it and when Winter pulls away, she laughs at her.

"You fucking idiot." She slaps her by the shoulder, but pulls her back for another kiss.

Unlike when Soyeon did it, Winter didn't protest this time, instead, she wraps her hand around Katrina's waist as Katrina wrap hers around Winter's neck. This time, her guts telling her it was the rightest thing to do.

To further surprise Katrina, it wasn't just a peck as she literally starts moving her lips against hers, making the latter pulls back once more almost immediately, not that she doesn't like it though.

The bear grins toothily.

"I may have learned a thing or two from Minnie when I was away."

—

"Come here..." Winter coos as she pulls Katrina to sit closer while she faces her.

Her half lidded eyes telling Katrina something not in the cards night happen. She expect, but she doesn't know what will it be. It might sound alarming, however Katrina anticipated it, absentmindedly.

"I missed you..." Winter murmurs but the latter heard it as she clutched on Winter's freshly changed shirt when she was pulled a little too close, their faces were only a few inches away.

"I missed you too." Katrina whispers back and was pretty sure she caught a glimpse of something in WInter's eyes, still it was unexplainable. She wished she knew and it egged her to uncover.

But not until Winter grasp the hem of the latter's shirt, locking their lips for the 3rd time that midnight. The kiss was sweet and tender, unfortunately it didn't last long when Winter pulled back to gaze on Katrina's eyes.

Winter finds herself searching, she, too, is unaware of what she's feeling. Winter would like to ask, still, her brain has settled not to, or it's not even working at all.

And so, without its control, Winter let her lips do as they want and the next thing they knew, Winter was on top of Katrina, hands supporting her weight on the bed as the latter lays down for their 4th kiss. It's a tad bit longer this time but Katrina was so close to letting out a frustrated whine when Winter pulled away yet once again as she was about to tilt her head for more access.

Katrina frowns making Winter chuckle.

That's it, she thought for the last time before hooking her arms around Winter's neck, impatiently devouring her lips to fulfil her sudden craving.

And Winter did the thing again, but this time Katrina is following the rhythm. Never in her life Katrina have ever kissed someone so yearningly.

Their lips molded synchronically and it amazes Katrina how Winter knows where and how much should she tilt her head for the perfect position.

They're addicted.

Winter's right hand left the bed to gently hold the latter's chin as she pulls her closer. Katrina gasp a little when Winter lightly presses her thumb on her chin to open her mouth.

Her heart palpitates at the thought of the innocent teddy bear doing her like this.

However, Winter suddenly stops and her head suddenly fell next to Katrina on a side, the pressure on her thumb is loss too.

"What...?" Katrina breathes with her mouth still gaping. She moves her sight to the person beside her. "W-winter?"

Winter didn't answer, instead, a light snore was heard after a few seconds.

Winter fell asleep.

Running through the two-ton rain has really took its toll.

Katrina, on the other hand, removes herself rather ungracefully in haste when realization strikes her from her high like a giant spikey wrecking ball.