"Stupid Aeri."

"Stupid Ningning."

"Why are we even friends..."

Katrina cusses as she furiously washes her hands and gradually slaps her cheeks with the wetness of them to wipe away the arresting blush, if it was possible that is.

The washroom was empty, thankfully, that the fuming cat was able to release some of her tensions by blabbering hates nonstop.

It's not that she hates them for embarrassing her (though her cussing just now tells otherwise) she was actually mad at herself for hiding.

Yep, you said it, folks.

Without a doubt (excluding those exaggerated denials)

Katrina likes Winter.

Until her pride had decided to interrupt and told her to stay stiff.

But who could blame her anyway? It's been quite a while since Katrina caught feelings for someone. The last time she had a crush on someone was with their Student Council's assistant.

How can she trust her instinct once more?

But this is Winter we're talking about. It confuses Katrina how could someone as smart as herself, caught feelings with someone so.... so vulnerable and air-headed, not to mention has almost negative knowledge about the human realm if you include all the lessons she had been taught before.

Her rapid slaps become slow, turning into weak taps.

Maybe she shouldn't do that, denying and all. If the bear could understand feelings, she'd probably get hurt by her actions just now and Katrina doesn't want the same mistake to happen.

Yes, yes, she nods to herself.

"I should I should bring Winter out and spend times with only her..." she nods once more.

Winter could take it slow, fine by her, she's 100% sure she could trust the bear.

They initially planned on hanging out that day to catch up with some stuff, if Ningning and Aeri wants tease her, then be it.

Katrina inwardly smiles of her positive thoughts.

Maybe a washroom break was worth it after all.

—

Maybe a washroom break was a bad idea after all.

Because the next thing she saw after exiting the room was Aeri, seated ALONE, savouring her own ice cream.

Katrina rushes to her in a speed of light causing the latter to almost choke on her ice cream along the silver spoon.

"What the fuck?!" luckily she managed to avoid what might be the most tragic cause of a death.

"Where the hell are they??!" Katrina bombs the latter, not caring if she was close to seeing the Grim just now. "Well?!"

"I WAS DYING HOW COULD Y- Ugh nevermind! Ning said she wants to catch up with Winter more, so she pulled the bear out, like.. on a date or something? I dunno." The satan's spawn shrugs, just then Katrina's phone vibrates and she slides it, a message from Ningning.

"Aye! I went out and baby bear is with me, hope you dont mind ;) and sorry I didn't ask first bcs i know you'll prolly say no lolololol thanks."

"NING FUCKING YIZHUO!" Katrina practically yells, it's a good thing that they're the only ones left at the building, except for the new cashier that they've never seen before.

"I-Is there something wrong, miss?" the cashier props her head to look at their seats.

"Oh! It's n-nothing, sorry about that!" Katrina quickly covers her mouth and bows repeatedly at the cashier who just returned her with a frantic wave, telling her it's okay.

"Wowowo someone's jealous." Aeri snickers roguishly, earning a death glare almost immediately that made her regret what she just did.

"Fucking mess with me and you're going deeper than hell." sending cold shivers down Aeri's spine.

"Yo- Chill, I'm s-sorry." she was panic-stricken, getting killed by someone and having to die tragically in a bubbly café (after choking on a silver spoon) is the last thing she wants to happen, and so she backed off. "Sit down, talk to me."

The older is visibly frustrated but complies nevertheless.

"I..." she hesitated.

Aeri rolls her eyes as she glances at her watch because if she's going to wait for the latter to finish, she might as well grow a beard.

"You know what? Screw that, let's stalk them."

"Woah what?" Katrina shots up, her bulging eyes following Aeri's body as she stands up and marches toward the exit.

"Well? I really wanna see what they're up to on that so-called date, and I'm pretty sure YOU are up to it too." she smirks before turning her head to the new cashier, "Hey you."

"H-Huh?" the girl looks up to Aeri, a hint of panic plastered all over her face. Aeri was probably drilling holes on her face with her intense stare that the girl started to sweat nervously, until the latter smiles brightly,

"You must be new, good luck working!" she waves before exiting immediately.

"W-Wait!" Katrina runs frantically to catch up with her friend but she's polite enough to stop abruptly and bow slightly to the cashier, "Sorry about the ruckus, yeah good luck working!" before leaving the gaping cashier.

"People are really weird..."

—

Ningning, you're a great friend, I forgive all of your mistake, Aeri sigh, saying her prayers beforehand to her before ending it with an Amen.

She had to though, their already in for the plan.

The procedure is pretty simple, all she had to do was bring Katrina along to stalk them, but keep her in guard as not to eavesdrop.

Yep, they're in it for killing two birds with one stone,

One, teaching Winter what is supposed to be taught,

Two, operation "making the other half jealous".

"Ok here's the deal," Ningning whispers only for the two of them to hear.

"We don't want you teaching her inappropriate stuff before the understanding part happens-"

"Lol close enough.."

"So I'll just discharge you from that, all you need to do is bring her along on a stalking session but let's pretend that she doesn't know that I know as to make the act look natural."

"ARE YOU CRAZY??? We're dead meat if she finds out!"

"ONLY IF SHE FINDS OUT! That's why you're more suitable for this part of the plan! And trust me, if this works, this is going to flow as if we're never even got into the hook."

"If it doesn't?"

"IT WILL FUCKING WORK OKAY."

Which explains why Katrina is currently dressed in an oversized trench coat, a black beany to cover her hair, a pair of sunglasses that looks like it was stolen from a thrift shop and coupled by a horrible looking fake pink moustache.

Katrina mentally curses herself to think why did even comply in the first place on having to be camouflaged, with the disguise she's wearing (given by Aeri), she can't imagine the amount of attention she'll get once they step out of Aeri's house.

"Why the hell does she even kept a fake pink moustache?! In what occasion?!"

"Hey don't judge me! Rare things are my priced possessions!" Aeri shouts from the bathroom.

"Yeah, yeah, would you just hurry up? I've been waiting for almost 30 minute, what kind of disguise are you in anyway-" the door of the bathroom slams open before Katrina could even finish.

"BEHOLD...MY LEGENDARY CAMOUFLAGE!" Aeri steps out rather dramatically (or slowly) that sparks the anticipation inside her head, wondering what could the latter be dressed in?

Katrina's jaw dropped.

"Yas, I see you're amused with my disguise, ohohoho!" she laughs in pure bliss from her reaction.

"WHO WOULDN'T BE AMUSED WHEN YOU'RE DISGUISED AS A FUCKING CACTUS-"

—

From Kwangya, Ningning took Winter to another ice cream parlour since the bear kept whining that she's still hungry, but the place is convenient enough for Ningning to question the hungry child as it has a seat outside of the parlour, it'll make things easier for stalking.

Confirming that there's no message from Aeri just yet, she decided it's time, "So Winter..."

"Hm?" Winter looks up from her ice cream and Ningning swear she's cuter than most bear plushies she had ever seen before.

"I-uh- ehem- b-before I start, answer this, what do you think about Katrina?" she stutters.

"Rina?" there was a pause when Ningning nodded. "I..." she puts down the spoon, and looks up.

"...Katrina... I like her." Winter smiles softly, "Despite all the things I did, ruining stuff, messing up or even almost burnt the house a few times, pisses her off sometimes, Katrina never hurts me, she was patient. From the beginning of my transformation, instead of kicking me out although I'm pretty confident she was terrified seeing me at first, she actually kept me in and even told Yujin to dress me up." Winter laughs as she recalls how Katrina was shaking like a leaf when they first met.

"Sure we had a conflict back then but when I came back, Katrina admitted that she really regretted her mistakes and of course I forgave her, She looked so fragile and vulnerable before, it made me hate myself for leaving, that image of her makes me want to always be there and protect her. Like she always did when I cry, comforting me, it hurts less and I want to do the same to her." She places her chin on her hands on the table as she looks far up.

"I haven't knew much about this world but I'm pretty sure not everyone is as genuine as Katrina, it bothers me so much if I started imagining what will happen to me if she didn't took me home at the first place... Plus, she's very cute." NIngning chuckles inwardly on how daydreamed Winter look and had totally forgotten about her melted ice cream.

"Just by seeing her standing freely, it makes me want to hug her all the time and kiss her repeatedly because she's so cute, I don't even...."

She listens attentively at her remarks nonetheless and somehow felt a little jealous of her bestie. However, her smile falters when Winter drops into a frown looking like she's about to burst.

"Ningning!"

"Y-Yes?!"

"I'm feeling things! What is this?!"

"D-Does it hurts?" Ningning panics, only Katrinaknows how to handle a crying Winter but she's not here.

"No... it felt... nice....somehow..." Winter blushes and as if a load of weight are removed from Ningning shoulders, she snaps her fingers in front of her face.

"YES, YES THAT!!"

"That what?" Winter tilts her head genuinely confused when Ningning only smirks at her.

"Baby bear, you are now experiencing the most powerful emotion as a human being, for short, Love."

"....What is love?"

"What you just describe Katrina, that's Love. That feeling you're having while thinking of her, that's Love." she lays back and crosses her hands on her chest feeling satisfied with how she doesn't have to explain when Winter literally explained herself.

".....Then am I... in love?" Ningning nodded but only proudly this time, "What should I do?"

"First and foremost, when you're in love, you gotta make the one you're catching this feeling with as yours, claim the person." She holds a finger out as to act clever.

"How?"

"By asking her on a date! You ask her on a date and by the end of a date, you ask her to be your girlfriend, and if she said yes, then you're a winner."

Just then Ningning's phone vibrates and the confirmation came, making her smile, "and I'll teach exactly how to do all those."

T'was a great first move after the other two's arrival when Ningning said that because Winter practically jump out of her seat to give a tight bear hug as a matter of appreciation. "Thank youuuuuuu."

—

Katrina was right, as soon as they stepped outside all eyes have been on her, but mostly the giant ugly mobile cactus walking next to her until they reached the same area as their friends.

Heck, they even made 2 kids cry with their disguise on their way there but the cactus paid no attention as if she was an agent who must not get distracted from a classified mission.

Katrina swore someone almost called the cops because they look ridiculously terrifying, she can understand that. But the embarrassment was too much, she might just surrender to the officers if they were under-arrest.

"I really think you should change your costu-"

"Shhh I'm dressed as the nature, I'm more camouflaged than you and your pink moustache" Aeri retorts as she tiptoes from trees to lamp posts and vice versa.

"Excuse me, you gave me this clothes! AND WHERE THE HELL CAN YOU FIND A CACTUS IN THE MIDDLE OF SEOUL!?"

"SHHHH!" she cactus pulls the latter behind a large enough bush and points at a direction. "Look! There they are!" Katrina wanted to throw a cactus at the cactus but nonetheless, her eyes follow the direction of where she's pointing.

Her heart drops when Winter and Ningning came into the view, hugging each other tight. She stares deep, unaware that Aeri was staring at her for her reaction. But that doesn't give much affect until Ningning pulls back slightly for a space to rub her nose with Winter's .

Shit man, you is dead Ningning. Aeri thought when she saw the stare in her partner's eyes turning into a dead-panning glare. She's quick to pull the latter back down when she stands up, she looks over the other two and sees that Winter returning what NIngning gave to her.

On the other hand...

"Ah yes, hugging is one of the things you do one dates! But if its only like this then it's too plain, you gotta add some sparks to it." Ningning tips as she creates a small gap between them.

"What do you mean?" Winter frowns but then flinches when Ningning leans to rubs her nose against hers. The small action makes Winter feels fuzzy that she smiles.

"Feels nice isn't it?" the latter smiles back "if you're up for an action, you need to come up with an addition to the action, see? I did that when we're hugging." But also flinches when Winter leans this time to rub her nose on hers.

"Like that?"

Ningning blushes furiously. She swiftly pulls away, and covers her face. "Y-Yeah just like t-that." she slaps her cheeks before composing herself.

"Ning, are you okay?" Winter ask worriedly.

"L-Let's head to somewhere else, and I'll teach you more... since we don't have much time, we'll just gonna go stroll in the park."

—

"Ohh they're movin- hey don't move first!" she once again pulls Katrina to stay covered, it's not questionable that she's suddenly so into all of this stalking thing.

"But Katrina, look at that!" she points at Winter and Ningning's intertwinded fingers as they walk away from the parlour.

"NO! we must at least stay 30 feet away from our subject! Trust me and my stalking experience!" Aeri fires back.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN STALKING EXP- " Katrina was about to fire back again but when she looks around them, there are about 10 pairs of eyes on them and she knew better not to do it because that'll just make people freaked out and really call the cops eventually.

"Fine! let's just move away from here!"

—

"Oh so couples hold hands like this? When they're on a date too?" the bear looks down on their intertwinded hands and swinging them a bit higher.

"Correct!" she gives her a thumbs up and soon enough they appeared at the park, not much people is around. "Here we are, the park! But this one seems to be a bit boring since it happens to be a typical place for any dates."

"Isn't that good?" Winter turns to walk backwards.

"Wrong! If you're into a very special date, might as well not bring her to typical places. You must choose your destination carefully. Here's a tip, bring her to wherever you or she thinks is nice. For example, a restaurant."

Winter's lips forms a small 'o' as she nods in understanding upon the buzz Ningning gave her.

"That's enough basic. Now, one of the most important things you should be alert of is doing as much skinships as possible, but try keeping it low." she stops walking and Winter did too, "for example,"

She stands in front of the bear and cups her on the cheeks and gave them a light shake, she giggles at how blank Winter's face was. She took a deep breath to brave herself and pecks Winter on the cheek.

Winter blinks, cupping her cheek.

"Did that just because you're too darn adorable."

On the other hand...

"Nananana cactus" Aeri openly sings her poorly made theme song while she dashes from trees to trees, Katrina had to keep in pace and tried avoiding the crowd as much as possible because they almost made a cycler ran over an old folk, luckily it didn't happen.

"Targets detected!" the latter signals Katrina to come close behind a brick of a short wall.

Just when Katrina thought her heart could take more, it didn't when she saw Ningning pecks Winter's cheek. Sure she had seen both of her friends did that before but this was different, she wasn't present.

As if something just fuelled the fire inside her body, Katrina doesn't care if they get caught for stalking anymore, add the fact that she kinda misses Winter already.

"WINTER KIM!!!" she shouts revealing herself while pointing at the said girl with jealousy printed all over her face, Aeri is petrified.

"OH SNAP."