Winter’s POV

After reading the note Karina wrote for me, I decided to keep it. I felt so moved that she wrote this:

“I’m sorry for hurting you in the past.”

It was a simple apology, but considering the fact that she never apologizes made it more meaningful to me. Karina acknowledged her past behavior and said sorry. I’m grateful for that. I smiled at her handwriting, it’s still pretty, like her.

While I was reading the note over and over again, I heard another pair of people beginning to argue. They can’t seem to wait 1 hour for them to deal with it outside. It’s almost as if they plan to do it in front of me.

“Okay guys, that enough.” I get in between them. 

The two people that are at each other’s throats are Kai and another delinquent I prefer not to name. Kai isn’t content and always looks for trouble, I sometimes wonder what made him like this. Although that doesn’t give him the licence to hurt others and pick on them.

Kai looked down on me and smirked. I’m guessing he’ll have more fun picking on me since he was smirking. I now have his full attention.

“Hey, snowflake.” He greeted me. “I was wondering when you would come over.”

I take a breath as I compose myself. I fold my arms across my chest and tilt my head.

“It’s Winter, not snowflake.” I corrected him which made him mumble: same thing. “And how many times do I have to remind you not to pick on your juniors like that?”

He mimicked my body language by folding his arm across his chest.

“You don’t have to, you just can’t help yourself can you?” A smile grew on his lips when he said this next. “You always try your best, but you aren’t good enough.”

I wonder what he was talking about then he continued while everyone was watching. I saw Karina looking too. She was looking at Kai and I with a curious look. Kai got closer and whispered in my ear.

“I know why you got Kim and Karina in trouble.” He took a step back and grinned to see my horrified face. “Let’s tell everyone, yeah?” He suddenly raised his voice for everyone to hear.

He started to breathe in a shallow manner. I looked at him enjoying this. That’s when I heard a chair screech across the floor.

“Get over yourself.”

Everyone turned their heads to see Karina who was now standing with a hard look on her face. I stopped breathing for a second. Wondering what she’s doing. But she’s not glaring at me, she’s glaring at Kai. I blinked slowly, for a split second I saw my old friend from primary school, when I opened my eyes afterwards I saw her back to normal.

“Karina…” I whispered under my breath.

Kai isn’t used to people talking back to him, considering the fact that he has a lot of muscle. But he just stood there with a dumbfounded look when his eyes met her sharp gaze. He was just processing what he heard.

“What?” Karina pouts. “Not used to confrontation?”

That caused the room full of trouble makers to go: Oooo. They seemed to be enjoying the show. I heard one of them say to their friend: Wow, she’s got guts, I like that.

I felt my gaze soften on her. Who would have thought her bad attitude would come in handy? I found myself admiring her as she continued to jab at Kai with her words in front of the whole room.

“You may look tough, but you’re just a bully who preys on kind people.” She briefly closes her eyes. “From my experience I know for a fact that you’re just a child who can’t handle emotions, so you take it out on others.” She paused and looked at me for a second.

My heart skipped a beat, I realise what or who she’s referring to now. My eyes begin to sting from being moved by that hint. She took a breath and had everyone on the edge of their seats.

“Do us all a favor: grow up.” Karina smiled sweetly at him to add to the burn.

That when everyone started to talk aloud. 

“Damn she’s brutal.” One student looked at her with admiration.

“She’s not just a pretty face huh?” He eyed her up.

Some students were laughing at Kai’s embarrassment, while others were clapping or cheering for Karina. 

Our eyes met and for the first time, I could fully see that my old friend was still in there somewhere. That’s because she smiled at me with her white teeth flashing. It matched the photo on the wall in my house. I couldn’t help but return the smile.

The timer went off indicating that detention was over. While people got up to leave they acknowledged Karina with nods or compliments. Kai on the other hand was the first to leave the room. After a few moments, the conversations died down and it was only Karina and I in the room.

I packed up my things and went to her. I was in deep water when Kai nearly revealed my secret. But Karina helped me, even though she deserves to know why. I couldn’t help but ask her something in regards to that.

“Why did you help me?” I studied her as if it was the first time seeing her face. “I mean, I know you didn’t like me for what happened between you and you old boyfriend…”

Her eyelashes fluttered, but she regained her composure. She shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re right,” She looked at me in the corner of her eyes when she said this next. “I probably should have cheered Kai on rather than hurting his ego, huh?”

She joked a little. I welcomed it with a genuine laugh. Karina giggled a bit while pulling out her phone. She tilted her head and showed me her screen. I raised a brow and looked. It read:

Ningning has invited you to the group chat!

When I look at her face, I can see we are both holding in laughter. We burst into a fit of laughter and realise that Giselle has lost that battle with Ningning.

We packed up and walked through the empty halls together. We are talking, without any bad blood between us. We are just talking and it feels like a breath of fresh air.

“So it’s always like that between you two?” She asked me about why Kai picks on me.

I nod my head and sighed.

“He knows I don’t swear and that I’m a bit more gentle than other people. Detention is his favourite subject or session at school.”

Karina nods her head in understanding. She stops in her tracks like she just realised something important. She quickly takes a letter out of her bag, it’s her apology letter to the principal. Her lips are pursed together.

“Oh you finished?” I suddenly registered why she looks a little concerned or conflicted. “It’s okay.”

I reassure her as I carefully take the letter from her hands.

“But you just said Kai enjoys bullying you.” She seemed upset. “I can stay in detention for longe-” I interrupt her.

“It’s really okay.” I smiled hearing her concern. “I doubt he will try anything soon.”

Karina didn’t seem satisfied, she was about to protest further, but I just chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” She crossed her arms with a frown.

“Nothing, it’s only that I’m happy you care a lot.” I bowed slightly. “Thank you. But I won’t keep you there when you’ve already finished the letter.”

Karina sighed and we continued to walk together in a comfortable silence. We came to the bus stop. Which marks where we will part ways. I stand there longer than necessary. She turns around to see me and waves. 

“I’ll message you on the group chat later, if not, I’ll see you at school!” Karina waved one last time and those last words made me excited for the next time we will see or interact with one another again.

I arrived home wearing a big smile. I took off my shoes and made my way to the lounge. I stop when I see a photo of Karina and I in that old frame. I reached out and touched the glass in the frame. 

I didn’t realise how much I missed my old friend.