WINTER SECRETS

The room was dark, the air thick with an eerie silence that clung to the walls like a specter. Julia's pulse quickened as an unfamiliar fragrance curled around her senses—strong, musky, and undeniably foreign. Someone had been here. Someone was still here.

A sudden flash of light sliced through the darkness, revealing two figures standing like statues in the doorway, arms crossed, their expressions carved from stone. Ava and Leo. Their presence was as unsettling as the silence that had preceded them.

Julia's breath hitched, her hand flying to her chest as though she could physically hold in the fear threatening to escape. "Jesus Christ!" she gasped, stumbling back.

Ava's smirk deepened, her voice a blade dripping with sarcasm. "Even the devil has more rights to say that name than you do."

Julia's initial fright fizzled into irritation. She folded her arms, her gaze flicking between them. "What the hell are you two doing here? I could file a case against you for trespassing."

Ava let out a low chuckle, the sound almost melodic in its mockery. "Are you going to talk willingly, or should I make you?"

Julia squared her shoulders, meeting Ava's gaze with steel in her own. "I won't talk if there's nothing to talk about."

Ava's smirk didn't falter, but her fist curled, knuckles whitening. In an instant, she lunged, a punch sailing toward Julia's face—

But it never landed.

Leo's hand shot out, gripping Ava's wrist mid-air with effortless precision. His voice was calm, but the edge in his tone was unmistakable. "Calm down." Then, turning to Julia, he asked, "How long have you been managing the anonymous platform?"

Julia blinked, her expression carefully blank. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ava let out an exasperated scoff. "You should have let me hit her."

Leo ignored her. His stare was unyielding, his patience razor-thin. "How long have you been working for Na-eun?"

"I—"

His voice cut through hers like a whip. "If you tell me you don't know who she is, I'll personally send you to your grave."

The weight of his words pressed against the room like a suffocating force. Julia swallowed hard, feeling the tension shift. She had seen Leo angry before—but never like this. This was different. This was dangerous.

"Since high school," she finally admitted, voice quieter now.

Ava's lip curled. "Bitch."

Leo's jaw tightened. "What was your mission? The real reason?"

Julia's confidence flickered, but she held onto it like a lifeline. "I hate Jae-wook. That's all this was ever about—bringing him down."

Ava's gaze sharpened. "Then why didn't you tell Na-eun about us? Did you?"

Julia let out a small, humorless laugh. "No. My plan wasn't to hurt anyone else. So I never reported you guys. But honestly? I regret that now."

A beat of silence passed before she added, "Carrie went overboard and got caught. I just watched it happen, just like Jae-wook."

"That explains a lot," Ava murmured, eyes narrowing.

Leo exhaled, his expression unreadable. "Stop working with her, Julia. You might not be so lucky next time."

Julia scoffed. "I don't need your advice. But you'd need mine—stay away from Na-eun. She's worse than you think."

Ava clicked her tongue, unimpressed. "We don't need your warnings. Let's just hope we never cross paths again."

Leo turned first, walking toward the door. Ava followed—then paused, as if reconsidering something.

Without warning, she spun back around and landed a solid punch across Julia's face.

Julia staggered, her balance faltering as she tumbled onto her bed. A sharp sting bloomed across her cheek.

Ava grinned, shaking out her fist with satisfaction. "A little gift from me," she said sweetly. Then she grabbed Leo's hand, tugging him toward the door. "Let's go."

And just like that, they disappeared, leaving Julia with nothing but the throbbing pain in her face and the echo of their presence lingering in the room.

MEANWHILE

In a quieter part of the city, away from the bustling streets, Carrie sat alone, the events of the evening weighing heavily on her mind. Oliver's annoying presence still lingered in her thoughts, but something else unsettled her even more. She sighed, rubbing her temples, only to feel a shift in the air.

When she lifted her head, her eyes locked onto an unfamiliar figure standing a few feet away. The dim glow of a streetlamp barely illuminated the stranger's face, but there was something chillingly deliberate about their presence.

"My instincts told me you'd be here," the figure said, stepping closer and settling beside her.

"Pardon?" Carrie's voice was guarded, her confusion palpable.

A low chuckle—sinister, almost playful—escaped the stranger's lips. "Kim Na-eun. Does that ring a bell?" she asked, tilting her head with an eerie smile.

Carrie's stomach twisted. "What do you want?" she asked, masking her shock with feigned indifference.

Na-eun smirked. "Stop whatever you're planning or doing."

"Why should I do that?" Carrie countered, folding her arms.

Na-eun's smirk widened, her tone laced with amusement. "Hm. Because I'm threatening you right now. I might not be patient next time, Ms. Evans."

Carrie scoffed. "I'm sure you have better things to do than threaten a harmless young adult. Or are you, by any chance… frightened?"

Na-eun's eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "You have a way with words." She leaned in, fingers trailing through Carrie's hair in a mockingly tender gesture. "I only let you live because I like pretty people. I love to toy with them—it's cute." Then, with a sharp turn, she stood abruptly. "Better stay pretty if you want to live."

Before Carrie could react, Na-eun disappeared into the darkness, leaving only an icy breeze in her wake.

Carrie exhaled shakily, realizing she had been holding her breath. Her pulse hammered in her ears, her fingers trembling slightly. But before she could collect herself, a familiar deep voice cut through the silence.

"Carrie."

She turned sharply, meeting the worried gaze of Jae-wook.

"You're here," he said, releasing a breath of relief.

"Did make you worried?" Carrie asked, masking her lingering tremors with a smile.

Jae-wook frowned, settling beside her. "Are you alright?"

"Well… much better than I expected," she admitted.

"I'm sorry about what happened."

"It's fine." Carrie exhaled, though the tension in her shoulders said otherwise.

A brief silence settled between them before Jae-wook spoke again, his voice hesitant.

"Carrie…"

"Hm?"

"Maybe we should just stop."

Her head snapped toward him. "Stop? Are you insane?" She let out a short, disbelieving chuckle. "Jae-wook, a terrible part of my past just spread across the whole school, and you want me to suddenly stop? Just throw everything away for nothing?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt anymore," he insisted. "You've been through so much already. And this… Na-eun—she won't stop coming for you."

Carrie's gaze softened, but she still shook her head. "I'm not giving up. Not now. Not ever."

"But it's dangerous," Jae-wook pressed.

Carrie tilted her head. "Do you care about me that much?"

Jae-wook exhaled sharply. "Why do you keep asking me that?"

Carrie smiled. "I'll be fine, Jae-wook. As long as my friends believe me." Her eyes held steady warmth. "As long as the people I cherish believe me."

Jae-wook's jaw tensed. "And what if she tries to kill you?"

Carrie's lips curled into a small, fearless smirk. "Then don't leave my side. She can't harm me if you're there."

Jae-wook scoffed, trying to mask the slight hitch in his breath. "What do you think I am, Superman?"

"Better," she teased.

A chuckle slipped from his lips as he unconsciously patted her head. "It would be crazy if everyone thought like you."

Carrie blinked. "You're patting my head again."

Jae-wook arched a brow. "Do you hate it? Isn't it comforting?"

She rolled her eyes. "You haven't really comforted a sad person before, have you?"

"Not really?" he admitted, lowering his hand.

"I prefer hugs," Carrie said without hesitation.

Jae-wook's eyes widened. "Wait—you want me to hug you?"

Carrie's face warmed slightly. "Never mind."

"No, it's just—I… well…" He scratched the back of his neck, his expression torn between shock and something unreadable.

Carrie groaned in frustration and stood up. "Why did you even come here if you can't even comfort me properly? All I wanted was a hug, why didn't Ava come instead? Gosh! This is even more frustrating. Just forget it."

But before she could turn away, Jae-wook suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.

In one swift motion, he wrapped his arms around her.

Carrie stiffened, her breath hitching as warmth enveloped her. His grip was firm yet careful, as if he was holding onto something fragile. For a second, neither of them spoke. The night air was still, save for the quiet pounding of her heart.

Jae-wook's voice was quieter now, almost uncertain. "Like this?" he said patting her hair gently.

Carrie blinked, completely caught off guard. A slow, unexpected warmth crept up her cheeks. She felt the steady rise and fall of his chest against her, and suddenly, she wasn't sure how to breathe properly.

After a long beat, she finally muttered, "Yeah…just like this."

Jae-wook exhaled, his arms tightening just slightly.

And for the first time that night, Carrie thought of Jae-wook as something more than an enemy, spoilt brat, vampire or just a house mate.