WINTER SECRETS

Leo, Ava, and Carrie were strolling down the school hallway, their laughter echoing off the lockers as they exchanged sarcastic remarks and playful jabs. Their voices blended together, a familiar hum of camaraderie. That was until the sound of frantic footsteps interrupted their carefree chatter.

"Carrie!!" Julia's voice rang out across the hall, sharp and urgent.

The trio stopped in their tracks, glancing back as if they had all just been called into attention. Julia was sprinting toward them, her breath short and her expression oddly determined.

"Hi," she puffed as she arrived, clutching her side.

Carrie raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Julia gasped, eyes darting between the group. "I just... I thought I might lose you."

"Lose me?" Carrie repeated, narrowing her eyes, utterly confused.

Julia waved her hands in a flustered manner. "Oh, never mind. I need a moment—please, just a moment."

Ava muttered under her breath, barely containing her eye roll. "She could've said that first."

Carrie shot Ava a playful glance before focusing back on Julia. "I'm all ears," she said, her tone falsely sweet.

Julia's face shifted to one of innocent optimism. "So, with exams coming up, would you consider being my study buddy?"

Carrie hesitated, glancing between Leo and Ava, who were both giving her questioning looks.

"Uhm... sure. Why not?" Carrie shrugged, her voice light but laced with a hint of uncertainty.

"Oh, thank you! I'll call you!" Julia almost shouted before darting off, her energy spilling over.

Carrie exhaled slowly as she turned back to her friends, who were now eyeing her as if she'd committed some kind of betrayal.

"What is wrong with you two?" Carrie asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Did you really just become study buddies with Julia?" Leo asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.

"I personally can't stand that girl. She's a classic pick-me, plus she hates Jae-wook" Ava added, crossing her arms.

Carrie grinned mischievously. "Perfect. Someone who gets me," she said as she turned to walk ahead of them.

"Wait up!" Ava called out, chasing after her.

---

A few days later, Carrie found herself sipping her iced Americano across from Julia at Bloom Café, her feet tapping impatiently under the table. She wasn't exactly thrilled about this study session, but Julia seemed to have a way of convincing her—whether by charm or by sheer persistence.

Julia was already settled in, her eyes glued to her notes, looking every bit the academic star. Then she raised her head.

Julia laughed nervously, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I really thought you might cancel at the last minute."

Carrie's lips curled into a sly grin. "It's not like me to do that. You're just not used to me yet."

"I know," Julia said, tapping the edge of her book. "I do know you're an amazing study mate."

Carrie leaned back in her chair, feigning a yawn. "Oh, really? Flattery won't get you far. But, alright, let's dive in."

Julia cleared her throat, flipping open her Law and Ethics book with purpose. "Okay, let's start with an easy one: A journalist obtains classified government information and publishes it for public awareness. Is that ethical or unethical?"

Carrie leaned forward, folding her arms across her chest. "Hmm. Tough one. Legally, it's a breach of confidentiality. But ethically? People deserve to know, right?"

Julia nodded eagerly. "Exactly! It's the classic debate of press freedom versus national security. Where would you draw the line?"

Carrie thought for a moment, then shrugged nonchalantly. "If the information puts lives in danger, sure, keep it classified. But if it's about exposing corruption... the public deserves the truth."

Julia's eyes brightened. "That's exactly right. Now, what if leaking the information actually prevents harm?"

Carrie grinned, her eyes narrowing. "Then, break the rules. Sometimes, the truth is worth the consequences."

Julia laughed, almost too loudly. "A rebel at heart, huh?"

Carrie smirked, taking a sip of her coffee. "Law isn't just about following rules. It's about knowing which ones to challenge."

Just as Julia opened her mouth to respond, the door to the café jingled and Carrie's heart skipped a beat. Jae-wook stepped inside, his presence cutting through the calm atmosphere like a bolt of electricity. His eyes immediately found Carrie, and she felt a strange shiver run down her spine.

"You're here?" Carrie asked, her voice shaking slightly as he approached.

"Are you done with your session?" Jae-wook's tone was casual, though his eyes didn't leave her for a second.

"No! We were just discussing case studies," Julia blurted out, her voice a little too high-pitched.

Carrie's gaze flicked between Jae-wook and Julia. Something was off. Jae-wook's usual cool demeanor was replaced with something softer—a deliberate kindness, almost like he was... playing a role.

He didn't even acknowledge Julia. "I'll wait for you," he said, pulling out a chair and sitting beside Carrie without waiting for her consent.

Carrie's brow furrowed. "Is it really that urgent?"

"Hm. Yes, it is," Jae-wook said, offering her a tight-lipped smile. His gaze never faltered from hers.

Carrie's head spun. Was he trying to provoke Julia? Or... was he trying to make her feel something? She couldn't decide.

Julia's smile faltered.

"I... I think I should go. I have a house issue," Carrie said, the words tumbling out as she tried to avoid whatever tension was building between Jae-wook and Julia.

"I'm not impatient," Jae-wook said smoothly, flashing a small, almost affectionate smile.

Carrie stood, eager to leave the suffocating atmosphere. Jae-wook followed her, but as soon as they reached the door, he caught her by the wrist.

"W-What do you think you're doing?" Carrie whispered under her breath, her pulse racing.

"Just play along," Jae-wook said, his voice low but urgent. "I suspect Julia might be involved in the scandal."

Carrie's eyes widened. "You think she's connected to the leak?"

Jae-wook glanced over at the café, then back to her. "I'm not sure yet, but we need to make sure she doesn't suspect anything. Keep it up."

Carrie frowned, glancing back toward the café. "You want me to pretend to be into you to get her off our trail?"

Jae-wook's smile was slow, calculated, and it made Carrie uneasy. "If I'm right, there will be another upload about this on the platform. You'll see."

Carrie hesitated, running a hand through her hair. "What if someone else catches it? What if it's not just Julia?"

Jae-wook's gaze grew sharper. "Then it wouldn't be on a student platform, would it? You said we need to risk the unusual for the extraordinary."

"I don't know" Carrie said still in thoughts.

"We don't have to if you feel uncomfortable, we'd just find another way" Jae-wook said thoughtfully.

"No! It's fine" Carrie said and flashed a smile "let's do it"

"Are you sure?"

Carrie stared at him for a moment before nodding in affirmation, he stepped closer, his hand sliding around her waist with a practiced motion. "Is this okay?"

Carrie froze, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden proximity. "hm."

Jae-wook's eyes remained locked on hers. "If we're wrong, we'll fix it. But if we're right, we'll have everything we need."

Carrie sighed, her mind whirling. "You're taking a huge risk, do you really think it's worth it?."

"I just need you to trust me," Jae-wook said, his voice softer than usual, his eyes never leaving hers.

Carrie let out a shaky breath, her heart fluttering in an unexpected rhythm. She offered him a small, knowing smile, her eyes softening just a fraction. "I do hope you're wrong," she murmured, her voice light.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the quiet between them filled with something neither could quite define. But as Carrie looked into his eyes, she knew that whatever came next, they'd face it together.