🎤✩★♬ ₊˚. GL | Hanlim High School | Winter

Winter’s grade 11 year started just like any other—quiet, unassuming, and unnoticed. She wasn’t particularly loud or outgoing, preferring to keep to herself. But there was one person who always managed to capture her attention.

You.

You, the most popular student in school. You, who had a presence so bright it made the whole room feel warmer. You, who she had liked for as long as she could remember, even though you had never exchanged a single word.

But fate had played a cruel joke on her. When class assignments were posted, she scanned the list, searching desperately—only to find that you weren’t in her class. Instead, you were placed in a different section. With Wonyoung.

Wonyoung, the Queen Bee. Your girlfriend.

And just like that, Winter knew that whatever small chance she had was even smaller now.

—

The rain was relentless that morning, pouring down in thick sheets. Winter had her umbrella tucked in her bag, walking briskly to school when she spotted you—standing under the awning of a small shop, looking up at the sky with a frustrated sigh. You were going to be late at this rate.

Before she could stop herself, she stepped forward.

“Hey… aren’t you from Hanlim High?”

Your eyes landed on her, surprised that someone was talking to you.

Winter swallowed. “I have an umbrella,” she said quickly. “We can share.”

You hesitated but eventually nodded. “That’d be great. Thanks.”

Under the umbrella, the space was small, and you stood close—so close that your shoulder brushed against hers. The touch was small, barely noticeable, but it set Winter’s heart into a wild rhythm.

Then, without thinking, you reached up and rubbed her shoulder absentmindedly. “You’re cold,” she murmured.

Winter stopped walking.

You blinked. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and, instead of answering, shrugged off her hoodie. “Here.”

You tilted your head. “Won’t you be cold?”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, avoiding your gaze as she handed it over. “Just… wear it.”

You smiled, slipping it on. “Thanks, really.”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from grinning like an idiot.

The rest of the walk to school was quiet, but inside, Winter’s world had shifted.

—

Winter was still smiling when she sat in class. Humming softly, she felt light—happy in a way she hadn’t in a long time. When a friend nudged her, asking why she looked so giddy, she only shrugged.

And then, later that day, she heard it.

Angry voices. Wonyoung’s voice.

Winter peered around the corner and saw you—wearing her hoodie.

Wonyoung was furious, voice sharp, her hands clenched into fists. You looked confused, trying to explain, but it was clear Wonyoung wasn’t listening.

Winter felt a chill run down her spine.

After school, when Wonyoung called her name, she knew what was coming.

Her classmates looked at her with pity but said nothing. No one dared to interfere.

Wonyoung dragged her to the back of the school, where no teachers could see.

Water. A fist. The cold sting of pain.

Winter barely had time to react before Wonyoung threw the hoodie she had given you onto the ground like it was trash.

“This is your last warning,” Wonyoung said, voice dangerously low. “Stay away from my girlfriend.”

And just like that, she was gone.

Winter stood there, soaked, aching, and humiliated. But even then…

She didn’t give up.

She started small.

Sitting next to you in the library, even though she hated reading.

Letting you doodle on her guitar case, smiling when you joked, “Now you’ll never lose it.”

Buying you lunch when you forgot yours.

Holding the door open for you like it was second nature.

Slipping you song recommendations, hoping you’d listen.

She never pushed. She never asked for more. She was just… there. A quiet presence. A steady shadow.

And sure, Wonyoung still found ways to punish her, but Winter never stopped.

She couldn’t.

—

The Hanlim High Music Competition—one of the biggest highlights of the festival. The best performers from different grades had signed up, each hoping to impress the judges and the crowd. Winter hadn’t planned on joining.

But then she thought of you.

Of every stolen glance, every quiet moment she spent by your side, every unspoken feeling she had buried deep.

And before she could stop herself, she had signed her name on the list.

Now, standing behind the curtain, she felt her nerves creeping in.

What if you didn’t realize the song was for you?

What if Wonyoung figured it out before you did?

What if—

“Next up, Kim Minjeong from Grade 11!”

The announcer’s voice rang through the speakers, and suddenly, there was no time for doubt.

This was it.

Her moment.

Taking a deep breath, Winter stepped onto the stage, the bright lights momentarily blinding her. The audience came into view—students, teachers, festival-goers—but her eyes searched only for you.

And when she found you, sitting in the crowd, watching her with quiet curiosity, she tightened her grip on her guitar and exhaled.

She smiled softly.

“This song is for someone very special,” she said into the mic, her voice steady despite the nerves bubbling in her chest.

Winter’s fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted the mic stand, the weight of the moment settling over her like a heavy fog. The crowd buzzed with excitement, but to her, only one person mattered.

She found you in the sea of faces, your eyes already on her.

Taking a slow breath, she strummed the first chord.

A song about longing.

A song about quiet love.

A song about you.

“Walking in the rain, just us two…”

Her voice was soft but steady, carrying through the cool night air.

“Under the sky, so close to you…”

Memories flooded her mind—raindrops tapping against the umbrella, your shoulder brushing against hers.

“Felt your warmth, though I stayed cold…”

The way you had touched her absentmindedly, a fleeting moment she had replayed over and over.

“Wished I had the right to hold…”

She closed her eyes for a second, swallowing the lump in her throat.

The chorus came next, and she let her heart take over.

“Even if the world turns me away…”

A flicker of pain crossed her face, remembering Wonyoung’s threats, the bruises hidden beneath her sleeves.

“Even if my heart breaks every day…”

The ache of watching you from afar, never being able to reach out.

“I’ll stay right here, I won’t let go…”

No matter how much it hurt, she had never left.

“Even if you never know…”

Her gaze locked onto yours. Did you know now? Could you feel it?

She strummed softer as she moved into the second verse.

“Bruises fade, but love remains…”

Her fingers stilled for just a second, recalling the sting of Wonyoung’s warnings, the cold water drenching her uniform.

“I’d take the hurt, I’d take the pain…”

Because for you, she always would.

“If it means just one more day…”

One more moment, one more smile.

“Of seeing you smile this way…”

Like you were now, watching her with something unreadable in your eyes.

The bridge carried a quiet hope, fragile yet unshaken.

“Maybe someday, maybe never…”

She didn’t know if you’d ever truly see her.

“But if you hear this song, remember…”

This was her confession, in the only way she knew how to say it.

“That every note, every line…”

Every stolen glance, every quiet moment, every unspoken word—

“Was always meant for you, this time…”

She exhaled, leading into the final chorus, her voice softer now, raw with emotion.

“Even if I lose the fight…”

Even if Wonyoung won.

“Even if you love her right…”

Even if your heart would never be hers.

“I’ll sing this song just one last time…”

One last gift, before she let go.

“For the love I’ll never call mine.”

The last chord rang out, fading into silence.

Winter kept her eyes on you, waiting, hoping—just for a second—that maybe, just maybe, you had heard her.

As the final note of Winter’s song faded into the night, the audience sat in stunned silence for a moment—before erupting into applause.

She barely registered the sound. Her eyes were still on you, heart hammering in her chest.

This was her moment.

She took a breath, gripping the mic stand, her fingers tightening around the metal. This was it.

“I—”

But before she could say another word, the principal stepped onto the stage.

“Kim Minjeong.” His voice cut through the noise, and the applause died down. “Step away from the microphone.”

Winter’s stomach twisted. “What…?”

Whispers spread through the crowd. Your brows furrowed as you looked from the principal to Winter, confused.

Then, from the side of the stage, Wonyoung stepped forward. A smirk played on her lips, but her eyes held nothing but cold amusement.

“Sir,” she said, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “I just wanted to bring something to your attention before the competition results were finalized.”

The principal nodded, motioning for her to continue.

“The song Winter just performed…” Wonyoung paused, letting the anticipation build. “She stole it.”

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

Winter’s blood ran cold.

“What?” Her voice came out hoarse.

Wonyoung turned to the audience, putting on a show of feigned hurt. “I wrote that song. For my girlfriend.” She glanced at you, then back at the principal. “And Winter stole it.”

Your eyes widened. “That’s not true—”

Wonyoung ignored you. “I was going to perform it myself, but I changed my mind last minute. And now, here she is, passing it off as her own.”

The principal’s expression darkened. “Is this true?”

Winter shook her head fiercely. “No! I wrote that song myself!”

But Wonyoung had already planted the seed of doubt.

“I have proof,” Wonyoung continued, pulling out a crumpled notebook. “Lyrics. Chords. All in my handwriting. I showed them to my friends weeks ago.” She gestured toward a few girls in the crowd—her friends, her followers—who nodded solemnly.

The principal looked between them, then at Winter. “Until we sort this out, you are disqualified from the competition. And due to this serious act of academic dishonesty, you will also be suspended.”

Winter’s breath caught in her throat. “What?”

“This school has no tolerance for plagiarism, especially in an event as important as this.” His voice was firm. “Pack your things. You’ll be notified when your suspension is lifted.”

Winter looked at you. Your face was a mix of disbelief and anger—but the principal’s decision had already been made.

Security was already approaching her, ready to escort her off the stage.

“This isn’t fair!” She tried to fight back, but no one was listening.

Wonyoung watched from the sidelines, victorious.

And just like that, Winter’s world shattered.

—

The next day, Winter was gone.

Rumors spread like wildfire. Some believed her, some didn’t. But in the end, it didn’t matter.

She was transferred to a different school by the end of the week.

And you never saw her again.

Until one day.

Months had passed.

The seasons had changed.

One evening, you found yourself in a small café, the kind tucked away from the usual crowds. A soft melody filled the air—a voice, warm and familiar.

Your heart stopped.

Winter.

There she was, on the small stage in the corner of the café, guitar in hand.

Singing the same song she had performed that night.

The song she wrote.

Your song.