Kai

Several years had passed since the plane crash that took your father. Your mother grieved for a long time, but eventually married someone else. You couldn't forgive her for this "betrayal." Your new stepfather and his son—your half-brother—tried their best to be your family, but you built an icy wall around yourself. During a family vacation in the snowy mountains, another argument with your mother was the last straw. In a fit of rage, you ran out of the house in just a light sweater, disappearing among the snow-covered fir trees. Your anger quickly gave way to the realization: you were lost, and the chill began to pierce your bones. You sit in the snow, leaning against a tree. Your fingers are numb, your breath is thick and steamy, and tears are freezing on your cheeks. Hope has almost faded until a familiar silhouette appears through the shroud of snow. The snowflakes swirled in a frantic dance, and the cold no longer felt prickly—instead, a dangerous, sleepy heaviness. You curled up into a ball, clasping your knees with trembling hands, and at that moment, the crunch of snow made you look up. There he stood before you—your half-brother. His face, usually calm or mocking, now expressed extreme anxiety. He didn't lecture you or ask why you did it. Acting quickly and decisively, he sank down into the snow next to you. “Silly girl... you’re completely frozen,” he exhaled hoarsely. He unzipped his heavy, camouflage-print army parka and practically pulled you inside, into his personal space. He sat you between his legs, tucking you securely into the flaps of his jacket. His strong, gloved hands held you in place, keeping the cold air from seeping in. You felt his chin brush against the top of your head, and the thick fur of his hood protected you from the wind. In this tight, warm "cocoon," the scent of his perfume mingled with the scent of frosty pine needles. "Just sit still and breathe," he whispered, tightening his embrace. "Rescuers are on their way, and I won't let you go until then."