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I love my job, I really do, Min Ho thought inside the lonely elevator.
Truth be told, all he wanted to do right now was his nightly skincare routine, crawl into bed, and wrap himself around his girlfriend.
Oh, his beautiful, sweet, full-of-life girl. Too bad she was all the way in Portland.
It had been nearly a year since they’d both graduated college. The plan had always been to move in together within a few months, but then Kitty landed an amazing job in Portland. She’d offered to stay behind, insisting she could find something in New York. But Min Ho had stopped her, saying she needed to chase her dreams. That’s just who he was—always putting her first. Of course, Kitty being Kitty, she found out he’d landed a big-time opportunity himself and refused to let him uproot his life.
So, here they were. Long-distance was still the set up, but it was more manageable. They visited each other far more than they had in college, and every moment together felt like coming up for air.
Min Ho glanced at his phone, smiling softly at the wallpaper: Kitty in one of his hoodies, messy bun perched atop her head, and a warm smile lighting up her face. It was a silly picture, really, but it made his heart swell every time.
He loved her in her element—carefree and radiant. If only she could see herself through his eyes. She really was his whole world.
One of their late-night calls was scheduled in about an hour, his favorite part of the day. The thought of hearing her voice already easing the tension of the last few hours.
Setting his things down, Min Ho kicked off his shoes, grabbed a collagen water from the fridge, and leaned against the massive floor-to-ceiling windows in his living room. The city lights sparkled like scattered diamonds, pretty, he thought. But not as pretty as her.
“Jesus!” he yelped, nearly dropping his drink when a voice broke the silence.
“Don’t you have better reflexes by now?” Kitty teased, standing in the doorway. She was wearing one of his shirts—an oversized black tee that hung off her shoulder—and a pair of his gray sweatpants, cinched high on her waist. She was grinning from ear to ear.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she added nonchalantly. “I borrowed your clothes. I’m way too lazy to unpack.”
Min Ho blinked, his brain short-circuiting. “Hello? Babe???”
Kitty waved a hand in front of his face, laughing at his stunned expression. “Earth to Min Ho. Are you just going to stare at me, or…?”
Before she could finish, he crossed the room in three long strides and swept her into his arms. Kitty let out a surprised laugh as he spun her around, holding her tight against his chest.
“What are you doing here?” he murmured into her hair. His voice was soft, almost reverent, like he couldn’t believe she was real.
“I missed you,” Kitty said simply, her hands sliding up to cup his jaw. She brushed her thumbs gently across his cheekbones.
Min Ho tilted his head, his lips quirking up. “You missed me?”
“Terribly,” she said, scrunched her nose and nodded in exaggeration. Her eyes were sparkling with warmth.
He leaned in and kissed her, slow and deep, savoring the feel of her lips against his. She melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as he cradled her waist. The kiss was unhurried, soft, and in love.
When they broke apart, Min Ho rested his forehead against hers, his thumb brushing along the curve of her hip. “You’re really here?”
Kitty smiled, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. “I’m really here.”
They moved to the couch, Kitty curling up in his lap as he held her close. Min Ho’s hands roamed her back and sides, pulling her closer as if she might disappear.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Kitty said casually, “but I measured a few places in your apartment.”
“Hm?” Min Ho hummed against her neck, too focused on pressing soft kisses along her jaw and collarbone.
“I said I measured a few places,” Kitty repeated, giggling when his lips grazed a ticklish spot.
Min Ho paused, leaning back slightly. “Measured for what?”
Kitty bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. “Oh, it’s nothing…”
“Covey…” he said warningly, narrowing his eyes.
Kitty giggled, shrugging nonchalantly. “It’s a secret.”
“A secret?” Min Ho raised a brow, his voice low and teasing. “You really want to play this game with me?”
“Mmhm,” Kitty hummed, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter.
Min Ho’s hand slid up to cup her jaw, tilting her face toward his. “Come on, Covey. Tell me.”
She sighed dramatically, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest. “Ugh, fine.” She leaned in close, brushing her lips against his ear before whispering, “I measured a few places for some of my stuff—I’m moving in.”
Min Ho froze. “What?”
Kitty grinned, leaning back to look him in the eye. “Surprise! I got transferred to a branch here in New York.”
“Wait—what? But I thought not until next month?”
“I didn’t want to wait anymore,” Kitty said, her voice soft. “I couldn’t wait to be here. With you. I don’t think I’ve fully absorbed how much I’ve actually missed you, now that I think about it.”
Min Ho stared at her, his expression shifting from shock to awe. “Can I tell you a secret too?”
Kitty scoffed and smirked, crossing her arms in arrogance. “Please, I already know all your secrets.”
He shook his head, leaning in to whisper against her ear. “I only chose this apartment because I could see you living in it.”
Her breath caught, and then she just stared at his eyes until she let out a soft laugh, kissing him deeply. “You’re such a sap,” she murmured against his lips.
“Only for you,” he said, smiling as he kissed her again.
“I really love you, Min Ho.”
“I love you, Kitty.”
Their kisses grew more heated, Kitty tilting her head to give him better access as Min Ho trailed his lips down her neck. Her hands tangled in his hair, and his fingers gripped her waist, holding her steady.
Just as things were escalating, Kitty pulled back, her breathing uneven. His girl had the most random thoughts so he wasn’t surprised when she gasped, “Ooh! Let’s order takeout!” she paused to think for a moment. “Wait—have you eaten yet?”,
Min Ho groaned, resting his forehead against her shoulder. “No, but I’m about to.”
Kitty blinked. “Eat what?”
Min Ho’s lips quirked up into a mischievous smile. He stood up with her still in his arms, kissed her, and carried her toward the bedroom.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆
Min Ho stirred awake, his body instinctively seeking warmth in morning air. His arms were wrapped tightly around Kitty, and for a moment, everything felt perfectly still.
Then he noticed the faint shuffling sound—Kitty was trying to wiggle her way out of his hold without waking him.
Through sleep-heavy eyes, Min Ho watched as she gently lifted his arm, sat up on the bed, and made a victorious face when she thought he was still asleep. He bit back a smile, closing his eyes fully just as Kitty leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Her lips lingered for a second longer than necessary, sending a shiver down his spine. When Kitty started to swing her legs off the bed, Min Ho shot out a hand, grabbing her wrist.
“Ah!” she gasped, startled, as he pulled her back into bed. She let out a playful whine, “Min Ho!”
He didn’t answer at first, just wrapping his arms around her waist and tugging her close again. He nuzzled into the crook of her neck, placing a trail of soft kisses along her nape.
“Good morning, love,” he murmured, his voice still husky from sleep.
Kitty squirmed in his arms, half-heartedly slapping his shoulder. “Min Ho! Let me go!”
“Not a chance,” he teased, tightening his grip around her waist. “Where were you sneaking off to, Covey?”
Kitty tilted her head to look at him, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. “Well, I was gonna go put on a shirt.”
Min Ho blinked, processing her words before chuckling. “Oh. Sorry.” His laugh rumbled against her back as he leaned over his side of the bed, fishing for the discarded shirt from the night before.
He held it out to her with a cheeky grin. “Why, thank you, kind sir,” Kitty giggled, slipping the shirt over her head before snuggling back into his arms, her fingers lazily tracing patterns on his chest.
They lay there for a moment, enjoying the lazy comfort of the morning.
“I was gonna go cook us breakfast,” Kitty announced casually, her fingers still trailing along his skin.
Min Ho snorted at this, earning an offended gasp from Kitty.
“Hey! I can cook a simple breakfast!” she protested, sitting up slightly to glare at him.
Min Ho raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Oh, yeah?”
Kitty huffed, pushing at his shoulder. “I’m serious! Eggs, toast, maybe even bacon if you’re lucky.”
“Okay, babe,” he said, his voice dripping with fond amusement. He kissed her cheek softly before loosening his hold around her. “You’re free to go. I’d eat anything you’d make for me, anyway.”
“Yay!” Kitty cheered, practically bouncing off the bed. She hurried toward the door, pausing to shoot him a playful look over her shoulder.
As she disappeared down the hall, Min Ho called after her, “I’ll be out in a bit!”
Her laugh echoed from the kitchen, and Min Ho couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face. He still couldn’t get over the fact that he and his girl were finally living together.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆
Kitty placed a plate of scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon on the table, proudly grinning as Min Ho raised a brow at the surprisingly presentable meal. “Told you I could cook,” she said smugly, sliding into the chair across from him.
Min Ho took a bite, humming in approval. “Alright, alright, I stand corrected. This is edible—actually, it’s good.”
“Thank you,” Kitty said with a mock bow of her head.
“Hey, Kitty... This bacon is burnt.”
“Girl, just eat!”
As they ate, a knock echoed from the door. Min Ho sighed, wiping his mouth before heading to retrieve the mail from the concierge. When he returned, a neat stack of envelopes and packages in hand, Kitty gestured to the pile.
“Can I have a look?” she asked, her curiosity sparking.
“Of course.” Min Ho gave her a bewildered look. “You don’t have to ask, baby.”
Kitty grinned before grabbing the stack, her hands quickly rifling through the items. She paused as her eyes landed on a particular envelope, her mouth falling open.
“Oh my god!” Kitty gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth.
“What?” Min Ho walked over, settling himself behind her to peer over her shoulder.
“Dae is getting married!” she exclaimed, holding up a glossy invitation.
“What?” Min Ho blinked, leaning in to read the details for himself. “How come he didn’t tell me?” His tone was suspicious, almost offended.
Kitty, however, was focused on something else. She squinted at the invitation, tilting her head before turning around to face him. “Wait a second… why is my name written here beside yours? Shouldn’t I get an individual invitation?”
Min Ho raised his eyebrows and held his hands up in defense. “How should I know? I’m innocent.”
Kitty clearly wasn’t buying it. “Min Ho...”
“Okay, okay!” Min Ho finally relented, laughing. “I’m the best man, and I might’ve… said something?”
Kitty’s jaw dropped. “You knew he was getting married and didn’t tell me?!”
Min Ho burst out laughing. “Baby, It wasn’t my place to say anything! It was a secret between Dae, Q, and me. I didn’t even know he’d already proposed.”
Kitty shook her head, feigning exasperation. “You’re unbelievable.”
Min Ho cupped her face with both hands, brushing his thumbs against her cheeks. “Oh, Covey, you should know by now. Everyone knows we’re stuck together. You’ll be my plus one to everything, forever.”
“Forever’s a long time, Min Ho,” she teased, though her eyes softened. She leaned into his touch.
“Good,” he said, leaning in to kiss her, a slow and tender press of lips that made her heart flutter. “It’s not long enough with you.”
Kitty melted, momentarily forgetting her mock irritation. “You’re cute.”
Min Ho smirked. “I know.”
Kitty glanced at the invitation again, her smile widening. “We’re going to Korea.”
Min Ho wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “We are.”
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆
The ski cabin was just as cozy as Kitty remembered. As they stepped inside, she set their luggage down with a sigh, glancing around the familiar space. “It feels like it’s been so long since we’ve been here,” she mused, brushing her fingers against the rustic wooden banister.
Min Ho trailed behind her, but instead of paying attention to the cabin, his focus was entirely on her. She looked so at ease, her hair slightly messy from the ride and her cheeks flushed from the cold outside.
Noticing his silence, Kitty turned to find him staring. “What?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Nothing,” Min Ho said quickly, his lips quirking into a smile.
Kitty rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the cabin, frowning as something unpleasant crossed her mind.
Min Ho noticed her expression right away and chuckled. “Something wrong?”
Kitty leaned against the wall, groaning softly. “I just remembered what happened here last time…” She trailed off, scrunching her nose. “You know….” She shook her head as if to physically rid herself of the memory.
Min Ho stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her into his chest. “Kitty…” he had that tone where he was telling her to breathe. His chin rested atop her head.
Kitty sighed, letting herself relax against him. “It was such a mess,” she muttered.
“But it’s over now,” Min Ho said gently, brushing a kiss against her hairline. “And we’re here for good things, like reunions and skiing… and alone time.” His lips quirked into a smirk as he tipped her chin up and kissed her softly, shushing any lingering worries she might’ve had.
After they’d unpacked and settled into the cabin, Kitty flopped onto the couch beside him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Remember the time we spent at the hot tub here?”
Min Ho raised a brow, leaning back against the couch. “How could I forget? That was quite a night.”
Kitty smirked, leaning closer. “You make it sound like we did something inappropriate.”
Min Ho laughed, shaking his head. “Covey, you’re the one with the smirk. You make it sound like we did something inappropriate.”
“What?! I didn’t say anything!” Kitty giggled at his sass, shoving him lightly.
As her laughter died down, she glanced at her phone and then at Min Ho. “What time are the others getting here, by the way?”
“Not for a few hours,” Min Ho said nonchalantly, his arm draped over the back of the couch.
Kitty squinted at him, catching the slight smirk tugging at his lips. “Wait a second,” she accused, pointing at him. “Did you drag me here early just so we could have more alone time?”
Min Ho feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. “I did no such thing, Covey. How dare you accuse me of that?”
Kitty narrowed her eyes, but her grin gave her away. “Min Ho…”
He sighed dramatically, pulling her closer. “Okay, fine. Maybe I did. But can you blame me? We’re not gonna be alone for a long time.”
Kitty giggled as she snuggled against him, shifting slightly in his hold. “What are we gonna do to pass the time?” she asked, her voice playful.
Min Ho’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. “I have a few ideas.”
“Oh, I’m sure you do,” Kitty teased, raising a brow.
“I do,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss her.
The kiss started slow and sweet, but quickly deepened as Min Ho’s hand found its way to her waist, pulling her onto his lap. Kitty gasped softly against his lips, threading her fingers through his hair as he kissed her hungrily, his lips moving to trail along her jaw and down to her neck.
Her breath hitched when his hands slipped under her sweater, tracing warm patterns against her skin. Min Ho chuckled softly at her reaction, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. “Still with me, Covey?” he asked, his tone low and teasing.
Kitty nodded, her cheeks flushed as she bit her lip. “When you said you had ideas,” she panted, “I thought you meant skiing together.”
Min Ho grinned, his hands sliding down to the waistband of her pants. Slowly, he tugged them down, his lips leaving a trail of kisses along her thighs, then her inner thighs. Kitty’s breaths grew shallow, her fingers tightening in his hair as he kissed his way up her legs.
Panting softly, Kitty managed to gasp, “Speaking of skiing. Do you wanna ski?”
Min Ho shook his head, his smirk widening. “I have a better idea.”
Without another word, he settled himself exactly where she wanted him, Kitty’s light laughter turned to a soft gasp at the first stroke of his tongue, her fingers instinctively tangling in his hair. There goes the stars.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆
The wedding reception was buzzing with life—laughter, clinking glasses, and music filling the air. But for Min Ho, the world had narrowed to the girl who’d somehow convinced him to dance. On the dance floor, Kitty nestled against his chest, her arms looped lazily around his neck, her head fitting perfectly beneath his chin.
“I can’t believe one of us is already married,” Kitty mused softly, her voice a mix of nostalgia and wonder. “It feels like yesterday when I met everyone at KISS.”
Min Ho chuckled, his hand stroking her back. “You mean when you barged into our lives and turned everything upside down?”
Kitty pulled back just enough to give him a playful glare, her lips twitching. “I don’t remember barging in.”
“You absolutely barged in, Covey,” Min Ho teased, grinning. “But I’m not complaining. Even though I still think you're a crazy ex-pen pal, it's the best invasion ever.”
Her playful look softened as she gazed at him. “You really think so?”
“Of course.” His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her skin. “If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here, holding the most amazing woman in my arms.”
Kitty pulled back just enough to give him a playful glare, her lips twitching. “You really are something else.”
Min Ho raised an eyebrow. “Is that a compliment?”
“Not exactly,” she said, her smile softening. “But you’ll take it anyway.”
He grinned, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “I can live with that.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she tucked her face back against his chest, her fingers lightly toying with the lapels of his suit. “I love you, Min Ho.”
“You’re my whole life, Kitty. I love you,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
The song was slow and sweet, the kind that made time feel irrelevant. Kitty closed her eyes, letting herself melt into him, the rest of the room fading away. To her, it was just them. She felt his heartbeat beneath her cheek, steady and calming.
Kitty couldn’t help but smile. Hugging had always been their thing. They could stay like this forever.
That was until someone suddenly yelled from across the room, “Kitty, think fast!”
Before she could even process the shout, a bouquet of flowers flew through the air and landed perfectly in her hands. Kitty blinked, surprised, then glanced up at Min Ho with a playful look.
“What just happened?” she asked, her eyes still wide as she stared at the bouquet in her hands.
“Is this your doing?” Kitty was now narrowing her eyes at him in suspicion.
Min Ho shook his head, his grin only widening. “I swear, Covey, it’s not me this time. Maybe the flowers know you belong with them.”
He chuckled when she said nothing, instead he pulled her even closer. “You know what they say—when the bouquet lands in your arms, it’s a sign you’re stuck with me.”
Kitty laughed, shaking her head. “I think that’s the other way around.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” he teased, his voice low and affectionate. “You’re stuck with me, Covey. No takebacks.”
Kitty giggled, shaking her head. “Fine, I’ll keep you around. But only because you’re cute.”
Min Ho smirked, his hands gently pulling her even closer, as they continued to dance. “Cute, huh? I’ll take it. But just so you know, I’m a lot more than cute.”
She laughed softly, gazing up at him with affection in her eyes. “I know. You’re all mine.”
Min Ho smiled tenderly, kissing the top of her head. “And you’re mine, always.”
Kitty’s heart swelled as they swayed to the music, the bouquet still in her hands, but her attention fully on the man she loved. She smiled up at him, her voice soft. “Do you think we’re ever going to be like them? You know, someday." Kitty glanced at the newlyweds.
“Every day,” Min Ho answered without a moment’s hesitation.
Kitty paused, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. “Did you always know?”
“Yeah, Kitty.”
Oh.
With this, Kitty smiles tenderly. If one looked close enough, her eyes had turned glossy. Kitty’s head rested on his chest again, her smile soft and content.
Min Ho’s never been more sure of anything in his life, so, he whispers: “I go where you go.”