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There was something mesmerizing about the way a freshly cut diamond caught the light—how it refracted, split, and danced in a kaleidoscope of sparkles, effortlessly commanding attention. Madison's engagement ring did precisely that, sitting proudly on her left hand like it belonged on the cover of a bridal magazine.
Kitty watched it glisten as Madison turned her wrist this way and that, the city skyline behind her a blur of twinkling lights and movement. Their party was nestled in a plush corner booth at Lumière, one of Manhattan's most impossibly trendy rooftop bars. The kind of place where the cocktails were artfully garnished with edible flowers, the music was just loud enough to feel exclusive, and the heated outdoor seating made everyone pretend they weren't still shivering.
"Oh my god," Eunice wailed, shielding her eyes in mock agony. "It's like looking directly into the sun."
Dae laughed hard, bumping into Kitty and nearly spilling his entire beer all over her. Fortunately, only a few splashes landed on her arm.
"Dude," Kitty exclaimed, reaching for some napkins in the center of the large, circular table. "I get she's your girlfriend, and she made a funny remark, but it wasn't 'ha-ha' funny."
"Sorry," Dae said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "But don't you remember? Min Ho said the same thing about you during his party at Rubik junior year, when you made your grand entrance. He must've told you that story a thousand times."
Kitty's brain glitched for a moment. She sat motionless, not knowing how to respond.
She vaguely remembered that night all those years ago. Earlier in the day, she had been venting to Q again, one of many times sadly, about Dae, Yuri, and her necklace. Q convinced her to go to Min Ho's Madness Party and the fear of becoming like Lara Jean, staying in on a Friday night, influenced her decision on what to wear that night. She had wanted to make a statement, and based on the looks she was getting when she sauntered in, she had accomplished that. She didn't remember even seeing Min Ho that night, which is odd now that she thought about it, given that it was his party. But it sounds like Min Ho saw her at least?
After a few seconds, the world around Kitty started to fade in again, like someone resuming a movie that was paused.
"Speaking of Min Ho, where is he tonight?" asked Dae, looking around and scanning the area.
"Lara Jean asked him to voice the male lead in the audio book of her latest release. They're recording late tonight because she has a deadline," answered Kitty nonchalantly.
"Wow," Dae said, eyebrows raised high. "That's a pretty big deal. Your sister must really like him and trust him given that this affects her livelihood."
"It'll be fine. I mean, he has that sexy accent that's kinda ruined me ever since meeting him. But don't tell him that. I'd rather him think that we all find his accent funny, given how we mocked him all second semester of junior year."
"Right," said Dae, giving Kitty an inquisitive look before turning his attention back to his girlfriend.
At that, Kitty grabbed her drink and slid around to the other side of the booth where Q and Jin were.
"Are you sure that's a ring and not an actual chandelier?" Q asked, leaning in to inspect Madison's hand, his expression one of grave curiosity.
Jin nodded sagely beside him. "I think I can see my reflection in it."
Madison, clearly unbothered by their dramatics, smirked as she wiggled her fingers, making the diamond catch the light again. "You're all just jealous."
Kitty took a sip of her cocktail, something citrusy and deceptively strong, before smiling at her friend. "Okay, but seriously, congratulations. It's stunning."
Madison preened under the attention. "I know, right?"
They raised their glasses in a toast, the sound of crystal clinking against crystal momentarily cutting through the low hum of the bar.
"To Madison and her fiancé," Q declared, "a man courageous enough to propose to someone who once sent back an entire meal because it was 'too symmetrical.'"
Madison shrugged, entirely unapologetic. "I have standards."
Jin sighed. "Honestly, we were all a little worried no one would ever meet them."
"But he did," Madison said smugly, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "And now, in less than a year, I'll be walking down the aisle."
Mihee smirked. "It's kind of funny, considering you used to be all about the chase. Remember when you dumped Min Ho after a week because he wanted a serious relationship."
Madison rolled her eyes. "Ugh, don't remind me. Min Ho was so dramatic back then."
"Guess fate knew what it was doing," Q mused, swirling his drink. "If Madison had stayed with Min Ho, he and Kitty never would've gotten together."
Ok, what the hell is going on tonight? Before she could murder Q and then ask his lifeless corpse what he meant by that statement, she was blinded by the sparkle from Madison's ring.
Madison turned to Kitty, leveling her with a knowing smile. "So… are you jealous?"
Kitty blinked rapidly, trying to rid the floating spot that's impairing her vision. "Of what?"
Madison exchanged glances with the others, a silent message passing between them. A slow, creeping sense of foreboding settled in Kitty's stomach. She recognized that look. It was the look of people about to say something utterly ridiculous and yet somehow, impossibly, fully convinced of its truth.
Mihee took a long, dramatic sip of her drink. "Oh, you know."
"No," Kitty said, warily. "I don't."
Madison rested her chin on her hand, watching Kitty like she was some kind of fascinating experiment. "Well… it's just that you and Min Ho have been together for years, and he still hasn't proposed."
Kitty choked on her drink.
There were so many things wrong with that sentence that she didn't even know where to begin.
"I'm sorry—what?" she spluttered.
Q nodded thoughtfully, as if this were an actual topic worthy of intellectual discussion. "It is a little odd. You'd think by now he would've popped the question."
"Maybe he's waiting until he's running the US division of Moon Management," opined Dae.
Jin tilted his head, considering. "That has to be it. He's waiting for the perfect moment. Min Ho does love dramatic timing."
Kitty stared at them, incredulous. "We are not dating."
Mihee gasped, eyes wide with faux sympathy. "Oh no. Did he not define the relationship? Are you guys in that weird, tragic gray area where you think you're just best friends but actually you're soulmates?"
"There is no relationship to define!" Kitty practically yelled.
Madison let out a deep breath, shaking her head as if deeply disappointed. "Oh, honey."
Q declared loudly. "Denial is a powerful thing."
Kitty pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Okay, let's just back up. Why do you all think Min Ho and I are dating?"
Q threw his arm around Kitty's shoulder sympathetically. "We're going to need more drinks if you want the answer to that, because it'll take all night, hon."
"And because I'm such a great friend, I'm willing to relinquish my night of celebration and turn this into an intervention for you. It really does feel good to help someone in need," Madison said brightly.
…
The second round of drinks arrived, and with it, so did Kitty's impending doom.
She had hoped—prayed, really—that her friends would just drop the whole Min Ho is your boyfriend nonsense. Unfortunately, they looked more determined now, as if they had just warmed up and were ready for a full-on PowerPoint presentation titled Kitty & Min Ho: A Love Story in a River in Egypt.
Mihee set her drink down with a decisive clink against the table. "Alright, I'll go first."
Kitty gasped, clutching her chest like she'd just been personally betrayed. "Et tu, Mihee?! So much for girls sticking together!"
Mihee patted her hand sympathetically. "I'm sorry, babe. We're doing this for your own good."
Kitty groaned, slumping back in her seat. "Fine. Hit me with your so-called evidence."
Mihee straightened her posture like a lawyer about to deliver a closing argument. "Exhibit A: Min Ho always drives you to and from the airport. Always."
Kitty scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "That's not true! He only does it when it's convenient."
Madison snorted. "Girl, he literally rearranged his work schedule last summer just so he could pick you up after your cousin's graduation in LA."
"That was—" Kitty searched for an excuse. "—because he owns a car! It's a logistical thing."
Mihee smirked, clearly waiting for that answer. "Oh, so it was just a logistical thing when he sat in bumper-to-bumper holiday traffic for two hours last Christmas Eve to drop you off at JFK?"
Kitty opened her mouth, then snapped it shut.
Q let out a long, dramatic whistle. "Two hours? That's commitment. That's romance novel leading man behavior."
Jin nodded. "My own mother told me to take an Uber last Christmas, and she gave birth to me."
Kitty crossed her arms. "It's not a big deal. He's just being nice."
Mihee leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, so he just randomly decided to dedicate himself to your personal airport chauffeur needs? Because from what I recall, he's been doing this ever since he found out you missed the bus to KISS your junior year."
Kitty frowned, her fingers tightening around the stem of her cocktail glass.
Oh.
She hadn't thought about that.
The first day of KISS had been… a mess. She had been jet-lagged, confused, distracted, and ultimately stranded when she realized she had completely missed the last bus to campus. With no clue how to navigate Seoul yet, she had frantically grabbed a public transportation guide and hoped to God she could make sense of the characters and lines, all the colors of the rainbow, zigzagging across the map. It had been stressful, to say the least.
She might have told that story only once or twice, given how embarrassing it was. And Min Ho definitely wasn't one of the audience members, yet somehow word spread to him, and he had remembered that?
Madison smirked, clearly watching the realization dawn on Kitty's face. "Face it, babe. He's been rescuing you ever since."
Kitty scowled. "It's not rescuing if I don't need to be rescued!"
Jin took a sip of his drink, unimpressed. "Yeah? Then why do you always text him your flight details before you even book your tickets?"
Kitty's eyes widened. "I—NO—I don't—"
Q casually pulled out his phone and scrolled for a second before reading aloud, "'Landing at 7:45 PM, but if you're busy, I can totally take an Uber! No worries!'"
Kitty gawked. "You hacked my messages?!"
Q grinned. "Nope, Min Ho just complains about it in our group chat every time. It's basically a tradition at this point."
Kitty grumbled, rubbing her temples as the whole table clinked their glasses together.
"Denial. Is. A. Powerful. Thing," Madison said with a smirk.
"So powerful," Mihee agreed.
"To Kitty and Min Ho," Q declared dramatically, raising his drink, "the love story that our favorite little matchmaker is the last to realize."
Jin clinked his glass against Q's. "May her eyes open before we're all at their actual wedding."
Kitty let out a frustrated noise and took a giant sip of her whiskey sour.
This night was far from over.
…
Q leaned back in his seat, looking far too pleased with himself. "Alright, next up. Who wants to completely ruin Kitty's perception of reality?"
Kitty rolled her eyes, already dreading what was coming. But what she wasn't expecting was for Dae to speak up.
"I guess I'll go," he said casually, setting down his drink.
Kitty snapped her head toward him, eyes narrowing in betrayal. "Oh, come on! You too, Dae? We have history. Why would you do this to me?"
Dae quirked his lips in a smile and lifted his shoulders in a small shrug. "Sorry, Kitty, but I mean… it's kind of obvious."
Kitty crossed her arms like a petulant six year old. "HOW is it obvious?"
Dae leaned forward, his expression the picture of calm. "Okay. Remember that time we all got stuck in all-day Saturday detention?"
Kitty whimpered and sank deeper into her seat. "Ugh. Don't remind me. I know everyone was mad at me for accidentally getting Min Ho's party shut down. But at least I got to pull that heist with Yuri and learned a little about my mom."
Q chimed in. "Florian and I had a great ti…" As soon as Q saw the suspicious look Jin was giving him, he awkwardly silenced himself.
Dae smiled, clearly enjoying this too much. "Right. So, remember when Professor Lee passed around that sheet of paper to take everyone's lunch order?"
Madison furrowed her brows, trying to pull the memory forward. "Oh yeah…" she realized, before a knowing smile appeared on her face.
"Well," Dae continued, "I was ordering for you, and I was about to write down 'regular tuna gimbap,' because I thought that's what you always got." He paused for dramatic effect before adding, "But then Min Ho immediately corrected me. He said you actually liked the one without mayo."
Kitty blinked. "Okay, but—"
Dae held up a finger, cutting her off. "We had known each other for years by that point and talked almost every day. I didn't even know that you hated mayo."
Kitty's mind went into overdrive, trying to come up with a response. "Well, maybe you were just a bad boyfriend," she offered.
A smug look appeared on Dae's face. "You know I wasn't. You loved me before."
Kitty should be more affronted by that statement, but she's actually kind of impressed with this edgier Dae. "Whatever you're doing, Eunice, keep it up," shouted Kitty across the table.
Eunice beamed back at Kitty, giving her a thumbs up.
But back to what Dae actually said… Okay. That was… oddly specific.
And annoyingly accurate.
But it wasn't that big of a deal, right? Min Ho was just observant. When he was younger, he was vain and ridiculous and obsessed with skincare, sure, but he had good attention to detail. That's all this was.
She forced out a laugh. "That doesn't prove anything. Min Ho just has an opinion about everything. He probably just wanted to sound superior."
Jin, who had been uncharacteristically quiet until now, let out a chuckle. "Oh, we're not done."
Kitty turned to him, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. "Oh my God. There's more?"
Jin downed his remaining mojito, clearly enjoying himself. "Min Ho also has your exact coffee order memorized." He leaned in slightly, as if delivering the final blow. "Down to the number of ice cubes."
Kitty let out a scoff, though it sounded just a tiny bit nervous. "That is so exaggerated."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Because last month, when we all went to that café in Brooklyn and the barista asked what you wanted, Min Ho answered for you—without looking up from his phone."
Kitty frowned, trying to recall the moment. She did vaguely remember that happening, but—
Q smirked. "Yeah, and he even made sure they stirred it exactly three times so the flavors 'blended but didn't get too diluted.'"
Kitty froze.
That… was true.
She did prefer her iced coffee to be stirred three times. Not twice, not four times. Three times. It was the perfect amount to keep everything balanced without overmixing.
But that didn't mean anything!
Right?
She forced out a laugh, but it felt weak. "Okay, so what? He's just attentive!"
Madison gave her a knowing look over the rim of her cocktail glass. "Oh, sweetie."
Mihee smirked. "So much denial. It's actually impressive."
Jin tilted his head. "Just admit it, Kitty. Min Ho knows you better than anyone."
Kitty rolled her eyes, trying to shake off the weird, creeping feeling in her chest.
Because as much as she hated to admit it… she was starting to get a little nervous.
…
The drinks on the table were steadily disappearing, and so was Kitty's patience.
Her friends had already built a suspiciously strong case, one that was beginning to chip away at the very foundation of her existence. But she refused—refused—to let them win.
Q, however, looked particularly excited, as if he'd been waiting his whole life for this exact moment. He took a leisurely sip of his drink before zeroing in on Kitty.
"My turn."
"Oh, great," Kitty lamented, looking at Q forlornly.
Q leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Don't look at me like that. I told you before, a long time ago in fact, that you and Min Ho have some epic thing going on. Anyways, what I was going to say was that you two go on more dates than Jin and I do."
Kitty blinked. Then she let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Excuse me?"
Jin, ever the supportive boyfriend, nodded along. "Yeah, it's actually kind of offensive."
"We don't go on dates," Kitty insisted, gesturing wildly with her drink, half of it spilling out of her glass. "Min Ho and I are not—repeat, not—dating."
Q smirked. "Oh yeah? Let's test that theory." He steepled his fingers together, like a detective about to reveal the culprit in a murder mystery. "How many times have you and Min Ho had a meal together in the past week?"
Kitty waved a dismissive hand. "Pfft. I don't know. A few times? That doesn't mean anything."
"Oh, but it does," Q said dramatically. "Because you and Min Ho went out to lunch today."
Kitty hesitated. "So?"
"And you also had dinner together a few nights ago."
"Coincidence."
"At that new ramen place you've been wanting to try."
Kitty's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Madison, sipping her lemon drop like it was tea, added, "Oh, and Min Ho called me earlier today."
Kitty frowned. "Why?"
"To Venmo me money for a round of drinks and some food specifically for you."
Kitty's head snapped up. "He what?"
Madison pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, then turned the screen toward Kitty. Sure enough, there was the Venmo transaction: From Min Ho: 'Congrats, Maddie! Drinks on me. And make sure Kitty actually eats something so she doesn't start texting me about the meaning of life again.'
Kitty's face turned red. "That was one time!"
Jin snorted. "Wasn't it, like, last week?"
Q waved his hands in front of everyone's faces, getting them to focus. "Anyway, back to the point—even when he's not here, he's still paying for your food. So yes, you two clearly go out more than we do! And Jin and I are an actual couple."
Kitty scoffed. "That doesn't mean Min Ho and I are dating. He just… likes eating at the same places as me… and likes me to eat at places where he isn't at also." She wished she hadn't said that last part out loud. She knew how pathetic it sounded as soon as the words left her mouth.
"Oh, please," Q said, exasperated. "Do you think Jin and I don't like food? Do you think we don't have preferences? The difference is, we don't schedule our meals around each other like you and Min Ho do."
Kitty scowled, gripping her glass tightly. "It's not like we plan these things."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Forget about you two having meals together. What about Min Ho asking to reschedule our lunch next weekend because he found out about an art opening that he wanted to take you to?"
Kitty frowned. "Wait… he did?"
Jin had a look of regret on his face. "Shit! Actually, I think that was supposed to be a surprise so pretend I didn't say anything."
Madison unhelpfully supplied, "Sorry Jin, but that toothpaste isn't going back into the tube. And to answer your question, it's because he's Kitty's boyfriend."
"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"
The entire table, along with several other patrons in the bar, turned to look at Kitty.
She slowly melted into her seat, clearing her throat.
Q looked entirely too pleased with himself. "Denial, party of one. Your table is ready."
Kitty glared at him, but her heart was pounding. Because deep down, a tiny, annoying part of her was beginning to wonder…
Was there actually something to what they were saying?
…
Madison, ever the benevolent queen of the group, signaled to the server with a graceful lift of her hand. "We're gonna need another round," she announced, her engagement ring catching the light in a way that was both dazzling and borderline aggressive. "And some food. I don't need Kitty getting so drunk that she starts FaceTiming Min Ho in the middle of the bar asking him if he thought she was hot enough to get away with dancing on the counter."
Kitty growled, slumping forward onto the table. "That was also one time."
Madison grinned. "Yeah, and it was one too many."
The group chuckled as the server nodded and headed toward the bar. Madison turned back to Kitty and gave her a knowing look. "Alright, if you're gonna act like all of these reasons are superficial, then let's get into the deeper stuff."
Kitty lifted her head slightly, suspicious. "What do you mean by 'deeper'?"
Madison rested her chin on her palm. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe something like… how Min Ho planned your entire 25th birthday party last year?"
Kitty froze.
The words hit her like an unexpected gust of wind—one that rattled her but was also, frustratingly, kind of warm.
She sat up straight. "That's… That's not true."
Q rolled his eyes. "Oh my God, Kitty. Who do you think did it? The birthday elves?"
Eunice chimed in. "Seriously. That party was way too extravagant to have been planned by anyone but Min Ho."
Madison leaned in, her voice silky and smooth, like a villain about to deliver a devastating monologue. "Not only did he plan it, but he flew in your dad and Trina from Portland. Oh, and Margot from Scotland."
Kitty's mouth went dry.
She did remember how shocked she had been when she walked into that rooftop venue, thinking she was meeting Mihee for a casual dinner, only to be met with an explosion of confetti, flashing lights, and a room full of all her favorite people—including family members she had not expected to see.
She had spent a full minute frozen in place before launching herself at her dad, screaming.
"Oh my God," she murmured. "Min Ho did that?"
Madison gave her a duh look. "Of course he did. Who else could pull something like that off? The only thing I did was get them a suite at one of my dad's hotels."
Kitty's head was spinning.
Sure, Madison had a luxury connection advantage, but Min Ho had been the one to coordinate everything?
And then, because apparently Madison wasn't done delivering emotional gut punches, she added, "Oh, and not only did he plan the party, but he oversaw every last detail personally."
Kitty swallowed hard.
The decorations. The music. The food. The fact that every single element—from the little cat-shaped macarons to the playlist featuring only artists she loved—was tailored specifically to her.
She had just assumed her friends had all worked together on it. But now that she was really thinking about it…
It had Min Ho written all over it.
Jin delivered the final nail in the coffin. "Oh, and remember your birthday cake?"
Kitty inhaled sharply, mouth salivating a little.
"He didn't buy it from some bougie bakery. He actually spent two days with Lara Jean, baking it together," revealed Jin.
Chocolate sponge with hazelnut praline filling, whipped espresso cream frosting, and caramel drizzle—an exact recreation of the birthday cake she had once had at a little café in Seoul and never stopped thinking about.
This cake was more than just a dessert; it was an experience, a reminder of the simple pleasures in life, the joy of sharing something made with love. It was a celebration of home, of family, of the sweet moments that make life truly delicious.
It had been the best birthday she'd ever had.
And Min Ho had done all of it?
Kitty floundered, her thoughts scrambling for a lifeboat. "He—he probably just—"
"You're running out of excuses," Jin pointed out cheerfully.
Madison smirked. "Just admit it. You're the main character in Min Ho's life."
…
The night had unraveled into a blur of laughter, overpriced cocktails, and Kitty's unwavering insistence that everyone needed to stay hydrated (a rule she herself failed to follow). By the time last call rolled around, she was tipsy enough to recognize that going home alone was probably a bad idea but not quite drunk enough to realize that the best idea was to crash with her sister.
"Kitty, are you sure you don't want to just stay with me?" Madison offered, her tone patient, as though she were talking to a very enthusiastic but stubborn toddler.
Kitty squinted at her. "You live in a penthouse," she accused. "There's, like, twenty floors. That's way too much responsibility for me right now."
Madison blinked. "That… doesn't make sense."
"I'm choosing to ignore that," Q said, already pulling up the Uber app. "Jin and I will make sure she gets to Lara Jean's in one piece."
After several minutes of dramatic, alcohol-fueled goodbyes that included Kitty hugging Madison like she was being sent off to war, Q finally managed to wrangle her into the back of the car with Jin.
Kitty spent the ride slumped against the window, staring dramatically at the city lights.
"I think my life is a lie," she muttered.
Jin, scrolling on his phone, hummed absentmindedly. "That's nice, dear."
Q elbowed him, speaking in hushed tones, "Be supportive. She's having a mental breakdown."
Kitty turned to them with wide eyes. "What if I am dating Min Ho? And I just… forgot?"
Jin snorted. "You would never forget something like that. You'd make sure the entire world knew."
"True," Q agreed. "You'd probably write about it in a letter that then got leaked to everyone you know..."
"… again."
The homicidal rage that Kitty felt for Q earlier this evening tried to rear its ugly head once more, but was too dulled by the mind numbing liquids she had been ingesting for the last several hours.
…
Lara Jean and Peter were already waiting outside their apartment building, Lara Jean wrapped in a fluffy cardigan and Peter looking every bit like a man who had been forced to stay awake past his bedtime.
"Okay, let's get her inside before she starts trying to reenact scenes from "Definitely, Maybe" in the lobby," Q announced, helping Kitty out of the car.
Peter took one look at her and shook his head fondly. "She's that kind of drunk, huh?"
Lara Jean giggled, looping her arm around Kitty's waist as they led her inside. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
The second Kitty flopped onto the bed in the guest room, she let out a long, dramatic sigh. Then, without warning, she blurted, "Am I the worst girlfriend ever? Does Min Ho still love me?"
Lara Jean and Peter froze.
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Still?"
Lara Jean, ever the older sister, simply smiled knowingly. "Kitty, do you and Min Ho… have something you want to share with the class?"
Kitty, oblivious to her own words, rolled onto her stomach, burying her face into the pillow. "I dunno! Apparently, we go on dates—which we don't! And he knows my coffee order and my gimbap preference and planned my entire birthday party and always picks me up from airports and, ugh—he's so annoying!"
Lara Jean and Peter exchanged a look over her head.
"Oh yeah," Peter said, grinning. "This is gonna be fun tomorrow."
Lara Jean exhaled happily. "And that's not even counting the massive hangover she'll have."
Kitty whined into the pillow. "I hate you all."
But even as she said it, the warmth in her chest—the one she had been trying so hard to ignore all night—only grew stronger.
…
Kitty woke up feeling like she had been personally trampled by a stampede of disgruntled subway commuters.
Her head pounded with every movement, her mouth tasted like regret, and her body ached in that distinct I-danced-too-much-and-screamed-too-loud way. Peeling one eye open, she moaned as the sunlight rudely streamed through the blinds, exposing her in all her hungover glory.
With the grace of a newborn deer, she stumbled out of bed, the oversized t-shirt she borrowed from Lara Jean hanging off one shoulder as she padded toward the kitchen, following the unmistakable scent of sizzling butter and melted cheese.
Peter was at the stove, flipping an omelet that was so loaded with meats and veggies it was practically spilling out of the pan. The man took his role as provider of comfort food seriously.
"Ah, Sleeping Beauty has risen," Peter announced, not even turning around as he expertly plated the omelet. "How are we feeling this morning? Full of wisdom? Regret? The overwhelming urge to text Min Ho?"
Kitty plopped into a chair at the small dining table. "If you say his name one more time, I will throw myself out that window."
Lara Jean, sitting at the table with a steaming cup of coffee and a half-finished crossword puzzle, smirked. "So, you're saying you don't want to talk about the part where you dramatically asked us if Min Ho still loves you?"
Kitty paused, fork halfway to her mouth.
"I—" She shook her head vigorously. "That never happened."
Peter slid the plate in front of her, shaking his head in mock pity. "Oh, but it did."
Lara Jean, ever the gentle but ruthless older sister, took a slow sip of her coffee. "You also called yourself the worst girlfriend ever," she added. "Which was very interesting. Extremely interesting."
Kitty shoved a giant bite into her mouth, if only to stall.
Peter pulled out a chair and sat beside Lara Jean, watching her struggle with the crossword. "What's the clue?"
Lara Jean tapped the pencil against the paper. "Twelve across. 'A realization that should've been obvious all along.'"
Peter grinned. "Oh, that's easy. Kitty and Min Ho."
Kitty let out a strangled noise and threw a piece of green bell pepper at him.
"Okay, okay, you two have had your fun," she grumbled, but there was no real bite behind her words. Peter was still chuckling as he dodged the food assault, while Lara Jean simply smiled knowingly.
The teasing settled into a comfortable silence as Kitty focused on demolishing her plate. The warm, gooey goodness of the cheese and eggs was exactly what she needed.
After a few more bites, she finally put down her fork. "Alright. Now that I'm fed and somewhat less vulnerable—" She fixed her sister with a serious look. "What do you think about me and Min Ho?"
Lara Jean set down her coffee, tilting her head. "What do you think?"
Kitty groaned. "LJ, I'm in the middle of an existential crisis, and you're giving me therapy answers."
Lara Jean chuckled, but her gaze softened. "Honestly?" She folded her hands together. "I've always thought Min Ho was perfect for you."
Kitty blinked. "You have?"
"Of course," Lara Jean said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He challenges you. You challenge him. But more than that, you get each other. The real versions. And you've been part of each other's lives for so long… I don't know. It always felt kind of inevitable."
"If you want to know what I think," added Peter, "I always thought he still liked you too. As far back as when I first met him during my visit to Seoul for the lacrosse tournament."
Kitty looked at Peter for a beat before she commanded, "Stop talking." She then turned back to her sister. "So why didn't you ever say anything?"
Lara Jean smiled. "Because it's always been your choice. You don't need anyone else to tell you what you already know."
Kitty stared down at her plate, her stomach twisting in a way that had nothing to do with her hangover.
Because that was the thing, wasn't it?
She did know.
She had always known.
…
Once her headache downgraded from a full-scale Broadway production of misery to a manageable off-Broadway rehearsal of discomfort, Kitty decided it was time to leave.
Lara Jean had offered to make her tea, Peter had suggested she stay and "meditate on her feelings" (whatever that meant), but Kitty had other plans.
She needed to see Min Ho.
The idea had settled in her chest the moment she left Lara Jean and Peter's apartment, but it wasn't until she found herself standing in front of his door, key poised at the lock, that she realized just how insane this was.
Because she had a key. To Min Ho's apartment.
She inhaled sharply, looking down at the small piece of metal in her palm like it was evidence in a murder trial.
This was fine. Normal, even. Friends had each other's keys all the time. She just happened to have Min Ho's because… well, because of reasons.
Reasons she was very thankful none of her friends knew about last night. Otherwise, she would never have heard the end of it.
Steeling herself, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Min Ho was on the sofa, lazily stretched out, a book in his hand. He looked up as she entered, and immediately, his face lit up with an easy, knowing grin.
"Well, well, well," he drawled, setting his book down and walking towards her. "If it isn't the woman of the hour."
Kitty shut the door behind her and crossed her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Min Ho smirked. "I'm just relieved you didn't get too crazy last night."
She narrowed her eyes. "And how would you know?"
He raised a brow. "Because you didn't FaceTime me at 2:00 AM to tell me about your grand theory about how Mihee is my long-lost sister, since we have similar accents, and how she's trying to weasel her way into the family and take down my dad for what he tried to do to her in the Advanced Voice elective during our junior year."
Kitty opened her mouth, then promptly closed it.
Damn it. He had a point.
Still, this wasn't the time for distractions. Not even for very valid conspiracy theories.
Min Ho watched her expectantly, waiting for her usual retort. But when it didn't come, his smirk faded, replaced with a flicker of concern.
His posture straightened slightly, his gaze sharp and searching. "Covey?"
She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to meet his eyes.
"We need to talk."
Min Ho blinked and swallowed hard. He watched her with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, like she was a cat about to either purr or scratch his face off.
Before he could say anything, she took a deep breath and word vomited.
"So, last night at Madison's engagement party, everyone basically tried to convince me that we've been secretly dating this entire time, which obviously isn't true—except they had all these reasons that made way too much sense, and then I got drunk enough to start believing them, and then I woke up with a hangover and had a very inconveniently profound conversation with Lara Jean where I asked if I'm a bad girlfriend to you and if you still love me, and she basically told me I'm an idiot, but in a very loving older sister way, and now I'm here because I need you to tell me I am an idiot, so I can move on with my life."
Min Ho blinked.
Then, he just… nodded.
Kitty frowned. "Okay, see, this is the part where you're supposed to dramatically scoff and tell me our friends are delusional."
Another nod.
Her eyes narrowed. "Min Ho."
Another nod.
"Say something."
Min Ho exhaled sharply and finally met her gaze. And that's when Kitty realized—he looked nervous.
Min Ho never looked nervous. Not when he was bullshitting his way through a last-minute presentation, and definitely not when he was walking into a designer store with the confidence of a man who absolutely belonged there.
But right now? He looked like a man who was about to do something reckless.
And then, he took both of her hands in his.
Kitty's breath caught.
"Kitty," he said, voice steady but laced with something deep. "You're asking me if I still love you?"
She swallowed.
Min Ho tightened his hold on her hands, his eyes never leaving hers.
"The truth is… I never stopped."
Oh.
Oh.
He continued, his voice softer now, more certain.
"I've loved you since high school. Since the moment you marched into KISS, full of opinions and confidence and chaos, and made my life infinitely more difficult and so much better at the same time." He let out a small, breathy laugh. "I loved you when you got so wrapped up in everyone else's love stories that you never realized you were living in one of your own."
Kitty's heart slammed against her ribs.
"I loved you when you stole my sweatshirts without asking. When you made me drive through a snowstorm to get you exactly the right kind of bubble tea." He shook his head, lips curling into the softest smile. "I loved you when you didn't realize that every little thing I did—the airport pickups, the coffee orders, the birthday party, all of it—was just me finding excuses to be around you. Because, Kitty…" He exhaled, his thumbs brushing over the backs of her hands. "I don't need a reason to love you. I just do."
Kitty's brain short-circuited.
Somewhere, in the deepest, most well-hidden part of her heart, she had always known.
She had just been too stubborn to admit it.
But now? Now, there was no denying it.
Not when Min Ho was looking at her like that. Like she was the only person in the world. Like she was his world.
Kitty inhaled sharply.
"Holy shit."
Min Ho let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as he brought one of her hands up to his lips and pressed the faintest kiss against her knuckles. "Kitty," he murmured, voice impossibly gentle. "You have to say something more."
Kitty blinked. Her heart was racing so fast she was half-convinced she might pass out.
Say something more? He wanted her to say something more?
After he just shattered her entire worldview and pieced it back together in the shape of him?
After he looked at her with those dark, steady eyes, overflowing with so much love she could barely breathe?
Kitty inhaled sharply and just went for it.
"Min Ho, I—God, I don't even know where to start," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I feel so stupid for not realizing sooner. And I hate that I ever made you feel like I was taking you for granted, because the truth is, I want you. You've been the one constant in my life since high school. You've always been there, always knowing exactly what I need before I even realize it myself. And not because you have to, but because you want to. And I—"
She buried her face in her hands. "I'm rambling, aren't I?"
Min Ho huffed out a laugh. "A little bit… or, a lot."
"That's not funny," she whimpered before lifting her head, eyes locking with his, raw and unfiltered. "Fuck it."
And then she crashed her lips into his.
Kitty barely had time to register the sharp intake of Min Ho's breath before their lips met in a collision that was years in the making. It wasn't soft or tentative—it was urgent, needy, a wildfire that spread the second they touched. Min Ho kissed her like a man who had been holding back for far too long, like every ounce of restraint had just snapped, and there was no going back.
His hands threaded through her hair, tilting her head back so he could deepen the kiss, and Kitty felt devoured. Every brush of his lips, every shift of his mouth against hers, sent shivers down her spine. He kissed her like he was memorizing her, like she was the only thing that had ever mattered.
Kitty moaned into the kiss, pressing herself closer, needing more—needing him. Min Ho responded instantly, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her flush against his body until there wasn't an inch of space between them.
He tasted like spearmint and something undeniably Min Ho—warm and intoxicating, familiar yet electrifying all at once. The sheer intensity of it all made her dizzy, but she didn't care. She never wanted to stop.
Her fingers slid up his chest, gripping at the soft fabric of his sweater, desperate to anchor herself in the moment. She felt his heartbeat beneath her palms, pounding, just as erratic as hers.
When they finally broke apart for air, their foreheads pressed together, breathless and trembling, Kitty whispered against his lips, "I love you."
She didn't even realize she was saying it until the words were already out, but once they were, she couldn't stop.
"I love you," she murmured again, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth. Then another. And another. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
She felt Min Ho smile—actually smile—against her lips before he captured them again, his hands cupping her face so tenderly it made her heart ache.
Kitty had kissed people before. But she had never been kissed like this.
Like she was cherished. Like she was everything.
Like she was loved.
And for the first time in her life, she let herself believe it.