The café buzzed with conversation, the low hum of students chatting and clinking cups filling the air. But for Kitty, the world felt eerily silent as she stood across from Minho, her fingers gripping the edge of her coffee cup like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

"I know you're mad," he started, his voice lower than usual. "And you have every right to be."

Kitty scoffed, her breath catching in her throat. "Oh, thank you for your approval. I was really waiting for that."

Minho ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "Covey—"

"No," she interrupted, placing her cup down a little too forcefully. "You don't get to talk your way out of this. You lied to me. You let me believe someone else helped me when it was you all along." Her voice shook, but she steadied it. "Do you know how humiliating that is? To be grateful to someone who wasn't even the one who helped me?"

Minho flinched, but his voice softened. "I never wanted you to feel that way."

"Then why did you let it happen?"

His eyes flickered toward hers, but he didn't meet her gaze. Instead, he stared at the ground for a long moment. "Because I didn't do it for gratitude, Kitty."

She frowned. "Then why?"

Minho exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

For a long time, he didn't speak. His grip on his coffee cup tightened, and his gaze darted between Kitty and the floor, unable to settle. The silence hung between them like a wall.

Finally, he lifted his head, and there was something raw, something almost broken in his eyes. "I did it because I had to."

Kitty furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of his words. "That's not an answer."

Minho let out a bitter laugh, leaning back slightly, frustration and something else flickering in his eyes. "You really don't get it, do you?"

Kitty crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "Enlighten me."

Minho studied her for a moment, and then, almost as if the words slipped out before he could stop them, he muttered, "Because I couldn't lose you."

The words hit her like a freight train. Kitty blinked, her mind scrambling to process what he had just said. "What?"

Minho cursed under his breath, realizing too late what he had let slip. He stepped back suddenly, running a hand through his hair, frustration radiating off him. "Forget it."

Kitty stood up too, stepping into his path. "No. You don't get to say something like that and walk away."

Minho's jaw clenched, his eyes turbulent and conflicted. The tension between them thickened, as if the entire world had shrunk to the space between their bodies.

He inhaled deeply, his fists balling at his sides. "I—" He stopped, his gaze flickering with hesitation. For a second, he seemed lost, unsure of how to continue. Then, with a defeated sigh, he looked at her, his eyes betraying everything he wasn't saying aloud. "I like you, okay? And I hate it. I hate how much I care. I hate that you drive me insane, and I hate that no matter what I do, I can't stop thinking about you."

Kitty's heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat, her breath suddenly shallow. She couldn't breathe properly, couldn't think.

For a moment, the silence between them stretched, unbearable. Something shifted. Without taking his eyes off Kitty, he slowly, deliberately set his coffee cup down on the counter beside them, the soft clink of the ceramic against the surface barely audible over the pounding of his heart.

Kitty barely noticed, consumed by the tension that had settled between them, thick and suffocating. Her grip on her coffee cup tightened, but as the air between them grew even heavier, she quickly placed it on the counter beside them, her hand trembling.

It was only when Minho stepped forward, closing the distance between them, that her attention snapped back to him. His hands, warm and steady, cupped her face. His fingers barely trembled as they traced the damp strands of hair clinging to her skin. The world around them blurred, the hum of the café vanishing as his lips met hers.

It was urgent, almost desperate, like he was afraid that if he stopped, he'd lose her forever. His kiss was soft but insistent, a mixture of frustration and something deeper, something raw that neither of them was ready to face.

Kitty's breath caught, and instinctively, her hands reached up to clutch the fabric of his shirt, grounding herself, though everything inside her was spinning too fast. She felt the way his lips fit against hers, the way his hands held her, as if they were both trying to make sense of this moment, of the feelings they hadn't dared speak aloud.

The kiss deepened for a brief second, Minho tilting his head to get closer, as though he was trying to memorize the way she felt against him. But then, just as quickly as it began, he pulled back, his forehead resting against hers, both of them breathing heavily.

Kitty felt dizzy, her whole body buzzing from the intensity of what had just happened. Her lips tingled, her heart was hammering in her chest, and she stood frozen, trying to process everything.

Minho swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me you didn't feel that."

Kitty's mind was a whirlwind. She wanted to respond, to tell him something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. She opened her mouth, but nothing escaped.

Without another word, she turned, her feet moving before her mind could catch up. She ran out of the café, her breath coming in ragged bursts, the rain instantly soaking her. But she barely noticed the cold or the wetness, not when the memory of Minho's lips was still burning on hers.

This couldn't be happening. She wasn't supposed to feel this way.

Kitty turned a corner too quickly, her foot slipping against the slick pavement. She almost lost her balance, but strong hands shot out, steadying her.

"Whoa, careful."

Kitty looked up, her vision slightly blurred by the tears that had gathered. There, in front of her, stood Dae. His eyes were warm with concern, his hands steady on her arms, grounding her.

"Kitty?" He frowned, his grip tightening slightly. "What's wrong? Why are you running in the rain?"

Kitty opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. What could she say? That Minho had kissed her, and now she felt like her world was falling apart? That she was spiraling and didn't know what to do with these feelings?

Dae must have sensed her struggle. Without another word, he pulled her into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around her with a sense of safety and calm. His presence was like a steady anchor, something solid amidst the chaos swirling inside her.

She leaned into the hug, closing her eyes for a moment as she let the warmth and security of his touch settle over her. It felt like everything else could fade away, and in this moment, with Dae holding her, she could breathe again. The storm inside her quieted just a little.

Kitty's head was spinning. There was still so much confusion, so many unanswered questions. But being with Dae felt different. It felt safe, like something she could trust. A part of her wanted to hold on to that, to the calm and the comfort he offered.

But then, there was Minho. The thrill of the unknown, the rush of the dangerous feelings that came with him, the intensity of their connection that left her breathless.

She couldn't help but wonder, did she deserve a relationship like that with Minho? Or did she deserve the warmth and security that Dae gave her? A relationship where she could just feel safe, grounded, and at peace.

The thoughts collided in her mind, and she pulled away from Dae slightly, her chest tight. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to want, what she truly deserved.

Dae looked at her, his expression gentle, though he still seemed concerned. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

Kitty swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod, though inside, she was anything but sure. The answer wasn't clear yet. And maybe it would never be.

But for now, with Dae's arms around her, she felt like she could at least take a breath. She wasn't ready to face Minho again—not yet.