Kitty rushed through the hallways of KISS, clutching her books tightly against her chest. Her breathing was shallow, and her heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out the noise of students around her. She had five minutes to get to the headmistress's office, but the panic in her chest made every second feel heavier.

Her mind raced with questions. How had it come to this? Her scholarship had always been her lifeline, the only way she could afford to be here. And now, with the news of overdue payments, the dream she'd worked so hard to achieve felt like it was slipping through her fingers. She clenched her jaw and forced herself to keep walking, though her legs felt like they could give out at any moment.

As she turned the corner, Minho stood leaning casually against a wall, his sharp eyes catching the familiar silhouette moving down the hallway. He didn't mean to stare, but there was something about the tension in Kitty's expression that stopped him. She wasn't her usual self—the fiery, sarcastic girl who always seemed to have a quick comeback ready. Instead, she looked... lost.

Dae appeared beside him, his face breaking into a grin when he noticed where Minho's attention was focused. "There you go again. Watching her like some angsty K-drama lead," he teased, nudging Minho's shoulder.

Minho straightened up immediately, a scowl forming on his face. "I'm not watching her."

"Sure, you're not," Dae replied, crossing his arms. "But if you were, you'd probably notice that she looks upset. Maybe you should ask if she's okay."

Minho scoffed and turned his back to the scene. "Why would I do that? I'm not her babysitter."

"Because," Dae said, his tone laced with amusement, "you care more than you let on. And everyone knows it."

Minho shot him a glare before walking off, pretending he wasn't bothered. He didn't care, not really. At least that's what he told himself.

In the headmistress's office, Kitty sat stiffly in the chair, her hands tightly gripping the edge of her skirt. She felt the weight of the headmistress's gaze, sharp and unrelenting.

"Miss Song, I'm sure you understand why I called you here," Lee Hyun-Joo said, her voice calm but firm.

Kitty nodded, though her throat felt dry. "Yes, ma'am."

"We have received notice that payments for your scholarship are overdue. This is a serious matter. If the issue isn't resolved immediately, we will have no choice but to suspend your enrollment."

The words hit Kitty like a physical blow. Her chest tightened, and for a moment, she thought she might cry. She blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay, refusing to let herself break down.

"I... I didn't know," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "My dad didn't say anything about this. He usually handles everything."

The headmistress's expression didn't soften. "Regardless of the circumstances, the responsibility ultimately falls on you. If the payment isn't made by the end of the month, you will no longer be a student here."

Kitty forced herself to nod, even as the weight of the situation threatened to overwhelm her. "I understand. Thank you for letting me know."

The headmistress dismissed her with a small gesture, and Kitty left the office in a daze.

The hallways felt suffocating, the noise of students chatting and laughing like static in her ears. She needed to breathe. Without thinking, she turned toward the gardens, weaving through the school until the fresh air finally hit her face.

The gardens were quiet, a rare oasis of calm amid the chaos of school life. Kitty found a bench near the shade of a tree and sank onto it, letting her books slide onto the bench beside her. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, and buried her face in her hands.

The weight of the situation pressed down on her. She tried to think of solutions, but every path led to a dead end. Asking her dad for help was out of the question; he didn't have the money. Even if she picked up a part-time job, there was no way she could earn enough in time.

"Wow, you're really nailing the 'tragic K-drama heroine' look right now," a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.

Kitty groaned inwardly. Of course, it had to be him. She lifted her head to see Minho standing a few feet away, his blazer hanging off one shoulder, the faint smirk on his face making her blood boil.

"What do you want, Minho?" she snapped, too tired to play his games.

He shrugged, taking his time as he sauntered over. "Just thought it was weird to see you sitting here all by yourself. Usually, you're off causing some kind of chaos."

Kitty rolled her eyes and turned away. "I'm not in the mood, okay? Just leave me alone."

Minho tilted his head, studying her for a moment. She wasn't yelling at him like she usually did. In fact, she looked... defeated. He dropped onto the bench beside her, his movements relaxed as if he had all the time in the world.

"Come on, what's wrong?" he asked, his tone almost genuine.

She shot him a glare. "Why do you care?"

"I don't," he said quickly, leaning back against the bench. "But you look miserable, and it's ruining the vibe around here. So, spill."

Kitty let out a hollow laugh. "You wouldn't get it."

"Try me," he challenged, arching an eyebrow.

She hesitated, torn between keeping it to herself and venting to the least likely person in the world. "I might lose my scholarship," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

For once, Minho didn't have a snarky response ready. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "So? Figure it out. You're Kitty Song Covey. You're good at finding solutions to impossible problems."

Kitty blinked at him, caught off guard by the uncharacteristic encouragement. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Minho stood and stretched.

"Anyway, don't overthink it. You'll be fine." He smirked, the arrogant mask sliding back into place. "See you around, Covey."

As he walked away, Kitty watched him, more confused than ever.

Later that evening, Minho sat in his room, the glow of his desk lamp casting a soft light over the organized chaos on his desk—textbooks neatly stacked, his favorite cologne bottle sitting off to the side, and a sleek phone resting within reach. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the phone, his mind replaying the way Kitty had looked earlier that day.

She wasn't supposed to get under his skin like this. The image of her sitting alone in the garden, shoulders slumped, with that uncharacteristic vulnerability on her face, was burned into his memory. It wasn't like her to seem defeated. He hated it.

With a quiet sigh, he leaned forward and grabbed his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before he dialed the number he'd searched earlier, his expression unreadable.

When the line connected, a polite voice greeted him. "This is the KISS administrative office. How can I help you?"

Minho cleared his throat, lowering his voice instinctively. "Yes, this is Minho Han. I'm calling about Katherine Song's scholarship."

There was a pause on the other end, and he could hear the faint tapping of a keyboard. "One moment, Mr. Han."

As he waited, he drummed his fingers lightly against the desk, his jaw tightening. He didn't understand why he was doing this. Kitty was strong—resourceful, even. She'd figure something out eventually, wouldn't she? But the thought of her leaving... he pushed it out of his mind as the voice returned.

"We've located the account. How can I assist?"

"I want to pay the outstanding balance," Minho said, his tone sharp and to the point.

The administrator hesitated. "Would you like Miss Song to be notified of this payment?"

"No," Minho said quickly, the word coming out sharper than he intended. He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "She can't know. Just make sure it's handled, and the scholarship remains intact."

"Understood, Mr. Han," the voice replied. "I'll process it immediately."

"Good." He ended the call abruptly, setting the phone down with more force than necessary.

Minho let out a frustrated sigh, his hand raking through his hair again as he stared at the ceiling. He wasn't the type to care, not like this. But the thought of her packing her bags and disappearing from KISS, from his life, made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't explain.

Maybe it was because she was annoying, always getting under his skin and challenging him in ways no one else dared. Or maybe it was something else, something he wasn't ready to admit.

All he knew was that he couldn't stand the idea of her leaving...Not yet.