✧ kitty;

it's been a week since everything fell apart. min ho has been avoiding both dae and me. we haven't spoken since their big fight. during wednesday's class, he only addressed me when discussing our script, otherwise keeping to himself. the usual flirtation and sarcasm were absent; he was just... distant.

as for dae and me, our interactions have dwindled. he makes attempts to bridge the gap, but it's awkward. i sense his embarrassment, and truthfully, i'm disappointed in both him and myself.

is it wrong that i don't feel compelled to mend things with dae? the relationship i truly want to repair is the one with min ho. i miss him.

now, it's monday morning, and i'm back in class. min ho and i are scheduled to meet after class to discuss the short film, and i'm anxious about how everything will go.

what if he hates me now?

my thoughts are interrupted as min ho enters the room. he offers me a brief smile before choosing a seat across the classroom. determined, i gather my belongings and move to sit beside him.

dae watches me move to min ho but i don't care right now. i'm not doing anything wrong... right?

he looks at me, puzzled. "kitty... what are you doing?"

kitty.

i thought i was covey to him.

oh no..did i lose nickname privileges?

"i want to talk to you... about the short film..." i begin. min ho nods, signaling for me to continue. "but i also want to talk about... us."

his eyes widen in surprise, words seemingly escaping him. before i can elaborate, professor alex strides into the classroom, signaling the start of the lecture.

throughout the lecture, the tension between min ho and me is palpable. i struggle to concentrate, my mind repeatedly drifting to the rift in our friendship. i know a conversation is overdue, but finding the right moment and words feels daunting. i steal glances at min ho. he appears engrossed in the lecture, yet the subtle tapping of his fingers betrays his unease.

when class ends, i muster the courage to speak. "min ho, can we talk now? about... everything?"

he hesitates, then slowly nods. "yeah, let's go somewhere private." i feel a gaze burning into me.

dae.

my stomach tightens, but i force myself to glance at him.

he's already looking at me, and for the first time in a while, he doesn't look angry—just defeated.

min ho catches my attention again when he shifts beside me, "so... should we head out?"

i nod, pushing down the unease in my chest. "yeah. do you want to get matcha first?"

he shakes his head. "i'm good."

oh.

that's surprising. but i don't question it.

i follow him as he weaves through campus, curious about where he's taking me.

after a few minutes, we step into the japanese botanical garden. i've been here before, but min ho doesn't stop in the main area—he keeps walking, leading me past the pond, past the winding stone pathways, until we reach something i've never noticed before.

a gazebo.

it's slightly hidden behind the bamboo and trees, secluded and quiet. i pause at the entrance, glancing around. "i've never seen this before."

min ho steps inside, hands slipping into his pockets. "yeah.. i uh.. i found it last week."

i turn to him, surprised. "really?"

he nods, his gaze distant. "i was just walking around campus alone, trying to clear my head, and i stumbled on it. it's been my safe space ever since."

my heart squeezes a little at that.

he brought me to his safe space.

i step inside with him, feeling the weight of the moment settle around us, "it's beautiful," i say softly.

min ho exhales, looking around. "yeah. it is."

i look at min ho and see he's already staring at me. we give each other soft smiles before min ho motions for me to sit on the bench with him.

it's quiet, peaceful, but my nerves are anything but calm. i must be fidgeting because, without a word, min ho places his hand over mine.

i look up at him, startled, but when our eyes meet, neither of us looks away. there's something in the way he's looking at me—something soft, something careful.

for a second, i forget what i wanted to say.

but then i remember why we're here.

i swallow and lower my gaze. "i'm sorry about what happened between you and dae. i never wanted to get in the way of your friendship."

min ho doesn't pull his hand away.

i sigh. "i just... i care about dae. we grew up together, and i guess i've always felt this sense of loyalty to him."

min ho exhales, shaking his head. "kitty, you're not a bad person for your feelings."

i bite my lip, unsure. he tilts his head slightly. "but...if dae was a good friend, he'd support you. not try to control you."

i look at him again, and there's something firm in his expression. "did you know dae likes you?" he asks.

i hesitate, then nod. "well.. he never outright said anything... but it's pretty obvious. i think he knows i don't feel the same, so i never acted on it."

min ho scoffs, leaning back against the bench. "well, he's still acting like he has some sort of claim over you."

i stay quiet, not knowing what to say.

his hand is still over mine.

i don't move it. neither does he.

min ho's thumb brushes over my finger, slow and absentminded, like he doesn't even realize he's doing it.

i notice the way his expression shifts, the way he looks like he's working up the courage to say something.

i hold my breath.

finally, he speaks.

"kitty, i... think i like you too."

but the second i hear those words, my heart flutters, a wave of relief washing over me.

he likes me too.

i barely have time to process the warmth spreading through my chest before he continues, "but before anything happens between us," he says, glancing down at our hands, "you should talk to dae."

the warmth dulls just slightly.

min ho exhales, shifting in his seat. "i don't know if i'm gonna fix things with him, but you shouldn't lose him over this. i know how close your moms were. i know what he means to you."

i stay quiet, taking in his words.

he's right.

as complicated as things have gotten, dae has been a part of my life for as long as i can remember. and no matter what, that's not something i can ignore.

i look up at min ho, and something about the way he's looking at me makes my heart squeeze.

he's not pushing me away. he's waiting.

"okay," i whisper. his fingers squeeze mine just slightly before he lets go.

"so that matcha?" min ho asks, breaking the ice.

i let out a little chuckle and nudge his side. "let's go!"

without hesitation, i grab his hand and pull him up from the bench. as we step out of the gazebo, he places a light hand on my lower back, guiding me.

it feels natural. effortless. like we're slipping back into something familiar, but with an added weight that wasn't there before.

"we should probably do some homework too, huh?" min ho says as we walk. "work on the film?"

i nod. "yeah, i guess we should." i smirk. "so... a study date, then?"

min ho side-eyes me, a small smirk forming on his lips. "not yet."

i raise an eyebrow. "oh?"

he stops for a second, turning to face me. "when everything clears up," he says, his voice softer, more certain, "i promise i'll take you on a real one."

my stomach flips but before i can respond, he tugs me forward, resuming our walk toward the train station.

matchado feels like a reset.

we fall back into our usual routine—side by side on the train, sharing headphones, the soft hum of music filling the quiet between us.

but this time, we're closer.

min ho leans back into the seat, and without thinking, i rest my head on his shoulder.

he doesn't pull away.

instead, i feel him shift slightly, angling his body just enough to make it more comfortable for me. we don't say anything for a while.

until—

"your head is heavy," he mutters.

i lift my head slightly to glare at him. "excuse me?"

he smirks. "just saying. didn't know your tiny head could weigh so much."

i roll my eyes and lightly smack his chest before resting my head back down. "whatever, you love it."

he chuckles, but doesn't deny it. we see that it's our stop and sit up, "mmm time for matcha, covey. let's go!"

everything with min ho seems to be falling in place and i feel excited for what's to come for us. we can't be together yet but we're almost there.

almost, but not quite

for now, this is enough.