✧ min ho;

the café is quiet except for the occasional hum of conversation and the low jazz music playing through the speakers. we're tucked into a corner, papers spread out between us, our matcha lattes half-finished.

neither of us has mentioned what happened on the train.

maybe kitty didn't think it was a big deal.

it wasn't, though. right?

nothing happened. but it was a moment.

was it?

i'm still stuck on that thought when i realize she's been talking. and i've been staring at her the whole time.

"i'm sorry, what?" i snap out of it, blinking.

she gives me a weird look before turning her attention back to the paper in front of her. "we're gonna have to find music majors that are willing to compose music for it. and some singers."

i hesitate, tapping my fingers against the table.

i could just let her figure it out. let her go searching for composers and vocalists when i already know how hard that'll be. or...

i exhale and say, "i can compose the music."

kitty looks up, surprised. "wait, you can?"

i nod, trying to play it off. "i took piano lessons for a few years. i'm sure i can think of something."

she tilts her head, like she's trying to put the pieces together. "you never mentioned that before."

i shrug. "never came up."

kitty smiles at me with her eyes bright and full of life, "so that's why you were okay with it being musical?"

i roll my eyes at her, "don't make me switch partners, covey."

she smirks at me and nudges me with her elbow, "can't do that! okay... and lyrics?"

i smirk. "that's on you, covey. aren't you the writer?"

kitty gets a little shy, glancing down at her notebook. when she looks up, the café lights reflect softly in her eyes. we softly smile at each other until her focus shifts.

"we should probably get going," she says, staring outside. "it's getting late, and i have class in the morning."

i follow her gaze and turn around. the sky has darkened, rain lightly tapping against the glass.

i nod, "i'll walk you back."

she hesitates, like she's debating whether or not to refuse. but then she just nods and starts packing up.

we walk in comfortable silence toward the station, the cool air mixing with the sound of rain hitting pavement.

"so," i say after a moment, "what'd you think of the matcha?"

she looks over at me. "i really liked it. and the café, too. i think i might become a regular."

i don't know why that makes me feel so satisfied. but it does.

she shifts her bag on her shoulder before glancing at me again. "what about you? what's life in london been like?"

i think about my answer for a second before speaking. "it's alright. not really home, but it's better than other places."

she frowns slightly. "why do you live here if your dad is in korea and your mom is in la?"

i exhale, my hands slipping into my pockets. "yuri's the only family i have that i actually get to spend time with. my dad's in korea, but i only visit him in the summers. my mom..." i pause, staring ahead. "i go to la during winter breaks to see her, but when i visit the both of them... we don't really spend time together."

kitty stays quiet for a second, like she's choosing her words carefully.

"why not?"

i shrug, like it doesn't matter. "they're busy. work, social stuff, whatever. i think they like having me around, but it's more like... background noise."

kitty doesn't respond right away, but when she does, her voice is softer than before. "that suck, i'm sorry."

i let out a small laugh. "yeah. well."

we reach the train station, and she glances up at me like she wants to say something else. but she doesn't.

and honestly? i don't know if i want her to.

—

the train is quieter now, the late hour thinning the usual rush of commuters. kitty and i stand near the door, holding onto the railing as the tunnel blurs past the window.

i glance at her. "so, what about you?"

she looks up, confused. "what about me?"

"your family."

kitty's face softens a bit. "i have two older sisters & it's just my dad. we're really close, actually."

i nod, letting that sink in. i already figured she had a solid family dynamic—the way she talks, the way she is—it all makes sense now.

"so why move to london if you're so close to them?" i ask.

she shifts her grip on the pole, glancing down like she's thinking. "my mom moved to korea for college. she wanted to learn more about her family, about herself. she had her own adventure." she looks back up at me. "i wanted that too—my own adventure while chasing my dream."

i nod slowly. i get it. maybe more than i thought i would.

i lean slightly against the rail, smirking. "so the script is kinda based off you, huh? you chasing a dream?"

kitty pauses before laughing. "guess so."

the conversation falls into a comfortable lull until i ask, "so if you had to pick—love of your life or your dream job?"

she barely hesitates. "probably my boyfriend."

i raise a brow. "really?"

she shrugs. "if they're the love of my life, then yeah. i wouldn't want to lose them."

i think about that for a second before she turns the question on me. "what about you?"

i glance at her, then back out the window. "well... if something or someone is the love of my life, wouldn't i want to keep that forever?"

kitty's expression shifts, like she wasn't expecting that answer.

she tilts her head. "that's... different from what you said this morning."

i look away, suddenly aware of how vulnerable i just sounded. "yeah, well." i chuckle, trying to brush it off. "it's probably just the rain making me feel sappy."

kitty watches me for a second longer before letting it go.

by the time we get to her apartment, the rain has slowed to a drizzle, the streetlights casting a soft glow over the pavement.

she stops in front of her door, shifting her bag. "well. this is me."

i nod. "good observation."

she rolls her eyes but smiles. "thanks for today."

i smirk. "wow, didn't think i'd ever hear that from you."

"don't get used to it," she hesitates for a second before adding, "goodnight, min ho."

"goodnight, covey," i turn to leave, but before i can take a step, she calls out again.

"you know," she muses, "i think we've wished each other goodnight every single day since we met."

i stop, turning back around, smirking. "wow, covey. keeping track of our nights together?"

her face flushes immediately. "that's not—ugh, never mind. goodnight."

i chuckle, shaking my head. "goodnight, covey. again."

she disappears inside, and i stand there for a second longer, exhaling. i should be annoyed that i spent my whole day with her.

but i'm not.

if anything, i kind of... enjoyed it.

and that's probably the most dangerous realization i've had all day.