✧ min ho;

she turns to leave.

rain clings to her hair, soaks into her clothes, and yet she doesn't seem to care. she just wants to get away from me. from this.

but i can't let her go.

not now.

not when everything inside me is screaming at me to stop her.

"kitty."

she freezes.

for a second, i think she's going to ignore me, to keep walking like none of this matters. but then, slowly, she turns.

her face is unreadable so i take a step forward, my breath unsteady. i should be careful. i should be measured. i should think before i speak.

but i don't.

"i think i've ... fallen in love with you."

the words hang in the air between us, heavy, inescapable. her lips part slightly, but she doesn't say anything.

so i keep going, "i fell for you the second i saw you in the cafe and i stole your matcha."

a flicker of confusion crosses her face. but i keep going because if i stop now, i'll lose my chance.

"it felt like a sign." my voice is quieter now, steady. "we got the same drink. we were in the same class. we were both friends with dae. and then suddenly, you were everywhere, like the universe was trying to tell me something. but i was too much of a coward to listen."

her throat bobs as she swallows.

"it wasn't just that moment, either," i admit, my voice raw. "it was every little thing after that: sharing headphones on the tube, watching you get excited over script ideas, writing music together, our matcha runs, our dumb inside jokes — all those little moments that shouldn't have meant anything, but they did."

she blinks rapidly, like she's trying to keep herself together.

"i thought i wasn't meant for this," i confess. "for love, for happy endings, for someone who actually stays." i exhale sharply, shaking my head. "but then you happened. and suddenly, i started wanting things i never let myself want before."

she bites her lip, her hands curling into fists at her sides.

"and yeah, i was pissed when you pulled away," i continue, my voice tightening. "but not because i wanted to kiss you but because i thought i ruined everything by trying to kiss you. every time i let myself think that maybe—just maybe—you felt the same way, i reminded myself that wanting something doesn't mean you get to have it. i thought i ruined everything between us."

she looks up at me, and something in her expression cracks.

i step closer.

"but i can't do that anymore, covey."

her breath hitches.

"so if you're going to leave, go. but if you feel even a fraction of what i feel, then please—" my voice softens, almost pleading. "don't push me away."

her eyes search mine, and for a second, i think she's going to run again.

but then—

she takes a step toward me.

then another.

the rain keeps falling, dampening her hair, making strands stick to her cheeks. she doesn't push them away. she doesn't even seem to notice.

she's too busy looking at me.

like she's searching for something—like she's trying to decide if she's brave enough to say what she wants to say.

finally, she lets out a small, shaky breath. "you think you're the only one who was scared?"

i freeze.

her voice wavers, but she doesn't stop. "i like to act like i know everything. like i have all the answers. like i always know what's best for me." she lets out a bitter laugh. "but i don't. not when it comes to this. not when it comes to you."

something inside me cracks open.

she wraps her arms around herself, her fingers digging into the sleeves of her hoodie. "i was scared, min ho." her voice is quieter now. "scared of hurting dae. scared of losing you. i've always associated him with my mom, with family, with home... and i didn't want to break that. but i also—" she stops, sucking in a breath. "i didn't want to lose you either."

i feel something shift in my chest.

she looks up, her eyes shining in the dim light. "so i tried to turn it off. i told myself that having you as a friend was better than not having you at all."

my heart clenches.

"covey..."

she shakes her head. "but it didn't work. because no matter how hard i tried, i couldn't turn it off. i couldn't stop feeling it. and it scared the hell out of me."

the air between us is charged, heavy with everything we've left unsaid.

"turn off ... what, covey?"

"min ho.."

"say it."

her lips part slightly.

"say it, covey." my voice is soft, but firm. "i need to hear you say it."

she looks at me, her eyes filled with something so raw, so real, that it knocks the breath from my lungs.

then, barely above a whisper—

"i fell in love with you too."

i don't think. i don't hesitate.

i just reach for her. my hands frame her face, my thumbs brushing against the wet skin of her cheeks, and before i can even process what's happening, she's leaning in—closing the distance—her lips crashing into mine.

it's not soft. it's not hesitant.

it's desperate.

like we've both been holding back for too long, and now, finally, the dam has broken.

her fingers grip the front of my shirt, pulling me closer, and i go willingly, letting myself fall.

kitty's breath is warm against my skin, her hands still tangled in the fabric of my shirt like she's afraid I'll disappear.

but i won't.

i press one more lingering kiss to her forehead before pulling back slightly, smirking. "well, now I have to take you on a real date."

kitty blinks up at me. "now you have to?"

I raise an eyebrow. "obviously. what kind of guy confesses his love in the rain and doesn't follow it up with a proper date?"

she snorts, rolling her eyes. "is that a rule somewhere?"

"it should be," i say , brushing a damp strand of hair away from her face. "besides, our entire relationship so far has consisted of stolen matcha lattes, train rides, and forced proximity thanks to a movie."

kitty hums, pretending to think. "mm, i don't know. iI kinda liked those things."

i give her a look.

she laughs before nudging me playfully. "okay, okay. what's your idea of a 'real' date then, oh wise one?"

I smirk, pretending to think. "first, I pick you up looking ridiculously good."

"bold of you to assume."

I ignore her. "then, we go somewhere fun. maybe a little fancy. I make you laugh—"

"unlikely."

I narrow my eyes. "—and by the end of the night, you realize that I am, in fact, the best date you've ever had."

kitty snorts, shaking her head. "wow, confident much?"

I shrug. "I gotta make up for lost time."

her teasing expression softens slightly, something unreadable passing through her gaze.

"you don't have to make up for anything, min ho," she murmurs.

my chest tightens.

I clear my throat, nodding toward the door. "come on, let's get inside before you actually do get sick."

she hesitates before finally taking my hand, letting me lead her back into the apartment.

no more running.

no more almosts.

now, it's just us. and whatever the hell comes next.