Chapter Text
so it was official, kitty and minho were together. it took a little bit but over the summer, minho somehow met up with kitty and after a rather long conversation they decided they'd try a relationship together.
the bell rang especially that loud that morning, as yuri walked inside KISS. this summer had been tough for her, especially since her family’s bankruptcy. she'd been used to a certain lifestyle and suddenly everything changed for her.
luckily, her mother figured out something and yuri was now doing as good as she could - a lot less richer but it was a change that she slowly adjusted to.
“you scared kitty?” minho smiled, tightening his grip on kitty's hand as they walked through the corridor together — yep this was the first day they were showcasing their relationship to KISS.
Q bombarded so many to kitty, it was like a whole q and a session. kitty nodded but reassured the taller boy that she’d gone through enough to be scared about something like this.
the courtyard buzzes with laughter and conversation, but yuri feels like she’s watching the world through a foggy window. she’s sitting at a table with Q and a few other friends, pretending to listen to their conversation.
across the courtyard, kitty and minho sit close together, minho’s arm draped casually over kitty’s chair as she laughs at something he said. the sound carries, sharp and clear, and it feels like a knife twisting in yuri’s chest.
her fork hovers over her salad, untouched.
“you’ve been stabbing that lettuce for five minutes,” Q remarks, leaning back in his chair. “it’s dead. you can stop now.”
yuri looks up sharply. “what?”
“you’re distracted,” Q says matter-of-factly. “what’s going on? and don’t say ‘nothing,’ because i know you better than that.”
yuri exhales sharply, her eyes darting back to kitty and minho before she forces herself to look away. “it’s nothing, Q. seriously.”
“oh, right, because staring daggers at kitty and minho is totally normal behavior,” Q replies, his tone light but laced with concern.
“i’m not staring,” yuri mutters, her cheeks flushing.
“uh-huh. and i’m a broadway star,” Q quips, his voice softening. “yuri, come on. talk to me.”
“i’m fine,” she insists, but her voice cracks slightly.
Q gives her a pointed look, then glances meaningfully toward kitty and minho. “this is about her, isn’t it?”
yuri stiffens. “i don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“yuri,” Q says gently, leaning forward. “it’s me. you don’t have to act like you’re okay when you’re not.”
yuri’s jaw tightens, and for a moment, she says nothing. then she lets out a bitter laugh. “it doesn’t matter, Q. kitty’s with minho now. she’s happy. end of story.”
“and you’re totally over her?” Q challenges.
“i don’t have a choice,” yuri says flatly.
Q studies her for a moment, his expression unreadable. then he tilts his head. “this isn’t just about kitty, is it?”
yuri looks away, her throat tightening. “what are you talking about?”
“juliana,” Q says softly.
at the sound of her name, yuri flinches.
“it’s been months, yuri,” Q continues. “but you still haven’t talked about her. not really. you just shut down every time someone brings her up.”
“there’s nothing to talk about,” yuri says, her voice clipped.
“yuri.” Q’s voice is firm but kind. “she left, and you never got closure. that’s a big deal. it’s okay to admit that it still hurts.”
yuri’s grip on her fork tightens. memories of juliana flood her mind: late-night conversations under the stars, stolen kisses in the music room, whispered promises to always make it work, no matter what.
and then the last conversation—juliana telling her that her parents thought it would be better for her to start fresh at a new school. the resignation in her voice, the way her hand lingered on yuri’s for just a moment too long before pulling away.
“i don’t want to talk about her,” yuri says finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
“that’s your problem, yuri,” Q says gently. “you keep bottling everything up. you’re trying so hard to act like nothing phases you, but it’s okay to feel hurt. to feel angry. to feel… jealous.”
yuri looks up at him sharply.
“yeah, i said it. you’re jealous. you have feelings for kitty, you've had them since last semester and seeing her with minho is killing you. but you’re also carrying around all this pain from what happened with juliana, and it’s just… too much.”
yuri’s eyes burn, but she blinks back the tears. “what am i supposed to do, Q? tell kitty i still have feelings for her? that i hate seeing her with him? it’s not like that’s going to change anything. she’s moved on.”
“are you sure about that?” Q asks, raising an eyebrow.
yuri frowns. “what’s that supposed to mean?”
“i mean, i’ve seen the way she looks at you sometimes,” Q says. “like she’s not as over it as she wants everyone to think.”
“don’t,” yuri says, her voice cracking. “don’t give me hope, q. i can’t… i can’t go through that again.”
Q leans forward, resting his hand over hers. “yuri, listen to me. whatever happens, you need to let yourself feel this. all of it. the hurt, the jealousy, the love—everything. it’s the only way you’re ever going to move forward, whether that’s with kitty or… without her.”
yuri stares at him, her walls cracking just enough for a single tear to slip down her cheek. she wipes it away quickly, pretending it didn’t happen.
“i’ll think about it,” she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
“that’s all i’m asking,” Q says, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
as the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch, Q stands and looks down at her. “and yuri? no matter what happens, i’ve got your back.”
yuri watches him walk away, her heart heavy but her resolve slightly stronger. maybe q is right. maybe it’s time to stop running from her feelings.
--
yuri walks down the hall with Q beside her, his arm casually slung over her shoulders as he talks animatedly.
“so, the event tonight,” Q says with a grin. “it’s this student-run thing—kind of like a talent showcase? but also with food trucks and live music. i know, sounds totally cliché, but it’ll be fun. you should come with me. seriously.”
yuri glances at him skeptically. “i don’t know, Q. sounds like a lot of people in one place. not really my thing.”
“come on,” he insists, nudging her with his elbow. “it’ll be good for you. you need to get out and have some fun. and i’m not letting you miss out on all the food. we can grab some free snacks, walk around, maybe see some performances. it’ll be a good distraction. and if nothing else, you’ll at least get some fresh air.”
yuri sighs, clearly torn. “i’m not sure it’s the best idea.”
Q raises an eyebrow. “why? because of her?” he asks, glancing over at kitty and minho, who are talking a few feet away.
yuri stiffens and doesn’t answer.
“yuri,” Q says, his voice more serious now. “you need to stop running away from things. if you keep avoiding situations like this, you’re never going to face what’s really going on. so just come. for me?”
yuri hesitates, but eventually she nods reluctantly. “fine. i’ll go.”
“great,” Q says with a satisfied grin. “let’s go get ready, then.”
---
later that evening, yuri and Q arrive at the event, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. the music and chatter fill the air, but yuri still feels out of place.
she keeps her distance from the crowds, trying to distract herself, but her thoughts are consumed by what she left behind—what she’s trying to forget.
as they walk through the event, stopping at various food trucks, Q continues his usual banter, but yuri can barely focus.
her mind keeps drifting back to kitty and minho. they were all she could think about lately—kitty, especially.
they stop at one of the food trucks, and Q’s attention is caught by something across the yard. “oh, perfect! there’s a performance starting soon. come on, we can get a good spot.”
yuri’s eyes briefly flicker toward the crowd, landing on kitty and minho, who are chatting with a group of people nearby.
the sight of them laughing together, minho’s hand casually brushing kitty’s, sends a pang through yuri’s chest. she looks away quickly, but the hurt is undeniable.
Q notices her stiffening and follows her gaze. “you okay?”
“yeah,” yuri mutters, forcing herself to sound indifferent.
Q doesn’t buy it. “still not over it, huh?”
yuri bristles, turning away. “shut up, Q.”
Q just smirks. “hey, i’m here to help. but you gotta meet me halfway.”
yuri doesn’t respond, but she feels the tension rising in her chest, her thoughts spiraling. “i’m fine,” she repeats, though she knows it’s a lie.
before she can wallow any longer, Q drags her toward the performance area, pushing her to the front. the music starts, and yuri tries to lose herself in the beat, but the nagging thoughts of kitty and minho never stop.
after a while, Q’s phone buzzes, and he checks it quickly before pulling yuri aside. “hold on. i’m going to grab us some snacks. stay here, alright?”
yuri nods without looking at him, still distracted. she glances around the crowd, and that’s when she sees her again.
kitty, talking with minho, standing far enough that it doesn’t seem like a big deal but close enough for yuri to feel the sting of jealousy in her chest.
she looks away quickly, trying to ignore it. she tells herself it doesn’t matter, that they’re happy, and that she should just let it go.
but as she stands there, feeling like a ghost among the crowd, she hears a voice behind her.