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“It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them.”
—Agatha Christie
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“Thank you everyone who made this last tour unique.” Joon Ho raised his glass of champagne, while his grip tightened on Eunji's waist.
The rest of the people did the same.
From a distance, Kitty raised hers as well. But it didn't contain alcohol. Kitty had only gotten drunk once, and it wasn't exactly a memorable experience.
“I want to thank my dad, Young Moon. Without him nothing of this would’ve been possible.” He smiled.
Minho’s dad nodded his head with a warm smile.
“And my brother Minho, who I’m glad to connect with again.” Minho gave him a plain smile.
Minho caught her eye from across the room and winked at her. Which made her heart flutter.
“And lastly to my wife, and soon-to-be mother of my child, Eunji.” Kitty glanced Eunji’s glossy eyes.
Joon Ho leaned in and kissed his wife. The whole room burst into cheers and applause.
Kitty had spent the most incredible summer, she couldn’t believe it was all coming to an end.
In the next week she would go back to KISS, new year, new classmates.. and new relationship.
She began dating Minho during the tour, and she couldn’t be happier.
They understood each other perfectly.
Kitty once imagined her heart belonged to Dae. Then, she mistook her friendship with Yuri for something more. But Minho? She hadn’t seen that coming.
And now, she couldn’t imagine a version of that summer, or herself, without him.
The event went on. Young Moon had planed this night well in advance, he invited some friends, crew members, pop stars..
It was a truly exclusive event, but everyone there played a role.
She was starting to get tired of hearing things like: “Oh yeah, my dad just opened an art gallery in..”
Or “Well, last week we were in Ibiza. We are planning on going this weekend to Milan..”
She was going to lose it. But she was trying to keep up with it for Minho’s sake.
She sank onto the nearest couch, she needed some rest. And her heels were killing her.
She eased onto the velvet couch with a sigh of relief, her heels already punishing her for the night’s charm.
“Covey, there you are, love.” Suddenly, Minho approached her.
She felt as if the room lighted up. “Hey,” She greeted him from her spot.
He sat next to her. “Is everything alright?” He asked leaning forward.
She looked down. “Yeah it’s just.. I can’t believe summer is over.”
“Oh, is Kitty Song Covey admitting she had a great time with me?” They both chuckled.
They stayed in a comfortable silence.
“Wanna ditch this place?” He asked.
“You are my most favorite person, do you know that?” She said grinning.
“Thanks for the compliment Covey, but I think we both knew that already.” He said playfully.
“I take it back.” She pretended to feel disgusted.
He shrugged. “Sure you do, Covey. What can I say? I’m perfect in every way.”
“Says the guy who had to hide in some bushes to avoid ruining his date, which , by the way, I ended up saving.” She grinned.
His eyes widened “Covey! That was your fault!”
“That’s when I met poopy baby!” She reminded him that embarrassing moment.
She chuckled. “Okay let’s go now.” He said immediately, wanting to avoid the uncomfortable situation.
Hand in hand they made their way through the crowd and outside of the venue.
They slipped out the side entrance, fingers still laced.
The night air was warm, a little humid, thick with late summer’s goodbye.
Seoul buzzed around them, neon signs flickering above restaurants, scooters zipping past, and the faint sound of music bleeding from open windows.
They began walking down the nearest street.
“So,” Kitty said, glancing up at him, “any actual plan, or are we just fugitives now?”
Minho smirked. “I thought you liked chaos.”
“I like controlled chaos.” She replied.
He swung their hands slightly. “You saying I don’t have control?”
She eyed him. “No, I’m just saying that I like organization.”
“That’s not true.” Minho chuckled.
“Excuse me?” Kitty gasped.
“Covey, I’ve spent enough time with you to tell that you clearly aren’t an organised person. “ He replied.
“Okay, know-it-all.” She squeezed his hand.
“But, after all, I still love you.” He gave her a sweet smile.
They made their way through a quieter street, the only thing that could be heard was the sound of Kitty's heels hitting the ground.
Minho glanced down. “Those look painful Covey.”
“Trust me, they are. But nothing a girl can’t handle.” She confidently raised her head.
But her heels betrayed her, she tripped over a crack on the pavement, Minho tried to contain his laughter.
“Forget it, I’m taking them off.” She bent down to undo the lace on her heel.
She took them off. “Better?” He asked kindly.
“Definetely.” She held her heels in one hand and tighted her embrace in the other.
Suddenly, a breeze lifted the hem of her dress, and the sky above cracked softly with the promise of rain.
“It looks like it’s about to rain.” He muttered.
“Do you think we’ll make it back to the hotel without soaking wet?” She questioned.
“Nah. But I don’t care.” He confessed looking up to the cloudy sky.
They continued walking down talking about random topics.
They made it to a tiny spot filled with cherry blossom trees.
“How beautiful.” Kitty mentioned.
“Minho took a glance at her. “Yeah.”
They approached the spot and gently laid down on the grass.
Kitty rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her.
“Thank you for this summer, Covey.” He confessed.
“I should be the one thanking you, you let me join.” She giggled a bit.
“Yeah, but. Having you here made things a lot better.” He mentioned with the marked accent Kitty loved.
“I’m glad to hear that.” She smiled.
“There’s actually something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”
“What is it?” He asked.
She took a deep breath. “Well, I want you to meet my family in Portland.”
“I would love that, Covey.” He pressed a soft kiss on the top of her head.
She raised her head to look at him. He lifted her chin with his free hand and kissed her.
That kiss awakened something in her. A feeling that had wings.
As she kissed him back, she could feel her heart pound with excitement.
As a matchmaker, Kitty was able to tell who would end up with who.
But it took her time to realise her someone was right in front of her.
Suddenly, tiny droplets began to fall around them.
Kitty glanced up. “Okay, we better get going now.”
“Whoever is up there doesn’t like us.” Minho replied.
They got up and started walking back.
Minho looked up, then back at her, a playful smile forming. “Race you back?”
Before she could respond, he took off, laughing. Kitty, heels in hand, chased after him, their laughter echoing through the streets as the rain began to fall in earnest.
They dashed down the sidewalk, rain coming down in sheets now. Kitty’s hair clung to her cheeks, her dress soaked, but she didn’t care.
Minho was laughing, completely carefree, and it made her feel like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
They stopped next to a closed bookstore, panting, drenched, grinning like idiots.
Kitty looked at him, her heart so full it could burst.
“You’re such a menace,” she whispered.
“And yet,” he said, brushing a soaked curl from her cheek, “you’re still with me.”
“Unfortunately,” she deadpanned.
But she was smiling.
And then, without overthinking it, she leaned in and kissed him, sweet, slow, rain-slicked.
The kiss lingered, quiet and steady, like the rain that kept falling around them. When they finally broke apart, Minho didn’t let go of her face. His thumb brushed her cheekbone, slow and reverent.
“I love you, Kitty” he said softly. “A little bit, or a lot.”
Kitty raised an eyebrow, lips still curved. “Is that your idea of romance? ‘A little bit or a lot’?”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Would you prefer Shakespeare?”
“Hit me with your best line, Moon.”
Minho cleared his throat, dramatically. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day—”
Kitty snorted. “You literally used to say you hate summer.”
“Okay first of all,” he held up a finger, “that was before I spent one with you.”
She blinked.
He paused, like he didn’t mean for it to come out quite that real. But it was too late to take it back.
Kitty looked up at him, rain dripping from her lashes, heart thudding loud, and for a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then she whispered, “That was dangerously smooth.”
He exhaled a laugh, clearly relieved. “Yeah, I kind of shocked myself.”
She bumped her shoulder against his. “I’m not saying you’re irresistible in the rain, but…”
“But?”
“I am saying I might have to kiss you again.”
He leaned down, lips brushing hers. “Then you should.”
And she did.
This one messier, wetter, more laughter than lips. Her heels dropped to the ground with a soft thud, arms wrapping around his neck. He pulled her in like he meant to keep her there forever.
For a little while, it was just them, two kids soaked in summer rain, kissing under flickering neon, on a quiet Seoul street.
The kind of moment that would blur in memory, golden around the edges.
And maybe that’s what she’d remember most.
Not the tour, not the lights, not the noise.
Just Minho.
And that he loved her. In the only way Minho could, loud, a little ridiculous, and all in.