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Chapter Text

Kitty Song Covey’s 17^th birthday

November 12^th, 2023

Growing up with two older sisters, especially ones that were into baking and decorating, Kitty was used to the exceptionally complicated and colorfully decorated birthday parties.

Since she could remember, her birthday started early in the morning, before their school and her dad’s job. Margot would softly shake her awake until she stretched out, rubbing her eyes open. At the foot of her bed always lay, perfectly folded, a brand-new outfit that her dad bought her specifically for the day.

For anyone else, wearing an outfit their parent picked out would have probably been a nightmare, but somehow, Dan Covey had an impeccable taste when it came to his daughters. Her birthday outfits were always her favorite clothes and when inevitably, months or years later, she looked at herself in the mirror and noticed that, despite the amount of times she yanked on the fabric, the hem of her pants was no longer reaching her ankles and the jacket made it impossible for her to lift her arms above her shoulders, a tinge of disappointment and sadness would pass through Kitty’s body.

Putting on her new clothes, her school bag in hand, she would walk down the stairs towards the intoxicating, sweet scent of Lara Jean’s newest muffin, cake, brownie, chocolate creation made specifically for her. The living room would be decorated with all the colors of balloons that Margot managed to find that fit into whatever theme she and LJ had come up with that year.

Best of all, she loved the party they would have later in the evening when everyone returned home. Her family and friends, that was her favorite part.

Kitty was spending her 17^th birthday in Seoul this year. Far from her family and the friends she had in Portland. Her boyfriend, or well, her ex-boyfriend Dae was probably somewhere with his current girlfriend, her crush, Yuri. The closest person she had to a friend, Q, had gone to spend time with his boyfriend. Not that he knew about her birthday anyway. She could have asked him to stay but she didn’t want to burden him just because she wanted someone to spend time with her on her birthday.

Dae knew, or he should have known, it was her birthday. She remembered clearly the talk they had had over two years ago on his birthday when he swore never to forget her birthday. He truly hadn’t forgotten the last two years, but then again, Kitty reasoned, he was her boyfriend then.

Now here she was, alone in the dorm, late in the evening of her birthday. She appreciated the short video calls she got throughout the morning from her family, but they couldn’t replace the feeling of spending time together in the same room, watching a movie and laughing about all the stupid plot holes or weird character decisions Margot kept pointing out.

Alone. She was going to do it all alone. She will keep the tradition of Covey birthdays going.

Just as the credits started rolling for one of her favorite movies, the metallic noise of the key in their dorm lock piqued her interest. A piece of her hoped Dae had come home and remembered her birthday, partly because she hoped Dae couldn’t just stop loving her like he did and partly because she really missed him. She missed their talks and their moments, and she couldn’t stand knowing that he didn’t miss her enough to even remember her birthday.

Kitty’s hopes were promptly crushed as the figure walked through the hallway, setting his grocery bag on their kitchen bench. Even with her eyes closed, she could smell him from the door. A scent of sandalwood, bergamot and mandarin reached her, causing her to instinctively roll her eyes. It wasn’t a bad smell, despite what she verbalized to him, it fit him perfectly. She would never admit it though. That would be her simply handing the victory over to Min Ho and she was too competitive to allow that to happen.

“Did you finally chase them both off, Covey?” Kitty knew he was just trying to rile her up, it was a part of their dynamic, but she couldn’t stop the words from hurting. Not today. She lowered her gaze back towards the TV, silently trying not to let the words touch her.

“No quippy response? You’re no fun.” Kitty wanted to argue, she wanted him to get annoyed and keep her company, even if it was just because he wanted to mess with her, but she couldn’t bring herself to.

“Covey.” Min Ho’s voice was low, soft, so warm she would have thought he cared about her. “Are you ok?” He did genuinely care about her, at least somewhere in the depths of his cold, probably designer heart.

“Yeah.” She lingered just a moment too long on the vowels to make it convincing, but Min Ho didn’t seem to notice. Slowly, he turned his head in her direction, raising his perfectly shaped eyebrow at her before returning to his groceries.

Kitty was glad he didn’t react. She didn’t want to deal with him making fun of her today. She just wanted to be left alone to miss her family. Suddenly, the room turned dark, lit only by the white font that still moved on the TV screen. With a sigh, Kitty turned to Min Ho, opening her mouth to chastise him for leaning on the light switch and closing it just as quickly in confusion. Min Ho’s frame was backlit by a warm light making him stand out just enough in the dark to make him seem almost ethereal.

The shock on her face amused Min Ho as he turned around, carefully carrying a small, bright yellow cake with a single candle towards her.

“I might not be Dae, or Q, or your family, but I am still your friend, and you need a friend on your birthday.” Kitty couldn’t believe her ears. Or eyes. Min Ho, the man that hated her with a passion, had remembered her birthday.

“Ha! I knew you didn’t hate me.” She quipped back, struck by the amount of joy Min Ho’s gesture brought her.

“If you ever tell anyone I will deny it.” Softly, he set down the cake in front of her before sinking into the seat next to her. She giggled at the comment, launching herself into his arms.

The movement threw him back into the sofa but feeling the warmth of Kitty wrapped around him forced him to move before he could even process what was happening. He slid his arms around her shoulders, getting lost in the floral scents of her shampoo.

“You have a heart.” She mumbled into his shirt, pulling a slight smile onto Min Ho’s face. He wasn’t sure how long they stood in an embrace, but he was sure of two things. It was just a beat too long to be purely platonic, and also, he wanted it to last longer.

“How did you know it was my birthday? I never mentioned it.” Min Ho froze, his mind working in overdrive to figure out what to tell her. He can’t tell her the truth. He would never hear the end of it. He needed a good reason. He searched her face, landing on the sparkle in her warm gaze. The light of the candle reflected off her chocolate eyes, making her look angelic. Stop it, you cannot, will not, think of Kitty. It was impossible to lie to her, he just couldn’t bring himself to. But he couldn’t possibly tell her he remembered it from the dorm form she shoved in their hands months ago.

“Make a wish before the candle goes out, Covey.” The diversion seemed to work as Kitty whipped back towards the cake, shutting her eyes and blowing the flame away. Without the light of the flame and only the soft flickering of the light coming from the TV, Min Ho reached for the floor lamp on Kitty’s side of the sofa, leaning over her back to turn it on. Kitty rested her hand on his knee, trying to both stabilize him as he stretched forward and to get his attention. In the second goal, she had certainly succeeded. He could feel her presence through his entire body, like electricity had just run through him. He could hear her heartbeat, equally as fast as his. He didn’t know when or how it happened, but he wanted this feeling forever. That was going to be his secret. He will never admit it. He sunk back into the sofa, acutely aware just how much he could miss the warmth of the person sitting right beside him.

“What did you wish for then?” Min Ho asked, peeling himself off the pillows and walking towards the plates he had prepared on the kitchen counter.

“I want it to come true, I’m not saying!” Her giggle filled the room with joy.

“I’m flattered, Covey, but it will never happen. You can’t handle all this.” The smirk on his face evoked her well-known eye roll and soft chuckle that tugged on his heartstrings more than he wanted to admit. Her fingers brushed over his hand as she reached for the plate he had extended to her and Min Ho was sure time had stopped. The look in Kitty’s eyes was unlike anything he had ever seen before. She looked at him like she held a secret. Like he was her secret. Like she was his secret. At that moment, he swore he would do anything to see it again. “However,” he added. “I’ll do whatever you wish to do tonight. What’s my torture?”

Kitty moved without ever looking away from him as if she was making sure to see the moment he melts into a puddle because of that gaze. He mimicked her movements, bringing the plate into his lap and shoveling chocolate cake into his mouth as a distraction from the way his breath got stuck in his throat with every second he spent memorizing her face.

“Watch a movie with me?” Min Ho was definitely going to fall at her feet if she just smiled like that one more time. Yet, he can pretend. He can play this role. He can keep this going. He closed his eyes, adding a sigh for the sake of flair as he agreed.

“Whatever the birthday girl wants, she gets. At least I think that’s the law.”

Kitty was used to being woken up by Margot on her birthday, but, in her half slumber that night, she caught herself thinking that she wanted to get used to being carried to bed by Min Ho. Perhaps she had misjudged him. Perhaps there was more to him than what he showed. Perhaps she actually liked how much he cared even about her. Especially about her.

Chapter Text

Moon Min Ho’s 18^th birthday

July 18^th, 2024

Min Ho didn’t expect anyone at the tour to make any sort of big deal about the fact that he was turning 18. His brother had a concert that evening, so he was spending the entire day at sound checks and rehearsals. What little time Joon Ho had that day was easily taken up by Eun Ji. Min Ho didn’t blame him, his brother was shaping up to be a better dad than Min Ho had growing up anyway.

Speaking of his dad, well, he was busy with the concert too. Management, PR, organization, one could say, everything was falling on his father’s plate. Min Ho could blame him, maybe for not being the dad that he wanted to have, for not paying attention, for putting his work in front of his son. But he didn’t. Not anymore. His dad was really trying, as much as he could. Habits are hard to break, and for a man so deeply rooted in the business he was in, it was hell to get out. Min Ho understood. He didn’t blame him, but he couldn’t say he didn’t wish his dad could be more of a dad. When his friends, and particularly guilty of this were Dae and Kitty, would talk about their dads, he wished so hard he could have just had a dad like they had. But the grass is always greener on the other side. They only had their dads. Min Ho, at least, had his mom.

His mom always found time, even if it was quite short and she was quite busy. Such was the case today as well. Min Ho answered the phone to a familiar background, his mother’s trailer. The blow drier noise in the background quickly died down as his mom appeared on the screen, her auburn hair rolled up in curlers.

“Happy birthday, honey!” She said, the speed of her voice giving away in just how big of a rush she was. “I wanted to see you, but I only have a minute before I have to go to hair and make-up. Are you having fun?”  She made time for him.

“Thanks, mom.” Before he could even answer her question, a knock came from the video call, interrupting any time they might have spent together.

“I have to go, honey. Have a fun time today! I love you!” Waving, his mom left him to, once again, be all alone in the hotel room.

Min Ho was used to it. His mom was busy. His dad was busy. His siblings were busy. His friends were busy, too. Such is the curse of a summer birthday. No school, no friends around to be found. As a child, Min Ho wished that he could, just once, pretend his birthday was in October, or March. He wished to bring candy to school and celebrate with his friends. But, just like most of his wishes, that one too, was impossible. Instead, he got a few texts that morning, specifically from Q and Dae and that was the closest he got to spending a birthday with his closest friends.

Min Ho was used to that too. And so, he planned to spend his birthday at his brother’s concert and pretend like it was just another day in his life. After all, wasn’t that what a birthday was? Just another day of getting older.

What Min Ho was not used to, was Kitty Song Covey. Despite knowing her for a year, he could never get used to her. Kitty was so different than anyone else in his life. She could walk into a room and the room itself would change. Min Ho wasn’t sure if that was an effect she had just on him, though. She would laugh and you would feel it. That sensation of a crackling fireplace. Home. Min Ho wasn’t sure if that was also an effect she had just on him. He didn’t want to get used to her. Not because he didn’t want to feel the way she made him feel, though it would simplify his problems greatly, but because he never wanted to take her for granted. He would never forgive himself if one day she disappeared from his life, and it was all because he didn’t show her how much she meant to him.

The soft knock on his door could have only belonged to her. Another thing Min Ho was not used to was just how bad his memory was when it came to Kitty. It never did her justice. In his memory, she was the most beautiful girl in the world. But then he would see her. His breath would catch in his throat, his heart would thump so loudly in his chest she had to be able to hear it. Kitty’s beauty was impossible to put into words, or memories for that matter. Today, her hair was put up in space buns, her yellow sundress flowy as she passed him to throw herself on his bed.

“We should go to Inokashira Park today.” She had said it so casually, yet with so much happiness, he couldn’t deny her. That was how they found themselves here.

Kitty was twirling around in the fallen pink cherry blossoms that covered the ground and Min Ho was getting dizzy just by looking at her. His cheeks were hurting from the wide grin that he was sporting since they arrived, and he didn’t mind one bit. Her energy was infectious. She was the sun, and he wanted nothing more than to spend all his time in her warmth. With her, he forgot all of his problems. Scratch that, he forgot all his thoughts. It was just her. He didn’t think, he just ran at her, softly tapping her shoulder as he ran past.

“You’re it, Covey!” Shocked, Kitty regained her balance before sprinting after him at full speed. The sound of her laughter behind him was all a man could ever wish for. If he were to never have a single thing in his life, he got to hear that laughter and that was worth more than anything else. Her fingers brushed along his back, leaving a trail of electricity behind. Just as quickly as she touched him, she was gone, speeding in the other direction. She was fast, faster than he imagined she would be, or maybe he was just slower than he thought. She was too far away but Min Ho gave every last atom of his strength to catch up to her, swooping her up into a hug. He could feel her chest vibrating for air in between the sprint and the laughter as he set her back down onto the ground. He couldn’t bear to let her go, though. Not yet.

Kitty turned in his arms to face him and now more than ever, he couldn’t let her go. If they just stood like that for a second longer, maybe this invisible barrier between them would finally crash. Maybe, just maybe, he’d have the courage to give her his heart again and let her break it into powder so fine he’d never recover. For a second, he swore he saw a glimpse of something new. Something unexplored. Something just waiting there to happen. Oh, how he wanted to see what it was.

Then Kitty pulled away.

And his heart left with her.

Min Ho was never getting over her.

“I have a surprise for you.” She exclaimed, trying to cover the crack in her voice. “Wait here.”

Before he knew it, she was running away from him and all he felt was numb. Despite every effort to get over her, despite her breaking his heart, despite everything, he couldn’t help but love her. Love her laugh when he makes her happy, love her gaze when she looks at him across the room, love her teasing when she tries to annoy him, love her. Despite everything, the world was without color when Kitty wasn’t around.

It might have been two minutes, but to Min Ho it was an eternity, when Kitty returned to him, her hands hidden behind her back, that beautiful smile widening on her face.

“Close your eyes.” He did. “Ok, open.” He did that too.

On the grass in front of him now lay a plaid white and red blanket, a picnic basket and most importantly, Kitty. Her hands brushed over the empty space next to her, inviting him to sit. Who was he to refuse? She reached into the basket, pulling out his favorite peanut butter and chocolate cupcake. Her voice filled the air between them as she softly sang.

For a while, he had forgotten it was his birthday. The only thing that mattered was being with Kitty. But she remembered.

“You didn’t think I’d let you get old without making fun of you, did you?” She added as she finished the song. Min Ho laughed. He was the luckiest man in the world that he had a person like her in his life.

“I’ll see you in 4 months when you get old.” Now it was her turn to laugh.

“You better. I plan on partying all night long.” No, he didn’t need parties. He didn’t need anyone else here right now. He just needed her.

With her, time didn’t mean anything. Min Ho didn’t notice when day turned to dusk, nor when the time of the concert passed. He didn’t notice the stars in the sky, because Kitty was all he could focus on.

If being her friend was what he needed to do to keep her in his life, then he would do it. He would shove his feelings back into the box at the bottom of his heart and leave his heart in her hands. He would pretend he moved on. It couldn’t be that hard. He’s been doing it for months now. If that’s what it takes, he will lie to them both. As long as Kitty was there.

Chapter Text

Kitty Song Covey’s 18^th birthday

November 12^th, 2024

It was finally here. Kitty was finally an adult. She didn’t feel like it, not really, but according to both Lara Jean and Margot, that never really happened anyway. But still, here she was, turning 18 at their school’s senior trip to Hong Kong.

In 12 hours, Kitty will want to blame that fact.

Kitty had just returned her perfume bottle into her bag when a knock sounded from her hotel room door. Taking one last look in the floor-length mirror, she swung open the door, a smile wide on her face.

She had expected her best friend Q, who had been the one to originally convince her to go out to celebrate her special birthday.

In 12 hours, Kitty will want to also blame him.

Because instead of Q, standing in front of Kitty was he. She didn’t even know what exactly it was that he was to her, she didn’t even have the words to describe it. Even if she had, they were long gone when she saw him. She took in his figure. The one rogue piece of his hair that always fell next to his dark eyes looked perfectly placed. Even when he didn’t mean to, he looked perfect.

In 12 hours, Kitty will definitely want to blame him.

Softly, as if walking on a glass bridge between them, he stepped closer, his arms sneaking tightly around her waist. Kitty felt like she was floating, yet if you asked her, she couldn’t tell you if it was because Min Ho had lifted her up into his arms or if it was just the way her heart always reacted to his touch. Perhaps it was both. Perhaps she didn’t care. Because it felt right. It was right. It was everything. It was everything she could ask for. It had to be.

Because unlike the rest of her friends, Min Ho had never lied to her. She had no reason to believe he wasn’t over her. She wasn’t over him, but he didn’t need to know that. She was never going to be over him, but he definitely didn’t need to know that.

It wasn’t just what he said, she had no reason to doubt that he was truly giving up on relationships. Not when he went from being known as a playboy to rejecting every date offer he got since the summer.

Kitty wasn’t keeping track, promise. If you choose to believe the words of a woman desperately in love. Kitty was used to lying. To herself, most of all. She had buried and denied her feelings for so long that sometimes she was able to convince herself she was getting over him. But then, he’d show up next to her and make her fall in love all over again. Even harder this time. She never thought it was possible to love him more, but Min Ho always had a way to prove her wrong.

“Happy birthday, Covey.” His warm breath on her face made her cheeks redden. “You look-“ His gaze warmed her skin as he traced her shape into his memory.

“Old?” She joked, settling her hands on her hips.

“I was about to go with pathetic, but old works too.” Kitty giggled, placing her keycard into her clutch. “Do I need to get you a walker or can you make it to the club yourself, granny?” Playfully, she slapped his shoulder causing him to snatch up her hand in his. A thousand little prickles ran down her body at his touch.

Ever since the summer, Kitty was acutely aware of all the moments between them. She blamed it on her feelings making something out of nothing.

It was all her imagination.

It wasn't Min Ho that had problems breathing around her. Min Ho didn’t shift ever so slightly closer to her on the sofa when they watched a movie in his dorm. Min Ho didn’t linger on her face just to see her smile.

It was all her.

It was all her when her thoughts disappeared as he offered her an arm to hold on to on the walk to the club.

By the time they joined the rest, everyone had already started drinking. Her friends surrounded her within seconds, all congratulating her on her adulthood. Q was the most buzzed of all, draping himself over Kitty’s shoulders as he passed her a shot.

“To the birthday girl!” He raised his glass up into the air, downing it in seconds. Kitty sneaked a glance at Min Ho through her friends only to find that he was already watching her. A wink and a careful movement of his arm in her direction was all she needed to press her lips to the cold rim and taste the alcohol.

The shots just kept coming. One by one, her friends walked up to the bar, buying her a brand-new alcoholic beverage to try. Each one she took, Min Ho followed.

“I feel like they are trying to get me to forget my birthday.” Kitty giggled, cradling her cheek with her hand as she leaned on the bar.

“Don’t worry, Covey, I’ll make sure you remember every embarrassing thing you do tonight.” The world around her was moving too fast, but Min Ho, he was in slow motion. No matter how much she tried, she was too entranced to look away from him. The way his tongue brushed over his lower lip to pick up the reminders of the alcohol he’d just finished. She could have done that for him. God, she wished she was the one softly kissing the tequila off his lips. What was she thinking?

She needed to stop.

Buzzed as she was, the best distraction she could think of was to invite Min Ho to dance.

That would stop her.

It definitely didn’t stop her.

How could it when his hands were wrapped around her waist making her skin burn under his fingers? How could it when his lips brushed over her temple as he pulled her closer? How could it when there was no air between them?

She needed air.

“Let’s go for a walk.” Kitty demanded more than requested. She needed to get away before she did something that would ruin them forever. Min Ho helped her put her jacket on, offered her his own arm for a tipsy support. It was enough though. She tripped over her feet, cursed those new heels Yuri helped her choose, and yet Min Ho caught her just in time. He always did.

Their hotel definitely moved further away in the last few hours. Her jacket was definitely too thin for this weather. She shivered, rubbing her hands together. She wanted to protest when Min Ho set his leather jacket over her shoulders, remaining only in his thin button-up shirt. She tried to. But the jacket was so warm, and it smelled exactly like him. So instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist, hoping to provide him with at least some heat.

He froze, just for a second, just enough to lose one step in his pace that Kitty had so carefully coordinated with hers. Just enough for her to notice.

It was all her imagination. Her drunk imagination.

She didn’t know when it happened, but all of the walking ended in Min Ho’s hotel room. They stumbled their way in, trying to silence each other’s laughter as Kitty struggled with the two jackets wrapped around her. She kicked off her heels, one of which hit with a thud into the bathroom door, making Kitty giggle even more. She threw herself onto his bed, sinking into the soft white sheets.

Min Ho watched from the window as she invited him to join her, his breath catching in his throat at the motion. It wasn’t the first time they laid together on a bed, if anything, it had become a bit of a tradition over summer.

The first time it happened, Kitty couldn’t sleep. Neither could Min Ho. They spent the night lying on his bed, talking until they both dozed off.

So why did this time feel… different? Charged with electricity? Filled with something unspoken?

Kitty monitored carefully as he slid into the bed next to her, never once losing her gaze. She wasn’t drinking but she was getting more drunk by the minute.

Min Ho brought his hands up to his mouth, warming them up with his breath. Instinctively, but not soberly, Kitty moved closer, sneaking her arms around him. She wasn’t sure if she was repaying him for giving her the jacket or if she just needed to be next to him, but whatever the reason was, she wasn’t going to stop. Not when he looked at her so shamelessly. His eyes flickered down to her lips, and she felt like melting.

No words were spoken, increasing the charge in the air. Kitty needed to kiss him.

Before she knew it, they were kissing. Min Ho’s hands cupped her face, tenderly pulling her closer and she couldn’t believe this wasn’t something they did daily. She giggled into his lips, before pulling him deeper into the kiss. She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted, too short for her liking, so she kept coming back for more.

She needed Min Ho like she needed air. And in that moment, it seemed like he needed her too.

Her fingers tangled into his hair, capturing his lips once more. She grabbed on his shirt, pulling him on top of her. His lips explored the bare skin on her neck, positioning himself just perfectly for her hands to carefully start unbuttoning his shirt. The sound he let out only made Kitty feel light-headed as she slid the thin fabric off his shoulders.

Min Ho’s hands slid down her body before settling at her thighs. Courageously, or stupidly, his fingers played with the hem of her dress, leaving Kitty breathless at the intimacy of the touch.

“Covey.” He whispered into her ear, like a prayer, making her lose any semblance of self-control she might have had left. “Are you sure?”

“Please.” Kitty begged. “Don’t stop.” she said, pulling him back into a kiss.

In 6 hours, Kitty will want to blame the alcohol.

But right now, all she knew was Min Ho.

As soon as she woke up, she did, rightly, blame the alcohol for her head pounding.

The thinnest sliver of sunlight fell onto her face through the thick curtains and the warmth flooded her mind. Glimpses of the night crept back into her memory. Min Ho’s touch. Min Ho’s voice. Min Ho’s lips on hers. The way he made her feel like she was the reason he took each breath.

But he didn't mean it.

He was drunk.

They were drunk.

And she had just ruined the most special relationship she had ever had. A part of her would forever resent her for what she was about to do, but she couldn’t afford to lose him completely.

Tenderly, Kitty moved the strong arm that was wrapped around her body, quietly slipping out from under the sheets. She glanced one last time at the sleeping man, the only sound in the room, the sound of her heart breaking into pieces as she collected her heels off the floor.

Kitty wished it was easier. She wished she could just return to his bed, wake him up with kisses, lay on his chest as he stroked her hair, but she had long lost the chance to ever be that to him. He was over her and she, well, she was never going to get over this night. Or him. Once he woke up, she would lose him forever.

In this moment, Kitty could only blame herself for destroying all the promises she made.

In this moment, Kitty could only blame herself for losing Min Ho.

Chapter Text

Moon Min Ho’s 19^th birthday

July 18^th, 2025

Q was right. It wasn't feasible for Kitty to continue down this path of self-destruction.

Q was the first one to flicker his glance between her and Min Ho when she sat next to Yuri on the flight home. He was the first to question why, after spending 80% of her day in his dorm, she no longer wanted to visit. He knew something had happened, no matter how vehemently Kitty denied it and what insane excuses she came up with. Anyone with eyeballs could see it.

The air around Kitty and Min Ho was different. If Q had to give it a name, he would label it as regret. 

He had his theories, of course, any best friend would. At first he thought Min Ho had rejected Kitty. 

But that was impossible. 

Not with the way he looked at her like she would disappear the moment he turned his gaze. 

Then he thought the reverse had happened.

But that too was impossible.

Not after Kitty spent hours by his side telling him how scared she was to admit what she felt.

Q had his main theory now. 

But that didn't matter.

Because Kitty and Min Ho weren't listening to him anyway.

He had to deal with their guilt ridden looks and sad puppy dog glances, yet they still wouldn't listen to him. 

Whatever it was, they kept it civil. That had to be enough to last them until the school end.

And it was. 

Now the problem was different.

Q knew as soon as he first saw Kitty that summer. She missed Min Ho. More than she had back when they were being civil at KISS. 

Kitty didn't ask about him. Yet, she so desperately wanted to know. How was he doing? Where was he? Is he happy? 

Every time Q slid him into the conversation, her heart folded in on itself, but internally, she begged to know more. 

Today, more so than usual.

She wished she could just go back to this day a year ago, play tag again with him in Tokyo until their legs hurt and they struggled to breathe. But that had long passed. Alcohol had destroyed that. No, she had destroyed that.

"He's in L.A. tonight. Throwing some 'epic' party for his birthday." Q said that morning, bending his fingers into quotation marks. Kitty knew it was yet another one of Q's oh so subtle pushes for them to reconnect. If only she was brave enough to do that.

"That's great for him." She did genuinely mean it, but it definitely came out apathetic. Letting out a loud sigh, Q stared at her from the phone screen.

"Look, Kitty. I have no idea what the fuck happened on your birthday, but I know that two of my best friends are for some reason being dumb, stubborn shits." Kitty was aware that she was shit, she caused this. She was also definitely stubborn about it. But was it really dumb? 

She was saving her friendship. Right, great job at that, Katherine.

Fine, she was saving as much of her pride as she could salvage. 

"Have you even talked to him?" Q sounded like a concerned parent letting her know she isn't in trouble.

"Of course, I needed his help with that chemistry assignment." Civil.

"I mean after school ended." Q clarified. Kitty's gaze fell to the floor in front of her. 

She hadn't. From spending all her days around Min Ho, to not talking to him for over a month. She did that. She hated herself for it.

"That's what I thought." Q's voice echoed in her mind. "You don't have to listen to me, god knows you never do, but he misses you. Whatever it was, it might be time to forgive and forget."

Kitty had nothing to forgive Min Ho. She had everything to forgive herself. Could she really? 

She could try.

"I gotta go, Q. I'll talk to you later." In the last second of the call, Q dared to hope she would listen.

And Kitty did.

What she didn't do, was let herself think. If she did, she would change her mind. She just went. 

She ran around her room, stuffing clothes and make-up into her carry-on. Her fingers ran over the touchscreen on her phone as she booked her flight. She texted Q to ask him for the club Min Ho was celebrating at. She didn't let herself think.

That was until she was standing at the entrance to the modern looking building, in her favorite bodycon black dress, illuminated by the neon lights from the sign above her.

This was a mistake. What on Earth was she doing? What was she thinking? 

Kitty spun on her heels, faster than she thought was humanly possible and her eyes landed on the man across the street. His bespoke suit jacket was carelessly discarded on the concrete step next to him, his fingers dug into his hair, grasping onto it as if it was the only thread keeping him from breaking. Even from this distance, Kitty could see the tear that glistened down his cheek. 

She stopped thinking again. She just needed to hug him. Her heels clanked across the asphalt, speeding up the closer she got until she was completely out of breath. Because of running or because of him, she wasn't sure, but it didn't matter. She slid down onto the step next to him, wrapping her arms around his frame. 

Min Ho didn't believe it. He couldn't handle it. 

"I'm hallucinating." He whispered into her arm. Kitty's heart stopped beating and she felt like all the air had just been knocked out of her. "I miss you." He continued, his fingers digging deeper into her forearm, trying to keep her there with him forever. "Please don't leave." Kitty didn't have any words, she just pulled him closer, hugged him tighter, held him as he cried.

It hadn't occurred to her that she had done exactly what Min Ho had always been terrified of. It hadn't occurred to her that he played the cold playboy persona because he couldn't afford to let people in, just for them to leave. It hadn't occurred to her that she broke down all his walls, became his most trusted and valued friend, only to turn around and leave him after one drunken night. 

"I'm here." She mumbled into his hair. "I'm so sorry." Her fingers stroked back the jet black strands that threatened to fall into his watery eyes. "I won't leave, I promise." 

It wasn't Min Ho or the alcohol or even that night that had ruined their friendship. It was her flight the morning after that broke them. 

"Kitty." The weakness of his voice threatened to destroy her from the inside out. Kitty could count on one hand the amount of times he called her by her first name. Out of impulse, on the plane, when he professed his love. Out of anger when she told him about Stella. Out of drunken passion that night as her hands roamed down his body. And now, out of heart-shattering sadness. "I want to go back to Tokyo." Kitty wanted that more than anything. Erase what happened this last year, shift to another course and be friends again. She just wanted him back in her life.

For that, she would pretend. Pretend it never happened. Pretend they didn't cross every boundary of friendship in existence. 

Pretend she didn't destroy his trust.

She was comfortable pretending. She had been doing it for over a year now. Pretending her feelings for him didn’t matter, pretending she didn’t ruin their friendship, pretending they could be the same forever.

As disheveled as Min Ho was, he knew what was happening. It was a silent kind of agreement between them. They would act as if that night had never happened. Turn back time to a point where they were inseparable and most importantly, still balancing on the line. It was a small price to pay, really, to have Kitty Song Covey back in his life.

He just needed to forget. Forget how she hungrily kissed him that night, making his head dizzy. Forget how her fingertips slid across his bare skin like she was making sure he would be forever branded into her memory. Forget how she breathed his name into his lips like it was the most sacred word in the world.

Or at least, he needed to pretend to forget. Because for as long as he lives, that night would be emblazoned in his mind. And as long as he had Kitty, it was worth it. As long as he didn’t chase her off, it was worth it.

“Me too.”

Chapter Text

Kitty Song Covey’s 19^th birthday

November 12^th, 2025

The phone rang at exactly midnight. Kitty twitched awake from her slumber on the sofa of her apartment. The TV had long turned itself off, leaving only the L.A. streetlight to illuminate her living room. The noise demanded attention and sleepily she reached for her phone, squinting at the bright light. Her favorite picture of Min Ho - the one she took back in Japan after she had tucked a cherry blossom into his hair, giggling at just how adorable he looked – stared back at her. With a swift motion, she answered the call, rubbing her eyes as Min Ho’s handsome face appeared on her screen.

No, that was groggy Kitty thinking.

“Damn Covey, did I just raise you from the dead?” Kitty rolled her eyes at his comment, a faint smile appearing on her face.

“Is that why you look like you gave your years in return? It wasn’t worth it.” She stuck her tongue out at him, and he chuckled, his hands crossing over his heart dramatically as if she had just pierced him with an arrow.

“That’s bull, you’re always worth it.” Kitty felt the heat creep up onto her cheeks as she looked at the twinkle of success in Min Ho’s eyes.

“So, was there a reason you called, or did you just want to insult me?” She challenged, collecting the dishes from her coffee table with her one hand that wasn’t holding the phone.

“I was feeling bad about my life, so I remembered I can always see what new trainwreck you made, and I’d immediately feel better.” A wink. Another eyeroll. A laugh. Another laugh. A symphony of laughter. “Seriously though, I wouldn’t miss your birthday for the world.” He breathed out through the laughter.

“Other people usually start the call with ‘Happy birthday’ instead.” She teased.

“I’m not other people, now, am I?”

He wasn’t.

Min Ho was special.

He was everything. To her, he was everything.

“Happy birthday, Covey.” His voice was low, tasting each word as he spoke. It made Kitty’s heart jump in her chest. A grateful, albeit somewhat saddened smile from Kitty. Min Ho noticed, but he wasn’t going to open that can of worms. Last year’s events haunted his mind that day too. He shoved them back down.

Kitty carried the phone around the apartment, resting it on her bathroom sink as she reached for her toothbrush. “What did you do today? In the 10% of the day that wasn’t taken up by your skincare routine, I mean?” She spoke, shoving the toothbrush into her mouth. Since she was 13, attempting to catch a moment to talk to Dae, she found the massive time difference between Portland (or L.A. in her current case) and Seoul exciting. It was fascinating that Min Ho had already lived through most of her birthday day.

“Ha-ha. We both know you kept stealing all my products at KISS.” She shrugged, her mouth forming a devilish smile. “You know, lectures, the usual torture, all of which awaits you tomorrow.”

“Why hasn’t anyone decided that your birthday should be a day when you are free from school and work?” Kitty commented, spitting out the toothpaste foam. An answer flashed through her mind. Because people do stupid things on vacation. Shaking the memory of her last birthday out of her head, she entered her bedroom, quickly sliding under the covers before adjusting her phone against her bedside lamp.

Min Ho couldn’t complain, he was glad for their friendship but seeing Kitty under the white linen covers awoke something in him every time. The memory of her messy hair spread across his bare chest, her frame clothed in only his silk button-up as she slept.  The memory he couldn’t scrub from his mind. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to. Because regardless of all the pain and heartbreak, he had a memory of the one night when he let himself believe he was hers. And that was enough for him.

It didn’t take Kitty long to drift off, not when she was videochatting with Min Ho. His presence had always calmed her. He felt safe. He felt like home.

This was just the way they worked. He would call her in the evening and stay with her until she fell asleep. She would call him in the morning and stay with him until he fell asleep. This was just their friendship.

They didn’t do birthday presents. They spent time with each other in whatever way they could manage. That was their thing ever since her seventeenth birthday. And that’s what he did.

For a while, Min Ho lost track of time. He observed the way Kitty’s nose scrunched up at what he concluded was a dream. Suddenly, he felt a painful urge to confess, even if to a sleeping Kitty. Softly, as if his words would make their way into her dream otherwise, he spoke.

“I don’t regret it, Covey. It was the most amazing night of my life. I just regret losing you for so long.” He inhaled sharply. “I love you. And I know there is no way I will ever get over you. I’m fine with that, truly, I am. If this is all we’ll ever be, I’m ok with that. But my heart, it will always be yours. You can break it, destroy it if you want. It will still be yours.”

Min Ho waited for a moment, then another, and another before he was convinced that he hadn’t woken Kitty up.

“Happy birthday, love.” He whispered, hanging up the call.

It had been a while since Kitty last had this dream. It was always the same dream. Those were her favorite nights. Nights when she didn’t have to keep up her charade because it was all in her mind.

She found herself in her bed, focused on whatever illegible course book she had in front of her. A noise would raise her gaze towards her bedroom door. Leaning on her doorway, dressed in the same clothes he had worn to her eighteenth birthday, she would find Min Ho. Tonight started much the same way.

Wordlessly, he strode over to her like he had been searching for her for years and had finally found her. His fingertips grazed over her cheek until they nestled under her chin, rising her face up to him. After the first time, Kitty just let herself enjoy the dream. Pretend Min Ho had actually wanted her soberly too. In her dreams, he never spoke, never explained. He didn’t need to. It was just a way for her mind to pretend that she could be his.

This time, however, he spoke. Cradling her face, his lips mere inches from hers, he spoke.

“I don’t regret it, Covey. It was the most amazing night of my life. I just regret losing you for so long.” In all her shock, Kitty couldn’t disagree. It was the aftermath she now regretted, not the night. Never the night.

“I love you. And I know there is no way I will ever get over you. I’m fine with that, truly, I am. If this is all we’ll ever be, I’m ok with that. But my heart, it will always be yours. You can break it, destroy it if you want. It will still be yours.” Her heart jumped out of her chest at his words. She was now even more sure this was a dream. Only the dream version of Min Ho was fully and irrevocably hers. She wanted to explain, say she wasn’t going to break his heart, say her heart belonged to him, but she couldn’t find the words to. Instead, she just captured his lips with hers and pulled him closer. She needed him. Even if it was just in a dream.

“Happy birthday, love.” He whispered into the kiss.

Kitty wished to forever hear him call her love.

Chapter Text

Moon Min Ho’s 20^th birthday

July 18^th, 2026

Kitty was nervous to be back in Seoul. She was even more nervous that she was staying at Min Ho’s place for the next few days. She was most nervous to see him in person for the first time in a year.

Min Ho had double – no, triple checked – his fridge for Kitty’s favorite foods. He made sure he bought double of all of his skin products she always stole at KISS. He stared at the clock, his heart beating faster with every second that passed. He couldn’t handle it anymore. He arrived at the airport half an hour early.

Kitty spotted him as soon as she walked through the door, he might as well have been the only person in the airport. She only had eyes for him anyway. The sly grin on his face gave him off long before he made the movement. In one swift motion, he raised the handwritten sign. Portland Stalker. She wanted to laugh and face palm and plot her revenge all at the same time. Instead, she broke into a sprint, her bags dropping onto the tiled flooring with a loud thud as she ran to tackle him.

“Give me that sign, Min Ho!” Kitty demanded through laughter. The sign clanked onto the floor as he spun her around in his arms.

“I missed you too, Covey.” Be still her heart. She took in this older version of Min Ho. His hair looked fluffier, she was tempted to run her fingers through it. His eyes had that little glint of experience in them that made him look older. But he was still her Min Ho. Not her Min Ho, just the same Min Ho she knew.

Min Ho was surprised at how quickly they fell back into the same habits they had while they travelled the world two years ago. You don’t know what you have until it’s gone. He supposed that was really true. They held on tighter to each other in the last year than they had ever before.

He couldn’t believe she was really here. In his apartment. On his sofa. Waiting for him with a bowl of popcorn in her lap. He sank into the pillows next to her, letting out a breath he didn’t even notice he was holding. Kitty offers him the bowl, pressing the play button with her other hand. Min Ho wasn’t a romantic movie kind of guy, but when Kitty raised her eyebrows at him in pure disbelief that he had never watched Pride and Prejudice, he couldn’t but agree to watch it with her.

It was clear from the way she mouthed along with the scenes that this was one of Kitty’s favorite movies. A fact he was extremely grateful for in this moment. If she had peeled her eyes away from the screen for even just as much as second, she would notice the way he studied her every feature, committing it to memory just in case he ever lost her again.

“As much as I love Mr. Darcy, everything would have been much easier if he didn’t just make everyone think he was this untouchable, emotionless guy.” Kitty commented in the middle of the movie, pulling him out of his thoughts. He had managed to pay attention to just enough of the movie to pick up on what she was talking about.

“I think it was just easier. He didn’t want a relationship, so he didn’t want to seem like he did.” On the surface, Min Ho hated that he could relate so much to a romance character. Deeper down, he felt seen. Especially when Kitty turned to face him, giving him a quizzical look. He could see the spark of courage appearing in her warm eyes.

“Do you still mean it?” Min Ho searched for any sort of added explanation on her face but the way she looked at him only brought on more confusion.

“Mean what?” He questioned, the noise of the movie filling the silence between them.

“That you’re swearing off all relationships.” Kitty whispered the words so quietly he might have missed them if the volume on the TV was any higher.

“You remember that?” It had been over two years since he blurted out those words, more out of anger than out of truth. They had been said in passing, in self-deprecation, because he obviously wasn’t going to tell her he was swearing off all other girls. He was so far gone and ruined for any girl that wasn’t Kitty. That had been his way of confessing out loud that his heart was in her hands. His own twisted way, of course, but a way, nonetheless.

Kitty nodded softly in response.

“In a way, I guess. Back then, I think I was just done with trying to make relationships work when I knew they wouldn’t.” It had been easy to classify the possible relationships into two categories in his mind - Kitty and doomed. “I guess that makes me a bit like Mr. Darcy.”

“I think your rich boy ego made that obvious.” He laughed at her words.

“That’s some prejudice you have there, Covey. Or should I say, Bennett?” He pushes his finger onto her knee, poking, once, twice, eliciting giggles out of her.

“So, if there was someone special…” She barely chokes out, partly out of fear that he would realize who she was thinking of and partly out of terror that there might one day in the future come a girl that would take him from Kitty.

“Only if she was my someone special.” Kitty isn’t sure what that means, but she settles with one step forward at a time. That’s enough to give her hope that one day she might be his someone special. Just like he was hers. “But yes.”

The rest of the movie passed by too quickly, which Min Ho felt by the lack of Kitty sized ball of warmth next to him as soon as the credits rolled. He would have stayed there forever. And he was glad when she slid back next to him, two pieces of paper and pen in hand.

“So, LJ and Margot told me something yesterday.” Min Ho lifts his head up in wonder. “Apparently, my mom used to say that when you enter a new decade, you should write down your biggest wish on a piece of paper and burn it to release it into the universe.”

“Will it come true?” Kitty rolls her eyes at him, huffing like he had just asked the stupidest question in the universe.

“Well, of course. That’s the point.” She answers, handing him one of the papers. “I was thinking we could do it together.”

Carefully, as if the entire world depended on what he was going to wish for, Min Ho connected the nib of the pen with the paper. Without writing anything, he removed it. He tried again. Stopped again. Looked over to Kitty. Caught her gaze.

“Can’t decide on a wish?” Her melodic voice made it even harder to focus. It should be simple. He should just wish to be with Kitty. But it felt like he was taking her agency away by doing that. He could wish to just be hers. But he already was, wasn’t he? His heart definitely thought so. He just wanted to make her happy forever. But that just felt selfish. He wanted her to be happy with or without him around.

“I don’t know, my wishes all feel selfish.”  The intense way she looks at him makes him feel like he will crumble into dust.

“Who are you and what have you done to my Min Ho?” Kitty curses herself for speaking before thinking. Min Ho picks up on it. One little word, but the air catches in his lungs. Her Min Ho. Kitty course corrects almost immediately. “Wishes are supposed to be selfish.” She laughs and he just knows.

Please, universe, help me never live without that laugh again.

Then he burns it. Hopes it comes true.

Min Ho hears that laugh again that evening, many times. But his favorite was the one she made leaning on his bedroom doorway later that night.

“I can offer you those three inches of space.” He jokes, pointing at the left edge of his king-sized bed. Kitty laughs and he feels his heart might burst. She slides under the covers, taking up most of the empty space next to him. Her face is mere inches away from his and he understands now why he couldn’t fall asleep for the last two hours. She was too far away.

“These three inches?” She questions, pointing at the space between them. This was who Kitty was. The Kitty he loves. Annoying, yet somehow endearing. They end up talking for hours. Sharing a bed with Kitty makes Min Ho feel like he’s 18 again, at his brother’s tour, before their friendship became complicated. Who was he kidding? Their friendship had always been complicated. He surprises himself when he comes to the realization. Even if he could, he would never take that night back.

Kitty is aware of how creepy her behavior might look, but she can’t help staring at the sleeping man in front of her. In that moment, she knows, there’s only one regret in her life. Leaving.

This time, she stays.

Gingerly moves the stray hair strand that covered his cheek and stays.

Falls asleep.

When she wakes up in the middle of the night, Min Ho’s arm wrapped around her waist like it was that night, she stays.

Nestles deeper into his embrace, rests her hand on his.

And stays.

One day she’ll find the courage to tell him.

But today, she stays.

And that’s enough.

For now.

Chapter Text

Kitty Song Covey's 20th birthday

November 12, 2026

Lara Jean had had enough. Her little sister was being more stubborn than clueless, and it was getting on her nerves. Then again, her little sister gave her the push she needed to find the love of her life. Lara Jean was going to repay that favor.

That’s how she and Peter now found themselves in a rental car at LAX waiting for the love of Kitty’s life. It was obvious to everyone how those two felt about each other and Lara Jean was determined to see her sister happy.

It was her first time meeting the man, but both her sister and her fiancée’s stories had been enough for Lara Jean to already love him. Peter returned to the car, side by side with a clearly anxious Min Ho.

“You must be Lara Jean.” His British accent was stronger than she expected, but it suited him. “I’m Min Ho. It’s nice to meet you. Covey talks a lot about you.” It took a total of three seconds for Lara Jean to realize why she’d heard so many stories about him.

“Trust me, she talks even more about you.” His cheeks reddened at the comment before he pulled open the door and slid onto the backseat.

The day had been very carefully planned, from picking up Min Ho, to getting the cake, flowers and arranging Kitty’s apartment, all in the time she was away at lectures. Min Ho had been a great help, both in planning the schedule in the last few weeks and executing it. Ok, maybe Lara Jean wasn’t being fair with that statement. She had been a great help. He had planned damn near everything.

Min Ho had called her just as Kitty had boarded the plane from Seoul during the summer and broke down his idea to Lara Jean. It had been sort of a tradition of theirs to spend their birthdays together and Min Ho was tired of videochatting. So, they decided to surprise her.

The boys worked on the decorations while Lara Jean made the cake. A bouquet of yellow and orange gerbera daisies was already in Kitty’s new vase on the coffee table.

“Min Ho, can you help me for a second?” Lara Jean called just as he followed Peter to the car for last-minute supplies. “Peter can handle the shopping alone, don’t worry.” He walked over to the kitchen counter where LJ was currently assembling the cake layers.

“I know it’s not my place.” She said, pushing the knife around the cake. “Hold this.” She handed him a cake layer. “But Kitty told me what happened two years ago.” Min Ho’s mouth went dry. In that split second, he wasn’t sure if she was going to yell at him, stab him with the knife or ignore him, but he attributed that to the fact that he wanted to make a good impression. Oh, how even the calmest and nicest people can look terrifying when you want to impress them. “I’m not here to chastise you about that, you’re both adults. I just need to know one thing.” She flashed him a smile as she picked up the cake from his trembling hands. “Do you still love her?”

Was that even a question? Was it even possible to fall out of love with Kitty?

“Yes.” He reveals quietly before adding. “More than I thought was possible.” Lara Jean seems satisfied with that answer, her lips forming a proud smile.

“Why don’t you tell her?” Like it was the simplest thing in the world to do.

“I did. Then she rejected me.” Lara Jean looks up from the piping bag she was preparing, a quizzical look on her face. “Which I get it, it was too soon, too complicated.” She seems to piece together the timeline again.

“Then it seemed like it was supposed to be our time. I thought she felt the same way.” His voice cracks just enough for Lara Jean to notice. “Then that night happened, and I was sure that was it. I’d get to wake up with her and tell her how I feel. Hear her say it.” His fingers play with the plastic edge of the piping bag Lara Jean let go.

“But she left.” He whispers.

From the look on Lara Jean’s face, Min Ho couldn’t tell if she was more disappointed with him or her sister. “I don’t regret it. Not one second of it. But she still left and that’s a hole only she can fix.”

As much as she is grateful for Peter, Lara Jean has had enough romantic experience and heartbreak with him to understand the pain. Like any good big sister would, she wraps her arm around Min Ho’s shoulders, feeling him exhale a shaky breath.

“I can’t tell you how she feels, that only has weight coming from her. But you can’t just keep pushing that night away and burying it.” He knows she’s right, so he nods softly in acknowledgement. “And Kitty, being Kitty, will absolutely not bring it up herself.”

“It’s your choice in the end, but you should bring it up. You might be surprised.” He hums in response. “Just look at me and Peter. I never would have had the courage to send out those letters. Yet, I was surprised.” He was going to ask. Probably. “Pass me that food coloring, please.”

The look on Kitty’s face was priceless. He was even more surprised when she ran right past Lara Jean and Peter and sprinted straight into his arms. He blamed it on the fact that he lives on the other side of the world and not the country. Lara Jean blamed it on love.

Min Ho finally saw what Kitty was talking about when she described her birthdays at home. They squeezed onto Kitty’s sofa, Lara Jean eventually sitting on the arm rest, her legs thrown over Peter’s lap. Kitty had curled herself into his side, covering him in her warmth and eliciting a wink from Lara Jean while Kitty wasn’t looking. They watched the movie, played board games, ate the best lactose-free cake he had ever tasted, and Min Ho finally understood just what it means to have a family like Kitty’s.

It was only after Lara Jean and Peter left that Min Ho and Kitty relaxed back on the sofa.

“Ok, Covey, it’s time. You’re 20 now. What is the one thing you want in this decade?” He wondered. She paused, thinking deeply.

“I want to be braver.” She concluded after an internal debate.

“In what way?” Min Ho’s face softened as he caught her gaze.

“I want to say what I mean. What I feel.” It felt like her wish was already coming true because she couldn’t, for the life of her, figure out where that came from. The room goes quiet. Kitty stares at Min Ho, Min Ho stares at Kitty. Someone was bound to start talking first.

Through a shaky breath, he does so first. “Kitty.” Five times he’d called her by her name, Kitty kept count. “We need to talk.” Her heart stopped working. So did his. It became hard to breathe.

Twirling her grandmother’s ring on her finger, Kitty confesses.  “I’m scared of that talk.”

“I’m scared of losing you again.” He whispers, so quietly she would almost think she wasn’t meant to hear it.

“You won’t.” Kitty assures him.

“But that’s just the thing. I did.” On pure instinct, she grabs Min Ho’s hand, wrapping both of hers around it. “You left.”

“I wish I hadn’t.” She admits. The air around them feels devoid of oxygen.

“Why did you?” Min Ho pauses, then adds. “Did you regret what we did?”

The answer is fast, determined. She had gone through it on repeat the last two years and always arrived at the same conclusion. “No.” Kitty did not regret her night with Min Ho.

In a low voice, he says. “Then why, Covey?” He sounded like a man pleading with her to put him out of his misery.

“I thought that was what you wanted.” The disappointment that flashes in Min Ho's eyes threatens to break her and Kitty can’t stop the urge to explain. “You swore off all relationships. We were drunk. I didn’t want to lose you because of that.” He pulls her hands into his lap, before sliding the newly freed hand under her chin and raising it to meet his gaze. In his eyes, she sees something. A realization, perhaps, an understanding of where their friendship swerved off tracks.

“Covey.” The way her name slips off his lips makes her heart leap. “How the hell was I supposed to tell you that it was you or no one? That wouldn’t have been fair to you. It wasn’t your fault that I couldn’t get over you.”  Min Ho pushes a lock of her hair behind her ear, his fingers leaving heat in her cheeks as they passed.

“I don’t want you to.” She sounds cruel, like she wants him to forever be hopelessly in love with the woman he can’t have. “I want you with me.” Kitty breathes out and Min Ho can swear the world stopped spinning.

“What do you mean, Covey?” He knows what it means. He just needs to hear it. He needs to know. He needs to hear it from her.

“I mean that…” she pauses, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath like the words will change everything forever, “I love you, Min Ho. Not just as a friend. I am madly, fully, desperately in love with you.”

Min Ho’s hands reach for her waist, pulling her closer and closer until her legs land on either side of him. His dark eyes have a clarity to them that makes her feel like she is slipping, drowning in them. She can’t look away.

“Katherine.” He tastes the name, and it sends electric shocks down her spine. “My Covey.” Never in her life did Kitty think she would be so lucky to hear him call her his. “I’m so damn in love with you, it’s not even funny. I love loving you. I love you. Only you, it's only ever been you.” Min Ho tells her and finally, she can see. The look he gives her - the one he’s always given her - it means I love you. The way he says her name, it means I love you. She had been so blind.

Kitty can’t stop herself, even if she wanted to, not when he leans his head into her touch and closes his eyes so blissfully happy. It’s a tender brush of her lips against his, at first. Then he pulls her closer. She doesn’t stop. She doesn’t want to stop. They lost too much time. The fuzzy memory of their first kiss couldn’t even compare.

Min Ho’s fingers play with her locks while he kisses her, every touch charged with years of buried emotions. Kitty is first to break the kiss as she presses their foreheads together. Min Ho’s gaze traces her face, rapidly flashing between her eyes and her lips.

“I can’t believe I left.” She murmurs. “I wish I knew you weren’t over me.”

“I thought it was obvious.” He says, brushing his lips over hers.

“How?” Kitty half-shouts before bursting into laughter.

Min Ho raises an eyebrow at her, in disbelief at her obliviousness. “We slept together, Covey, for fuck’s sake.”

“We were drunk.”

“You still remember the night, don’t you?” he points out, planting another kiss onto her lips.

Kitty nods through the kisses, adjusting herself even closer to him.

“Then we weren’t that drunk.” She shuts him up with a kiss because she hates that he is right. She can feel the smirk with her lips, feel it forming and melding into something more… loving. “But if you need a sober version of that night, I’m always available.” He breathes into her lips, and her heart somersaults in her ribs. Playfully, she swats at him, and he catches her hands, using them to pull her even closer to his body. Her legs wrap tightly around his waist as he picks her up, his hands firmly grasping her thighs. Min Ho carries her to her bed, laying her down into the soft covers and climbs on top of her.

“Min Ho.” Kitty gasps, his name like a prayer on her lips. “I want you.”

His heart threatens to burst out of his chest, melt him on the spot. “I’ve always been yours, Covey.”

Kitty wakes up first the next morning. She pushes her face deeper into Min Ho’s chest, hiding her wide grin at the fast thumping of his heart.

“Why are you still here, Covey?” The tone of his voice is taunting her. “Or was I that good this time that you just couldn’t leave?” If it had been anyone else, those words would seem like he was holding a grudge, but she knows Min Ho to his core. This was his way of showing love. And she loves every little part of him, too.

“Nah.” She stretches the word dramatically, her fingers tracing circles on his chest. “I was just so bored I fell asleep before I could run away.”

Min Ho’s hand falls on top of hers in pretend pain. “You wound my pride, Covey.” She giggles and he joins in.

Then, his voice softens. His fingers run through her hair, twirling it. “Seriously though, you have no idea how happy I am to see you.” She feels the vibration of his voice on her cheek, still unwilling to lift her head from the warmth of his skin.

Kitty tilts her head onto his biceps to look at him only to find him staring at her with pure adoration. “I wanted to do this two years ago too.” She confesses, closing the gap between them.

Min Ho chuckles. “You will be the death of me, love.”

“Never stop calling me that.” Min Ho had no plan to. Now that he finally had her, he was never letting her go.

Kitty Song Covey was his love.

Chapter Text

Moon Min Ho’s 21^st birthday

July 18^th, 2027

If four years ago, someone had told Min Ho that he would not only be in a relationship (just the concept of that would have been laughable) but be with his best friend (sorry, Dae), he would never have believed them. Add on that the fact that he now, somehow, had a family. To seventeen-year-old Min Ho, that was impossible.

He managed to reconnect with his father and his brother since Joon Ho’s tour, something he never thought would happen. And it wouldn’t have had he been there alone. But Kitty’s presence seemed to ease any tension that occurred with his family members. It was just who she was. It was one of the reasons he loved her.

His group of trusted friends had grown significantly in the last years, too. Another thing he had Kitty to thank for. Min Ho was perfectly fine in his little friend circle consisting of Dae and Q. Then she came in with her uncanny ability to make friends in the span of a minute and now, he was friends with his old bully, the girl he previously saw only as competition for the most popular person at school and multiple people he never would have given a second thought if it hadn’t been for Kitty.

Yet, the one part of his family that came most unexpectedly were the Coveys.

Min Ho didn’t do nervous before Kitty. It was hard to be nervous when you live in the moment and decide on impulse. But when Kitty excitedly invited him to join her in Portland for Christmas, Min Ho found himself frozen with anxiety. Sure, Kitty would be there with him and no one else mattered like she did, but it was his first time meeting most of what he hopes are his future in-laws.

But just like Kitty, all her family members had their own calming effect on him. Lara Jean and Peter were the ones to pick both them and Margot up from the airport, which Min Ho was eternally grateful for. It was much less stressful to meet the protective older sister while the other protective older sister was already in his corner.

Kitty never doubted that her family would adore Min Ho. Lara Jean and Peter had made it a point to bring up how thoughtful and caring he was in the family group chat at least ten times in the month between her birthday and Christmas, which surely conditioned her family to love him before they even met him. Trina gushed at every new story, especially the ones Lara Jean ended with ‘if that isn’t true love then true love doesn’t exist’. Those were the same stories that made Kitty laugh as she waited on Peter’s ‘excuse me?!?!’ response.

Margot and her dad, on the other hand, reserved judgement until Christmas. It was only after Margot pulled Kitty aside with a genuine smile and Dan patted his back in a way only a father can, that Min Ho realized he was a part of the family. Since then, he found himself smiling daily when his phone screen would light up with a notification. The Covey Fam Chat.

It was during her visit to Seoul for Seollal, as Kitty was nestled into his side on the sofa, his arm wrapped tenderly around her waist while they scrolled on their phones that they decided on their summer plans. Long distance had been a challenge, but it was significantly easier to be long distance when Min Ho could at any point decide he missed her too much and book the next flight to L.A. Luckily for her, Min Ho missed her unsurprisingly often, which meant that whenever he had even a little bit of time away from university, he spent it in L.A. with her. Those were her favorite weekends. Yet, she couldn’t stop herself from wishing she could have Min Ho every day.

That was why she had looked forward to summer so much. Just the two of them, travelling around the world. Sure, they had done a similar thing at Joon Ho’s tour but this time, it was their summer. She got to wake up in his arms, kiss him whenever she wanted, hold his hand as they walked through the cities. They didn’t need to follow anyone’s schedule or worry about anyone else. It was a summer only for the two of them.

Tracing circles on Min Ho’s chest, Kitty said. “I don’t want this summer to end.” It was the morning of their last day in Paris, and they had decided to use up all of the time they had in bed.

“We have almost two more months, love.” Min Ho’s voice was as soft as the touch of his fingers that grazed up and down her back.

“But I want more.” He laughed at her pouty lips as he leaned down to kiss them.

“You.” He said, pressing his finger to the top of her nose. “Are adorable.”

Before they got together, Kitty never thought Min Ho would be such a romantic, but she was proven wrong every day since.

“Is it so bad that I want to spend every day of my life with my boyfriend?”

“Yes.” The pout had crept its way back onto Kitty’s face as Min Ho pulled her up to face him. “Because one day, I want you to spend every day of your life with your husband.” Kitty could swear her heart had just exploded.

She had thought about it, many times. Imagined the future ahead of them. But they never really mentioned it until now. Not out loud, at least. It was there in the way she played with the rings on his fingers, in the way they danced at Lara Jean and Peter’s wedding, in the way he looked at her at Seollal while she bounced little Si-woo on her hips. But they never spoke it out loud.

His hands cupped her soft cheeks as he rested their foreheads together. “I will marry you, Covey, I promise you that.” The words sounded surreal, leaving her speechless in a second. Instead, she brushed her lips over his, capturing his promise. “I’ve never had a real family growing up, not like you did. I want that with you.”

Kitty knew exactly what she needed to do for his birthday. She will make sure Min Ho knows he has a real family.

It was luck that they had already planned to be spending the middle of July in the U.S., so it was very easy to reorganize the schedule just enough to be able to go to Portland. Lara Jean and Margot jumped in to help plan as soon as she told them, flooding her with messages filled with inspiration boards and travel plans. Margot was the one to come up with the decoy plan and Min Ho was fast to accept that they were going to Portland to meet Margot’s new boyfriend, Nicholas. Lara Jean and Peter arrived days before Kitty and Min Ho and made sure that everything was ready to be finished on the day.

Min Ho had always been a late riser when he was on vacation. Anyone who woke up early when they didn’t have to just enjoyed torturing themselves and Min Ho was not up for torture. He stretched his arm towards the left side of the bed, hoping for a Kitty, yet finding nothing. It wasn’t weird for Kitty, a morning bird, to get up before him, but in the context of the day, he found himself a little surprised. He had hoped to wake up on his birthday with her next to him. Getting up, Min Ho walked down the steps of the Covey house towards the sound of the laughter coming from the kitchen.

As soon as he rounded the corner, he was greeted by an explosion of colorful balloons and a banner that read, ‘Happy 21^st birthday!’. Warmth pooled in his chest as tears threatened to fall down his cheek at the sight.

During his childhood, Min Ho always had perfectly organized, expensively paid for parties. As much as his mother loved him, she never had the time to plan them herself, instead opting to hand over all the preparations to her assistants, nannies and chefs. Usually, that was who he celebrated with anyway. It was easy to feel alone as a child surrounded by near strangers and impersonal gifts. When he returned to Korea for school, he decided not to make a big deal out of his birthdays. He would rather it be unimportant than emotionless.

Then Kitty came around. His eighteenth birthday in Tokyo showed him what it meant to be loved in the way he loved. Losing Kitty had been especially hard the year after. The year when he made his birthday important but emotionless in an attempt to fill the hole she had left behind. The birthday that, ironically, only got better when he ended up crying in her arms on the streets of L.A. And then there was last year. He had to admit that being able to fall asleep with Kitty, even if they weren’t together yet was the best birthday present he could have gotten.

But this, this was something else. Kitty was running into his arms, congratulating him. Lara Jean was carrying one of her signature cakes with Margot right behind with plates. Trina was positioned in the corner of the room, searching for the absolute best angle for a photo while Dan, Peter and Nicholas all shot confetti cannons in his direction. It wasn’t extravagant or expensive, it was familial and filled with love. That was what made it special.

“Happy birthday!” They all shouted, coming in, one by one, to hug him. Min Ho had a hard time trying to imagine a better birthday. There was cake and music and balloons, but no matter how thoughtful – and genuinely tasty in case of the cake – that was, that wasn’t what made his birthday special. It was the people he considered family. Their laughter and singing and jokes and most importantly, Kitty. His Kitty.

Min Ho was sitting at the kitchen island, his gaze trained on the way Kitty swayed with Lara Jean in front of the sofa, when he felt a fatherly tap on his shoulder that he had become so familiar with in the last year.

“It’s not easy to keep up with Kitty’s energy, I don’t blame you for having to rest your feet.” Dan spoke, taking another piece of the cake.

“She is unstoppable.” He comments, unable to stop the smile that appears as Kitty attempts to – and fails miserably – do a pirouette. “I love it.”

“You’re good for her, son. She clearly loves you very much.” Min Ho knew Kitty’s family liked him, but it still filled him with immense pride to hear their approval.

He turned towards Dan, focusing his gaze at him and sitting up ever so slightly straighter. “I love her more than anything.” A smile from Dan gave away that he was not only aware of that fact but also believed it with his whole heart.

“I know I should tell you to keep her safe, but I genuinely think Kitty might kill both of us if she hears.” Min Ho let out a thunderous laugh. “So, I’ll just tell you to love her instead.”

“I have no plan to stop, I’m not sure I could if I tried.”

“Stop what?” Kitty asks breathlessly as she sneaks her arms around his shoulders.

Min Ho leans his face on her forearm, pressing a soft kiss into her skin. “You from dancing.”

“Then dance with me.” She says, turning the barstool around and stepping closer to him.

“Whatever my love wants, she gets.” The way Kitty’s eyes sparkle at the nickname makes him never want to stop saying it. Softly, he takes her hand, leading her back to the empty living room just as a familiar song starts.

Kitty sneaks her hands around his neck just like she did all those years ago at the Cherry Blossom Ball. This time Min Ho pulls her closer, his hands settling on the small of her back, removing all the space between them.

“You were so in love with me when we danced to this at the ball.” He teases through a smirk.

Softly huffing, Kitty replies. “I believe that was you.”

“Oh, I was desperately in love with you.” His warm breath on her cheek sends shivers down her spine. “That still doesn’t change my statement.”

“No, honey, I meant you were in love with yourself. The ego was so big I could barely breathe.” Min Ho’s hands on her waist threaten to tickle her and she giggles, moving just far enough out of his touch while still staying in his arms.

He twirls her around, giving himself barely enough space to gesture at his figure. “Have you seen me? Who wouldn’t be in love with me?”

“You know I’m actually disappointed I can’t say me right now?” He feigns surprise at her statement.

“Oh my god, Covey, are you actually in love with me?” Min Ho accentuates every word as if Kitty had just told him the most mind-blowing secret in the world.

“Madly.” Before she can even finish the sentence, he captures her lips in a tender kiss. “I was also most definitely in love with you then. It felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest when I saw you with Stella.”

“I know the feeling. My whole mind went blank when I saw Yuri kissing you.” Kitty’s face falls as he speaks, and she lays her head onto his chest. She couldn’t be surprised when he notices, he’s known her so well – at times better than she knows herself. “Covey.” He sneaks his fingers under her chin, lifting it up until her gaze catches his. “I don’t regret anything. Sure, I would have loved to have had more time with you instead of chasing each other around for years, but I have you now and I don’t ever plan to let you go.”

“I’m all yours, Min Ho.” It’s not like he usually needs a reason, but he surely can’t stop himself from kissing her when she makes such declarations.

Kitty smiles into his lips, her soft lips teasing him to continue. “Thank you, love, for all of this. You have no idea how much it means to me.”

“You can’t be a part of the Covey family without a Covey birthday.”

“How did I get this lucky?” Min Ho places the auburn lock behind her ear and Kitty leans into the touch. In this moment, Min Ho swears life can’t be any better.

Kitty’s lips brush over his earlobe with the faintest touch. “If this is lucky then I wonder what you’ll call yourself tonight.”

Min Ho can’t even be mad at her for proving him wrong.

Chapter Text

Epilogue

Moon Ji-an’s 1^st birthday

April 5^th, 2033

It was an inexplicable kind of feeling that grounded Min Ho as he looked around the room littered with bags of pink and orange décor.

Even on a regular day, their living room looked nothing like what Min Ho had been used to all his life. Of course, it wouldn’t truly be their living room if he hadn’t carefully picked pieces from his favorite designers for Kitty to critique their comfort and loud colors. Luckily, some of his furniture picks indeed survived the Great Kitty Decision Making and no matter how much he loves her, he will never admit that her choices were, in fact, more comfortable or better looking. He does have an image to uphold.

By far, his favorite part of their living room, however, is the gallery wall they filled up over the years. Growing up, galley wall meant priceless artwork, but to Min Ho, their gallery wall was even more priceless. His gaze traced over the photos, from the one of Kitty, Lara Jean, Margot and their mom, over the photo of him and Joon Ho at the playground with Si-woo, Do Yun and Ji-an. The two biggest photos on the wall were also his favorite.

The moment he first saw her - in that flowy white dress, her shiny auburn hair curled around her face, her arm wrapped around her dad’s as they walked towards him – is etched in his memory like it was yesterday. He loved this photo from their wedding. He had accidentally stepped on Kitty’s dress during their first dance, and she laughed in his arms as they tried to regain their balance. Min Ho always saw that picture as a perfect snapshot of their story. Stumbling along the way, but together.

The second photo, taken just a few months ago on their stroll through Yeouido Park with Joon Ho, Eun Ji and the kids. Photos like these were the reason he was glad Eun Ji had taken up photography in her pregnancies. He and Kitty were sitting on the grass next to the lake, Ji-an in his arms as Kitty tickled her. His fingers brush over the glass, unable to stop himself from smiling. His girls.

Min Ho can tell by the amount of flour strewn about that Kitty is in the kitchen with Lara Jean who is exasperatedly cleaning up around her. It was a surprisingly rare quiet moment in their house in the last two days with Kitty’s whole family visiting. Min Ho wasn’t sure if it was more shocking that only Kitty and Lara Jean were up so early or that all four of the toddlers were still asleep. Quietly, he wrapped his arms around Kitty’s shoulders, pressing his lips to her cheek.

“Good morning, love.” His voice is still hoarse from sleeping and Kitty just melts into his touch, resting her hands over his arms. “Morning, LJ.” He mumbles to his sister-in-law. “Where is everyone?”

Lara Jean scooped up the sugar on the counter before answering. “Margot took Peter and Nick on a supply run, dad and Trina are out with Young and the kids.” Now, that was a sentence Min Ho never thought he would hear. His father was unrecognizable since Si-woo was born, settling into a true grandfather role which only solidified after Joon Ho and Eun Ji had their second son. Despite the lack of his father in his own childhood, Min Ho was immensely grateful to see that his daughter wouldn’t miss her grandfather in her life.

With the cake batter in the oven, Lara Jean switched to cookies and Kitty joined him in the living room to set up all of the balloons. “This looks amazing, Covey.” Min Ho says, pointing at the balloons Kitty had already put up.

“Only the best for our baby girl.” Min Ho’s heart swells at her words. Even after seven years of being together, he could barely believe Kitty was his wife, let alone that they had the most perfect little girl.

He repeats the words slowly. “Our baby girl.” He pulls Kitty closer, until she’s standing between his legs and tenderly presses his face into her barely visible bump. “And our little one.” Kitty’s lips brush over his forehead, returning to her task.

Breaking the silence, she reminisces. “Do you remember the first birthday we spent together?”

Performatively, Min Ho shudders at the thought. “Don’t remind me of the day I lost all my coolness factor for good.”

“You mean the day you discovered you had a heart?” Kitty breathes out through a chuckle.

“More like the day my reputation died.” Pausing, he says. “Do you have any idea what happens with a person’s carefully built playboy reputation when they fall in love with the Portland Stalker?”

A glint of wonder appears in Kitty’s eyes. “That’s when you fell in love with me?” Her words are slow, as if trying to understand his confession.

“Technically,” Min Ho puts up his index finger in correction. “There wasn’t an exact moment when I fell in love with you. That was just the moment I realized I was fucked.”

“So, the whole time that Dae and I…” Kitty can’t even bear to finish the sentence, the implications too difficult on her heart.

“Was complete and utter torture.” Something about Min Ho’s tone calms her, making the situation seem so nonchalant. “Covey, I am fully aware that if it hadn’t been for Dae, we would have never met. I’ll take a few months of that torture over losing the life we made any day. It was hard, but losing you now, that I’d never recover from.”

Before he knew, Kitty pulls him into a hug, her cherry blossom scent engulfing him with warmth. “I’m not that easy to get rid of, you should know, you’ve definitely been testing me for the past decade.”

Min Ho laughs into her stomach, his hands tenderly lifting the hem of her shirt. “Your mommy thinks she can win this, doesn’t she?” The touch of his lips tickles and Kitty lets out one of his favorite sounds – a famed Kitty giggle.

“I won you, that’s enough for me.” Min Ho wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I can’t believe our baby girl is already one.” Kitty says, returning to tape the final balloon to the wall.

His fingers brushed through the shiny pink tassel décor as he set it up over the archway. “Don’t look at me, love, I still can’t believe you love me.”

A child's voice interrupted the moment from behind Joon Ho’s legs.

“Uncle Min Ho!” The boy runs across the living room, his little brother trailing a few steps behind.

Kitty could never have imagined just how incredible Min Ho would be with kids but seeing the way his nephews ran to him the second they saw him made her wonder how she could have ever doubted his love. Her husband was reserved and private, but once he cares, incredibly loyal and loving. The first person to drop everything and put his loved ones ahead of him. It was the way he loved and protected others that made her see him in a different light all those years ago.

As good of an uncle as he was to both Joon Ho and Eun Ji’s and Lara Jean and Peter’s kids, nothing prepared her for how wonderful Min Ho was going to be as a father. He was so doting and protective that she was sometimes worried their daughter would end up spoiled beyond any reason but then she would catch a moment of him and Ji-an that reassured her. Their daughter had the most amazing father, and with a dad like him, she was going to be perfectly fine.

The pile of children that had thrown themselves onto Min Ho only grew as the grandparents returned with the rest. Kitty bounces the birthday girl on her hip, her soft giggle echoing Kitty’s as they look at the chaos unfolding on the sofa. Saved at last second by Peter’s return, Min Ho was finally able to breathe again when the three youngest were scooped up by their father.

Kitty lets herself sink into the pillows next to him, turning all of Min Ho’s attention to their babbling toddler who is pointing her finger all over the room in recognition of each new shiny thing she spots.

Unlike on their usual days, their house is filled with children’s laughter and loud chatter and Min Ho has not yet gotten accustomed to the fact that not only did both of his parents find time to join them, but they also found themselves holding a conversation that – at least so far – hasn’t ended in a screaming match. Joon Ho, on the other hand is explaining the logistics of his concerts to Margot and Nick, while Eun Ji and Trina help Lara Jean finish the cake. If you looked at them, you’d find it impossible to imagine them not being a big, happy family. Min Ho blames it on the Covey effect.

It wasn’t just Kitty who had the surprising ability to fix any relationship, be it familial, platonic or romantic. It was her whole family. And somehow, despite technically being a Moon and being just one years old, Ji-an was the best at it. Since her birth, his father was around more than he was in the span of Min Ho’s entire childhood and his mother, suddenly, was able to take more time off from her career and visit Seoul on a regular basis. Joon Ho and Eun Ji were the greatest support as he and Kitty became parents, with them living so close and having small children themselves.

“I think we found our Moon-Covey birthday tradition.” Min Ho says, lifting Ji-an above his head. “Didn’t we, bunny?” The toddler giggles at her father’s words, her little hand reaching out to his face.

“Which is?” Kitty asks, her gaze trained on her two favorite people.

“Family. All of us together here.” Min Ho leans back into the sofa, Ji-an on his lap as he drapes his arm over his wife’s shoulders. “I never thought I could have something like this. Not just the four of us, but both of our families too. All in one place. All thanks to you, love.” The moment Min Ho presses a kiss to Kitty’s temple, as if on cue, the toddler babbles at him. “You too, bunny.”

Family. His family. Her family. Their family.