HIRAETH | Minho XO, Kitty

CHAPTER TWO

"Kitty! Hold on! Where are you going?" I call out, chasing after her down the hallway until she finally slows down. Catching up, I drape an arm gently over her shoulder. "I may not know every detail of your relationship with Dae, but I do know that nobody doesn't deserve any more of your tears."

I really don't know why I just chased after this girl I just met, but here I am. The details of their relationship, exactly what happened with Yuri, I'm not sure of. But if I'm already here, I'll try to help her out and maybe find out what happened.

Footsteps echo behind us, and Kitty whirls around, assuming the worst. "Dae, I don't want to talk to you. Just leave me—" Her words cut off as we turn to find a stranger instead.

It's a teacher here I haven't seen before. "Sorry," he says, raising a hand and gesturing ahead. "Just looking for the loo. I'm Alex Finnerty from Melbourne, Australia. I'm a new teacher this year."

His youthful demeanor and friendly tone make me think I'd enjoy his classes. For a moment, I consider mentioning that I lived in Melbourne for a short while, but it doesn't feel like the right time.

Kitty tilts her head, frowning. "Why are you not Dae?"

The teacher looks confused. "You mean the guy you don't want to talk to?" He pauses, glancing between us. His tone softens. "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"Never mind." Kitty steps forward, clearly eager to move on, but Mr. Finnerty stops her with another question.

"You're American, right?"

"Yes."

"I admire you Americans. You speak louder than everyone else—am I right?" His gaze shifts to me, probably catching my accent from earlier.

I can't help but laugh a little. "Yeah," I say, smiling and shaking my head. "I'm Wonyoung Cha, by the way. From New Zealand." I add it quickly, noticing Kitty's impatience to leave.

"Forget this," Kitty declares, gripping my forearm and pulling me toward the glowing lights of the welcome party. "I'm going back in there, and I'm not leaving without answers."

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The fluorescent pinks and blues wash over us as we enter the room. Kitty's determined, scanning the space for Quincy and Minho, two people who still don't yet know who she is. As much as I like Kitty, part of me aches to reconnect with long-time friends. I haven't seen them in forever, and this might be my only chance tonight.

I spot Minho first, lounging in the center of the room with Quincy. His face lights up when he sees me. "Not gone for long, were you?"

"Now's not the time, Minho," I say, rolling my eyes. His teasing grin fades as he notices Kitty. "She's here to find Dae," I explain, keeping things straightforward.

Quincy, oblivious, blurts out, "Okay, who are you?" I resist the urge to facepalm. It's as though Kitty hadn't introduced herself to you just moments ago, right in front of them, no more than ten minutes ago.

"I'm Kitty Song Covey!"

Minho and Quincy's mouths drop open in perfect sync. "You're Kitty?" Quincy manages to stammer out, his voice laden with shock. It's as if they've been synchronized, their gazes traveling up and down Kitty in unison, taking in the unexpected revelation.

"Wait, are you Q?" Kitty's words are laced with both confusion and surprise. "Track star, fellow American, heart of gold?" she continues, as if piecing together a puzzle.

Quincy smiles. "Guilty as charged. I feel like we should hug right now. Should we hug?"

"Maybe later. I need to find Dae."

Minho's voice cuts in. "So, you're the pen pal?"

Kitty nods, her enthusiasm dimming. "And you must be Minho. Wait, hold on. You must be Wonnie, then!" Her tone shifts sharply. "Where's Dae?"

I scan the room, spotting him near the left-center, standing next to Yuri. "Over there," I say, pointing him out.

Without hesitation, Kitty storms off, her focus locked.

Minho watches her go, his expression skeptical. "Why are you helping the pen pal? Isn't Dae our friend?"

"I don't know whose side I'm on," I admit. "I just know Kitty's hurting, and I want her and Dae to work this out."

Before Quincy can respond, a collective gasp ripples through the crowd. We spin around to see Kitty sprawled across a toppled cupcake tower. "What? Never seen a girl crash into dessert before?" she jokes weakly, trying to laugh it off. But when she tries to stand, she stumbles and lands back in the mound of orange frosting. "Fine. Maybe there is something to see."

Dae rushes to her side, concern written all over his face, but she shoves him away. "Get away from me," she snaps, cold and distant. She stalks off, leaving a tense silence in her wake.

I move to follow her, but Minho grabs my wrist. "What happened to catching me up on what I missed?" he asks, his eyes searching mine.

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While the evening went on, I didn't enjoy the party itself, but rather getting to be around my friends again. It was like a breath a fresh hair getting to reconnect with Quincy and Minho, and this time, isn't wasn't though an electronic screen. Their laughter, mannerisms, and even our bickering at times were all the things I missed.

But I know, all good things must come to an end. The call to return to the dorms became imminent and it's about time I told them the dorm situation. I try to lighten the mood with a light-hearted laugh, breaking the news. "Just so you know, I've been assigned to the boys' dorms. I talked to the advisor, but there's nothing else to be done."

The look of shock on their faces is priceless.

Minho's initial surprise morphed into a subtle expression of unease. I watch as his eyebrow furrow as he asks, "Do you know who you're sharing the dorm with?" There's a touch of jealous concealed beneath his curiosity. The thought of me living in the boys' dorms was clearly something he didn't think of, especially if he wasn't going to be one of your roommates.

"Relax," I reassure him with a grin. "I think I can handle a few men."

When I unlock my dorm room, the boys follow me in, stopping dead in their tracks.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" I ask, confused by their stunned expressions.

"Wonyoung, that's our dorm too."

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