#min ho x kitty

[watsonsfelton]

Min Ho & Kitty in the XO, Kitty Season 2 Trailer. ♡

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

1x2 | 1x10

[bugboysgf]

Take A Hint

Summary: Min ho teases you because you can't take a hint

AN: I honestly didn't  really expect for people to like the last Min ho one but you guys did see here's another.

“Wake up” Kitty shakes you awake.

“Leave me alone.” you pull the covers up to hide your face.

“We have to go to the boys are making breakfast.”

“It's saturday.” you muffled under the covers.

“So what.” Kitty tries to think of an idea to make you go, then one pops into her head.

“You know…. Min ho is going to be there.” “I know.” you said like it was obvious. But you couldn't lie your heart did skip a beat when you heard Min ho’s name.

“And it's morning…. That means he definitely has a raspy morning voice.” Kitty teased. You pulled the cover off and looked at the Kitty.

“I like the way you think. I'm up.”

10 minutes later you found yourself walking to the boys dorms with Kitty.

“So what's going on between you two?” Kitty asked.

“Between who?” you tried to act clueless and hide a smile.

“You and Min ho, you've been spending a lot of time together”

“No we haven’t”

“Yes you guys have. Everytime i text you, you're always with Min ho.”

“I like him,” you confess, “but it's not going to work.” “You never know. It's obvious something is there.”

“That's the thing Kitty, there's something there because I feel something but because he does.”

“He does, you just dont see if because you are too busy getting flustered every time he looks at you.” “Not true” you defend yourself. Deep down you knew it was true. You tried to hide your feelings but as soon as he even looked your way, you became shy even, he started to notice.

“Just keep your cool.” Kitty said, knocking on the door. A few seconds later Q answered it.

“Breakfast isn't ready yet, Min ho is still cooking.” Q said as you and Kitty walked in.

“If you would’ve helped, maybe it would be ready by now.” Min Ho said. Kitty was right; he had the morning voice. The first thing you noticed when you looked at him was he had a shirt on with no sleeves and his biceps were on full display.

“Hi Min ho.” you smiled trying not to look at his arms.

“Hi, Good morning.” he smiled back. Q and kitty watch the interactions and look at each other. Kitty thought of another idea.

“Min ho. y/n is a good listener you can have her help.” Kitty said with a smirk. You look at Kitty with wide eyes.

“Good idea, come on.” you mouth to kitty “i'm going to kill you” before walking over to Min ho.

The whole time you were getting distracted when he would tell you what to do or help you your eyes would go straight to his veiny hands.

Meanwhile Q and Kitty were watching the whole interaction going on.

“What do you think about them?” Kitty asked Q trying to get his opinion.

“Not sure what one thing I do know is that she has a thing for him and his arms.

“What she does not.” Kitty defended you.

“Sure does.” Kitty looked at you for a minute trying to see if Q was right. She counted how many times you look at his arms in a minute.

“Oh my god she does.” Kitty looked at Q in shock. “We should do something to get Min ho to notice, because when he does he will tease her about it.” “Then he will figure out that she likes him. We are such a great team.” Q smiles. Q pretends to check his phone. “Shit.”

“What?” Min ho asked?

“I can't go to the gym, I forgot I have to tutor somebody.” Q lied.

“You don't even tutor people.” Min ho said, confused.

“I know but it's my friend and he really needs help.” Q looks at Kitty trying to get her to catch on. She gives an Oh look then speaks.

“Hey! y/n can go with you, she always wanted to go to the gym.”

“What i never-”

“For real?” Min ho looks at you smiling. You couldn't say no to him.

“Yep always have!” you put on a fake smile.

“Great, we can go after breakfast.”

An hour later you found yourself at a gym. You never work out in your life. Minho has changed shirt and now he is wearing a really tight shirt. You don't think you can handle this, but you have to he's your friends you can't think of him in that way.

You watch him as he grabs weights. You follow him as he walks over to his spot.

“God, it's hot in here,” he says.

“Maybe you take the shirt off.” you mumble a little loud then as expected.

“Huh?” he turns his head quickly to look at you.

“What?” you act clueless.

“You just told me to take off my shirt” he raised his eyebrows

“No, I said shoes.” you played it off. You watch as he grabs the hems on his shirt.

“What- what are you doing?” you look around to see if anybody is watching, but it's only two other people in there and  they are clearly not paying attention.

“I just said it was hot.” he shrugged and took the shirt off.

“God damn.” you whisper. You couldn't take your eyes off him.

“Eyes are up here.” you look at him, and play it off.

“I was looking at the floor.”

“Didn't know my body was on the floor.” He gets closer to you, you look at the ground trying to forget what just happened but you can't. Your mind is racing.  “Come on, look at me.” he teases. You don't look at him, you can't bring yourself too. He puts his fingers on your chin and makes you look at him.

You had no choice now, you couldn't break. You just couldn’t

“You think i don’t notice.” he says in a low voice.

“W- what are you talking about?”

“The way you look at me, you can't take your eyes off of me, especially my arms.”

“I don't do that.”

“Don't play princess.” you don’t say another word, he looks at you for a couple of seconds then goes back to working out. Like nothing just happened.

2 hours of him teasing you in the gym.

You are now back at his dorm, two of you are alone. He joins you on the couch and grabs the remote.

“Should we watch?”

“Can we watch spiderman?” “We always watch, we should watch something else.” he looks at you then puts his hand on your thigh. You stiffened up.

“What's wrong princess.”

“Nothing.” you tried to shake off the butterflies in your stomach. “Can we just watch the movie?”

“Fine whatever you say” The next few days were filled with you trying to avoid Min ho because every time you saw him, he either said something to tease you or did something.

“Ugh science is next.” kitty said, walking with you through the hallway.

“I know” you groaned. Suddenly Kitty stopped walking and her eyes went wide.

“Umm… we should go this way.” she said, quickly turning you around.

“What? Why?” you asked confused. You could only go to science one way.

“Um no reason.” she was clearly lying. You turned around to see what she was seeing and your eyes went straight to Min ho, he was smiling with a girl.

“Oh”

“I'm sorry y/n.” you didn't say anything else, you just looked at them. You had no choice; you had to walk past him to get to science.

“Let's just go, it's fine.” you walk past him and don't say anything but you can feel him look at you.

“y/n!” He speed walks behind you but you don't say anything. You keep walking. He walks faster to catch up to you. When he does, he puts his arm around your shoulder.

“What.”

“Chill, just wanted to see if you want to get ice cream after class together.”

“No thanks.” you brush off his offer. He looks at you in shock and you never say no.

“What about tomorrow?”

“How about never.”

—

You don’t speak to Minho for the rest of the week. At first he thought maybe you just had a bad day but he noticed that you stopped replying to text too.

“y/n!” you heard a voice as somebody knocked on the door. You close your laptop and get up to open the door. You open the door and see Min ho standing there.

“Yea no.” you roll your eyes and close the door but he grabs the door before you can shut the door all the way.”

“Can we talk?” he says walking into the dorm. You don't say anything, you just look at him crossing your arms. “Please”

He knew you couldn't say no to him if he said please “fine sit.” He sits on the couch next to you. He's got really close to you so you move away to the end of the couch.

“I don't get what's wrong with you.” he says.

“Nothing is wrong.” you hated opening up about your feelings, you didn't want to seem weak.

“Okay well it doesn't seem like anything, i asked kitty and she wouldn't tell me.”

“Why were you talking to madison?”

“Madison?” he asked, confused , he thought about the last time he talked to madison, then it clicked.

“Are you jealous because I was talking to madison.”

“No,” you said a little too quickly. You avoided eye contact with him.

“Oh my god you are.” he said with a smirk on his face.

“Ok well can you blame, you were teasing me and stuff and then you were smiling with her and her hand was on your arm.” you explained.

“I was teasing you because I was tired of you not taking a hint.”

“What are you talking about?”

“When you were busy day dreaming I heard kitty and Q talking, they were trying to set us up because you like me and apparently you have a thing for my arms.”

“I do not.”

“You do, I was watching you in the gym.” “Okay so, i can't control my eyes.” you tried to make up an excuse.

“So you dont like me.”

“Nope,” you said, shaking your head.

“So if I said I had feelings for you, what would you say?”

“It depends if you are telling me you have feelings for me.” you didn't want to say yes straight away because what if he was saying it just to say it. “See this what i mean.” he said getting a little annoyed

“Huh?”

“You can't take a hint, I just basically said I liked you and it flew right past your head.”

“Oh…ohhh” you stay silent for a second trying to process this. “Then… I like you too.” you smiled.

“Can I kiss you?” you didn't respond, you just pulled his shirt and kissed him.

“Yesss.” you heard a voice say. You turn around to see Kitty and Q looking at you guys from in the doorway. You saw Q roll his eyes and hand Kitty $20.

“You betted on us.” you asked shocked

“It was about time it happened.” Kitty shrugged.

[peeta-mellark]

XO, Kitty Will always love a good enemies to lovers

[wowconradfisher]

all of the girls you’ve loved before

pairing: min ho x reader

genre: slight angst, best friends to lovers, they are both so dense to each others feelings..

summary: being best friends with KISS’s resident “heart throb” is not for the weak. falling in love with him isn’t either, so what happens when the line between best friend and boyfriend becomes too blurred?

a/n: hi hello i am back from the dead. i’m convinced this acc is just gonna be a jenny han-iverse fic acc bc if not conrad then i’m writing about min ho. i have ended school so i hope i am more consistent with writing! feel free to send in requests + questions btw :D i hope u guys enjoy this silly fic that is also based off a taylor swift song hence the title!

Sitting outside of your best friend’s party that he throws every year was not something you thought you would be doing. You were convinced that this time was going to be different, and maybe just because you were seeing Min Ho in a different light, he would see you too. Here you still were, all dolled up but with no guts to walk into the party. You sighed, thinking about how pathetic you might be looking at the moment to anyone walking by. It was annoying in your opinion, just a month ago you couldn’t stand the thought of being with your best friend but now you’re starting to second guess and think more about the times you’ve spent together.

It was about 2 weeks ago when you and Min Ho, well more so you, started kind of overthinking the things you two would do together. You used to think that it was just regular best friend things you did, like talking about your past lovers and flings, laughing about all of the late nights you both have spent on your own having lame fights on the phone. But then you start thinking about the other nights, sneaking out past curfew and holding onto each other's hands in hopes of not getting caught. Or the way he would treat you the way he would never treat anyone else, allowing you to see his softer side, doing silly things like letting you do his skin care after he knows you’ve been crying in his bathroom about some dude that said “loved you” not knowing how carelessly he’s throwing out the words that mean so much to you. You see yourself doing the regular “best friend duties” like never saying bye to each other because you know you’ll be seeing each other again anyways, but you know it shouldn’t bother you when you see the new transfer student Madison write your best friend’s name in a heart all over her assignment. 

You shook yourself out of your daze and stood up, you knew it was wrong for you to be feeling this way about your best friend and there was no reason for you to start feeling this way now. Looking at your phone’s reflection to fix up your makeup, you took a deep breath and confidently made your way to the venue. Walking in and seeing a bunch of lights and loud music was expected, but tonight your goal was to forget about how you felt and let the universe tell you what to do. 

“Excuse me ma’am who let you out looking so good?” a voice spoke from behind you while tapping you on the shoulder.

You turned around and to your surprise it was one of your other close friends, “Q oh my gosh I haven’t seen you in like a week!” you exclaimed while pulling him into a hug, not failing to notice Florian behind him. Once you pulled away you waved at the other male who signaled to his flask, basically asking you if you wanted a shot. You grinned and suddenly all of your prayers had been answered and your night had begun. 

If you were being honest, you knew you weren’t a light weight. You always thought of yourself as someone who could just drink enough to not be a heavy weight and be at the perfect level of tipsy where you can feel the buzz. This is the point where you had to go out to the dance floor because of how free it made you feel, not a single care or worry in the world. That was until you felt someone tapping on your shoulder. You turned around to see a guy, a random one you have never seen before around KISS. You could admit he was a bit attractive but not as attractive as Min Ho. 

Looking up at the stranger you let out a forced smile, “Hi?” you spoke, but sounded more like a question

“Couldn’t help but notice a pretty girl dancing all by herself, you looking for someone to dance with?” the guy asked as he tried to put his hand on your waist. 

You backed away before you suddenly felt someone behind you put their hand around your waist, “Baby I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” a boy spoke with an accent you could recognize anywhere. Looking up, you let out a soft genuine smile at the sight of your best friend. 

Min Ho cleared his throat and saw the guy was still there, “Hey man I don’t know if you noticed but she’s my girl, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t hit on her,” 

The guy furrowed his brows at Min Ho before quickly realizing who he was, “Oh shit sorry man I didn’t know,” he quickly muttered out

“You’re lucky I didn’t have you kicked out. Now leave us alone, yeah?” Min Ho replied, shooing the other guy away. 

Once the guy was gone, Min Ho held onto your hand and led you to a more secluded area away from the party. He looked at you and caressed your cheek, “You okay Y/N?” he spoke softly

You looked up at your best friend and took in the way he looked at you. The way he looked at you made you feel so delicate, like you were the only person that mattered to him. You broke out of your daze and just nodded at him, “Thank you Min, I think it’s time for me to head out now though,” You spoke

Min Ho frowned, but it looked more like a pout to you, “But I just found you,” he spoke, “and we didn’t even get to dance yet,” 

You took his hand that was on your cheek and held it, “I know, I’m sorry I’m just not in the mood for it anymore,” you replied softly 

After hearing your response, it was like something in Min Ho clicked, causing him to hold your hand again, “Okay, let’s go then,” he spoke like it was no big deal

“Let’s go? What do you mean? Like you’re gonna just ditch your party?” You asked in disbelief

He nodded, “Uh yeah duh? Why would I stay at a party that my best friend doesn’t even want to be at?” 

There was that word again, it just keeps dangling over you and taunting you everytime you think you guys could be something more than just friends. Hearing his response just made you let out a small smile. Him pretending to be your boyfriend just lets you have a glimpse of what you weren’t but what you could be, truly it does break your heart but what can you really do about it.  After that night, he just dropped you off back at your dorms, you didn’t even have the energy to invite him in like how you guys usually do. It did feel awkward just leaving him but you needed this. Your heart needed it. 

You did feel bad for ghosting everyone. It had been a week since the party and you needed to shut down and take time for yourself to really think about what you wanted to do about your feelings for Min Ho. After being by yourself for a week and doing your work online, you felt like you really did learn a lot about yourself, and that in order to get over your feelings for your best friend, you had to accept that you had those feelings in the first place. 

During this week of you ghosting everyone, you weren’t the only one in question about their emotions. Min Ho to say the least has been snappier than ever to everyone. Most times, whenever you were around he would be at his nicest, you were someone who humbled him and brought him back to Earth but without you? He truly was something and someone you did not want to cross. The boy is a mess, he doesn’t know how long ago you guys haven’t talked for this long. Even if it was just a week, it felt like years. One thing Min Ho will do for you but never admit or do for anyone else is giving you space.

If he’s being honest with himself, he tried so incredibly hard not to fall for you or do anything that can potentially jeopardize his relationship with you but the moment he saw you at his party looking the way you did dancing on the dance floor, he knew he was done for. That’s why the whole week he has been so upset with himself for doing what he did that night, for calling you baby, for pretending to be your boyfriend, all of it, because now you weren’t even talking to him. It wasn’t until you texted him asking if he could come over where he finally felt the feeling of anxiousness leave his body.

Min Ho was standing at your door with a bouquet of your favorite flowers, debating on when to knock. That was until you beat him to it and just opened the door after hearing his shuffling from behind the door. Genuinely you were surprised, you didn't expect him to show up so fast, and with your favorite flowers too?

"Hi Min," you spoke with a smile before opening your door to let him in, "Come in please, you've been here countless of times so don't get shy on me now,"

He chuckled, taking off his shoes before stepping into your dorm, placing them among your other shoes and then following you to your room. Before sitting down, he handed you the flowers, "Here Y/N, I got you your favorites,"

"What's the occasion Min?" you asked taking the flowers and admiring them before placing them on your lap

"I just missed you that's all," he replied before sitting down next to you

You cleared your throat and started fiddling with your hands, "Min Ho I've been meaning to talk to you about this for a while," you spoke, "But if I'm honest I want to say I'm sorry for ghosting you for a week, I just needed time to figure out what I was feeling,"

Min Ho grabbed onto your hands and held them, preventing you from fiddling with your hands and causing you to look up at him, "It's okay Y/N, you know I would give you all the time in the world," he replied

Staring into his eyes, you knew you had to say it now or else you would never want to say it, "Min Ho, I'm in love with you," you said feeling so much lighter with that confession alone, "I think I always have been, but I wanted to be sure of it before I told you. I don't know when it exactly happened, but at one point the lines between being my best friend and wanting something more with you started to blur. So please tell me now if I'm just overthinking this whole thing and maybe I'm the only one who feels this way but-" you spoke before Min Ho leaned in to kiss you.

Your eyes widened in shock for a second before you closed your eyes finally kissing him back, melting into his touch and putting your hand onto his chest. If you could describe what the best thing that has happened to you, it would be this moment alone. The way your lips moved together in perfect synchronization, like you were both made for each other. Truly it could not compare to anything you've ever felt before.

Once you both pulled away, your forehead rested against Min Ho's, "You drive me crazy Y/N, I never even thought I had a chance with you but I'm so thankful all of our past romances led me here to you," he spoke

You smiled at his response, "So does that mean you love me too?"

"I love you more than words can describe, I mean I can show you in actions too?" He replied with a smirk

"Min Ho!" you gasped, playfully hitting his shoulder

He laughed at your reaction, "I'm kidding! I mean unless you were serious?"

You rolled your eyes playfully at the boy you were thankful to be in love with. At least this time you were sure this would be real.

[winnie-the-monster]

Kitty really out here paralleling her sister at every turn ❤️

[hershey-not-the-chocolate-maybe]

BRO kitty literally had chemistry with everyone BUT dae im sorry

[infinite-wanders]

[suzzie63]

Hugging series of Kitty and Minho

[amesscott]

XO, KITTY “TBH” (1x05) NEVER HAVE I EVER “... had a breakdown” (3x06)

[xoastro]

in desperate need of xo kitty fics… specifically min ho ones…

[watsonsfelton]

Colin’s dream about Penelope vs. Min Ho’s dream about Kitty Bridgerton 3.03 “Forces of Nature” | XO, Kitty 1.06 “BYOB”

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

MIN HO & KITTY - XO, Kitty: Season 2 

[bugboysgf]

Hate + Love

Chapter 3

series masterlist 

Previous chapter 

Summary: There is a thin line between love and hate but what if it's way thinner than you thought?

“Do you think that's his boyfriend?” Q asked.

“I don't think so,” Kitty said.

Right now you,Q, Kitty, and Min ho were sitting at the lunch table having lunch, you were too busy on your phone laughing to even hear what they were talking about.

“I don't see the problem, just ask if he is seeing anybody.” Min Ho said.

“If only it was that simple.” Q huffed. “What do you think y/n.”

You didn't respond, you were smiling at your phone not having a care in the world. Min ho thought it would be a good idea to throw a chip at you to get your attention.

“What the hell dickhead.” you glared at Min ho.

“Why do you keep smiling at your phone?” Min ho asked.

“Oh Derek was sending me pictures.”

“So what's going on between you?” Kitty asked

“Nothing really, he asked me on a date yesterday.”

“Wait what?” Minho looks at you in shock.

“You heard me.” “When's the date?” he asked.

“If you must know it's on saturday.”

“I'm so happy for you.” Kitty said.

—-

“I don't get it.” Min ho said to Q.

“Get what?” Q sat up on his bed.

“Why is y/n going on a date with Derek.” “I don't know. What's the problem with it anyway?” Q asked, confused.

“Why would she choose him, that's all.” Min ho wondered.

“Maybe because he gave her his number.” Q said like it was obvious. Minho just stared at the wall thinking. “Listen man if he bothers you that much just tell her.” “It doesn't bother me.” Min ho said a little too fast. “You're lying, it does.” “I don't understand why I care so much.”

“Maybe because you like her.”

“I will not stop saying that.” Min Ho said, clearly annoyed.

“There's obviously something there, if it does bother you.”

“It doesn't, I was just thinking.” Min ho defended himself, but deep down he had this feeling about you and he couldn't figure out what it was.

—

“Q come on, open the door.” you said knocking on the door. You heard footsteps so you stopped knocking on the door.

“What are you wa- wait are you crying?” Min Ho asked.

“No” you swiped your tears. “Where Q” you asked.

“He's not here, he's sleeping at his friend's dorm tonight. What's wrong.” Min Ho asked concerned.

“Nothing, I'm going to go.” you turned around but Min ho grabbed your hand pulling into the dorm. He shut the door and looked at you.

“Just tell me what's wrong, I'm not going to make fun of you or judge you.” all you did was look at him, you were not believing that. “Pinky swear.”

“I'm not five Min ho, can i just go, it's not a big deal.” you explain to him.

“If you're crying, it has to be a big deal,” he says.

“Okay…it's my necklace my dad gave me.” you open your hand and show it to him. “I broke, and i don't know what to do, it was the last thing he gave me and-”

“Slow down y/n, its okay”

“It's not,” you said in a weak voice. “I can't tell my mom, she's going to be so mad, and i dont have the money to fix it.” Min ho looks at you not knowing what to say, he's never had a girl cry in front of him.

“I'm sorry for putting this on you.” you apologize.

“I'll fix it.” Min Ho said.

“What?”

“Give it to me, I'll try to fix it.” you had no choice to hand it over to him, you didn't know what to do.

“I should go, it's past curfew.” you said.

“Stay here”

“Why?”

“I just want to make sure you are okay,” he says.

“What if I get caught?”

“Nobody is going to see you plus there's no class tomorrow. You can take my bed” he explains.

The next morning you woke up in his bed, then it hit you that you cried to Min ho last night about a necklace. You cringe at the fact that Min ho saw you cry. You get out of the bed and go into the kitchen and sit down.

“Good morning.” Min Ho says.

“What time is it?” you ask. “2pm”

“Oh my god, I have a date at 5.” “You have time,” he says. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box and hands it to you. You look at him confused but you open the box. In the box was your necklace that you gave him last night.

“Oh my god, you fixed it.” you smile. “How?”

“I went to a jewelry shop early in the morning.”

“How much was it? I will pay you back, I swear.” you tell him.

“Don't worry about it and I apologize.” “Apologize for what?” you asked him confused.

“Apologize for bumping into you at the airport.” “Who are you and what have you done with Min ho.” you joked.

“I'll take the apology back.” he smiles.

—

“I'm nervous.” you said to Kitty.” “Dont be you look good.” She says.

“He's supposed to be picking me up any minute now.” you tell her.

10 minutes go by and he doesn't text you saying he's going to be late. You text him ‘hey when are you going to be here?’ but you get no response.

Another 20 minutes go by and you finally get a message

From derek: Sorry but I can't do this, i dont think it's going to work out.

“What did he say?” kitty asked

“He says it's not going to work out.” you say quietly.

“Oh I'm so sorry y/n. He doesnt deserve you.” “Min ho was right, it had to be a dare.”

The next day you decided to not let it get to you. Kitty asked if you wanted to go to breakfast most of the time you skip breakfast but you were really hungry.

“What are your plans for today?” Kitty asked.

“Not sure.” you said. Kitty looks behind you and sees Derek walking towards you.

“Don’t freak out but Derek is walking this way.” “Oh my god.” you roll your eyes. He sits next to Kitty and gives you a look that's supposed to say ‘I'm sorry.’

“y/n-”

“Save it, I don't want it here,” you cut him off.

“y/n i really wanted to go but Min ho-” “Min ho? What does he have to do with it?” you cut him off once again.

“He threatened me, he said he would release a video of me. I can't let it get out it would look bad on my parents company.” he explained “So he threatened you to not go on a date with me?” “Yes and a lot of other guys.” “What the hell, why?” Kitty asked.

“I'm not sure but he doesn't want guys dating you.”

“This doesn't make any sense.” you said.

next part

[peeta-mellark]

Min Ho & Kitty Banter >>>

[mae-gi-writes]

01. the note under your desk | minho (xo kitty)

”it all started with a note under her desk.”

genre: mentions of suicide, professional swimmer athlete! Minho x marine biology student! Reader (Nina Shim)

Thanks for reading <3 @myahwritesss @sparkysparking101 @suzzie63 @upsidedownjill @lovely-hao @lupinette @seoli-16 @rory-cakes

——— masterlist | 01. DEAR K. | NEXT ———

Everything sucks.

From the university, to the students that inhabit its walls, to the dining hall food that has nothing but salt to make up for its lack of taste, to the annoying jocks that keep partying every night, to the girls who can’t stop gossiping about who got laid first—

Yes. Nina Shim is convinced that everything sucks indeed.

Opening her door to her shared apartment dormitory, she catches sight of the stale pan that has been sitting over the stove for over two weeks, despite her reminder to her roommate this morning that this should be gone by the time she gets back. Nina sighs, pushing off her boots in one swift, clumsy motion before staggering over to the small kitchen island that makes up most of the kitchen space, grocery bags in hand her backpack still slung over her one shoulder.

October is almost over in Toronto and people have been hyping up the idea of Halloween since last week. As Nina puts away her stuff in the fridge, she takes note of the scattered pumpkin-coloured paper streamed across the couch, the paper-mache ghosts in a stack on the coffee table. Her roommate, as depressed as she states she is, is gearing up quite nicely for Halloween. Too bad she can’t be as excited to clean up her own flat space. Nina has been granted all of that in her stead.

And it isn’t that Nina wants to complain. She’s not one to, has a pretty high tolerance level if she says so herself. But the thing is, it’s starting to get on her nerves. She might not be as outgoing, as carefree, as Hanni is, but that doesn’t mean that she needs to clean up after the latter like a mother would do for her children.

She has a life, even if that extends to merely hanging out in the University Aquarium lab and checking in on the goldfish every now and then.

Her phone rings in the silent stillness of her flat. Nina quickly fishes it out from her back pocket, pressing the green call button before placing it at her ear, “hello?”

“Nina!” Her mother’s voice is so warm on the other end of the line. So warm that it makes Nina’s eyes sting with tears, “how are you doing?”

“I’m okay,” she forces the words, glad that her mother can’t see her face, for she would’ve read right through her like an open book. Instead, she puts away the remaining biscuits in the cupboard above her head, “and you? How’s dad? He’s feeling better?”

“Oh you know how he is, always so stubborn,” her mother sighs, “he doesn’t want to take his medicine! And then when he falls even sicker he complains like a baby! Aiya, sometimes I wish he would just stop making my life so difficult—“

On and on she goes and that causes Nina’s mouth to twitch upwards into a smile. She misses her mother dearly, more than she will ever admit, and hearing everything that’s been happening back home makes her feel a little better about being far away despite it all.

“—but Nina, tell me, how has your roommate been? Still as dirty as always?” Her mother’s question brings her back to attention.

The girl leans against the kitchen counter, “she’s alright…just, yeah—not clean. But what else is new?”

“You should report her, you know. It’s a violation of your space and if you can't cope then--"

"Ma it's fine. Just--leave it."

"I'm just saying it would help."

"Anyway, how's dad doing?"

"Dad's been...he's been good."

"Going to his appointments I hope?" Nina asks while pulling out a glass from the drying rack.

"Yeah, it's tough for him. You know how much he hates it."

"Yeah I know."

"And you? We never get news, Nina. How's school? Do you go out with friends? You should--" she's grateful when she hears someone call her mother from the other end of the line and quickly fishes for an excuse, "oh it's okay mom, you can go. I'll catch up on homework anyway."

Her mother leaves the call with another apology, and when Nina cuts off the call and tosses her phone back onto the table, she lets out a prominent sigh. Looking up at the ceiling, she forces her eyes to stay dry, to not cry. Because crying means that she’s giving up.

She’s never felt so alone.

———

“I can’t fail.”

Minho’s seatmate and good friend going by the name of Q, just chuckles before looking down at his friend’s paper, “uh sorry bud, but I think you already did.”

“What happened to you?” His other friend Dae asks with furrowed eyebrows.

“I don’t know, man,” Minho musses up his hair and moans as if the world is about to end. Well, to him it is.

“Maybe you need a tutor,” Q suggests as the class slowly starts to file out of class.

“Or maybe Mrs. Chung hates me,” Minho says snarkily.

“Or maybe,” Dae’s hand falls onto his shoulder, “you need to get your head back in the game. You haven’t really been focused lately.”

“Yeah he’s got a point,” Q says, “anything you’d like to get off your chest?”

“Girl problems?”

“Family problems?”

“Love problems?”

“Oh shut up,” Minho rolls his eyes, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as the trio exit the lecture hall and file out into the main corridor where lingering students are waiting for the next class to begin.

“You know what’s your problem?” Dae suddenly says.

Minho looks at him with a raised brow.

“You’re skipping too many lectures.”

“Aha,” Q snaps his fingers, “now that, my friend, makes a lot of sense.”

“In my defense I have to—“

“Yes yes, we know, you have a rigorous swimming schedule,” Dae rolls his eyes, “but I think maybe it wouldn’t hurt to talk to Coach Choi about it. He might understand.”

“You mean, he’ll kill me,” mutters Minho sourly.

“Or maybe you need help from someone smart,” Q reasons, “why don’t you ask uhm—what’s her name again? The girl who’s always sitting in the front row by the right corner?”

“Ah Kimberley Chen? Yeah she’s hella smart. I’m sure she can help you,” Dae says.

While it sounds like a good idea, Minho’s pride cannot take it. Him? Asking for anything from anyone? He’d rather eat chicken feet, and god knows he hates that stuff.

Though…that doesn’t mean he can’t ask her in secret.

So that’s what he decides to do a few days after their small discussion. He stalks her social media accounts with no success. Apparently, this Kimberley Chen character doesn’t want any distractions from the digital world, hence her lack of presence on Facebook or Instagram.

Minho had no other choice than to stalk her in-between classes. Finding out where this famous Kimberley Chen sits is an easy feat considering that she’s a creature of habit. Having gathered some information on her beforehand, Minho had found out that she’s actually in the block right after his lectures, meaning that he has full chance of getting his personalized note to her.

He waits for the right moment. As soon as the bell rings to dismiss class, Minho quietly sneaks between the rows of desks before smoothly slipping in the note in the shelf right underneath. Then, assuring that no one has spotted him doing such a thing, quickly walks out with his head held high.

He should probably mentally remind himself to check that said desk during their next lecture.

———

“There’s a study group happening in the library. You coming?”

Nina shrugs at her seatmate, knowing full well that it doesn’t matter whether she comes or not. The girl had just been asking out of politeness.

Honestly, her days at university had proven to her that it was almost impossible to make friends on her own. That, or maybe she had just been destined to be alone.

It hadn’t been the case in high school. Nina remembered the happiness, the excitement about attending events with her friends.

Now, she barely had any energy to get out of her house.

“Okay well, if you wanna come, it’s at three thirty,” the girl whose name she doesn’t remember gives her a quick wave of her glossy nail-polished fingers, “bye!”

“Bye,” Nina mumbles to no one in particular. She lets out a soft breath, waiting for the rest of the seats to empty out, before quickly gathering her stuff from her shelf underneath.

It’s as she’s packing up her books that a note falls from her stack. Curious, Nina reaches down to pick it up, turning the plain white letter over. No name. Weird.

Was it money?

Would it be rude of her to check?

It isn’t addressed to anyone, meaning that Nina isn’t practically breaking any boundaries by doing so.

Maybe it belongs to someone. Someone important.

She lets her curiosity get the better of her, breaking off the sealed tip and opening up the page as her eyes scan the contents:

Dear K,

My name is Minho. You’ve probably heard of me. After all, I’m on the professional athletics team. I’m writing you this to ask you for your services. I heard that you’re the top student in class. Well, since I am failing Mrs. Chung’s class, I would really like some help with some additional notes or some studying sessions. You will be rewarded for this.

Let me know if you’re down for it. Cheers.

Minho

Whoever this Minho guy is sure has some great nerve. Nina wonders who in the world would have such a big ego to write such a thing. It sounds almost too absurd to be true.

Wait…Minho. The name somehow sounds familiar…

Or not.

She crumples it up in growing annoyance and is about to throw it away, when she thinks better of it and slowly un-crumples the note.

Maybe she should answer back. Teach him a lesson. And what is this about “You will be rewarded for this”?

Uncapping a pen and flipping the paper over, Nina bends over the table and starts scribbling down her response. Satisfied, she then folds it back into its letter and places it under the desk.

Reward, my ass.

———