𓍯21𓂃

Dove's

Back in our dorm, I sit cross-legged on the couch, tossing a small stress ball in the air while Megan lounges on hers, scrolling through her phone.

"So," I start, catching the ball and looking at her. "I told Dae about me and Minho being on good terms now."

Megan barely reacts, still focused on her screen. "Mmhmm."

"And he smiled about it."

That gets her attention. She pauses, eyes flicking up to me. "Wait. He what?"

I nod. "Smiled. Said it was fine. Even told me he's happy that I can finally enjoy life at KISS without all the stress."

Megan blinks. "Are we talking about the same, Dae? Korean, cute, insanely smart, and fought Minho in broad daylight?"

I snort. "Yes, that Dae."

She squints at me like I'm lying. "And he didn't look even a little upset?"

I shake my head. "Not even a little."

Megan sets her phone down and sits up. "Okay, wow. I was fully prepared for a whole thing. Maybe some dramatic silence, a sad nod, at least an 'oh' with emotional depth."

I laugh. "Same! But nope. He just smiled and told me he was happy for me."

Megan whistles. "Dae's really out here being emotionally mature. Good for him."

I lean back against my pillows, staring at the ceiling. "Yeah. I think... I really needed that."

She smiles knowingly. "Well, I'm glad it went well. But now the real question is-" she leans in slightly, wiggling her brows-"what's going on between you and Minho?"

I grab my pillow and launch it at her. Megan yelps, laughing as she dodges.

"That's not the point of this conversation!" I protest, but my face is warm, and Megan definitely notices.

"Oh, I so hit a nerve," she teases, picking up her pillow like she's ready for battle. "You like him again, don't you?"

I groan, stuffing my face into my blankets. "Megan, please."

Her laughter fills the room, and even as I pretend to be annoyed, I can't help but smile. Maybe things really are getting simpler.

Just as I'm thinking life might actually be getting simpler, our door slams open with zero warning.

Megan and I both jolt in surprise as Hyejin storms in, looking wild-hair slightly messy, eyes wide, like she just witnessed something catastrophic.

"I KISSED KITTY!" she announces, breathless.

The room goes dead silent.

Megan and I just stared at her, trying to process the words that just shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

Then, after a dramatic pause, Hyejin throws her hands in the air and exclaims-

"AND I LIKED IT!"

But instead of excitement, her voice is filled with horror. Absolute, soul-crushing horror.

Megan's jaw drops. I blink rapidly, trying to make sure I actually heard her right.

"You what?" I manage.

"I liked it!" Hyejin repeats, pacing the room like she's in a full-on existential crisis. "I kissed Kitty, and I liked it! What does this mean?! Am I dying?! Is this an identity crisis?! Do I have to move to another country now?!"

Megan finally regains control of her voice. "Okay, first of all, breathe, because you're about three seconds away from passing out."

Hyejin stops mid-pace, placing a dramatic hand over her chest. "What am I supposed to do?"

I exchange a look with Megan, who looks like she's thriving off this chaos. Then, carefully, I ask, "Did she like it?"

Hyejin lets out a strangled noise. "I-I don't know! She didn't run away screaming, which is a sign, right?!"

Megan claps her hands together. "Oh, this is delicious."

Hyejin glares at her. "THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!"

I sigh, rubbing my temples. Life was simple for exactly ten seconds.

"Okay," I say, standing up. "We're going to fix this. But first, sit down before you combust."

Hyejin groans, flopping dramatically onto Megan's bed.

Megan grins, already reaching for popcorn. "Oh, this is way better than anything I had planned tonight."

Hyejin sits up suddenly, her hands gripping the blanket like it's the only thing keeping her tethered to this world.

"I'M CHRISTIAN!" she exclaims, as if she just remembered mid-crisis.

Megan nearly chokes on air. "Okay?!"

"I-this-" Hyejin gestures wildly. "I never thought about kissing girls before! And then I did! And now I liked it! What does that mean?!"

I sit down beside her, trying to keep my voice calm. "It just means you liked it, Hyejin. It doesn't have to mean anything huge right now."

"But I never-I mean, I thought I liked boys!" She looks at us desperately. "I like boys, right?"

Megan hums, tapping her chin. "Liking girls doesn't cancel out liking boys, you know. Bisexuality exists."

Hyejin lets out a deep groan, flopping onto her back. "Oh my God."

I glance at Megan, who is clearly loving this drama. "Can you be useful for once?"

Megan holds up her hands in defence. "What? I am! This is character development happening in real-time!"

Hyejin groans again. "I kissed Kitty, and I liked it," she repeats, her hands covering her face. "And now I have to live with that knowledge."

I pat her shoulder gently. "It's okay. We'll figure this out together."

She peeks at me from between her fingers. "How?"

Megan smirks. "Step one: Do it again and see if you still like it."

Hyejin grabs the nearest pillow and hurls it at her face.

The next morning, on our way to school, Hyejin walks in between Megan and me, hunched down like she's trying to make herself as small as possible. Every time someone remotely Kitty-shaped appears in the distance, she yanks at my sleeve and ducks even lower.

"Do you have to be this dramatic?" I whisper as we make our way through the courtyard.

"Yes," Hyejin hisses. "Because she's everywhere! What if she knows? What if she brings it up? What if-" She gasps suddenly, clutching my arm. "Is that her?"

I glance up. It is not Kitty. It's a random freshman.

Megan sighs. "You need help."

"Shut up," Hyejin grumbles, still using us as human shields.

Before I can say anything else, a familiar voice interrupts-

"What's going on here?"

We turn to see Dae approaching, looking mildly concerned. His eyes flick between the three of us, clearly sensing the chaos energy radiating off Hyejin.

Before Hyejin can even attempt a lie, Megan grins way too mischievously and announces-

"Hyejin kissed Kitty, and now she's in crisis mode."

Hyejin gasps in betrayal. "MEGAN!"

Dae's eyebrows shoot way up. "You what?"

Hyejin lets out a strangled noise and buries her face in her hands. "I hate you."

Meanwhile, I don't even think before I smack Megan's back. Hard.

"Ow!" Megan exclaims, rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"

I glare at her. "For being the absolute worst!"

"You didn't have to assault me!" she protests, pouting.

Dae, still processing, blinks between us. "Wait, back up. You kissed Kitty?"

Hyejin groans dramatically. "I don't want to talk about it!"

Megan smirks, still rubbing her back. "That's not what you were saying last night-"

Hyejin reaches for her again, but I quickly grab her wrist before we cause a scene.

Dae shakes his head in disbelief. "This school is insane."

"Tell me about it," Hyejin mutters.

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😳 new couple in the works, maybe?

I honestly love Dove, Megan, and Hyejin's friendship so much 😭