Growing up, Q wasn't the most social butterfly. Life in a family of doctors meant minimal interaction with his parents, and coming out had initially filled him with dread. To his immense relief, his parents were surprisingly supportive, even if they subtly nudged him towards a career in medicine. He politely ignored their suggestions. It was only after securing a sports scholarship at KISS that he realized this was what his wildest fantasies felt like in reality.

He might not harbour romantic feelings for Dae and Minho, but he would move mountains for his brothers. Their bond was unbreakable, forged in the crucible of shared experiences and unwavering loyalty. So, when Principal Lee announced that Kitty was unreachable, the world seemed to tilt on its axis.

Kitty unreachable? Did the earth start to rotate in the north?l?

Q shook violently, his body trembling uncontrollably as he sank to the ground. Jin was trying to speak to him, but his mind was racing like Usain Bolt, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling within him. All he could think about was the way Kitty had made his life so much better. Her infectious laughter, her quick wit, her unwavering support – these memories flashed before his eyes, a poignant reminder of the vibrant life she brought into their world. He had never been a smooth operator in the realm of romance, but Kitty's matchmaking attempts, while initially jarring, had left him profoundly impressed. She possessed an uncanny ability to read the room, to connect people with an almost magical touch.

Kitty was the first girl he had ever felt completely comfortable around, the closest thing to a sister he had ever known.

"Please tell me this is a cruel joke," he pleaded, his voice hoarse with fear.

Alex, sensing his distress, replied gently, "We initially suspected Stella might have harmed Kitty, so we didn't want to disturb either of you. However, Stella confirmed that she last saw Kitty heading towards the stands during the competition. Stella also mentioned that if anyone could offer any insight, it would be you, Dae, and Minho. You three were roommates with Kitty last semester, and Yuri and Juliana were close to her as well. Madison, Eunice, Minhee, and Praveena, confided in you all at various points. And while I understand the complexities of your past, Praveena, I know you played a crucial role in helping her solve some out-of-the-box quests." Praveena nodded, acknowledging his awareness of their clandestine "archive stunt."

Principal Lee stepped forward, his voice grave. "We believe something significant happened that caused Kitty to disappear. We have ruled out forcible abduction as CCTV footage shows her leaving the premises on foot. Did any of you have a serious disagreement with her? Any incident, however minor, might offer a crucial clue."

A heavy silence descended upon the group. Each student grappled with their memories, attempting to recall their last interactions with Kitty. Dae had encountered her briefly on the field and had then gone to the hospital. Madison and Eunice had been engrossed in their studies and hadn't seen her. Praveena had been spending time in the gardens and hadn't spoken to Kitty in weeks. Yuri had arrived directly from her house and had met Kitty at the stands along with Minhee. Q and Jin had spoken to Kitty about obtaining the cybercafé CCTV footage before heading to confront Stella.

Then, Jin's mind clicked into place, a chilling realization dawning on him. "Minho," he said, his voice sharp, "What did you mean earlier today when you said, 'If this is another attempt by Kitty to tarnish Stella's reputation'? Did Kitty say something to you? Before we came to you?"

All eyes turned to Minho, who had remained eerily silent throughout the conversation. Minho, the usually boisterous and expressive Minho, was a picture of stark contrast. His eyes were bloodshot, his face pale and drawn, a stark departure from his usual confident demeanour. Even when Stella's treachery had been exposed, he hadn't looked this broken. With Stella, it had been anger, a righteous fury. Now, it was something deeper, something more profound – fear.

Minho took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly. "I need to say something, but I need you both to listen to me as Mr. Lee, a friend of Eve Song, and Alex, the son of Mr. Lee," he said, addressing Principal Lee and Alex directly.

Alex understood the gravity of the situation and the unspoken request for confidentiality. Principal Lee, a man who had always held a soft spot for Eve Song's daughter, nodded in agreement.

Minho turned to the group, his gaze sweeping across their faces. "Last semester, when Kitty was leaving for good, she had just broken up with Dae and had been indirectly hurt by Yuri. I happened to be on the same flight to LA and, for reasons I still can't fully explain, I felt compelled to speak with her. I had started to appreciate Kitty's company and her unique perspective on life. I wanted to see her one last time, to tell her... well, I wanted to tell her how I felt." He paused, his voice catching. "I confessed my feelings for her."

A collective gasp escaped the group. "You... you what?" Yuri exclaimed, her jaw dropping.

Minho chuckled bitterly. "Yes, I know. Love and me? Who would have thought? But I confessed. I told her I loved her."

The room was abuzz with whispers, disbelief, and a touch of amusement.

"And how did she react?" Juilana asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

"She... she was polite," Minho said, his voice trailing off. "She said it was a lot to take in. Stupid thing to do, confessing to someone who was already heartbroken and realised she was bi." He shook his head, a wave of self-reproach washing over him. "I was mortified, utterly humiliated. I quickly retreated to my seat in first class and escaped the moment as soon as the plane landed."

"I didn't speak about it to anyone during the break," he continued, "neither to her, nor Dae and Q, but the incident haunted me. I realized how rash and impulsive my confession had been. I tried to move on, to put it behind me. And then I saw her again, with Q, after the break. Q and Dae knew she was coming back but hadn't told me as I was not exactly nice to Kitty around them. I was mortified, utterly mortified. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. Thankfully, she was surprisingly cool about it. She just wanted to clear the air, to assure me that it was okay."

"And then I started seeing Stella," he shuddered, the memory still vivid in his mind. "You all know how that relationship unfolded."

"This is where I made the worst mistake of my life," he confessed, his voice trembling. "I knew Kitty trusted me, but for some reason, I felt like she was constantly rubbing my confession in my face. I became insecure, consumed by jealousy and self-doubt. I started to rely on Stella, seeking solace in her company, escaping the constant reminders of my inadequacies."

"Yesterday, after the competition," he continued, his voice barely a whisper, "she met me under the stands and showed me a video of Stella auditioning for my father's show before Q and Jin showed me the CCTV footage from the cybercafé. I don't know what came over me. I was overwhelmed by a surge of emotions – anger, resentment, a deep-seated fear of rejection. I felt like Kitty was constantly meddling in my life, orchestrating events to her amusement. I accused her of ruining my life, of always interfering, of using my feelings to manipulate me, to validate her self-importance."

He paused, his eyes wide with horror with realisation. "I told her that because of her, Yuri and Juliana had broken up, Praveena had been betrayed, Dae and I had drifted apart, and now she was trying to sabotage my relationship with Stella. I lashed out at her, my words venomous and cruel. I saw her freeze, her face a mask of pain and disbelief. She asked me, her voice barely a whisper, 'Did I break your heart?' And then she turned and walked away."

He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence, the image of Kitty's retreating figure, her face etched with hurt and disappointment, seared into his memory. He had hurt her, deeply and irrevocably. And now, she was missing.

"I don't know what happened to her," he finally whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I don't know if I... if I pushed her away. I- "

He never completed his sentence. Before he could even register what was happening, a fist connected with his cheek, sending him reeling to the ground. He lay there for a moment, dazed, nursing the sting of the blow. When he finally looked up, his eyes met, the defiance that had initially flared within him quickly dissipated. What he saw chilled him to the bone.

It was the one person Minho should be really, really afraid of at that moment.