Chapter 11.
2. Dela Cruz
“Hey, Kit. You’re here again? What can I get you today?”
As soon as Kitty entered the Black Prince, Hannah greeted her. Maybe because it was still early, the bar felt more empty than usual.
“I’m not here to drink.”
“Then what are you doing in a bar?”
Kitty slumped onto the seat in front of Hannah, who was polishing a glass, and lifted her sunglasses. Hannah was the only person she could talk to about Percy. At least for now.
“Does that guy not come here anymore?”
“What guy?”
“The one you said looks like a movie star.”
“Oh! That handsome guy?”
Remembering Percy, Hannah’s eyes sparkled instantly.
“Nope. Haven’t seen him since that day. At least not that I remember. If he had come, I’d definitely remember. Why, did it not work out between you two?”
“Something even more shocking happened.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That guy—his name’s Percy. And… well…”
Hannah stopped wiping the glass.
“Well what?”
“He’s insanely good at kissing.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Hannah let out a gasp of awe, then burst into laughter.
“Kitty! Honestly, what did you expect? You think women would just leave a guy like that alone? Of course he has experience.”
“That’s what’s shocking.”
“What about it?”
“I thought Percy was just… a straight-laced guy.”
“Better that than him being a total dud, isn’t it?”
Something felt strange. That night, Percy had overwhelmed her with a single kiss. Was it because he had so much experience? One thing was certain—Percy was the first man she’d met who kissed that well.
And yet, there was something odd about it.
It wasn’t their first time kissing.
If she counted, it was actually the third. She barely remembered the first—everything had been chaos back then.
From what Kitty remembered, Percy wasn’t particularly good at kissing.
No, unenthusiastic described him better.
On their wedding day, they kissed in front of everyone. Even then, Percy only pretended to kiss her, barely touching her lips at all.
So Kitty had assumed he was hopeless at it.
But that was wrong.
“Maybe Percy really likes me.”
Otherwise, nothing that happened that night made any sense. Absolutely nothing.
“So how far did you two go?” Hannah asked.
“You’ve seen me go that far on a first date before?”
“Percy’s different! He’s hot, tall, and looks loaded—”
He said he was unemployed, though.
“He’s nothing like the losers you’ve dated. You strike while the iron’s hot. Isn’t that obvious?”
“I don’t know. Whatever happens, happens.”
Kitty brushed it off—she didn’t want to explain.
Hannah spoke with great pride.
“Kitty, I knew this day would come. I always believed you’d snag a decent man eventually.”
Kitty only smiled.
Hannah would never know that Kitty once married that man. And Kitty had no intention of ever telling her.
More importantly, Kitty had zero intention of starting over with Percy. Spending time with him, sharing that intense kiss—it all stemmed from lingering guilt.
That’s what she told herself.
But the more she tried not to think about that night, the more her mind returned to it. To the moment Percy kissed her like he meant it.
A side of him he had never shown Greta. Seeing that changed how she saw him.
But this is a relationship that already failed.
There could be no happy ending. From the very start, Kitty had lied about her name and identity. She intended to keep lying if necessary.
And from the moment Greta left Percy without a word, their relationship crossed a point of no return.
In this situation, opening her heart to him was unthinkable.
Ding. The bell over the door rang.
Kitty, who had been thinking about Percy, felt her heart plummet. She looked back quickly—and saw a familiar man standing by the door.
“Miss Summers!”
It was Jerome Sanders—Kitty’s manager. He looked like he’d been running all over town; his hair was stuck to his forehead with sweat.
“I should’ve checked here first! Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”
“Hey, Jerome.”
Not bothered at all, Kitty smiled sweetly and waved.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s going on? We need to re-check your wardrobe and stage setup for tonight!”
“Calm down, Jerome. I was about to leave anyway.”
“Well, either way, I have to take you right now.”
He beckoned urgently.
“You heard her, Hannah. I’ve gotta go.”
Kitty stood up. Hannah snickered at the sight of her being nagged.
“Sure. Take care. And don’t scold Kitty too much, Jerry.”
“What authority do I have to scold her? I’m just the manager,” he grumbled, already opening the door politely for her.
Soon, they were seated in Jerome’s car. Kitty’s seat was always the right-side back seat.
“Took you long to find me?”
“An hour, at least. Thanks to your multiple hideouts. I never know where you’ll disappear to.”
“I’ve been coming to the Black Prince a lot lately. I’ll let you know next time, just in case.”
“Yes, please…”
The car rolled forward slowly. Although only a few years had passed since the war ended, the Empire had regained its peace astonishingly fast.
Watching the quiet city through the window, Kitty suddenly asked:
“Hey, Jerome.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think love means to a man?”
“…What?”
He frowned at the out-of-nowhere question.
“Kitty, did something happen while I wasn’t around?”
“No. Just asking.”
“Something did happen. Who did you meet this time? I keep telling you not to meet random—”
“There’s really nothing going on.”
Jerome clearly didn’t believe her.
“I mean it.”
“Alright. Tell me the story first. Listening is part of my job.”
It was over between her and Percy. Kitty tried not to think about him anymore, but she couldn’t.
Because something didn’t add up.
Why did he…
“Do you think it’s possible for strangers to feel… that kind of passion right away?”
“There’s nothing impossible in this world. Least of all the human heart. It defies logic.”
He turned the wheel smoothly, and Kitty’s body swayed with the movement.
“What, did he recite a thousand-year-old poem of eternal love?”
“We didn’t know each other at all…”
At least, Percy didn’t.
Kitty knew him better than anyone.
“…He bought me a drink. Then took me to a nice restaurant.”
“That’s ordinary enough.”
“Then out of nowhere… he told me he loved me. That’s not all—”
He kissed her like someone who had been waiting his whole life.
Kitty never knew Percy had that side to him.
As her adjutant, as her husband—Percy had always seemed far from words like passion or desire.
He was a passionate pilot, yes. But in personal matters, he shrank back immediately.
Like he’d never even imagined such things. Or… like he was hiding something.
When the others bragged about girls, Percy would say nothing. They even gave him the nickname “the Monk.”
Kitty disliked nickname culture, but she had to admit—it suited him.
A man so removed from desire that he seemed interested only in duty.
And yet… that night, he was a stranger.
What happened to him?
Why Kitty? Why her?
“…He acted like he’d been waiting for me.”
“Oh, that explains everything.”
Jerome snorted.
“Kitty. He already knew who you were. He was watching you from afar. That happens with singers and actors—you become someone’s secret crush without knowing.”
“That’s… possible?”
“Why else would he react that intensely? Forget it. Just assume he’s an overly passionate fan. Don’t give meaning to something that doesn’t deserve meaning.”
“…”
Jerome might be right. Kitty was a beloved singer. Anyone she met could easily know her already.
Was that Percy’s taste in music?
She didn’t know. He never talked about his preferences.
What was the point of thinking about it?
Kitty shook her head, brushing away the thoughts.
Their story was already over. A relationship that ended badly doesn’t get rewritten.
