Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 2: Not So Typical School Day

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Narae's second class of the day was chemistry, conveniently located just down the hall from homeroom. She slipped into the room, her feet carrying her to her usual spot near the back. The classroom had a faint scent of chemical cleaners, mingling with the distinct odor of chalk dust and faint traces of sulfur from past experiments. The overhead lights buzzed softly, casting a sterile, white glow over the rows of lab benches and equipment. Narae found the ambiance oddly calming.

Jaemin was already there, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he flipped through the thick chemistry textbook, his expression one of mild concentration. Jaemin was one of the few people Narae could consider a friend, not because they shared deep conversations or hung out after school, but because he understood the value of silence. They often sat next to each other in a comfortable quiet, a shared unspoken agreement to mind their own business.

"Narae," Jaemin greeted, glancing up briefly as she settled into the seat beside him.

"Hey," Narae replied, pulling out her notebook and arranging her pens in a neat row, their metallic clips reflecting the overhead light.

Class began, and Narae let the teacher's words wash over her, jotting down notes and underlining key terms. Her mind drifted in and out of the lecture on molecular bonding, but she kept herself focused by sketching small doodles in the margins of her notebook. Jaemin occasionally leaned over to share a wry comment about the teacher's monotone voice or the impossibly complex diagrams, making Narae smile. His dry humor was one of the reasons she enjoyed sitting next to him.

During a particularly tedious explanation of covalent bonds, Jaemin leaned closer, whispering, "If we survive this class without falling asleep, we should reward ourselves with something from the vending machine."

Narae chuckled softly. "I'm holding out for the end of the day. I'm aiming for one of those chocolate chip cookies they sell at the cafe. Way better reward."

Jaemin grinned. "You've got a point. Maybe I'll save my change for that too."

The class continued without incident, Jaemin's lighthearted remarks helping Narae stay engaged. They worked through the exercises in their textbook, occasionally comparing answers and making small talk. Narae enjoyed these moments—they were simple and uncomplicated, and Jaemin never pressured her to talk more than she wanted to. Even their silence felt like a conversation.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Narae packed her things quickly. She gave Jaemin a small smile, a silent thank-you for the normalcy he provided, and headed to her next class: history with Jeno.

Jeno was another one of those people who existed on the fringes of her world. They weren't close, but he had a friendly demeanor that made him easy to talk to when they were paired up for projects. Narae took her seat a few rows behind him, watching as he chatted animatedly with another classmate, Haechan's name mentioned once or twice, though she couldn't catch the context. Jeno laughed at something his friend said, his voice light and unconcerned. There was no malice in his conversation, just the typical high school banter, but Narae still felt a small knot form in her stomach.

The history teacher started the lesson, droning on about ancient civilizations and trade routes, but Narae's thoughts wandered. She doodled in the margins of her notebook, sketching abstract patterns and lines. As the teacher's voice droned on, she began to think about what Jaemin had said earlier. Their conversations were usually so mundane, and yet they had a way of making her feel grounded, as if she had a small corner of the world that was stable and predictable.

"Hey, Narae," Jeno whispered over his shoulder during a quiet moment. "Did you get the notes from last week? I think I missed a few things when I was out."

Narae nodded, already pulling her notebook out of her bag. "Yeah, I've got them. I can send you a picture after class."

"Thanks," Jeno said, smiling. "You're a lifesaver."

The rest of the class went by quickly, and before Narae knew it, the bell rang again. She walked to the cafeteria with a sense of relief. Lunch was her favorite time of day—not because of the food, but because it was a chance to unwind, to be herself without the constant pressure of schoolwork. She grabbed a sandwich and made her way to her usual spot near the edge of the room.

Today, Renjun was there, sitting alone and sketching in a small notebook. His pencil moved quickly, lines forming shapes that seemed to dance on the page. Narae slid into the chair across from him without a word. Renjun looked up, a small smile flickering across his face before his eyes returned to his sketch.

"What are you up to?" Narae asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.

Renjun shrugged. "Just doodling. My hand does its own thing sometimes."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the sounds of the cafeteria filling the space between them. Narae watched Renjun's hand move, the way he would pause occasionally to assess his work before continuing. She liked moments like this—simple, easy, where no one expected anything from her.

"Did you hear about the new seating arrangement?" Renjun asked after a moment, his pencil still moving across the paper.

Narae nodded. "Yeah, I'm next to Haechan now."

Renjun raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes. "Must be... interesting. He's not exactly quiet."

Narae snorted and let out a short, quiet laugh. "No, he's not."

Their conversation drifted to other topics—complaints about homework, Renjun's latest art project, the upcoming school festival. They shared stories about their teachers, laughed about Jeno's terrible jokes, and even talked about the recent rumor that the vending machine would start carrying ice cream. It was easy and natural, the kind of conversation that reminded Narae why she didn't mind the occasional interaction with her friends. They knew how to be present without overwhelming her.

By the time lunch ended, Narae felt more at ease. Her morning had been filled with the usual routine, punctuated by moments of genuine connection. As she walked to her next class, she caught snippets of conversation, pieces of gossip that made her shoulders tense.

"...Haechan and Narae? Didn't see that coming. Must be Mr.Kim's attempt to shut him up..."

"...Right? Wonder if she'll even talk to him. She's so quiet..."

Narae blurred out the voices, her pace quickening. The day felt heavier than usual, and the weight of it pressed against her shoulders. She just wanted to get through it, to make it to the end without any more disruptions. As she pushed open the door to her next class, she took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever came next.

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