Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 3: A Quiet Afternoon

⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

The school day had ended, and Narae's footsteps echoed softly down the hallway as she made her way to her locker. She glanced at the clock on the wall—it was nearly 3:30 PM. The bustling energy of the school was now a distant hum, replaced by the calm of the afternoon.

Jaemin's words from earlier in the day came back to her as she retrieved her books and shoved them into her backpack. She smiled to herself, remembering their pact over the vending machine treats. Their promise of a cookie and a little respite from the day's academic pressures felt like a small but comforting anchor in the whirl of school life.

"Did you survive the last class?" Jaemin asked, pulling out a handful of coins.

"Barely," Narae replied, shaking her head with a mock exasperation. "I think my psychology teacher tried to teach us quantum physics today."

Jaemin laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No way."

Narae shrugged, her lips curling into a faint smile. "It seriously felt like physics. The way she droned on, it could have been anything."

With her backpack slung over one shoulder, Narae headed towards the bus stop. The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the streets, bathing everything in a soft, warm light. She loved this time of day; it felt like a pause before the evening's routine began. The familiar sight of her stop and the steady rhythm of her bus ride gave her a moment to unwind.

When she finally stepped off the bus and approached her apartment building, the cool breeze was a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the afternoon. She walked up the stairs to her apartment, her thoughts meandering through the day's events. As she unlocked her door, she could already hear the faint sounds of Kiwi meowing from inside.

"Hey, Kiwi," she said, smiling as she stepped into her cozy apartment.

The ginger tabby cat pranced over, rubbing against her legs. Kiwi's soft purring was a soothing balm after a day filled with classes and interactions. Narae scooped up her cat and carried her to the kitchen, where she set out a bowl of food. Kiwi immediately dove in, her whiskers twitching as she ate.

Narae moved through her after-school routine with practiced ease. She made a beeline for the small, cluttered study area in her room, where her desk was piled high with textbooks and scattered notes. It was her sanctuary, a space where she could dive into her studies without distraction.

The homework was straightforward, but she approached it with her usual meticulousness. She was methodical, jotting down notes and solving problems with quiet concentration. The rhythmic scratching of her pen on paper was comforting, a steady counterpoint to the earlier chaos of the day.

After finishing her assignments, she took a well-deserved break. She made herself a cup of tea, the soothing aroma filling the apartment. Kiwi followed her around, occasionally hopping onto the kitchen counter to observe the process. As Narae sipped her tea, she gazed out the window, reflecting on the day's events.

Her thoughts wandered back to the seating arrangement announcement. It had stirred a subtle undercurrent of chatter and speculation among her classmates. She'd caught snippets of conversations—some were intrigued, others clearly perturbed. Narae herself hadn't thought much of it initially, but the way people talked about Haechan and the shifting dynamics had left her feeling uneasy.

She turned her thoughts to her friends, like Jaemin, who had a way of making the mundane bearable. Their agreement about the vending machine treat had been a small but reassuring moment of normalcy. It was nice to have a plan, a small victory against the unpredictability of the school day.

As the day faded into evening, Narae settled into her favorite spot on the couch, Kiwi curled up beside her. She pulled a blanket over them and opened a book, allowing herself to lose herself in its pages. Her evenings were her time to recharge, to reflect on the day and prepare for what was to come.

There was a knock on the door, and Narae rose to answer it. Jaemin stood on the other side, holding a small paper bag with a grin.

"I didn't forget our promise," he said, holding out the bag. "Chocolate chip cookies. Still up for it?"

Narae laughed, taking the bag from him. "Absolutely. Thanks for remembering."

They chatted briefly at the door, discussing the day's events and their upcoming homework. Jaemin's presence was a pleasant disruption, his easygoing nature providing a welcome contrast to the more stressful aspects of school.

"Well, I'll leave you to your cookies," Jaemin said, turning to leave. "See you tomorrow, Narae."

"See you tomorrow," she replied, closing the door behind him.

Back inside, Narae took out the cookies and set them on the coffee table. Kiwi sniffed at the bag curiously but was more interested in her cozy spot on the couch. Narae took a bite of the cookie, savoring the sweet, chocolatey taste. It was a small but perfect end to her day.

As she sat there, with the soft glow of the lamp lighting up the room and Kiwi purring contentedly beside her, Narae reflected on her life. Her days were a series of quiet moments punctuated by bursts of interaction and the occasional challenge. She valued her peace and the small joys she found in her routine.

Her relationship with her family was supportive but distant; they respected her need for solitude and never pushed her to be more outgoing than she wanted to be. Her friends were a tight-knit group, offering a balance of companionship and space. And her own self was a blend of confidence and introspection—she enjoyed the thrill of life but preferred it in manageable doses.

Narae's thoughts drifted to Haechan and the subtle shifts in her day. Though she didn't understand him completely yet, the new seating arrangement had brought an unexpected change to her carefully maintained routine. For now, she couldn't tell whether this would be a good change or something worse.

As the night deepened, Narae finished her cookie and settled back into the comfort of her couch. Kiwi stretched out beside her, and Narae closed her eyes, allowing the warmth of her small, quiet world to envelop her.

────୨ৎ────

1036 words