Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 7: The Project Looms

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Monday dawned crisp and clear, but the atmosphere around Narae was decidedly less inviting. The weight of the upcoming science project loomed large over her, casting a shadow over her usually serene mornings. As she made her way to school, she mentally braced herself for the challenges that lay ahead.

The usual chatter and clamor of students filled the school corridors. Narae spotted Haechan with his usual entourage—Mark, Chenle, and Jisung—gathered near the classroom door. They were in high spirits, their conversation punctuated by bursts of laughter. Narae tried to ignore them as she walked past, heading to her seat in the back corner of the room.

As the students settled into their new roles, Haechan ambled over to his seat with an air of casual nonchalance. His phone was already in his hand, and he continued chatting with his friends as he set down his bag. Narae's focus was on the project details, trying to ignore the ongoing conversation next to her.

"Alright, back to work," Mr. Kim said, his voice cutting through the hum of student activity. "Remember, this project is a major part of your grade, so make sure you're thorough."

Narae turned to Haechan, her gaze sharp. "We should probably start with the research. I'm thinking of focusing on the microsystem part."

Haechan looked up from his phone, his interest clearly half-hearted. "Yeah, sure.  Microsystems. Sounds... alright."

Narae frowned. "It's important. We need to cover it in detail. I'll start compiling the data. Could you at least look over the instructions again?"

"Got it," Haechan replied, barely glancing at the instruction sheet before turning his attention back to his phone. "I'll, uh, review them later."

Narae sighed, her patience already tested. She dived into the project with determination, pulling up research materials and organizing her notes. Haechan, on the other hand, seemed content to occasionally offer half-hearted comments or jokes to his friends.

As the class progressed, Narae overheard snippets of Haechan's conversation with his friends. He was animatedly discussing the latest video game, his voice carrying across the room.

"...and then Chenle totally wrecked me in that last round. It was so unfair!" Haechan said, his tone light and playful.

Chenle laughed loudly from the other side of the room. "Hey, don't blame me for your lack of skill! I've been practicing."

Mark chimed in, "You were just mad because Chenle beat you again. Face it, Haechan, you're just bad at games."

"Shut up, Mark," Haechan spat back.

Narae glanced over, catching Haechan's amused grin. The casual banter contrasted sharply with the focused work she was trying to accomplish. Her frustration grew as Haechan's laughter and easygoing comments felt like a constant distraction.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the period, and Narae quickly packed up her things. Haechan, still engaged in his conversation with his friends, barely noticed as she gathered her notes and left the classroom.

During lunch, Narae sought refuge at her usual table, where Renjun and a few other friends were already seated. As she sat down, Renjun looked up with a sympathetic smile.

"Hey, how's the project going?" he asked, noticing her slightly tense expression.

Narae slumped into her seat. "It's going. I'm doing most of the work while Haechan is... well, not doing much of anything. I swear, if he doesn't start pulling his weight, I'm going to lose it."

Renjun raised an eyebrow. "He's not very into science, is he?"

"Not at all," Narae replied, rolling her eyes. 

Renjun chuckled. "That's rough. Maybe you should have a chat with him about it. Sometimes people don't realize how their actions affect others."

Narae shook her head. "I don't know. But I'm starting to dread biology class."

Their conversation shifted to lighter topics as they chatted about their weekend plans. Despite the temporary distraction, Narae's thoughts kept drifting back to the project and Haechan's lack of involvement. The frustration she felt was a heavy burden, and it lingered long after lunch.

When school ended, Narae trudged home, her mood heavy with the day's events. She greeted her mother with a forced cheerfulness, trying to mask her irritation. After dinner, she retreated to her room, where the project awaited her attention.

As she worked late into the evening, Narae's frustration grew. The mounting pressure of the project, combined with Haechan's apparent disinterest, made her increasingly irritable. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of annoyance as she continued to research and compile data, her frustration manifesting in sharp, impatient movements.

In a brief respite, Narae pulled out her phone and texted Renjun, hoping for some comedic relief.

___________⋆˚࿔ RENJUNNIE⋆˚࿔ ___________

Narae: I'm going to kill lee donghyuck if he doesn't pull his shit together

RNJUNNIE: noooo I don't wanna see a narae mugshot

RENJUNNIE: bet u would still look good in one tho

Narae: (◜◡◝)

RENJUNNIE: try bribing him snacks or something 

Narae: if only it were that easy...

Narae: maybe I wouldn't risk going to jail

RENJUNNIE: hang in there

RENJUNNIE: at least you're not alone in this

RENJUNNIE: moomin has your back

Narae: and?

RENJUNNIE: and so do i ig...

Narae smiled at the encouragement, though it did little to alleviate her frustration. She continued working into the night, her irritation simmering just beneath the surface. The project loomed large in her mind, and with each passing day, her patience with Haechan grew thinner. As she finally prepared for bed, her thoughts were consumed by the challenge ahead, hoping that the coming days would bring some relief—or at least a change in Haechan's attitude.

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