Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 16: Jaemin Told Me To

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The rest of the school week had passed in a blur for Narae. She had kept her promise to herself, pushing aside the sting of gossip and ignoring the lingering glances. Each day felt like a routine she could cling to: waking up, going to school, sitting through classes, avoiding unnecessary conversation, and then heading straight home. It wasn't exciting, but it was comfortable. Predictable. The kind of life she preferred.

Narae spent her lunchtimes in the library, where the whisper of turning pages and the soft tapping of laptop keys formed a comforting background noise. Here, she could immerse herself in her books, in equations and theories that made sense. She didn't have to think about Heejin's smug voice bragging about her date with Haechan or the way the popular girls eyed her like she was some kind of alien. By the time Friday rolled around, Narae felt a sense of relief as the last bell of the day rang, signaling the end of another week.

She packed up her things quickly, eager to get home and enjoy a quiet evening. As she walked home, the setting sun casting long shadows on the sidewalk, she allowed herself a small smile. Despite everything, she had managed to keep herself together. No drama, no outbursts, just calm and quiet. The weekend stretched ahead of her, full of possibilities—well, possibilities that mostly involved curling up with a good book or watching a movie with Kiwi.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Narae fished it out, expecting a message from her mother or Renjun. Instead, her screen showed an unknown number, and her brows furrowed in confusion. She tapped the notification, and her confusion only deepened when she saw the message:

___________⋆˚࿔ Unknown Number⋆˚࿔ ___________

Unknown Number: sent an image

Unknown Number: jaemin told me to send you this

Narae blinked at the screen, trying to process what she was looking at. She didn't have many contacts saved, and certainly none who would randomly send her pictures of Jeno with horrendous hair. Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard before she typed a cautious response.

Narae: do i know u?

Narae: who are u?

Almost immediately, three little dots appeared, showing that the sender was typing back. A second later, a new message popped up.

Unknown Number: it's haechan

Unknown Number: duh

Narae's eyes widened. Haechan? Why was he texting her? And more importantly, how did he even get her number? She bit her lip, staring at the screen before typing out her reply.