Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 18 : Melting the Ice

The first thing Narae noticed as she stepped out of her house was the chill in the air. Winter had arrived with its icy embrace, transforming the world into a frosted wonderland. The ground was blanketed in a thin layer of snow that crunched under her boots, and each exhale sent wisps of her breath into the cold morning air. She tugged her scarf tighter around her neck, tucking it into her thick woolen coat, which had quickly become her best friend against the biting wind. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, settling on her dark hair like tiny, delicate stars.

As Narae trudged towards school, she couldn't help but notice how everything seemed quieter in the snow. The usual hum of the city was muffled, replaced by the soft rustle of branches weighed down by ice. She found herself smiling, if only a little. The world felt like it was wrapped in a blanket, the edges of reality softened by the falling snow. It was peaceful, the kind of peace Narae craved.

But that peace started to dissipate as she approached the school gates, where reality rushed back in. The bustling courtyard was filled with students bundled up in winter coats, scarves, and beanies, their laughter and chatter breaking through the calm. Narae's smile faded as the nervous fluttering in her stomach returned. She hadn't been this anxious since last week, before Haechan had sent that stupid picture of Jeno with his ridiculous hair. Even now, just thinking about it made her snicker, but the memory was quickly overshadowed by uncertainty.

Their text conversation had been unexpected. The jokes, the banter—it was easy to forget she was supposed to be upset with him. And yet, here she was, unsure if she should keep up the silent treatment or not. What if talking to him made things awkward again? Or worse, what if it made things go back to the way they were before, with him being careless and her feeling overlooked? She wasn't sure she could handle that.

She pushed open the door to their shared class, the warmth of the room contrasting sharply with the cold outside. The familiar smell of chalk and paper greeted her, a comforting reminder of routine. She was early, as usual, and the room was mostly empty, save for a few students scattered here and there. Narae made her way to her desk in the back, taking off her coat and hanging it over the back of her chair. She kept her scarf on, though, its softness against her skin a small comfort.

Before she could settle in, the door swung open, and Haechan walked in, his face slightly pink from the cold. He spotted her immediately, and a grin spread across his face. Narae's heart did a small, uncomfortable flip. She quickly looked down, pretending to be busy with her bag, but she could feel his eyes on her, feel his presence as he walked over. Her nerves started buzzing like a live wire.

"Hey," Haechan said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "You know, ignoring people is pretty hard to do when you've been texting them about ugly hairstyles."

Narae rolled her eyes, trying to mask her nervousness with sarcasm. "Oh, really? I hadn't noticed," she said dryly, pulling out her notebook and flipping it open. "Besides, I wasn't ignoring you. I was... selectively avoiding you."

"Selective avoidance. Sounds like a skill," Haechan replied, leaning casually against the desk next to hers. His hair was slightly messy from the wind, snowflakes still melting on the strands. He had his hands stuffed into his coat pockets, but his posture was relaxed.

Narae glanced up at him, trying to gauge his mood. There was no trace of the defensiveness or irritation that had colored their last few conversations. He seemed... genuine. And that threw her off. "I guess I have many talents," she muttered, doodling aimlessly in the corner of her notebook. She didn't know what to make of this new Haechan—one who wasn't brushing things off or making snarky comments.

Haechan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Sure," he said softly. "But, you know, it's really hard to talk to you when you keep shutting me out. We were... we were good, right? Before everything got messed up?"

Narae felt a pang of guilt at his words. Her fingers tightened around her pencil. She wasn't ready to forgive and forget so easily, but she also didn't want things to be awkward forever. "We were okay," she admitted, a little reluctantly. "But then you seriously let me down."

He nodded, a serious expression crossing his face. "I know. And I get it. I should have tried harder. I just... I know how you like things organized and calm. I'm, well, the opposite of that." He scratched the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "I thought maybe I was just a disturbance to your life."

Narae blinked, taken aback. She hadn't expected that. "You're not a disturbance," she said quietly. "You should take things more seriously sometimes."

"I do," Haechan said, his tone suddenly earnest. "I mean, not all the time. That'd be boring, right? But I try. Especially when it means not making you hate me."

Narae sighed, finally looking up at him. His expression was sincere, his usual playful demeanor replaced with something softer. Maybe he really was trying. And maybe she could meet him halfway. "I don't hate you," she said, almost in a whisper. "I just... I'll try too. Not to... selectively avoid you."

Haechan grinned, the tension in his shoulders visibly easing. "So, does this mean you're not going to pretend I don't exist anymore? Because that's kind of..."

Narae couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "I'll consider it," she said, closing her notebook and tucking her pencil behind her ear. "But don't get too comfortable."

"Right" Haechan said, saluting playfully. "By the way, nice scarf. It's very... wintery."

Narae snorted. "Wintery isn't a word."

"Is it not?" Haechan shot back. "Narae-approved vocabulary."

She shook her head, "You're impossible."

"Sure," he teased as he straightened up. "See you around, Narae."

As Haechan walked away to join his friends on the other side of the room, Narae felt the tension she'd been carrying around slowly start to melt. Maybe things wouldn't go back to exactly how they were before, but that didn't mean they couldn't find a new normal. One where she didn't feel so on edge all the time. One where Haechan's presence didn't immediately irritate her. Maybe even one where she could laugh and joke with him without feeling guilty about it.

The snow continued to fall outside, casting a soft, white glow through the classroom windows. Narae pulled her scarf a little tighter, feeling the warmth spread from her neck down to her toes. Winter was here, cold and unforgiving. But maybe, just maybe, it wasn't as cold as she thought.

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