Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 22 : The Calm Before the Storm

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Narae's alarm rang out in the dead of night, jolting her from the shallow sleep she had barely managed to fall into. She groaned, eyes heavy with sleep, as she reached out to silence the offending noise. The clock blinked 4:00 AM in bright red numbers, a stark reminder that she had agreed to something she was already regretting.

Why did I say yes? she wondered, dragging herself out of bed and into the cold air of her room. The promise of a ski trip with Haechan and some of the guys had seemed like a fun idea—at least in theory. But now, as she fumbled through her closet for warm clothes, the reality of waking up before dawn and spending the day with Haechan's friends was beginning to weigh on her. She layered herself in sweaters and thermal leggings, pulled on thick socks, and topped it off with a cozy beanie. By the time she finished, she looked more like a bundle of clothes than a person.

Her ride to the meeting spot was uneventful, the streets still quiet under the dark sky. When she arrived at the designated place, she spotted Jeno and Renjun standing next to Jungwoo, who was yawning widely, his breath visible in the chilly morning air. The sight of her close friends brought a small smile to her lips, easing some of the tension in her chest. But the moment she saw Haechan, her mood soured once more.

Haechan grinned at her, seemingly unaffected by the early hour. "You made it!"

Narae shot him a glare. "Barely. And there's something you're not telling me?"

Haechan's grin widened, but before he could answer, a large bus pulled up in front of them. The doors swung open, and out poured nearly the entire NCT crew, their voices loud and excited despite the early hour. Mark, Jaemin, Johnny, Jaehyun, and several others jumped out, all bundled up for the trip. Narae's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned to Haechan. "This wasn't supposed to be a group thing."

Haechan shrugged nonchalantly. "The more, the merrier, right?"

Narae's glare intensified, and Jungwoo, sensing the tension, quickly jumped in. "Hey, it'll be fun! Plus, you'll get to learn how to ski with all of us. I'll help you out, don't worry."

She sighed, the annoyance simmering just beneath the surface. "Fine. Be ready to catch me when I inevitably fall."

Jungwoo laughed, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "That's what I'm here for."

Once they arrived at the ski resort, Narae's mood shifted slightly. The pristine snow-covered slopes, the crisp mountain air, and the excited chatter of the group began to chip away at her irritation. They quickly got their gear sorted, and as Narae struggled to put on her skis, Jungwoo came to her rescue.

"Here, let me help," he offered, kneeling beside her to adjust the bindings on her boots. "It's tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it."

"Thanks, Jungwoo," she said, her annoyance with Haechan slowly fading as she focused on getting her skis on properly.

As they made their way to the beginner slope, Narae couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She'd never skied before, and the thought of careening down a mountain, even a small one, wasn't exactly comforting. But with Jungwoo by her side, she felt a bit more confident.

"Just lean forward a little, keep your knees bent, and don't be afraid to fall," Jungwoo instructed, guiding her down the gentle incline. "You're doing great!"

She wobbled a bit, her arms flailing as she tried to maintain her balance. "Easy for you to say," she muttered, but there was a smile on her face.

At the bottom of the slope, she nearly crashed into Mark, who was laughing as he helped Jaemin back onto his feet after a spectacular wipeout. "Hey, Narae! First time skiing?"

"Yeah," she replied, slightly breathless. "It's... harder than it looks."

Mark grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're doing better than I did my first time. I face-planted right out of the gate."

Narae laughed, her earlier frustration with Haechan now a distant memory. As she watched Mark and Jaemin joke around, she felt herself relax even more. The day was turning out better than she had expected.

They spent the next few hours skiing, with Narae slowly getting the hang of it under Jungwoo's patient guidance. Occasionally, she would catch sight of Haechan, surrounded by his friends, and she would glare at him out of habit. He seemed to notice every time, giving her a cheeky grin in response, which only annoyed her further.

At one point, she found herself on a ski lift with Doyoung, who offered her some tips on how to stop more effectively. They chatted about school, the upcoming break, and how the slopes were more tiring than they looked.

"So, how's it going with Haechan?" Doyoung asked, a knowing smirk on his face.

Narae rolled her eyes. "He's annoying as ever."

Doyoung chuckled. "He's got his moments. But don't let him off too easy. Make him work for it."

"I'm not letting him off at all," she retorted, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

Later, when they took a break for lunch, Narae found herself seated between Renjun and Jeno, while the rest of the guys filled the table with their usual banter. Haechan sat across from her, occasionally making faces that Renjun mirrored to annoy her. Despite herself, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Having fun?" Renjun asked, nudging her playfully.

"Yeah," she admitted, though she shot a mock-glare at Haechan. "Though someone is going to get it later for tricking me."

Haechan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, all I did was plan an amazing day for everyone. Don't shoot the messenger."

"Right," she muttered, half-joking.

As the day came to a close and the sun began to dip behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the snow, Narae felt a sense of contentment she hadn't expected. The earlier tension and irritation with Haechan had melted away, replaced by the warmth of camaraderie and laughter shared with both old and new friends.

On the bus ride back, Narae found herself leaning against Jungwoo's shoulder, exhausted but happy. Haechan, seated a few rows ahead, turned to glance back at her, catching her eye for a brief moment. There was something unspoken in his gaze, but she was too tired to dwell on it.

Jeno nudged her gently. "Hey, Narae, we should do this more often. It's nice to see you smiling."

She smiled softly, the fatigue making her response slow. "Yeah, maybe. But next time, no 4 AM wake-up calls."

Renjun leaned over from his seat. "And no Haechan surprises. Deal?"

Narae chuckled. "Deal."

As they continued the ride home, Haechan's laugh echoed in the background, mingling with the chatter of his friends. It was a sound she was growing used to, a sound that no longer grated on her nerves. Maybe, she thought sleepily, things were changing. Maybe Haechan wasn't just the annoying boy who disturbed her peace.

As the bus rumbled on, with the outside world cloaked in the darkness of night, Narae closed her eyes, a small, genuine smile still playing on her lips.

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