Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 26: Collateral Damage

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The winter chill had settled in, and with it came the usual hustle and bustle of the school corridors. Narae found herself wrapped in a thick scarf and coat, the layers barely holding off the biting cold. It had been a few weeks since the new semester began, and the initial excitement had worn off, replaced by the routine monotony of classes and study sessions. Haechan, with his effortless confidence and natural intelligence, had become a familiar presence in her life. Not that she'd ever admit it, but there was a small part of her that felt comforted by his presence in three of her classes.

However, things weren't all easy. Heejin seemed to have made it her mission to get as close to Haechan as possible, and Narae noticed it in every English class, every Advanced Functions lesson, and even in the corridors between periods. Haechan didn't seem to mind Heejin's attention, which only made Narae's irritation grow. She watched as Heejin would casually drape her arm over Haechan's shoulder, laughing at his jokes, their heads bent close together in whispered conversation. Narae tried to convince herself she didn't care, that it was all just background noise to her, but the truth was more complicated.

It was one of those days in English class when the temperature outside was so low that the windows had fogged up from the heat inside. Narae sat in her usual seat, glancing up from her notebook just in time to see Heejin leaning over Haechan's desk, her fingers brushing against his arm as she showed him something on her phone. He was laughing at something Heejin had said, his smile easy and genuine. Narae tried to focus on the essay in front of her, her hand gripping the pen a little tighter than usual. The words on the page blurred, replaced by the nagging feeling of something uncomfortable, something she couldn't quite name.

She wasn't one to feel jealousy often. Narae prided herself on staying above petty feelings, on not letting others' actions dictate her emotions. But seeing Haechan and Heejin so close brought an unfamiliar sting to her chest. She hated feeling this way, hated how it made her stomach twist, hated how it made her question why it bothered her in the first place. It wasn't as if Haechan was hers to be jealous over. They were barely friends—acquaintances at most, sharing the occasional conversation or quick eye contact across the room.

In Advanced Functions, Haechan sat two rows behind her. Narae could hear his voice, occasionally chatting with friends, the low murmur of his laughter breaking through the silence of the lecture. She found herself glancing back at him more often than she wanted to admit, pretending to stretch or look around the room, but her eyes would always land on him. It was then she began to notice little things about him—the way his skin was tanner than most, a warm honey shade that contrasted with the paler tones of their classmates. She hadn't paid attention before, but now it seemed to stand out, almost like a beacon.

A little after she left class, her thoughts were interrupted by a conversation behind her. Heejin was talking to another girl, their voices loud enough for Narae to hear.

"Did you see Haechan's new jacket? It looks so good on him, right? I swear, he's getting even more handsome lately. And that skin tone of his—it's like he's been to the beach all year round. So unfair," Heejin said with a playful lilt to her voice.

The girl next to her giggled, agreeing wholeheartedly, and Narae felt her stomach twist again. She didn't want to care. She really didn't. But suddenly, Haechan's presence felt closer, more intrusive. 

By the time lunch rolled around, Narae was more than ready for a break. She sat with Renjun and Jeno at their usual table in the cafeteria, trying to push the nagging thoughts away.

"Hey, did you understand the last physics assignment?" Renjun asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Narae looked up, blinking away her distraction. "Yeah, mostly. The last question was tricky, but I think I figured it out. Do you need help with it?"

Renjun nodded, looking relieved. "You're a lifesaver, honestly. I don't know how you stay so focused all the time."

She shrugged, forcing a small smile. "Just trying to keep my grades up. I don't want to get distracted by... other things."

Jeno gave her a knowing look, his eyes darting over to where Haechan was sitting a few tables away with Mark, Jaemin, and Heejin. "I get that, but you know, it's okay to be distracted sometimes. You don't always have to be so serious."

Narae followed his gaze, catching sight of Haechan laughing at something Jaemin said, Heejin's hand resting casually on his arm. She quickly looked away, her jaw clenching. "Yeah, well, some distractions aren't worth it," she muttered.

Jeno raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Renjun, sensing the shift in her mood, changed the subject to a new video game he and Jeno had been playing, and Narae let the conversation wash over her, grateful for the distraction.

That evening, as she walked home, the chill of the winter air biting at her cheeks, Narae replayed the day in her mind. She hated how Haechan's presence seemed to disrupt her carefully maintained balance. She hated how Heejin's actions made her feel. But most of all, she hated the realization that somewhere along the way, Haechan had become more than just a classmate to her. He was someone who made her feel things she wasn't ready to confront. And that scared her.

Pushing the thoughts away, Narae buried her hands deeper into her coat pockets, quickening her pace. She had control over her life. She had control over her emotions. She just needed to hold onto that control a little tighter. But as the days went by, with Heejin's presence and Haechan's easy smile constantly in her line of sight, Narae found that control slipping, no matter how much she tried to hold on.

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