Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 37: Sorting Things Out

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The day dragged on like a movie in slow motion, each class blending into the next. Narae moved through the hallways, feeling like a ghost drifting past the living. She kept her head down, eyes fixed on the floor, avoiding any accidental glances that might lead to conversations she didn't want to have. Her friends sensed her need for space, thankfully, even Jeno, who normally had a terrible attempt of a joke ready at any given moment, offered only a reassuring pat on her shoulder instead of his usual playful banter.

Lunchtime was spent in the library, tucked away in the corner near the window. The sun streamed through the glass, casting a warm glow over the table where she sat. Narae flipped through her textbooks, pretending to study, but her mind was elsewhere. Images of Haechan's face, twisted in frustration, kept replaying in her head. His eyes had burned with something she couldn't place. Maybe hurt, or anger, or even a mix of both. She blocked out the memory by focusing on the words on the page, not understanding a single one.

The final bell rang, a signal that the day was finally over. Narae packed her things slowly, taking her time so she could avoid the crowd that would inevitably form in the hallways. She was the last one to leave, her bag slung over her shoulder, when a familiar voice stopped her.

"Narae, wait."

She turned around, her expression carefully blank. Haechan stood near the back of the room, his hands in his pockets, looking unusually hesitant. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, there was only silence between them. The air felt thick, as if the tension could be cut with a knife.

"What?" Narae asked, voice flat.

"Can we talk?" Haechan replied, taking a step closer. "Just for a minute."

Narae's first instinct was to refuse and walk out without a backward glance, but something in his eyes made her pause. She noticed the way his ears were slightly red, the way his lips were pursed in a slight pout—a habit she'd picked up on during past arguments. It was clear he was uneasy, though he tried to mask it with his usual confident posture.

"Fine," she said with a sigh, walking back to her desk and sitting down. She crossed her arms over her chest, fixing him with a cool gaze. "What do you want to talk about?"

Haechan ran a hand through his hair, looking momentarily at a loss for words. "I want to understand what's going on with you. It feels like you've been avoiding me, and I just don't get why."

Narae scoffed lightly, rolling her eyes. "Maybe because I have my reasons," she replied. "Not everything is about you, Haechan."

"I know that," he said, his voice steady but firm. "But I thought we were at least friends. And friends don't just ignore each other without a reason. I've tried to give you space, but I'm not going to pretend like I don't notice you shutting me out."

She looked away, focusing on the empty desks instead of his face. "It's easier that way," she muttered. "Easier not to deal with... everything."

"What does that mean, 'everything'?" Haechan asked, leaning against the desk in front of her. His posture was relaxed, but there was an intensity in his gaze. "Are you talking about the party? Because I've been trying to make up for that. I just want to know what's going on in your head."

Narae's jaw clenched. "It's not just the party," she admitted. "It's everything since then. You... you complicate things. My life was fine before all this. I don't need more drama."

Haechan's brows furrowed. "I'm not trying to complicate your life, Narae. I just want to get to know you. To understand you. Is that really such a bad thing?"

She met his gaze, her eyes narrowing. "Why?" she challenged. "Why do you care so much?"

He hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, trying to look casual. "Because," he started but seemed to have changed his mind mid sentence. "I like spending time with you. I thought maybe you felt the same way."

"Maybe I did, at some point," she said coldly. "But I'm not interested in playing games. I don't have the time or energy for it."

Haechan's eyes flashed with irritation. "Who said anything about games? I'm just trying to be your friend, but you're making it impossible. Every time I try to get close, you shut me out."

"Because it's easier that way!" Narae snapped, her voice rising. "It's easier to not get involved, to not get hurt. You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," Haechan shot back. "I'm not as clueless as you think, Narae. I know I've messed up, but I'm trying to fix it. If you'd just talk to me, maybe we could work things out."

"There's nothing to work out," she said, her voice going quiet. "I don't need you to fix anything."

He sighed, exasperated. "So what then? We just pretend like nothing happened? Like we don't know each other?"

Narae didn't answer immediately. She looked down at her hands, fingers twisting in her lap. "I don't know," she admitted softly. "I just know I don't want things to get more complicated than they already are."

Haechan studied her for a moment, his expression softening. "I'm not asking for more than what you're willing to give," he said gently. " I just don't want this... this wall between us."

Narae looked up, meeting his eyes. There was something earnest in his expression, something that made her want to believe him. But she wasn't sure if she could.

"Wall," she repeated, tasting the word. "No more wall?"

Haechan nodded. "No more," he agreed. "I'm not asking for anything else. Just don't shut me out."

There was a long silence as Narae considered his words. She could feel the tension in the air, the way it weighed heavily between them. Slowly, she nodded. "Okay," she said finally. "But I need time. I can't just go back to how things were overnight."

"I get that," he said, offering her a small smile. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Narae stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She felt lighter somehow, as if a weight had been lifted off her chest. "I'll see you around, then."

"Yeah," Haechan said, watching her as she walked to the door. "See you around."

As she stepped into the hallway, Narae couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief. Things weren't perfect, but maybe they were on the way to being better. And that, she decided, was enough for now.

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