Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 40: Group Lunch

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The next morning dawned bright and cool, the sky a clear blue canvas stretched above the school's sprawling courtyard. Narae walked briskly down the hallway, clutching her lunch in one hand and her phone in the other, skimming through her notifications. Her steps slowed as she neared the courtyard, planning to enjoy her lunch in peace. But just as she turned the corner, Jeno and Jaemin came into view, standing near the cafeteria entrance, looking like they'd been waiting for her.

"Narae!" Jeno called out, waving enthusiastically. His eyes crinkled in a broad grin, his usual easygoing charm on full display. "Change of plans. You're eating with us today."

Narae blinked, taken aback. "Us?" She glanced around, half-expecting someone else to be there.

Jaemin nodded, leaning against the wall with a casual smile. "Yeah, all of us. It's not really a request," he added with a wink, making it clear that he wasn't planning on taking no for an answer.

Narae shifted her weight, feeling a mix of hesitation and curiosity. Eating lunch with Haechan's friends wasn't something she had planned for, especially not after everything that had happened recently. But the warmth in Jeno and Jaemin's eyes made it hard to refuse. They genuinely wanted her to be part of their group, not just as a guest, but as a friend.

"Alright," she agreed finally. "But only if Renjun can come too. I'm not going in alone."

Jeno's smile widened, as if he'd anticipated her condition. "Deal," he said easily.

Narae headed toward the art room, where she knew Renjun would be. She found him seated at his usual desk, a sketchbook open in front of him, lost in the details of his latest drawing. She hesitated for a moment, watching the way his pencil glided over the paper before she spoke.

"Hey, Renjun," she called softly, careful not to startle him.

He looked up, his expression shifting from concentration to mild surprise. "Narae? What's going on?"

She cleared her throat, trying to sound casual. "I got roped into having lunch with Jeno, Jaemin, and their friends. You want to come with me?"

Renjun's eyebrows lifted slightly, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Haechan's friends, huh? Sure, why not? Could be interesting." He closed his sketchbook, tucking it under his arm as he stood up.

They walked together to the cafeteria, the sound of chatter and clinking cutlery growing louder as they approached. Narae's heart pounded a little faster. She spotted the group sitting at a long table near the windows, sunlight streaming in and catching on their animated faces. Mark, Chenle, and Jisung waved them over enthusiastically, making room for Narae and Renjun. Haechan was seated next to Mark, his head turning as they approached. His eyes met Narae's for a brief moment, and his smile softened, a mixture of relief and something else that Narae couldn't quite decipher.

"What a surprise," Haechan said, sounding genuinely pleased.

Narae shrugged, sitting down across from him. "Didn't really have a choice," she replied, aiming for a light tone. "He practically dragged me here." She nodded toward Jeno and Jaemin, who grinned shamelessly.

"Glad you could join," Mark said, leaning back in his chair. "We've been trying to get Jeno to invite more people to our table for weeks. Nice to have some new faces."

Chenle and Jisung immediately launched into a conversation about the latest video game release, drawing Renjun in with questions about his opinions on character designs and game mechanics. Narae found herself relaxing as the chatter flowed around her. It was surprisingly easy to be here, to feel like she belonged. She stole glances at Haechan, noting the way he was involved in the conversation, but every so often, his eyes would drift back to her, as if making sure she was still there.

"So, Narae," Jaemin's voice cut through her thoughts. "Any big plans for the break?"

She swallowed a bite of her sandwich before answering. "Yeah, actually. I'm going to the Maldives with my mom. We leave this weekend."

The table buzzed with excitement. Chenle's eyes widened. "The Maldives? That's, like, heaven on earth. The beaches there are supposed to be unreal."

"Yeah, that's what I've heard," Narae said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I've never been, so I'm pretty excited."

"You'll have to take a ton of pictures," Jisung added earnestly. "I've only seen it in movies and stuff."

"I will," she promised. "But what about you guys? Any fun plans?"

"Mostly just hanging out," Mark said with a shrug. "Probably play some games, maybe hit up an arcade or something. You should come with us when you get back."

The casual invitation made Narae pause, her heart doing that weird flip again. She glanced at Haechan, who was looking at her expectantly. "Yeah, maybe," she said carefully. "If I'm not too jet-lagged."

The conversation shifted again, moving to lighter topics—movies, music, random school gossip. Narae found herself laughing more than she had in a long time, the easy camaraderie making the lunch hour fly by. By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, she felt lighter, the worries that had weighed her down for weeks momentarily forgotten.

As they all stood to leave, Jeno clapped a hand on Haechan's shoulder. "Hey, let's all meet up this weekend. Maybe we can do a movie night or something."

"Yeah, that sounds cool," Haechan agreed, his gaze sliding over to Narae. "You in?"

She hesitated. "I can't," she said, shaking her head. "I have to pack and get ready for the trip. Maybe next time."

"No worries," Jaemin said cheerfully. "We'll take a rain check."

The rest of the school week passed in a blur of classes and last-minute preparations for her trip. Narae found herself preoccupied, her thoughts drifting back to the lunch with Haechan and his friends. It had been so natural, so easy, and yet there was an undercurrent she couldn't ignore—something between her and Haechan that felt like it was teetering on the edge of change.

Friday afternoon arrived, and with it, a sense of anticipation. Narae's suitcase was packed and ready, her passport tucked safely in her bag. She spent the evening triple-checking everything, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Her phone buzzed with another notification from the group chat, but she ignored it, focusing on the task at hand.

The weekend was a whirlwind of activity—packing, repacking, making sure she had all her travel documents. Her parents buzzed around the house, equally excited for the trip. Narae found herself caught up in their energy, the prospect of a month in the Maldives bringing a genuine smile to her face.

By Sunday night, everything was in place. Her bags were packed and waiting by the front door. She had one last message from Mark, inviting her to another hangout, but she declined politely, explaining her travel plans. His reply was instant, a flood of well-wishes and jokes about bringing back souvenirs.

Lying in bed that night, Narae stared at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting back to the week's events. Despite everything—the chaos, the unexpected lunches, the unspoken tension with Haechan—she felt a sense of calm. Life was shifting in ways she hadn't anticipated, and while it was unnerving, it was also exhilarating. She was on the brink of something new, something that promised to be both challenging and rewarding. As she closed her eyes, a small smile played at her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt excited about what the future held.

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