Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 41: Hello Paradise

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The day of the flight to the Maldives was finally here, and Narae could hardly contain her excitement. As she stood in her bedroom, checking her suitcase one last time, she felt a wave of anticipation ripple through her. This wasn't just about traveling to a beautiful place; it was about finding some peace, a break from the chaos of school and the drama she'd been caught up in lately. The Maldives sounded like a dream—a place where she could just breathe and forget everything for a while.

Kiwi watched her from the bed, eyes half-closed as Narae moved around the room. She bent down to give her cat a gentle scratch behind the ears. "I'm going to miss you, Kiwi," she said softly. The cat purred in response, rubbing her head against Narae's hand. "Be good for the pet sitter, okay?" Kiwi's purring didn't stop, her comfort bringing a small smile to Narae's face. It was always hard to leave Kiwi behind, but knowing she would be well taken care of made it a little easier.

"Narae! Are you ready?" her mom called from downstairs, her voice carrying an undercurrent of urgency.

"Coming!" Narae called back, taking one last look at her room. Everything was in its place, her bed made, and the last rays of morning light streaming through the window. With a final deep breath, she picked up her suitcase and headed downstairs.

The car ride to the airport was filled with her moms cheerful chatter about the resort, the beaches, and all the things they wanted to do during their one month vacation. Narae leaned back in her seat, listening with half an ear while she gazed out the window. As the city streets sped by, replaced by the open roads leading to the airport, she felt a sense of calm settle over her. The thought of being away from everything—the school drama, the misunderstandings with Haechan, even the crowded lunchrooms—was like a balm to her soul. She imagined herself on a sun-drenched beach, the sound of the waves washing away all her worries.

Once they arrived at the airport, the familiar routine of check-in and security checks carried them through to the departure gate. Narae felt the buzz of the airport wash over her, people hurrying to catch flights, announcements echoing through the terminal. It was a kind of organized chaos that she found oddly comforting. Her mom had gone off to grab coffee, leaving Narae with some time to herself before boarding. She pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she opened up her messages.

A text from Mark popped up, the playful tone of his message bringing a smile to her face.

___________⋆˚࿔ Mark⋆˚࿔ ___________

Mark: guess what?

Narae: what?

Mark: i  just found out that all oceans aren't the same

Narae: ...

Mark: when I was younger I thought so

Mark: I kinda just took in that they weren't rn

Narae: didn't pay attention in geo i'd assume

Mark: correct assumption

Narae couldn't help but chuckle at that. Trust Mark to say something stupid like that.

Narae: r you seriously texting me about this when i'm about to fly off to paradise?

Mark: i'm just trying to keep you entertained

Mark: who else r u gonna text before ur flight