Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 53: Reset

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Saturday came quicker than Narae expected, and the anticipation of the day ahead had her awake earlier than usual. She spent the morning sipping on coffee, her mind drifting to Haechan. It had been a while since they'd hung out, just the two of them. While she had spent a good portion of her month in the Maldives texting Mark, it was the thought of Haechan that had her more curious than she cared to admit. When she asked him to hang out and he'd agreed, she was surprised by the sense of relief that washed over her. Maybe she missed him more than she realized. It was about familiarity. Haechan's presence had a way of making her feel grounded, and she hadn't even noticed how much she'd missed that.

As she got ready, slipping into a simple outfit of jeans and a casual s, Narae found herself feeling oddly excited. The weather outside was perfect for a day at Seoul Forest Park—sunny, with just the right amount of breeze to keep things from getting too hot. She grabbed her bag, making sure her digital camera was tucked inside, and headed out the door.

Seoul Forest Park was bustling with activity when Narae arrived. Families, couples, and friends were scattered across the park, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Narae walked slowly along the main path, taking in the scene. She spotted Haechan casually standing next to a tree near the entrance, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on her. A soft smile spread across his face as he waved, and she felt a small flutter in her chest that she quickly dismissed.

"Hey," Haechan greeted as she approached. "I thought you were going to stand me up for a second there."

"Me?" Narae scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You're the one who was almost late."

"Actually, I was right on time," he retorted, his grin never faltering. "Besides, it's not like you'd wait for me, would you?"

Narae shrugged, looking down at her phone to check the time. "Who know."

They fell into step beside each other, strolling leisurely through the park. The trees offered a canopy of shade that made the air cooler, and the occasional bird song added a peaceful soundtrack to their walk. Narae glanced at Haechan from the corner of her eye. There was something different about him, a subtle change she couldn't quite put her finger on. He seemed more at ease, more relaxed, but also a little... distant? No, not distant. Different, maybe. Like he'd found some sort of balance.

"How's life been?" Narae asked, keeping her tone light. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

"Life's been good," Haechan replied, kicking a small pebble along the path. "The usual. Family stuff, hanging out with friends, the occasional existential crisis about school and the future."

"Ah..." Narae said, nodding. "I get that. I think I've had more existential crises in the past year than I've had in my whole life."

Haechan chuckled, looking at her with a hint of curiosity. "How was the Maldives? You must've had a blast."

"It was nice," Narae said, her voice softening as she remembered the white sandy beaches and clear blue waters. "It was a needed break from everything. Didn't realize how much I needed to get away until I was there. My mom and I had some good talks, too, which was nice."

Haechan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You're really close with your mom?"

"Yeah," Narae replied, a small yet sad smile tugging at her lips. "It's just the two of us, so we've always been close. What about you? I know your parents are divorced, but I've never asked about it."

Haechan shrugged, his gaze drifting to the trees ahead. "Yeah, they split when I was younger. It was rough at first, but you get used to it, you know? My dad remarried, so now I have a stepmom and a couple of step-siblings. They're okay. It's weird at times, but I've learned to deal with it."

Narae listened quietly, sensing the honesty in his voice. "Does it bother you? Having step-siblings, I mean?"

"Sometimes," Haechan admitted. "I mean, they're not bad people or anything. It's just different. It's not like having your own full-blooded siblings. There's always this sense of distance, like they're part of my life, but not really. It's hard to explain."

Narae nodded, feeling a pang of empathy. "Oh...My mom's been single ever since the divorce. I've always wondered what it would be like if she started dating again. It scares me a little, to be honest. The thought of her marrying someone with kids of their own."

Haechan glanced at her, his eyes softening. "It's not as bad as it sounds. You get used to it. And if it makes your mom happy, then that's what matters, right? You'd be surprised how well you can adapt to things you never thought you could handle."

Narae took his words in, her mind turning over the possibilities. Maybe Haechan was right. Maybe things wouldn't be as complicated as she imagined. She snorted at him, feeling a sense of gratitude for his understanding. "Wow, Hyuck. I didn't realize you had such a mature side."

Haechan laughed, giving her a shocked expression. "I've got layers, you know? And why is it you insist on calling me by my real name?"

Narae pressed a finger against her lips flashing Haechan a teasing smile. "I like it."

They continued their walk, falling into a comfortable rhythm. Their conversation flowed easily, shifting from deep topics to lighthearted banter. Haechan had a way of making her laugh, his wit sharp and his timing perfect. He told her stories about his friends, about the vacation house antics and the crazy things they'd done. Narae found herself laughing more than she had in weeks, the sound genuine and unforced.

"When I think about it, I think I remember something from middle school." Haechan brought up suddenly. "The one time where you tripped over nothing in the cafeteria?"

Narae groaned, massaging her temples. "Please don't bring that up."

"I don't think anyone's ever gotten up that fast," Haechan teased. "You looked like you were doing some kind of dance move."

"I was trying to save my dignity," Narae shot back, groaning at the embarrassing memory. "Don't remind me of my most humiliating moments."

"Who else is going to keep you humble?" Haechan said, grinning. "Besides, I thought it was impressive. You didn't cry or anything. Just got up and pretended like it didn't happen."

"I cried later, at home," Narae admitted. "But in front of everyone? No way."

They sat on a bench under a tree, the shade offering a cool respite from the sun. Narae pulled out her camera, snapping a few pictures of the park. And even found herself somehow lost in the boys beauty, taking a few shots of Haechan as well. Without him knowing of course.

"You're so ugly," she sighed, shaking her head.

"Am I?," Haechan replied, with a grin on his face. "That's not something I hear often."

Narae rolled her eyes before sighing. "I kind of missed this," she admitted.

Haechan turned to look at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I would be lying if I said I'm not surprised."

Narae scoffed, nevertheless feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "We should hang out more. I mean, if you're not too busy with your other friends."

Haechan raised an eyebrow. "Sure. And I'll make sure to invite you to hang out with the rest of the guys more often too."

They fell into a comfortable silence, watching the world go by. After a while, Haechan spoke again, his voice thoughtful. "We should do this more often."

Narae looked at him, feeling a sense of agreement. "Yeah," she agreed softly. "I don't see why not."

As they sat there, under the canopy of trees with the sun filtering through the leaves, Narae felt a sense of contentment she hadn't felt in a while. Maybe, she thought, it wasn't about the Maldives or Mark or anything else. Maybe it was about this—these quiet, unspoken moments where everything just felt right.

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1330 words