Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 57: Drawing New Lines

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Monday morning came with the clamor of alarm clocks and hurried breakfasts. The sun was already high in the sky by the time Narae made her way to school, the warmth of April settling over everything like a gentle blanket. She entered the bustling corridors of the school, weaving her way through groups of chatting students, each step bringing her closer to the day's routine.

Her first class, Advanced Functions, was always a challenge. Haechan sat two seats over, his eyes focused on the textbook in front of him. He looked the same as always—relaxed, leaning back slightly in his chair, a slight furrow on his brow as he tried to understand the day's problem. Narae found herself watching him for a moment longer than she intended. There was something about the way he moved, the ease with which he handled everything, that caught her attention.

But then, just as she realized her gaze had lingered too long, Haechan's eyes flickered up, meeting hers. A jolt ran through her, and she quickly looked away, her heart picking up speed. What was that about? she wondered, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. It wasn't like her to stare at anyone, especially not Haechan. She glanced back at her notebook, forcing herself to focus on the equations before her, the numbers blurring as her mind raced.

The rest of the class passed in a blur of formulas and the sound of pencils on paper. Narae kept her head down, focusing intently on her work, resisting the urge to look over at Haechan again. Occasionally, she could feel his presence beside her, not in any tangible way but as a steady, quiet awareness that she couldn't shake.

English was a entirely different . The classroom buzzed with chatter, and Narae found herself sandwiched between Haechan's friends, Mark and Jeno, with Haechan himself sitting a couple of rows behind her. The teacher droned on about some poem they were supposed to analyze, but Narae's mind was elsewhere. She could hear Haechan's voice in the background, laughing at something Jaemin had said. It was a sound she had grown used to, yet today, it seemed to echo louder than usual in her ears.

She risked a glance over her shoulder, only to catch Haechan's eyes on her again. This time, the contact held for a split second longer. There was something unspoken in his gaze, something she couldn't quite read. Narae felt her face heat up, and she turned back to face the front, her heart thudding. What was happening to her? It was like every time their eyes met, the world around her faded, leaving only the electric charge between them.

Mark leaned over, his voice a soft whisper. "Hey, are you okay? You've been a little distracted today."

Narae nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just tired, I guess. Didn't sleep well last night."

Mark gave her a concerned look but nodded, returning his attention to the teacher. Narae exhaled quietly, relieved he hadn't pressed further. She knew she couldn't explain what was going on, not even to herself. She sneaked another glance back at Haechan, but this time he was focused on his notes, his expression unreadable.

Physics was a class that usually kept Narae engaged. The practical applications of science always intrigued her. Haechan and some of his other friends  sat at the back, joking around quietly as the teacher explained the day's experiment. Narae sat closer to the front, but she could still hear Haechan's laughter, the sound drawing her attention like a magnet.

As the class moved into group work, Narae found herself partnered with Jeno. He was a good student, focused and efficient, but today Narae struggled to keep up. Her thoughts kept drifting, her eyes flicking over to where Haechan was leaning over a worksheet with Renjun and Jaemin, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jeno asked, his voice breaking through her thoughts.

Narae blinked, forcing herself to focus on the problem in front of them. "Yeah, just a bit out of it today," she admitted, offering a half-hearted smile.

Jeno gave her a skeptical look but didn't push the matter. Instead, he pointed out an error in her calculation, and they continued working in relative silence. Narae found herself glancing over at Haechan again, her curiosity piqued by the way he seemed so at ease, laughing and joking with his friends.

Art was usually Narae's escape, a place where she could lose herself in creativity, letting the world fade away. She had Mark and Renjun with her in this class, their presence comforting and familiar. Today, however, even the calming strokes of her paintbrush couldn't settle her mind. As she worked on her canvas, Mark beside her, chatting about their weekend plans, she found her thoughts drifting back to Haechan.

"Hey, are you listening?" Mark asked, nudging her lightly with his elbow.

Narae blinked, looking over at him. "Oh, sorry, what were you saying?"

Mark smiled, leaning closer. "I was just asking if you wanted to hang out this weekend, maybe go see a movie or something?"

Narae hesitated, her brush stilling on the canvas. She liked Mark. He was sweet, attentive, everything she had thought she liked. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing, a spark that just wasn't there.

"Yeah, that sounds nice," she said finally, forcing a smile. "Let's do that."

Mark's grin widened, satisfied, and he returned to his sketch. Narae watched him for a moment, wondering why she didn't feel more excited. She glanced over at Renjun, who was lost in his own world of charcoal and paper, before turning back to her own work. The colors blurred together, and for a moment, all she could see was Haechan's face, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the sound of his laugh.

By the time the final bell rang, Narae felt exhausted. She gathered her things, heading out into the hallway. Her mind was still buzzing, a whirl of thoughts and emotions that she couldn't quite sort through. As she walked, she caught sight of Haechan at his locker, surrounded by his friends. For a moment, their eyes met across the crowded corridor.

There it was again, that electric jolt, the world narrowing down to just the two of them. Narae's breath hitched, and she quickly looked away, her heart racing. She didn't know what was happening to her, why she felt this way. All she knew was that every time she looked at Haechan, something inside her stirred, something she couldn't quite name.

She hurried down the hallway, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. Her mind was a mess, a tangle of confusion and emotions she couldn't untangle. She needed to clear her head, to make sense of what she was feeling.

As she stepped outside into the warm afternoon sun, Narae took a deep breath, letting the familiar routine of her day wash over her. She would figure this out. She had to. Because if there was one thing Narae knew, it was that she hated feeling out of control.

And right now, her feelings for Haechan were spiraling beyond anything she had ever anticipated.

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1187 words