Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 58: The Group Chat

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By Friday afternoon, Narae had managed to avoid looking at Haechan for too long. She had spent the rest of the week carefully keeping her eyes forward, determined not to let her thoughts wander. Each time she felt the temptation to glance his way, she forced herself to focus on her work, on the teacher's voice, on anything but him. It was hard, though, when every classroom seemed to echo with his laughter, his voice weaving through the air, impossible to ignore.

Narae found herself sighing in relief as she finally closed her locker and left the school behind, the weekend stretching ahead like a promise of respite. She walked home at a brisk pace, the early April sun warming her face, trying to shake off the lingering tension that had coiled around her all week.

When she got home, the familiar comfort of her room enveloped her, its quiet solitude a balm to her frayed nerves. She dropped her bag by the door and collapsed onto her bed, exhaling a long, relieved sigh. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, a soft, persistent vibration that pulled her back to reality. Reluctantly, Narae fished it out and unlocked the screen.

She was immediately greeted by a barrage of unread messages from the group chat, notifications she'd muted weeks ago. Haechan's friend group had always been lively, their conversations a constant stream of jokes, memes, and playful banter. Narae had muted the chat for her own peace of mind, but today, curiosity got the better of her.

Her thumb hovered over the chat, and then, with a resigned sigh, she opened it.

___________⋆˚࿔ ayyo⋆˚࿔ ___________

Chenle: i swear 

Chenle: this time I'm going to beat you all at Mario Kart

nono: sure chenle

nono: last time you came dead last

nana: I'd like to see you try Chenle

nana:  I'll be laughing from first place

ten: i've been practicing...

ten: just warning y'all

hyuckie: Yeah right

hyuckie:  i'm the Mario Kart king and we all know it

Narae smiled faintly at the string of messages, the friendly rivalry evident in each line. It felt like she was getting a glimpse into a world she was still trying to fit into. The group's dynamic was effortless, the kind of camaraderie that came from years of friendship and countless shared experiences. She scrolled through the conversation, her eyes catching on Haechan's name each time it appeared, her pulse quickening in spite of herself.

Jisung: what's everyone doing this weekend? 

Jisung: any plans?

Johnny: probably hitting up the arcade with doyoung

Johnny: anyone else in?

woo: MEEE

woo: I miss dodo

Mark: sounds good

Mark: i'm down

Jaehyun: count me in

Jaehyun: it's been a while since we hung out outside of school

Narae hesitated, her fingers hovering over her screen. She wanted to join in, to be part of the easy flow of conversation, but the words felt stuck in her throat. It wasn't that she didn't feel welcome. They had always included her, always made her feel like part of the group. But there was still a part of her that felt like an outsider, like she was intruding on something sacred.