Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 75: In Need Of Advice

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When Narae got home, she felt emotionally drained. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag by the door, her mind still swirling with thoughts of Mark and Haechan. Before she could fully process everything, she heard her mom's voice from the living room.

"Hey, you're home," her mom called out. "Come watch this movie with me."

Narae wandered into the living room, finding her mom curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn in her lap. A movie played softly on the TV, but Narae didn't really pay attention to what it was. She flopped down next to her mom, resting her head on her shoulder, seeking comfort in the familiar warmth of her presence.

"How was school?" her mom asked, running a hand down Narae's arm absentmindedly.

"It was fine," Narae mumbled, not sure how to explain the mess of feelings she was dealing with. "I hung out with Mark after."

Her mom hummed in acknowledgment. "That's nice. You two used to hang out all the time."

"Yeah..." Narae trailed off, feeling a little sad as she thought about how different things felt now. She missed the simplicity of their friendship, but at the same time, she couldn't ignore the fact that her feelings had changed.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of the movie filling the background as Narae let herself relax. She didn't have to think too much when she was with her mom like this. It was a safe space, a place where she could just be herself without worrying about everything else.

Eventually, her mom spoke up again, her voice gentle. "You've been quiet lately. Something on your mind?"

Narae hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should bring up everything she was feeling. But then she sighed, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on her. "Things are different now. With Mark, I mean. It's not the same anymore."

Her mom didn't say anything at first, just continued stroking her hair softly. "Sometimes friendships change as we get older," she said after a moment. "It doesn't mean you've lost him as a friend. It just means things might be evolving."

Narae nodded, her mom's words offering a little bit of comfort. But even as she lay there, her mind couldn't stop drifting back to Haechan. No matter how much she tried to push him out of her thoughts, he was always there—taking up space in her heart in ways she hadn't been prepared for.

"Mom... how do you know for sure if you like someone?" Narae asked, her voice quieter than usual, as though she wasn't sure she even wanted to hear the answer.

Her mom glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "I wouldn't know," she teased with a light laugh, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Mommm, don't joke around," Narae muttered, fidgeting slightly with the drawstrings on her hoodie."I'm serious."

Her mom laughed again but softened. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. But why do you ask?" She leaned in, her voice a little more gentle. "Got someone in mind?"

Narae hesitated, her fingers nervously tracing patterns on the couch cushion. "Maybe..." she said softly, unsure of how much to reveal.

Her mom's eyes twinkled, clearly intrigued. "And it's not Mark, huh? Is it Jaemin? He's such a sweetheart."

Narae immediately scrunched her nose in a mix of panic and mild disgust. "Mom! No! Definitely not Jaemin!"

Her mom smirked, clearly amused by her reaction. "Okay, okay. So who is it then?"