Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 84: The Smell Of The Last Day

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The air inside the classroom felt heavy, not with the pressure of exams but with the realization that the school year was coming to an end. Narae sat at her desk, staring at the final exam sheet, her mind elsewhere. The questions blurred in front of her, not because they were difficult but because her thoughts were consumed by a nagging sense of unease. It wasn't the exam that made her anxious; it was the thought of summer.

The empty space in front of her felt like a chasm, and the idea of not seeing Haechan for two whole months gnawed at her insides. Sure, they had planned to meet at Chenle's beach house, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something would be missing in the meantime. The routine of seeing him every day, even from afar, had become a comfort. She wasn't ready to give that up just yet.

As she scribbled down answers, time seemed to warp, the minutes dragging on while the end of the day loomed closer. She finished her exam earlier than expected, her fingers gripping the pencil tightly as she finally set it down on the desk. Her heart pounded, not from nerves but from the overwhelming wave of emotions that threatened to swallow her whole.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of exams, the room erupted into a flurry of movement—papers shuffling, chairs scraping, and students letting out relieved sighs. But for Narae, everything moved in slow motion. She stood, her legs feeling a little unsteady as she gathered her things, slipping her backpack onto her shoulders and glancing around the room. It all felt too final, too abrupt.

The hallway was a blur of excited chatter as students celebrated the end of the school year, their voices a distant hum in Narae's ears. She walked with purpose, though she wasn't sure where she was going. Her mind was buzzing, but her body felt disconnected. It wasn't until she stepped outside, into the warm afternoon sun, that her focus sharpened.

Haechan.

She spotted him near the courtyard, standing with a few of his friends, his familiar figure instantly grounding her. Without hesitation, she walked toward him, her heart beating louder with every step. The sight of him—his relaxed posture, the way his hair caught the light—filled her with a strange mix of comfort and longing.

"Hey," Narae called out, her voice slightly tentative as she approached.

Haechan turned, a lazy smile spreading across his face. "Hey, Narae. Done with the exam?"

"Yeah," she nodded, standing a few feet from him, suddenly unsure of what to say. The weight of the moment hung between them, thick and unspoken.

There was a pause before Narae took a breath, summoning the courage she'd been lacking all week. "Can we go to the beach now?"

Haechan raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the sudden request. "Now? You really want to go today?"

She hesitated, feeling a small flicker of embarrassment. "Yeah. I thought it would be nice. I don't know." She trailed off, shrugging in a failed attempt to make it seem casual.

"You should rest. Exams are tiring," Haechan said, his tone unusually gentle.

Narae nodded absentmindedly, but in truth, rest was the last thing on her mind. She thought to herself that the only way she'd truly feel at ease was if she could spend more time with him.

"I guess," she replied, a little bummed, her voice carrying a slight edge of tiredness.

They stood in silence for a moment, the breeze from the courtyard lightly ruffling their clothes. Narae's heart thudded in her chest, though she didn't know why. She had spent the entire week suppressing her emotions, but now, with Haechan standing in front of her, it felt like they were impossible to ignore.