Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 85: Almost

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Narae stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the strap of her swimsuit for the fifth time. It wasn't anything particularly special—just a simple black bikini she'd had for a while—but somehow, today, it felt different. She pulled her white T-shirt over it, smoothing out the fabric before slipping into a pair of denim shorts. Her fingers fiddled with the hem as she glanced at the clock. 3:15 pm. Still plenty of time before she had to leave for the beach. Yet, her stomach was doing somersaults, a mixture of nerves and excitement bubbling just beneath the surface.

She didn't know why she was so anxious. She'd been to the beach countless times, but today felt different. It was just her and Haechan, no group, no noise from others—just the two of them. Alone. Together. The thought made her heart beat just a little faster, but she quickly shook it off, telling herself she was overthinking it.

After a few more adjustments, she grabbed her bag and headed towards the living room, where her mom was waiting by the door, keys in hand.

"Another beach day?" her mom asked, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile. "You've been going there a lot recently."

"Yeah, just meeting some friends," Narae mumbled, hoping her mom wouldn't press further.

"You know, you never went this often before. Should I be worried?" her mom teased as they made their way to the parking lot and walked toward the car.

Narae rolled her eyes, trying to keep her face neutral. "It's nothing. I just like the beach."

"Mmm-hmm, sure." Her mom's playful tone made her stomach flip, but she didn't respond, instead focusing on the passing scenery as they drove.

The ride felt longer than usual, even though the distance hadn't changed. Narae's mind was racing, thoughts of what the afternoon might hold swirling in her head. She tried to calm herself, telling herself that it was just another day at the beach. But her heartbeat betrayed her every time she thought about being alone with Haechan. Alone on a quiet, secluded part of the beach, away from everyone else.

When they finally pulled up to the drop-off point, Narae thanked her mom and stepped out of the car, the salty air hitting her immediately. She inhaled deeply, letting the familiar scent settle her nerves. After a moment, she spotted Haechan waiting near a weathered wooden post, wearing a casual black shirt and shorts, his tanned skin glowing under the late afternoon sun.

"Hey," he greeted her with a small smile, his hands tucked in his pockets.

"Hey," she replied, feeling the nerves start to ebb away now that they were face to face. It wasn't as scary as she had imagined. Just Haechan. Just them.

They began walking together, heading toward the more secluded part of the beach they'd agreed on earlier. The sand was warm beneath their feet, still heated from the earlier sun, but a soft breeze cut through the air, ruffling Narae's shirt and making the walk comfortable. Seagulls cawed in the distance, the sound of the waves crashing softly in the background as they made their way further down the shore.

After a while, they found a quiet spot near the rocks, far enough from the main area to have some privacy. They dropped their bags on the sand, and Haechan pulled out a volleyball, grinning at Narae. "Ever seriously played before?"

She shook her head. "Not really."

"Thought so. Last time we played, you lacked some serious technique."

Narae shot him a glare. "Does it look like I waste my time playing sports?"

"Obviously not," Haechan replied, his lips quirking.